Zeus and our tree

This is the third Christmas Gerry, Anika, Jasmine and I have spent living together as a family. We decided to get a large seven (7) foot tree for three (3) reasons. 1. The kids asked for a huge tree. Last year we have an artificial little one perched on a table top. 2. Real live trees make your home smell delicious. For months after Christmas, my vaccum cleaner will still fill the house with the faint smell of the pine needles. I didn't want to miss out on that this year! 3. Last, because this year, we have many presents to put under it and love to spread around it!!!

Things have not been easy for a blended family. Our daughters Jasmine, age 6 and Anika, age 7, are Gerry's from his first marriage. The girls live with us and just see their "other Mom" four nights a month (sometimes less).

We get along great and none of us take one another for granted. All four of us are very much in love with each other! There are many types of love and bonding...(no, not bondage. Get your mind out of the gutter. This is a sweet family moment!) I love the girls like my own and they love me like another Mama. Just like all families, we have our challenges as well.

In addition to Zeus, the 90 pound Pitbull, we have 12 pound Lacey. She is a Manchester Terrier who is camera shy, so no Christmas photo of her as of yet. I will post the pics that I sort of got of her later. Anyhow, Anika says that Lacey is NOT a MANchester Terrier...she is a GIRLchester Terrier (insert the tone of voice of an annoyed kid telling her Mom "duh"). We laugh and let her know that Manchester is a town in England and a breed of dog. She still insists she is right and we should NOT call Lacey a man when she is a girl. OMG! Gotta love kids! Speaking of kids, tomorrow night is their Christmas Show (singing) at school. I am getting up extra early to arrive at work earlier in order to get home earlier to prepare them for the show!!! Dresses, ponytails, tights, black high heeled dress shoes...their favorite! Girls are dandy made out of candy.

Happy Holidays!