Merry Christmas

Well, it is midnight on Christmas day, and not a creature is stirring. In fact, this keyboard sounds mighty loud as I try to silently jot down some thoughts before hitting the hay. It's been a great day full of good company, good food, and fun presents and surprises. The girls have been looking forward to Christmas for so long and I can't believe the day is done.
The main reason I am out here is because I wanted to jot down two things that Ashlyn said today that made me laugh. This morning when Ashlyn woke up she rubbed her eyes and said, "That night wasn't very long...That wasn't long at all. It seemed really short." I'm glad the anxious anticipation didn't make her night seem too long. Then, after we opened the presents and stockings we were in the room getting organized and she said in an excited voice, "Mom, I am a mommy now." (me-oh really? What makes you say that?) "I now have my own purse and bubble gum. I got them in my stocking."
I have to agree that those are two very important criteria for motherhood.
The wonder and excitement of childhood is incredible; I love the thoughts that pop out of their mouths. With Claire it seems that everything is popping out of her mouth these days. She is turning out to be quite the chatter box and does a great high pitched falsetto voice in her pretend play. Today in her stocking she got some mickey mouse Tupperware containers, and she was so excited and started saying, "Mom you can use these in Your kitchen, in YOUR kitchen, IN YOUR KITCHEN!!" She wants to make sure she is NOT getting ignored. Everything is so intense, but it was a very cute, thoughtful moment.
Time for bed.
Hope everyone had a fun Christmas day. Now go make your new paper chains with 364 links.

Ahhhh phonetics. Ashlyn loves calling out a letter and then trying to name words that start with that letter. Today while I was making lunch she started with some "W" words. "wha- wha- Whale", "wha- wha- wish", "wha-wha- weak-sauce"
Thanks Brock. Trash talking vocab -- outstanding.

My girls like art time. I can usually occupy them with coloring and get a few things done around the house...I might have to rethink this strategy. Ashlyn and Claire were truly saddened and shocked when I said that I probably wouldn't let them color with markers for at least a year. "WHY MOM?!" (Bless the person that made markers washable.)