Sledding At Arbuckle

Jason and I loved taking Hollis sledding on Tuesday. Poor thing is used to sledding down the 2 foot "bump" in our backyard, so this was a very big deal, indeed.

A Wonderful Christmas

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Author unknown
It's hard to believe the presents are unwrapped, Emma is back at the North Pole, the leftovers are eaten and the Christmas tree comes down today. We had such a nice Christmas this year and once again I was humbled by the generosity of our families!!Although we weren't all together this Christmas, we could certainly feel your love.

Christmas Eve Magic

Our Christmas Eve was celebrated with a 5:00 service at church, pizza and the viewing of Bing Crosby's White Christmas for the 3rd time today. The cookies were placed by the fire and the reindeer food was spread in the front yard. Hollis was put to bed by candlelight tonight, a tradition I had read about in a book and thought was sweet.
I was figuring that she would be wiped out by all the days festivities but she proved me wrong once again. We have caught her peeking out her window several times and as I post this, it is 10:30 and she is still not asleep.I have to say, I just love seeing her this excited about Christmas!
With that said, it is time for this tired Mama to retire to bed herself.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Secrets

Hollis is really into the present thing this year. Not a day goes by that I don't hear,"Mama, I can't wait till Christmas to open my presents."
After a wrapping session with her Dad in the basement, she comes up and says,"Mom, you are Not getting a robe for your birthday(Never mind my birthday is in Nov.). And it's NOT red."
Something similiar happened last night to her Dad. The conversation went something like this:
Jason: "Let's watch Miracle on 34th Street tonight."
Hollis: "We can't watch that. We have it already, Dad."
Jason: "No we don't."
Hollis: "Yes we do. Mama and I got it for your birthday (Never mind his birthday is also in Nov.). I wrapped it and put it under the tree so we can't watch it tonight."
Moral of the story: Do not tell Hollis any Christmas/Birthday secrets unless you really want the other person to know what they are getting.!

A Well Deserved Break

This is the scene in my family room right now. It is also one of my favorite days of the year. Today was Jason's last day at work for about 45 days. I wish for this day so many times a year..it is hard to believe it is actually here. So, here's to many more nights playing heated games of Memory by the fire and hopes of having many more glimpses like these for the next 45 days!

Emma the Elf

Don't adjust your computer screens, folks. Yes, that's right. There is an elf residing with the LePages. Emma is her name and her main job is to watch over Miss Hollis everyday and report back to the "Big Man" every night on her behavior. After her report, she flies back down and perches/hangs in another part of our house to let us know she has done her job the night before. She is always out of Hollis' reach because she will lose her magical powers if Hollis touches her(and we all know how curious Hollis is).
Emma is only with us 2 more nights and then Santa brings her back to the North Pole when(if???) he leaves Hollis her goodies.Our family will miss him-especially Hollis who can find this little imp in about 3 seconds flat when she gets out of bed in the morning.

A Chuckle for your Monday(at my expense)

Last Friday Hollis and I were finishing up the last of our Christmas shopping and one of my favorite Michael Buble songs came on the radio. Hollis likes it too and will sing along when she hears it. So, I turn it up and really start belting it out. The song ends and I turn off the car and get ready to drag her into Best Buy. As I unbuckle her seatbelt she looks at me and says, "Wow Mom, you sound just like him."
(Flashback: To the time in a seafood restaurant ladies bathroom in NC when a young child mistakened my voice for a mans. Now I am really starting to have a complex!!!)
Sue, you may stop laughing now.