On to the resolutions!

Another Christmas in the books. Christmas Eve is spent with Dave's side of the family. We decided this year that the adults would exchange homemade gifts. (Who needs more stuff?) Exchanged were salsa, cookie dough, cookbooks and calendars! It was so much fun! And of course there were cookies, fudge, cheese/crackers, chips/dip, cookies, and cookies. Did I mention Mom made Cookies? We rolled out of there and made it home before Santa came. Kendra left a note, they left a couple of Morgan's sugar cookies and a glass of egg nog. Off to bed we all went, moaning still from the cookies (remember?)

Christmas morning, Kody was not the guy who wanted to wake up. He just dragged his lazy hiney out to the tree and looked at us like we were crazy. He's not used to all 4 of us getting up at the same time. Usually, it's one at a time so he has some lazy time alone with everyone. But nooo, this time, he was so confused - didn't know who lay on first! But he figured it out - lay in the middle of the floor and watch the goings on.

We passed out the presents and ripped them open. We all got what we wanted, (at least I know I did) and we were feeling the love in our little circle. Of coure that sounds hokey, but in all honesty, we did talk about the love of the season and why we were doing all this for each other. We are glad that our girls know this. We're also glad they understand After-Christmas-Sales, so we can give them an IOU for their 'big' present to get the bestest price! After cinnamon rolls, we got cleaned up and dressed in our Christmas Outfits (Ok just the girls in Outfits) It was off for Maricopa to see Jon, Erika and Angelise. More present ripping - loving - and hanging of the new ceiling fan, it was back to Chandler for Sue's side of the family. Believe it or not, we made it to Chandler by 1. All that in less than 6 hours! Everyone was there - even the transplants to MN - loving the warm weather. The kids got their presents (jewelry, clothes, etc) and the adults exchanged other things - pick a number, pick a present and then trade. I think most of us got something we could use - even it's for a white elephant exchange next year! We both came home with food - so that's good. Food always finds a way to dissappear without hurting anyone's feelings. Again, the love filled the room, and it was sad to say goodbye to the MN folks. However, there's a wedding coming up so we'll see them in a couple of months! And email is such a wonderful thing!

I hope your Christmas celebrations were as loving as ours. He is the reason, after all. And what better way to celebrate than to be with those we love.

May His love stay with you throughout the New Year.

Merry Christmas, everyone

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. And I DO say that to everyone - Merry Christmas. Now for some humor for Friday...but thought I'd share early so we can all sit back after all the baking, shopping, wrapping, addressing, singing, and plain old STRESSING is over, relax and enjoy a good laugh.


The Twelve Days AFTER Christmas
By Frederick Silver

The first day after Christmas, my true love and I had a fight
And so I chopped the pear tree down
and burned it just for spite
Then with a single cartridge,
I shot that blasted partridge
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me

The second day after Christmas, I pulled on the old rubber gloves
and very gently wrung the necks of both the turtle doves
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me

The third day after Christmas, my Mother caught the croup
I had to use the three French Hens to make some chicken soup
The four calling birds were a big mistake
for their language was obscene
The five golden rings were completely fake
and they turned my fingers green
The sixth day after Christmas, the six laying geese wouldn't lay
I gave the whole darn gaggle to the A.S.P.C.A

On the seventh day, what a mess I found
All seven of the swimming swans had drowned
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me

The eighth day after Christmas, before they could suspect
I bundled up the eight maids a milking, nine pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, eleven lords a leaping, twelve drummers drumming

(Spoken: "Well, actually, I kept ONE of the drummers" )

and sent them back collect
I wrote my true love, " We are through, love! "
And I said in so many words,
" Furthermore your Christmas gifts were for the birds! "


Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year to all!