Nothing exciting...

that is what is happening around here, and that is fine with me! We finished up our Christmas celebrations Sunday and came home and absolutely crashed. The kids were way past exhausted. I could tell especially in JC & HT. Everyone time anyone looked at them funny, they began to cry. They had lots of fun playing with the cousins Sunday afternoon, and we all enjoyed meeting the newest member of our family who arrived right before Thanksgiving. She's beautiful! Yesterday we began organizing our house again, and tonight we are having friends over. So, there's nothing exciting happening here and that is perfect with me! I'm enjoying the last few days before school and the rat race begin again!

The Days After

We are still visiting the in-laws and enjoying our visit. We've continued to have a wonderful Christmas, and there is more today and tomorrow. My husband's brother and girlfriend will be here today, and then we rush back to Ohio for more Christmas tomorrow! Yesterday our family went to see Marley & Me at the theater. We really enjoyed the movie, and although we don't own a dog, we could still completely relate to the adjustments of life! At this time of year I just can't help but to look around and be so grateful for all of our friends and family, and everyone who has supported us through life's journey. We hope to share in many more fun times with everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Santa has arrived, and everyone seems happy with what he left for them! The kids have opened their packages and are having fun with their gifts, and my wonderful husband and I received wonderful gifts, from each other and from the kids. It was so cute how excited the kids were to give us the gifts they made in school...it gives me hope that someday they'll really understand the true meaning of giving. Yesterday afternoon we attended church and then had Christmas with my sister and parents. It was a nice evening. This afternoon we are headed east for three days for Christmas with the in-laws, and then we'll rush back on Sunday for more extended family Christmas. As busy as it is, I'm very grateful that we have so much family with whom to share the holiday! Hope you and those you love have a very Merry Christmas!

Crazy!

The last two days have been absolutely crazy, and yet full of so much fun! Since we had gone to church Saturday evening, we got to sleep in Sunday (yes!) and that gave us time to pack in the morning for our overnight trip. Around noon we left for my grandmother's house for Christmas and fun times with Dad's extended family. The cousins are all good about playing together, and everyone loved their gifts. After spending the entire afternoon there, we headed up to my dad's cottage for an overnight stay. Grandma sent along ham, rolls, & mac & cheese for a leftover dinner and my uncle had brought the kids some new movies. Dad has the cottage set up with a great layout. The kids could watch their DVD in the main room, and my wonderful husband and I could be in a back room watching the football game. It's such a cozy room and we all had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, we woke up yesterday to frozen pipes! We had let the water drip, but we were far enough north that the wind chills were around -20. Through the process of trying to thaw the pipes, we discovered an outside access panel that was probably the source of the cold air. My wonderful husband covered and secured that area, and we are hopeful that Dad won't have to worry about it anymore. We rushed home to make it to another recital for JC, and as soon as she was finished dancing we took the kids for dinner & ice cream. It was 9:00 before we finally made it home and the kids tumbled into bed. They've been up late ever since school got out, and it was really starting to catch up with them. On the bonus side, they all slept in this morning, and HT slept until almost 10. As crazy as everything was, we all loved being together and we are blessed to have so much to do! Although there are many things to get done today, we have no schedule so I'm looking forward to slowing life down today, and enjoying the last couple of days before Christmas!

A lovely evening

Tonight was a beautiful evening. We just returned from a lovely evening at an old friend's house. She had a small gathering and we so enjoyed getting to visit with her and several other friends, even if for only a brief time. The highlight of our evening was a trip to the mall. Not to shop (yikes!) but to see our daughter in her Christmas dance recital. JC began her ballet classes in September, and after several soccer and baseball seasons dance is a new experience for us. She and one other young lady danced to "Oh Holy Night". I'm biased, but it was beautiful and it brought tears to my eyes. It was one of those really proud parent moments and I felt so blessed to have it.

A quiet evening

It's quiet around here...almost too quiet! My sister took the little two before dinner and is taking them to see the Nutcracker performance this evening. My wonderful husband is at a friend's house playing poker, so it's just JR and me. He's grounded from the television, so it's a very quiet evening around here. I'm enjoying the peace & quiet, but I'm just not used to it! I'd better enjoy it because Christmas starts tomorrow. I know the calendar says that it doesn't arrive until next Thursday, but tomorrow is the day we let the kids open packages from out-of-towners. That way it spreads things out a little, and the kids are able to really focus on the gifts they'll receive tomorrow and really think about the people who, though they can't be here to share in the fun, love the kids enough to send packages! Then on Sunday is a Christmas with my dad's side of the family, complete with more presents and cousins to play with. So the holiday is beginning and we are excited...but no more quiet!

Just as I suspected...

the shrimp was not a huge hit. My wonderful husband and I loved it, along with the oldest who loves shrimp. The little two however were not pleased with dinner. Before I even started serving, JC, the seven-year-old, tried the "No, thank you" approach. I informed her that this was dinner and she needed to at least try it. HT informed me it just didn't smell good. Oh well, it left more for those of us who really enjoyed it!

On another topic, today is the last day of school before Christmas break. While I'm looking forward to all of the fun that we are going to have together as well as the break from our daily routine, I'm treasuring my last remaining quiet time today!