Christmas Blessings

The wrapping is gone, the toys strewn about.  The tree is still standing, thou a little tousled in appearance.  The tins of cookies are down to the crumbs, the left overs are stacked precariously in the fridge.  Band Hero and Lego Rockband are suppling the theme music for the day, and I can't believe it's over already!

It was a wonderful Christmas.  Miss Sunshine was in her glory.  Santa brought her a shopping cart that she is head over heels for, and mom and dad got her a doll that she truly hasn't let out of her sight since opening it.  It was wonderful to watch the joy in her eyes at all the magic of the season.

The boys had there expectations met and more.  Even the tween seemed happy with his loot.  Mother nature blessed us with a fabulous snowstorm.  It felt like we were living in a snow globe for much of the holiday!  One set of grandparents came and got stranded which was great fun.  Unfortunately the other side got stranded at home and didn't make it.  That was the only damper on the holiday.

We now have a week of vacation for all of us.  I forsee game playing, fort building, a little room cleaning, some re-organizing, and mostly family time together.  Can't wait!

Enjoy the pics!

The night before the night before the night before Christmas

And all through the house ALL the creatures were stiring...I think I heard a mouse!  Oh the ramp up to Christmas is so fun and insane and crazy!  I was forced to procrastinate this year (waiting on the Christmas money ship to come in).  E and I did all our shopping in 1 day.  We are amazing !  I do have a few bits and pieces to finish this am...then we are preparing for a HUGE winter storm that promises to mess with travel plans, but also be a ton of fun.  Getting snowed in with a pile of presents, tons of good food, and your favorite people in the world doesn't sound too bad! We are hoping the grandparents will all be able to make it to our house...but is isn't looking too good.  That will be a bummer.

Miss Sunshine is all about the lights, jingle bells, and asking "WHat Santa Bring"  if you don't answer "presents" is quick fashion, you are in trouble.  She is a hoot.


Time to go sneak a Christmas cookie with the last drops of coffee and make one more trip to retail land. 

May you find peace and the reason for the season in the days to come.

National Lampoons Christmas vacation...our style

Oyi what a week.  It has been a doozie.  After our picture perfect tree trip, a fun Christmas program at church on Sunday...the fun really began.  Monday morning started with the tween complaining of a sore throat.  Yay, buck up little camper...you can make it, take a tylenol and soldier on.  Said tween returns from school, still feeling crummy.  Take said tween to the MD on Tuesday afternoon.  Is it strep again?  Could it be mono? (oh nooo)  Low and behold, it is strep again.  Huge dose of antibiotics and he is repaired.  Wed, middle man complains of sore throat...another one bites the dust...more antibiotics for him, more days of children home when they belong in school, more days of mom not getting anything done because said children needing mommy.  I need me in triplicate!

This week, Toddler enters full toddler-hood.  OH.MY. GOODNESS.  Girl toddlers are way different than boy toddlers...they have this whole diva thing going on.  Said toddler has decided her attention grabbing action of choice is to melt, lay herself down on the floor and refuse any request mom might make.  It is lovely.  We have tried out the floor at the Y, the aisles of Target, the parquet on in the sanctuary at church, the kitchen floor, and the snowy parking lot at work.  Oh lovely!  She also isn't sleeping, unless she is twirling her toddler-diva-self in mom and dad's bed.  It is making for a sleep deprived, rescoures tapped out mama.

The other silly of the week...11:30 at night, mom hears a crash in the living room.  All living beings are accounted for.  Gravity struck the Christmas tree and it was laying on the couch, water all over the floor, along with ornament bits and pieces.  Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

On the up side, I  only have one day left of work, then have 2 weeks off.  Stinks for the pay check, but great for the sanity!  (The new job I am going after still doesn't have an official application...keep praying)  So I can finally START Christmas shopping.  Yes, I know, Christmas is coming very soon! 

So Dear Santa,
Please bring me some sanity, wrapped up in a little sleep, with a lovely new job and salaried paycheck on top...oh and if there is any room left, a wand that will  turn the diva back into a sweet princess and eradicate all germs from the house.  Please Santa, I have been a really, really good girl!

Picture Perfect

It was a Hallmark movie kind of day.  We had a blast cutting the Christmas tree this year.  There was the perfect layer of snow...it was a balmy 25 degrees, the sun was shining, and we found the perfect tree.  It was just right.

I am having a bit of a panic attack that Christmas will be here so soon.  I know it comes the same time every year, but this year it is really sneaking up on me.  I have a ton to do...but the next week and 1/2 will be great fun with lots of merry making, gift buying, and cookie baking!  It is my fav time of year.  I have to remember to slow down and savor it all.

May you find a few Hallmark moments in your week to come!

 

Snow Day, Snow Day!!

What a glorious thing to lay in bed at 5 am, tuned into the local am radio station and have them say, "oh, wait, we have the superintendent on the line, all schools are closed today, due to the blizzard".  Then give your hubby a quick kiss, while burrowing back under the warm covers knowing you can sneak in at least another 1 or 2 hours of sleep!

We are having a good ole MN blizzard.  Snow (about 8 inches right now)  blowing, icicles, it is awesome!  The Christmas music is playing, the kids are still in pjs, Meron is playing with the manger set and talking to baby Jesus...it doesn't get much better.  I think our day will include some cookie baking, a holiday movie or two, a yatzee tourney, the stuff memories are made of.  LOVE IT!

I am taking the plunge and applying for a new job.  I am applying to be the director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry at church.  I had the job for 4 years before J-dog was born.  I loved it, was good at it, and it filled me up.  I really think God is calling me in this direction.  I am soo hopeful, but I also know of some other very qualified people applying.  I am nervous, excited, and trying not to hope too much.  I have had enough let down in the last year to last for a while.  Hopefully my gut instinct is on.  Say a few prayers if you would!!

Gotta go read some Christmas stories to my girlie, girl!

Big, Fat, and Fluffy

No that is not a description of myself....it is of the beautiful snowflakes that are falling outside my window right now.  It is the first pretty snow of the season and it is beautiful.  I know I have been gone from the cyber world for a while.  There has been an awful lot on my plate.  We continued with illness for way too long.  We hit 48 days of having someone home sick.  Then we got Thanksgiving break.  Then we got strep...it feels a little never ending.  Today, everyone was in their proper place, I am holding out a little hope that tomorrow might bring the same. 

The snow tonight has put me in a very reflective mood.  It seems fresh and full of hope, magical.  I definitely needed a little of this in my life.  I am hoping and praying that we too are entering a time of fresh hope and even a little magic.  It has been a really long journey to this point.  The journey to Meron was so wonderful and getting her here and gathering her into our lives was all I hoped for and more, but I never got a chance to catch my breath after that moment.  It was right back into the grind and dealing with a failing small business, financial disaster, four kids etc etc.  Selling the business this summer helped, but left me in a place of wandering...wondering who I am and where I am going and trying to figure out what matters most to me.  My family comes first, but I have learned that in order to give to them fully, my cup has to be full too.  How do I fill my cup right now?  That is the question at the forefront of my mind.  I know that I am not one to just be content with the status quo.  I need to be challenged, to create, to work for good, to dream.  There is a chance that opportunity is on the horizon.  I want to hope, to dream, to pray...but it is a little scary.  I don't want to be let down.  I want my cup to be filled and I think this is the direction I am being called in...but sometimes it is hard to discern God's voice from my own.  So I am going to try to be open, to let hope, and magic, and fear swirl around together to fill my cup.   It's not about adding more people or animals or things in my life...it is about filling my heart, growing in a new direction, being passionate about something again, and getting a chance to start fresh, catch my breath, and finally relax into a true smile.  

I'll update you on all the kids soon, I promise...there are lots of stories to tell.  I just need to fill my cup a bit first!