Christmastime!

It's Christmastime! Only 2 more weeks until the big day! Christmas is one my favorite times of the year! Not only is it a time when we remember and celebrate Jesus' birth (the whole reason for the season), but it's also a time when families gets together, Christmas lights and decorations are rampant and it's acceptable (if not expected) to gain 5 pounds from all of the cookies and yummy treats. And who doesn't enjoy giving presents?! I just wish we had more money, so we could go crazy and buy everyone presents (and great ones at that)! It's also the time of year when we watch The Grinch (with Jim Carey) over and over...AND OVER!!!! We love that movie!

This year we're heading out to Virginia to spend Christmas at Jason's Mom and Dad's house. It's always a lot of fun spending Christmas at the Capras - not only because Jason puts together a spectacular Capra Christmas complete with games, Capra trivia and prizes, but because it's so full of people! I wonder how Christmas at the Capras would have been if Jason's parents hadn't chosen to have such a big family... There are 12 kids - three of which are married. Tony and Angie have 5 kids, Jason and I have 2 kids and Rachel and Nate are still somewhat newly married (but I'll be expecting some nieces and nephews soon - so hurry it up!). So if we were all to make it to Capra Christmas this year - there would be 25 people (counting James' girlfriend)! Isn't that crazy?! No wonder there's not enough hot water, bath towels and toilet paper to go around when we all get together! :) Jason and I have been married for almost 11 years and I still don't know how Jason's Mom does it! I'm already getting worn out trying to keep up with a messy house and neverending laundry - and I only have 2 kids! What the heck?!

Anyways - Tony was deployed to Iraq last month, so he won't be here for Christmas. Rachel's husband, Nate, is also in Iraq until sometime this summer, so he won't be here either. And James' girlfriend is only visiting for a couple days prior to Christmas. So that only leaves 22 people. ;) I can't even begin to imagine what Christmases will be like a few years from now... The rest of the Capras (Jason's brothers and sisters) could all easily be married 8 years from now. Tony and Angie are finished having babies now and Jason and I are hoping to have more, but let's imagine that we still have 2 kids by then and that all the remaining Capras are all married and have just 1 baby each...that would make 43 people under one roof!! That's not counting the extra kids Jason and I hope to have before then or any additional babies the rest of the Capras might have by then! Isn't that insane?! We'll have to rent out a hangar just to fit us all in one place!

For now I thought I'd write about what we've been up to since Kristin's birthday. With Kristin's birthday in between Thanksgiving and Christmas - it seems like I'm always running nonstop from a couple days before Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. Sheesh! It's exhausting!

So after Kristin's birthday, I started the grueling (yet loving) task of baking Christmas cookies, preparing packages for the mail, filling out, addressing and mailing all of our Christmas cards/pictures and decorating the Christmas tree. Don't get me wrong - I love doing all of these things, but for some reason it's so stressful! Probably because I'm trying to do all of it at the same time and get it all done at a ridiculously early date (while taking care of Jason, the kids and the house at the same time). Making a million batches of cookies is no easy task when your kitchen is as small as mine is. It's pretty sad when you have to use your washer and dryer for additional counterspace! Rrrrr... Oh well. We may have a small extremely old house, but you can't beat the security of living on base with guarded gates and miles upon miles of barbed wire. Ah...I love barbed wire. I wonder if we'll ever be able to handle living off base? ;)

Ah...rolling out cookie dough is much easier than rolling out pie dough.


I let Kristin-poo help out with a couple cookies.


She's so proud of herself...


"Wow Mommy! You did it!"


When we were all done rolling cookie dough balls, Kristin said, "I hope you had a good time having me make cookies with you." What a cutie...


Katie and Kristin playing with Daddy before we decorated the tree.


Katie and Kristin


How sweet...


Katie watching Kristin and I decorate the tree


Me and Kristin decorating the tree


This is so much fun!


Kristin making funny faces at herself in the Christmas ornament


She was mesmerized by her reflection... ;)


Jason doing his part...


Ah...finally finished. Apparently it was too much for Kristin...


Kristin and her wishlist (she isn't asking for much is she?) ;)


The newest addition to Jason's outdoor Christmas decorations (one of his favorite presents from Rachel and Nate last Christmas).


Kristin and Darth Santa


For now we're looking forward to three of Jason's sisters coming to visit (Rachel, Danielle and Joanna). They get here Friday night and they'll be here for 6 days! We can't wait!
I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Be on the lookout for my upcoming story on Capra Christmas 2007 - arriving late December! ;)