The Highlights

 I was debating what to write about this post, and I had several thoughts. So, I'll share them all with you. I know what you're thinking... this is gonna be a long one. But my pastor always says that the more points he has in a message, the shorter the message. So, we'll see if the same applies here.

• I  thought about sharing how the holidays are sort of vacation time for missionaries, because no one really wants to have a missionary in during Christmas season. Too many parties, and cantatas, and caroling, and activities. Doesn't usually work to add in a missionary. I don't blame them, and I'm enjoying the time off. But if this is vacation time, why am I so tired???

• Which brings me to the next topic. My kids sleeping schedule. For some reason, they have decided that it's either not bedtime before 1:00 in the morning, or that even if they do go to bed early, they need to wake up and spend time with us between 11:00 and 1:00 at night... I love them and all, but I'm usually well past ready for sleep by the time thy actually settle down for bed. Could it be the sugar cookies that they've been grazing from the table all week? Or the soda they are constantly finishing off for Papa? Or the candy that they seem to find everywhere in the house??  I've stopped even asking "where did you get that from?".

• I also thought about talking about the relationship between a little boy and his Papa. This kid wakes up asking for Papa, bangs on Papa's door whenever he can't be found, and pretty much only wants Papa. I hugged my dad tonight while he was holding my son, and my son shoved my face away exclaiming "my Papa!!!".

• There was also the shopping trip taken yesterday that was quite adventurous. It involved three different mothers, three small children, some last minute Christmas shopping that we tried to hide from the three small children, three different grocery lists plus one combined family dinner list, two shopping carts, adding a third shopping cart at the end while we stood in an aisle and sorted out all three lists and who was paying for what, 30  minutes in the checkout line because it was only four days before Christmas, and that fact that there is no picture for it all because it was madness. Organized madness, but still...
  

• I could share the fact that carolers came to mom and dad's house tonight, and it was the first time I've ever been on the recipient end of Christmas caroling. It was very cool! But that would make for a very short post. 

• Or I could do a post about the Christmas present sorting that took place this morning and how it took an hour to sort out which present belonged to whom, and why we seemed to be a present short for all of the guys even though it had been added up before and was determined there was enough. Then to find out, after we had adjusted and resorted to make sure everyone had enough,  that the missing presents were sitting in dad's closet all along. Oops... 

• I could talk about how it's been difficult to figure out what to get my kids and husband this year. My son is at that age where his interests are changing from baby to big boy, but they're not completely there yet. He likes the older toys, but still loves to chew on them. And the toys for bigger kids aren't as choking hazard free. My daughter loves toys, but has way too many, plus we'll be packing up and leaving this coming year so don't want to waste money on something big that we'll just have to store or sell.  And I've already posted before about how difficult it is for me to figure out what to get my husband. 

• There's also the topic of how my dad hands out presents on Christmas morning and how he has been known in the past not to look at the tag closely enough and given presents to the wrong people. We're all family here, but it's still awkward to speak up and be like "ya...that's not for you." 😯

• I could write about making cookies with the help of a two year old, a three year old, and a five year old, and how the kitchen looked like an explosion of flour. How we ended up with 12 dozen sugar cookies . How when we frosted them we ended up with a bag of cookies that were only for the little girls, because those were the one's they decorated. And trust me, if you saw how many times those frosting knives got licked.... you wouldn't want them either. 

• Or how yesterday, I finally finished my last present sewing project. And how if I don't have to sew again for another year, I think I'd be fine with that. 

  There are probably many other things that I could share, but as Felix Bassenak says "when the bag lets out the cat, somebody gets scratched". So, to you all I say merry Christmas!!

 Don't forget the quote. It's not a popular one so I'll give you a hint. Google the name.