Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I'm really excited about this Christmas. I know I'm not going to get much--that doesn't matter to me. What I'm excited about has nothing to do with gifts. First of all...I am home for good. That's very exciting to me, while I do still miss my close friends tremendously!!! :( I'm excited at all the time I've been able to spend with my family and all the time I will be able to spend with my family. I really didn't realize how much I've truly missed my family while I was in college. I'm just glad to be home! Second, I'm glad that Sarah, John, and Grayson moved back to Maine also! When I parted with Grayson during Thanksgiving it was very hard for me to do. I had already got attached to my new little man! It's weird how you can meet someone and love him instantly! That's how it was when I met Grayson! I have really enjoyed all the time I've been able to babysit him. He is such a happy go lucky little guy. He makes me laugh when I'm "talking" to him! It doesn't hurt him that he is so cute and cuddly!

Below are one of my favorite Christmas poems:

A Visit From St. Nicholas by Major Henry Livingston Jr.(previously believed to be by Clement Clarke Moore)

'Twas the night before Christmas', when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that ST. NICHOLAS soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the creast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

Laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT."