Christmas Dinner at Lori's house

The men of the family.

The women of the family.

Who loves Christmas? This guy!

Jon wishes he had TJ's arms.

Ian gets reindeer antlers. The antlers are his intitiation gift into our family. There is no turning back now!

Tre opens his gift from Aunt Lori and Uncle Donald.

Brian loves Kayleigh's Dora nightlight.

Merry Christmas Kayleigh!

Kayleigh LOVES Dora and Grampy!

Tre helps hand out the gifts.

Silly Jon and Tre.

Silly Julienne!

In the afternoon, on Christmas day, we headed to my Aunt Lori's house for dinner and more presents. Our family is pretty large, so instead of buying for each person, all of the adults draw a name to buy for, and each adult buys for the kids. We try to keep the presents focused around the children. We opened our adult exchange gifts at Lori's house. I had Brian to buy for and TJ had my cousin Kassandra.

My aunt Lori always had an amazing spread of food. She is really good at preparing appetizer- type foods, and I look forward to her house for the food. My favorite item that she makes is Strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing and sunflower seeds. YUMMY! This year, we had all of the fixings for sandwiches, meatballs, vegetable and fruit platters, caramel coated cashews, and shrimp. I ate for hours!

Our family is definitley not a traditional Christmas card picture family. Here is a list of things we are and are not:

Things we are not:

1. Organized

2. Patient

3. Appropriate

Things we are:

1. LOUD- The loudest talker gets the floor!

2. funny

3. together- we value our family time

4. Loyal and protective of one another

5. Loving

Is it over yet?

Christmas Morning

After a fun Christmas Eve get together, TJ and I helped get the kids ready for bed since they were staying at Grammy's house. We had been tracking Santa's trip on Norad, and as it got later, Santa was getting closer. After checking the computer, Julienne came barreling down the stairs. TJ was there and started to tell her to pick up her coat off the floor. Julienne, in a flush of excitement said, "I don't have time for questions Dad, Santa is in CanaGa!" It was adorable!

After tucking the kids in to bed wearing their new Christmas jammies from Grammy, and after helping my mom clean up, we headed back to the hotel. The plan was for us to wake up early and be back at my mom's house before the kids woke up on Christmas morning. We woke up early and arrived at my Mom's at 8:00am, just after Julienne had woken, and just in time for the Christmas festivities.

We waited for Shonna, Brian and Kayleigh to arrive before we began opening presents. Then, the fun began. The kids always get so many things at Christmas. It makes me feel very fortunate to have the means to spoil the kids in such a way. It also makes me wary that my kids do not realize how fortunate we are. We always try to go through our old toys and things before Christmas, to weed out toys that are no longer used. Then we usually donate these items, so that children who are not as fortunate can have nice things for Christmas. One of my biggest goals as a parent is not only to provide for my children, but also to raise them to be humble, and appreciative of all the nice things we are able to provide. So far, I think we are doing a good job.

We opened presents for a while, and then my dad cooked a huge breakfast. We ate until we had Santa bellies, and basked in the warm glow of Christmas and family. We had more plans for later in the day, so soon we are dispersed to our own homes, or hotel. We would shower and dress there, and then journey to my Aunt Lori's house for Christmas dinner in the afternoon.

Christmas Eve: Family Photos

Here is my crazy Maine family!

Visiting Kringelville

The day after we got to Maine, the temperature was a balmy -1 degrees and we were under a blizzard warning. By Monday morning we had received about 18 inches of snow! It was so great to know that we would have a white Christmas. Christmas in Virginia with warm weather and no snow, just isn't the same kind of Christmas.

Entering Kringelville, into Santa's cottage.

On Monday evening, we met my mom after work and made a very special visit to Kringelville to see Santa. Kayleigh had already been to visit Santa, but Tre and Julienne had not. We trudged through the snow to a cleared pathway leading up to Santa's cottage. It was a small red building, jammed packed with people. We waited outside in the bitter cold, until we could finally squeeze into the building. Once inside the toasty bulding of Santa, we waited patiently as Santa heard each child's wished and requests. Santa was perfect; jolly red cheeks, twinkling blue eyes, an immaculate red suit and a beard was a white as the two feet of snow outside the door. He had a kind manner about him and he gave each child individual attention and care.

Tre got to go first and talk with Santa about how he had been a good boy this year. Next was Kayleigh, who sat like abig girl on his lap and even smiled for me to take a picture. Julienne was next, but decided she wasn't having it. She wanted nothing to do with Santa, or sitting on his lap. TJ even took a turn with Santa, to tell how he had been a good boy this year.

Before we left, each child got to sign, or have Mrs. Claus write his or her name in Santa's book.

Each child also got a letter from Kringelville, with their names on the letter. It was a wonderful experience for the kids, and the snow made it absolutely perfect!

My beautiful niece Kayleigh

The very best part of our trip to Maine was getting to see my niece Kayleigh. Kayleigh is the only daughter of my sister Shonna, and I have not seen her since last Christmas. I was so excited to see her, hold her and watch her play with Tre and Julienne. She is such a doll, a little mini Brian in appearance. Kayleigh is 20 months old, and she has just recently started to walk. She is so careful, and focused on her task at hand. She would play for such a long time with objects, or coloring pictures. I cannot believe her fine motor skills at 20 months old. Kayleigh was so funny and would show you her teeth, or her muscles. Kayliehg had the best time playing with the kids and on Christmas day she ran up and down the hall with Julienne, Tre and cousin Sabrina. It was adorable! When Shonna got her into her pajamas on Christmas Day, I suggested that she leave Kayleigh's diaper off and let her run in the buff. She laughed and ran down the hallway until she stopped to pee all over my Aunt Lori's floor. It was hilarious!

Christmas Day in Virginia

We travel every year for Christmas. The driving stinks, but we have tried twice to stay here in Virginia for Christmas, but it just isn't the same. We felt lonely, and it just didn't feel like Christmas! So, we travel 14 hours to celebrate Christmas with my family in Maine. It takes a lot of work to get ready prior to leaving, and a little "fudging" on our part to explain why Santa comes to Virginia way early, but we do it every year.

So this weekend was designated as our Christmas in Virginia. Our Santa counted down the days...5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and Friday was our "Christmas Eve". So, after school on Friday, Tre and I went to do some last minute shopping, ordered pizza for dinner, and then we made a gingerbread train as a family.After the train was finished, we needed to make some peanut butter cookies to leave for Santa.

Once the cookies were baking in the oven, we got ready to go spread our reindeer food on the front lawn. Three years ago, we began making reindeer food, to lure Santa's reindeer to our house on "Christmas Eve". Last year at the Christmas parade, we were given bags of reindeer food, so we didn't need to make our own. This year, we were again given reindeer food. TJ decided that the reindeer food needed a little extra spice, and thought to put cinnamon in the bags. However, instead of cinnamon, he grabbed cumin! I hope the reindeer enjoy a little Mexican flair in their food!

After spreading the reindeer food, Tre made a sign directing Santa to the peanut butter cookies.

Finally, after all of the evening's festivities, the kids settled into bed to dream of Santa's sleigh and eight reindeer. They went right to sleep, which was surprising, given their excitement of what would happen that night. Sure enough Santa came, eager to test run the reindeer before the real Christmas Eve, and set up all of the toys, and filled four lovely stockings hung with care.

The next morning I woke up early to shower because I knew we had a long day ahead of us. We had invited our neighbors over for a breakfast of pancakes and waffles cooked by TJ. Then at 10:30, Julienne was having her last dance class and performance for parents. The alarm went off at 6:00, I got up and showered, and then went to wake everyone else up to see Santa's surprises. Everyone was sleepy and reluctant to leave their warm beds, even for presents!

During Santa's visit, he made quite a mess! He spilled milk on the counter, and left cookie crumbs on the floor. Santa always leaves us a mess on Christmas morning, because he is in such a hurry. The kids did not ask to leave Santa coffee this year!

The kids were super excited to see the gifts that Santa left. Julienne had a new cottage to play in, and Tre had a whole big tub of new art supplies, including clay, googly eyes, glitter and lots of other fun art stuff.

We opened all of our gifts, and tried to clean up and organize before our guests came. Not only were our neighbors coming, but Grandad and Grandma were coming with gifts for the kids. They arrived with huge 4-foot tall stockings filled with presents! We all enjoyed delicious pancakes and waffles that TJ made with his new waffle maker. After breakfast, the kids opened their gifts from Grandad and Grandma. Each of the kids received a new digital camera, new games, clothes, and other fun stuff that Grandparents give. TJ and I received a wonderful gift, which is a night away for Valentine's Day, childcare included. That has to be the best gift ever!

After all of the gifts had been opened, we left for Julienne's dance performance. Grandad and Grandma came with us, and Julienne really enjoyed her audience. She was all smiles and was the perfect ballerina. The performance was one of the cutest things I have ever seen, all the little ballerinas, performing for their parents. They were so proud of all the new things we had learned.

It was a great faux Christmas weekend. Now we can focus on packing and getting ready for Christmas #2 in Maine!