Forgotten presents

Yesterday as I was playing with the boys, it occurred to me that there was a Christmas present that no one ever opened, and that I couldn't even remember wrapping. I searched my bedroom closet - our not-so creative hiding place that'll need to change when the kids are a little older - and sure enough, it had been left in there. It's a game I ordered from a speech company that I found when Spencer was still in therapy. We had SO much fun with it! You draw cards from 3 different decks (nouns, verbs, prepositions) and make sentences. Such a simple but great idea. The sentences often turn out to be very silly, and I loved seeing the boys cracking up over say, an iceskater skidding headfirst down an escalator. We played it off and on all day, and I was ultimately glad that we hadn't given it to them on Christmas, as it would have just gotten lost in the shuffle. We also took down the Christmas tree, and started packing away all the ornaments and decorations. I really didn't want to do it yet, but after it was knocked over (by the dog) for the 3rd time in as many days, I figured it was time. I don't enjoy this part of the holiday, but I do enjoy reclaiming the house! Besides, having the Christmas tree out of the living room leaves more space for the boys' new racetrack, now a permanent fixture on our carpet.

Movies, magnets, and coffee pots

Mike went back to work this morning, after a 4 day break, and I thought the kids would have a hard time with the transition. Actually, they are handling it just fine, and I am the one missing him, wishing he were here to have a cup of coffee with me. The long holiday weekend really was wonderful. It was neat to watch the kids decide what to play with after the excitement of Christmas day started to wear off. And over the past two days they played with everything! Paxton spent a long time playing with a magnetic building set, punctuated by quick games of Elefun. Spencer was still firmly planted in the seat of his tractor, but took some time out to hammer a few nails in his wood building kit, and dump and sort a set of tiny vehicles. While we were playing, we also did my favorite thing... watched movies! We rented Elf on Sunday, which I'd been avoiding because it looked a little too over the top, but it was actually very very funny. We all enjoyed it, and we just about wore out the tivo replaying the scene where Will Ferrell jumps onto - and knocks down - the Christmas tree, because the boys liked it so much. Yesterday we watched Liar Liar at Spencer's request. Jim Carrey comedy never gets old in our house! Mike introduced us to the movie Cannonball Run, which was a fun movie too, and we didn't forget Everett... he watched his new Baby Mozart and Baby DaVinci movies, and bounced and squealed away. He was very excited to see that one of his favorite songs, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" was included in one of the movies. We did have to make a quick pitstop to Best Buy yesterday, because our poor coffee pot that was slowly disintegrating decided to give up the fight. It was leaky but usable on Christmas day, and the next day it pretty much exploded coffee all over the kitchen counter. So now we have a new one. The long weekend ended with a few episodes of Seinfeld and another chapter from Spencer's book. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday.

The morning after

The day after Christmas is just like I remember it as a kid. I just don't remember having this much of a mess to pick up! Christmas day was just as it should have been... fun, loud, messy and filled with food and laughter. The kids went from one thing to another barely giving themselves time to look at one present before moving on to the next. Spencer spent most of the day on his new pedal tractor. I can't remember seeing him walking all day! Paxton was playing playstation when everyone got here (no surprises there) and bounced from toy to toy once he shut it off. Everett sat back and took it all in, and let Pop rock him to sleep. We played games, hung out and visited, played with the boys' new racetracks, set up a fishtank, and ATE. We were all exhausted and happy when the boys put on their new pj's and finally went up to bed after 10:00. We read Paxton's new book, and a couple chapters of one of Spencer's, and then must have all passed out, because I have no memory of anything after that! This morning, Spencer was back on his tractor immediately upon coming downstairs, and Paxton was excited to learn how to feed his new betta fish, whom he decided to name Red. Two more days until Mike has to go back to work, so we're looking forward to hanging out and enjoying watching the kids play with their new things. And I have big plans to watch several episodes of Seinfeld on dvd later. I just love Christmas!

Santa and goose eggs

The week before Christmas started with a clock building project, and ended with a bump to the forehead! The boys channelled their extra energy - some of it anyway - into one project after another, from making homemade gifts for their relatives, to painting a wooden truck, making the afore-mentioned clock, and starting two bridges in a really cool (and challenging) bridge building kit that Spencer got as a gift last weekend. We also made three batches of cookies, read some new books, and logged a few more hours playing the Rollercoaster game on Playstation. My four year old officially knows more about running a business than I do, as long as that business is a virtual theme park! We've been staying up late... watching movies, getting things ready for the holiday, and just hanging out. Last night when the kids were having their last hurrah before they passed out, Spencer decided to jump onto our bed right next to where Mike was laying watching tv, and collided (and collided rather hard) with his elbow. In seconds, a huge blue knot was forming in the middle of his forehead! I ran downstairs for the booboo piggy and a cookie, and after icing it for a few minutes, the swelling came right down. Poor Spencer was so tired at that point, he didn't even want the cookie! He's back to true form this morning, and both he and Paxton are wildly excited about Santa coming tonight. The baby is still sleeping - must be worn out from his first haircut last night - and while he couldn't care less about Santa, is nevertheless enjoying the high energy in the air. I've always heard growing up that things are even more exciting when you see them through your kids' eyes, but I never fully understood it until I had kids of my own. The magic, the excitement, the joy that is Christmas.... as wonderful as that was as a kid, it really is even better as a parent. Merry Christmas!