Christmas

It was a Christmas to remember for us all. Huge milestones for most of us.

This is the first year we've had to deal with the "is Santa for real" issue. I find it almost annoying that it's already upon us. I like to blame DarRell for it though. I was wrapping presents with Daylon when he told me his dad told him that Santa wasn't real. Trying not to show that i was super annoyed by the fact that DarRell told him that, i asked him what his dad had said and then set out to do some major damage control. I spent the better of an hour talking to him, explaining that Christmas is about giving. That we need to remember "The Reason for the Season". Explaining that Santa was a real person and that that we are carrying on his tradition, and to PLEASE not ruin it for the two younger kids. When i finally confronted DarRell, he said that Daylon was starting to ask questions and that he was worried he was going to get teased in school for believing. My first thought... EVERY child has questions, that doesn't mean that you need to crush their belief in Santa. There are so many ways to get around the topic tactfully then to come right out and say that there isn't a Santa at all. With all the damage already done, and with me trying to put the pieces back together again, i guess i can say that I'm glad that it was Daylon. I think he got what i was trying to get across. I think he gets it more than a lot of adults.

I loved Christmas with Sam this year. He had a blast and I'm really loving Christmas at 19 months. It makes me sad that we'll never be able to do it like this again. Everything was "OOOHHH" or "WOW!" with him... LOVED IT! Nothing is more magical than Christmas through a child's eyes. I've tried to etch in my brain how special these times are but already things are starting to fade.

Another milestone... the addition of another Christmas tradition. Christmas Eve dinner went over very well. Instead of crown roast of lamb we had a lamb loin roast (just cause the butcher said the meat sent to them doesn't include a good crown roast). We ate in candle light and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. I think every year we will try something new to eat though. I'm thinking of making a album that consists of a Christmas cookbook of true and tried recipes. It'll be a ongoing thing but i got a few good recipes to start with.

All in all it was a good Christmas. I got DarRell a REALLY good back massager along with some camping goodies. The two older kids got heelies. Rianne got a portable CD player. Daylon got a PS3 video game with a paddle. Sam got some really cute toys. DarRell and I pitched in together and got the family a new PS3. We had considered a Wii but we had all these PS games and our old system when out of commision a few months ago, so that helped in the decision. DarRell got me some good pots for my new pot rack. We all got a few other small odds and ends (although I got NOTHING scrappy, *SIGH* can you beleive it?)

So, from our family to yours... i hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.