I was telling a friend of mine recently that I thought when I had kids that the holidays would start to be really special; creating our own family traditions, getting into that whole wonder and spirit that children have when it comes to Santa or Easter egg hunts or whatever it may be. Maybe it's because my children are still too young to really "get it," but so far I haven't been hit with this magic I had anticipated. Mike and I tried to decide whether or not to get a tree this year, since it seems we are already on the less-than-3-week countdown to Christmas, and we weren't really feeling the necessity. I got fickle and changed my mind this morning, so we got a small tree and put up some decor. I'm glad we did because once we had it up, I remembered how much warmer the house seems with Christmas lights on at night, and how much I love the smell of pine in the air. So we fashioned together some last minute holiday cheer, though sadly I was out of egg nog for my traditional "drinking while decorating the tree."
(I'd like to note that it's NOT my tradition to decorate the tree in a bathrobe. And this photo was unsolicited. But due to the fact that my intentions to take a nice, peaceful shower while the boys were napping, followed by the peaceful set-up of the tree before Jack awoke, were DESTROYED by Jack skipping naptime, I had to stay in the robe till all the decorating craze was past and Jack could let the tree alone long enough for me to steal away. On the up side, he's feeling good enough again [thank GOD] to skip naps, so I guess it's back to normal for us.)
Jack would only pose by his stocking if we let him stand on the Wii Fit balance board
Jack is the only one with a true stocking this year, except for the two little ones for Morphine and Lucy. Hawkeye ate my stocking last year, and Mike's is falling apart. We don't yet have one for Benjamin, but hope to wait on that till we can get one that means a little more than a Target-bought stocking. (Note to Sarah: after you GRADUATE in May, I plan to commission you to knit one for Benj. I pay well, don't worry. Especially since your pay grade will be much steeper with a PhD behind your name.)
Even Morphine got into the festivities
I received a surprise package in the mail from my old host family in New Zealand (from 1995!!!!) and it had the cutest gifts for the boys. Little matching tee shirts with kiwi birds on them, New Zealand hats, cute little baby UGG boots (hand sewn in NZ!) for Benj, and a kiwi stuffed bird for Jack. And NZ candy for me and Mike. The only one worth writing home about (which I probably did when I lived there) is the Crunchie. I could eat that all day. Jack quickly commandeered Benj's red tee and hat, and left Benj with the blue that was sent to him. Benj didn't care--he made quick work of the hat and got it all slobberly in no time.
Here's my cutie 7-month-old practicing karate:
2-yr-olds can be found in all sorts of weird spots:
That's pretty much where we're at. I'm hoping to send Jack to daycare tomorrow since he's feeling better, and hopefully not contagious any longer. We'll see what they say.
