Yes, Virginia, there is...

I am sure you all know that famous line about Santa Claus. My sister-in-law and her sister have blogged recently about what to tell their children about believing in Santa Claus. So this got me thinking. I thought I might tackle the question as well.

I don't remember the exact Christmas that I stopped believing in Santa Claus and flying reindeer and the Easter Bunny. But, what I do remember is what it felt like to wake up on Christmas morning and realize that "Santa" had come. I mean all the evidnce was there, cookies eaten, milk drunk, gifts left, stockings full. He was real right? Well as I got older (and snoopier) I realized that my parents were the gift givers and I would be a liar if I said that wasn't a bit of a buzz wrecker for me.

But, there is still this one memory that I have, that I just can't help but wonder about... We lived in Indiana until I was 8 and we had many a white Christmas. On this one particular year I remember my brother and I looking out his window very early Christmas morning and seeing reindeer prints on the roof over the garage. Mom told us that Santa had left his reindeer up there while he delivered our gifts. I kept thinking about this today after my sister-in-law's post, so I called my mom. She also remembers the prints. I asked if my dad had gone up there and did it and she informed that no-no one put them up there. She said that she still has no idea how those "prints" got up there but she said she just thought it was one of those Christmas miracles. Something that can't be explained. I said bye to her as we laughed about something else and hung up. But I sat there at my desk and thought about it. How amazing. A Christmas Miracle. Something you can't explain. And then I thought, why would want to? It is a perfect Christmas Memory without an explaination needed. I am 37 1/2 now (and was probably 4or 5 then) so it obviously made an impression.

And that is when I got my Christmas Spirit. Yep, on November 30th at about 2:45 p.m. Right here at work, with tears and a smile and everything. Wow...

So, where did I put all my Christmas decorations...

My Journey to Ernie, I mean Christmas!

Ok, the Journey to Ernie is a reference to a segment on Sesame Street where Ernie goes and hides somewhere and Big Bird goes to find him. It has a catchy little theme song and is a cute show. So, maybe my Christmas Spirit is hiding and I have to go and find it! So here is my plan today. I am going to sing every Christmas song that comes on the radio. We have 3 radio stations here in the area, that have been playing non-stop Christmas music since last Monday. Which if I am being honest here, sort of annoyed me. But today I tuned in on my commute in to work and I have to say it did make me feel slightly “Christmasy”. So Krista, even though I read your post AFTER my Christmas music singing it was good advice!

Hmm…now what to do tomorrow…

Bah Humbug?

I have a problem. A big one. I am totally not in to Christmas this year. Now this is seriously a big deal for me. I love Christmas. At least I always have until this year. Even during the disaster year of 2004 I loved Christmas. This year I am just not in to it. I have not enjoyed shopping like I usually do, I have not enjoyed wrapping like I usually do and I am not even doing Christmas cards for everyone at work like I usually do. I don’t even want to put up my Christmas tree! Oh horrors!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!?!? I hate feeling like this.

Maybe it is because part of my family won’t be here for Christmas and that really makes me sad. I will miss the crinkle cookies that my sister-in-law makes and I will my nieces running around. I know they will be having a great time but I will miss them. All 4 of them.

Maybe it is because I bought a Bah Humbug shirt with Oscar the Grouch on it this weekend.

Maybe it is because I don’t have a lot of money and I don’t feel good about the kind of presents I can afford.

Maybe I will get the Christmas spirit on December 1st.

Maybe it will just hit me all of a sudden.

I hope so because it makes me sad. And no one wants to be sad for Christmas. Maybe I will start a list of all the things I LOVE about Christmas. Maybe that will help. Maybe I will do it tomorrow…

Where am I?

Well sometimes I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she says "I don't think we're in Kansas in anymore". Work has been so busy that by the time I get a chance to go home, I just crash. No energy for blogging! So here is my apology and a promise to blog more in the coming weeks! (I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats! hahaha)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Deep Thoughts

So sometimes I have deep thoughts. Sort of like Jack Handy of Saturday Night Live. But, not today. Today, here is what I thought:

I am hungry.

I am tired.

I have no money.

The dogs need heartworm medicine.

My clothes don't fit. They hang all wrong.

Aggressive drivers who pass me while I am going 10 miles OVER the speed limit piss me off.

Gas costs way too much money.

Why can't the people taking my order in the drive thru get it right? I wonder if they were mad when I drove away. It was just more than I could deal with.

And there were many other negative thoughts. And that bothers me. I have so much to be thankful for. I have a family that loves me, dogs that love me, a house to live in that has electricity and running water, a car to drive, a job to go to, clothes to wear and I could go on and on. But I think it is important to remind myself of all that I have when faced with all of the things that I feel I have to complain about.

Happy Halloweens!

Here are me and my nieces returning from trick or treating. We had such a great time! How cute are they? Mallory was a Fairy and Phoebe was a the cutest girl in a a pumpkin shirt! She informed my sister-in-law moments before we were to go that she wanted to be a froggy. Now Krista (my sister-in-law) had several choices for Phoebe but not a froggy. So, she wore her pumpkin shirt. She was a trooper. she had her bucket and she was ready to go! They were both so cute! I wonder what everyone will be next year?