Keeping Up with The Pogues's

A week ago tomorrow we celebrated Christmas with the Pogue's at Okolona Church. It's hard to believe it's ALREADY been a WHOLE week since that event. Time sure does move quickly around holidays. Shoot, it moves quickly PERIOD.

We, unfortunately, arrived 2 hours late. Ugh. With Louisville being on eastern time and us being on central time, it's hard to work around everyone's schedules. Plus, we couldn't miss church because our kids had their dress rehearsal for the Christmas play. Lots going on. We rushed to Louisville right after service and still arrived terribly late but JUST IN TIME for Santa. My cousin Mark played the role this year, and what a fabulous job he did (he should consider getting a part-time gig as Santa). This year is bittersweet on the Santa front mainly with Karson:

Karson's Santa thoughts: we had a conversation a few weeks ago about Santa. It was an incredibly odd week. I had a preschool mother tell me that she had told her 3 year old daughter the TRUTH about Santa. I really wasn't sure how to process that information right before all the holiday madness. This was a first for me. The mom told me that she told their daughter NOT TO SPOIL it for others but that she simply couldn't lie to her. Without giving my thoughts on that matter and respecting their decisions, I bring you back to my Karson. I believe it was the same week, Karson and I had the Santa discussion. She had said a few things about him making me think she no longer believed. I finally flat out asked her, "Karson do you know something about Santa?" She said, "yes." I said, "well you know who doesn't know?" She said, "yeah I know, Isaac and Miles." I said, "Yeah, and we need to keep it that way." I feel like if I had KEPT Santa going at this point, it would be lying to her. She is 9 years old and pretty smart. I wouldn't feel right about it, BUT I certainly don't want to steal the magic away from the other two. I talked to Shannon about it, and she told me Evan and Elizabeth have had lots of questions about Santa too--it's only a matter of time before the 7 year olds figure it out. AND, I know there are school kids who blab about it which is probably why Karson started questioning it in the first place. SO, this year has changed for Karson. I can tell she is more hesitant about asking for stuff =( since she knows the TRUTH.

My sweet BIG girl!

Isaac's Santa thoughts: I can ask for an iPad, iPhone, animal, whatever I want and he will DEEEE-LIVER. I'm surprised he hasn't figured it out because I am ALWAYS coming up with some rebuttal to his requests. Seriously, an iPhone? Isaac always has a list as long as I-65.

This year's list: dagedars, the trash pack, dino leogs, labtop, headphones, helium tank, donkey kong for dsi, xbox 3 for kinect, just dance 3, and #10 a box of money. Oh what a list!

Isaac loves everything about Christmas. Last year he resembled the Tasmanian Devil on Christmas morning, ripping through his gifts and smiling ear to ear. I think Santa not existing will be a real let down for him. He wrote this during class one day:

His teacher loved it so much, she emailed it to me. If you can't read it, it says: Your mom and dad are always your mom and dad. even when they are old. December 25th Santa will come. will always come on December 25. that is funest day of the year!

My lil' wild child tearing into his presents.

Miles Santa thoughts: well he's five and hasn't clued into the fact that he's already told a few different Santa's what he wants for Christmas. Of course, I haven't listened in on the conversations. I would hope he might say, "How many times do I have to TELL YOU!?!?" (like he adamantly says to me when he has to repeat himself). He has never been afraid of Santa. He's not afraid of much. He has to be one of the most content 5 year olds on the planet. My mom took him birthday shopping back in October and he came home with toys he already had =). Turkey! He hasn't told me one thing he wants for Christmas but has finally settled on a Nintendo 3DS because it has NEW Mario game. Gee, thanks for that one Nintendo marketers. I don't know why I bother getting him other presents (besides the Santa one). Last year his stack of unopened gifts sat dormant for hours on Christmas morning. He got a Dsi from Santa and really wasn't interested in anything else. In fact, I think I even took some of the gifts back. On the bright side, if anyone is interested in a practically BRAND NEW Dsi, I will have one for sale after Christmas. Let me know.

My content child.

We weren't in Louisville very long since we were late and the party had to wind down around 5:oo for church service. I was able to snag just a few photos. I love this one of Miles and Katie Bell (my cousin Lyndi's little girl). She was intent watching Miles play his game. I heard her say in the sweetest little soprano voice, "Did ya win?" CU-TE. If only we all lived closer, oh the fun all of our kids would have together. They are all so close in age.

Our Dirty Santa tradition continues. I always buy gifts that I want and usually COME HOME with those gifts. This year it was a Gingerbread House (prevents me from having to buy one) and a Christmas puzzle (ditto). These are things I like to do with the kids and viola, I managed to get both =). Win, win for us.

Miles completely wiped out after our whirlwind travel. Love that I get to see all my dad's extended family. I know a day is coming when we will grow TO LARGE for get togethers, but I cherish our time together now.