Merry Christmas!

Oh, Christmas with young children. As we set about preparing for the holiday in the last few weeks, every stranger that we met and friend that we talked to envied us openly. "Oh, this is going to be a great Christmas...a 5 year old, 2 year old, and 8 month old. How wonderful it is going to be."

And, oh Christmas, you didn't disappoint.

Jeff's parents came in from Ohio with Uncle Chad from Texas in tow on the evening of the 23rd. They suffered through flight delays and got in late late late. Or early on the morning of the 24th, however you want to look at it. I decided to let everyone sleep in, and tried to keep the kiddos quiet. But Jeff is the only one who ended up sleeping in...Grandma, Grandpa, and Chad just couldn't stay away from the kids. ;) They are lucky to be so loved.

We spent Christmas Eve just hanging out with each other...each child trying their hardest to show the relatives their latest tricks, making them play with their favorite toys, bringing them books to read. Linda and I prepared dinner (a spiral ham, green beans, scalloped potatoes, Strawberry Jello thingy, and rolls) and breakfast for the next day. It was a long day filled with anticipation...something I'm still not used to (since my family ALWAYS opened gifts on Christmas Eve). We set out cookies with Andrew and put everyone to bed. Then everyone went into action...assembling! After the assembly finished, we enjoyed Skyline dip and shrimp and deep conversations about fixing education in America (a nice change from someone accustomed to discussing bowel movements and imaginary football teams).

Andrew came into our bedroom at promptly 6:29am (we had told him he could get up at 6:30...no earlier). Chad informed us later that Andrew had been singing much earlier than that (they were roommates...lucky Chad). Lily and Michael were still sleeping soundly, so I asked Andrew to go downstairs and check to see if Santa had come. Andrew was downstairs for what seemed like a long time, and then came up to report. "Yup, Santa came," he said, almost tearing up. "But I can't see a foosball table. I don't think he brought one." A foosball table is ALL Andrew asked for for Christmas. I said that maybe Santa couldn't fit it on his sleigh. Jeff suggested that maybe it was still in a box under the tree unassembled. Andrew put his chin up and soldiered on. I sent him to wake up every other person in the house...except for Lily...I woke her up (I know, shame on me. But I wanted her to see the big pile of presents). I drag her bleary-eyed down, and the present opening began. Oh, but first Andrew read the letter from Santa (left by the cookie plate)...all by himself (with the exception of the words "extrememly" and "delicious"). I was so proud!

Andrew tackled the presents on the outside edge of the pile...all for other people except for a set of binoculars and a book for him. He almost lost it...really starting to cry. So much for enjoying watching other people open gifts... I gave him a hug and we started to sort through the gifts together. We found a few big packages and her perked up. He tore through his gifts while Lily opened one at a time...with frequent breaks for Cheerios, milk, and time to play with each gift. She was NOT to be rushed. The rest of us snuck in a gift or two...but we were much too busy getting Lily's toys out of the boxes and watching Andrew-the-hurricane blow through his packages. At the bottom of his stack, Andrew found a letter addressed to him from Santa. It instructed him to find another special gift in the family room...at the back of the house. He RUNS to that room and starts jumping up and down and screaming...because there is his full-sized foosball table. Priceless. Of course, I missed it because I was nursing Michael.

So it was a good Christmas, full of tricking children and seeing them happy. Lily loves her play tent/house thingy, I haven't spoken to Andrew all day, because he is so busy with his toys. Michael is in HEAVEN playing with the wrapping paper and his new toys (he got a TON...not from us...ahem, grandparents...)

We spent the rest of the day eating yummy Christmas breakfast casseroles and leftover ham and gorging ourselves on candy and candy covered Oreos (seriously, Sara, I think I gained 10 pounds on those in one day...so addictive). Just after dinner, everyone had to be back at the airport (Grandpa has to work tomorrow). It was a quick trip...a wonderful trip.

Merry Christmas! I feel so blessed to get to enjoy it with such a wonderful family!