Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I think this might have been our best Christmas yet.  It just seemed...easier, somehow.  I'm not sure why, but the aggravations that usually come along with the joy of the holiday season were few and far between.  We did, however, have a minor episode with holiday lights that nearly brought me to tears.  You would think after three children I would have no problem understanding the female/male plug coupling requirements, but alas after stringing 12 strands of lights, somewhere in the middle I reversed the order and couldn't plug them into the outlet.  As always, John saved the day (and my sanity).  But other than that the holidays just felt right and simple.  The pictures for the Christmas card were no trouble and we actually had too many to choose from, no stress, no tears, just fun. 

Loretta and Caroline decided they needed an Elf on a Shelf and after John and I put it off long enough they volunteered our Dopey who was an excellent stand in.  Loretta received an Ipod from Santa and Caroline got her pink kitchen.  Sam loved his motorcycle and rides it in the house non stop.  All three kids loved going shopping with their Christmas money from Grandma and Grandpa and we got to spend Christmas day at Grandma and Grandpa T's with Ed, Sharon and the kiddos.  Baby Tanner is such a sweet little baby. 

John and I attended a Christmas party with all of our old Shrewsbury friends and we had a tree decorating party with Becky.  All in all, I think it was a wonderful holiday season with little drama and much love.  I can't say as much about New Years Eve/Day, all three kids were terribly ill and I followed shortly there after, but I won't dwell on that.  We are all looking forward to the exciting things that will happen this coming year.  Loretta will turn 7 and begin 2nd grade, Caroline will turn 5, begin kindergarten and hopefully learn to ride a 2 wheeler, Sam will turn 3, hopefully potty train and maybe begin pre-k.  John and I will celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary and there will be trips to Ohio, The Cape and hopefully Mississippi. 

2011 was very good to us and we are so thankful that we are healthy, that John and I have jobs that we love and that our kids are thriving.  Welcome 2012, we hope to make you proud.