Christmas Eve

Leaving cookies and milk for Santa.

Opening their new slippers at Grandma and Grandpa's house (Sylvie never looks at the camera).

At the zoo in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. It was free and an hour before closing time, it wasn't crowded at all.

Christmas Eve was pretty laid back this year. Julio took the kids to the zoo in the afternoon while I stayed home and got a nap and baked. Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner. We enjoyed a nice meal and then played a game that Brian had prepared. It was a Christmas "memory game". When we got a match we had to tell the signnificance of the picture for Christmas. I'm pretty sure Marco won-he's really good at that game! Every time someone got a match, they got a gift too! Other than that, we just relaxed and left by about 8:30. We came home and put out the milk and cookies and the kids went to bed by 9. Julio and I stayed up arranging the gifts and putting together the "Santa toys". We also opened our gifts to each other. We unknowlingly got each other wallets. We made it simple this year and didn't get each other much else. Then we settled down for a nice winter's nap while the children dreamed about the what they would find the next morning under the tree.

Gingerbead houses

More Christmas fun

Wow, this has been one busy week. I'm so exhausted! I went to bed last night at 8pm, but was awakened by the horrible storm blowing everything around last night. This week I did preschool, which pretty much consumes all my time; preparing for it, doing it, and cleaning up after it. We made stockings, wreaths, nativity puppets, gingerbread houses and did our regular stuff-letters and numbers. Marco enjoys having it here, but I have to to referee sometimes between him and the girls. They don't want him to play with them and he gets upset. Poor Marco. Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it or should I send him to a real preschool. We're saving money and gas this way I guess. He still doesn't know his letters and sounds, but he does really well with projects and he can write his name!

I still haven't done my Christmas cards or made any goodies to give away, but I'll get to it this week. Lucia's out of school, so no driving back and forth or doing homework. I did get out the packages yesterday-thanks to Brandon who came over and helped me with a project that would have NEVER been done without him. Then, he watched the kids while I tredged out into the rain to the post office.

Julio and I discussed not exchanging gifts this year, but of course, he went out and bought me something. So I will have to go buy him something now too! And I thought I was done Christmas shopping!

We are hosting the family here at our house Christmas morning to open presents and have breakfast. I'm not sure what else we'll do that day. I'm excited, but will be depressed when it's over-I always am. Hopefully Tami and Dan can beat the storms and drive back and cheer us up from our post-holiday blues. Only one more week!! Still so much to do. We have no holiday plans tonight. I guess we'll just stay home and relax.







Have a great week everyone!

Lights!

Monday night we headed to Dovewood Court to see the lights. We were able to take a train around the first time, and then walked though so we could see everything up close. It's a yearly tradition of ours and the kids love it. Only one more week until Christmas!! I can't believe how fast it's coming!

Santa Sightings

Last week I took the kids to the mall to get their pictures taken. Lucia and Marco were all smiles, but Sylvia was not cooperative at all. We did manage to get a few good ones though. After we were done, we walked down to see Santa. We didn't have time to sit on his lap, but the kids went over and said hi-none of them hid behind my leg or cried! It's the first time EVER! (The Santa at our mall is in my parents' ward). We were in a hurry to get to the church for the Santa meet and greet they were doing there. Since the ward is doing an adult's only dinner this year, they hosted Santa and the kids as a consolation prize. Julio was the one who took them, I was exhausted from trying to get Sylvie to pose and smile for the camera. So, apparently, at the church, they got to sit on Santa's lap and take a picture. Sylvie seemed pretty indifferent to Santa. She sat on his lap, but wouldn't talk to him or smile. Hey, at least she didn't scream and try to get away! It is Marco's first year sitting on his lap without crying. Lucia asked me that night how Santa could be in two places at once and why they didn't look alike? Well, I explained to her, Santa is in the North Pole. He only comes out on Christmas Eve because he's too busy getting all the toys ready. Otherwise, he sends his helpers to the malls and churches to meet with the children and that they would pass on any messages from her to Santa. I actually told her that it was her friend's grandpa dressed up as Santa at the mall. She thought that was funny. But she accepted that explanation without any qualms. Good thinking huh?

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Sylvie (with chocolate ice cream all over her face), Lucia and Marco getting ready to decorate the tree.

Happy Holidays! The season is here. Good thing Christmas is in the winter because it brightens up the gloominess all around us. We started our countdown to Christmas yesterday by getting out our chocolate advent calendars (Marco already ate most of the chocolates out of his) and going to get our tree. Lucia and Marco were especially well behaved yesterday so we could go get the tree and decorate it last night. It was freezing outside as we looked through the fake trees at Wal Mart. I don't remember winter being this cold last year! They got to bed a little bit later than usual and had a hard time getting up this morning. But, isn't that what the season is all about? Being together and carrying on traditions with your family? Sylvie has been undecorating the tree all day and I've been hanging them back on the tree-above her little reach. We have lots of things scheduled, but will try to have the quiet moments together at home as well. May you all enjoy the holidays!