A Very Merry (extended) Christmas

This Christmas has been great, and long. I was so sad to see it start because I did not want it to end. That is the thing about me. I end things, sometimes before they even start. When I used to work, I would wake up Sunday morning and as soon as I realized the next day was Monday, I would say, I can't believe the weekend is over. Sean would have to remind me that it indeed was not, there was still a twelve hour day ahead of us. Didn't help.

So this Christmas was not any different. As soon as the Saturday before Christmas came and we were to start celebrating with Sean's family I was saying, "I can't believe Christmas is over already." Again, Sean would remind me that it was only December 20th; Christmas had not even come yet.

We had a broken up celebration with the O'Reillys, as Brendan was sick and very contagious. We could not take Kerri in the same house with him. Sean went over Saturday while I stayed behind. Sunday we kind of split up the day. Sean brought Kerri over to his parents' house, and I sat in the car in the driveway and fed her. He visited. Then he drove home, I stayed for another hour and a half, then drove home to feed Kerri again. Luckily, even with the shuffling back and forth, the older girls didn't seem to mind, or notice, really. They had a great time, as usual, with their cousins.

Christmas Eve was great. We went to Mass with the Smiths at Saint Norbert's. We sat in the front row and the girls (and Brady) were all great. We had a nice visit and dinner at the Smiths afterward. The girls were so excited to come home and get to bed so Santa could come. I think it was record time getting them down. Most of the wrapping/assembling/etc. was already done, so Sean and I got to bed at a reasonable time (Kerri slept 11 hours that night... another Christmas miracle). Maura came in Christmas morning at 8:15 ready to open presents. Unfortunately, her sisters did not have the same ideas. They wanted to sleep. We finally told Maura she could wake Mags up; we would let B sleep a bit. Mags said she was not ready, but after a few minutes, she came around and made her way out of the bedroom. The girls spent a few minutes on stockings but soon went into the family room to find a room full of presents... bikes, trampolines, high chairs, bunkbeds (doll) were all sitting there unwrapped. They were already thrilled. It was weird though, everyone whispered. It really was a quiet, calm, grateful morning. When I watched the video with my mom later that day, she even commented on how quiet it was. There was no fighting or jealousy, just fun and thank yous. Wow! I love it.

We had breakfast, played with our new toys, sang Christmas songs and waited for Oba and grandad. We had a great visit, a relaxing visit, with them and just kind of hung around all day. We ate, drank and were generally merry. The girls got their exercise on the trampoline which they jumped on non stop all day. That was the extent of physical activity in our house that day. It was great.

Sean has been home. We have been laying low. Today, we celebrated with my brother and Ryan. It was a very nice visit. The girls love playing with Ryan. B was a ham and loving having visitors. Maura and Maggie showed off their new trampoline moves, while wearing the leotards they have not taken of since Sunday (it is now Saturday... well they have changed into different ones, but unless we are leaving the house in the next 15 minutes, they are in a leotard). Maura has gone to my parents' house for a few days (3 kids left... that is a breeze). It is quiet. Sean's watching a Flyers game. I think I'll have a(nother) glass of wine. I guess Christmas is over. It was well worth the wait!