As I sit and wait for Ben to drag the VERY dry Christmas tree outside, I might as well procrastinate sweeping up all those needles...

Some fun things about Christmas 2005:

~My sweet Ava Jane has become a pro at sitting up and she got her first tooth (although the fact that she was even teething escaped us...)

A mere look can get her giggling, but mostly her brothers are the best at keeping a smile on her face. The best is when Eli decides that he and Ava are playing a game. Eli would speak to her in half jibberish and half english and then he'd bust up laughing and Ava would join in... (probably thinking...I don't have a clue what you're saying- but I'll go with it).

~On Christmas Eve eve Ben and I had wrapped all the presents and by Christmas Eve day they were all under the tree waiting to be unwrapped. Eli's newest catch phrase is "I dooo" (-meaning I do want this, or I do want that). So that day I was waiting to walk into the room finding Eli ripping into all the gifts. Instead he would bring me one at a time at various times throughout the day saying "I dooo?...I dooo?" with this sweet, expectant look on his face. We only lost one bow in the process.

When we were finally allowed to open gifts Christmas day, Eli would hover over Nate with wide eyes as Nate unwrapped a gift. With every new gift no matter what it was, Eli's response was OOOH! WOW! With huge, shocked eyes... like he'd never seen anything like it before. Way cute.

~One evening on the way home from a harried grocery store stop... busy shoppers getting last minute things... snow coming down by the buckets. I'm trying to concentrate on the road and not take out any of the shoppers dashing out of the store with no heed to the crosswalks whatsoever. Over the radio is playing one of about a gazillion Christmas songs of the evening. Maybe it was because of it's peppy tune, I don't know, but this one ("It's a Holly Jolly Christmas") seemed to capture Nate's attention.

Out of the darkness in the back seat I hear- "Mom, when I close my eyes I think I can see the man that sings this song. Do you know what he looks like?" (Here I was waiting for the response of a big jolly guy with a long, white beard and a red coat...) Nate responds, "When I see him he has brown skin and a brown face all around except for just a little red on the tip of his lips. Don't you think that's what he looks like?"

At first I was shocked... what was he saying? Then I realized that he's not saying anything... just that he likes this song and he thinks that he knows what the guy looks looks like. Kids actually say what they mean... no hidden anything.

Wish it could be that easy for us, adults...

~We were also able to see Ben's mom and dad over New Year's. I think they needed a little snow over the holidays. We played alot of Euchre. Girls dominated-- this is a huge feat as I didn't know it was possible to beat Timm in cards (he's got an abnormally amazing memory...)

Anyway, if we were missing anything at Christmas, it was many of you all. I know that sounds so cheesy... but we really did (just saying what I mean). We love you so very much!