So this is Christmas...?

It's coming on Christmas and for some strange reason, I'm depressed. Maybe it's the fact that the economy is so bad. Maybe it's the fact that I'm getting older and actually realize that there really is no Santa Clause. Maybe it's the fact that I feel like I have not been a very good wife or mother. I can't quite put my finger on it, but my favorite Christmas carols, baking and decorating the tree just didn't do it for me this year. Maybe I have just worked myself too hard trying to make the perfect Christmas at home. Maybe it's because with each passing Christmas I forget more and more about my own Christmases as a child, hence forgetting my mother a little more each year. Or, maybe it is because my family that is left and means so much to me is another year older and it could always be their last Christmas. I don't know, but what I do know is that regardless of how I feel, I will do whatever it takes to make this a good Christmas for my kids.

I thought "maybe what I need is a good dose of "It's a Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" or even "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". I wasn't walking around saying "Bah, Humbug" or anything, but I just couldn't seem to understand it, then...

I started thinking...why isn't anyone saying "Merry Christmas"? Why is it "Happy Holidays"? And why have we taken everything there is to love about Christmas out of the schools, shopping malls and office spaces. Why is it "Politically Incorrect" to say Merry Christmas? Since when do reindeer have religious meaning? Or even better, why is a Christmas Tree offensive?

I sat and thought long and hard about answers to these questions. I have taken a stand...yes, I tell everyone Merry Christmas...except my Jewish co-workers who I wish a Happy Hanukkah. We have a reindeer in our office and hung candy canes in protest. I'm a rebel I know, but it is America and I can celebrate CHRISTMAS if I wish darn it!

OK my venting is done, and I would like to share with you my true thoughts of Christmas. Yes, Jesus was born on Christmas to save us all. We celebrate his birth and this is the true meaning of Christmas and why we should celebrate it in the first place. I was wondering if I was really doing that with my kids. I wasn't sure until the other day:

We were planning a quiet Christmas at home...just the four of us, when I discovered that my friend Kris would be all alone here in DC for Christmas. We asked the kids if they would mind if Ms. Kris spent a few days with us at Christmas. Ashley immediately said "Mommy, Ms. Kris can have my bed and then we need to get her a present for under our tree." See, at that moment I knew Ashley "got it".

Daniel, for instance, loved taking Christmas cookies and popcorn to some of the neighbors this weekend. He was so upset when the little old lady next door did not answer the door the two times we knocked that he actually started crying thinking she didn't want our Christmas present. (Truth be told, she is a shut in and I have to call her son to have him ask her to open the door for us) He also couldn't understand why we couldn't take gifts to the entire neighborhood! OK, Daniel has "gotten it".

So, what is Christmas? Giving up your warm bed for a friend? Taking treats to friends and neighbors? Sharing your "family time" with those who can't be with their family? Yes, THAT is what Christmas is all about and I think THAT is better than any present I can receive on Christmas morning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & GOD BLESS!!!

Thank-Full

Well, we were fortunate to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Pittsburgh this year. We actually had two Thanksgiving dinners. The first one was at my niece Megan's new house. The second was at my Uncle Jack and Aunt Kassy's house. We were so stuffed that I think we ate ourselves sick. Note to self...only one Christmas dinner this year.


We had a good time seeing family and friends but the drive home last night was brutal! A 4.5 hour drive took 8 hours due to traffic and rain the whole way home. The only highlight of our trip…well there were two actually...was stopping at Gene and Boots Candy Store and seeing my kid's faces light up the way I am certain mine did when I was their age when Dad and Mom took me there. The second of course being satellite radio which brought me the play by play of the Pittsburgh Steelers stomping the New England Patriots. Go Steelers!

As for my Christmas wish, since I don't think Santa can bring me a BMW 3 series in his sleigh, I will gratefully accept my early Christmas present of having my family together in our new home for Christmas and beginning our own Christmas traditions. He did deliver that Steeler win I asked for though, so I am a grateful fan :-)

I am also a thankful wife. I have a wonderful husband...shh, don't tell him because his head will get too big. Ben really is great. I'm not sure many husbands would uproot themselves and their kids to follow their wife all over the Nation. He supports me and my career and I love him very much for it.

I am a thankful mother. I have two of the best kids in the world. Just ask them and they'll tell you so :-) They have been through so much and are just wonderful. Sure they fight, scream, yell, cry and try to decapitate each other, but what else are brothers and sisters for? I would not trade them for anything in the world. I love them so much and they mean the world to me.

I am thankful for the family and friends I have in my life. Without you life would be boring...to say the least ;-) and I am blessed to have each of you in my life. Thank you for always being there for Ben, the kids and me. I hope your Thanksgiving was great!

Ghosts and Gobblins

Halloween is our kid's favorite holiday...second to Christmas of course. Ashley was a beautiful Genie and Daniel was Handy Manny. I went as the best QB in professional football...BEN ROETHLISBERGER!!!



Thursday night we carved our pumpkins. Daniel wouldn't touch the "icky" stuff but Ashley remembered how to carve a pumpkin and was up to her elbows in gooey stuff.



Even Lucky was getting in on the action.



The kids had a great time and got TONS of candy, so we have to be very careful and limit the candy consumption. I'll leave you with more fun Halloween pictures.

I'm figuring this stuff out

So, a few "help me" phone calls and I think I am getting the hang of this Blog thing. Ben thinks it is a cool idea and I think I am going to put the web address in our Christmas Letter so all of our friends and family can see what we are up to. I hope we don't disappoint because we aren't usually up to anything other than working and trying to get the house in order from the move. Ben is sick and tired of painting and I'm just sick and tired...lol.

Ashley has settled into her new school and Daniel is finally feeling at home and has been a "Big Boy" all week. I missed them so much while I was gone for the last two years, but I think we are finally settling in to our family routine.

Just like Susie, I am a fellow Stampin' Up Stamper. I missed not being able to create over the past few years, but Ashley loves to stamp and made her very own Halloween Cards this year. She was so proud. Daniel likes to stamp and make cards too. I think he gets more ink on himself then he does the paper, but I don't mind one bit because it is something I can do with them that we all enjoy...and it gives Daddy a break from all of us :-)

Well I was asked where the pictures were, so LtCol Miller here's some pictures just for you. Thanks for asking for them.

I know some of these are older, but I like them just the same. This photo was taken at Point Loma, CA. I loved San Diego and miss it very much. The only thing bad about SD was that Ben and the kids were not there with me, so we made the most of each visit we had.

Yes, I am in the military and just got promoted to Chief Petty Officer! That is a HUGE promotion in the Navy...not monetarily, but career wise it is a major milestone. I was so glad that I was able to share the day with Ben and the kids. The kids of course got bored and were off wrestling in the background somewhere :-)

Ah, breakfast with Disney Characters. Every child's dream...oh, and the kids too :-) We had a great time and the kids loved getting autographs from all the characters. I'll tell you one thing though, Disney isn't going under any time soon. At $50 bucks a pop that was the most expensive breakfast of my life!

I finally gave in

OK. So I finally gave in and did what I told everyone I would never do...set up a Blog online. I guess I just have to get with the times and do it. I have no clue how all of this works but will play around with it until I figure it out. Susie, just one more thing I can call and bother you about
:-)