5 Christmas Celebrations & 10 Pounds Later ...

I'm serious about the 5 Christmases ... and I'm hoping that I'm just bloated - because it certainly couldn't be from all of the cookies upon cookies, ham dinners upon ham dinners, chocolate goodies upon ... well, you get the picture!! I can't remember the last time that I consumed so much "not-so-good-for-you" food within a month!! UGH!!

But! I have a plan ... Wii. (hold your laughter.) Our family all pitched in after Christmas to purchase this little must-have form of family entertainment. And, let me just say - it can really be a workout! So. That's my plan. Less cookies and kicking my hubby's butt in all forms of sports via Wii (cause Lord knows that's the only way it could possibly happen!! He's one of those annoying types that usually wins at everything that he does. It's a good thing that I married him, because otherwise, I wouldn't be friends with him. LOL!) :)

Ah, so back to the holiday - Is it any wonder why I feel wiped-out by December 31st? FIVE Christmases? This is insane! Lovely ... but, insane. And, did I mention that my children received a car load of gifts at practically every celebration? It's quite overwhelming. AND, my daughter has nerve to say to me ... get ready for this ... "I'm bored." (deep breath ....) WHAT????? How is that even possible? Spoiled. That's how this happens!

Truly, we are not a household that spoils our children. In fact, my kids typically only receive presents or goodies on holidays and birthdays. Never just because - so, why can she not see how blessed she is to have received such lovely and entertaining gifts this season?

I threw my hands up, my head back, breathed a HUGE sigh and headed into her room (where she was sent) to discuss being grateful, appreciative, blessed, thankful and any other form of guilt that I could throw at her. It seemed to work. For today. (*shake head*)

I think that our family is reaching a point where we need to strip down our Christmases to make the "reason for the season" our focus, rather than Jesus getting lost in all the trimmings and fluff. To let eachother's time, love & attention be a gift, rather than everyone stretching their checkbooks. I'm just so overwhelmed with the focus on gifts .... do not get me wrong - I absolutely love giving gifts; especially, homemade gifts. It's just the receiving part is just too much. I would love to share in a Christmas where we only exchange handmade presents. What a great lesson that could be to our children. (Especially after that bored comment! HA!) Hmmmm....I'm going to work on this idea...we do have a whole year! Come on people - we can do this!!

While I'm on the topic - I can now share with you my latest illustration. It was a gift to my sister for Christmas, which is why I had to wait to post about it.

A few years back, my sister had given to my daughter a binder of poems that she had written, which -may I say - was received as a treasure! (see ... it's those homemade ones that fill a heart!) A number of times, she had asked me to create some illustrations for them. "When you have time," she says. Funny, huh? So, I thought perhaps for Christmas. I selected a poem that was a favorite and created an illustration to go with it. Again, I couldn't wait to give it to her! That is ... until Christmas Eve...

So, it's Christmas Eve. My sister and I are washing dishes from Gram's Wigilia dinner, when Gram shows Miss one of my presents to her ... a cookbook.
I thought it special since one of Gram's recipes was included, as well as my daughter's winning illustration (there was a contest, I'm just not biased!) for "Vegetables & Side Dishes" and I had designed the cover. My little sis's smart*%# comment? "Jenn just can't put pen to paper without drawing her children on it!" My thought? "Oh, bleep!" For, wrapped all brightly with a bow beneath my tree was my sister's present ...

My children ... strike again! LOL! I hope that she likes it anyways.

Oops! One more tid-bit of news from our homefront ... we have a new addition to our family.

Can you make out what it is? Why, it's a slightly blurry cockapoo! He never stops moving...

Our very first puppy arrived Christmas morning (My in-laws are saying, "Humph! Like @#&* he did!" - as they earned their wings this season by offering to keep our little ball of fur for four days prior to Christmas! A LOT to ask of anyone, if you ask me ... but, so very grateful to see the joy in our children's eyes when our pup came through the door!) I'll try to take some better shots of him if he'll ever be still.

Any housebreaking tips out there? Anyone? Anyone?

:) Hope your holidays were ones to cherish...

Happy New Year!