We had a great Christmas! The boys woke up at 5:42 - I mean bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to get at it. You should have seen the look on Paige's face when we went in to tell her it was time to get up. The boys were squealing and saying, "Paige! It's Christmas time!!!" She looked at them, looked at the clock - and I swear I thought her eyes were going to roll into the back of her head and stay there.
She got into a slightly better mood once she got downstairs and saw all the gifts. I like that Hank doesn't let us put anything under the tree until after the kids go to bed on Christmas Eve because then there's the big dramatic moment when they see everything on Christmas morning. Aidan was running around and couldn't figure out where to start first. Stockings? Tree? Donuts? I stalled him with donuts until I got the video camera up and loaded. So we captured some video... although I haven't learned how to pull the video off of the camera on to the computer yet. (had the camera for over 3 years - never taken any of the footage off yet. oops) So at SOME point we'll have lots of fun video to look at.
Colin was more methodical. He had to check and make sure Santa ate his cookies and milk (he did) and that the reindeer ate the apple we left out (forgot to buy carrots) - and then that all of the stockings were filled, and that there were presents from Santa under the tree (Santa even brought presents for the new pup, Lina, and the new kitty, Phineas). And then he was absolutely convinced and then just kept hopping up and down screaming, "Santa came! Santa came!!"
Colin was quite happy because he got everything on his list. He was so determined that he get everything, that he actually brought his list with him to show Santa who made an appearance at his school's "Candyland Carnival" before school let out for the holidays. It's too hard to read below, but his list says - "Dear Santa, Toy Tools, Helicopter, Tinkertoys. Colin."
Aidan's list was simpler. Cars. Trucks. Trains. Pretty much anything with an engine and wheels. And of course... he got a nice representative sample of each. He also got some Lincoln Logs to go along with Colin's Tinkertoys. The boys LOVE them both. I love the expression on some of my friend's faces when they found out that's one of the things they got. "They still make those?" Yes they do... and the boys have been playing with them all week - at least until I got tired of stepping on them and made them pick them up. Here's a picture of Aidan all worn out on Christmas afternoon, passed out on the couch holding the foam sword that Colin bought for him at the dollar store. Guess that's what happens when you wake up at 5:42 am.
Paige got lots of BOOKS, her favorite things. Plus some boots, clothes, CD's, DVD's... and did I mention books? She was quite happy, and had her nose in a book from Christmas morning until it was time to go to her dad's house on Sunday the 27th. She and I and her friend Liz went to see The Nutcracker on the Saturday before Christmas. We didn't go last year, but except for that I think she and I have gone every year since she was seven. A fun holiday thing... we get to dress up and go out to dinner and then see the ballet. I think I'll keep doing it with her until she just doesn't want to do it anymore. The boys haven't been yet. I plan to take them once they get a little older and can sit through 2+ hours of dancing without soda and popcorn.
My favorite gift this year was my Kindle - lets me download books and read them on a really easy-to-read screen. Good thing... because my eyes are officially getting old. I will always love real books, but I like this if I want to get a new book without having to buy a big heavy hardcover. Plus I can read with just one hand (you just push a button to turn the page). That leaves a hand open for coffee... :)
Hank got a new coffee maker this year (surprise). It has a bin that you can load in 1/2 pound of coffee beans, and then just program in how many cups you want and how strong and it will grind the appropriate about of beans. He is quite tickled with it. I think last year is the only year that we've been married that he didn't get a coffee maker of some sort. No coffee maker or Nutcracker last year- weird.
So, we had a nice dinner, just family - and then the day after Christmas I crawled back in bed to try and shake this cold I've had forever. It didn't work. I still have it. In fact, I'm back in bed today trying to shake it again.
We did have a fun New Year's though. We threw a party, and because we were ringing in a new decade, we had a "Celebration of Decades" theme and each couple were assigned a decade to represent. Hank and I were the 20's, we had neighbors that were the 40's, and some of my Sierra Moms friends and their husbands came and were the 50's, 70's, and 80's. The couples that were the 30's and the 60's ended up not being able to make it - and we had some friends stop by for a while and then had to head out to another party so they were unofficially dressed as "current day."
Everyone dressed the part, and then brought drinks and appetizers to represent the decade too. Our 50's couple brought the makings for Gold Cadillacs, our 70's couple brought beer and mini hot dogs, our 40's couple brought m&m rice crispy treats - because as I understand it m&m's were invented in the 40's, and rice crispy treats were also popular then. It was a lot of fun... but I'm still not over my cold so am back in bed again today after taking down the Christmas tree this morning. The rest of the decorations will have to wait until next week when the kids are back in school.
So, that's it. I hope everyone is doing well and is enjoying your new year. We love you, and will have more updates soon...
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