At Considerable Cost

 We had such a relaxing Christmas.   The kids woke up at a reasonable hour (an added bonus of Midnight Mass) and they enjoyed each of their gifts.   Our only negative was Joey didn't feel all that well most of the day.     I love the excitement of watching the kids open their stockings.   I think  they look forward to that as much or more than the other presents.   I was the same way.      A puffy coat! He "shaves" every day:) Her very own copy Pete the Cat! We left the mess until the next day.   I loved it.   I always liked the aftermath when I was a little girl and Mama would leave it for an hour or so until she couldn't stand it any longer.   The kids just played so well and we had a simple meal, so there was no need to hurry about. My heart was so happy, as during the day I saw my children playin...

It was December 1995 when Joey and I went on our first date to the Natchitoches Christmas Festival in beautiful Natchitoches, Louisiana.   My family moved to Natchitoches the summer before my senior year of high school and I attended college there at Northwestern State University, so I was able to show Joey around the city.  A year later, on December 20, 1996, we were married.   This year, we were unable to get a baby-sitter (a problem in a college town between semesters), so we cancelled reservations and took the kids for a family dinner at Cracker Barrel.   Yesterday, on the Fourth Day of Christmas, we returned to Natchitoches to enjoy the last Saturday fireworks of this Christmas season.   We stayed with our friend, Amber, and she joined us as we drove to the City of Lights.   It's a beautiful and fun family destination that is well worth the drive.   We were able to see the free beautiful light displays al...