When I was a little girl my parents had the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas cassette tape. We used to listen to it over and over every year. (mostly cuz we had, like, 3 Christmas cassettes) One of my favorite songs was called "Thank God for Kids" The chorus goes...
Thank God for kids there's magic for a while,
A special kind of sunshine in a smile.
Did you ever stop to think, 'I wonder why, the nearest thing to heaven is a child'?
The verses are just as good if not better.
I got a taste of that yesterday and today.
Last year, Dani was still 6 months and not really aware of most that was going on. This year at the IL's we had Dani at 18 months and Amos at 12 months and it was a riot. They were so cute and really got into opening the presents. And even if they didn't understand it all (which the obviously didn't) they did understand that this was a special time and they were front and center of it all.
I was sitting in my IL's living room taking pictures on the couch. The 2 kids were playing with some blocks. We were all watching them while we finally got our turn to open a present or two (actually more like 5 or 6). The kids were squealing and having fun. We were opening presents from each other and just having a good time. I know this sounds so cheesy but I had this overwhelming thought that said "Now, THIS, feels like Christmas" I haven't had so much fun on Christmas morning since I was a child myself. Kids add so much to the mix. I can't wait till next year when we'll have another one. (my brothers baby not me!) I love to watch them smile and hear them squeal with excitement when they see what's inside the wrapping. I know too that Dani will only get better over the next few years as she learns to anticipate the day.
It was a good day!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Glad I don't live in Canada
I am so not loving the cold spell we are finding ourselves in right now! If I could just simply stay inside, sip hot chocolate, snuggle down under a blanket and watch bad Christmas movies I'd be fine but that is not my life!
First of all, we live on a lane that will drift shut with 1 inch of snow. Throw in some ice and we have Saturday night. CJ and I were leaving to go on a much-needed date when we had white-out conditions on the lane! I couldn't see anything and the van was going at a decent clip so not to get stuck. I ended up getting off to the side into a rut that Dad had accidentally made just the day before. We couldn't move an inch! So here we are, it's -30 degrees windchill and we are stuck in the middle of nowhere with "date" clothes on. Dad was at work and Mom was on call and recovering from a nasty sinus infection. We really really didn't want to walk home. (I had on dress shoes) Finally, Mom was able to come out and pick up CJ in the truck. He took her back home, bundled up in Dad's coveralls and got some gloves and a hat and then came back over. I tell ya, even though I knew he was coming back and I wasn't stranded alone, I really struggled with a small panic attack! I was sitting in the middle of nowhere, with 40 mph winds and whiteout conditions. It was cold and it took CJ nearly 20 minutes to get back and we'd already been sitting there for nearly 30 minutes before Mom came. It was surreal. Anyway, Dad told CJ to just find something solid under the van and wrap a chain under it. Then hook that chain to the truck and pull! Well... he found our heating line and broke it. There was absolutely nothing else under there!
So to make this long story short, we ended up leaving the van there until the next morning when Dad and I spent 2 hrs trying to find something to hook up to, that would hold strong so we could pull it out. It was cold and miserable!!!
I can't imagine living where every winter is bad and worse! I'm sure we'll end up being one of those old couples that "fly" south for the winter. ;) Fine by me!!
First of all, we live on a lane that will drift shut with 1 inch of snow. Throw in some ice and we have Saturday night. CJ and I were leaving to go on a much-needed date when we had white-out conditions on the lane! I couldn't see anything and the van was going at a decent clip so not to get stuck. I ended up getting off to the side into a rut that Dad had accidentally made just the day before. We couldn't move an inch! So here we are, it's -30 degrees windchill and we are stuck in the middle of nowhere with "date" clothes on. Dad was at work and Mom was on call and recovering from a nasty sinus infection. We really really didn't want to walk home. (I had on dress shoes) Finally, Mom was able to come out and pick up CJ in the truck. He took her back home, bundled up in Dad's coveralls and got some gloves and a hat and then came back over. I tell ya, even though I knew he was coming back and I wasn't stranded alone, I really struggled with a small panic attack! I was sitting in the middle of nowhere, with 40 mph winds and whiteout conditions. It was cold and it took CJ nearly 20 minutes to get back and we'd already been sitting there for nearly 30 minutes before Mom came. It was surreal. Anyway, Dad told CJ to just find something solid under the van and wrap a chain under it. Then hook that chain to the truck and pull! Well... he found our heating line and broke it. There was absolutely nothing else under there!
So to make this long story short, we ended up leaving the van there until the next morning when Dad and I spent 2 hrs trying to find something to hook up to, that would hold strong so we could pull it out. It was cold and miserable!!!
I can't imagine living where every winter is bad and worse! I'm sure we'll end up being one of those old couples that "fly" south for the winter. ;) Fine by me!!
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