CHRISTMAS DAY!

Unbelievably, the kids let us sleep until 7:15 on Christmas morning! Kurt and I were awakened with shouts of "Santa left presents! Santa came!" This is one morning every year that I gladly jump right out of bed, whatever time the kids wake up, just to see the excitement on the kids' faces! A friend whose kids are a little older recently told me that the best Christmases are when the kids are young and believe in Santa. I want to make sure I appreciate this for as long as I can! I have a ton of pictures of the kids unwrapping their presents, but the pictures I am posting are the presumptive favorites of the day.

I can't even blame Santa for the toddler roller coaster that appeared under the tree---it was a present from us to the kids! It really was the crowd-pleaser for the kids, but for me? So far it has worked out into very very poor use of our kitchen space...we pushed the table aside to give the kids all the room they needed to play on the roller coaster, and here we are 4 days later without use of our table, without room on the floor, and with no end in sight! (No, we don't have a finished basement, and the "toy room" (what used to be known as our office) is not even close to being big enough to house the roller coaster! Can't wait until the weather is warm again...this is going to be an outdoor coaster!!) But it is by far Jack's favorite gift, and Nicole and Max are really enjoying it as well!

An honorable mention goes out to Jack's Lightning McQueen tricycle, which he loves to sit on, but his legs are still a little too short to reach the pedals! Again, Nicole and Max love to play with this...probably because it is Jack's toy.

Nicole adores the American Girl pajamas she received from Santa...only because Santa bought matching pajamas for both her Bitty Baby doll and her other AG doll (name still undetermined, but we're 95% sure that she has closed in on one!) She was so excited to dress in her matching jammies, and she didn't change all day!Although Max loved every toy he opened (he is very easy to shop for!), his favorite may be the Hot Wheels Trick Trax deluxe set that Santa brought. It required at least an hour of assembly by daddy (and at least 5 "goddammits" during this time), and it has five loops/tricks and requires five cars to complete the stunts from start to finish! And, who doesn't love a game of Twister!? (Well, the boys didn't really, so I was left twisting it out with Nicole at the end of the day.)

And of course, at every holiday, every child in every family likes this gift the best of all: THE EMPTY TOY BOXES!!!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

We are thankful that we were able to give the kids a nice Christmas this year, since the economy has left almost everyone in a completely different position than last year! We did cut back, but it was primarily on things for us--(no gifts, no "unnecessaries") so I don't think the kids noticed at all!

My wonderful hubby did a great job helping to wrap the gifts, and did most of the heavy cleaning to prepare for Christmas! We had some family over on Christmas Eve. I asked Nicole to go up to get dressed about 30 minutes before company was expected to arrive, and she disappeared for about an hour, emerging with clothes, jewelry, and even make-up on for this special night of company!After dinner and dessert,

the kids opened the gifts from the grandparents. Nicole was in her element when surrounded by American Girl boxes! (No one was too happy with me when I said "that's nice that the grandparents got clothes and accessories for your dolls...what did they get for you???)The boys received a lot of matching gifts, and the cutest thing to watch was them trying to figure out their "helmet heroes" toys! (Max figuring out how to work it, Jack figuring out how to get it on his head the right way!)

Later that evening after the grandparents left and the children were nestled all snug in their beds, Santa started his descent to the Dungan house!

GEARING UP FOR CHRISTMAS...

Nicole's Kindergarten Christmas concert...(she is top row, far right)

Max's favorite tradition of putting up the train around the Christmas tree every year...

Our first fireplace use of the season...And a tradition that the kids have just started this year (a favorite for me when I was a kid!)---sleeping by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve Eve! I thought they would be afraid to fall asleep downstairs, but they were asleep in no time, under the beautiful tree!

Visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads...

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

All Nicole wants for Christmas is her two front teeth...ok, well technically it's one front tooth, and it's a very small front tooth (on the bottom) at that, so you may barely even know that it's missing, but SHE does, because she lost her FIRST tooth a few days ago! It seemed like a long time coming, because almost all of her friends have already lost some of their teeth!

It just popped out after being very loose for a few days...no pain, no bleeding, no trauma or drama! It was an exciting moment! Max was so excited for Nicole, that he even gave her a nickel of his own money! I took her out to get her a small gift, and of course, we put her tooth in a little pouch overnight so that the tooth fairy would pay a visit. The tooth fairy didn't forget to come(!), and was pretty generous for that first visit---but I am sure she won't be that generous again the next time around! Truth be told, I think Nicole was a little disappointed because she would have preferred a present over money!! Those days will change quickly honey...of that I'm sure!

OH CHRISTMAS TREE...

Finally we are starting to get the house in order for Christmas! The kids' excitement level rose to "crazy" this weekend! The tree was purchased, strung with lights, and partially decorated! We are starting to put out the indoor and outdoor decorations!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

SANTA!

The kids had another opportunity to see Santa this weekend! They know now that most of the Santas they see around Christmas time are "helpers" for the real Santa (they caught on pretty early that Santas don't resemble each other in any way, shape or form!) but I keep them on their toes by telling them that they never know which Santa could be the REAL Santa!

Nicole and her "Just Like You" American Girl Doll (name still undetermined, although we may be closing in on one) got dressed up in their Christmas best to see Santa this time!

This Santa may be their favorite Santa of all because this Santa brought them presents! Jack wasn't even remotely nervous to sit on Santa's lap this time around (ho ho ho hum, Santa!) and I am pretty sure it's because he was watching Santa dole out the goods to the other kids who sat before him on Santa's lap!Nicole and Jack were very happy with their gifts! Unfortunately, Max cried like his heart was breaking because he didn't like Santa's gift!! (He had his eye on a toy another little boy received a few minutes before him!) A different little boy traded toys with Max (but it wasn't "THE" toy) so he ended up moderately happy overall, but we are trying to review proper Santa etiquette with Max so he doesn't end up a sad little boy with a coal-filled stocking for Christmas!!!

HERE COMES TROUBLE

I just love this picture of Jack.He is pretending to be our sweet little boy (and sometimes he really is the most hugging and loving little boy) but he can be a huge handful! Usually he has only one speed and it's RUN. Every time I put him down, he is running across the floors at warp speed, joining in on everything big brother and sister are doing, or harassing them to no end! But, when one of them tries to "fight"back, he runs to me, completely hurt and with real tears!! I always feel sad for him and scold big brother and sister for bullying an innocent little baby!!

But, when he comes to me crying and saying things like "Max took away me," (Max took a toy from him) or "Cole did it," I have to be careful. Upon further inquiry, we usually find that Max was quietly playing with a toy and minding his own business when Jack came along and tried to grab the toy away! If Max refuses, Jack ends up in tears, and tells on poor Max, who did nothing wrong! I have to keep my eye on this one!

PARTIES AND ACTIVITIES

The kids have had a party-filled week, but I have been remiss in uploading my pictures from the camera, until now. To relieve some backlog, here's an all-in-one of the last 10 days or so!

Two Sundays ago, all 3 kids attended a party at My Gym, and had a blast!
Nicole was whisked away before the cake to another party at the bowling alley. The camera wasn't whisked away with her, so we don't have pictures from the bowling party, but again she had a blast!

Early December found Jack looking for an alter-ego. When daddy saw Jack wearing Cinderella's glass slippers, he said "dude, you're scaring me!"

When Jack decided he preferred being Woody, daddy was relieved!

Early December also brought the excitment of advent calendars! Nicole and Max probably wouldn't be overly excited about advent calendars, but for the fact that there are little pieces of chocolate behind each of the numbers!When Jack heard there was chocolate involved in these advent calendars, he had to see for himself:(No sweetie, they aren't made of chocolate! You have to work a little and open up a flap before you get your reward! And daddy says take those shoes off!)

We had a Santa breakfast at Nicole's school this weekend. After Santa read a story, everyone got a turn at sitting on his lap and telling Santa what they want for Christmas. Jack was a little nervous about sitting on Santa's lap, but was ok since he was with Max. Nicole found a friend at the breakfast, and immediately broke all ties to her family. She did not want a picture with her brothers, and wanted nothing to do with anyone but her friend for the entirety of the breakfast. I guess that's what you do when you're in Kindergarten, but it made me realize what's coming as she grows more and more independent!

Nicole had another party this weekend, and had a great time bouncing around with her friends at Bounce U. Ms Social is on top of the world when with friends!

I even managed to have a nice weekend, spending time with some wonderful ladies at a cookie exchange on Friday night, and then getting together with some neighbors for dinner (with families) on Saturday night!

SCROOGED
I don't know what's happening to me this year. I like Christmas as well as the next person, but I just can't get into the Christmas spirit at all this season. Two and a half weeks until Christmas, and I don't have one decoration up---no lights, no bells, no wreaths, no pine. I haven't gone to the basement to even find out where our decorations are hiding from last year! No tree. No cookies. (Although anyone that knows me knows that's not a shocker!) No motivation to get it done.

The kids have sat on Santa's lap, and they have gone to Santa brunches. They are opening their advent calendars nightly and we look at a regular calendar to mark off how many more days until Christmas. They talk about what they want for Christmas, and seem excited, but we haven't even mailed letters to Santa and I can't help but think that I need to show a little more enthusiasm, to better the Christmas season for them.

I have started my shopping for the kids, and thought I was doing well despite my lack of enthusiasm, until they sat on Santa's lap this weekend and asked for things that have never been previously mentioned. Heavy sigh, as I headed back out to the store today...I keep hoping that something will click in my head and the magic of the holiday will appear. It always has in the past, so I will certainly post about it when and if it happens this year!

TERRIBLE TWOS ARE COMING
Bad mom that I am, I was laughing so hard when I saw Jack throw himself flat out on his back on the floor, kicking his legs and flailing his arms as he SCREAMED his head off. He wanted a toy that I had taken away from him because he had just broken it, and it had ragged plastic edges sticking out. Wish I could have gotten to my camera before this episode ended. I never went through the terrible twos with Nicole. With her, it was more like the willful and stubborn threes that resulted in a lot of clashes of wills and emotional exhaustion. Max never had tantrums either, but he was a highly sensitive baby, so a lot of things set him off. His screaming was more about anxiety than about wanting things, or not getting his way. Jack looks as though he is heading, a little early, into an outright tantrum year. The funniest part about this was when daddy came home from work. Nicole told him what had happened, and daddy said "Jack, did you break a toy?" Jack said "no." Daddy said "well, who broke the toy?" and without missing a beat, crafty little Jack said calmly, "uh, Cole did it!" (Nicole) He is not yet two years old, but he gets it, and he may be the biggest challenge to big brother and sister in the game of siblinghood in the years to come!

THANKSGIVING FUN!

I am thankful for a lot of things on Thanksgiving, but I do try to think about these things year-round and not just on one day. One minor thing I was thankful about this year was that I was able to make Thanksgiving a completely stress-free holiday! No cooking, no cleaning! All I had to do was get up, and drive to Philly for a parade!

I try to get to the parade every year --- citing the reason that the kids will love it and remember it forever. But if I'm being honest, I go because I love it! My excitement builds as I hear the music of marching bands, and as I see my first float come around the bend! I love being out and about where there are people and action. I really do enjoy it more when the kids are enjoying it with me, but I also know that if the kids didn't want to go, I would probably force them anyway! We saw some favorite characters today! Jack was too young to remember the parade last year, but he jumped right into it like an old pro.

No one was scared by the scary dinosaur, but then again, we didn't get too close to that one! (Nicole was also very happy that she didn't see any clowns this year---she still has heebie jeebies from the one last year that rode over to her on a unicycle and took the cell phone from her ear and started talking to grandma in the middle of Nicole's conversation!)

When the parade was over, we drove back home, rested up got dressed and drove back into Philly for a nice dinner out! (Yes, we did plan this in advance!) We were hoping for a nice relaxing dinner out with Grandma and Grandpa Bill, but the kids were not very well-behaved at all---they had colds and were overtired, and they all kept us on our toes the entire meal. Stress-free, yes, but relaxing no!

I'd like to continue this parade tradition every year, but I really don't know whether I will ever be able to see the parade and cook a big Thanksgiving meal on the same day! Sounds like too much stress on my stress-free holiday!

HO HO HO!

The kids went to sit on Santa's lap Tuesday afternoon! I took the kids a little early this year because I really wanted to avoid large crowds and long lines with three restless kids in tow! Our favorite Santa is the one in the King of Prussia Mall---we have pictures of the kids with this Santa every year since they were born! He looks a lot like my dad, so the kids like to see the Santa that looks like Grandpa! They are fairly certain that this Santa is not the real Santa (they know Santa has a lot of helpers in the Christmas season), but he does look like he can be the real Santa, so I always tell them not to be so sure he's not the real one! (Of course, once he opens his mouth to speak, it sounds like he should be wearing spurs and a 10-gallon hat, and roping steer, not wearing Santa's clothes, so it's best not to ask Santa too many questions, just let the cameras roll!) Nicole got all dressed up and wore earrings (not pierced!!) and her best jewelry, but when we got near him, she said she was a "little bit shy to him." Max was fine, and Jack screamed a little until the photographers started trying to make him laugh with funny toys---then he became obsessed with trying to get his hands on the toys, and forgot about Santa!

Since there are huge signs up now asking you to refrain from using any of your own photographic equipment, I tried to keep my picture-taking to a minimum! The kids didn't ask Santa for any presents when they were on his lap----but don't worry Santa, we have a list at home that's a mile long! We'll send it to you the old-fashioned way! See you on Christmas Eve!