Christmas 2012

December was so busy, we started the month with stomach flu, moved on to school festivities and got hit by major snowstorm that gave us two days off, right before the holiday break started.  And, here it is, December 28...it flew by.

We spent Christmas Eve at M's house.  I will say that I am tired of driving two hours for the Christmas Eve celebration, and then trucking it home to arrive in the early am.  C was fast asleep and snuggled easily into bed but N woke up when we got home, and inisisted on putting out cookies and notes for Santa and our Elf on the Shelf.   While she was (finally) in bed, she heard me shuffling the Santa loot downstairs.  She knows.  But, she won't admit it.  She had the decency not to come downstairs and tell me she couldn't fall asleep, she waited until I came back upstairs so she wouldn't "out" the Santa gifts.  It was 1 am and I was just trying to get to bed myself.  We watched so much Elf this season that I think she doesn't want to be the one without Christmas spirit. 

Our early riser slept until after 7am!  C came in and woke me up and got N and we all headed downstairs.   They opened gifts and played while I made breakfast and started preparing our late lunch with Grandma and Grandpa.   There is still magic and belief in Christmastime at our house, but so many heavy hearts around the world...so many people watching Newton, CT and thinking of those children and their educators.  The loss and pain those families are feeling hasn't left me since the whole heartbreaking event.  When I look at my six year old and all her spunk and dreams she has yet to fulfill, it is so hard to wrap my head around any of this.

I am going to give my family the gift of more presence this year.