Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!!

Christmas has come and gone! As quick as the decorations and trimmings went up, they have come down. I have this little thing about keeping decorations up past Christmas. It's not that I'm a scrooge or that I hate the decorations. I love them, but once it's done, I'm done. Tree was out by the 26th and the decorations are all nicely re-packed in their appropriate "Christmas Rubbermaid" ready to be stored until next year. My house is back to normal, no red and green clutter to be seen. It's rather relaxing to know that at the start of the new year I will be organized and the house will be clean.
The girls of course LOVED Christmas, even E2, who had no idea what was going on, enjoyed herself. She never quite got the hang of opening the presents, but E1 was more then willing to help. E2 was a little over-stimulated on Christmas Eve after spending the entire day with the Gunnarson Family. She was up until well past 11pm, just hyper and wide-eyed. It was as though she was waiting for Santa to walk right through our door. (No chiminey, Santa has a magic key, don't you know?) As well, Christmas Day was spent at Grandma & Grandpa Hammond's house and she was just as over-stimulated there. E1 was fantastic through the whole thing. No fights or being too tired. She flowed with it, as though it was the norm to be opening presents and socializing with family for a non-stop 72 hours.
On the 26th we were back at my parents house for a "Post-Christmas" get-together. My brother Tim's friend, Nathan, flew in from New York to spend the holiday's with his family and Tim, and we all finally got to meet him. Very, very nice guy, a little quiet and maybe a little overwhelmed by the chaos of my large family. But, it was wonderful to finally meet him and we all had a great time. Tim is counting down the days until he himself will be living in New York. His plan is to move this Summer.
Now, we are heading into the final days of 2006, what a year it's been! I always love this time of year. It is a time for renewal, for new hopes and dreams and of course a new chapter in our lives. We are headed up to the Mountain with some friends and their two daughters, same age as Emi and Elise. It will fun and relaxing. We won't be back until the 1st so have a great New Year's and BE SAFE!!! Love you all!!!