Christmas Time is here!

I bet you are checking this to see how the whole Christmas thing went with the girls. Well, you will not be disappointed! We had a wonderful time at Jim's sister, Karen's, house the Friday before. It was the inaugural family dinner at her new dining room table. This is the table's 4th incarnation and it begins a happy life in her house. My new dining room table arrives this Friday, assuming the room is ready for it. Christmas Eve we went to Papa Saunders and Grandma Linda's house for nibblies and gifts. The girls had such a good time and enjoyed time with their grandparents. We stayed longer than we anticipated and then it took a lot longer to get to Jeff and Lisa's house than we thought. Party start time was at 3 pm and we arrived at 6. Turns out the turkey was on our side. It wasn't done cooking yet. Dinner was ready around 7 and then the true chaos begins. You have to understand that chaos is part of the requirement for my family Christmas gatherings. There is always this awesome, unrestrained period of ripping paper and squeals, with people trying to pass out other gifts and not beingheard above the commotion. It is a grand and wonderful thing. Then we came home (Emma did not sleep all the way home, but thanks to some ingeniously procured bells, caught glimpses of Santa and his entourage) and set you milk and cookies for Santa - with an extra one for Rudolph - and sent the children packin'. Let me tell you that I am on the verge of never buying anything again that says "Some assembly required". We were tired and crabby and the Dora on Dora's Talking Kitchen is large and scary.

The girls loved Christmas morning. Santa did not wrap the large Dora kitchen or the Cinderella table and chairs (slacker), but he did cover up the ENORMOUS hand ma nde dollhouse that dominated the room. The girls didn't even see it because they were so distracted with the other presents. The kitchen was a hit - Emma and Mary both started moving things around and 'cooking' things on it, and pushing buttons and making noise with it. That toy went immediately to the basement, where it can be enjoyed in brief spurts of sanity. The amazing thing about this toy is the ability of the toddler to climb into it and fold herself up like some sort of Houdini wannabe. Honestly, you wouldn't think she would fit - and within 2 minutes time. This picture should explain it.

The girls are still coming down from their week-long high, although I have put away all of the gifts and decorations in their appropriate spots - with labels, of course. Jim is still working on painting wall frames and hopes to get some help from his father on the living room. Just to throw in a wrench, it seems Emma has all but given up nap time. I can't believe it. If I thought I could get nothing done before this, I will be assured of it now. And I am going to try the potty training thing again. We have promise her a big girl bed and her own big girl room if she can do this. Ugh. I really hate potty training.