What I learned this Christmas...

I know, it is Christmas, I should post a mushy sentimental post, but sorry, not in the mood!

These are not in any particular order.

1. Moon Sand: messy yes, but I have to confess, I think I prefer it to Play Doh! I didn't have to pick it out of any one's shoes or hair and Millie spit it out instead of chewing it! I think I will like it even more once all the colors are mushed together so I don't have to keep hearing "No Abby! Keep the green with the green and the blue with the blue!"

2. When the kids wake up at 4:30, sending them back to bed just won't work on Christmas! They don't go back to sleep, thus we don't go back to sleep! We did manage to prolong it to about 5:45, but that was as long as we could hold them off AND still maintain the spirit of Christmas!

3. I have been saying for at least two years now "This will be Rudy's last Christmas" but this year is. He is tired and his health is rapidly catching up with him.

4. My mom is highly unlikely to go to the ER when she slices her finger with a knife, so why would I even bother to argue with her about it when she slices it on Christmas day! Being the retired RN that she is, she just steri stripped it with some bandage tape, wrapped it up and suffered, true Nikki style!

5. Never try new recipes on a holiday. That recipe in allrecipes.com that has raving reviews and is even titled "Awesome Broccoli Casserole" is sure to not be all that awesome if tried for the first time on a holiday!

6. Arriving at church, on Christmas Eve, 10 minutes late leaves you with the only row of six open seats being in the front row. Not good for parental nerves, but provides a good laugh for the pastor.

7. I have yet to figure out just how Millie unfastens my nursing bra from the outside of my shirt, but some who she kept doing it in church last night, in the front row where it is impossible to fasten it discretely.

8. This is the only year Millie will look out the car windows after dark and sound so excited when she exclaims "Leelee Lighs" for all of the "Christ-Mas-Lights" she sees. Can I hold on to that little voice in my head forever, please?

9. Christmas is a good time to see just how well you are doing, as a parent, at building those ever important 'character' traits in your kids. Example: Harrison got a cool huge dune buggy type RC car. Nana comes over with a very cute RC My Little Pony thing for Abby, leaving Nick out of the RC races. He handled it very well, stepping back and watching the other kids (a little pouty, but no crying or tantrums) and they handled it very well by handing over the remotes with out parental nudging and sharing the fun!

10. Not everything has to be equal, life is full of times when things are not equal. Nick and Abby both had bigger gifts this year that were not wrapped: Abby got a Little Tykes vanity and Nick got a Home Depot work bench. Harrison immediately took note and commented upon walking into the living room this morning, but then moved on, acknowledging that he got a new bike last year and the twins did not.

11. All three of our older kids this year knew the true meaning of Christmas and were excited about Jesus having a birthday. Makes a Mommy proud.

12. Never write a note from Santa in normal handwriting, for when they are seven and older and wiser, they will pull that note out of their secret hiding place and show it off. This year Santa took a second to email Mrs Clause from our house, and in the process, he typed up a quick thank you for the fudge and carrots, even left a fudgy thumb print on the note!

13. Feeding Elbert a feast of Christmas dinner left overs makes for a very stinky dog later in the evening!