Camp-o-rama 2010

Daniel practices his aim for Nerf Wars with the boys.

Owen is ready for battle!

Daniel and Pa hanging out on the front porch.

Sara using her new camera.

Tracy and Devin. Look, he's bigger than me now.

Ham sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, presents, Camps...what else could you possibly need for a fun Christmas celebration?

Neither rain, nor snow will keep the retired postman from Christmas dinner

Zeb is happy about the snow. (Yes, that IS a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hat he's wearing. No, I don't know why.)

Only one of us seems happy about the snow.

Watching a You Tube video on the iPad. Check out the kid who got books for Christmas. It's hilarious.

Scout seems to be intrigued by Zeb. She stared at him for the longest time.

Despite the miraculous Christmas snow beginning to fall, the Toneys and Todd came over for a traditional Christmas dinner complete with the broccoli casserole that both Jeri and Zeb had asked about in recent weeks.

Santa was here

Boo and Scout got their very first Christmas present, a fuzzy blanket. Boo seems to have taken control here, but now that it's on my chair in the bedroom, Scout uses it the most.

A very rare hug between Sara and Owen. It's a Christmas miracle!

Santa emptied the Lego section of the workshop this year.

Sara's tiny haul. Do not feel sorry for her. That gift in front is a big one.

Though there had been predictions of lumps of coal in stockings or another rock incident, Santa came this year with some awesome gifts. We gave each other some neat things too. Daniel got a big flat screen for the bonus room so he can enjoy (read: see) his video games. I got a comfy chair for the bedroom so I can read, relax, or take a timeout when needed.

Later Christmas Eve

Sara got the giggles while opening presents.

Madeline too.

Daniel got the jacket he wanted.

Grandmama and all of us.

Madeline and Grandmama

We spent time with Grandmama and Madeline. We had lots of fun opening presents and just laughing together.

Breakfast with Nanny

Christmas Eve brought a visit from Nanny at breakfast time. We ate some warm sausage gravy and biscuits and grits before opening presents.

Sara is about to open her warm peacoat.

Owen knows the sound of Legos.

My mom and I are thankful to share another Christmas together.

Happy Hollis-Day

Our Christmas celebration usually begins with a visit with the Hollis family before things get too crazy. We all had some yummy spaghetti and Jon's special "Cool-eo" dessert before opening presents and having some fun times.

It's the most chaotic time of the year...

OMG! My brain is frazzled from all this semester's end activity, my fingers and toes are numb from the bitter cold, and I'm just plain worn out from all of the running around, but as Andy Williams keeps proclaiming from my iPod, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." It should be and it could be and it would be if we didn't try to cram EVERYTHING into it, but we try our best to make it PERFECT. Well, perfect isn't in my vocabulary this year. Imperfect can be wonderful too.

Let's look at a few examples:
Christmas cards - I've only done these a few times over the years and always when I planned WAY in advance (you know, buying and addressing them in September). The last time I bought them to send out to "everyone" I had them all ready ahead of time and never got around to putting stamps on them and sending them. The solutions? 1) Cards for folks at work I love and depend upon daily to keep me sane (no stamps needed either). 2) This very personal message:

Hey, you. Yes, you on the computer.

Merry Christmas!

3) Facebook. If you're my friend there, you'll receive two very personal messages from me this year. Wow, two! Better than a real card because all of your other friends can see how much I care about you too.... 4) a real gift. If I love you that much, you're getting something tangible from me already. I hope you like it.

Shopping Trips and real life - One of my favorite YouTube videos is "David and the Dentist" where after a medically enhanced trip to the dentist, seven year old David asks his father, "Is this real life?" Yes, David, it is but when Mama has to run around after work shopping for gifts for teachers and friends, clothes for guard or band concerts, etc., you can expect a very real dinner of something simple that evening - like Hamburger Helper. Hey, it's Christmas-y-ish...okay, so maybe not, but it's warm and quick and the best part Owen loves it. Owen is in culinary heaven this December :)

Housecleaning -My normally clean-ish house is a bona fide WRECK right now. Christmas, two busy parents, two busier children, and two rambunctous kittens have destroyed any sort of order that once existed there. It's not dirty, just scattered, smothered, and covered. Christmas break is coming. My three helpers and I will have it cleaned up before YOU come over and it'll look all "Leave it to Beaver" and you'll say on your way home, "How does she do it?" ;)