New Year

I've never been much for New Year's celebrations- I like to stay home. Besides, Rick works New Years Eve and New Years Day. I haven't been much for resolutions either until about two years ago I decided to give each year a new theme- which has been pretty routine- like give more and volunteer more. Work on scripture memorization.
This coming year I CLEARLY need to work on being a better mom and wife. I need to listen... not just to others but to hear HIS voice. I need to not be so hard on myself. I need to be more obedient. My theme for this year, which I am also imposing on my husband is to get organized and finish all these half done projects. Most of all, I just want to be grateful each and every day. No complaining. I am so blessed and content and all around us there is so much despair, hurt, and conflict that I continually feel undeserving. Not worthy.
I have to tell you, I have been looking forward to this day all week because it was a day off and I have been so excited to clean my house. I didn't want to clean it before Christmas because I knew Christmas morning/day etc our house would be a disaster and then after taking all the decor down I would end up cleaning it again. I started Tuesday night and just did a little each night. Today I spent 3 hours in the playroom purging, cleaning and organizing and the best part of all... cleaning floors. I filled our bonus room FULL for our next garage sale.
It feels good to have a clean house. Even if it's just for today.

I Sorta Pushed Him

I was getting ready upstairs this morning and told Aidan to pick out his breakfast and I would be down in just a minute. This usally involves Abby not letting him do this or some sibling tiff that requires intervention. I hear him cry and I go downstairs and Abby says, "I will tell you the entire story of what happened." I just tell her to sit down and let him pick out his breakfast. She comes over anyway and says, "I sorta just pushed him a little bit."

Then comes daycare drop off, my little guy just laid his head on my shoulder and tried so hard not to cry. I stayed for awhile while he clung to me as I was trying to reassure him. He was so sad and upset. He had a rough day yesterday which I think started all of this, plus with Abby being there during Winter Break it's upset his routine. I had to walk away seeing his sad crying face where I proceed to get in my car and sit in the front of the building and cry as well. Heartbreaking and gut ache on the way to work about leaving him.

During the day at work I get an email request from one of our account managers in the Midwest, which I needed to forward to a coworker for him to help with the request. We typically have office banter around here- name calling, joking etc. So... in my email forward to him I mentioned something about him doing this request or I would put him in a headlock. Little did I know that I sent it to my boss, the President of the company (they have the same first name). So later my phone rings and it's my boss and he says "Uh, Juls? You're going to put me in a headlock?" Well, no sir not really.....

And then I messed up payroll.

A few hours later, another co-worker sends me this text message "please pick up pumpkin pie at Costco babe." ha!! His wife is named Julie too. Another mis-directed message at least not by me.

Looking forward to a DAY OFF.

Damn Dog and Other Mishaps

I was getting ready for work this week when Rick came in the bathroom and said "Damn Dog." I said the obligatory what? and he says, "he bit my foot when I took him potty." If I could have one wish for 2011 it would be for him to at least TRY to work on his relationship with the fur ball. I just don't think they properly bonded, after the chewing of the moulding and what not. The thing is, he forgets Cooper is a herding dog. He ALWAYS nips at your legs when you go down the stairs and at the last minute cuts you off. You have to be prepared half-way down the stairs otherwise you are going down my friend. Mornings are particularly crazy because Cooper turns into the Tasmanian Devil because he wants food. He will bark at you, herd you, run, jump up... and if you take him potty he just might BITE YOUR FOOT. And come on, we all know it was just a nip.
I left work for awhile today to go to the mall to return a sweater and had to finish buying a gift. I was at the counter purchasing something when I forgot the pin number to my debit card. My debit card, the one that I use on a pretty regular basis. I'm not even overwhelmed, frazzled or otherwise (you know how I get when I am on overload). I stood there looking like I don't know what, punching in a bunch of numbers and the man finally says, "How about I just run it through as credit?" "Yes, but it's BOTHERING me that I cannot figure this out." I conceded. Went to the next store and paid with my debit card, pin number on automatic pilot. No issues. Sometimes I just don't know about myself.
I made smoked salmon benedict tonight and thoroughly ruined the hollandaise sauce. So I made a mushroom sauce instead, it was all I had. Just wasn't the same.
Tomorrow is a new day!

Christmas Eve and Kitchen Duty

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"

Is it just me or did Christmas sneak up on us this year? OK it's probably just me....

We went to the PIR lights on Wednesday, Aidan still wasn't feeling well and declared he was all done with the lights when we were a little halfway through. Thursday I got off work early and we were supposed to go to Christmas service but Rick couldn't leave work and I could tell Aidan was tired. That brings us to today, Christmas Eve. Rick is working again and I spent the day in the kitchen. We made red velvet cupcakes to celebrate Jesus' birth. The kids sang Happy Birthday to Jesus after dinner and scarfed them right up. I made caramel corn. We made sugar cookie cut outs for Santa. I made scalloped taters and green bean casserole for our Christmas dinner tomorrow and finally, we made home made pizza. Yeah, it's a food day.

Merry Christmas~ May the spirit and magic that Christmas brings touch your heart and bring joy to you and yours. May you seek HIM and know that he is filled with grace, everlasting love and eternal life.

FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

I've never EVER been this behind on Christmas. Tree and lights are always up the week of Thanksgiving and here it is a week before and our gingerbread house is still not done, presents not wrapped and we are busy every single night from now until Christmas! Santa cookies aren't getting done until Christmas Eve- but that's alright- they will be nice and fresh :-)
I've had a cold since Thanksgiving and now it's this nagging cough- even still I managed to get 20 miles in this week. Good thing because I have a love for ice cream and dark chocolate caramels. 'Tis the season.
If you like soup thepioneerwoman.com has a corn chowder recipe that is one of my top 5 favorite meals to make.
Food and Wine website also has a tortilla soup recipe that is absolutely incredible. Yeah, I made home made soups this week and home made spaghetti sauce. Crazy? Yes, I think so.

I wrote the above a few days ago. Presents are wrapped now. Gingerbread house is done. I took Abby to the Nutcracker. Aidan is now sick. Bring on Christmas.

Big Big Sister came to visit!!!

Heading to the Nutcracker

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

I love this. It needs to be a Christmas Card

Kids in their "ugly sweaters"

Love this one too

Christmas Program

Aidan's Christmas Program/Piano Recital was this evening. Here he is introducing himself



Then he was a sheep

the ear indicator continues to work


Away in a Manger

Exhausted.

It's been a week. Rick was out of town for 4 days. I had to take 2 of them off to be with Aidan since Rick is usually home with him. Shuttled Abby to and from school, gymnastics, both kids swim lessons, Taekwondo on Tues and Thurs and yet again tonight for belt testing.

Grocery shopping Thursday night at 9pm, 5am runs, missed more work to leave early for belt testing, working tonight-still completely behind, cleaning the house to get ready for my annual girlfriend's Christmas brunch tomorrow, unbelievable amount of Christmas errands, list making, menu planning, lunch making (ugh) laundry, ironing, got summer photos in albums, cleaned the wood blinds (double ugh), library visit, birthday party to attend, Sunday school duty, thank you cards, more shopping for reindeer cookies supplies.... and I'm on day 5 of a headache.

Birthday Boy at his party at Inflatable Kingdom

She woke him up at 6:30am on his birthday and hopped in bed with him and had him open the gift she got him

Opening presents with Mommy and Sissy. Daddy was out of town

Birthday Boy sacked out! Too many errands

I only had 2 candles

Annual Christmas Jammies

Kids had belt testing today at Taekwondo

Happy Birthday to our "Big Guy"

4 years old.... I can't even believe it!! Happy Birthday to our sweet boy.

Odd Duck

I think she has a heart for Jesus

don't you?

Civil War day at school

A few weeks ago Abby's teacher emailed us stating she was going to receive a reward at Chapel this week and that it was to be a surprise. I left work early to attend. She received an award for being thankful- for continually saying thank you and showing gratefulness. I tell ya, being in a gymnasium filled with kids singing praise and worship- made me weep.

She didn't know I was coming and spotted me taking pictures