The xmas run down

Dec. 25. It came and it went too fast. I am one of those crazy holiday lovers. I have plastic bins for each holiday and Xmas has its own 10+ collection of bins. From xmas tree to holiday swag, I love Xmas. My favorite thing to do is wear holiday gear. Sometimes fashionable, and sometimes tacky. I'm still trying to find that right balance between too much and right on. Even Rosa, my Rav4, got into the Christmas spirit  dressing up as Rudolph. Couldn't miss her in any parking lot.

I love holidays I think because it represents so much about what is good in the world, represents our dreams, and have lots of glitter. Yes I love the holidays and I want so much to have my kids have wonderful memories of holidays, not just Christmas. We have movie marathons (really only one movie a night with these young kids, craft projects, dressing up in the holiday spirit (I as an elf), going to see lights, and of course getting pictures taken with Santa. But it seems so much harder now with kids to make everything magical. I think the stress of ending my job and starting a new one got to me, or that I've gained all my weight back (too much Xmas cookie baking) but I didn't get all my holiday gear and hats on this year. We hardly got to listen to all the Xmas CDs and I only got to see one adult Xmas movie (White Christmas). But something magically happened on Xmas this year - it snowed!. It really did which just made it all so better. So as I was rushing around the week leading up to Xmas I was hoping and wishing for snow to do its magic and it did.

Christmas this year was spent here in Delaware. Usually we go out to Oregon either for the holiday or New Year's but with a new job starting next week and moving, it was just too much stress for us to handle and I'm glad we stayed here. I couldn't imagine traveling with the kids during this time and coming back here to only enjoy a few moments of private family time before a new routine is set.

So Xmas eve we went to church service, Carlita danced, and the kids struggled through it - Luke and Karl ended u playing in the Great Hall and Carlita was doing flips all over the place. Then we got home and put the kids to sleep and Santa arrived with his reindeers. He was very glad to see oats and carrots for the reindeer (they traveled fast) and was thankful that we put glitter out in the yard in order to find us (there's not exactly a chimney here in Ray St. for him to come down through). The cookies I baked he enjoyed and flash he was gone.

Xmas day was fun - kids woke up at 7am and opened a present that was left under the kids' tree and then Carlita found the rest of the presents under the big tree in the living room. She went crazy opening presents and helping Luke do the same. Clothes, games, and art supplies were the highlights. But what Carlita wanted the most was a Barbie doll in a pink glittery dress with a crown and princess shoes. It wasn't left at our place but I got word from Santa that it might be at Sandra's (my sister's).

So after a morning of pancakes and presents, we headed to Maryland to my sister's. She was hosting her in-law family and when we arrived, their tree was bursting at the seams with presents. After a quick lunch, the gift opening extravandaza occurred. Carlita was intense with opening presents and helping others in finding their gifts. The highlight was Carlita getting not just one Barbie but 7 Disney Princess dolls from Santa. With her cousin Sofia, they got a total of 14 princesses, and we're not including all those other dolls they got each (baby dolls and Barbie).

Luke got a Hot wheels carrying case, a train set, and other great things. My favorite part of the opening of presents is the kids's reaction to the present, even though they don't know what it is. Finally the adults got to open presents and got a lovely house warming present from my sister, a welcome mat with "Kaliher" imprinted on it. The kids really enjoyed walking all over it, which was interesting considering it's rough.

After the present blitz, we had a lovely dinner made by my sister - pork shoulder. Yummy!!!! and then we left to stay over at my mother's in Frederick, MD. Unfortunately as we got to bed we got news of the incoming snow storm and made a decision to return to Delaware in the morning of the 26th, which was my sister's birthday. We had huge plans for her - she was going to re-new her wedding vows with the same priest that married her and Mike, and then Mike's family and I would decorate the house and surprise Sandra with a party. I already had the cake (Carvel ice cream cake - a tradition for our family) planned out. But with the snow storm coming in, we had to get the cake and balloons and set up this party right away in the morning at her house and leave by 10am, which we did. Sandra was surprised by the party and the thoughtfulness that went into planning a "surprised" party.

So we drove back to Delaware in hopes to be snowed in. We barely got one inch of snow but Carlita and Karl had a blast in the snow. It was really windy so when Luke went out, they didn't last too long. We spent the next 24 hours playing and watching Xmas Children special. What a great way to enjoy the holidays! I'm so glad we stayed here in Delaware to enjoy our Ray St. apartment for the last time and make some good holiday memories. Thank you Santa for the glitter (aka snow and presents)!