So this is Christmas

Someone woke at 4 a.m. this morning to see if Santa was here. It was Ms. L, who is on the cusp of not believing any more. I think that she was reassured by the visible dents made in the banana bread and egg nog left for Santa. Oh yes, she also wrote a note to him, asking whether banana bread was OK, rather than cookies. Santa did write back. Thank goodness the handwriting was not recognized.

We have had a very enjoyable Christmas morning, I must tell you. The kids waited, albeit, impatiently, for the coffee pot to brew before the gifts were started. Santa brought just the right amount of things. Last year, he went WAAY overboard in the kids gift department. We had to have a little chat about that.

I got a tripod! And yesterday came a gift card to my favourite camera store...not to mention a flickr 'pro' account. My family knows how nutty I am about this photography hobby of mine.

So, all in all, when I inhale the turkey aroma that is making its way downstairs, I am reminded of how nice it is to have your family at your side and how special it is to share Christmas with the ones you love.

Visions of sugarplums

I am grateful.

I am grateful for Brian, because he is out there with the snowblower for hours and never complains.

I am grateful for my sister who shopped with me for the afternoon and then wrapped for the evening.

I am grateful for the fact that my children are home, are safe and are not brats.

I am grateful for how much joy I get out of giving to others.

Have you got your flea shot?

I got swallowed by life when I got back.

It was Christmas full-tilt here. I resisted. For a few days after Poland I had the dreamy, "I am rested" look on my face. People commented. I invariably said the same banal things like the holiday was good and I'm glad to be home. Then I jumped into two huge files and voila, the look went away.

But I did get my flea shot, as Ethan puts it. Gotta keep the priorities in life straight!

Onto the Christmas extravaganza we go...