Wordless Weekend - The Haircut

Before & After

Hugs Today

My friend, Lois, lost her husband over the holidays. She's a good bit older than me and he had been sick for a while, but it was still very sudden.

It was Christmas Eve and they were visiting her sister. They were all laughing and chatting when suddenly he just fell over into his plate. He never regained consciousness and they unplugged his ventilator on Thursday. He died 45 minutes later.

I cannot imagine. The loss of a loved one is traumatic, no matter what time of year, but to lose someone at Christmas or any other memorable holiday is so very sad. What a way to remember each year.

Lois is a strong woman and I know she'll be alright. She has a strong faith. I know it gives her comfort to know that he was smiling and laughing up until the moment he basically died. But my heart hurts for her.

I feel like an especially bad friend because I missed the funeral this morning. Remember, I said DH let me sleep in this morning? I plan on visiting with her soon, and I probably shouldn't have gone anyway, feeling as badly as I have felt this past couple of weeks.

Give your family & friends hugs & kisses & tell them all how much they mean to you. You never know what tomorrow brings, but you know you have this moment, today.

XOXO

Germs, Sleep & Movies, Oh My!

I'm tired of being sick. I am very sure that by the time the kids go back to school, I'll be well. It would just make sense.

But DH has been incredibly husbandly while I've been out of commission. We missed an after Christmas road trip to visit family because of me and he hasn't once made me feel bad about it.

And this morning he let me sleep in. What?? I slept until 12:30. Yeah. I haven't done that since I was in college. Seriously. People with pulses don't do that.

So, I am hoping I'll be starting to feel better soon. I felt like venturing out with DH and the kids to go see "National Treasure 2" this evening. Two enthusiastic thumbs up, by the way.

I loved the first one, and while I suggest seeing the first one before seeing the sequel, you could get away without doing so and still enjoy it.

Especially if you have the urge to see just how good Nicolas Cage looks in a seersucker suit.

Have a great weekend!

Roger That

Number One Son, Queenie & The Flying Monkey were running through the house after getting dressed for bed tonight.

Walkie Talkies received from Santa Claus were being played with very loudly. I intercepted a walkie talkie from Number One Son as he ran through the den and past me.

Me (into the walkie talkie): "NO RUNNING."
Queenie (responding through the walkie talkie): "Roger that, Momma."

A Giving Heart

Each year around Christmas, we talk to our children about what it's all about. Christmas, that is.

This year the older two really seemed to understand it more. Obviously, it's Jesus' birthday, they understand that very well, Santa Claus comes around, they get that too. Duh. But the giving part. They really seemed to grasp that this year. We give gifts at Christmas to honor the ultimate gift that God gave us when He gave us His Son, Jesus. That clicked for Number One Son & Queenie this year.

So we decided to go one step further than the old Angel Tree. We wanted to see if the gift giving could stand a little sacrifice. We asked the older two go through their toys and find 3 things that they didn't play with anymore that another child might enjoy. And it could NOT be broken. (that through them a curve ball)

Of course, The Flying Monkey could not be left out, so he threw in a couple himself. He promptly pulled them out, of course, the minute he realized they were leaving the house. He's such a 3 year old. :)

They did a great job. We ended up with two laundry baskets full of toys that they wanted someone else to be able to play with. Now granted, Happy Meal toys actually made up one full basket, but there was also Queenie's beloved Little People Dollhouse, complete with the family van and Number One Son's Farmhouse & animals.

We didn't force them to give any of the toys up, I even asked multiple times before the toys left the house if they were sure. They were sure, they said.

It was a proud moment watching Number One Son & Queenie display such a willingly giving spirit. I have to admit, I could really take a lesson from them. God honors a spirit that has a willingness to give.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

I hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season!!!

For our family it will be about remembering to celebrate the birth of God's Son, the ultimate gift. It will be about making each moment count with our family, continuing our Christmas traditions and possibly starting new ones.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Christmas Cheer

I tried to stay cheerful and positive today. It was busy on the road and in the stores, people were rude, I tried to remain smiley. Really, if you don't want to shop in the crowds, shop in July. That's what I want to say, but that is not Christmassy or Cheery.

And I got rear ended right in the middle of my errand run. I had been sitting at the traffic light for a good minute and he just hit me. I'm still smarting from that one. Not hurt, just a little hot.

But Christmas Cheer is still here. Do you still have yours?

Dude, Where'd You Hear That?

Getting dressed this morning after taking the big kids to school, The Flying Monkey was asking me where we were going, because today was his first day out of school for Christmas.

TFM: Mommy, where we going?
Me: We are going up to [Number One Son] & [Queenie]'s school, then by Mommy's school, then to run some other errands.
TFM: And Then?
Me: (giggle) What?
TFM: No And Then!
Me: (bigger giggle) What?
TFM: Uncle [PKP] say it! And Then? And Then?

PKP, who is DH's brother, is infamous for teaching his nephews, especially, funny and sometimes inappropriate phrases. It haunts him now that he has children of his own. But this was so very funny!

Go watch "Dude, Where's My Car?" for a feel good holiday time!

A Glamorous Life? I Don't Think So...

I didn't read anything yesterday, I didn't watch the news, I avoided all news feeds. I'm completely distressed on my my own, without reading or hearing abut what Hollywood has to say about one of my children's favorite teenagers. I also didn't want them to hear about it.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you must be over 80 or Amish. No offense to either. :) Jamie Lynn Spears - star of Zoey 101 (which my children watch regularly on Nickelodeon) and little sister of Britney Spears - is pregnant. She's 16.

DH told me yesterday morning and he was downright angry. We have watched Zoey with the kids and have talked about how we hope she takes a different path than her sister and surrounds herself with smart people who only want the best for her. Oh well.

Now, I had my distressing time keeping the Vanessa Hudgens scandal from the kids. But this is so much worse than some nudie cell phone pictures. This is forever for Jamie Lynn and it's sending a message to our children. It's OUR job to decide what that message that is, not Hollywood's.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not going to toss Jamie Lynn to the curb, she's a child, she made a mistake. We've all made mistakes. She also has a few things stacked against her, one being her Mother of the Year Nominee mom, Lynn. I don't know anything about raising a family in the public eye, but I do what it's like to raise a family. And it is hard work. I said it's hard work being a mother who has the best interest of her children at heart. It's not hard work to live vicariously through your children.

The second obstacle Jamie Lynn faces is being Britney Spears' little sister. Especially recently. No matter what she does, she is Britney's little sister. "I hope she doesn't turn out the same way as her sister!" We even have said it. I did read on a celebrity gossip page (I just ratted myself out, didn't I?) that Britney had warned her sister over the summer against moving in with her boyfriend. Who knows if that is really true, but I can appreciate a big sister wanting the best for her little sis.

The bigger picture here is that an unmarried 16 year old girl is pregnant. She may have a boyfriend, but the reality is that she has to carry & raise this child and face the music. Top it off with the fact that she is a celebrity role model and we have a multitude of children who are confused and wondering what's going on. Now I have several friends who have beautiful children that they had very young. Teenagers. It happens, you know? Their children are beautiful and not mistakes by any means. All children are blessings and deserve to be celebrated. My concern is that, as a public figure, this might all be misinterpreted by children who don't have an adult at home to help them sort it out. Teenage pregnancy is not OK, and it's not glamorous, no matter who it is. Jamie Lynn has a long, hard road ahead of her and I want my daughter to know that.

As I've been typing, I have lost my train of thought several times, there is so much going through my mind! I caught the end of a segment on the Today show this morning where they were talking about this and they were saying this is an opportunity to talk to our children about sex and responsibility. I agree in some respect. There are opportunities to talk to our children about things everyday. A celebrity scandal should not be an opportunity to begin conversations with our children. I hope we can take it as an opportunity to continue to talk to our children about a multitude of things. Responsibility, respect, obedience, life, love, consequences.

I visited Jamie Lynn's website this morning and it was painful to be reminded that she is a child. Simple as that. Go see what I mean.

No, I am not Mother of the Year. In fact, most days I feel quite inadequate. But as a mother, I am full of so many emotions as I hear this breaking news.

Good luck, Jamie Lynn. We wish you the best.

Christmas Hoopla

Skittle tagged me for some Christmas Hoopla.
Here are the rules:
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
5. If you want to -- please give Andrea, some link-love as the 'Hoopla-Creator'.

Here goes:

1. We are the only house on our street with outdoor Christmas lights, so we always make up for it in a big way!

2. I hate wrapping Christmas gifts in paper. All the paper ends up in the trash in a matter of seconds anyway, so if I can get away with a gift bag, I will.

3. We love riding around and looking at lights. I remember doing that as a kid, falling asleep in the car while we rode around on Christmas Eve. We do that with the kids now.

4. I think the present is about the thought behind it, not the price tag.

5. I say Merry Christmas to everyone I encounter, because that is what I celebrate. It does not offend me if they say Happy Holidays back, but I am going to say Merry Christmas.

6. We have a Christmas tradition of opening one gift each on Christmas Eve, and opening the rest of them Christmas morning when we are also opening our Santa gifts.

7. My car is decorated for Christmas. That's right.

8. It's a Wonderful Life depresses me. I'm sorry, I know it's a classic holiday movie.

9. Nine Ladies Dancing. Did you know that that verse represents the nine Fruit of the Spirit?

10. We always leave milk, cookies & a note for Santa. I don't know how he keeps from getting full, because he always eats most of what we leave. And he always writes a note in return. It's really cool that he takes the time to do that!

11. I get to dress up as Mrs. Claus at school. It's fun.

12. I love that my children tell me they give Christmas gifts because God gave them Jesus as a gift.

So now I tag Claire & Chick. Have fun & Merry Christmas!

Here Comes Santa Claus

We finally visited Santa Claus. We waited in line so that Number One Son, Queenie & The Flying Monkey could tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

It was not too miserable, the kids had fun and Santa took his time talking to each child. Queenie even asked him how he was doing.

I can't believe that Christmas Day is 7 days away, it has completely snuck up on me. But we are done shopping so we are determined to enjoy Christmas in a hopefully non commercial atmosphere. Except for the lights. We love having our house completely lit up for Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Outbreak

We're just passing germs around our house. We can't get well! Everyone is home today (except DH) and I have to be honest: The Boss Lady is miserable. There is no rest to be had in a house with 3 children aged 8, 6 & 3 trying to do anything to not be bored.

So here are some photos of me with my precious three having fun, not being sick. Enjoy!

Number One Son is a fabulous dancer

Queenie gives great hugs

We can't let The Flying Monkey fly all the time

Wordless Weekend - All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

It's Christmas, Enjoy It or Else!

We went to a local Christmas attraction this weekend that is quite well known and apparently quite well attended. We thought we'd be able to drop in, take some fun Christmas photos and enjoy all the local Christmas fun.

Yikes. I really had to struggle to enjoy myself. It was so crowded! We waited in line to park, we waited in line to ride the shuttle (well, actually, we walked because of that line, and still beat the shuttle to the gate), we waited in line to turn in our tickets for armbands, we waited in line to get in. Then we even waited in line walk around.

But I was determined that I was not going to give in to the crowd and get cranky and frustrated. It was hard, I'll admit.

But the kids had fun, we did get to see Santa in the parade, we rode the Christmas train, saw lights, even heard the real Christmas nativity story.

It was nice, but I felt really bad for the visitors who were not as willing to stay smiling like DH and I had chosen to stay. Number One Son, Queenie & The Flying Monkey had a great time and we did decide to leave when they finally said, "This is boring, it's too crowded." Up until that moment, I am not sure they had even noticed the miserableness of the crowd.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Season and remember to embrace the true reason for the celebration. Queenie reminded me of it last night.

Man telling Christmas Story to crowd: "What do you think Christmas is about?
Queenie to Me: "Christmas is about Giving. Because God gave us Jesus."