Insanity

Have you ever planned so many things in such a short amount of time that you wonder if you're going to have time to breathe?

I have done that all week long.

Between Yoga and appointments at the school and Christmas parties and and Birthday parties and planning the Princess Ball and Christmas shopping it has been a CRAZY week.

And our Elf, Buddy, has had a busy week as well. He had a snowball (cotton ball) fight with all of the stuffed animals under the tree in the living room, ate a bowl of M&M's and marshmallows, and right now he's playing the Wii with Christmas pup. It's been a busy week for our little elf.

And for me. Which reminds me.......

I really, really, really want a nap.

Christmas

I've always loved Christmas. It's probably something that I learned from my Mom, and I'm proudly passing on to my own children. I love to sit and look at the lights on the tree while listening to Christmas music, bake cookies and make wassail, and read wonderful stories about the season to my kids. I can't think of anything better than watching White Christmas, The Santa Clause, Elf or Miracle on 34th Street (the original) with my husband while I'm wrapping presents. And every year I love trying to find that one present that no one else would have thought about.

But I don't love it because of the gifts or the tree or the songs. I love it because it is the one time of year that everyone seems to come together and really love each other the way that Christ wants us too. We concentrate more on putting others first, and in so doing spread real holiday cheer. What an amazing gift for the Christchild. Imitating Him. Honoring Him. Loving others, and in so doing loving Him.

Sure, Christmas as been turned into a marketing ploy, and there are plenty of people who have forgotten the 'true' meaning of Christmas. But, did they ever really know what it was to begin with? Because it seems that once you do you simply can't forget. Once you know it becomes such a joy to sing of Heavenly Hosts and Silent Nights. To hold your loved ones close while listening to the Christmas story. To watch as your children realize - really realize - what the true meaning of Christmas is.

Yes, this is my favorite time of year. Because it is the one time of year that heaven feels just a little bit closer to us here on earth. Where you can see God's love shining on the faces of His children as we strive to honor and bless Him in all that we do. It's a wonderful time to put our own wants and desires on the back burner so to speak, and truly focus on the ones we love. And if we get enough practice we just may drag those philosophies on into our daily life. So, in case someone hasn't said it to you yet:

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Silly little Elf

Tonight as I was retiring to my bedroom I peeked out of my bedroom door and saw our little elf, Buddy, toilet papering our living room. It really looked like he had a lot of fun. Who wouldn't enjoy throwing toilet paper over ceiling fans, elk heads and cedar railings? Carl didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did. I wonder what the kids will think about it?

Meanwhile, our old friend Tim Hawkins has a new video. So, in honor of all you Texans who may be missing Texas, I hope you enjoy this!

When I Grow Up

Today Noah and I sat together on the couch and looked at pictures of the universe. He loved the planets, supernova's, and was especially impressed with the black holes.

"Momma, when I grow up I'm going to go into outer space."

"Oh, really?"

"Ya, and my wife is going to go with me. I don't want her to be left at home by herself. The kids can come, too. Unless it's super dangerous. Then they can stay home with you. You're good at baby sitting 'cause you're my mom and you're used to babysitting me and you'll babysit my kids because they are mine, right?"

"Right." I said.

"I'm gonna find out what's in black holes. And I'm gonna find the Star Wars planets in a Galaxy far, far away. But I'll wait until I'm all grown up, Momma."

Trauma

I really don't know what to say. I actually may need counseling.

You see, tonight - thinking I was a big girl - my mom in law and I went to WalMart to participate in some of their Black Friday specials that started at 10:00 pm and then 12:01. We were going to get an X-Box with Kinect for $150 (they only sold 16 of these), a really expensive mountain bike for $99 and a Kindle for $79 (turns out that's how much they really are, they weren't on sale).

I came home with nothing.

There really is no way to adequately describe the horrible, horrible things that I saw and experienced tonight for the total of 25 minutes that I was trapped inside of that store. People were just so mean. I didn't expect that. Long lines, yes, waiting for a long time for things, yes, but mean? No, I was completely unprepared for people to ram my mother in law - on purpose - with their shopping carts. People pushed, cussed, yelled, tore things out of each others hands and threatened to pee on objects so that other people wouldn't take them. Aisles were roped off with yellow tape, people were yelling at employees to go ahead and open boxes even though it wasn't time and then threw fits like 2 year olds when they wouldn't do it. The police had to come to handle people who didn't get a Kinect!

I wish that I could wash my brain. Seriously, there were people I know in that store. Being mean, to other people. Because of stuff! It really was horrible.

I just keep repeating "That's not what Christmas is all about" over and over and over again hoping that at some time I'll be able to cope with everything I saw.

I need a bath. And a nap. And I'm never, ever, ever, ever going shopping on Black Friday again. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that's what hell his like.


Side Note - we had a great Thanksgiving. Just wish the last part hadn't happened.

I really do.

Manamana

Today I my children partook in a most necessary rite of child-hood.

Watching the Muppets. (insert confetti and much cheering)

Carl doesn't like the Muppets - he must have had a sad, sad child-hood.

However, my children and I LOVED it! It was kinda kitchy - but I loved all the 80's references, I thought they were hilarious. And, I have to confess, I cried a couple of times. But it's all because I loved the muppets growing up. Especially the Muppet Show with it's celebrity guest stars and crazy skits.

So. while I seriously missed Frank Oz (Miss Piggy may never sound the same again), I have to say that I'm very thankful that another Muppet movie has been made. Animal and Fozzie are still my forever favorites! And watching it was a great way to spend the day before Thanksgiving with my kiddos.

Manamana
Ba-da-dadada
Manamana
Ba-da-dada
Manamana

And if you don't know what that means:



By the way, who's your favorite Muppet?

Today I am thankful for child-hood memories, and the ability to share them with my children!

Great News!

Great News!

We have a new addition to our dead animal zoo!

Today my husband shot the biggest white tail he's ever seen in his life. I can hardly keep him calm because he is so excited! It's a 24 inch wide 8 point, and it's antlers are so big it looks a little bit like a mule deer to me. He said it's the culmination of a lifelong dream. Okay, he didn't use that word exactly, but after a good 10 minutes of incoherent babbling and cheering , that's basically the gist of it.

And the best part is that he's going to get it mounted and hang it on my wall in the living room! Be still my beating heart.

I know, I know, I'm leaving in every girls dream world. 2 elk, 1 axis, a mule deer and now - a white tail. All on the walls in my very own home.

If only we could get a moose, my life would be complete.

Photo Shoot

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the photo shoot that Jodi did of my kiddos. She is so amazingly talented. I LOVE these pictures!













Today I am thankful for my children and amazing, talented friends.

Parades

Today I am thankful for Holiday parades and Christmas tree lightings. I so love this time of year. The only thing that would make it better would be to have family close by!

The best Dressing/Stuffing in the World!!!!!!

Tonight I helped my mother in law make all of the dressing for Thanksgiving and Christmas (we freeze it until it's time). I know that I need to put this on our recipe blog, but I had to share it here because this is the BEST dressing I've ever eaten - hands down. And I can honestly say that - other than the rolls and Funeral potatoes - this is my favorite food at Thanksgiving.

Here's the recipe. It feeds 24 people. We use to cut it in half, but now that our family is so huge we need to make the full recipe!

3 cups of cornbread, crumbled.
1 cup butter
4 cups diced onions
4 cups diced celery
4 cups sliced mushrooms
1 tsp sage
1/2 tsp thyme
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup Better than Bouillon Chicken Stock
10 eggs
4 cups of milk
14 cups of Hawaiian Wheat Rolls, cut into quarters

Melt butter in skillet, adding onions, celery and mushrooms. Simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add sage, thyme, salt, pepper and Chicken Stock. Mix well and cook until onions are translucent and mushrooms are browned.

Beat eggs and milk.

Place rolls and crumbled up cornbread into GIANT bowl or roasting pan. Pour egg and milk mixture over the top and mix thoroughly. Pour onions, celery and mushrooms over the top and stir until all of the bread and cornbread are soaked well.

Pour into casserole dish(es). I use the large disposable aluminum ones because they seem to work best. Place in refrigerator to bake tomorrow, the freezer to bake at a later date or the oven to bake now! (You should really do this one)

Bake uncovered at 350* for 20-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Bake until browned and cooked through, but still moist.

Enjoy!

Carlye and I both came home smelling like an onion factory, but I guarantee that it will be worth it when we devour this most delicious dressing! I wish that I could eat it now.......Seriously, you guys have totally got to try this. It's wonderful!

Today, I am thankful for dressing!!!!

Yoga

So, today I started Yoga for the first time.

But first, the back story.

In June I was involved in a car accident and I injured my back. I was told that I couldn't run any more, and have been unable to exercise in any way shape or form. 20 lbs and 5 months later I was pretty frustrated. My doctor has really been pushing me to do yoga, and then I read an article on Fox News that said the 76% of back injuries can be rehabilitated through yoga. So crazy.

Fast forward to this week. I was wrapping Christmas presents (yay for Christmas!) and my back spasmed on me. In an attempt to make it stop I tried to lie down on my back, but couldn't straighten even when I was lying down on my back! It was excruciatingly painful, and so completely ridiculous that I began to laugh. And I laughter until I cried. Quite obviously, something needs to be done.

Yesterday I signed up for a membership at the Kroc Center. Today I showed up for the yoga class. First thing that I noticed? I was the only one in there under the age of 60. And let me say, that is a total plus for me! I can't stand working out with teeny tiny people who look like they have never eaten a doughnut in their life. I felt a little bit uncomfortable, as I always do when trying something new, but I forged ahead. The yoga instructor placed me between a super sweet lady and a totally crazy guy.

Seriously, I'm pretty sure that he thought he was Rafiki. At least, when he wasn't busy grunting and trying not to fall on me.

Then during downward facing dog I realized that my mat smelled like feet. Mental note - bring own yoga mat from now on.

Other than that, I loved it. Seriously, it was fun, relaxing and really worked my back. On top of that my instructor hurt his back in a car accident when he was 15 years old, and yoga has allowed him to regain his life. So I know that he will be a huge help with this!

Overall I think I'm gonna love yoga!

Gifted and Talented

I am in a quandary. Last year Nathanael was tested for the Gifted and Talented Program, and he was one of only 4% in the entire district who qualified. Carlye was tested three years ago and she fell short by 4 points. Noah was just nominated by one of his teachers and now he is being tested for the GT program.

Here are is my problem.

We have never told Nathanael his test results, or what it means that he gets to go to lunch bunch once a week. Today in lunch bunch they talked about it, and told them that they are in there because they think differently than other kids. True enough. When Nathanael was sharing this with us in the car Carlye got all mad and said that the real reason he is in there is because he is so much smarter than everyone else. Nathanael responded with a nuh-uh, it's 'cause I think differently, and I had to break up the fight.

After careful observation and discussion I have come to the realization that my daughter's self worth has somehow gotten wrapped up in the fact that she did not qualify for GT, and I don't know why. As I've said, we haven't discussed it at home, and since she has straight A's we've always been very proud of her for her grades and how hard she works. It's really a difficult situation. She even asked if we would nominate her so that she could be tested again, but I think that we are too late for the dead line, Noah's paper work had to be turned in on Monday. I also don't see the point since she's being home schooled next year anyway. Of course, if she qualified she would feel better about herself, but if she didn't it would just make it worse. And, as I said, I really don't want her self-worth tied up in this!

Today I am thankful for thunderstorms.

Siblings

We recently had some pictures taken of our kiddos, and obviously I have my favorites, so I thought that I would share the with you! It's always fun to take pictures. Carlye and Noah are total hams for the camera, and Nathanael scowls and pouts and stomps his feet and refuses to work with anyone. Always such a joy....

Boys

It was nice growing up with someone like you, someone to lean on,
someone to count on... someone to tell on!
-unknown

Today I am thankful for my amazing little boys. What a blessing brothers are!

Freckles

A face without freckles is like a sky without stars. ~ Irish Proverb

Today I am thankful for freckles - and the people attached to them!

Boston

My sister in law was scheduled for an induction today (because she's been dilated to a 4 for a week!), but went into labor own her own at 1:30 this morning instead! My nephew was born on 11-11-11!

Boston Del Michael Way
8 lbs 10 oz
21 inches long

Today I am thankful for family!

Thankful

Today I am thankful for my children, and for the month of November.

You may not hear from me for a day or two, my sister in law is being induced tomorrow after being dilated to a 4 for an entire week. Our newest family member will be born on 11-11-11! I will post pics of baby Boston once he is here. Oh, and Carl says its not a he, it's a she - so I can't wait to find out! Wouldn't that be a shock!

64%

I was reading a book by Max Lucado this past weekend, and he asked three questions that I thought were incredibly thought provoking.

1) Had you been a German Christian during World War II, would you have taken a stand against Hitler?

This was a pretty easy question for me, and I like to believe that they answer would have been yes. I would hope that I could be a strong enough person to stand up for what I believe in, no matter the consequences.

2) Had you lived in the South during the civil rights conflict, would you have taken a stand against racism?

Again, I'd like to think that yes, I would have. However, those days are done and gone, and I will really never know the answer to either question.

3) When your grandchildren discover you lived during a day in which 1.75 billion people were poor and 1 billion were hungry, how will they judge your response?

Wow. A few days before reading that do you know what I learned? I learned that 64% of the children in KISD have nothing to eat on the weekends. 64% of the children in our schools go from Friday afternoon to Monday morning without a bite to eat. At first, I was in denial - there are so many programs out there to help people! Food stamps, WIC, food pantry's, etc. But sadly, it is true. Many of the parents are either too lazy or too proud to fill out the paper work. Some trade their food for drugs or to pay rent. However it is happening, and whatever the reasons, the children are going hungry. I talked to my little boys teacher, and she told me that there is a little boy in her class who had to share a can of beans with his sister and make it last the entire weekend. They ate half of it on Saturday and the other half on Sunday. Some of the children get so stressed out about not having any food that they can't even focus or learn on Fridays. And do you know what, I know these little ones. They sit side by side with my kids, play with them on the playground and talk to me when I'm visiting up at the school. I see their smiles and their faces, and I'm not sleeping very well.

So as of right now, my answer to my grandchildren would be that I have done nothing.

But do you know what? I'm working on changing that. As of this moment I am working with other members of our PTO to create a program where children can bring home backpacks of ready to eat food for the weekends. It won't feed the whole family, and it won't fix the problem, but if we can ensure that just one more child doesn't go to sleep hungry at night than it will be worth it. And from there we can get a little bit bigger and a little bit better.

And then maybe - just maybe - I'll have a story to tell when my grand children ask me "What did you do?"

Sean Elliot

Tonight Carl and I were able to go and here Sean Elliot speak, and it was so incredible. Of course, with both of us being huge Spurs fans we knew we were going to enjoy it. He talked about his kidney transplant, life with the Spurs, and how David Robinson helped to form the Spurs organization and make them who they are today. It was a fun evening. He did not, however, discuss the NBA lockout. Said he is actually forbidden from discussing it. Bummer. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been getting his autograph, but at least we have a ball autographed by Bruce Bowen and a Playoff Poster signed by Steve Kerr - those are cool.

Tonight I am thankful for Heath candy bars, doctor's and curling irons.

Books

I had to move my bookshelf the other day so that I could make room for my Christmas tree (yes, I put up my Christmas tree this past weekend!) and I was taking the books off and reloading them I realized something.

My books are my friends. And I only want my true friends in the house. There were so many books that my children and I love, but then I ran across a few that I just didn't really like. It bothered me that they were on my bookshelf, and I couldn't figure out why. Then it hit me, they aren't my friends. I didn't enjoy reading them, I wasn't happier with my life when I was finished reading them or hadn't lived in an imaginary world that I didn't want to leave. So, I got rid of them.

Why would I want the taking up precious space on my shelf? Besides, I need room for all of my new friends......

Mom started her thankful list, and reminded me that I needed to start mine.

Today I am thankful for music, pianos, viola's and guitars.

#1 and #2

This was supposed to post yesterday, sorry about that!

The other day when I picked my kiddos up from school I proceeded to ask them about their day (as I do every day). As they were buckling themselves in Noah started to cry. "I got a sad note sent home todaaaaaaay."

"Why, buddy, what happened?"

"I was being disrespectful." he sobbed.

"Noah, I need you to explain to me what happened."

"We were sitting in the gym before school started and I was talking to this girl about seals and she said how they eat penguins and I said wouldn't it be so funny if seals ate pee and poo instead of penguins and she said yes and started to laugh and the teacher didn't think that it was funny and she gave me a sad note and now you have to sign it.". Of course, it took me a while to interpret through the tears, but I finally understood.

After a serious talk with daddy (who laughed for a good five minutes afterwards) Noah now understands what types of conversations are appropriate for school.

At least, I hope he does.....

Christmas

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. We kinda celebrate the two as one, and no - we do NOT omit Thanksgiving. Because I enjoy them both so much I often put my tree up in November, early November to be precise. I love having it up on Thanksgiving.

Plus, it is so much work to decorate the house!!! If I'm going to work that hard on something I want to enjoy it for longer than 30 days.

I'm just sayin' is all.

So, I am going to put my tree up this weekend. I can't wait!! A cold front blew in this evening, and it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. At least, Christmas in Texas......

Nobody Told Me

Seriously, I blame many of you for failing to prepare me adequately for this fresh new hades that has entered my life.....

Parenting a pre-teen.

I'm not kidding. I'm realizing several things. First of all, girls (whom I think show up much easier to handle than boys do) get much, much, MUCH harder to raise as they get older. And, thankfully, boys (whom I think show up much more difficult to handle than girls), get much, much, MUCH easier.

You see, the things that have made raising my boys much more difficult are waterfall's made out of gallons of milk flowing down the living room stairs, and making 'muffins' out of random ingredients while I'm in the shower, or taking things apart that shouldn't be taken apart without permission and/or supervision, or practicing your spelling words all over your arms and torso and legs.

The things that are making raising my daughter so difficult are things like her throwing a fit about the fact that she absolutely has to have this outfit even though it is more expensive and then refusing to wear it when we get home because it's totally un-cool, or her stomping off after I fix her hair because it looks 'stupid'. She also sat in our car refusing to go into the restaurant because she had come straight from Harvest Fest and wasn't going to wear her honey bee costume inside because she looked 'completely ridiculous.' Never mind that her brothers were also in costumes and so were several other kids in the restaurant. And here's a great one - this evening she told me that she shouldn't have to do the dishes or the laundry because that's my job. Yep - she said it.

Let's just say that things went downhill from there. As of 5:45 this evening my daughter has now earned the right to do the dishes every night after dinner. I mean, after all, being all grown up does have it's privileges. And she is - as she so forcefully informed me - all grown up.

Oh, and for those of you who were wondering, we are going to be home-schooling her next year. That should give her more time to do the dishes and laundry. :)

Nobody Told Me