Christmas {2011}

I think I learned a major lesson this year, stop holding such high expectations on everything. This should really hold true everyday for me but this year’s Christmas was the biggest sign. After we celebrated Payton’s birthday one week prior I was so excited over her enthusiasm and excitement that I could.not.wait for Christmas morning. A few days before Christmas I was baking cookies, cinnamon rolls, a cheesecake, attempting to wrap packages, etc. while Jim was having to lay with Payton because she waking up screaming all throughout the night, not to mention we do have a newborn to watch over as well. The early hours of Christmas Eve we were both working into the wee hours to make sure we had everything ready to head up to my parents house. I had just wanted to take a nap for two hours before packing our belongings and the car, but as things always go, we both overslept. It was a mad dash to get the car packed to get to my parents in time to head to my aunt’s in Irvine for lunch. After a stressful two hours we did it and we made it to my parents and we were soon on our way back down the mountain after only being there for 15 minutes. It was when we arrived that we realized that the stocking stuffer bag had been left at our house, I was devastated and I entered into one of my moods. I felt like her Christmas was ruined and it wasn’t until I woke-up from a mini nap on the 55 freeway that I realized I was acting silly. My exhaustion took the best of me and I made the most of the lunch with my entire family with my aunt whom I had not seen since the day before I knew I was preggo with Payton. This is what the holidays are supposed to be, while it was hectic and a bit stressful with all the kids Christmas Eve was the Holiday we always spent with my Grandma Barr and being in her home made the holiday that more magical. We were soon on our way back to grandma and papa’s house and as soon as we walked through the door Payton threw-up all over the floor and herself. I moved her quickly to the bathtub and then let her open a gift which was her Christmas pj’s. She wanted to go ni-night so I took her to my old room and we fell into a deep slumber until the Christmas sun warmed the room. Payton seemed so excited, trying to wake me up by yelling “up! mama, up!” I moved my hiney as fast as I could up the stairs and then the attitude started. Everything I envisioned for Christmas morning was shot, the stocking was not taken down from the mantel and it took a lot of coercing for her to open presents. She would open one and want it opened to play with and once she saw it out of the box she was ready for the next gift. We ate breakfast and once she got some eggies in her tummy she got a little more into it but her face was turning beat red and snot was dripping from her nose! We played with her new train set and then she wanted to take a nap which ended up lasting three hours. Once her and daddy awoke from their morning nap she was ready for her day, she played and we got dressed to head to auntie’s house. The rest of the evening was great because she was with her cousins in the chaos that always goes on. In the end, the day wasn’t that bad, I just have learned to let everything go with the flow. Hiccups are always going to happen when you have children, they get sick, they throw temper tantrums, and let’s face it, they sense the stress. Next year, I am starting in July and will have everything done by black Friday. I am holding myself to this!

I truly hope you all had a great holiday, as much as it may seem like we didn’t, we did. Being with family, relaxing and enjoying one another’s company is what it’s all about! Plus, give me my fav Yorkshire pudding, a nice slice of prime rib with fluffy horseradish cream and I am one happy woman!