And nobody even shot their eye out

After six weeks of meticulous planning, list-making, organizing, cleaning, decorating, baking, shopping, and wrapping, Christmas 2007 is done and over. Fortunately, we had a wonderful holiday that was worth every minute of my obsessive micro-managing.

We celebrated four times (my grandparents, Seth's grandparents, Seth's parents, and our house - with Nana's house and my Dad's house still pending). Garrett and Laura were very excited and uncharacteristically well behaved (though waaaay over-tired), and though I had fears of reliving the nightmare that was Thanksgiving, Delaney was a perfect angel - not a scream was heard.

Also, I am officially old this year. My gifts practically scream HOUSEWIFE - a DustBuster, a Shark "Pick Up Stick" (for vacuuming the kitchen floor), a memory foam pillow, my very first pieces of Christmas dishes (Pfaltzgraff 'Winterberry'), and best of all - a shiny new stand mixer (she is beautiful, and I will love her and pat her and polish her every day).

I spent four blissful days (Sunday through Wednesday) enjoying my family, eating yummy food, playing with all my new toys, and appreciating what a blessing and joy it is to have children.

And now, that is over.

A mere 48 hours after merrily unwrapping all the gifts their little toddler hearts desired, the children are back to their normal selves:

Garrett has sat in (read: BROKEN) the beautiful wooden doll highchair that I had hoped Laura would pass on to her own daughter someday, there is chocolate ground into various bits of the carpet, the children have spent the day alternating between sweetly playing house together and beating the hell out of each other (my GOD, WHEN does preschool start up again???), a nail has been hammered (and removed, thankfully) into my kitchen counter (maybe the My Little Building Kit was not such a good idea?), and Delaney pooped through her Christmas pajamas.

And now, on to the pictures.

We celebrated Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house, and Delaney slept through the whole darn thing (not that I'm complaining).

After we returned home that evening, we unloaded the car and wrestled the children into bed.
With the twenty-four hour marathon of "A Christmas Story" in the background, Seth and I proceeded to fulfill our roles as Mr. and Mrs. Clause. The gifts were assembled and wrapped, stockings were stuffed, the table was set for brunch, and we ate our cookies and milk and left our thank you note for the kiddos.

After the cookies and milk, some stronger spirits were needed, as in one polished off bottle of $3.97 champagne. Mmmm....shuld be mush eaisier to aasemlbel toys noww. ho ho ho!

Had we known how great this thirty dollar cardboard play-house was going to be, we might have decided to forgo the overpriced wooden play kitchen and doll furniture. Don't you just want to go in there and PLAY? Uh, not that I do or anything. Moving on...

Garrett was up at the bright and shiny hour of six o'clock, and we entertained ourselves by coloring the house until the rest of the family woke up. That was actually my favorite time of the whole day, as I don't get to spend a lot of time with just Garrett.

Delaney awoke in good spirits and graciously allowed her siblings to rip open all of her gifts.

Laura received everything a little mommy-in-training could need - high chair, quilt, swing, and stroller (from her Granny), and a baby doll crib and clothing from us. Though the child already owns a bazillion baby dolls, she sat on Santa's lap Friday night (Friday night! Before Christmas! At the mall! We are stupid!) and informed him that she needed a "pink baby doll, with a binky". So Santa, who was done shopping three weeks ago, had to make a last minute run to Walmart for the requested item.

After a fun (MESS) filled morning, we enjoyed a Christmas brunch of mini quiche cups, latkes with applesauce, and Pioneer Woman's French Breakfast Puffs (ohlordforgiveme - they were DROWNED IN BUTTER, right before they were rolled around in cinnamon sugar).

The next day, we decided to give the new high chair a spin and give Delaney her first taste of cereal. Clearly, it was NOT a hit (and that's just fine, baby, you just keep taking those bottles while you're snuggled on mama's lap and stay my little PRESHUS BAAYYYYBEE forever).

And then, after I ripped through all the flipping overpackaged children's toys, I got to try out MY new toys. Er, should I say, I trained the CHILDREN to use my new toys. Work, servants, WORK!

Finally, to top it all off, I'm still filling cake orders. And because dealing with three small children hanging on my legs while I bake is not enough, my husband has decided to get in on the game too. Go ahead, husband, just get that remote control spider a liiiiitle closer to my cake, and find out what happens. Don't say you weren't warned.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday...see you again very soon!