Post Christmas Haze

The dust has settled. The wrapping has been discarded. Toys have been removed from their ridiculously excessive packaging - don't get me started on the waste of a DS game case. Toys have been played with. Favorites have been chosen.

It was a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful Christmas here - even though the weather, in typical MI fashion, sucked. It was horribly windy and raining. Didn't make for a very festive outdoor scene. And it certainly didn't allow the girls a chance to build a snowman or even romp through the snow.

I have lots of pictures. None are downloaded. Too lazy to dig the cord out, attach it to the camera and push a few buttons. I'll work on that. Still busy being in denial about having to work this week. If I can get past that, then I'll do the picture thing. Until then, not a chance.

Dinner with Santa - The Grand Review

So, Saturday night we ventured out to the zoo for dinner with Santa. As we headed out, Emma kept asking where we were going. Once we passed the point of 'there's nowhere else to go but the zoo', she stated "Oh, we're going to the zoo".

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know, to eat?"

We arrived and shuffled into the designated 'dinner with Santa' area. Hmm, tables, food, yup, eating at the zoo. Then, some kids started pointing and making a mad dash for the door. Wonder who that could be. Well, if it wasn't good ole' St. Nick!

Emma gave one of her patented 'you've got to be kidding me looks' to us and smiled. Dinner with Santa was slowly taking hold of her little six-year old brain. Olivia was delighted. Not bad for a kid who was certain that Santa would eat her.

Santa made the rounds and dinner was served. Note the stick of sugar that Olivia is so lovingly touching. Thanks Santa.

Photo ops with Santa in his chair and then it was off to explore the zoo. It was so beautiful outside. There was the lightest of snow falling and it made the night.

Carousel rides.

Story time with Mrs. Claus.

Balloon Animals.

Arts & Crafts.

Success.

Dinner with Santa

I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than having dinner with Santa. And Mrs. Claus. And other parents. Oh yeah, and all of the kids. That part may make it a little hard to swallow, but the girls will LOVE IT.

They don't know we're going. I don't think I can handle hearing about it every two seconds.

'Mommy, we get to eat with Santa!'

'Is it Saturday yet?'

'Is Santa going to eat me?'

Of course, all day Saturday would be a special torture session until we actually left the house for said dining experience.

So, we will wait. Until we are actually in the car. We'll even wait until we pull into the zoo and the confusion sets into their little heads. 'Why are we at the zoo?' Emma will ask. Olivia will just sit back happily kicking her little feet to see what happens next.

We will have fun. Lots of photo ops, story time with Mrs. Claus. Crafts to make. Free rides on the carousel. Who can beat that?

The Sweetest House

Maybe not edible, but it's certainly a welcomed sight in our home. A house within a home, if you will.

Saturday night, Jason and Emma sat down with the makings for a gingerbread house and assembled a masterpiece. I lost track of how many times Emma asked if she could eat some of it. And now that it's done, I don't remember how many times she has said 'Mommy, didn't our gingerbread house turn out good?'.

More Christmas shopping was done. I feel pretty good about what we've done so far. There are just a few things left to buy. And of course, there's all the wrapping. Usually I wrap as I buy. Not this year. Everything is just piled up in the basement. I can see myself on Christmas Eve, cursing previous weeks me for not taking care of it.

I am looking forward to Christmas. I can't wait to have a few days off to enjoy being at home with the girls. Last year I wasn't working and I'm feeling immensely guilty for not being here more.

'Tis the Season.

Compassionate Friends - Candle Lighting Event

It's that time of year again. I can't believe another year has passed. Another time for rememberance. Tears. Joy. Friendship. Love.

Please consider joining us in lighting a candle to remember our sweet baby, Madison this Sunday night at 7 pm. Each year since her passing we have done this. Each year I post a little blurb among the thousands on the Compassionate Friends website to keep her memory alive and intertwined with so many others who are gone.