I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas with their friends & families.  Our Christmas was a little bit different this year, but it was still good and I am thankful to have been able to spend it with my family.  Rich had to work a 24 hour shift starting at 8 a.m. this morning, so we decided to have our regular gift opening yesterday morning on Christmas Eve.  It was every bit the family even as it would have been today.  Everyone got a few things that they wanted and had a great time.  Rich got me a new sewing machine and a book that I had been wanted:  The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer.  I have managed to squeak in the first 25 pages and LOVE IT.  I haven't read a book in FOREVER that wasn't a children's book.  I highly recommend this one, it is captivating and has a very intriguing storyline.

I am still studying my handbook to my sewing machine.  I cannot wait to give it a try!  I have wanted a new sewing machine for a while.  I have so many plans & projects that I want to complete.  I really want to make Klara a few nice nightgowns.  You can't hardly find little girls' nightgowns in stores anymore.  I'm not sure why, except maybe they are a fire hazard?  Well, we don't have a fireplace or any stoves so I think it would be ok.  It's been a while since I have sewn on a machine, so it ought to be fun.  I usually prefer to sew by hand, but it is time consuming & time is not a commodity I have!

We still had some Christmas festivities today, as well.  Santa Claus still came last night and so the kids had those last few items to look forward to.  Santa always gets them one gift each and that is plenty.  Jared got a wooden train set, Klara got a dollhouse, and Will got a little foot powered ride-on toy car.  This morning was...interesting...to say the least. 

It all started when Klara woke up at 3 a.m.  It was all innocent enough at the time...she said she wanted Rich to cover her back up.  Ok, he did that...except she kept getting up over and over again with different excuses.  Then Jared got up at 4 a.m. and he had his own set of excuses.  I threatened him and he went back to bed, haha.  Around 5 a.m. Klara got up and wanted Rich to dress her Barbie doll...she got sternly sent back to bed at that point.  Rich and I laid in the bed for another half hour talking about what turkeys our children were and then, finally, got up at 5:30 a.m.  At 6 a.m. we woke up a very sleepy Klara (hahaha!) and Will (Jared was still awake) and let them have their gifts.  This way, Rich got to see all the fun before he left for work.   

After Rich went to work, I got the kids ready and we went to church.  Klara fell asleep on the way there (wonder why?) and I took much pleasure in waking her up!  *evil laugh*  But I got revenge brought down upon me as the children were absolutely devilish at church!  Their behavior was soooo bad that I was nearly in tears towards the end of the services.  I didn't even get to visit with Stacie, who had brought Ethan & Isiah.  We had a huge turnout at church and it was nice to be in the house of the Lord on Jesus' birthday with my church family.  I was surprised to hear from the reverend that many churches had cancelled services this morning!  How ridiculous!

After a WONDERFUL nap when we got home, the children were much more tolerable (as was I).  However, the evil hour has approached and the children need to go to bed now.  They are rough housing and destroying the house as I write this....oh, now Klara is screaming "OUWWWWWW!!!!!"   hmmmm...wonder what happened?  *sigh*   Merry Christmas, y'all!