I'll be Home for Christmas

The advent calendars held no more chocolate.  The doors in our advent tree held no more jokes  Our countdown blocks read 00 days to Christmas. 

We had hosted a party or two, both at home and at school.  We celebrated St. Nicholas, and Mikuláš, and even some Hanukkah. We traveled to the North Pole and saw Santa 3 times.  Believe me, we had been bitten by the season and had reveled in it, but now we were ready for the big event.  And for the first time ever, we would be doing it in our own home, just the four of us.  We weren't sure if we were going to regret not going back to the extended family for one of the most familial of holiday's, but we made a decision long ago to spend the first Christmas in our new country at home.  And this was our first in Prague.  Sure, it is nice to be surrounded by those you love, but there is also something to be said about having a small, intimate Christmas and getting to experience it the way that they do in the country you have adopted for a while.  We liked being able to visit the Christmas markets and going to see the Nutcracker at the ballet. And being able to go to the North Pole to see Santa.  All things we would have missed had we rushed off when school ended on the 12th.

And we were so happy to experience it all.  And after all of the build up, the big day was finally here.

We set out the cookies, carrots and milk.  And we added a shot of Becherovka for Santa, to help him get through the night.  According to the Czech's it aids in digestion, and after all of those cookies, Santa could probably use a whole bottle.

In the morning we found that Santa had eaten less of the cookies and had drunk more of the Becherovka.  And Fidget made her final appearance, kind of...

Santa left the girls each a sack full of presents - and I put out the rest of the things from us...And then I locked the kitty out of the room.  She was not amused.  But I also am not amused by her ripping open my wrapping paper or removing ribbons.

First thing we did in the morning was call Nana and Grampa on Skype and open the presents that they had gotten the girls.  It was still the night before for them (about 11 pm their time, 7 am ours) so it was a bit weird that we were already up and opening presents and they still had to go to bed so that Santa could visit them.

We opened quickly and then bid them sweet dreams.  We made the girls wait just a few minutes before tearing into their other gifts because I needed coffee, and a quick picture.

And then let them go...

The cat was always there with a helping hand...

.

And the dog, well, she was a dog...

We had a fabulous morning opening gifts and playing around with - the wrapping paper...

And then we played with our actual presents.  The cat thought this one was hers...

It was a long morning and all of the excitement wore us out, so we lay down and snuggled for a bit before making our Christmas dinner and watching our movie.

The final verdict about spending Christmas at home, just the four of us - two thumbs up.  Merry Christmas everyboy!

Yes, we Elf.

Yes, we elf.  This is the third year that we have welcomed Fidget into our home.  (Years one, one point five,  two and two - the travel version can be seen here)  She is a bit crazy.  She is a bit mischievous.  She is a lot of fun.  

Fidget, our elf,  has been a constant in our lives for the past few years.  Ever since the girls have been old enough to understand, even a little bit, she has been a part of their December.  A big part.  A fun part.  Because she isn't an elf that sees all, knows all and reports all. She is a friend.  A naughty one sometimes, but friendly nonetheless.  Her biggest purpose is that she is a little bit of home, no matter where home happens to be.  She has become a constant in our lives, when there isn't much that seems to remain the same from one December to the next.  She is our family when they can't be with us.  She is our rock, when it seems we are living in a world that shifts beneath our feet more often than not.  Fidget reminds us that no matter where we are in the world, she will find us.  And she will make us laugh.  And she will be a little part of home.  And if she can do it, then so can those that love us.  And miss us.  She embodies love, and family and tradition. 

So we elf.

In the past three years she has been to Santiago, Colorado, California, Prague, and Helsinki. This year she even followed us back to her own home at the North Pole.  The girls love her.   And they look forward to her visits every year.  Even if their Mama doesn't love cleaning up after an elf each and every night for a full month.  But Mama also knows that her days are numbered and she is starting to get a bit wistful about our elf and her antics.  The girls are getting older.  I will have no elf in my life soon enough.  Too soon.

Until then, we will all laugh along with Fidget.  And we will spend some fabulous family time searching for her, and talking about her antics, each morning.  Until next year, Fidget...This mommy can't wait.