Like a lot of people, we buy the kids a new ornament every year that represents the past year.
S. saw her first snow this year--she wasn't particularly impressed!
O. would like to be a ballerina and she has one very cute ballet move.
T. aka "bear scout", need I say more?
We had fun reading Christmas stories for the 24 days before Christmas doing our best to convince the kids that Christmas is NOT about getting!!
T. got a new gameboy...silly Santa bought him the cheapest gameboy last year thinking he would not know the difference and Santa was right in the short term. However, Santa did not think that T. would figure out that there was a better gameboy that all T.'s friends either had or wanted and so one short year later the only present T. wanted was the better gameboy. I hope Santa thinks more carefully about those expensive presents in the future! T. was very happy! After years of trying to talk T. into learning to ride a bike, he has finally decided that it might be kind of fun. He's been practicing on an old hand-me-down bike that a friend gave him, but Nana and Poppi pulled through with a new bike.
Never send Daddy's to buy presents for their sons! How did Santa know that Daddy would want airhogs too???
O. wanted only one thing... well one category of things...BARBIES!! She was consistent from beginning to end that all she wanted was barbies, and what she got was barbies, barbies and more barbies! She was happy as a pig in mud. T. also bought her a little stuffed pink poodle which she has become attached to(thank heavens, we can dump that old fluffy!). She also got a bike which she is way excited about. This girl has no fear. She'll be riding like a pro in no time. All three of the kiddos got the cutest new handmade quilts from Nana, which they adore! And money and gift cards from the other grandparents which they can't wait to spend!!!
Cinderella Barbie, does it get any better than that?
S. was happy just tearing the paper and trying to snag whatever O. became attached to. She got a little bike to ride around the house, which she loves to ride and to stand on if she wants to reach something that she is not supposed to have. Yes, she is a danger to herself and others! She got a barbie or two, also. In hopes of keeping her from taking O.'s barbies---not totally successful!
So, all was happiness and joy! My Dad suggested (after tiring of me complaining about the horrific state of my carpet which I deep clean almost once a month) that we install new flooring if we could find a good deal. The day after Christmas off we went to the flooring store. We worked a great deal on closeout flooring which was almost exactly what I would have chosen. THEN the fun began. The Christmas tree came down that day and the wood flooring adventure began the next day. In all my Dad's years and experiences as a GC he has never actually installed wood flooring. The first day went about as we expected and we got almost all of the living room done, the second day was a bit of a nightmare when we started the hallway with the wavy walls, tight spaces and very, very sticky glue! In the end, my Dad is a trooper! I tried to get him to let me do the glue, but he very kindly got a little impatient with my inexperience and preferred to do it himself despite the toll on the knees and shoulders. The flooring looks great although I am now having a little issue with the manufacturer about some problems with the finish--I'm telling you, I have bad luck! Here's what we learned from this experience---Do not install engineered wood flooring--only install solid hardwood!! I absolutely wanted this option but it was not possible in my house. My dad will not install engineered would flooring for clients...he will refer them to a sub-contractor!!! I am so grateful for the sacrifices my parents made to help us out! My mom was like a crazy woman trying to corral these cats while the three of us worked---probably the hardest job of all! Of course even though the flooring's done, we started painting while the baseboards were off which needs to be carried through the whole house, the carpet in the bedrooms now looks even worse next to the new wood floors. Home improvement projects just seem to snowball, but we'll get it done eventually.
Oh yea, in the midst of the Christmas Eve chaos, the boys were at the car dealership, being held hostage in what seems to be the never ending battle for the car we want at the price we're willing to pay. PATIENCE!!!! We're actually getting used to being a one car family--that won't last for too much longer.
O. graduated from nursery(church), and now she gets to go to Primary with the big kids--she was so excited on her first Sunday as a Sunbeam!
All in all it was a wonderful Christmas so thankful for this beautiful time of year and the constant reminders to focus on what really matters--our faith in Christ! I hope it was wonderful for all of you and we wish you a fabulous 2009!!!
