Merry Christmas 2006!

Sorry it took so long for us to write about Christmas. Our post-Christmas week was just about as busy as our pre-Christmas week. Then, to make matters worse, it has taken 3 days and many more attempts to get the pictures loaded onto blogger (I know - I should have just done them on the flickr button...)

Harriet had her first Christmas this year! She wasn't old enough to understand it, but she was old enough to have some fun. It is always great for a parent to have a baby at Christmas time because you really think about what Mary and Joseph must have gone through to get Jesus here and all they did after he was born to raise him. I wondered "did baby Jesus have reflux?" Then, listening to the words of a carol I had forgotten "no crying He made", I guess he wasn't too fussy of a baby.


Our fussy baby Harriet did like looking at lights, playing with bells, and ripping wrapping paper. She really liked playing with her new toys too on Christmas day. I think she had gotten a little bored with the ones she had and was excited to have something that caught her attention again. She was lucky to receive the "coveted" Tickle-Me-Elmo Extreme from Mo Debbie and Grandpa Lyle. I hadn't even heard about the toy when it was going like hot-cakes in toy stores and being sold for fortunes on e-bay, but her grandma hooked her up and she's now the coolest 8 month old in town (we're pretty sure she was the only kid in our tiny town to get one!) Her favorite present was probably the gift from her sister Grace - a set of stacking cups from the grocery store. She loves holding them, hitting them together, and chewing on the edges. Grace was very proud to have given her sister a gift that was enjoyed so much.


Gracie probably had her best Christmas yet. She was the most fun for us this year. She was utterly, entirely, and hopelessly spoiled from every direction. She's just at the right age to be totally entranced by the magic of Santa and the wonder of each holiday tradition and can't get enough of the decorations, lights, and counting down to the big day.
She also was a little light of Christmas spirit in our house. Even amidst her constant reminding of what she had asked Santa to bring, she was equally interested in the Nativities, having a birthday party for baby Jesus, and understanding of others who might not be getting as much for Christmas. She helped me with a sub-for-Santa sponsored by our town. We went to the library and chose tags for two little girls who Santa needed help with. She was way into helping Santa get to the little girls who wouldn't otherwise receive something. She helped me shop for, wrap, and deliver the toys back to Santa's box. I am actually pretty amazed at how much she understood and cared for the spiritual side of Christmas in comparison to the other things. She also helped her daddy shop for me and was very excited to tell me where they got each thing as I opened it.

Santa was good to David and me as well. I got a new riding helmet (my first new one in at least 13 years) now that I'm back to riding weekly. David got a manly cordless drill and can't wait to find something that is loose that might need a big screw drilled into it. He looked all over on Christmas day for something to try it out on, but didn't find anything cool enough. We also got lots of new things to cook with. David is being VERY careful with his new pots and pans from his parents and I have received strict instructions on their use and care. I sure hope he is the first one to scratch one of them and not me!

We were invited on Christmas Eve to spend the evening with our friends, the Bahe's. (This is Harriet and me with my friend Shawn Bahe.) They are an extremely musical family and live in the "servant's quarters" of a house circa 1800's. It was a very charming place to have a Christmas party. It looked just like a Victorian Christmas card. They sang (and we mouthed) lots of carols, played some songs on these cool hand-made chimes, listenened to some great stories, and watched the kids act out the Nativity. Grace was the shepherd. She was bummed to lose the role of Mary to another girl there, but then was equally happy to be in charge of the sheep.


Christmas Day was spent entirely at our house. We didn't go a single place, but just played and watched movies all day. It was GREAT! Then, David cooked a big fancy turkey dinner for us that night.
We have to make a small note about Shadow and Velvet too. They have been very good dogs all year, especially with the addition of another baby to the pack. They have been kicked out of every room that was "theirs," kicked off of every piece of furniture that they might have been allowed to sleep on, and have had their walks taken away from them as David has been too busy helping me with the kids at night to do it (he had tried diligently to re-start the walks this week, but they have gone 8 months without their nightly hour of adventure.) So, as a family, we got the dogs new fluffy nice beds with their names embroidered on them. They are so very grateful for the gifts. They have hardly been found anywhere else in the house since Christmas morning. We are just glad we could give them a little bit of joy too...they are really good girls and are so patient with the kids - they deserved a little reward for sure.


Merry Christmas to every creature, one and all!