new years eve PITY party

okay dont read this if you dont wanna. i shouldnt even be typing it. i know im being a whiny baby and that is why i am typing without punctuation--to try to make it look as insignificant as it really is--but this sux. i am sitting here at home on new years eve checking my email in my jammies bored out of my mind. matt is reading the news paper in his recliner. brooklyn is playing a spongebob video game and grant is hopping around on one of those big balls with the handle that you sit on. we went to church watched a BOGUS movie. it was more of a documentary--by ben stein about evolution and darwinism. 99% of everything that was said in the thing was over my head and what parts i could understand--totally didnt interest me. besides that, i think that a discussion like that is just unnecessarily opening up a can of worms. if a person isn't wrestling with the concept of creation, then why present a 2 hour discussion on the subject--and especially one that isnt even presented from a strong christian standpoint? (though ben stein is jewish).
anyway--just totally NOT what i was expecting to be spending my new years eve doing (watching). then on the way out of church-got in a little spat with my other half and now we're keeping to ourselves. that's just sucky. i know the right thing to do would be to have a little heart-to-heart with myself and get over it and my little pity party and turn the rest of the evening around...but im not sure i care enough to bother. maybe ill just play a game with the kids and then go to bed.
we tried to get my parents to come over and "celebrate" with us...but they're fuddy-duds and think it's "too late" to do something if its anywhere near the 9 o'clock hour. (rolling my eyes).
you know what else i wanna complain about while im at it? on new years day-why do classes at the gym have to be cancelled? couldn't that very possibly be their BUSIEST day of the entire year? everyone is anxious to get in shape...and what better way to get started than to go on Jan 1st and take a group fitness class? i tell you, if i ever do pursue becoming an instructor--you can dang sure bet ill be having class on Jan 1st.
okay, enough is enough. i'm starting to tick myself off...so thats not good. i promised the kids a game -- better go make good on that while we're all still awake. hope you're having more fun than i am--no wait--thats dumb. of course you are. hope i end up having more fun than im having currently. there-thats better.
sorry for the negativity. what a lousy way to end 2008! I should probably just delete this whole post--but then i would have spent the last 20 minutes typing for nothing--so im posting. sorry if you read it though. okay-really-goodnight.
Here's to a much happier mood when I wake up in 2009~!

Who are they?

I want to know who the people are who have big parties on New Years Eve and wear fancy dresses and festive hats and drink champagne and kiss at midnight? Where do they live?
I want to be one of them!
I'm bummed--its New Years Eve and we have NOTHING to do tonight. No parties to go to--no gatherings with friends--not even a fun see-in-the-new-year night at church. We are going to church and they are showing a movie tonight (which is cool) but we'll be out of there by 8:30-9 pm and then what? Come home and go to bed like every other day? Blah!
I know some would say "well you should have planned a party then" and that's true--I could have taken the initive. Should have probably. But it's too late for that now. (Maybe I'll make a note of that in my brain for next year though!)
Anyway, I'm trying to think of something we can do around here to make it feel exciting--like a celebration. So far, I've come up with helping the kids make a "Happy New Year" banner and blowing up some balloons...but other than that...I've got squat.

I was watching the morning news yesterday morning while I was making Matt's breakfast and the lady on there was at a party america store showing all the different varities of New Years party supplies they have. Wow! There is a whole entire isle of party stuff just devoted to ringing in 2009! It all looked and sounded like so much fun--but I don't know ANYONE who does it. Never have known a single person who has done anything much for New Years Eve. Not to say that I haven't rung in the new year at some totally fun gatherings with friends--because I have. But we never had any of that cool party stuff to really commemorate the coming year. We've never dressed up and wore fun hats all kissed at midnight like you see on TV. I wanna do that.

So what are you doing tonight?

The Christmas Post

First of all, here is our ginger breadhouse. It was our first attempt. It was perfect and SO cute until I tried to move it off the white tray and onto a really pretty silver tray....BAD IDEA! The whole thing fell apart and I had to try to "glue" it back together with what little bit of icing I had left. It was looking more like a gingerbread shack when it was all said and done...but oh well. We still had lots of fun and the best part? I got it on clearance for only $4.00!!

The weekend before Christmas, we went to our little hometown to celebrate Christmas with Matt's family. Dec 20 is also Matt's mom's birthday so we did birthday/Christmas together. Here are some pics from that:

This is all the grandkids standing below their stockings at Nana's house (Matt's mom).

Brooklyn about to hand Nana her birthday present.

Matt and his little brother Cale sharing a laugh.

Nana with all her grandkids in front of her birthday cake.

Brooklyn wearing the birthday crown since her birthday is coming up next!

Me and my hubby---still infatuated with each other! Gross, I know..but hey--it's better than the alternative!

Matt's grandma, Nane, with all of her GREAT grandchildren!

My handsome hubby posing for a picture for his camera-crazy wife! :o)

___________________________________________________________________
We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We had 20 in all at our house on Christmas Eve (4 of which were kids) and we played Family Bunco. It was lots of fun and I loved it that we ALL did something together! Afterwards we played Dirty Santa and did an ornament exchange. I'm sort of anal about having the whole evening planned out, but I didn't want people to start segregating into little groups. I wanted us to all be together for the whole evening--and we were and it was perfect! I didn't get any pics of it though because I had the video camera out instead. Got lots of video footage that will be fun looking at for years to come!

On Christmas morning we slowed down and let the kids open their gifts one at a time first before us adults started opening ours--one at a time. It took us about 2 hours to open all the gifts but for the first time ever, we were all able to see what each other got. I loved it! We will definitely make that a tradition from now on!

Here are a few pics from the all the fun!Here is one during/after most of the present opening was done! What a MESS! We are such a BLESSED family. Not just because of all the material things...but because of all the LOVE!

Me and my daddy! Do you see the resemblence?

Me and my daddy--how we usually look. He's big on affection--which is probably why I am the way I am. If you love someone---I say SHOW IT! I love this picture! Brooklyn got a "spa" for Christmas and she wanted everyone to take a turn getting their feet done! Here is Matt being a good sport!

And of course, I can't end this post without one last pic of my favorite Christmas present of all--Kinley! (Thank you SO MUCH honey for letting me get her!) She slept on my chest almost all night last night (on the couch) and I think we bonded. ahhhh....bliss!

We also gave her a bath today and she looked SO cute!

And right now, as I type this...she is right here next to my keyboard just snoozing away! tee-hee-hee (ohhh...ignore the MESSY desk!)

Shout Out

I have to give a little 'shout out' to my daughter~Brooklyn~for updating her blog today. I typed while she talked. It's pretty amusing although I'm not crazy about the way she describes me! ha ha (note to self: work on the stress level!) Anyway, you can check her blog out at www.brooklynismyname.blogspot.com
Don't forget to leave her a comment! You know how special that makes us all feel when someone takes the time to read and comment on our blogs!
Thanks peeps!

Our Family is Complete!

Matt, Jenni, Brooklyn , Grant and now introducing our newest member: Kinley!

We had such a great Christmas and I have so much to tell....but again...I don't have time right now. However, this just could NOT wait. I had to share our newest addition with you all! As you can imagine, I am in total LOVE! She's 3 months old and 2 1/2 pounds. After MUCH debate, we decided to name her Kinley!

(Ps. Please no harsh comments. I've already had 2 of my closest friends ridicule me for getting yet "another dog" and it stings. Yes, I've had some unfortunate times with my dogs this past year...but I didn't ask for that. I still want a puppy very badly, and now I have one. Just be happy for me, okay? :o)

I promise to be back in the next day or so with lots more stuff to tell!

This is not really a post

I am writing to tell you I won't be writing. I have a hundred things to say on here that I'll probably never remember when I actually have the time to type them out...but for now, I just can't blog. I have 19 people coming to my house tomorrow night and I have LOTS of planning and cooking and cleaning to do before that happens. It is 11:23 pm right now and I can hardly see straight. I've been going since 5:30 am this morning (after only getting about 5 hours of sleep) and I feel like a zombie. I know I've been neglecting my blog...but it'll have to wait a few more days. I have lots of pictures though to share and stories. I hope you all have a very wonderful Christmas, full of last-a-lifetime memories! Take a minute and slow down--enjoy every second of it--as if it were your last Christmas. This will be our first Christmas without my grandma and I realize now, more than ever, that life is so precious and fleeting. It can be taken from you at any second--so it really is important to make the most of the time you have! I don't want to ever look back and say "if only I'd___________".

Anyway, don't know exactly where that came from---okay, yes I do. That is what is in my heart this Christmas. I want to BE IN THE MOMENT this year. I don't want to be the busy hostess who is only getting things for everyone else and behind the camera the whole time--cleaning up messes and washing dishes and when I finally take a breath, realize that I missed the whole thing. No. This year I want to be in the middle of the action. I want to see the looks through my own eyes and not the camera lens on the faces of my children when they open their gifts. I want to actually read the Christmas story from the Bible like we did when I was a kid and even though we've heard it so many times---take some time to remember what this is all about. I want it to be clear that it's all about Jesus--HIS birth and HIS life that we are celebrating.
Okay...enough of my preaching...I really need to get to bed. Anyway, as I said, hope you have an amazing Christmas Day cherishing your loved ones!

Merry Christmas!

A babysitter!! Hooray!

Okay, I have not had a babysitter in YEARS! It's probably been a good 2-3 years since anyone has watched my kids except my mom. But today, I hit the jackpot-so to speak. A friend of mine is a teacher at our high school and I mentioned to her that I would like to find a babysitter. She just called me with a girl who is a junior at the school. She said she is a Christian and is WONDERFUL and is her top choice for a babysitter ever! She said she is so sweet and is on the leadership team and loves to play with the kids. I feel like I am in HEAVEN! I am so super-dooper excited. Now my parents get to go out WITH us tonight! (We are going to go see the movie Four Christmases--thanks to all your recommendations!) Only one problem...
How much do I pay her????
The last time we had a babysitter was when Grant was still taking bottles and sleeping in a crib. At that time, the girl who sat for us was only 15 and didn't drive. Since I had to go pick her up and take her home, I paid her $4/ hour--with a minimum of $15 with every visit.
Now tonight, this girl will be coming for 3 hours. I don't want to "cheat" her but I also don't want to spend a fortune. What do you guys pay? What is a reasonable rate?

I did this last night!

At the mall last night, they had this thing set up. It's called "The Trampoline Bungee" and I knew the kids would love doing it. It was $7 per person so we splurged and let them do it. They had a blast but when they were done, the guy running it said, "Ok, now it's mommy's turn. Mommies get to go for free." Well, if you know me...you know he said THE magic word--FREE! I do anything that is free! ha ha So, off went my boots and on went the harness. There I was in the middle of the mall in front of tons of people bouncing 30 feet in the air, doing flips, making a fool of myself probably...but I didn't care. It was fun and it was FREE! hee hee

Also very interesting last night: As we were letting our kids run around in the play area--a fight broke out! The story goes:

Mr. X's kids were hitting Mr.O's grandkids. Mr. X wasn't paying attention. Mr. O sat there and watched his 2 small grandchildren (about 2 and 3) get hit by Mr. X's kids several times. Eventually Mr. O got up and went over to Mr.X's little girl (about 5) and pointed his finger at her face and said something like "Little girl don't hit these kids anymore!"

At that point, Mr. X looks up and sees little old Mr. O with his finger in his daughters face and apparenty Mr. X forgets he is an adult in a childrens playground. He abruptly goes over to Mr. O, sticks HIS finger in Mr.O's face and proceeds to tell him "Don't you EVER put your F-ing finger in my kids face again!" over-and over-and over, louder and louder and louder. Poor Mr. O--just a little old grandpa there by himself with his two toddler grandkids stands his ground to big, mean Mr. X and tries to calmly explain the situation. Well, this goes on for at least 5 minutes--meanwhile everyone has stopped playing or talking. There are at least 50 spectators standing around. Mr. X and Mr. O are now almost nose to nose and Mr. X's voice is getting louder and louder. Every child in there has a look of fear on their face. (oh and in the process of Mr. X acting like an idiot--HE knocks over his little girl who hits her face on the side of the hard plastic slide and starts to cry--which he COMPLETELY ignores). Anyway, about this time, I threw Matt my purse and took off running to the nearest store yelling "Call Security!!" By the time I turned around and got back to the playarea--the security guys were there. Of course, people were everywhere going "What's going on?" and we ended up talking about it for another 20 minutes or so with all the other parents and spectators. CRAZY!

Then on the way out, we stopped for some fruit fondue. While we were sitting at the tables right next to the mall exit doors a middle aged man (probably in his 50-60's) comes walking quickly by carrying a 4-5 year old boy with no pants on-just underwear- who is SCREAMING "I want my mommy!!!"

The boy is wrestling to try to get out of the man's arms but the guy just gets a stronger grip on him and carries him on out of the mall. I knew what was going through my mind...but when I looked over at Matt--I could see he was thinking the same thing. He mouthed the word "Kidnapped" to me and I nodded. Who knows for sure. But it is pretty freaky and there IS a bathroom just around the corner from the doors. AUGH! I hated to just sit there and not do anything...but I guess it very well could have been the kids grandpa or something.

Anyway, I'm not sure we found "the Christmas Spirit" at the mall last night---but we certainly got our share of entertainment!! :o)

Need me some "Christmassy"

I just don't feel Christmassy yet. I want to sooo bad, but nothing I do brings it on. Matt and I have said almost every evening for the past week, "What can we do to get more in the spirit of things?" and neither of us has any ideas.
We have been to plays, several Christmas parties, went to The Christmas Train, listen to Christmas music 24/7, watch a Christmas movie almost every evening (thanks to ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas), bought and wrapped all our presests, I've been baking like crazy, we read the kids Christmas books every night before bed, the whole house is decorated up-inside and out....etc.
I just can't think of anything else we could do to get more in the Christmas spirit.
T. mentioned on her blog that the mall felt "like Christmas" so we're actually thinking about going tonight just to let the kids play in the play area and mabye get some dippin' dots or something. (no shopping).
Has anyone seen the movie Four Christmases? I just wondered if it's any good.
Okay, well, I better get off here. If anybody has any ideas for feeling Christmassy....pass 'em on!

*remember*

If you have an extra 3-5 minutes, go read this post a fellow-blogger friend of mine did:
http://mile283.blogspot.com/2008/12/to-military-wives.html

sssNOOOOOOOOOOw days

Well, here we are again..no school. This is the 3rd day so far. My attempts at a "better day" were unfortunately very unsucessful yesterday. Today, I'm getting us out of the house. I don't care if I have to drive 5 mph the whole way and start brakeing 1/2 a mile before my stop---fine. I just can't stay here cooped up in this house with these kids for one more minute. Actually, I am enjoying being at home and could spend another week at home--BY MYSELF---but the kids are restless and bored and going from their normal-fighting and irritating to a level that is beyond tolerable.
Matt and I sat in bed last night and had a good, long talk about "stuff" and we know it's time to make some changes around here. We've known for quite some time...but neither of us has been very committed to it, so our feeble attempts just flop. The attitudes coming from our little redhead are just unacceptable and the bigger she gets---the bigger her attitude problem gets. I honestly don't think ANYONE (except me and Matt) have totally seen this side of her. I guess I should be grateful for that--just imagine if she acted this way towards others!!! But sometimes I feel like people don't realize how serious (bad) it is because they haven't seen "it."
Anyway what we realized last night is that this is going to take some SERIOUS committment, dedication and self-less-ness from us to accomplish. We need to look at it just as seriously as we viewed beginning P90X. It is going to have to be our FOCUS. When a discipline situation arises--everything is going to have to be put on hold during this time. Meaning, I will abandon my half-cooked dinner, stop the car, quit mid-way through my grocery shopping, hang up the phone even if the other person is in the middle of a story, get off the computer, etc....
We both realize that we are bad about just hollering threats from our seat on the couch or me from the computer, etc. When we are distracted by something we want to be doing, they get away with just about anything and everything. It's time for no more distractions. Nothing--absolutely nothing--is as important as this. This is their future. It will be determined by the choices we make right now, and what we commit to teaching them.
Eating habits, spiritual lives, tv habits, attitude problems, disrespect, hobbies/interests---these are all areas that need attention.
One thing that drives me crazy is that we built the whole upstairs suite so that they could have their own space--to play, be loud, be messy-whatever. And no one EVER goes up there. Ever. We haven't been up there since the day we cleaned it about 2 weeks ago! So, beginning today I am going to put a bed upstairs for them to start sleeping on. I honestly think if they are sleeping up there, they will become more comfortable with being up there--and will begin to actually play with their toys. No wonder they're bored all the time...nearly every toy they own is upstairs--where they don't/won't go!
I am also going to question Brooklyn about what kind of activity she is interested in and then I am going to enroll her in something. "nothing" is not an option. Because we live in the country and don't have neighbors really, she doesn't have any friends. She has "friends" at school, but no one she has gotten close enough with to have over for a playdate or anything (per her). She doesn't have ANY friends at church that she feels close with, which is SO sad to me. The only place she interacts with other children really is at school, then she comes home and has to amuse herself for the rest of the time. I think if she could be a part of something--a team or a group or a club--she would develop some closer relationships and also have something to focus on, and spend some of her time doing.
Spiritually, I have been a lazy example to her. I'd hate to hear what she thinks "being a Christian" means based off my example. Probably "volunteer all the time, listen to preaching and go to church" because basically that is all she sees me do for my spirit man. We do pray together every morning before school and I treasure that (and I know she does too). But she needs to KNOW (and see) that Christ is at the center of EVERYTHING in our home. HE is the reason we volunteer, listen to Christian music, monitor the tv and movies that come into our house, pray when someone is sick or gets in trouble, etc....
So..I'm sure this is all a lot for you to read..and take in. Probably pretty boring if you're not living in my house...but I like to get this all out on here sometimes, for myself...so I can look back and remember what I was thinking and planning-and see how far I've come.

I do have to share one little thing that happened yesterday that was enlightening and encouraging. The kids heard on tv that it was "opposite day" and somehow that provoked them to have us all change our roles. I was going to pretend to be Brooklyn. Grant would pretend to be Daddy. Brooklyn would pretend to be mommy.
When it got to her turn to display "mommy" for us...she said,
"oh honey, come here sweetie baby, let me give you a big wet sloppy kiss--oh, mmm-mmm I just love you SO much! Now come on everybody, let's exercise! Let's do P90x. Let's do some push ups. Oh look, we're eating green beans tonight. Yumm!! Let's have some carrots too!"
and then she proceeded to CRACK HERSELF (and all of us) UP!!
All I could think was 'hmmm...well at least I am 1)Loving 2)Fit 3)Eat healthy.' :o)

Oh no! Not another one!!

Yesterday was a "snow day" here--meaning no school. No snow either for that matter---but we did get some sleet on Sunday night that turned into a solid sheet of ice on every surface outdoors. And our temperatures are in the single digits...
Speaking of temperatures, we set a record on Sunday here. We went from 75 degrees at 2 pm (and wearing shorts and t-shirts outside) to 15 degrees by 10 pm that evening (and ice everywhere)! That is a 60 degree change in the temperature, which was a record in our state.
Anyway, it was a long day yesterday--me and the kids--stuck in this house with nothing interesting to do. Of course, I did my usual stuff (cleaning, working, bills) but they were crazy-bored. Now...today...we are out again! AUGH! What am I going to do with them ALL DAY LONG? I know some of this morning will be taken up by the routine chores...but I really hope I can come up with an agenda for us for the afternoon hours because I don't think I can endure another whole day of arguing and bickering and boredom (for them). Guess it's time to break out the craft supplies and get our creativity on. Wish me luck!

Oh and to update you all on the whole dog thing--Emmie/Macie. Well, the people who adopted her won't answer their phone or return the calls from the pound--so the lady at the pound thinks that they are probably worried that they'll have to give her back so that's why they are avoiding them. Whatever. I suppose since she's safe and happy and ALIVE that I will be fine with that. Truthfully I was afraid that if we did somehow get her back---how could we be sure that she wouldn't slip out of our fence and get lost again!!??!! It's probably for the best--the way it turned out--but I still feel like I have a little empty spot in my heart. One about the size of a yorkie. :o)

gettin' jiggy wit it...

na na-na na na nah-na, na na na nah-na na.
okay, I have no idea what that title means...but it was the first thing that came to my mind when I was trying to think of a title for this post. :o)
Anyway, my sweet friend Amanda over at http://aproudmommyof4.blogspot.com/ is gettin' me all fixed up with some totally happenin' looks for my blog. She's been working her little heart out making me headers and backgrounds and such and soon--very soon, you will get to see the fruit of all her labor. I tried to apply the header she made me...but I didn't do something right...which is why it's teensy tiny. But rest assured, the girl is fast and good and she'll have me up and going in no time.
Meanwhile, hang with me. You may see some weird things until it's all just right!
Ps. THANKS Amanda!!

You know you live in a redneck town when...

..you overhear the guy at the table next to you at the local pizzeria say to his son, "Come o're here boy and lemme clean that dirt out from unner yer nails with these hur clippers wall we wait fur our pizza."
Guh-ross!!
And then he really did it! He proceeded to use a pair of monstrous clippers to dig the gunk out his kids nails over the table they were about to eat their dinner off of.
I just had to shake my head and think "you know you're a redneck when..."
I guess I should count my blessings, at least he didn't try to do his toenails right then too!

Excuse me????!!!

Okay, I just got home from the kids school. Tomorrow is our big fundraiser of the YEAR and I went to help get stuff set up. When I approached the PTO president to ask what she'd like me to do, I couldn't help but notice her shirt covered in skulls and crossbones which blared the message: La Dee Freakin' Da
Okay...am I over-reacting...or is that totally NOT the kind of example we want to be setting for our 4-10 year olds?

OMG!

Okay, I am really bummed that I don't have more time because I SOOOO Badly want to tell you guys the whole story...but I just can't spend that long on the computer this morning. Anyway, I also couldn't WAIT to tell you this ...so here is the "Short" version

3 exciting things happened to me yesterday:

1. I burned 1034 calories in 2 hr and 14 min. at the gym yesterday and when I stepped on the scale I was at 133! That is 2 pounds down since Thanksgiving and a total of 15 down from February!)

2. While I was getting my hair colored today, a friend of mine texted me and asked if we wanted her tickets to The Christmas Train as well as 4 free meal tickets for last night! Well, I know most of you don't know what The Christmas Train is--and sorry--I don't have time to tell you right now...but it's somewhere we've been wanting to go for YEARS but either can't afford the tickets--or else it's always sold out! So, I went and picked up all the free tickets and we went last night and it was SO FUN! LOVED it! Hooray for free--unexpected fun! Thanks SO MUCH Joyce!!

3. AND--while I was racing around town running my errands, I had to stop by the Library to drop off some books and THERE taped on the library door was a picture of my dog Emmie!!! (Macie) She'd been picked up by the pound! I could not believe it. I'd been calling the pound weekly since she disappeared and had finally given up about 3 weeks ago because I figured it'd been a month and if she hadn't been found--she was probably gone. Anyway, so I IMMEDIATELY called the number on the paper and the lady tells me, "oh yes, that dog was given away last week." I'm like "WHAT????" "I've been calling you and calling you (even talking to THIS particular lady) and you told me you'd keep her on the list as missing until I called to take her off---and then you find her and then immediately give her away to someone?????????" I was so flustered at that moment. So I asked her if there was anyway we could get her back and she said she didn't think so but she'd check into it and let me know tomorrow (which is now today, Friday). Brooklyn immediately started bawling when she saw the sign with her Emmie's picture on it. I know this whole ordeal with losing Sadie and then Emmie was really hard on her emotionally.
Anyway, I don't know what is going to happen--but I have totally settled it within myself that if we don't get her back, it's okay. If she is with a family who loves her and is taking good care of her and that she is comfortable with--then I'm THRILLED. I'm just SO HAPPY to know she is alive!
Anyway, I know that was short and sweet...but I have GOT to get off here and get on with my day.
Hope to tell ya'll more about what happens with the dog and all about our Christmas Train experience when I have more time!
Happy Friday!!
O. M. G!!!

Why you don't argue with a 4-yr-old about the DVR

Grant: "Mom, I don't like this Hannah-Tanna commercial. I am going to fast-forward it. "

Me: "Grant, honey, you can't fast forward it, you don't have any time saved up." (meanwhile Grant pushes the pause button).

Grant: "Yes I can."

Me: "Grant, that is the PAUSE button you are pushing not the fast-forward. " (meanwhile Grant pushes the fast-foward button)

Grant: "See! Look, it's fast-forwarding! I TOLD YOU!!! Ha ha, you were wrong mom!"

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Can I gettah Whoot-Whoot

This is what all I got done yesterday between the hours of 8 and 4:
my work - scooped about 50 piles of dog poop - bathed, brushed out and dried the dog - vacuumed the house - mopped all hard floors - cleaned the bathrooms - put all Christmas boxes back up in attic - detailed the inside of my van - washed the outside of the van - did 20 minutes on the elliptical machine while holding 5 pound weights in each hand and doing arm work - 1 load of laundry - 1 load of dishes - printed my Christmas letter, enclosed picture and sealed up my Christmas cards - showered - cooked a quick dinner. I think that's it. Not too shabby. (and that's not even counting the normal stuff I have to do before 8 am and after 4 pm). Whoot-Whoot!

RAD!!

(I feel so Junior High saying that word!! Rad!!! ha ha)
Anyway, while I was sitting here browsing through my e-mails, I came across one from Matt's insurance company. As I looked over it, I realized that we were both eligible to redeem a $100 mastercard gift card from his company's wellness program for completing our yearly physical! Woohoo! How exciting! All I had to do was click "Redeem My Reward" and voila--$200 is on it's way to us! I just have to give glory to GOD for this...because we were just TODAY discussing how we didn't know where we were going to get the money to be able to buy Christmas gifts for each other...and now we know!
God is SO GOOD!!

Something Special

So, Kuckie started this on her blog and I've decided to follow. Join us if you wish!

We are spotlighting some of our special holiday decorations for you all to see!

This one here is an ornament my mom had made for us a few years back. It's one of my favorites because it has all of our names on it and I'm big into the whole "personalization" thing.

R U Kidding Me?

I LOVE these shoes! (but who would pay $232 for them?? not me!)

Wise Owl

Here lately, I've become obsessed with Owl's. I don't know why or when it started, but I just think the new stuff they've come out with featuring owl's is just adorable. Anyway, when I came across this beanbag cover at Pottery Barn Kids the other day, I couldn't pass it up. And it was on sale for only $29.00!! And to top it off, I also had a $25 off of a $50 purchase coupon for there...so I just put a little baby gift with the Owl beanbag and only had to pay $25 for all of it! Woopee!!
Sam can't quite figure out what to make of it! He just keep staring at it! ha ha

Warning: This is a post of me whining like a 2 year old!

I woke up this morning thinking "What the heck have I been doing?" All of a sudden I am overwhelmed with things to do. I still haven't gotten the house put back together from our big family gathering. I haven't even touched the upstairs which is a complete disaster! Toys and games and pillows and blankets and empty food containers and empty Capri-Suns EVERYWHERE! AUGH! It's time to pay the bills again (such a big job these days), the laundry is building up at monsterous rates now that everyone is wearing layers and thick hoodies. I need to finish making my Christmas cards, get our holiday picture printed, envelopes addressed, letter printed and all that stuff wrapped up. My car is FILTHY. It's downright embarrasing. The kids have written me messages in the dirt on every flat surface!
On top of that, we did get the house decorated for Christmas...but all the empty boxes and plastic tubs are stacked up in the garage making it nearly impossible for me to get in and out of the car.
I have bought what seems like a million Christmas presents and they are all jammed into the floor of my closet and I have no idea what I've bought or who for or what else I still need to get. I know I still need to buy for the kids and Matt...but I'm fairly certain there are a few more people getting left out. Once I get all that figured out...I need to wrap all those (million) presents. (remember how many people I have in my family? I have 40 names on my Christmas shopping list to buy for!--and that's not even counting teachers and co-workers!)
I am signed up to bring some kind food item to 6 different gatherings in the next 3 weeks. And I feel pressured to bring something unique and cute because I always do--and I can't let everyones expectations down, now can I? ;o)
I need to plan a Christmas party for Brooklyn's class at school, type up a letter to the parents and get that sent out asap...and I haven't even started thinking about ideas for that yet.
I put our Christmas Advent calander out and the kids are STILL waiting for me to put their treats in it so they can get them out each day. Here it is Dec. 3rd and I haven't even bought the stuff to go in it yet! Wonder if I could just pack that thing back up and they'll forget about it? No, probably not. They ask me about it every night.
I have abandoned working out for the rest of the year with the exception of my classes at the gym. I just don't have the time.
I need to go to the grocery store every stinking day for something. It's really very frustrating. Forget on-demand movies...I need on-demand groceries!
On top of all that, there's the daily stuff like cooking and cleaning (ha ha...my house is feeling neglected, I'm sure) and taking a shower and getting "ready". I haven't had make up on or fixed my hair since Sunday at Church! Hmmm...maybe that's why Matt's been keeping his distance at bedtime! hee hee

okay, well, I'm sure I could go on and on and on...but I'm sure that's enough for you all to see that I am wigging out. I feel like I'm on a treadmill and Jillian is standing there beside me upping the speed faster and faster and any minute now I'm gonna fall flat on my face.
Anyway, guess that's just what goes with the month of December. How're ya'll dealing with everything? Anyone else feel like I do?