Merry Christmas

Everything is wrapped and I am ready for the morning. I think this is the first time in many years that we can go to bed before midnight. We unwrapped one gift each tonight and I tried to get everyone to open everything now so we can sleep in a little tomorrow. No go. Not even Hunter took to that idea! Good grief!

Things have changed a lot in the last few years for our Christmas. The Three Wise Men visit our house and they bring us three presents. The FUN Wiseman always brings the fun gift. (obviously). There is also a PRACTICAL Wiseman (usually underwear and socks) and a SPIRITUAL Wiseman. The fun wiseman is from Jamaica and he has a great accent. (Jeff always interprets his messages for us) The other two are usually from Great Britain or sometimes from South America. They get around and pick up a TON of different accents and cultural dialects.

The kids have always slept in one room on Christmas Eve. I think they decided this to keep an eye on each other so no one sees anything before the others. This year, Meg really wanted to sleep in her own bed and not camped out on the floor but tradition won out and she and Hunter are on Maddie's floor.

Christmas morning always starts early and we put breakfast quiche in the oven to cook as we open presents. Our parents and aunts come up for breakfast and to visit and then we head to their houses to meet with the cousins.

I love Christmas and the two week holiday from school. I remember the Christmas mom gave me and Melody some of her dolls. She had made them new dresses and blankets and little beds. We played with those dolls all vacation and well into the next year. I had a hard time not combing my doll's hair. It was old fashioned and glued on.

Another year we made presents for each other. I was probably in the fourth grade. I made everyone a bulletin board with fabric covering the cardboard inserts in a bolt of fabric. I cut out letters for their names in a contrasting fabric. Someone else made pen holders out of soup cans and painted them, I think, and mounted them on a little board.

I don't remember what the other presents were. Do you remember what you made that year?

Share some of your family traditions. Merry Christmas. Love to you all.

Some of my favorite singers wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Batman and the Temple

While watching "Batman Begins" with the very good looking Christian Bale:

Maddie: Mom, can I marry Batman?

Me: Only if he can marry you in the temple.

Maddie: Oh, good! Thanks, mom!

(Good luck, girl!)