And so this is Christmas...

And what have we done? Another year over, and a new one just begun... Ok, so that is kind of how the Beatles song goes, right?

Christmas at the Clark abode has been another good one. Lots of cheer and the typical tear. Kids are both full throttle with their colds which has given their moods wide swings and naps off kilter. We started the week with a major dump of snow and ended it with very warm weather, wind and rain. We were lucky to have Bob, Jackie, Jenny and Erik join us for Christmas Eve and over night to wake up with Santa's treasures. We started the afternoon with cleaning and cooking and opened a few gifts once our guests arrived. Had our salmon dinner (I was pleased with the results, yay!) and topped it off with a traditional Christmas pudding made with care by my mother. I think I flubbed the sauce, but I was happy about the salmon, so I was ok with that.

After dinner, we opened a few more gifts and Dylan found his "it" gift. The red Dirtdevil vacuum. YAY! I was so close to not getting it. Bought it Monday morning after the snow storm had cleared. I asked one of the employees where the were and after a quick look said they were out. I was irritated with myself for not getting it last time I was there. Then after a minute or two he came back with one in hand YAY TARGET! This is the second time I had a floor worker come find me after looking further into a request I had. Anyway, Dylan spent the rest of the night vacuuming. It actually sucks up a little dirt!

He also enjoyed the mini dust buster. Here he is showing Erik basic operation technique.

Sophia's "it" gift still remains to be the sleeveless princess dress she got for her birthday. She got LOTS of clothes, mostly dresses, which I know she will enjoy wearing. Both kids have had fun with the toy airplane - screwing in and out all the screws to take it apart and put it back together with the toy drill it comes with.

Christmas eve ended with the normal bath, however, there were THREE babies, not two in it. Little Erik had a lot of fun with his cousins. I was all psyched to read Sophia her snowman jubilee book as I had built her that snowman earlier in the week and this book is about the night before Christmas. The snowmen come alive, have a big jubilee and help guide Santa's sleigh. then at the end of the book it says something like: you many find it hard to believe that the snowmen come alive on Christmas Eve, but look at your Snowman on Christmas day and see if he looks the same way. Well, I took Sophia to the window to have a look at her snowman the night before Christmas and what she saw was OUR Frosty laying on the ground as if he were assassinated.

I, of course, burst out laughing and felt terrible that she saw her snowman all, well, dead. She told me "Frosty all melted, mama". And I had to hide my laughter yet again. After putting her to bed, I went outside to resurrect our Frosty and was assisted by jenny in getting him all put back together.

Christmas morning had a staggered start. Dylan got things rolling at 5 and he was collected by Ethan who brought him down and had to wake Pepe. Jackie, Jenny and Erik were next shortly after 6 and I soon after that. Sophia took her time and greeted the day at 7.30 and we were off and running to get to our stockings. That dirtdevil took second chair for Dylan only to the chocolate and candy in his stocking. Sophia was accessorized with hers.

We had an early Christmas dinner at noon complete with a juicy roast beast and Bob's famous pumpkin pie. All compliments of our dear house guests. The house was cleared by 1 and I think the kids were still buzzed from the activity because they sure wouldn't go down for a nap. Was a quiet Christmas dinner here. The quietest for me that I have had. Feels a little strange to do three loads of laundry and vacuum on Christmas day. hmmmm.
So here I am, with one last gift thanks to my kiddios - a cold to bring me into the new year. Ahhhh. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!