Christmas is Coming

...and the Lairsey's are excited!  The girls and Coleman are at such a fun age for opening presents and looking at Christmas lights.  Clara loves to look for "see-ta" and "no-man".  Eve has been obsessed with the houses we see with a manger decoration because "those people MUST have Jesus in their heart!"  One of the houses down the street from us has a manger in the front yard, but baby Jesus is missing from his bed and that REALLY disturbs Eve.  Everytime we pass, she looks and says, "mom, baby Jesus is STILL not in there.  They MUST have broken baby Jesus' head off.  If we had a manger and broke baby Jesus' head, we would just glue it back on and put him back out there in his bed."

Eric took all the kids to Blackshear this weekend (he's superman, what can i tell ya??) to have Christmas with his family.  I had to stay behind to give my math exam this morning.  They got there last night in time for a Minnie Mouse birthday party for the twins (at which Uncle Scott gave the girls ADORABLE lady bug chairs), Christmas dinner, and opening Christmas gifts.  Eve got "ten thousand dollars, and a princess tent".  I'm not sure exactly how much money she got, but I'm pretty sure her math was a little bit off :).  While they are gone, MiMi and I are riding to Anderson, SC to spend some time with Baba (until Sunday).  Since her stroke the day after Thanksgiving, she needs constant care and this weekend is mom's turn.  They have cancelled our traditional "Day After Christmas" get-together at her house in an attempt to keep visitors (particularly a lot of kids --- not quite sure who they were referring to!) to a minimum.

Since Eric and the kids have been gone since 2pm yesterday (Thursday), I have had a TON of free time..  It feels REALLY strange.  I called my mom, and she asked if I felt like I was playing hooky!  That's EXACTLY how I feel.  I was out shopping at nap time, I turned on the bedroom light while getting ready for school in the morning, I stayed late at school to get grades in with NO regard to picking up kids from Mother's Day Out.  It has been quite strange.  I do NOT like it.  I mean, I do like the mini-vacation for a few days...but I know my real life should have snotty noses to clean, dirty hineys to wipe, tiny (and not-so-tiny) hands to hold, shoes to put on, dinner to make, sippy cups to scrub, and pacies to find.  Even sitting here at the computer to type, I am hearing phantom kids calling my name :)  Last night we had a TERRIBLE wind storm...and I am NOT a scaredy-cat...but I got a little worried.  I heard knocks at the door and something fell in the kitchen, dogs were barking and trees were whistling.  I was pretty unsettled.  I called Eric just to talk for a minute and told him what was going on.  He told me to call 911 if I didn't feel safe, but I really knew it was all in my head.  I didn't know Eve was still awake and standing right there by daddy on the phone.  She got on the phone to ask about calling 911.  "Why do you have to call 911, momma.  Is there an emergency?"  "Momma just hears funny noises."  "Oh yeah?  Do they make you scared?"  "A little bit."  "Momma...you know that the shepherds and wisemen were afraid when the angels came to talk to them?  That's what you are afraid of too.  Those funny noises are probably just angels coming to talk to you."  Seriously?  I am being consoled by my 4 year old.  I.love.her.  After school today, I called to chat with them and Eve got on the phone.  The first thing she did was ask if I was ok and if the funny noises were gone.  Precious, tender-hearted girl.