Elise and her lookalike friend Skye on Christmas Eve
Highlights of Christmas this year was NOT the pictures. This pregnant lady doesn't like to be in any pictures--I've already got pregnancy nose--and I have been too lazy to take many. Jared filled in for me yesterday, but let's just face it, he doesn't take a million pictures of the same pose like I do, which greatly lessens the chances of getting one where all the kids aren't squinting.
At any rate, we had a fantastic Christmas, and I want to remember my favorite moments and interactions.
*Simone and Miles must have spent hours wrapping presents for their siblings and putting them under the tree for weeks before Christmas. At one point I did ban them from further wrapping, but I loved that they were so excited to wrap up random things from around the house to give to everyone. And it was darling to see how excited they were for everyone to open their "gifts." Miles made me the cutest coupon book. They always ask me what I want, and I always tell them a card or picture that they made, just like my mom.
*Elise and Monet work hard for their money. Each week they do a bunch of jobs including cleaning toilets and bathrooms, vacuuming the house, and switching off the weekly dish duty. They get $4/week for their efforts. They each went shopping with us and bought the cutest, most thoughtful gifts for their siblings. I was impressed with their generosity and thoughtfulness. They each bought me a necklace, so sweet.
*Our kids get SO excited to decorate the house. They did the tree all by themselves this year. Then Simone built a fort out of the Christmas tree box and hung ornaments all over it and even lit it with the electric tree topping star. It was in her bedroom for most of December.
*Monet and Elise *know* all about Christmas these days, and were so sweet with Miles and Simone. Miles is absolutely obsessed with Santa, Elves, and all things North Pole. Monet helped him track Santa on Christmas Eve. They really helped to keep the magic alive for their little siblings.
*Miles is very clever. He decided that it was smart to ask Santa for the most expensive item on his list, that way, he is saving us from having to buy it. And Santa can make ANYTHING!
*Miles also encouraged Simone to ask Santa for an extra large giant Doodle Bear type stuffed animal. Even though they don't exist, he knew that Santa could make it. I let them know that Santa has to have extra time to do special order toys like that, but he did bring Simone a Build-A-Bear certificate. All she asks for each year are more stuffed animals.
*We enjoyed Christmas Eve with our neighbors this year. They had some fun ideas for things that I've never done and it was good to shake things up a bit. Christmas morning brunch at Grandma's house was wonderful and chaotic and filled with cousins and family. Christmas afternoon we just chilled at home and let the kids get their fill of their new toys. I think my favorite kind of Christmas Day is the kicked back, wear your jammies all day, eat neighbor gifts and stocking junk for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and just sit around and not worry about accomplishing anything. I love that.
*The kids loved watching Frosty and Rudolph DVD's. The old ones that used to be on TV when I was a kid. It was fun to hear some of the songs.
*We had Aunt Marge here at our house and it is always so fun to have her. She spent the day helping Simone construct a house from her new pink Legos.
*Jared came through and bought me a bottle of Easy Cheese. He in turn got his own box of Fruity Pebbles and a jar of Sauerkraut.
Here is my 24 week obligatory picture.
My running days are over for a few months. I ran a mile on Christmas Eve and ended up with Braxton-Hicks all day for the rest of the day. I get those a lot when pregnant and they can be pretty annoying. I hoped that if I consistently ran, my body would adapt to the growing belly gradually and I'd be able to continue comfortably running. But I took a couple weeks off due to insomnia and now it looks like I'm a walker.
