So glad it is over

Well with Christmas over the house can finally get back in order. The plan is for the tree to come down over the weekend and all the lights to be taken down. Kids are busy playing with all the gifts Santa brung. Christmas Eve is now a blur between Three masses and a stocking hunt with friends I could have used a nap. I took the kids to a family mass where the older three did a play of the nativity story. J got the part of Joseph, Rae was in the choir and played the part of a townsmen or women. Car made a very cute Sheep and A got to sit with me and watch. A very cute play all the kids did a great job. After the family mass we met up with another family and took the kids to the local park since it seems we are in a heat wave with temps getting close to 70. This year we tried what will now become a family tradition. We had gone to the dollar store and bought the simple red stocking that were five for a dollar. Between the two families we had 200 stocking. Each stocking had a number in it along with some penny candy . We hid the stockings like you would eggs and let the kids set out. All 10 kids had a great time. After all the stockings were found the kids turned the number in for prizes. Prizes ran from dollar store toys to DVDs and a few gift cards to the kids favorite places. Can't wait to do it again next year the kids all had a blast even the tiny 1s. After that we had spread a blanket out on the ground and the Kids had a Mary Joseph Lunch of some sort. We had bakery bread, sliced cheese and some thin sliced beef stake to add to the bread to make a sandwich. The kids had a blast drinking cider from what looked like a wine bottle. After dinner we cleaned up and headed home to do the children's Christmas mass so it was a mad dash to get all the kids showered and dressed for service. Each kid had to make a card for baby Jesus and each family was asked to bring a new baby item to donate to our new program at church. I guess you can say we went a little out this year with each kid bringing a gift bag full of blankets,diapers and a new outfit. The kids did enjoy shopping for the gifts and it helped them realize that they can help the poorest baby's born.

Not to sure what was going through A's head. He kept taking his snotty blanket up to the nativity and leaving it on the baby Jesus. Fr just left and said that the baby was cold and A's was helping. Still gross, I carry around with us a receiving blanket to wipe A's nose and face with Asthma and allergies being bad we always need 1 and it is alot easier to remember then tissue plus a little cleaner. The end of the day we wash a few extra blankets instead of through out a few boxes of tissue. Never fails someone at the church always seems to give the kids a cookie or piece of candy. So I am always wiping up a kid. The service was great the kids sat on the floor with all there friends sung happy birthday to Jesus and the nativity story was read to them. They all got to sing carols then Fr took the children over to the bingo hall where the sung to the seniors and had cookies and punch with them. Then it was back home while the kids rested I finished the last min holiday things in the house, kid played and actually stayed clean. With all that was going on I got lazy and we order our Christmas eve pizza. usually i bake a pizza and the kids pick the toppings but once again I was alone with the troops so we ordered. J did make a really good salad. So around 9 it was back 10 kids into a car and we headed to the holiday lights. Relax it wasn't a car but a SUV that sits 15 so all the Little's were safe in a car seat and the older's all in there own seat belts. we played Christmas music while the kids looked at the light. With both mom being from MI it wasn't the same to see the lights without snow. Kids liked them, the boys favorite was a shark that came up on the beach and looked like it was going to bite your car. After the lights it was time to head to our midnight mass. The church was packed so we sat in the back with a few other military wives and there families. Then Fr announced that we have a military family support group in the back for those spouse interested. Did he just volunteer us for something, boy I hope not because I already have a full plate. After mass ended I took the sleepy children home and everyone went to bed. Santa came and filled the stockings and left the toys. Then i passed out, around 7am I could hear the pitter patter of little feet sneaking down the stairs so our day started.

Boy what a morning the kids got tons of stuff,J's favorite was his DS of course Car was happy with tons of Thomas trains, Rae was happy with the new doll house and Aidan loved the MP3 player he got. Yes the baby got a MP3 player, a few new fire trucks to add to the collection. The kids had a blast playing with all the toys Santa brung and I had a blast putting together all the toys Santa brong. Car got the Rose petal cottage that Aidan seems to enjoy more than her. That thing took three hours to put together yet it has brung hours of the kids playing in it. J spotted a pack of toy army soldiers that have now became his favorite. who would have thought a dollar store toy would have brought such joy to that kid.

we had a large Christmas dinner and then everyone went to sleep only to start the next day early again.