Donde esta Santa Clees, the vato with the bony knees?

We had a great, mellow Christmas. And while I'm writing this the kids are playing with Mikey's new Robosapien he bought with his T@rget gift card & months worth of allowance I owed him. listening to him burp & fart and all the other things 7 year olds love. (FYI: we paid a gazillion times less than the listed $174, which makes me want to buy 5 and sell them on the black market).

Big Hunk had to work Christmas Eve, so after he got off we headed to church. With no childcare. That should be outlawed. Because while I know tons of kids across the country are totally used to attending church with their parents in the main sanctuary in the land of quiet, my kids? Not so much. And it results in lots of "whispering" (because how many 5 year olds do you know are successful at that?) and grinding my teeth while singing Joy to the World. But it was a beautiful service and ended with an a cappella rendition of Silent Night that made me cry. Holding my baby girl as we sang in unison with 100 strangers of the birth of our Savior. Unforgettable.

After church we spent time at my friend's house where we enjoyed lots of food and the kids had a blast running from one end of the house to the other, so what more needs to be said? Their needs were met.

We ended the night reading the Christmas Story and lying in bed together. And I only stayed up till 2am cleaning for the next day.

Christmas morning the kids woke up and we opened presents. Thanks to the economy we had a very modest Christmas, but I kinda like it that way. Only a few gifts to each kid (and one to BH & I) but you know, I find it so much easier to keep their minds on Jesus and why we're celebrating when the tree isn't overflowing with gifts. Seriously, what kid is going to look at the gifts and think "they're not important, that's not what this is about"? ;-) But they got stuff they loved and we kept it simple. And truthfully, they don't need tons of stuff that is going to last 2 months before breaking or getting tossed aside. {I'm not trying to show you what a saint I am, because honestly, I was bummed that day that BH & I had gotten just one thing each, and it made me feel totally poor. And unloved. So I did have my *very* selfish moments. But I'm just keeping it real.}

My parents & two uncles came over around noon, and we waited hours before the ham was ready. Apparently I need to buy a new meat thermometer, because BOTH of mine kept telling me the ham wasn't ready. Which resulted in many Christmas movies and munchies before we actually ate dinner. But it was good and uneventful. Not like my kitchen after dinner. And after no one helped me clean up. Except BH because he could see the steam coming from my ears.

All in all, it was a great Christmas. My SIL & nephew came over (with her boyfriend) on Sunday and we got to do it all over again. I'm sorry, but any time I can have sweet potatoes smothered (and I do mean smothered) in butter and marshmallows is a darn good day.

I went outside last night and enjoyed the cool breeze and clear, starry sky, reflecting on how in the world it could already be New Year's? I'm still baffled. It feels like it should be October, not approaching a New Year with Christmas long gone. Before you know it, I'll be complaining about the summer heat and planning birthday parties. Craziness.