Christmas

Our tree...which jay says is leaning because of all my gone with the wind ornaments that i insist on hanging up front. (he's probably right)

This is Norm my elf on his ladder, helping to decorate our already leaning tree.

This is the garland in the kitchen showing all the homemade ornaments that the kids made.

This is the garland above our front window with all of aunt Dee'd's Godchild ornaments.

yes, holly there isn't a santa claus

for the past couple of weeks holly has been noticing packages coming into the house. how many stories can i possible make up for each one. so i started telling her if she keeps asking questions she is not going to like the answers. so today while putting groceries into the back of the car she sees a present that is for matty. how do you explain that one. so i ask her, "do you want to know? do you want to hear the answer? what the truth really is?" i could tell by the look in her eyes she was curious to hear the answer but at the same time wanted to hold on to the magic of santa. so, okay, i told her that there is no santa. it is her dad and i who buy the gifts. that once long ago there lived saint nicholas and that is where we get santa claus. needless to say she was heart broken. she cried outside, she cried in her room. jay said i was mean but for pete sake she is 8 and a half and i am tried to telling stories to cover up the presents she finds. i knew in kindergarten that there was no santa claus. was i more jaded growing up than my children are now? so, the cat is out of the bag and i'm glad.

this has been a word from nicole