Merry Christmas. Ho, ho, ho.

We had a really great, peaceful Christmas. The kids were happy, Mike was happy, I was happy (and everyone knows, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"). I spent Christmas Eve thoroughly cleaning the house, wearing my pj's all day, then got dressed and went for a run at 10pm with my running buddy, Courtney. It was her first Christmas Eve run, and I hope she liked it. It wasn't as solemn and solitary as last year, but it was sure nice to chat with someone who wasn't just waiting to be fed, or bathed, or read to. As always, the cemetery was inspiring and humbling. I can't imagine what it must be like for families to come and place lighted candles by the grave of a loved one, but I sure appreciate and respect the beauty of the place. Caleb was sick Friday night/Saturday morning (and will never crave Chik-fil-a again. Ever.), so he and I stayed home while Mike took the girls and Josh to Uncle George's for a family party. We watched AFV on N*tflix and ate soup and french bread - it was a nice Christmas Eve meal for just the two of us! Even though Mike and I had done better at wrapping things before Christmas Eve, we were still up until 2 setting things up. I'm getting too old for this!

The kids woke up early but had been warned not to disturb us until after 7, so Josh (love this kid!) had set up a small DVD player in the rompus room to watch Ralphy and his Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time, and they didn't actually drag us out of bed until 7:45. That's right. Eat that, all you poor suckers who had to get up at 5:30! We decided to forego the traditional breakfast upstairs, and just made them drink some warm cider. After that, it was a race to open presents in an orderly fashion and still have time to get ready for church at 11. I have to say, I really enjoyed going to church - I kind of wish we could do that every Christmas Day.

Sooooo, on to the loot. Caleb got his long-awaited drum set, Josh his nice camera and ipod speakers/charger, and the girls all the princess and fairy kitsch they wanted. Mike surprised me with a kindle, an ipod nano, plus the body bugg and gps watch that I pretty much just bought for myself and gave him to wrap. There was some concern as Mike couldn't find the body bugg to wrap on Christmas Eve, and he sure spent a lot of time looking for where he hid it. I was prepared to wait an extra day or so, but then it turned up under the tree, already wrapped. He had wrapped it a week ago. He also located the two long-lost Chinese candles/fireworks that we bought years ago, and I promptly lost, and gave them to me with the label, "From: the Housekeeper on the Alzheimer Ward." We had a good laugh at our ridiculously bad memories for hiding places. I inherited that from my grandmother Robena, but Mike's memory lapse is all his own!

I have really like the body bugg, and I'm actually keeping to the program. For the first 3 days anyway. We'll see if I can outlast my previous attempts to trim down. My record lately is 4 days, so tomorrow's the clincher! I do like logging in to see how many calories I expend running, going to a fitness class, folding laundry, nagging my children to forcryingoutloud, cleanupafteryourself!

Life is good. I'm a lucky wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend. I've got to remember that more often.