As some of you know, I work for the Postal Service and this season is quite busy and both Jim and I hunt so that adds to the time constraints placed on Christmas preparation. Working fulltime with two young children and having one with special needs is so much harder than I thought it would be. I'm gone from the house 10 hours a day Monday thru Friday and some Saturdays for a half day too. I've always walked around delivering mail, so envious of mothers on my route who stay at home. I always thought as Haley got older it would get easier. The appointments have slowed down some, yet now she requires much more attention and shows her displeasure when she's not getting it. I have really struggled this year with work. I like my job but it's too much. Most of this year, I have felt as though I was bobbing up and down in the waves of the ocean, struggling to keep my head out of the water but falling just below the surface most of the time.
I did do the bulk of the kids shopping the first Sat. in November when Jim was in New Orleans. I then finished up most of it the weekend before Christmas and was still out a time or two up through Christmas Eve. My parents helped decorate two weekends before Christmas. I did not get the pictures of the kids I wanted for cards. I then thought about New Year's cards but half of my vacation is over now and still... no pictures. I have another idea but I'll have to find some time. This was to be a restful vacation but it's not working out that way. I typically take a few days before Christmas and the week between Christmas and New Year's. I need the time with the kids and want for us to be together over the holidays.
After several nights of very little sleep and making sure I've covered all the bases (I have a little of that anal retentive, very strong Type A personality that Lauren has and sadly, I think Nathaniel has it too.), here's a little of our Christmas...
A few pics around the house...
One of my favorite pics of Nathaniel and Haley...
Some of the gifts under the tree...
Nathaniel with his electric guitar... Daddy plays and has 3 different guitars around the house. He's hoping Nathaniel has the same interest in it!
Each of the kids received a picture and letter from Santa with their Santa gifts.
It was so worth it (the lack of sleep) to see the excitement over this letter! I'm so glad I captured this moment.
Nathaniel opened the DS games before the game console but it didn't take away from the excitement of opening the DS itself. Notice the veins on the side of his neck.
Posing with Haley for a shot...
Nathaniel read Haley her note from Santa and opened her gifts and showed them to her. He truly is very good with her and loves every moment of it!
Haley actually did like the toys and played with them but when Nathaniel gave her some of the paper, that all changed. She has always loved playing with paper.
Nathaniel with his most favorite gift... Nerf dart tag from Haley of course! Her gift to him is his favorite every year. She knows how to pick them and it is always planned that way.
Notice the leg in this one -- Haley has started this in the last couple of weeks and sometimes does both. I think it is so cute.
My favorite pic of Haley for the day...
As you can see, the O-ball was Haley's favorite gift.
Both of the kiddos did pretty well... Natty received some clothes, the DS and a couple of games for it, a Wii game, Mad Lib books, matchbox cars, Mad Gab and Yahtzee, the Nerf tag, and a few other things. Haley received lots of new clothes, bibs and socks, a see-n-say, a couple of balls and other small toys, and a ball pit. It is hard to shop for Haley because she has so much (toy-wise) now and we have all of Nathaniel's toys. This year I felt it was time to cut back. We have so many toys in our house now and by the time my family and Jim's family buy for the kids... Well, let's just say... Our kids don't want for very much and I'd like cut back even more and put most of the focus on just being with family. I think with both parents working in most of today's families, kids and adults have way too much stuff and too little time and the family unit suffers. I'm seeing how busy we are with work and want more time to do things as a family.
We did actually find one evening to sit down and make this gingerbread train this year. The Sunday before Christmas, after two migraines and an outbreak of cold sores (both induced by stress), I forgot about the list of things to do before Christmas and Jim, Nathaniel and I worked on this while Haley napped. I'm hoping for more of the simple things in the coming year... the little things that one looks back at childhood and remembers as the big things!
Enjoy the rest of this season with the ones you love!
