Holiday recap....really short

We had a great holiday. It is overwhelming to recap it all, because so many things, wonderful things, happened.

We had great times with every member of our immediate families, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents. It was so nice to see everyone. We had a great brunch with Santa, a formal dinner out at Aronimink, mass at Saint Norberts (in the front row again), dinner at the Smiths (with a gift exchange thrown in). We woke up Christmas morning to discover that Santa had left tons of gifts under the tree. We tore through them and loved every one. Oba and Grandad, Ryan and Chris then joined us for brunch... and of course, more presents. Mimi, Papa, aunt Colleen, Uncle Dave, and the Arlington O'Reillys came by for an informal dinner. We saw the light show and rode the train. M, M and I went to see the newest Disney Princess movie, The Princess and the Frog. We went to lunch before... at a REAL restaurant, not a kids' restaurant.

We had a fun visit to the Shorts. I love getting together with them, not only because I like Adeline and Elizabeth's parents, but the girls LOVE each other. They don't see each other for months, but when they do they run into each other's arms, hug, and we really do not see them again for hours. That is not to say they aren't up to no good somewhere, but we just don't see them. The Unsers also joined us... so fun to see them after so long.

New years at Aronimink was eventful. B was missing for about 20 minutes. I was really in the panic mode by minute 12. We found her and Chloe up on the second floor in a bathroom up to no good! After that, all was good with face painting, photobooths, balloon making, dancing, eating, drinking (parents not the kids). And to top it off, a count down to 9:00pm, ending in fireworks! Of course I was asleep by 11:00, but woke up a few minutes before midnight and saw the official countdown. Back asleep by 12:01.

As I look back on last year, I feel truly blessed. I mean how lucky am I to have a healthy, relatively happy family. We are safe, well fed, loved, healthy. At night, when the girls are snuggled, and the lights are dimmer, and the fire is roaring, I honestly feel like the luckiest girl around. Thanks 2009. You were great!

I should be flattered

My girls love me. They really, really do. I should be flattered. I should feel blessed, and don't get me wrong, I do, and I am. But really. You are sitting on my lap. You have your head buried into my chest. I am there. There is no need for you to scream at the top of your lungs "mommy". It would be physically impossible for you to get any closer to me. Unless, of course, you somehow climbed back into my uterus. And I know at least one girl who would willingly do that. Gross, I know.

I have threatened to change my name, but they're smart little buggers. They would figure out my new name and scream that.

Seriously, somethimes they are in the kitchen with Sean, and they come upstairs to the bathroom, while I am in the shower, to ask me to get them a drink. Really?

Maybe they don't love me as much as they use me.