Christmas

I need to aplogize for not sending Christmas cards again this year. I really feel bad about that; however, I've already started setting up my database so that next year I can get back into the swing of things! Please accept our thanks and gratitude for all of the lovely cards, photos and letters we received. We really enjoy receiving them and next year will be back on the giving end - I promise!

Shayla prepares to put the carrots out for Santa's reindeer. This reminds me of one of my treasured photos of Christi doing the same thing, in the same spot, 2001 - age 4.

Shayla brought us great joy last night. After we sat for a very long time putting together a lovely 750 piece horse puzzle (a Christmas gift from the Grants) Shayla went off to play a few Christmas carols. She has no idea how sweet that was - and oh so reminiscent of what her big sister used to do! Throughout the day yesterday we followed the "Santa Tracker" watching the video clips, reading the updates, and then tracing Santa's journey on Shayne's globe. It was a lot of fun! Before we went to bed I reminded Shayla that this was our first Christmas at home without Christi and that she's never seen our tree with presents for just one girl before so it might not look like much without Christi's presents under the tree too. She said she understood that. I wrapped things in large boxes and arranged the gifts out away from the tree a bit so that it would look like a lot and I think she was very pleased, according to her many squeals of delight this morning!

When Shayla selected her jammies last night, I'm certain she had no idea she picked the same exact pair Christi wore for her last Christmas, when she was also 8 years old! I didn't realize it until I went back to look at the 2005 photos just a moment ago, wild!! It's been great having Grandma Nee Nee here and soon Aunt Marty & Uncle Jeff will arrive for lunch. Shayne has been "down" this morning, but of course I know why and that's ok! Although I'm missing Christi terribly this holiday season, I keep reminding myself how blessed I am to have one very special child with us! I know of others who have had their only child depart. Our thoughts are with them, with military families, and others separated from their loved ones!

(PHOTO 2007: Shayla, age 8, models the fancy, pink slippers Grandma Nee Nee gave her.)
(PHOTO: 2005, Christi, age 8, modeling her new slippers. They came in very handy that winter at CHOP!!)

Can you say "Blue & Sparkley?!!" Shayla is signed up for six ice skating lessons, at an indoor rec center, beginning in January. Thanks so much to a very special blogger she will have this amazing outfit to wear.