I thought it was one of those urban legends, you know when you keep hearing something that sounds so ridiculous it can't possibly be true.

I am speaking of the reports I have heard about people phoning into talkback shows or strangers overheard making comments to the effect that religious people are trying to take over Christmas, they should stay out of it as God has nothing to do with it.

Now this may well be true for a lot of people but it reeks of historical ignorance, so much so that like I said, I thought it was an urban legend.

Well over at, aptly named it appears, Rob's Blockhead Blog I found this gem "I'm not a fan of the modern Christmas. Once upon a time, it was something purer and simpler. Sheer self-indulgence and bacchanalian feasting. I don't hold with this modern trend of bringing religion into it." [emphasis mine]

Rob goes on to give a brief historical account of Christmas songs of note to him. It seems he does not realise that Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald Angels, Silent Night and Long Time ago in Bethlehem were written before his modern account of secular Christmas songs.

Just now Matt brought out youngest child, age 5, down to the office. As they approached I could hear that he was sobbing and hysterical and Matt was laughing which I thought odd until I saw him.

Each of the kids have oversized, home made Christmas stockings - a stupid idea I came up with when the eldest was born, now with 4 oversized stockings to fill I go why oh why oh why every year at the cost of filling 4 giant stockings but I digress...

Master 5, was in his sister's stocking, it came up to his hips and his own stocking was stuck on his head - quite a comical sight which explained why Matt couldn't help having a chuckle as we attempted to rescue him.

Matt explained, while our son sobbed that he was stuck, that both of them were unable to get the Christmas stocking off his head - the lining had bunched together so they couldn't just pull it off without hurting him.

I fiddled with it and got the one off his head off then we got him out of the one on his legs. He sat there looking very sheepish as he then tried to explain that the only reason he got stuck in this manner was because there were no presents in the stockings - otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get his head and his legs into them.

We explained the necessity of going to sleep first and waiting til Christmas morning (something we had already explained at bedtime and I think at least 5 times in the past week). He sheepishly agreed that perhaps that was smarter than staying up for hours and getting stuck in the Christmas stockings so now has finally gone back to bed and things are starting to sound quiet - yay!

Of course the older two kids are still up watching the Nightmare Before Christmas so it looks like it may well be Christmas Day before Matt and I get to go to bed as we can't do that til we have filled the stockings and we can't do that til they are all asleep.

Still, nothing beats Christmas through the eyes of children - brings all the wonder and excitement of childhood back.

We have been a bit quiet the last few days as like most people we are kinda busy with Christmas preparation. We are going away at some point but not til after New Year so do keep checking in as I am sure we will find something to rant about - its a pretty safe bet with us LOL!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas. Enjoy your friends and family, be merry and most of all remember that its not about the size of the presents Santa brings you but about remembering the birth of a baby.