Ah yes...

It's that time of year again; crunch time. Christmas is one week away and let the frazzled craziness begin...or not. You may recall that in years past we've started keeping Christmas really low key and as a result have enjoyed it much more than we had in the past. This year has been no exception. Geo's been working a lot but the kiddos and I have been watching Christmas movies, doing leisurely shopping, and talking about winter break plans. So far so good, none of us are too stressed out about anything yet-in fact, all of the Christmas gifts save a few are completely wrapped. I have to pick up a few last minute gifts but we're done. Done done done! I'm so looking forward to a calm peaceful Christmas in our new home this year. For the first time since moving down here, we're not going ANYWHERE on Christmas day; everyone is coming to us. It'll be nice to not have to get out of my pjs and put on make up until everyone comes over for dinner in the afternoon. Gabe and Bits will get to play with and enjoy their gifts without having to rush around getting ready to leave.

In other news, today my grandmother would have been 80. It's really hard to think of her at that age. It's hard to think of her as the great grandmother to 8 great grandkids. Christmas was her holiday; she loved Christmas. She had a rough upbringing; her mother died giving birth and by the age of three she was in foster care. She was a proud member of the United States Marine Corp and was a widow a mere 26 years into her marriage; she raised three boys and enjoyed being with her grandkids. She was feisty as all get out, a little firecracker if you will, and she is so sorely missed.  More than just missing her, it makes me incredibly sad that my kids never got to meet her. SarahAnne (whose middle name is my grandma's maiden name-Velia) is so much like my grandma, it's kind of spooky. The first night she was born, I looked into her eyes and my grandmother was staring back at me; my mother has often remarked that she thinks Bits is Ethel reincarnated, which both amuses and creeps her out haha. I'm incredibly thankful that at the very least little bits of her are carried on in her great grandchildren.

And on that note, it's off to get some puttering around the house done...hope you're all enjoying your Christmas season and not *too* stressed out!

It's Probably His Cousin...

On the way home from taking Geo to work this morning, we encountered a deer. She was standing on the side of the road until we got closer and she darted in front of me. It's a great way to start the day, for sure, especially if you're Gabe. He was SO excited that there was a deer by our car, because it *had* to be a reindeer. He excitedly asked, "which reindeer is THAT one Mom??" I told him it wasn't a reindeer, just a white tailed deer-he thought about it for a minute then asked "are you SURE it wasn't a reindeer??" I told him no, it was a white tailed deer and that reindeer don't live in Illinois. He sighed and said "maybe that was cousin or something" I laughed and agreed, that yes, maybe it WAS his cousin. Goofy boy; he is SO into Christmas this year, and it's SO much fun :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Last night, Gabe and Bits decided they wanted to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (which is probably one of mine and Geo's favorites for Christmas) as we were watching, Gabriel said "Hey Mom, why don't we all have some hot chocolate and watch this together??" So our little family watched Charlie Brown and drank hot cocoa and took a breather from the past week and all that's gone on and man oh man, did we need it. It was nice to just not have to think about all that's going on. No ADHD, Neuropsychologist, omg the car isn't running, nothing, just Snoopy and Chuck and hot cocoa.

I'm hoping last night is indicative of what our holiday season is going to be like; calm, quiet, just the four of us.

Instead of stressing out over my holiday budget (ha, holiday budget) and the fact that this year may be even leaner than last year, instead of being cranky because the other 4488 people at Meijer were rude, instead of focusing on what Christmas ISN'T about, I hope that we'll all be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy ourselves. Enjoy delicious family dinners, enjoy holiday decorating and the Trans Siberian Orchestra (Gabe has requested them twice in the last week) and focus on thanking God for all the gifts and blessings we've received this year. Despite everything else going on, we really ARE blessed, we really ARE lucky, and we really are loved.

Now, in three weeks when I'm belly aching about the jerk in line at Meijer or lamenting the fact that my Christmas budget is gone, someone remind me about this post and hopefully it'll straighten me out :P

Christmas Spirit

One of my favorite Christmas movies is "Elf" It's a sweet story about Buddy the Elf who goes looking for his family and restores everyone's Christmas spirit in the process. In one of the scenes, he is answering phones, he says "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" SO today, everytime the phone rang, I would say "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" to make people giggle. I belong to another online community and posted there saying "If you call me, that's what I'll say" One of my girlfriends emailed me and told me her kid's names and what they wanted for Christmas...and then the phone rang. Buddy the Elf talked to these two sweet children and they got off the phone in disbelief that they had talked to Santa's head elf :) I hear from their mom that they are STILL wandering around talking about the Elf they talked to. Oh man oh man, do I love children at Christmas. They are still too young to be cynical about Christmas, they don't "hate" Christmas music, and they certainly don't get offended by the words "Merry Christmas". My Christmas wish for all of you is that you'll all be a bit more childlike at Christmas and revel in the small things that make this time of year so magical for some many people :D
(and if you'd like Buddy the Elf to call YOU, email me and I'll arrange for it hehe)