Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and All That Good Stuff

As I sit down to write this morning, the snow is falling again outside my window. And I love it. I purposely try not to turn many lights on - and I enjoy the slowness and the stillness. I know this will probably not last much further than today and I want to savor it. Not at all like the snow we've had over the last few weeks... but I'll get to that in another post. I know there are people out there who grump around about snow - I have a theory about them. You see, when it snows at my house, I jump around doing the happy dance shouting, "It's snowing! It's snowing! It's snowing!" I grab my children and we hop around a little more. Then later in the day we go sledding, we drink cocoa, we eat soup, build snow men, whatever. I do this every time. I love it every time. My mom loved it every time - even when she was a single mom and had to get up and turn on the radio and listen to the snow report to see if she could make it to school to teach. I loved waking up in the morning with the dim light coming from the bathroom, memories of my mom doing her hair and putting on her make-up with the radio softly reporting in the background. It was exciting. So my theory about the snow haters? Their parents messed them up. There is no way on earth my kids will hate snow.... but watch me eat my words.

So today... I'll make some split pea soup, my parents might bring Abbey and Gabe over to go sledding. Skiing plans were put on hold - Justin thinks it will be a blizzard up at the mountain. We're going to enjoy every minute of being together. And since it's a new year - I think it's a great way to start.

Speaking of a new year - I'm not generally one to make New Year's resolutions. Over the last few days I've thought about the possibilities in 2009, I've thought about some things I'd like to change, some things I'm looking forward to - but nothing official. I don't beat myself up over stuff like that - finished or unfinished. Things tend to be accomplished in their own time anyway- and I kind of like that. But I can't very well move on to 2009 without at least sharing the last bit of 2008 with you.

It was the best Christmas yet for me. Wouldn't you agree that there is this time between moving out of your parents house and having children of your own when Christmases are well, just a little boring? I've always loved Christmas - but this year was exponentially more fun. Maybe it was the snow, maybe it was the simplicity, maybe it was the abundance of time I had to prepare, maybe it was every single snuggly, sweet, fun, smiley moment I had with my children and Justin - whatever it was - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So here it is, in pictures (and a few words):

At the local Olde Fashioned Christmas


On our way to get the tree... in the freezing cold.
Have I ever shared with you the great internal debate I have about where picture captions should go? Above or below?

It was too much excitement for Steele

Baking

Crazy Cousins

Drunken Grandmas
(not really, she'd kill me if she knew I wrote that)

Great food a la Aunt Terri Jo
That's her in the background on the left - people who have hippy suns and crosses and a bazillion orchids adorning their houses always make the best food.

Adia Moon and Groompa Charlie
My favorite picture of Adia ever...

The little ones ready to open presents

My Uncle Mike pretty much rocks when it comes to kids - they love him... 'cause he plays toys with them.

Us.

Me and my big foot

I love that our Christmas mornings aren't completely chaotic.
I have no idea how we accomplish that - but I appreciate it.
Love

My mom opening her new coffee grinder from us

The new bike - hasn't been ridden yet due to snow. But soon.

My grandma playing Wii. Might have been my favorite moment of Christmas.

Humorously, her Mii looked way more lifelike after the kids added a double chin.
She's still complaining about that.

Post Wii

Well, I'm off to a beautiful snowy day! Justin just came out, leaned down to Steele and asked him the question he asks him almost every morning....

Want some coffee?

And Steele answered with the same thing he says every morning when Justin asks him that...

Papa! Kids don't drink coffee!

Ohhhh.... Ok. Justin said.