Christmas Smiles

The halls were decked, the tree dripping with ornaments and the presents were torn open with a fervor only known by young children.  Julian was of course a hoot, as any three year old is, declaring, "This one is for me!  Ready or not!" as he tears off the wrapping.  He was delirious with excitement.  The catapult made him exclaim, "That is amazing!"

The girls loved their little gifts and Francesca repeatedly declared this year was "different."  "Something is different this year."  I suspect that most children about her age figure out the whole 'Santa' thing, but I sincerely don't expect Francesca to figure it out anytime soon.  She's a believer in all things mystical.  She is in no hurry whatsoever to grow up.  She is a child.  I think she is referring more to the end of the year 'changes' which our friend Joann has talked about and she is simply going along.  Ah, my little believer.  If she had been privy to the Mayan calendar, surely she would've prepared for the Apocalypse.  Francesca also said repeatedly that this was the "best Christmas ever."  She absolutely LOVED the Cat Park Santa brought her.  Yes, a Cat Park.  Who dreams up such things?  If it hadn't been for that random toy catalog that didn't make it into the trash can, she probably would've asked for ice cream or Christmas Candy.  10 little plastic cats, little plastic trees, shrubbery, flowers, cat brushes (to pretend brush the pretend cats) cat scratch posts, and of course fencing, because that's all any cat needs to stay put is a little fencing.  She happily played with her cat park all day long and I even heard her meowing Christmas tunes.

Cecilia asked for a new kid kitchen.  She was at first going to ask for a baby doll which came with outfits and diapers, etc. but lost the picture she tore out of the magazine so she switched to this kid kitchen.  This morning, she said, "I thought Santa forgot about me because I didn't see any kid kitchen, but then I saw the doll!"  She was delighted with the doll and Santa (the old sucker) left a note that said he would still deliver the kitchen if she promised to share it with her brother and sister.  I can't believe his elves didn't finish it in time for the sleigh ride?!  And might I mention thank goodness for weekly paychecks, understanding children and UPS?

Julian asked for a little wooden tractor with trailer and Santa delivered.  Tractor noises were abundant all day long.  I love the simplicity of these small requests and that it reminds me that we have everything we need . . . we only have very small wants, but we have everything we need.

We spent the morning resting from the early morning (they woke up at 11:31pm) chaos and going back to sleep and trying to go back to sleep and did a little sledding at Granny's.  After dinner, Andrew and I played darts in the garage . . . he won by a point, still undefeated.

Its days like this that I realize how hard we work everyday in our everyday lives!  I swear, we work so hard around here on the farm, the house, the children, the animals that if my husband sits his butt on the couch, I practically come unglued!  In my mind, I'm thinking, "What are you doing?  Why the heck are you sitting down?  There's stuff to do!"  Why?

The Peppermint Bark Sweatshop at Brittany's Labor Camp.

I mean really, we need to take time to also play!  The children play and play and play, but grown-up children also need to play as well.  And so, thank you Granny and Grandpa for the dart board.  I plan on beating Andrew someday soon . . . oh yes . . . very soon.  And yes, those are ping pong balls I have my eyes set upon.  A ping pong table would go perfectly in the bunk house!  Let the playing begin!  (If only until Spring!)  Merry Christmas!

Francesca and Cecilia on Christmas morning, looking at their 3-D animal books from Mr. and Mrs. Brown.  "Its like the animal is right in front of me!"  Really?  Ah, to be a child again!