A Mother's Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Our Snuggle Bug

Since you got to see lots of pictures of Addison, I thought I would share a few of our little snuggle bug. Olivia is growing like crazy and in total admiration of her big sister.





The weekend before Thanksgiving we spent in York with Tyler and Latisha and their little girls. The girls Mamo took them to the Children's Museum in York. They really enjoyedplaying store and ringing up groceries and taking my money. Olivia was checking out the blocks and train set. Londyn and Olivia really enjoyed driving the truck.




Poor Sydney had to stay home!





Addison enjoyed playing with the farm legos.




Olivia enjoys looking at the Christmas tree and playing with the Polar Express bell! It has been so much fun to watch the girls marvel in the Christmas lights and see how excited Addison is for Christmas and the anticipation of Santa!

The Many Styles of Addison

We decided this weekend, we were staying home and allowing the girls to rest and get all their germs out of their system so we were healthy for Christmas. We didn't do much. Layed around the house, played Legos, had tickle wars, took naps and Addison played dress-up with her own clothes. Addison frequently likes to play dress-up with her own clothes. I think secretly she wants to see how many outfits she put own, get dirty and leave laying on the floor for her mom to pick up and tell her to put her clothes away or in the hamper. So Sunday, I decided I wanted you all to see Addison play dress-up, so we took pictures of EVERY outfit she had on...brace yourself and then feel sorry for me, she laid on the floor pretending to help me put the clothes away.

Her 1st morning outfit (the pj's were different that night!)

Almost got away with this ALL day!

I said to smile

You have got to be kidding, it is 20 degrees outside - put something warm on.

And so she did. Slippers and all

Check out my sweats!

I got hot mom! I wanted to wear my "tappy shoes".

Please stoptaking pictures of me.

This is the last one! Notice the headband on my forehead. Sweats compelete with tap shoes.

Addison is defiently a ball of fire and always brings excitement to our "lazy" days!!