And now, we rest.

I'm sorry that it's been a very long time since I've posted anything. Everything has been so crazy this past week. My daughter had her girl scout ceremony/cookie swap last Monday. Oh My Goodness! We left with 6 dozen cookies that were out of this world. My new favorite is a red velvet cookie that is almost like a moon pie with cream cheese filling. So good!! My parents came into town Monday night to spend the holidays with us. I love when my parents come to visit. They live in another state and I miss seeing them every weekend, like I used to when Aislinn and Aidan were small. We went to Mass on Christmas Eve like we do every year. This year, we decided to try a new church. Still Catholic, just a different one. We got there an hour early, because in the past if we didn't, we ended up standing the entire time. Well, I guess not too many people go to this church, because it was not nearly as crowded as we expected. However, it is a small church, and really beautiful, and I think I will go back. Christmas morning was a lot of fun. I woke up at 5am and couldn't go back to sleep! I still get very excited even though I'm beyond my childhood years. I heard the boys talking about 6 and since they have been told NOT to come out of their room until 6:30, I wanted to check on them anyhow. As I get to their bedroom door, I notice that the bells I hang on their doorknob (so I can hear them if they get up) were gone!! Apparently my 6 year old very quietly took them off, hid them under his bed, and went out to investigate while we were sleeping! He even confessed to me that he does this every year. WHAT!!?! So much for trying to capture that "first look" when they come into the living room!! Oh well. This year, we didn't video record them. It gets too crazy. Well, within an hour, my kids tore through everything. (And I've got plenty of pictures to scrapbook.) My son Declan got a new bike, (which he thought was Aidan's - so much for peeking!) Aidan got a Ripstick, Aislinn got her Nintendo DS and Maeve got her tent and a new, pink calculator. Not sure what my 3 year old needs that for, but it's what she asked for and Santa did not disappoint. Me, I got something that *sparkles*!! MY OWN diamond earrings, courtesy of my mom and dad!! I love them! Now I don't have to borrow Aislinn's. I do have a few returns, but I didn't feel like going out and dealing with that. My parents left at noon today and Maeve cried. All she wanted was for her Nana and Papa to stay, it was so sad. So today was spent playing board games, putting together puzzles, playing new Wii games and watching movies. I hope you all had a very good Christmas! I'll add pictures later.