Christmas is over...

...and that is that - no more pennies in the old man's hat. :-)

What a really fun and enjoyable Christmas. Christmas Eve - we went to dinner as a little family and then got hot choc and cookies and went to look at lights. We came home, opened one gift, checked to see where Santa was via Norad and went to bed. We got up Christmas morning - tore through all our gifts(Santa has a VERY lenient "nice" list - Mabel AND Jack got gifts) and waited for Aunt Jill - and waited and waited and waited. Amtrak had decided that their engine couldn't run so Aunt Jill was now on the bus!!!! :-/ And Smart Alec that she is - when asked "am I still picking you up at the train station?"

"Well, I don't think they'll drop me by your house." :-) Gotta love her. She FINALLY made it up here and we ate, and ate, and played games and watched TV and talked our heads off . :-) Friday we went shopping - Joann's of course - our favorite store. :-) And then had Chinese "Far, raw, raw, raw, raw, raw, raw, raw, raw. :-)

Saturday was SO rainy - Bill got called out to "control floods". We took Aunt Jill to the train station and found out that she was again getting a bus. :-/ Since I had the kids in tow she told us to go ahead (chicken) and she would call if the bus didn't come. She also promised to call when she got home. The phone rang at 3a.m.!!!! The bus didn't get to Naperville till 8:30 and then - even with only 4 people on board and all of them getting off at McComb or Quincy - they STILL made ALL the stops in between!!!!!! I felt SO bad for her!!!!!

Sunday we went to Dick and Laurena's. Bob got a new puppy! Oh, he is the CUTEST! He's this little bitty thing with these HUGE feet. It's like he's wearing floppy slippers. It's TOO funny. We had a really nice time. The kids of course, carried on as they do. Jack taught Jackie how to play "garbage" - which I think is a lot like playing "cups" on Friends. :-) Sally read to Laurena. Bob took Jack out and threw the football back and forth. Jack LOVED that! ;-) Sally's still a little confused about just where Dave lives. He talks about going to his house - but he brought clothes to his Mom's house. ;-) And she INSISTS that Jackie lives there - because they call it "Jackie's Room". :-)

Today we got a visit from Harry and Sherry. We always laugh so much that my cheeks hurt when they leave. They think Mabel is so cute. :-) (she put on her best "I'm so innocent" look) Those two are so cute and just the best example of a good marriage. I miss them so. Sherry has got to write a book. She has a friend who by all means shouldn't be able to walk erect. :-) Sherry has the BEST stories! We had a GOOD time. :-)

Bill goes back to work tomorrow and I'm stuck with the children!!!
I think we're going to try and make a gingerbread house tomorrow and tackle the laundry. I haven't done a load since Christmas eve!!!! Thank God, Santa brought new socks. :-)

So ends another Christmas. I HAVE to remember that next year I MUST plan! I HAVE to do things EARLY - because I'm not always assured the use of Bill. :-) I was wrapping presents at midnight one night. I don't LIKE that!!!!! But, with him out plowing - it was the only time I was sure I'd get total alone time. So next year - I need to do things earlier! :-)

I think we're going to try more candy making next year. We've mastered our fake turtles and it's time to move up. :-)

Both kids did pretty well with all the presents and "greediness" and ADD - flit from one to another. I don't know HOW to teach gratitude but they need it. They are THRILLED with EVERYTHING - really they have never NOT liked a present - but they're always working for something else. When we're shopping "can't we get?....." and this is one day after they had received a ton of gifts. I guess it's a kid thing - but I still want to address contentment. Granted Bill should be the first student. :-)

I have to say I'm looking forward to not getting out of my jammies tomorrow. :-)