Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon

----

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus?Thank God he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!
XOXOXOXO

Merry Christmas to MEEEEE!!!!

I have THE most wonderful husband in the world! So, I have been wanting a Yorkie, since probably when we first were married almost 9 years ago. Well, being the awesome person that he is, he has been secretly collaborating with a breeder (while he is in the Middle East, no less) about a litter she had. Well, being half way around the world proved to be a little difficult for him, and I am pretty good about picking up on clues.... I "accidentally" figured out what he was getting me this year, and I got to go pick him up today!!! Talk about surprised!!! LOOK AT THIS ADORABLE BABY BOY!!!



Isn't he ADORABLE??? He's so snuggly right now too. Very sweet. Insert problem....I had always pictured us getting a girl and had a really good name picked out. NEVER thought about a BOY name!! So, I am asking my wonderful friends and family to help me (and my children) decide on a name for this little guy. Here are are the few that we have come up with! Please choose the one you think fits this little face!!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT VOTED!! ROMO IS HIS NAME!!

Where's the "pause" on this kid?

He's growing up at warp speed and it's awesome and SO sad at the same time. Less than 2 months ago, he couldn't even reach the pedals on the tricycle....and now, look at him, figuring it out!! Such a big boy!!

Smile

If this doesn't make you smile.....you're a ROCK!!



Isn't he just the CUTEST little man in the WHOLE WORLD??? :)

Deceptively Delicious

If you're children are even HALF as picky as mine (they would live on mac & cheese and fish sticks if I let them)...and mine are HORRIBLE, then you NEED this book! Mine will just look at it or hear the name and immediately say "ew". Falyn is the worst! And if she doesn't like it, then Faith and Chandler feed off of her, and say "ew" as well. UGHHHH!!! BUY THIS BOOK!! It has some AWESOME recipes that my kids are just gobbling up! I just sit there and smile knowing that they are LOVING what they are eating and getting all the veggies that they need!! WHOO HOO!!! Plus, I am getting creative about how else to sneak in the veggies. It's GREAT!!

BUY THIS BOOK!!! http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/

You're Invited!

I can hardly even believe that this is possible. Seriously, wasn't he JUST born? Wasn't I JUST getting cut open to save his life? Wasn't he just nursing? Where in the WORLD did two years just go? I am really going to have a lot to tell you on his birthday....my memory of his life thus far is strong, and the "little person" that he has become is just awesome... What's the Hope Floats line..."My cup runneth over" Ah....my son.

Some of you will also get this in the mail, but for those of you that are invited, but I am pretty sure you can't make it, I thought you'd like to see the invite.




Rascal Flatts, My Wish Lyrics

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small, You
never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody who loves you
may all you dreams stay big

Nemo on Ice

GO SEE IT, GO SEE IT, GO SEE IT!!

This is the 2nd time the girls have seen it, but I think Faith enjoyed it MUCH more this time, and Chandler just LOVED it! Wendy, Skip and Nanny and the boys Cole and Guy joined us at Reliant Center last week for a FUN night of Nemo on Ice! If you haven't seen it...GO, GO, GO!! It is SOO worth it and really very reasonably priced! I love any Disney on Ice, but Nemo just ROCKS!!! As Wendy said "First Class!" I wished I had my "good" camera as they are fast, and that's hard to catch on a point & shoot, but these turned out "ok". Here's some photos of the fun!!

No more babies in this house.

Let me preempt that with ..........WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! My "baby" is all grown up, and today he LOOKS the part as well. I cannot believe that in a few weeks he will be TWO!! Where oh where does the time go? "Don't Blink"...before you know it...they are all grown up!

Chandler before (camera phone pics, sorry):



and after...




WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

Ballunar Glow

See what you missed if you weren't there! What a cool experience!! I had never seen anything like this before and the kids were in amazement. It was really cool. And look...a COW!! Now imagine what you would've thought if you saw that up in the sky!! (ha ha!)

Beautiful Babies

Thanks sis!!

Photo Bombardment

Yes, I am fully aware that I owe you photos from Boston, but those were taken with my "real" camera, so you have to be patient. In the meantime, here are some photos from Sea World last weekend .....







Krysten said this is me in 80 million years!! LOL

Poor Nana!

River Walk - Downtown San Antonio


Look Daddy! No Hands!



....and Halloween last night. Chandler was HILARIOUS!! He got the hang of it REAL quick...I walk up to the door, they give me candy..."Mommee...nook! Eat peese!" LOL So dang cute!! Enjoy!








Snagged before I knew it! LOL

Nana had cool pumpkins!!

Congratulations Lemons Family!

Welcome to the world Jamie!! I can't believe I don't get to hold you for FOUR months!! :(

XOXOXO

CAUTION: venting, ranting, pity party ahead

Oh where to begin...please bear with me...I just needed to "talk". There are days when I wonder....and yesterday was FULL of it. I wonder why in the hell did I marry a sailor? Why in the hell did I choose this life? Then I remember that it was chosen for me, and I try and have faith in the good ol' "if He brings you to it, He will bring you thru it." But He's really trying me right now. (more on that later).

I sit in my bed and listen to my children playing and just CRY b/c I have to do that all alone. I miss my "Navy family", and my husband. When the men are gone, the women stick together, and right now, I don't have that, and it's SO hard!! Don't get me wrong, I really love my family, I really do! I have a FANTASTIC mother-in-law who helps me out WAY more than she should, an equally AWESOME step-mom who is there for me in spirit even as busy as she is with her babies, Oma & Opa...well, they are just angels on earth....but they will always be "home". They are always there to go home to, but the bonds you form in the military are strong ones b/c of what you're put thru as the spouses. I had a great one once. If I had to pick a defining factor in my life when I feel like it all changed, it would be 2004...yes, that far back. That's when one of the most important friendships in my life changed forever. We all have that one person aside from our spouse, that no matter what, is there, becomes more than a friend, but part of you and your family...that is always the person you go to in good & bad, happy & sad. That you can sit alone in a room and not speak, but know exactly what the other is thinking. I had that person once, who I met in the very beginning of my Navy journey and sadly, I am somehow no longer that person for her. I became the "after-the-fact" friend, or the secondary. Despite all the times I was told that wasn't the case, actions speak louder than words right? When you see it in front of your face that you were the "last to know", it VERY heartbreaking and God-awful painful. I think back to that time, and wonder what did *I* do wrong? How did *I* contribute to what it has become today? We all do that don't we? I'm good at it. I tend to take the blame for a lot of things, and even when the blame shouldn't be mine. It's so hard knowing that I have never and would never do that to her. So, in the midst of my depression and a really DOWN day yesterday, I pondered this friendship, and the hurt that I feel now. I feel like I tried (and still do) so hard, only to be pushed to the side, and that everything we'd ever been thru was obsolete. That's HARD. Now, when I am at my darkest and lowest, I no longer have my "one person" to turn to. Do you have any idea how lonely that is? Most of you know that I have been on anti-depressants for about 8 months now. I think I need a new one...b/c yesterday it took everything in me to even get out of bed. But I did, and Falyn and Faith did their school work, and I got some work done, but not without a bunch of crying sessions throughout the day. Losing your best friend is probably at the top of one of the hardest things you ever have to go thru in life. I've never had to deal with something like this before and it SUX!!

Which brings me back to "why did I choose this life?" and why my day yesterday was so hard without having that person. The good news is, Justin will be home closer to the end of January, rather than the middle of February....the bad news....they changed his ship right out from under us. Even after we had hard copies, even after he'd already put in his transfer package, EVEN after I had already contacted the Family Support Group. So, rather than going to a boat that wasn't going to deploy until the end of 2009, he's leaving again in May 2008....yes, you read that right. After 14.5 months away from us, he will come home in January and then get on a boat that leaves in May for 6 months. "yay" Anyone care to try and explain THAT to my girls?? I swear, Angie and Ryan had the right idea (ok Ryan). Getting out sounds better and better on days like yesterday. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoooo...told ya it was a pity party rant!! My dear friend Jebbye had her baby girl yesterday, and it just breaks my heart that I can't be there for her!! Luckily enough Jason came home from deployment last month, so he got to be there for his baby girls' birth. She's a BIG baby girl too! 8.3 21.5" and just adorable!! ALMOST makes me want another one!!

Anyway, if you got thru this, God Bless You. Say a little prayer that God grants me some much needed strength to get thru these last 100 days until Justin gets home. As short as that trip "home" is. It will be MUCH needed.

G

Me!!!

You never see much of me on here! Here's an awesome pic taken by a fabulous photographer friend of mine, Taz while I was in Boston!!

Boston Fun!

Headed to Boston for the weekend!! I CAN'T WAIT!! My first kid-free weekend in about 10 months!! I'm sure I'll miss them, but they are going to be in good hands, and I will enjoy getting to sleep in!!

Post pics when I get back!!

XOXOX

A FULL week!!

Soccer started Thursday and Falyn is a NATURAL!! You would think that she has been playing forever the way she got out there and kicked that ball. She listened very intently to the coach and was doing just awesome on the drills he had them doing for practice!! My little soccer star! Opening day was Saturday and she was picked to be team captain, and her team won 8-2!! YAY!! GO ROCKETS!! She was a little disappointed b/c she didn't score a goal, but she hasn't learned to be aggressive yet (ok, well on the soccer field anyway!), so the bigger kids (which would be all of them) would push her aside and snag the ball before she could kick for the goal. But she did awesome!! After that we headed over to Wendy's for Cole's b-day party! Oh MY, did the kids LOVE that! They would move in with Wendy if I let them! They had a blast and were pooped out before we even hit the highway to head back home!! Sunday we were still recovering from our fun filled weekend!! LOL

Here's the pics!!

Practice!





First Game!




Lost the coin in the coin toss!! LOL




Cole's Party