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      The Christmas tree in the foyer with the Creche beneath it.  Through the years the children have all loved to come and play with the Nativity figures, moving them about, etc., and having great fun with them, so we just always keep it under the tree.  In the past when Matt and Alex were younger, it was not unusual to see the scene sporting Lego buildings and Hot Wheels cars parked about in Bethlehem.  Pippin and Vash occasionally kidnap a figure and hold it hostage for a dog biscuit, but they have never chewed one or damaged it.  Sophie likes to bat the icicles about, so the bottom of the tree is usually in a state of dishevelment from her rearranging things slightly...all in all, the tree holds up fairly well throughout the season. 

      I received several emails yesterday asking why I don't like to go to The Mall.  Hmmm...can I just say that I don't and leave it at that?  I am afraid if I answer, there is a chance that someone will take it personally by thinking that I am making some sort of judgment about them because they do like to go to The Mall.  It's not a judgment call...I just don't take any great pleasure in shopping.  I would rather be reading and "shopping" for knowledge.  I like that you all enjoy it, however.

      When our boys were little, I would occasionally take them to Target when I needed things like diapers, formula, etc. and they weren't all that enamored of riding in the cart and hearing bits like "Please don't touch those things," so more often than not, I saved those little forays for the evenings when Mark was home to entertain the tots at home. 

      I managed to keep them in the dark about The Mall until they were TEN years old...my goal was much longer, but the gig was up one day when Mark took them over to Galyan's Sporting Goods so that they could climb the rock wall there.  I figured this was safe enough...Galyan's having it's own outside access door, etc., and the wall being right inside the door just to the left.  Away they went.  First thing I heard when they returned?  "Mom, MOM, you will not believe what we saw, you have to come and see it!  It is called THE MALL and it is so cool!  There are all these stores hooked up together with a big roof so you can walk from one to the other and not get wet when it is raining outside, and they have everything you have ever seen, and they have so much food, and you can choose whatever you want, and so can everyone else.  Mom, you have to come and see!"  Well, I was stunned...blindsided by my own husband.  "Hmmm...Honey, how did this happen?"  His only defense (weak as it was even at the time):  "Well, we were thirsty and hungry after all that climbing, and I thought it probably wouldn't hurt anything to just slip out into The Mall to get something to eat and drink.  I had no idea this would happen."  And, so the gig was up...you can't keep young boys on the farm when they have seen the bright lights of the city, as they say.  At least I did have ten years of complete bliss as far as requests for trips to The Mall...nowadays, not so much...the saving note being that when those requests now come in, all I have to do is turn to Mark and say, "Well, Honey, what do you think...are YOU up for a trip to the Mall with the boys?"  He just smiles and says, "If I had known this would happen...."  Hindsight...20/20.