Other Centered Santa

Most years Ella and Jacob have seen Santa at our foster son Robby's group home.  This Santa is different than other Santa's.  He 's very other centered.  He does let the kids tell him what they want for Christmas, but also talks about giving to others.

Jacob got on his lap and Santa asked him if he'd been good.  Jacob hesitated and Santa looked at Ella - let's ask someone who doesn't know you  - knowing perfectly well they were siblings.  Ella didn't seem sure how to answer - she hesitantly answered, "yes to the has he been good question."  On the way home Ella explained to Jacob that Santa doesn't expect perfection.  She continued that he's really just expecting more of a 50/50 good to bad ratio.

Santa then asked Ella what she wanted and she kept hedging with I don't know.  He said, "Let's put it this way. What would make you happy?"  She said, "Mom I thought I have everything that makes me happy  - friends, family and comfort.  He gave me two choices.  I could either write him a note asking for something for myself or I could give up my request and he would get a toy for someone who doesn't have any.  I was thinking maybe I could do both.  Something small for me and something for someone else."  I love that she was giving it so much thought.  Seemed like character building on her part.

Now on the other hand Christian totally reenacted a scene from the movie "Elf".  When Santa walked in he excitedly pointed and shouted, "I know him"!  A good time had by all.

Oh Christmas Tree

Yesterday was a snow day - no school. It was pretty nasty outside, but Ella and Jacob braved it for awhile and Christian too, but Callie didn't make it outside. She started out the day somewhat calm, but once she ramped up it was nonstop craziness.

The tree is just too much for her right now - she likes the lights, she pulls the plug, then repeat. She got a little shock pulling the cord once we think. She likes the tree - she threw everything in reach at the tree and then took bulbs off and smashed them on the floor. I'm hoping eventually she will simmer down and the tree will become "normal" to her. It's possible that won't happen, but it could be the Christmas miracle of the year.

The tree is up!

Well, we managed to get our tree up and the few decorations we have put out. We had Jonathan, Jill and Kara here as well as Mark and I to control the chaos it brings. Callie was gone, which was helpful.

It's always fun getting out the ornaments and remembering where they came from and such. Several of the kids have a "baby's first Christmas" ornament and it struck me again. Some of our kids were not here for their first Christmas, in fact at least two were in PICU -Pediatric Intensive Care - for their first Christmas due to their extreme prematurity.

So, we are making Christmas memories now - just decorating our tree. Now if it can survive Callie's ire - she threw a barbie doll and a book at it during the hour or so she was here to notice the tree. It's tough for her - everything is suppose to have a place and, really a tree in the house! She may have a point, hard to explain really.

Ah - Monday - Monday

It was a busy weekend. Chris turned 19 on Sat. and Mark and the big boys went out to lunch and a movie to celebrate. I baked a cake, which I left on the counter - bad idea. Mark came in to find Callie grabbing handfuls out of the cake. Ya, she's not suppose to have gluten - so it was a wild rest of the day. Thankfully, it was Callie and she can do no wrong in Chris' eyes :)

Sunday morning the kids all sang up front at church. They did well, but Callie started roaming, so I had to sneak up and get behind her on the risers and hold her in her spot. Amazingly, she didn't object or it could have been quite the scene. They were all awesome.

Tonight the plan is to set up the tree and decorations tonight. It will probably throw everyone off, but we gotta do it. Merry Merry!