Too smart

for his own good.

Yesterday, Sunday, my family had it's big Christmas. It's an annual event, and given that most of us live in town there are usually near or over 50 people that attend. We all bring a dish to share, play some games, and Santa makes an appearance to hand out gifts to the kids. This has been going on for quite some time, originally starting at my Great-Grandmother's home, where she sat everyone down in her very small living room and dining room, and then it moved to her basement as the family grew. Eventually, after she passed away, it was traded around to different family member's homes, until it got so large that no one could host it anymore. Now we rent the hall of our family church, where there is much more room, and no one has to worry about readying their house for such an event.

Yesterday, Ché was super excited to go to the party. He really likes to play with his cousins and was eager to see Santa. (We haven't ventured to the mall yet.) So, he ate a pretty good lunch, and then we sat and waited for Santa, singing carols. Santa used to be played by someone in the family, but the older kids could always figure it out, and would blurt out who it was, thoroughly confusing the little ones that for the most part really thought that Santa was coming to their party. So in recent years whomever is hosting has to find a Santa outside of the family. This year, it was a lady. We all knew it before she came, but thought nothing of it. Ché was so excited when she walked in the door, that he ran off of my lap to give "Santa" a big leg hug. He came and sat back down. Santa passed out presents, did his/her thing, and then was gone.

The rest of the afternoon was fine, Ché played bingo, ate more cookies, and then it was time to go. On the way home however Ché says out of the blue, "Santa was a lady." Before I had time to respond, he continued by saying, "I think it was his Mama, helping him out." So we agreed, saying that Santa is busy this time of year, and that he has to have helpers since he can't do everything himself, and that Ché was probably right, his Mama was helping him out. Because after all, what mother wouldn't help their son?

Celebrate Adoption!

November is National Adoption Awareness. National Adoption Day is Nov. 15th this year. Coincidentally, Nov. 18th was National Adoption day last year and was Ché's 2nd birthday, but his first birthday with us.
Here's a calendar of ways to celebrate adoption every day this month.


http://www.adoption.com/national-adoption-awareness-month/

Check it out, and see if there is a way you can support and promote adoption!

Ahh, Valentines' Day

So, Mike and I decided on a $25 limit. We could not think of anything to buy for one another. We were pathetic. Nearly 5 years of marriage, and we had plum run out of ideas. I got gifts for Ché, cards for grandparents, cards for neices and nephews, etc. I even bought a card for Mike. But I could not for the life of me think of an actual gift.

I didn't want to go with candy, because who needs it? Flowers die, so that really left me nowhere. I guess I could have gone with something Bears-y again, but that's getting old, or so I think. I finally did find something, even though it was a 9 o'clock last night.

So, I ask you: What did you get your significant other for Valentines' Day? Maybe it'll help me be more prepared for next year.