Christmas Break

I am always so excited when the kids are home for break. Those first few days are lovely. No running back and forth to school, no volunteering, packing lunches, running, running, running.. and then the reality is.. the running doesn't stop! This season has been unusually nutty due to school. The session didn't end until Dec. 18 and then I still had to check daily ( I was worried) for my grade. So my brain didn't go on Christmas break that first week. Greg's parents came Dec 20 (not the 21st) but that is a whole other story of how both Greg and I can't read. I still had work, though Greg is taking two weeks of vacation. It amazes me how we think we will get so much done, but the plain truth is, we have gotten a fraction done of what we planned and just have to let it go! The kids have 4 adults to entertain them and have consistently needed constant interaction. Today I am pushing for more independent play.

Anyway, the holiday... I was home this year!! And I found true delight staying up Christmas Eve, wrapping presents, getting Santa's milk and cookies ready, and stare at my tree while cuddled up with Greg. The kids are old enough to really get into it this year and it was so much fun. Ryan was up on Christmas morning at 0530. I held him off until 0645. Charlotte insisted she heard reindeer feet on the roof Christmas Eve. So presents were opened and the kids had a ball. 99% of the stuff was perfect. Ryan has since spent many hours building his Lego sets! Charlotte loved her wooden animals and carried her nesting dolls around for 2 days. There wasn't much commercial stuff--which I was very thankful for and I don't think anything takes batteries. The kids have played with about half of what they have gotten, and the rest is waiting quietly in a pile by the couch. I bought a kaleidoscope for Charlotte that is just beautiful and a prism for her window--more rainbows! There were several Usborne books that are great and the kids each got a giftcard for Barnes and Noble from the grandparents--but even better--Mom said they could buy whatever they wanted with them--the only caveat for Ryan is that he has to pick stuff he can read to me. So he picked a Transformers book, which he has since decided is too old for him. But the others are great. He actually had picked out too many books and had to put some back! Beth and Lori got him the Magic treehouse books on CD--totally cool--he loves listening to books on CD during quiet time and they are great in the car. Charlotte got a Tinkerbell play set--but of all the Disney stuff that she can glom on to--the princesses continue to be a favorite, at least Tinkerbell is constructive and is seen using her brain!

We had Christmas with the Gauls on the 21st and with the Hollenbaugh's the 27th. Janet and Steve came down from Michigan the 27th as well and stayed overnight. We had a yummy breakfast at Mimi's Cafe before I had to go to bed and get ready for work again! There will be pictures forthcoming. I am home now until Friday. I am glad for the break.