Merry Christmas, Pickle & SugarPlum!

We went to see Santa today, at the mall...there was a line, but Daddy took Pickle for a walk (turned into a trip into a candy store & a peppermint lollipop that Pickle wouldn't eat), while SugarPlum slept on my chest in a carrier. As we got closer to the front of the line, I started to wake my sleeping beauty, to sit on Santa's big red lap. Pickle climbed up, talking to Santa, and the INSTANT Daddy placed SugarPlum on Santa's lap, those little lips curled and let out a cry that continued even after Daddy had reclaimed his little girl and rushed off in a different direction. I stood off to the side, and Pickle smiled cheerily for his photos to be taken, then being rewarded with a couple of dum-dum suckers (one for his sister, of course), for sitting and smiling so dashingly! I can honestly say, we probably were the fastest family to get through the booth in the entire time we had been there.

Afterwards, we walked around the mall a bit, allowing the little legs to run. We got another lollipop in the candy store, and sat near some poinsettias to take some photos, first Daddy with R&R, then Mommy with R&R. The lollipops lasted all the way back to the car, and the entire ride home.

You likely will not remember this Christmas, but I will. I will remember feeling disappointed by how little I am able to give to you this year, and feeling happy knowing I am teaching you something more important than what you get: What you GIVE. And this year, we have been giving a lot...and we will continue to give into the new year, as well. We may not get all of the little "wants" this year, but we already have everything we NEED.

I love you both, and hope to be able to spend many, many more Christmas holidays watching you learn and display the true meaning of giving.

Merry Christmas, my Pickle and SugarPlum...I love you...Love, Mommy.

For my readers:

Word of advice: if you are in hopes of having even a teensy tiny little nap, DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT allow your hubby to walk around the mall with your son while you wait in line for photos with Santa. Especially when your son knows where the candy shop is (thank you, Grandma). Apparently, Daddy stopped next door to buy a lemonade, and Pickle took off to the candy store, picked out a lollipop and opened it up right there, and started licking it. "Um...SIR...I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to buy that one". DOH!!! Two seconds later, that peppermint lollipop is staring Daddy in the face, with a sad little boy behind it, saying "I don't LIKE peppermint, I want a different candy!"

Pickle actually asked to go to bed tonight, which is unheard of, these days! So, we got into our PJs and hiked up the stairs to the nursery. Pickle wanted SugarPlum to sleep in his bed with him, but I quickly put an end to that possibility by saying that Santa won't come unless we are in our OWN beds, asleep. I could hear him stirring around up there, for a bit, but not one time did he climb out of his bed and make an attempt to come down and stay up later.

As soon as I was sure they were down, I went to the back and brought their few gifts out to create my morning scene for them. I got out the box of train tracks and train pieces that a friend kindly bestowed upon us, Little Miss Santa that she is! Yes, this is our SANTA gift for both kids! I'm pretty sure they are going to be thrilled about having their very own train set. They spend a great deal of time begging for a trip to the bookstore, so they can play with the train set there. I am lucky enough to have a very crafty friend, who has blogged about creating a train table setup without going broke. In her blog post, she shows how to recycle items into useful pieces for your train table! Anytime I need some inspiration, I just head over to her blog and check out her past and present projects! I scored the train table second-hand, over the summer, via Craigslist, and it has been set up for the kids to play with cars and legos on it, since then, but never a train!

I want to wish every one of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, whatever fits your religion/lifestyle, and a VERY happy and prosperous New Year! I am looking forward to the new year, and the changes that it will bring for us all. I hope for all of you, a year full of health, love, and hope!