Heather R.'s Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 11/30/01 -------------------- 10/25/01 6/21/01 5/10/01 4/8/01 3/30/01 3/23/01 3/15/01 3/7/01 2/27/01 2/20/01 2/12/01 1/29/01 1/17/01 1/1/01 12/27/00 12/19/00 12/1/00 11/13/00 -------------------- Heather R.'s Introduction

December 27, 2000

Christmas has come and gone, the gifts have been opened, the holiday cookies nearly gone, but really it was a perfect holiday season. Christmas Eve was spent at Merri and Jimmy's house, also known as my illustrious aunt and uncle. Merri and I are only 10 years apart, and are closer in age than my mom and her are. My cousins, Lucy and Henry are 8 and 5 respectively, and Chloe adores them to pieces. They also had two other friends over, and my brother-in-law, who recently moved in with us from Southern California, was there as well. Everything went beautifully. After dinner we took a walk over to a special house in the neighborhood that is decorated from top to bottom. I cannot describe how overwhelming this residence was. There were lights everywhere, animated bears, dolls, reindeer, a giant bubble machine, three train sets going 'round and 'round in one window, and a giant decorated Christmas tree in the other. Even the sidewalks had huge wood arbors covered with pine boughs and lights and decorations. It was simply gorgeous, and Ivan and Chloe were awed by the sights and sounds of the place.

Christmas morning we, John, (Steve the brother-in-law), Chloe, Ivan and myself were together at our house. Chloe was the first one up, and she ran into the front room before I could rustle myself up from bed. I heard a small gasp escape her, and then her feet padding quickly across the hall and into our room. "Momma, Momma!" she said, "Horsey! Horsey! Chloe has a Horsey!" She was referring to the stick horse Santa had brought and placed so neatly next to her overflowing stocking.

We ran into the front room, and Chloe then noticed her stocking. She screamed with glee and began pulling the gifts out, one by one. Each thing produced a laugh, a gasp or a shriek of happiness.

Ivan, on the other hand, was completely enthralled with his basketball hoop set. He loves the full size hoop at the playgroup they go to, even though he can't even come close to getting the ball in there. He played with the toddler-sized hoop all morning, and eventually Chloe had to open his gifts for him, he really could have cared less about those.

John gave me books and a coffee maker -- it was exactly what I had wanted and asked for. I'm also going to get my hair cut and perhaps even a manicure, but John was unsure where to get a gift certificate from since I have yet to find a hair dresser. I gave John cologne, a hat for work and a computer game he had been dying for.

Perhaps the most unexpected gift came from Mother Nature herself. Christmas day was as bright and as beautiful as anyone could wish for. Chloe and Ivan have their playgroup, but nothing beats a trip to the park. So after breakfast, we set off to the park down the street. The kids had an amazing hour of play, and we got some great pictures, which I'll post next time.

The day ended with a little driving (always a holiday tradition in our house) and a tri-tip dinner. It really was a super day. Have a safe and happy New Years!

Until next time,

Heather