Christmas 2009

While December 25th has come and gone, it's still Christmas holidays, so I can still blog about the season. We're spending the holidays in Windsor (my hometown) with my family, as we usually do, and enjoying every minute of it. There's been many memorable moments (and some, not so much, like Aisling getting car sick on the drive down, and throwing up all over her new outfit. Don't ask why I would even think about putting her in a cute new outfit for the trip. Obviously, not thinking. But now, we're seriously considering draping a garbage bag over her whenever we embark on car trips.)
Here are a few of "snapshots" of Christmas 2009:

- Devlin announcing that he will give another new toy to a child without toys this Christmas.

- Picture all three kids staring with eyes as wide as saucers at the Christmas tree and all of the presents underneath. And then a curious hand that reached out to grab a bulb, and lo and behold, the ornaments are not plastic! One crying infant and glass shards everywhere!

- At the Christmas Eve candlelight service, there were plastic candles that actually lit up for the children to hold. Aisling promptly stuck her's in her mouth, and her face glowed, like a radioactive alien.

- At the same Christmas Eve service, Ceilidh spent almost the entire time sitting on Uncle Billy's lap and showered him with kisses and hugs.

- Santa's letter to the children stated the cookies and milk were quite yummy, but he was unable to finish eating all of the cookies because poor Rudolph wouldn't be able to pull the sleigh! Devlin, eyes wide with awe, said, "Rudolph is for real!"

- I was pleasantly surprised at the restraint the children displayed at having to wait to open the gifts until after Christmas brunch was eaten. Stockings were opened upon waking, and there were lots and lots of candy and chocolates in the stockings. Everytime we turned around, Ceilidh had yet another chocolate or candy in her mouth. We thought we had taken away all of the candy, but she still manages to find more!

- It was a pleasure to watch the sheer excitement all the children displayed as they opened each gift. It didn't matter if the wrapping paper gave away to a toy or to pyjamas or socks, the happiness beamed from every pore of their bodies. Aisling even started to undress halfway through the presents to put on her new pjs and socks.

- Devlin, after unwrapping two sets of Lego, turned to his uncle, and asked, "Uncle Billy, will you play with me after and help me make all of these toys?" How could Uncle Billy resist? After all the packages had been opened, and the wrapping paper cleared away, Bill headed to the basement while stating "Going to go play with my best friend."

- Mommy received a "slap chopper", just like the ones "as seen on TV". Devlin viewed the commercial and was sold on the idea as a great gift for Mommy as it would help her with all the cooking, so he badgered Daddy to take him to the mall to purchase one Slap Chopper. I think it will not only help me in food preparation, but it will also aid in taking out my frustrations with children!

- Ceilidh poured many cups of tea for Uncle Nowell with her princess tea set. She may have served some cookies and cake too.

- Aisling practised her new phrase "No Way!" whenever she was asked to leave Mommy's lap, or give Mommy 5 minutes to shower/get dressed/finish a cup of coffee/ or generally detach herself from Mommy.

- Ceilidh informed her grandmother that only her Daddy knew how to say bedtime prayers. She was the only one awake when Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Billy and Auntie Grace went out to the movies. She had a blast watching DVDs with Grandma, and when it was time for prayers, she was quite adamant that Grandma didn't know how to do prayers.

- Aisling pooped on the bathroom rug after getting out of the bath, much to Uncle Billy's horrified disgust.

- We took Devlin and Ceilidh ice skating at an outdoor rink. Despite their obvious excitement about the activity and their impatience to arrive at the rink, Devlin sulked once on the ice, and Ceilidh decided she didn't like it. Devlin wanted Daddy's attention all to himself. Ceilidh cried, with tears rolling down her face, that it was too cold and she wanted to go home. Which was fine with me, as my back ached from bending over to hold her up on the ice. However, she stopped her tears upon spying some other skaters enjoying french fries. "I smell food! I'm hungry!"

- While Grandma may not have spoiled the grandkids with presents, she spoiled them by catering to whatever food urge they displayed. It's the holidays, and apparently, that means no one has to eat a vegetable if they don't want to. Ceilidh has consumed numerous packets of roasted seaweed, rice and instant ramen noodles, all followed by chocolate cake or Christmas cookies. Devlin has eaten croissants every morning, accompanied by mini hot dogs. And bacon every morning for Ceilidh!

- When asked why we celebrate Christmas, we tried to explain to Devlin that it was Jesus's birthday. Why is it Christmas every year? We answered that just like every June 18 is Devlin's birthday, every Christmas is Jesus' birthday, so it's like a birthday party for the Baby Jesus. Well then, Devlin wanted to know how God fit into the whole Christmas story. Jesus is God's son. Having bypassed the story about Mary and Joseph, and the angel Gabriel, and the trip to Bethlehem, Devlin's next question was "Who was God's wife? If Jesus is God's son, then who did God marry?" That left us stumped as how to answer that, so we told him to ask his grandfather, a retired minister, who would know all the answers.

And after all the holiday excesses and craziness and stress, it was Devlin who reminded us of the true meaning of this season. When asked what Christmas was about, he answered with conviction, "It's all about loving and sharing!"

Merry Christmas to All and To All, a Good Night!