Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!

We had a wonderful Christmas. This year the kids really seemed to "get it." They were really excited about the prospect of Santa coming and Matt even worried about how Santa was going to come when we don't have a chimney (we wait up until we hear him on the roof, then we let him in the front door).

Christmas in our family is really a four-day affair. Christmas Eve was 'over the highway and through the Loop to Aunty Michelle's we go.' The kids did great even though we were there until 11:00. I think they were too hopped up on excitement and well, sugar, to be sleepy.

Christmas morning Matt woke up around 7:00 (Jill slept slightly later). Matt headed downstairs without us and Mark and I just waited for it... "thump thump thump thump - pause - SANTA CAME!!!!!!!!!!!"

Matt was beside himself with glee when he opened his gift from Santa - The legendary Screaming Banshee from the movie Cars. His surprise gift from us was the Leapfrog Leapster. Which he absolutely loved. It was a huge hit.

Jill woke up from the excited screaming. The minute she came down, her eyes locked on her new purpleCare Bear. She picked it up, turned around and went back up the stairs to introduce her to all her other Care Bears in her bed. We had to call her back down to open the rest of her gifts. I really think she would have been perfectly happy with just that this Christmas.

After an apple pancake breakfast by Daddy, we went to see my grandparents with Katy and Mike. An added bonus was visiting with Uncle Tom, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bob, who happened to be there at the same time. It was a really nice visit.

Jill's favorite gifts came later on that day when we went to my parent's house. My mom got her Loving Family Grand Dollhouse, and we bought her a bunch of accessories to go with it (Santa brought some, too *wink wink*). The Princess Tent from Mike and the play tent from my Mom (for Matt) need to get honorable mentions - they've had a ball with those the past couple of days. Not to mention the Diego Leapster game from my sister - that turned out to be a HUGE hit for Matt. And the marker set from Chris, Michelle and Jackson was a big hit with Jill as well - it has a handle and a it folds up so Jill carries it around the house calling it her "Marker Purse."

Then came Friday... The DeLuca and Boettcher clans arrived at our house with due pomp and circumstance carrying numerous gifts. It looked like Santa's workshop in our basement. Jill got a "Weasel" and a TON of art supplies - which she's absolutely thrilled about. She also got a preemie Cabbage Patch Doll, a Cinderella doll, and a Princess laptop.

Matthew received some new tee-shirts, a LeapFrog Tag system and some books, some art supplies, a new train, a Mack Car Transporter from the movie Cars and a Big Wheel bike.

Today we head over to my Aunty Sue's house for her annual Christmas party. She had to delay it a bit because of all the snow we got the week before Christmas. It is a huge, confusing, jumbled lump of love and laughter with 9 Laurencelle kids, their spouses, 20 some odd cousins, their spouses, and their kids all piled into Aunty Sue's house. I give her major props for planning and hosting it every year. This year will be kind of sad without my Pepere (he passed away in July). I expect it to be kind of bittersweet, but I know we'll have a great time.

Well, Jill is asking me to put up her "Plinceth tent," so I'd better wrap this up. I wish all of you the happiest of New Years! And please, as a gift to me for the holidays this year - I know I get a lot of traffic on my blog - if you read this, come out of lurkdom for me this one time and send a comment my way. It'll make me happy. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!