And finally, Christmas!

As many of you probably remember, we lost my grandmother on Christmas Day last year, so with the economy being in the dumps and really just wanting to spend time with our family and take it easy, we opted to not have our annual Christmas Eve party that we have been doing since I was in about 6th grade. In the last several years, we have done it at our house and it is always such a rush to get everything ready for the party AND get ready for Santa. I also really wanted to cherish this season with the girls and be able to enjoy the magic of the season since they are 5 and almost 3. So instead of the party, we went to our usual afternoon church service for the kids, then came home and got comfortable and enjoyed our family in front of the fireplace. We ate chili, watched football, talked, baked cookies, and (my favorite part) got the girls in bed early waiting for Santa. The weather was yucky here so our neighborhood could not light the luminaries that line every street. But I have to give props to the best Daddy ever! He was outside ringing bells (sleigh bells:) in the pooring rain, barefoot, on a ladder, with an umbrella! It was hilarious!!! Wish I could have gotten pictures!!! Regardless, the trick worked! MM heard the bells and made me get out of her room so that she could go to sleep for Santa to come! It was sooooo cute and such a fun year with them. We then went to the beach for the week of New Years and had a great time (aside from the bickering between the girls) just relaxing for a change! I can't wait to see what 2010 holds for our family!!! Happy New Year to you and your family!!!!