Christmas 2011

Thought I'd better post about the Christmas hoopla before it was February.  

The boys got spoiled rotten this year.  The highlight was the wooden train table, which relatives then helped the boys deck out with Thomas the Train accessories.  Please note the picture below where the boys are playing nicely together one minute, then attempting to gouge out each others' eyes the next.  Blood has already been shed over it.  Let's just say it has provided lots of opportunities to practice sharing, and on how to sit in time out.

Ben was more interested in opening gifts than Josh was.  That boy couldn't figure out why we'd want him to stop playing with his toys and come over to a random box or bag.  Ben was very much into shredding the paper.  It was so nice to have Christmas at our place this year.  With the exception of going out to church for an hour (is it totally sacrilegious to say that it was pretty much a waste of time, as I spent most of the time sitting with Josh in time out in the hall?  We ended up leaving about 15 minutes before the end because I was tired of fighting him.) we spent the day in PJs (boys) or at least in pants with super-stretch waistbands (me.)  We ate double chocolate waffles with berry sauce, made a few repeat dishes from our house warming party (cheese dip and little smokies) and then ate soup and rolls for dinner.

Since we got a house this year, presents for our little family were few and pretty inexpensive (the $50 train table was more than almost all other gifts put together) but they were special.  David got me a super-soft purple robe and replaced a favorite pair of earrings I had lost.  I got him a big ol' book of how-to home repairs.  Our extended family spoiled us with wonderful gifts.  Josh even had to take all his trains to bed with him Christmas night.

All together is was a very relaxing, (if you don't count the church leave-your-presents-behind-and-sit-still-child torture) peaceful (minus the pistol-whacking bleeding finger incident) and calm (besides the sugar breakfast overload mad-man running amok) Christmas.  I can't wait to see what next year will bring.  Honestly.