As I type this the winds in our neck of Michigan are howling something fierce. I can’t sleep when the wind rakes over the house with such ferocity so I get up and enjoy the wee hours getting reacquainted with so many of the sites and blogs I follow. Good quiet time to be sure.
Just a day ago there was almost two feet of snow covering every square inch of ground. Today it is all gone. One good 55 degree day with a little rain and black ice warnings turn into flood warnings. Oh the wonders of this season.
Our Christmas ended up being pretty magical as you might imagine would be the case with a house full of children. Half of whom are in that delightful place where there is no question the big guy exists. The other half continue to humor their Dad and for this I love them dearly. Where the sound of every bell is a jingle bell and the sighting of any red clothing sparks questions around what Santa wears when he isn’t in the sleigh.
This year the big gift for the little girls was a kitchen for their play area. A KidCraft kitchen whose cabinets seem to close better than those in our own kitchen. The girls absolutely love the thing and have spent every day since serving up some pretty fabulous pretend meals. It seems Jada, the two year old, is particularly fond of soup.
The downside to the whole kitchen is it amounts to more places the kids can hide toys that aren’t at all kitchen related. This drives my wife a little crazy. You know, everything in its place. Yeah, right.
It ended up being a pretty good year for the big kids as well. Their big gifts were cameras. An entry level DSLR for the college bound boy and a cute and fancy point and shoot for the girl. They both seemed pretty pleased.
We also had the pleasure of hosting some family for the holiday which made it all the more special. It was great for them to see the kids in their element and have an opportunity to meet the littlest sister, Tessa.
I’ve one last week of vacation before returning to work. I’m not quite sure how to break the kids in to the fact that I won’t be around all day, every day. Best not to think about it.
A very happy and prosperous new year to each and every one of you.
Yippeeeee to new cameras!!! Did one of them take that sweet little picture of Tessa? Tooo cute.
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Hey Kim! Yep, the kids loved the cameras. They have a nice eye for setting up a great photo. I took that picture of Tessa with my XTi. Thanks!
Hi Chuck! Sounds like you had a very merry Christmas, indeed. Having all the kids around is the best thing, and it’s even better when you have additional family staying with you. I’m with you about the return to work thing: it’s coming but I’d rather not think about it.
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That kitchen set looks nicer than mine. A Happy, happy New Year to everyone.
@Tom – It certainly was merry. Having family stay was nice too, however it is always a little nice when they are gone and we’re able to get back to our routine. Funny how chaotic things can seem when the schedule is broken. Great to hear from you.
@Tara R. – My wife sent weeks finding the right kitchen this time around. The focus was on quality. We’d like it to be around when Tessa is a bit older too. I hope you guys are enjoying the holiday season.
You’re family is beautiful. I’m glad you all had a very Merry Christmas and wish you the best of New Years.
WeaselMomma´s last blog post..Get Those Reindeer Off My Lawn!
Hi WeaselMomma! Thanks for saying so. I hope this new year is really great for you all.
You have such a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your pictures. Happy New Year to you and your family!
That kitchen looks great. We have a smaller one that my oldest two girls are finding lacks enough space for them. Once the newest girl starts to contend for space, may need to upgrade. I found your blog at DadBlogs. Great work.
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