Santa Came! (and other holiday news)

Christmas morning arrived at 6:40 a.m. I found Reed sitting on his new bike and Renee looking around the room in awe, exclaiming, "Santa camed, he loves us!" We managed to make the opening of gifts last about an hour...everyone taking turns opening one present at a time. (I hate it when all the fun is over after only 20 minutes...after all of the effort I've put in to shopping, wrapping etc.)


Reed was suprised to receive an air soft gun, and thought that the video rocker was awesome!



Rose and her new iPod are inseperable.


Renee loved pretty much everything, but I think her favorite has been her L-Max (she calls it her GameBoy).


My entire family loved taking turns on Guitar Hero 3...Rachel and Leslie can really ROCK!!! I'm obviously going to have to put in some practice time so that I can keep up.


It is always rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they see what we chose for them.


Christmas Eve dinner was delicious (yep, gotta brag a little bit). Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots and rolls. I've spent so much time in the kitchen of late, that I've decided that I'm taking several weeks off of KP duty. Hope the family doesn't mind lots and lots of pizza! The kids got to open their jammies, as is tradition in our home, then stayed up as late as they could.



Renee spent some time looking out the window for Santa's sleigh, and quite despaired of him ever coming.


The Nelson Christmas party went off without a hitch. It usually does, and I don't know why I find it stressful...all I really have to do is make assignments and show up. The kids had fun running around the clubhouse and playing pool. The adults enjoyed letting the kids run.

All before 12:00 noon!

1. make 2 batches of gooey, yummy vanilla popcorn
2. get kids ready for school
3. put together treat bags for Bryan's co-workers
4. take garbage out
5. wrap present for Rose to take for class gift exchange
6. drive kids to school
7. invite neighbors for breakfast on Christmas day
8. take neighbor's garbage out
9. shovel driveway & sidewalk
10. repair broken nativity for Renee
11. shower & get ready
12. get Renee dressed & ready
13. take treats out to Bryan at work
14. stop at JCPenney and buy curtain rods for Mom's kitchen

I hope that I survive today's frantic, last-minute, get-it-all-done-before Christmas, while-the-weather-is-good pace! I feel totally stressed out over the messy house, treats to make for neighbors (still), piles of laundry (Renee is completely out of clean clothes now) and finding time to make happy holiday memories!

Every year during the busy month of December I'm reminded of the lyrics to a song that Mom taught to us years ago, when she could still get us to perform for strangers:

"Dashing through the crowds
People every place
Up and down the aisles
Sneezing in my face.
It's so hard to choose
There's so much to see
Wonder if what I got you
Cost more'n what you got me.
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to go
Shopping every day!
Candy store, Five and Ten,
Pet shop after that
Things for all the family
And don't forget the cat!"
-Jingle All the Way (I think)
by Natalie Sleeth

Doesn't that just say it all?

Babbling...

I can't think of a title for this post. It's been a busy weekend already and I still have tomorrow to get through. Actually, I'm supposed to be preparing my lesson for the Young Women, but I just can't seem to get in the right frame of mind. It doesn't help that Autumn is sitting on my lap, head on the desk, sound asleep! I'm scared she may pee on me. Yuck! I just got home from the movies...I took Rose and Renee to see "Enchanted". (Both girls enjoyed the show. Can't imagine why Reed didn't want to go.) I really wasn't in the mood to go out, but the kids have been cooped up in the house for two days straight and were starting to get on each others' nerves as well as mine.

Bry and I went to a party on Friday at a friend's home...lots of fun, one of the few get togethers of the season that doesn't stress me out so I get to enjoy. (Maybe because I'm not in charge of that one?)

I feel like such a slacker this year! I haven't really made any assignments for the annual Nelson family Christmas party which is scheduled for one week from today. Usually by this point, I've not only made food assignments, but I've also decided on table decorations, music etc. Another thing that I've really got to get done tomorrow I guess. The neighbor gifts have started to arrive and I don't even want to bother doing any in return. What is wrong with me? I just can't seem to get in to the spirit of the season this year. Maybe I'll feel more festive when Leslie gets here. I am really looking forward to her visit. Jen, I wish you were coming too!

Well, it's time to go let my neighbor's dogs out one last time before I lock them up for the night. More later...sweet dreams!

Weekend notes

YAY!!! 13400 South is pretty much complete...2 lanes in each direction with a turn lane down the middle! Oh what fun it is to drive on that road again!

Bryan and I went to see the movie, "Enchanted" on Friday. I won't speak for Bryan, but I loved it and can't wait to take Rose to see it. (Renee will have to wait until the DVD and I doubt Reed will feel cheated if he doesn't see it.)

This is my last week for piano lessons for a while (yay!), and I'll be busy teaching students their new solos in preparation for Federation; this way I won't be listening to Christmas music when they come back in January! (Would you believe that I actually get tired of listening to "Carol of the Bells" and "O, Holy Night"-the two most popular choices of my students at this time of year?)

Looking for a good book?

Our book club just read "Austenland: A Novel" by Shannon Hale. If you love the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice starring Collin Firth as Mr. Darcy, then you will really enjoy this book! It was a super quick read - I think it took me only 3 hours to read from start to finish with a few interruptions. I also read "Princess Academy" and "Goose Girl" also by Shannon Hale, and enjoyed both, but really loved "Goose Girl". I already own "Princess Academy" (I bought it for Rose), and plan to buy both "Austenland" and "Goose Girl" in the very near future. Shannon Hale has written a few others that I've yet to read, but have on hold through the library..."Enna Burning", "River Secrets" and "Book of a Thousand Days". I've been impressed with the author's style of writing and the subject matter is just fun. Happy Reading!