Christmas Memories

Following are some things I would like to remember about Christmas this year.

• Christmas was preceded by the best week of my life....my parents took the kids from Mon - Saturday and it was so wonderful, I can't explain it properly. I did some shopping, Chad and I saw TWO movies, hung out with some friends....it was wonderful.
• Mom and Dad spent the weekend with us (Sat - Mon). It was fun, but loud and busy. Who knew? Poor Mom had mouth surgery a little over a week ago and isn't completely healed yet. But it was fun to have them and nice to be able to have the room to have them!
• Jack still isn't totally into the present thing yet. I think a huge part of the problem had been that he was at my parents' house all week, so was a little off already. Christmas Eve he was very resistant and Christmas Day he just wasn't interested. Part of me likes it, that he isn't consumed by the commercialism, but I know Mom and Lin were looking forward to his excitement, so I was sorry that they were disappointed. I think he made up for it by being very pleased with the gifts while playing with them.
• Big gifts this year were: Ride on train (they got two, one is motorized and runs on a track, and the other is a push/ride on toy; both are VERY popular), the limbo game (Jack likes it, Charlie doesn't seem to notice it), this Wiggles guitar thing, some dinosaurs with caveman, and one dinosaur roars really loudly (huge hit).
• I can't say how wonderful it was to celebrate our first Christmas in this house. To have the room to have 8 people sleeping here (Lin and Matt spent Christmas Eve night here), to have the room for all of those presents, people and still be able to move. To just feel like this is home and share that with our family was precious.
• And lastly, I need to remember how exhausted I am right now. The house is fairly clean, since my mom is wonderful and a neat freak, but there is still things that need to be put away. Plus, my sister helped me decided how I need to rearrange my kitchen, so that is calling to me. Nothing sounds as good as climbing back into bed, though. Plus, the week just continues in its business. Friday we are having Chad's family over to celebrate Don's birthday, Thursday night I have girl's night, Chad's cousin and his wife might come over tonight or tomorrow night, Wayne and Sarah want to come by and give the guys their presents, and I am having Lin and Matt and two of their friends over for New Year's!!!! Wow, no time for napping.