Thank You Santa!

Christmas morning was great!! Devon didn't wake up too early. She managed to sleep in until 6:15am, yeah me. She walked right past the tree (which was in the loft this year) a couple of times without even noticing the new additions. Matthew slept in until 7:15am, which is late for him. But even though both kids were up, we still had to wait until Chris came home. So I cheated and put on PBS to distract Devon.

About 20 minutes later Devon heard the garage door opening and jumped up screaming, "Dad's home! Dad's Home!" Chris managed to come in and tell me a little about his evening before we went upstairs to see what was under the tree.

Now that the lights were on Devon saw the new pile of gifts under the tree and was very excited. Santa did good on his promise to bring a ball for Christmas, but Devon didn't expect it to be a big ball with a handle to hold on to while bouncing! She was very pleased. Little does she know it almost had to stay in the box. Last night when I went to put the Santa toys together I went hunting for our bicycle pump, but it was nowhere to be found. So I went to our neighbors house, but she didn't have one. So I went across the street and luckily he had a small one for basket balls. It took me over 10 minutes to pump the thing, and that was after 10 minutes of figuring out the attachment for the ball. Ahhhh, the joys of Santahood. Santa also got Devon a doctor's kit, and a Bearenstein Bears Video, along with some small toys in her stocking.

Matthew got a push toy so now he can, in theory, stop rearranging the kitchen chairs. Just a simple gift from Santa since he's so young. We got him a CD player for his room, a gripy ball, and some big plastic cars. We got Devon a veggie tales lunchbox, two new sweat shirts, a new Cars car, and a gripy ball like Matthew.

Chris got a new leather jacket a couple of months ago that he considered his Christmas present, but I still couldn't resist getting him a few things. The kids got him an iHome, to listen to his ipod at home. I got him The Dark Night and Iron Man as well as some traditional candy he always gets.

I got more than I should have since we were trying to stay on a budget, but has never been known to stick to gift limits. He's so generous! I got an awesome wireless printer that is also a scanner copier. Woo-hoo! No more dragging the lap top up stairs at night to print something! He also got me some movies; Saved, and season 1 & 2 of Dexter, my favorite show!! And I got the Tales of Beetle the Bard, the new J.K Rowling book, and Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire.

Tonight we will have a small version of a Christmas dinner. I just bought a ham steak instead of a big ham, because only me and Chris will eat it. And some potatoes for mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and frozen yeast rolls. Yep. It's going to be that simple. :) And hopefully Chris will be feeling a little better too. Poor guy has been sick for almost a week.

I Should Stop Being Surprised By Now

Last night while I was giving the kids a bath, Devon was being a little grumpy while I was brushing her hair. So I pulled out the old Santa is watching trick. I don't really use it, but it's close enough to Christmas I thought I would give it a try. Boy did she blow me away.

I told Devon, "You know Santa is watching you to make sure you're being a good girl, because if you're not he won't bring you any presents."

She just looked at me and said, "No Mommy. Only God is with us all the time. Not Santa."

I just looked at her in shock. She had me there. What could I do. So I just smiled and said, "Oh yeah that's right. But God really wants us to be nice doesn't He."

She smiled back and said, "That's right."

I love that children can really get it. Why that changes for so many as we get older I don't know. I wonder if I got it when I was four. It just amazes me that Devon can recall what we are asked to do even during the holidays when the true meaning sometimes gets smothered.

This is inspiring me to maybe start a new tradition this year. I'm thinking of reading the story of Jesus's birth tonight when we gather around the tree, before we open a gift. And we can do it every year on Christmas eve.

This is What I Was Made For

I think it's pretty obvious that I have a random obsession with making food cute, especially for Devon's lunches. Today Devon's class is having a holiday party and of course I volunteered to bring something. Now I remember Christmas parties from my days in elementary school. They consisted of a half hour of sugar, sugar and more sugar! So I decided to bring something not so sugary, but still kid friendly and FESTIVE!

So I bought a few bricks of cheese and cut them into Christmas trees, stars and gingerbread men with my mini cookie cutters (which I LOVE!) and I bought some snowflake Ritz crackers. I put them on a platter and presto! a healthy snack.

I was planning on making pumpkin muffins too, but I changed m mind and decided to make apple muffins instead. Don't ask why, I'm just weird like that. But while I was picking up some items I left off my grocery list yesterday I just happened to need to go to the crafty baking isle and they had these way cute mini muffin molds that I couldn't resist. So not only were my muffins deliciously healthy, but they too were cute shapes too!

I'm a big dork, and I'm ok with that. :)

Pep Talk

Man, lately I've been struggling. I haven't seen my counselor in over a month and I thought I would be ok with that, but I think I was wrong. And that makes me sad. I don't know what's worse, the label or the sickness. Postpartum depression. Just saying it makes me feel worse, it's such a yucky label.

And to top it all off, Devon is learning how other kids behave and is testing out these new behaviors at home. But then again she is also acting her age, which will be over in a few months and then she will be five. That is such a big age. But I feel like this whole week I have been battling with her over things I know she knows better. Like complaining when it's time to pick up. Or throwing a huge whining fit when it's time to brush her teeth and hair in the morning. And not listening, when I ask her to do something. That's getting pretty old too.

Actually, now that I look at my list of battles, I'm thinking they are very typical for her age and pretty harmless. I've just got to keep telling myself "She's four and overall is very well behaved for her age." I mean right now as I'm typing she is "reading" books to Matthew teacher style where she holds the book out to the side so he can see the pictures too. It's pretty cute. Sadly enough it's these cute little moments that help me get through my days.

So this is my pep talk, because by golly I need one! I'm a kick ass Mom and one hell of a wife. My kids are awesome and all kids have their moments. I'm healthy (well at least physically). And tomorrow I get to go Christmas shopping for the three most important people who adore me. You've got a fantastic life Michelle, and you will get better soon!