The one where the kids make out like bandits!

Christmas, as far as the commercial side of it, is less of a big deal as you get to be an adult. While the kids are looking forward to their presents, we parents are wondering how much it will all cost, by the time it's all said and done. It's really very depressing at times, but then, one has to realize, Christmas is absolutely not about these things. Santa, presents, lighted trees, crowded malls, people who cut you off in traffic (Wait! That's not just during Christmas!), and family get-togethers are all extraneous to what Christmas is really about. It's all about a baby. But that's hard to keep in mind in the moment, because it is really great to see your kids having so much joy in opening their packages under the tree. It makes me think of how I used to view Christmas as well; with such excitement and anticipation for the presents, with little thought to the baby Jesus. So while I was grabbing fistfuls of wrapping paper torn off in glee by my little one and discarded on the floor, I tried to keep in mind the real meaning of Christmas once again. Then watching as two garbage bags full of toys grew before my eyes, it became easier to think about how blessed we are. I felt guilty that our girls had gotten so many things; nice things and fun things, but nevertheless, things that really are a distraction in the end. I want them both to know that even though they may make out like bandits for the amount of gifts they receive, this is not Christmas. It's not even about the joy of giving and receiving. All the traditions and all the family closeness doesn't begin to hold a candle to the awe of Jesus-who-is-God becoming a baby here on earth. That's where the joy should be.

The Mess!!!

Recently, I have found that having children around the house can lead to quite a disarray. Piles of toys and little baby clothes and the like start to accumulate like dust in odd spots around the house. You would never believe the things I find in some of the strangest places. Or the way a clean area becomes cluttered when my back is turned. Now our place is not the largest in the world, its only about 1100 square feet, so a small mess becomes a large one very quickly. When Emberlea was born, it took us a little bit to get on top of the house, but we did shortly thereafter. Although, I can see now that it really was just the beginning of the end! But it was still two against one. (Advantage = parents!) Now that we have Alannah, it's evened the score a bit and between the two girls, the house is gradually running away with itself. (Advantage = girls!) Not to mention that we have even less time than we did before. So day after day it grows and grows and we don't make a dent and everytime we turn around there is something else that has gotten out of hand. We do chores, really, but lately, you'd never know it. Oh, you know, I consider myself a fairly neat person most of the time, but at this point its dishes and laundry, dishes and laundry. There's hardly time for anything else! And in the mean time, the mess grows while I sit and fold piles of clothes. It grows before my eyes when Emberlea brings every toy in her room down while I feed Alannah. It grows as surely as a plant does with good watering and sunshine. It seems that no matter what we try, the mess doesn't get any smaller....in fact, I suspect that little mess-gnomes invade at night and strew dirty socks around the living room while we sleep! Oh and speaking of invasions, the ants are back as well. I'm not sure why they like to hang out in the shower, but that seems to be the place to be if you happen to be an ant at the Orrs' house. So I have come to a very important and monumental decision: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! It's come to this: As of right now, we will no longer clean the house. Nope. No way. We're just going to hang out in the shower like the ants. It's as good of a place as any, probably even cleaner! But seriously? This mess is hopeless, I've decided. We will just wait for the city to come and condemn the place. The kids and the gnomes and the ants have taken over and we are completely defeated. Oh well, maybe 2008 will be different...New Year's resolutions are coming.

Emberlea helping Alannah with her slippers.

A few more of the "faces of Alannah."