Well, I was planning on finishing this on Sunday but something made me sick, so I spent the evening in bed. Anyway...
It is the (second) day after Christmas, and I didn't really want to see it go, I think because things go back to "normal." Not that my normal isn't blessed, ever-learning, but it gets monotonous. I find that over Christmas we talk about Jesus a lot more in the house because we are constantly reminding Jenna that he is the reason we celebrate, not because of just getting new toys. I had Jenna go through some of her toys to donate them to Salvation Army. That was interesting try to explain to a 4 year old why she is getting rid of her things. Without over-explaining, I tried to convey that other kids would really enjoy them like she does, she would be getting new toys, and it's important to give to others who maybe don't have the money to buy brand new toys from the store.
Aside from that, at the nearing of the Christmas season, looking at the budget, we decided to just get the kids one main toy (and a couple little things) from us because we knew they'd be getting other gifts from family. That worked out really well, especially because we got a few gift cards, so I was still able to pick out things that I thought they would like that we couldn't purchase ourselves. My dad is also visiting, so he and I went out shopping for the kids. Again, I could help pick out things for them. One of which was a Strawberry Shortcake remote controlled car, which Jenna and Ava both love. I think it's the hit this Christmas.
This year was really tough for me with the whole Santa thing. The kids have been watching the Santa Claus movies every day and Jenna has loved the idea and magic of the reindeer and all. And every morning as soon as Ava wakes up she says, "Watch Santa" and proceeds to shove the remove at me. Last year and this year we made it where Santa brings one present, but we still talk about exchanging gifts with each other. Sunday morning, Jenna asked me again why we give each other gifts on Christmas. It was a nice little teaching moment about God's gift to us of Jesus and we give gifts as part of that celebration and rememberance. She proceeded to remind me that it's also because it's Jesus' birthday :) But of course every time she asked about Santa bringing gifts my heart sinks in the lie answers about Santa's reindeer landing on the roof, Jenna wanting to sleep on the couch and wait for Santa, that Santa left their new bikes by the fireplace, etc. She has so much fun with it, but I hate it. I decided not to crush it before Christmas, but to approach it after in that Santa is pretend but still fun. I made an attempt at lunch after church when she was asking about Santa landing on the roof. She didn't really get it. Naturally I go into over-explaining mode that probably confused her even more. Forget it.
As far as me and Lance goes, we originally decided not to get each other anything, so we would be able to do more for the kids, Christmas dinner, etc. That didn't happen, mostly because Jenna dropped my camera and Lance knew I would not be satisfied over Christmas without a camera. Lance isn't really the romantic type and ended up telling me what he was going to get, but I was still just as excited to get a new camera. Then of course I have the pressure to get him something because he can't NOT open something from me on Christmas. This turned into a last minute Christmas Eve trip to Macys. He is really the easiest to buy for because he's happy with getting new clothes, iTunes gift cards, stuff like that. So he got some new jeans and long-sleeved polo for work, all on sale of course. And when my dad and I went out to get the kids gifts from him on Thursday, I also suggested he get Lance an electric shaver because he's been wanting one. Done.
Last weekend Jenna and I got a 24 hour bug that left us in bed for 2 days, then Lance got it. Thankfully Ava and Jared didn't, but my dad got sick on Christmas Eve and spent the whole day in bed at his hotel. So much for Christmas Eve dinner. It turned out ok, though, because that's when I went out shopping for Lance, and the kids got to open a present. Christmas morning rolled around, the kids got to open a couple little things from us before breakfast, my dad was feeling much better, we had a leisurely morning. Then present opening. It actually went better than I thought it would, the girls would open at the same time with Lance's help, and my dad was holding Jared opening for him. I was taking pictures of course. We tried to get through the opening without having to play with everything right away. Done with that, then for clean up and sending them off with a toy while we unpacked and loaded batteries in the other toys.
They each got some books, their own interactive "video games," (Jenna's is by LeapFrog and Ava's is a little piano that can also hook up to the TV), Jared got his own teethers, which of course Ava prefers to take his than use her own, more "boyish" baby toys with jungle animals and one of those little steering wheels with buttons and music. Jenna has an obsession with animal figurines, so she got a big bag of safari animals and a barrel of dinosaurs (we must have watched Ice Age 3 every day since it was on a few weeks ago, I DVRed it). Ava loves to get the mail with me everyday, so she got a toy mailbox with "letters" and a package. It's so cute. Jenna also got an indoor hopscotch rug, so that's fun for us to both do. I can't even remember everything, but it's nice to have some new variety of things to occupy them.
We started Sunday off pretty early at 6:30, but at least it was the girls and not Jared. He slept from 11:30-8. Mornings always start out ok until it's time to get coats on and try to get out the door. Then it's full stress-mode. Jenna just decides not to move! It seems particularly worse on Sunday mornings. Of course we get in the worst possible mood. So I really tried to lighten up in the car and destress. The message was great, focusing on God being a giver and living with the open-handed mentality of giving and being able to receive from God. My take-away, "God is the best giver. Giving is how love expresses itself." Love that. After church we met up with my dad at Cracker Barrell. What was originally a 40 minute wait turned into an hour because Lance told them 5 people instead of 6, so we had to wait longer (unless we wanted to sit in smoking). I can't believe they still have restaurants with a smoking section. But I kindly declined that I didn't want to take 3 kids in the smoking section. The kids did really well waiting, eventhough it was well-passed Ava's 11 o'clock nap time. She got the crankiest at the table waiting for food. No surprise there. Again, another leisurely afternoon, until sickness hit me about 5 p.m. Then I spent the rest of the evening in bed.
Overall, it was a successful Christmas day. I just wish my dad's visit wasn't full of Jenna running away to hide from him (this isn't a new thing), my dad being sick, and my getting sick again. It was good to have him here, though. I'm just putting off taking the tree decorations down. Tomorrow is trash day. Will I do it before then? We'll see about that one. Lance went in late to work today so I could sleep in. I don't know if I have the energy for all that. One more week of a Christmasy house is fine with me :)
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