Post Christmas Haze

Do most people go through the haze of 26 December? You know, the Christmas-is-over-so-let's-get-our-lives-back-in-order...AFTER-we-watch-this-new-movie-and-stuff-ourselves-with-MORE-chocolate-and-popcorn-while-still-in-our-pajamas haze? I came in to find Bart and Charlie watching "Rescuers Down Under" under the influence of this force.  

You don't know what I'm talking about?

Watch the right arms in the following photos.

Case in Point

Christmas Morning

We didn't know what to expect from this Christmas, but it was a good one.  We had a loooooong morning opening presents because Charlie would open one and was so excited about the toy unraveled that he didn't want to move on. We took a break for breakfast half way through opening. That made it fun. Jane just took it all in stride and puttered around playing with the new stuff (along with Elephant, of course!).

Jedi Charlie. 

We knew the lightsabers would be a hit! (see below)

To our amazement, Jane's not trying to pull this hat from Aunt Mary off--she's feeling the fuzz.

Bart trying out the new remote for his camera.

Christmas of the Jedi Knight

Jedi Charlie attacking and slaying Dark Sith Lord Bart to save Christmas; then Jedi in Repose--all in a day's work

Tribute to Baby Jane

We took a trip to the Easternly beach yesterday searching for loot and booty.  On the beach to our astonishment we found a wee  castaway who was marooned by her pirate clan for drinkin' all the grog and eating all the cocoa beans.  A rough couple o' days she had had for she was tired and hungry.  We decided to take her on with our own swashbuckling crew for the mere price of her life in slavery.  Surprised we were when we found that it was her day of birth just a year ago. She proved to be an invaluable ally when we were diggin' up old sunken treasure in the bottom of Davy Jones Locker for she could spot the sharks faster than the rest!  Since then though, we noticed she's not good for much except eating, drinking, crying and making us hardened pirates soft in the hearts.

Christmas Preferences

Anne's List

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Usually Hot Chocolate, although I LOVE egg nog!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or sit them under the tree? For me? He wraps. 

3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white? White on the tree, Colored in our window

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put your decorations up? This year, the day after Thanksgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Turkey

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: So many to choose from... Doing the nativity with all the cousins at Grandma's, my brothers waking me up on Christmas morning, and many more!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Not sure how old I was, but under 6 because we lived in the old house. Bill and Aaron came barging in my room yelling, "Santa's not real!" Apparently they got the "yes, you can tell her" from Mom and made the most of it.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not unless they're P.J.'s (or scriptures, DAD)

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? We reached a compromise this year! Every other year theme, other years family style with a new ornament for each member of the family per year.

11. SNOW: Love it or Dread it? LOVE it from inside the house or playing in it. Dread it while driving.

12. Can you ice skate? Sadly, no.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Hmm... Hans Christian Anderson's book of fairy tales from Grandma, Windmill from Mom and Dad, many different things from Bart.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering the Savior, spending time with family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert? Toast and Hot Chocolate

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? playing games with family, looking at lights around town, reading the nativity story.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing, but Bart wraps the lights clear to the top, so we don't need anything.

18. Do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving

19. Favorite Holiday song: Yikes! Ask me later and I'll give you my play list!

20 Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Yuck, but I do like peppermint in other forms. 

A Taste of What's to Come

Our next door neighbor had a birthday today and brought us some of her cake. I was sharing with Jane when she started digging in with her hands. Not caring for pulverized cake, I sat her in her chair with her own piece. 

I guess we'll know how eating her 1st b-day cake this coming Tuesday will go!

...and if you're not careful, she'll come after you with those gooey fingers!

As for Charlie, he has perfected the art of taking all the icing off without eating a crumb of cake. Then he goes for his unsuspecting neighbor's piece!

Our Own Dr. Doolittle

Many of you know that Jane came to earth as an animal lover. All her favorite toys are stuffed furry friends (of the cotton/polyester/microfiber variety--I hate to give any taxidermists the wrong idea.). 

The elephant in this picture goes with her everywhere. Or if not everywhere, it is very close at hand. If she happens to leave it somewhere, and three minutes later she sees it again, she squeals and giggles as if they were best friends reuniting after decades.

"The problem is, Bear, you have something in your eye..."

Memories of Christmas

WARNING: For those of you who do not want to read about my Christmas feelings: THIS POST IS NOT FOR YOU. And I am totally UN-offended if you don't read it.

For FHE tonight, Charlie and I (and Jane played on the floor around us) borrowed and watched Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (thanks Auburn the Fierce!). This is the first year that Charlie has really been interested in things like Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, etc., and so I thought he would enjoy the old children's classic. While we watched I was engulfed with childhood memories...

I remember when we lived in the old house and I had the flu on Christmas (horrible! I know). We went to Grandma and Granddad's on Christmas Eve and did the nativity--well, everyone else went. I was quarantined, of course! And how much more horrible it was because it was MY year to be Mary! However, the reason this Christmas stuck out to me tonight was because this was the year (I'm pretty sure) that I received my own Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, from the movie, that walked by himself. I had him for a long time--even after he stopped working properly.

And from there the memories kept popping out, but I won't bore you with them. They are special to me because I was there and experienced them, but they wouldn't be all that special to you, because you have your own memories to laugh and feel warm about. But I did want to say that this year more than ever I have been reflecting on the meaning of Christmas. Maybe because this is the first year Bart and I will have our own Christmas far from family. Maybe because we finally have kids who can understand a little of what's going on. I don't know, but I DO know that I want Charlie and Jane to realize the birth of the Savior was such a special night and that it can bring wonderful joy into their lives. I want them to recognize this holiday as one spent with family, and hope that someday, they can look back on the Christmas memories we create together with the fondness that I look back on my own.

Happy Crabs

We had visitors! St. Anthony and Belle of the Ball came and stayed with us for a few days. The first day St. Anthony had an interview at the hospital, so Belle came and played with the kids and me. We took Charlie and Jane to a 3 Little Pigs puppet show at the library and hung around till Anthony and Bart got home. The next day Bart had to work, but we all went to the Aquarium and the beach since it was such a nice day! I can't tell you how nice it was to have them here! After they left today I told Bart that it was so nice having family around that it makes 3.5 years seem a lot longer!

These are just a taste of us having fun at the aquarium. I'd say we make pretty cute little hermit crabs, don't you?

Under the Sea

We took a trip down to the Aquarium and may I just say, IT WAS AWESOME! :) We loved it! Bart couldn't go because he was working and was sad because he didn't know if we'd want to go back. Not the case, not the case at all! We'll be going back...several times, I'm sure (most likely with all our visitors--BEWARE VISITORS!) 

The only thing I didn't like about the aquarium was the fact that I could practically TASTE the salt water and it made me crave a good SCUBA vacation.

St. Anthony and Belle of the Ball with Charlie in front of the Aquarium.

Mesmerized...

Ride, Charlie, RIDE! (Hasn't anyone told you not to look back?)

It still amazes me how much Jane loves animals! She is so interested in all they're doing!

How many sea horses do you see?

These were baby turtles they rescued three months ago! Who knew reptiles would have baby faces?? 

Petting the sting rays.

The whole time I was thinking, "The crocodile hunter was killed by one of these things and I'm petting one. Hmmm..."

Along came Mr. Alligator...

There's a turtle near her reflection. She loved watching them.

The BIG Tank

They had a big tank with 800 fish in it, including 3 kinds of sharks (2 each), two green moray eels, and one monster grouper (I forget its official name, but Belle is pointing to it). We loved it! Right before we left they had a dive show. Three divers went in the tank and answered some questions. Charlie literally fell over backward when the diver approached us in the last picture. He wasn't quite sure he wanted that weird looking guy coming at him! 

The Beach!!! (part 2)

...And of course we HAD to go to beach. It was kind of nippy, but it was still relaxing to hear the crash of the waves and feel the sea breeze kiss our cheeks. Ahhh...  Jane even fell asleep in our AWESOME STROLLER (talk about all terrain! That thing did some wheeling through the soft sand!) and despite the chill, Anthony and Belle couldn't resist getting their feet wet.