So this is Christmas...

Christmas was hectic this year. We moved mid-December, had my parents out a few days later and celebrated Craig and Jenna's birthdays and a special early Christmas with the grandparents all in one day! Whew! Sad to say, I was actually looking forward to rounding up the Christmas stuff and packing it back up this year. Poof! It was gone within two days of Christmas and now I'm trying to clear out some moving boxes... a never-ending project for a family that has moved 14 times in 10 years - WOW, I hadn't even thought about that before now, but aren't we NUTS??? Seriously!

So, we started Christmas two days before the 25th. Craig and I treated ourselves to an early Christmas gift: a day away from home and an opportunity to actually sleep - we rented a hotel room and relaxed for a few hours. Yes, I know this sounds WEIRD considering we have a great big new house with all kinds of space, but all three of our kids have a hard time sleeping, so when my head hits the pillow, I never know what I'll wake up to, or when. Getting out of the house for a day and lounging around somewhere is absolute HEAVEN for us! Then, we hit the stores to finish up some gifts.

That night, I wrapped until 2am. While I was wrapping upstairs, everyone was busy downstairs making cookies for Santa, the Dentist Elf (from Rudolph! ??? Go figure...), and Rudolph himself.

Then Hannah made Christmas cards to leave for Santa, the Dentist Elf, and Rudolph - with a little help from Daddy. Aren't they cute? ;)

The next day was Christmas eve and we headed out of town for a 12 acre, drive-through holiday light display. We played Chritmas music and Hannah loved it once we woke her up, cuz she always falls asleep in the car! Jenna was upset because we turned off the TV, but she calmed down and looked out her window at the pretty lights, too. Cohen slept through a lot of it, but he's too short to see this year anyways. :) We packed a picnic dinner and ate while we drove through and it was actually a lot of fun! All three kids contained and BELTED IN and woo-hoo, off we went!

I tried to get a picture of Jenna and Cohen...His hands and the top of her head - see her way back there? - were about the best I could do from the front seat :)

When we got back, Hannah indulged in some hot chocolate and we all watched Rudolph after lighting the fire for the first time in our new fireplace. Then, we set up the princess Christmas tree in the room as a night-light, got the girls in their Christmas jammies, and then finally - FINALLY - they went to bed. Cohen, on the other hand, joined us late into the night... not to mention Hannah's constant fitfulness - I was just sure she'd catch Santa in the act of setting up her new Kitchen! :) Speaking of...

VOILA! Complete with two adorable aprons a friend and I found that say "Domestic Diva" and "Diva-In-Training" (NOT that I consider myself a domestic diva or anything...)
A tea party just waiting for little hands to come along and BREAK, ummm, I mean, PLAY with it! And an inflatable basketball set for Jenna.

Gameroom done, now for downstairs and arranging gifts under the tree. And finally, FINALLY, done. Note the time!!! Hey, 3's not THAT bad, right? Could've been worse. Could have stayed up for sunrise...

And yes, this is laziness, people. Or burnout! Lots of little stuff that just wouldn't wrap easily got thrown into great big, awkward stockings instead of cute little ones... Santa, you lazy man, you!

Christmas morning brought lots of gifts, lots of fun, and lots of MESS - but that's okay. I grinned through my teeth and cringed behind my smile ;) We had an un-traditional spaghetti dinner cuz the girls love spaghetti and went to bed tired, but happy...until a child woke up in the once-quiet of night. AAAAHHHH... LIFE continues...