Very Merry Christmas

I will never ever be able to catch up on posting pictures and writing about what the last couple of weeks have held. The chaos of Christmas was (and continues to be) in full swing with the Mocabees. However, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of presents and food and traveling, we've carved out some special moments, a few of them even peaceful and quiet.

Here's a slideshow and then few of my favorite pix.

Christmas Morning

Justin wanted to dress up like Santa

After the preschool Christmas program

With Great Grandpa Al

How different our lives are from a year ago. But there is a constant... the birth of a Savior. Good news that Justin, Natalie, and Lexi may have never heard behind those orphanage walls.

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem... Luke 2:11

Praying you've heard this good news as well. Merry Christmas all!

Ho Ho Hocus Pocus

I don't know about the kids, but I have been completely traumatized by their first visit with Santa Claus.

I've had it on the calendar for months... December 12, 4 pm, Visit With Santa at our local library. I'd been prepping them.

A couple weeks ago we started reading The Night Before Christmas. That turned out to be a bit traumatic for Natalie. She kept peering over her shoulder and looking out the bedroom door, worried Santa would be popping in at any moment. I'm so scared of Santa, Mom! We are mostly over that fear, but she did ask Justin to hold her hand as we were driving to the library. To which Justin replied, It's okay Natalie. I'm your big brother. And he reached over and took her hand. (I KNOW!)

But on with my prepping...
Santa will ask you your name and maybe how old you are.
He'll probably ask if you've been nice this year.
Then, he'll ask what special present you hope to receive on Christmas.

We role played it at the lunch table, in the bathtub, and before naps.

They were ready. It was like cramming for finals as we drove to the library.
Lexi, what will you say when Santa asks you your name?

I especially practiced with Miss Lexi, because, lately, her response to EVERY word spoken to her by a new person is, "Nothing!"

So we get to the library...early. The idea was to be first in line, so Scott could be there for the kids' first visit with Santa. He had a soccer game starting at 5 (Which, I'm sure he'd like me to note...they won.)

As far as I can tell, the kids don't have a Russian version of Santa that they are familiar with. Justin did tell me about lighting up a tree at his Big Blue Russia House (orphanage). So, this would be their FIRST Santa experience. Scott and I walked our little family into the library, camcorder in hand.

We were ushered into a room by, who I can only assume, was Mrs. Claus. No Santa yet. The kids were directed to sit on the floor, facing a little stage. A few words from Mrs. Joy, our favorite librarian. Still no Santa.

Then... someone must have hit play on the stereo... the festive music began... some bells started jingling... and Santa made his first appearance to my children.
And wouldn't you know....
Hocus Pocus!
Abracadabra!
Bippity Boppity!
He was a Magician Santa Claus!
What!!!!?

We were treated to about 30 minutes of a good, old fashioned (aka super cheesy) magic show for kids... complete with Merry Christmas! as the magic words for everything. Then we were told to line up for pictures with Santa. Turns out, our early arrival put us in the front for the Christmas Magic Extravaganza, but we were dead last when it came time to line up for the Sit on Santa's Knee portion of the show.

In the end, there was no conversing with Santa. No sharing of names or ages. No hopeful requests for toys (or in my kids' case, a race car watch, a Caillou book, and Barbie lipstick). Each child did get a turn on Santa's sort of dingy red knee. Then St. Nick gave us his best, albeit slightly yellowed, grin. The big guy showed a jolly thumbs up and I snapped a quick picture.

That was Justin, Natalie and Lexi's first Santa experience.
They actually haven't spoken about it since that day.
I, on the other hand, continue to have nightmares.

This Christmas Tree

This is our Christmas Tree.


When the time came to get our Christmas Tree, we loaded up the ol' four wheel sleigh... headed deep into the wilderness of the Home Depot parking lot...joined at least a hundred other families seeking the perfect tree...and walked away with the most gorgeous, that is to say acceptable, $39 Christmas tree money could buy.....

....you know, just like our forefathers used to do.

It wasn't exactly a beautiful family moment, but no one melted down, so let's call it a victory. Justin and Natalie were content to sweep up pine needles and play with the bits of discarded twine on the ground. Strapped to my back, Lexi hung out and just took it all in. Scott, of course, did his manly duty of hoisting up tree after sap-soaked tree for me to examine, then ultimately reject.

In the end, a decent tree was finally chosen. We loaded the winner to the top of the minivan and headed home. Perhaps this was our chance to build some lasting family memories? I had visions of sipping hot chocolate, listening to Christmas carols, and watching my children hang ornaments on their first Christmas Tree. I imagined them snuggling in my arms and we'd ooh and ahh over the lights. Hmmm. Not too many oohs or ahhs. Some ows! some heys! and a few stop its!

Turns out tree shopping and tree decorating aren't extremely peaceful activities with a 3, 4, and 5 year old. And although the memories we made weren't sugar coated and particulary snuggly... WE made memories. WE.

So now I can have my ooh ahh moment. I'm sitting on the couch, cat purring on my lap, everyone is tucked in bed and I'm looking at the tree. Besides a few ornaments I picked up in Russia, it basically looks exactly the same as it did last year... and the year before that.

But it's so not the same.
But, in a good way.
This Christmas Tree is so not the same... but in a very, very good way.