Christmas 2009

Pictures to come later!!! I received a new Canon Powershot for my xmas gift (picked out and ordered off amazon by yours truely). I love it so far, but have to figure out downloading. I have lots of xmas shots to post.

Recap:
Dec 23: Stepdaughter arrives from Texas and stepson from Iowa. First time in so long that we have all been together with all the kids for the holidays. And first time they have been here for xmas. They settle into the basment.

Dec 24: xmas eve at my side, my parents house. Not too big of a group: my family, my brother and neice, my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my one cousin. I don't see my cousin often so that was a nice surprise that she was there. We watched the kids open presents and had prime rib, wine, and lots of desserts. Drove home in the snow and got the cookies out for santa. Jenna wrote him a note. Kids in bed before 11 so that was good in my opinion. They were very excited!

Dec 25: xmas day, snowed in! The kids didn't wake up until 7:30 and 8:00 so that was later than I expected. They took turns unwrapping presents and we played all day in our PJ's. My parents came over and we had chili for a late lunch. Very relaxing day. No stress, no travel, no worry. Brian spent much of the day shoveling and snowblowing. It was a winter wonderland!

Dec 27: stepkids went home :( Quiet in the house. Played in the snow with the kids, built a fort, sled down the hill in the back. Another day at home. Getting stir crazy.

Dec 28: taking down xmas stuff. Trees still up though. Will tackle that later. Went out shopping a bit. Got a few xmas items for next year. Feel some relief it is over but also sad it is over. You know how that is. The kids have lots of fun new stuff to play with. I have to work Thur, fri, and Sat. Bummer but so nice to have this long break.

Merry Christmas. Another great one for us, lots of fun memories!

2009 Annual Christmas Photo

~Work~

Work is one of those things. Most have to do it. Not all enjoy it. I was a stay at home mom for 6 years. It is hard for me to work now. I admit it. I would rather be home. I went to school to start a new career and I have to say I still don't love going to work. I don't hate it. Some days are good, some days not so good. I don't get excited to go. I wish I were one of those people who had a passion for their work. I maybe still have to find that passion in life and make a living at it. I don't know. I just know I'm not there. I like helping people. I like being there for someone in need. I just don't feel that I am where I'm supposed to be, if that makes any sense. I work this weekend, all weekend. Working gets health insurance for my family. That part helps. Knowing I am doing that for my family. But being away from them 9 hours a day all weekend is hard. Very hard.

So Full

Do you ever feel so full of love for your kids that you just don't know how to describe it? That you want to kiss them and hug them and hold them all day and tell them how important they are, how special they each are, how you love them more than they will ever know? I feel that way today and can't even put it to words. That they are my life, what is the most important things to me and always will be. That even when I get mad that I love them more than life itself. That if they ever hurt they will have a soft place with me? I feel like the years are passing so quickly, that they are growing so fast. I know all mothers feel this way. It is an amazing thing, this thing we call life. I love these 2 like I never thought possible.

Funny kids

Bret and Jenna get an allowance and can it can increase or decrease depending on what they do, their attitude, how helpful and nice they are etc. They get a blue chip for "good" stuff which = $1 and a red chip for "not so good stuff" which is minus $1. So, anyway, they both got a blue chip for doing their homework today, and Jenna got an extra for being helpful to Bret when he asked for something. Bret then says "I should get a blue chip for all the suffering I have at school." He then proceeded to say "well, it is fun sometimes but a lot of work."

Jenna has been taking a long time to walk the few blocks home from school lately. I asked her yesterday why she has been taking such a long time and she said "well mom, I have to stop and eat a lot of snow."

My kids, they make me smile every day!!!

Early AM

The kids are still nestled snug in the beds, and they will soon be out in the frigid MN cold going to school. The snow is here to stay. I shoveled the driveway as best as I could on my own yesterday. My husband is gone for work so I'm on my own until Friday. The kitchen is a mess, the house needs picked up, I have to workout, I'm tired, but I'm happy to just be alive and healthy today. That is all that matters. Family, health, waking up to the bright beautiful snow today. Very blessed!

The 12 Days of Christmas

Actually, 11 days left and counting. The kids wake up every morning and open their advent calendar door for the day, eating their little chocolate first thing, even before breakfast! The are so excited for Christmas. I am sad that one day it won't hold this same magic for them, but right now it is so fun to see their excitement. I have most of my cards sent, most of my presents wrapped, tree up and decorated since after thanksgiving, lights up, and we are all set. I am so excited that I have xmas off this year, and after working this weekend I will have until new years eve off from work. I am determined to NOT stress this year, to enjoy my family, to "go with the flow" without any expectations. To just be in the moment. I want to treasure these moments with my children. Create memories for them to hold onto.

Tonight after brushing teeth, I told them "meet me by the Christmas tree" and we sat under the tree and read "The 12 Days of Christmas". We have the super cool pop up book and the kids love it. Each year we try to read a lot of Christmas books in the days leading up to the big day. We were all singing the song and having fun. My husband is out of town for work, so it is just the kids and I this week. It is hard for me when he is gone, because I get overtired from not sleeping well and having to do all the house and kids stuff. My goal is to get through the week without getting too crabby and just trying to have fun with the kids in the evenings. I think we succeeded tonight.

Do not cave into the pressure!!!

The new, hot toy this year is the Zhu Zhu pet hamster. A pretty silly toy from the looks of it, but could be something fun for the right kid. My daughter, age 7, loves animals. She has a few of those Fur Real pets and really likes those. Her number one request from Santa this year was a big realistic robotic cat named LuLu (Fur Real). I found it on sale, and Santa will be bringing her LuLu, much to my dismay. This cat kind of creeps me out. Anyway, these new hot Zhu Zhu's look right up her alley, and for $8.99 I decided to try to find out. I have not mentioned them much to her because I know they are really hard to find in the stores. Anyway, every so often I'll check online or at the store to see if I can get lucky. No such luck. I want to tell everyone who is buying these silly toys for $40, $50, or more, to STOP!!!! This is the reason that no one else can get these toys for their kids. The ebay'ers and craigslisters are stalking the stores, stalking the online sites, and buying them all out before anyone else can get them. They are then marking up the prices by 400% or more and trying to sell them (and succeeding) to all the stupid people willing to pay this much for a TOY. HAMSTER. A tiny, not even so cute, robotic hamster. People GET REAL!!! This is a toy!!! Not even a really amazing one at that. STOP paying $50 for these things, then we could all get them. Does it not make sense? If everyone stops buying them for these ridiculous prices, then there would be no need for the childless 60 yr old male to buy 100 of them off the shelf and try to mark them up to make a fast buck. It frustrates me to no end. Get a grip people.