Christmas stories, Christmas music and Christmas movies are all put away for the year.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

The kids look forward to getting their Christmas jammies from Grandma Valerie (handmade with love) every year. This year they were excited to get new slippers too. Once we were home for the evening, the kids picked out a present to unwrap. This year it was the gifts they got for each other. They were so excited and grateful. I wish I had a video camera at that very moment. It was so sweet to watch them opening their gifts, showing gratitude, and explaining the reason they chose that special gift for each other. All this with no coaxing. My kids really are the sweetest and most tender hearted kids around.

We have a superstar and a bank robber. Gabe found the winter clothes and discovered face mask hats and insisted on wearing one. We were just headed out the door to see the trains at my Aunt and Uncle's house, Gabe had to wear the hat, I couldn't convince him otherwise. Madi new Gabe looked goofy so she had to find something to wear too....sunglasses.

Early Morning Conversation w/ Madi

Madi: Mom I want to tell you something. Mom: Go ahead. Madi: I've got if figured out. Mom: You've got what figured out? Madi: I know where pee comes from. Mom: You do, where. Madi I can't tell you - you just wouldn't get it. Mom: Try me. Madi: No, you won't get it. I know where pee comes from but I don't know where poop comes from. Mom: I bet I will, go ahead. Madi: The chocolate milk. Mom: You're absolutely right, and the water your drink too. Poop comes from the food you eat. Madi: Oh yea. One day she she just might solve all the world's problems.

The day after Thanksgiving we ALWAYS cut down a tree, no exceptions.

The morning always starts early for me. Shopping on Black Friday, I know is crazy, but I like going. I don't usually buy much of anything...it's just tradition I guess. This year my phone rang while I was wondering the isles in Roberts. It was Gabe, he had an announcement. "Mom I went pee in the potty." He was excited, but the excitement didn't turn into much, because that was the only time on Friday that he peed in the potty. Progress......right..... Anyway, Mike took Gabe rabbit hunting that morning. I'm guessing Mike didn't want him dragging his real bow through the snow, because he carried this bow. The mess on his face is M&Ms - the treat of his choosing for peeing in the potty.

Madi found a patch of ice - or maybe Gabe found it first, I don't remember. Madi turned the big patch into her "ice rink" and another small patch of ice was her "practice rink". She want's to be a figure skater or ice dancer. Gabe wasn't necessarily a fan of the ice - he apparently doesn't have very good balance and wasn't pleased when he would slip and fall.

I'm not sure what made this trip so special, I truly had a good time. Even Mike noticed the extra big smile on his face when he was looking back through the pictures. His words "I don't think I've ever smiled so much."

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A little bit of Christmas magic.

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We don't listen to Christmas music, read Christmas stories, or do anything Christmassy until after Thanksgiving. A day or two before Thanksgiving, Madi was at the pre-school and Ashley was listening to Christmas music. Madi insisted it be turned off. When Ashley asked the reason she didn't listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving she replied. "If we listened to it before Christmas, than it wouldn't be special."

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Madi and Gabe have been playing Santa Claus. They take turns being Santa or one of the reindeer. This morning as we were leaving the house, Gabe wanted to play Santa - he was Rudolph. Madi wanted to be Clarisse. She was worried that their game wouldn't work because Rudolph went with Santa's sleigh and Clarisse stayed at the North Pole. I asked her if Clarisse took care of Ms. Claus. Madi look at me like I was an idiot and she said. "I think Ms. Claus takes care of Clarisse." You can't get much past her.

Festival of Trees

Don't mind the fuzzy picture, but I couldn't resist posting a picture from the Festival of Trees. Madi started dance this year and has loved every minute of it. Dance day is probably her favorite day of the week. Madi's class danced at the Festival of Trees on Friday, November 21, 2009, the same night as the State Championship Football Game. It was a busy night; I rushed home from work, rushed to the Festival and then rushed to the football game. The girls in Madi's class are all so adorable. The girl's costumes had not come in before the Festival so they all had to wear their class uniforms, but I don't think anyone cared. When I picked Madi up after the performance, she said: "I saw Santa, Grandpa Byron, Grandma Katholyn, Uncle Curtis, Aunt Rusty, Jaden and Gabe!", all in one breath.

Best Friends