notes from the peanut gallery

Our Christmas Eve went a little something like this...

The kids built a fort in the front living room and played there for a good part of the morning.

I went to run a few last minute errands. While I was out, Brian called me and told me that I needed to get home ASAP because Ellie had stuck a peanut up her nose, and needed to be taken to the doctor. (Just shoot me!)

Fortunately, we were able to see the peanut, which meant that it wasn't too jammed up there. I tried with tweasers, and then had her blow...That thing was smokin' I tell ya. It flew out of her nose like a bullet....Problem solved.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, napping and then getting dinner ready and a breakfast casserole made for tomorrow morning.

Our Christmas Eve dinner has been a smashing success for the second year in a row. We had shrimp scampi, rice and an awesome salad (Jr. League)--recipe below. For dessert, we had chocolate fondu. I'm telling you, they were googling over it. I felt like a hero!

Jr. League Salad

Dressing:

1/4 c. lemon juice

3 cloves garlic (minced)

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

3/4 c. vegetable/canola oil

*let dressing sit in fridge for at least 3 hours

Salad:

1/4 lb bacon (fried & crumbled)

2-3 heads romain lettuce (chopped)

2 c. cherry tomatoes (halved & lightly salted)

1 c. grated swiss cheese

2/3 c. toasted almonds (toast @ 300 for 20 min)

1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese

1 c. croutons

*Mix just before serving

We had a little family Christmas program this evening...

Ellie was Mary, Brian was Joseph, Reilly was a shepherd/wiseman and Jake was a sheep

"Mary and Joseph" (Mary being great with child)

(Sorry about cutting off your head there, Joseph)

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

I tried to do a video of this while narrating, so it's not really great, but we will look back on this someday and laugh about how funny everyone was.

After our little play, we watched Luke 2 and then talked about what gift each of us will give to the Savior this year....

Jake--kindness

Reilly--obey the commandments

Ellie--be obedient (I'll believe it when I see it!)

Shannon--more patience

Brian--be a better husband and father (corn ball)

The kids each got to open a gift which is usually Christmas pjs but this year it was slippers.

Six toasty feet--(Reilly cried and fussed about hers because she kept slipping out of them...we had a few "exchanges of words" and it looks like now, she and I will be returning these on Friday).

I always have good intentions...things just don't always turn out the way I'd hope. I love being a mom, and am so grateful to have these sweet moments with my kids (even if I lose my patience...alot!) Christmas has always been such a special time for me...I hope that my children will cherish these memories as much as I do of my Christmases as a little girl. My mom always made them so special--I appreciate her so much...Especially now that I am a mother.

So now, like Mary, I am left to ponder these things in my heart.