Posted in Family Life

OH.MY.GOODNESS... my kids are nuts!!!  I finally settled in long enough to wrap presents last night and when the kids woke up they went crazy over the fact that there were actually presents now.  LOL  Dan still has some shopping to do now that he is out of school and he will be taking the kids to do last minute shopping for each other.  They have been thinking about what they were going to buy for each other and have made their shopping lists.  It is so cool watching them think about what they would buy for each other.  We started that about 5 years ago and it has made them much more generous and they love to watch the reactions from the person they are gifting when they open presents on Christmas morning.  The rest of the year they may fight and bicker but on Christmas morning there is laughing and talking about what they gave each other and why.  It is so cool!!!

I have some serious baking to get done for our church party for tomorrow night.  I won't get to go caroling with everyone this year because I am still moving somewhat slowly but I will set up snacks and make hot water for cocoa and coffee for when they get back.  My friend Gabby will be helping with that so I won't do too much too soon. 

Dan is out at the gun range with a friend this morning so the kids and I are picking up around the house and will be making lunch in a few minutes.  J(14) has decided, I think, to do a CD of music he has written for his grandparents and aunts and uncles.  That is a cool present and I hope I get one in MY stocking, too!!!  The boy is gifted and if I were not his mother I would still think that.  I am not kidding when I say God has created him for music in a huge way!!!  I cannot wait to see what God will do with this boy's life.  (all the kids, really, but right now J(14) because he is the oldest)

I did not spend much on Dan for Christmas this year but I think I got something that would bring a tear to his eye.  I prefer those kinds of gifts to stuff people don't really need or spending money just to say it was expensive. 

I am also thinking there might be a new puppy in our future.  J(14) really wants a beagle... he talks about it a great deal.  We just have to repair some fencing to keep a dog in the yard, first.  That may happen in the next two weeks.  A puppy would not be under the tree but might be sometime around the first of the year if we can find one.  We are going to be picky because we want a dog that would be a good companion for J(14) and still patient with the three year old.  A dog is not a thing to rush into in our house... so many crazy kiddos that need a special temperament  to deal with them and all.  We were like that when we got our cat for E(9) four years ago, too.  The cat is JUST LIKE her... I am NOT kidding.  They have the same temperament and are a perfect fit. 

We have two more Advent candles left and will be doing them Sunday night and then the final on Christmas Eve.  I am enjoying this season so much more than in years past.  I think part of it is that we are not having to travel all over this year and are just focusing on being home and being a family.  I think another part of it is that I have had to be still.  God has kept me still and listening more this year than any other year before.  I think I like that more.  I need to take that and make it happen every year.  I will have to plan to get all the shopping and such done earlier and to focus more on gifts that show how much I love someone instead of just buying "stuff" for gifting's sake.

For Christmas Eve we will be home, probably watching a movie, eating a quiet dinner and opening the Christmas Eve packages of pajamas to sleep in.  I wrapped those this morning and the kids were asking what I was doing...  It was hilarious to hear the conversation...

Youngest:   What are you wrapping mommy?
Daughter:   Our Christmas Eve gifts...
Youngest:   What is it?
Middle Boy:  I don't know...
Daughter:   You don't remember what Mom gives us on Christmas Eve?
Middle Boy:   Books?
Daughter:   No... are you serious?  You don't remember???
Oldest:   Pajamas you goofball!!!
Middle Boy:   OH YEAH, I remember...

Everyone laughs!!!

Youngest:   What do they look like?

Everyone else rolls eyes and walks away... "You have to wait to find out!"
Daughter:  You will LOVE them... we ALWAYS love them.

Happy Mom just smiles!!!  I LOVE PAJAMA GIFTING!!!!!

Boy, this has gotten chatty...  I need to get some lunch going and I am not sure when I will be on again.  I will try to post some foodie things and I am still moving all my archives to the new blog.  Six years worth of blogging postS.... that is a lot of work.   lol  I need to just save it all to a disk and not care but I like to have all my stuff in one place as much as possible.  After next week I should be down to three blogs... foodie, books and main and will try really hard NOT to have any more.  My goal is to just be me on one blog and not split myself into so many realms.  I am one person and need to keep all my thoughts in one place.  Hope that makes sense...

Anyway, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and may you have all you need at this season but most of all I hope you have Jesus!!!  

Love to you all!!!

~Leann