December the 26th

Well, another Christmas come and gone. The kids all had a blast and every one of us is exhausted, full-bellied and very happy.

Christmas was so much fun this year. The boys, being 3 1/2, were so much more "into it" than the past couple of years. Every present opened was met with squeals of delight and "Just what I wanted!!" and then an eager "Are there any more?". They were so overwhelmed I think and just kept opening and opening.

First at our house bright and early in the morning. Next at my parents house where we had a yummy Christmas lunch.

And finally at my in-law's house where we had Christmas dessert. By day's end they were exhausted.

And now, they are having a blast playing with everything. I am trying to keep from opening every new toy and saving some for the dull dreary days of winter ahead of us. But, they are kids and of course want to test out all their new loot. And their sister's. I swear, we almost could have bought the boys baby toys and they would have had a blast!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful day yesterday! Only one week left now of 2006. Can you believe it?

Happy Holidays

I have definitely let my blogging go lately. I have just been so busy between buying, wrapping, and baking not to mention general upkeep of the house and three children. It has been crazy.

The boys seem to have finally grasped the concept of our Christmas box. They are now practically out of their skins with excitement as they see there are only 4 doors left to open before Santa comes. Of course, Ciara is still oblivious. She only knows that she wants the candy her brothers are chomping on at 7:30 in the morning.

So, just in case I don't get a chance to post between now and Monday.... Merry Christmas to all!!!

Pornaments

You know...those things you hang on Christmas trees to decorate it.

At least, that is what they are called by my three-year-olds. Pornaments. Nice.

Flu shots

I took the kids to get flu shots yesterday. Iwas debating whether to tell the boys in advance or not tell them anything at all and wait until we got to the doctor's office. There were cons to each scenario.
If I told them in advance, I risked listening to "I don't want to go" overandoverandover and possible tears. Plus, I didn't want them dwelling on going to the doctor all day for a shot that was going to take all of 3 seconds to administer.
If I waited until we got to the office to mention anything, I faced a possible meltdown in the office with people staring at us. Also, I didn't want them to be afraid of the doctor's and think that everytime they go they were going to get a shot (or a 'pinch' as I call it).
So, I decided to just mention it nonchalantly when they inevitably ask what we are doing for the day. "We are just making a quick trip to the doctor."

Gavin (wheels immediately turning in his head): Why? Why are we going there?
Aidan (who takes everything we say at face value): Oh, that's good. My teeth hurt. (???)

I say we just need to get a really quick check up and that seems to satisfy them for the moment. So Gavin keeps mentioning it throughout the day and then asks me point blank "Are we going to get a pinch?" What was I going to do? I couldn't lie to him. "Um, yes. You will be getting a little pinch."

And let the floodgates open....

"I don't want to get a pinch!" Tears streaming down face. "No! No! I don't want to go!". And so it continued for about 20 minutes. He finally calms down and seems to accept the fact. Everyone is quiet on the ride to the office. Once we get there, they even play with the little beaded toy that seems to be in every doctor's office everywhere. When they call us, I decide to take the boys in first and get it over with and leave Ciara in the waiting room with my mother.

We get in the room and I say to Gavin "You go first and it'll be over before you know it." To which he promptly declines and volunteers Aidan to go first. Aidan, easygoing oblivious boy that he is, agrees. I plop Aidan down on the examining table and the nurse says "Are you ready?" Aidan nods his head and then opens his mouth. Oh my god, this kid. He still thought he was going to the dentist.

So, the boys get their shots with nary a peep from either of them. Ciara got hers with a little squeal. And now they are hopefully protected from the flu for the season.

The end.

'Tis the Season

And so the holidays are upon us.

My boys were so excited that they got to open the first door on the Christmas Box (as I have dubbed it since it is not your typical advent calendar). It is so much more fun this year with them. Last year, at 2 1/2, they would open up the door, get their chocolate and pretty much forget about the Christmas Box until I told them it was time to open up another door. Last night, before bed, they were all excited that the next day they would get to open a door and then this morning, that is the first thing they asked about.

Another good thing about this year is that they can actually begin to understand just how far away Christmas Day is by using the box. Of course, that still doesn't stop them from asking 65 times a day if it is Christmastime and when Santa is coming. I suppose I don't help it any because I am always itching to decorate the day after Thanksgiving and am often just as excited as the kids. I can't wait to get our Christmas tree and have the smell of balsam wafting through the house. Love it. Although, I must admit that with our unseasonably warm weather thus far, I am having a wee bit of trouble feeling like it actually is December. That should change with the cold front expected this weekend.

So, enjoy the season while it lasts. It will be gone all to soon.