Christmas 2008

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, but I think my husband put it best - 'Christmas morning is like giving your kids a drug overdose'. It is so true. The toys, the excitement, the toys, the wrapping paper, the music, and the toys. There is so much new and wonderful stuff that they don't even know what to do with it all. There is no sharing of any kind and letting another child even touch or look at their new toy creates a meltdown that the neighbors can hear 2 doors down.

We had a very generous Christmas this year. My parents, brother, sis-in-law and 2 1/2 year old niece were all staying with us to celebrate. With everyone in the house plus gifts sent from relatives who don't live here, we had an absolute drug overdose of 'new stuff'. The 3 kids played together so wonderfully that they lost interest in eating (except Sophia) and sleeping (also except Sophia). They did not want to go to bed, they woke up early, they would only eat if the food was consumable within 2.5 seconds, and they did feel a bit territorial over their toys.

Sophia likes to push stuff around, Thomas likes to put small cars into his new garbage truck and big wheel, and Isabella likes to undress dolls and color. Kids were running everywhere at all times and Isabella was a little overwhelmed by all the action at times. There were fights, a fall down the stairs, crayons smashed all over my kitchen floor, food everywhere and toys even more everywhere. I am still finding odds and ends that I"ll have to send home to respective owners.

Despite the craziness, it was really wonderful to be together. Many people don't have a family or the opportunity to be together at the holidays. In the past year I attended the funeral of a young soldier (son of a teacher friend, also a husband and father) killed in Iraq, had a friend pass away from complications related to skin cancer (his wife died of cancer several years ago and he left behind a son), and 2 other friends died (one unexpectedly in an accident and then his wife died about 6 mos later of pancreatic cancer - they have 2 daughters in college). The experiences of losing all these friends made me realize how lucky I am and how important it is to spend time with the people who matter most, even if it is completely chaotic and crazy. I would rather have that than an empty, lonely house any day of the week! Here's a few pictures of the 'new stuff' overdose.