If We Make It Thru December...

I always thought that old country song was, well, out of line with the Christmas season. But after the Decemeber we just survived, I think I can relate to the song writer.

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The Sunday before Thanksgiving, I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph a family for their Official Christmas Family Picture. I actually photographed 3 families, but this picture has stuck out as a tradtional styled favorite from the shoot:

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Thanksgiving Dinner went really well, with my inlaws in attendance. Dinner was delicious, we all ate too much, and the day was wonderfully enjoyable!

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(Now to just convince the inlaws that I want to visit after dinner, and J & I can do dishes after they leave...)

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Black Friday found me rising early, meeting J when he got off work for the kid transfer, and Saxton & I bargain hunting. I think we did really well!

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I was home around noon so that J could go help with the MRR Club Toy Train Show at the Mall. It took a little racing around the house on our part to get out the door on time for the area light-up parade, but we were there early, with a clean truck and bundled up kiddos.

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Xavian rode in his Cub Scout Pack's float

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And I drove Korra, minus her attendants, to represent her portion of the Pleasantville Royalty.

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It was a rain sleet mix, and I had a very cold and shivering pair of children at the parade's end. Thank heavens for cheeseburgers and hot chocolate!

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This is about the time that one of Santa's Elves came to live with us. We named our Elf on the Shelf, Ralph. Ralph was in a new place almost every day, and oh! how much fun the kids had finding him!

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We rose to an unseasonable warm day on Saturday, and were waitting for the tree stand to open at noon, to insure we could pick out the perfect tree. The wonderful thing about these trees, is that they are grown less than 30 miles away, and are cut Thanksgiving Day, so they are fresh, and really last the Christmas season!

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Xavian helped me drag that big ol' thing into the house, and once I bought more lights, I covered it in the glowing bulbs and we set about decorating it Tuesday night.

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Friday night was our Hill Top Hometown Christmas Bash, and off we went to see Santa and for Korra to perform more raoyal duties.

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The visits with Santa were quite annimated, and full of smiles!

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The highlight of the evening was Xavian's uplanned invitation to sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas with the performing band. Very unexpected, but so wonderful to see and hear!

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Sadly, this is when our month long Christmas celebration took a sad turn. In the chaos of returning home from seeing Santa, our beloved family dog, Alco, did the unthinkable. Saxton had surgery, and Alco had to be sent to a new home. We miss Alco everyday, and we've coulda-woulda-shoulda'd ourselves over and over.

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In the end, we've both had to admit that Alco made the choice, and all we could do is find him a home without toddlers.

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Saxton has recovered, but will have scars. And he still loves "woof woofs".

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Korra's Christmas program found mom and dad sitting on hard metal benches, watching their little girl sing. And sing she did!

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That evening, our lives took another painful turn. The neighbor's dogs attacked and killed Chessie on our backporch. I will admit, I lost it on the dog owner. Especially since his dogs did this to another cat of our's (front porch), have destoyed property of our's, and have a history of terrorizing Alco and the kids. Not to mention those dogs have cornered me in my garage.

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We opted for legal action this time. It doesn't look good for the dog owner.

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Needless to say, I had an emotional breakdown about this point, and really didn't feel like celebrating Christmas anymore. J & I held each other and the kids, and we all cried.

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Thank God for family and friends who lift you up when you feel so lost and hurt. Their kind words helped us pick ourselves back-up, and restored much of our Christmas spirit.

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Xavian's school Christmas Program was the following Monday night, and my! he looked handsome!

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My BFF Nicki came the following Saturday to cut Saxton's hair. I won't lie, I cried.

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First came off mommy's lock of hair to keep

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Then 'Aunt' Nicki set to work turning him into a big boy. She did a wonderful job!

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Always the clown, Xavian ventured out into the snow while Nicki was visiting, and turned himself into a human snowman!

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Before we knew it, it was the Tuesday before Christmas, and we celebrated Korra's 6th birthday a few days early (she's a Christmas Eve Miracle)

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And then it was Christmas Eve, and we made cookies and candy. And hot choclate on a stick. YUM!

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Then we hung our stocking by the chimney with care,

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Left Santa some cookies and milk,

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And woke to Christmas morning and gift opening!

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Saxton decided unwrapping new things is the best thing ever!

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And Xavian was left speechless when he opened his REAL drawing supplies

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Christmas dinner was tasty (as usual), and we lazed around a great deal the rest of Christmas break. With exception of my annual after Christmas shopping trip, of course.

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Our Christmas turned out much happier and fulfilling than we thought it would be, after the rough patches. But we made it thru December, so we're going to be fine.

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Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year, from my family to your's.

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