How not to spend New Years Eve

Around 2 a.m. Eligh woke up screaming in pain, which eventually lead to a sleepless night of tending to a vomiting little boy. Soon after, the hubby joined in. Sleep was not on my side.

With all this, we still decided to take our six hour drive back to Missouri.

The hubby was in the back on the floor with the kids sitting next to one another. Our normal drive with maybe three to four max stops took an extra half hour, one change of clothes, and seven stops. Yes, double the stops.

It was a long, exhausting day and evening which has involved baths, laundry, and way too much unpacking.

While I may not be enjoying a drink or two, or celebrating with family and friends counting down to the new year, I am thankful to be with my family sickness or not.


I do hope, though, that the new year starts of better than it has ended.

The red gift

One of my kiddos received a home made gift this year from the grandparents and I can't wait to share with you what it is. This visit to Illinois we didn't even bring the laptops since we both had a break from school. We head back tomorrow with an overstuffed van, which I'm dreading unpacking.

Guesses on what this awesome gift is?
Who is the recipient?


You want a clue? Hmmmm....there is quite a bit of red on this gift.

Probably the last attempt

It has been four years since Cody and I have seen his dad. Which means he has never met he twins. We have driven 16 hours and six hours to visit and always leave without even an attempt made from him. You may ask why don't we travel to his house, an there are reasons. One, he is a chain smoker in the home, lives in the city in a small apartment which is definitely not chil friendly.

Before this visit, Cody's family decided that we would all meet at a pizza place that they use to frequent. EVERYONE agreed.

We arrive along with the grandpa, aunt, and one cousin. Cody had to leave and run his grandpa home so I stayed with the kids, aunt, and cousin. The one sister arrives with her husband and son and we wait.

Cody and grandpa return and he informs us that he called his dad and he tried to come up with a lame excuse why he wasn't coming. It was a wasted breath.

To my kids,
You are amazing, beautiful inside and out and you are NOT the reason for your other grandfather not meeting you. Your father and I have tried, and that is all we can do. You are loved by your family and friends. If you never meet your grandfather it is HE who is missing out, not you.

Early Christmas snapshots part one

Christmas Eve - kids exchanged gifts (book).  Kinsley's reaction tells me this is a tradition to keep

Hugging to say thank you

Daddy reading "the" story

Santa and his loot

Had to tell this one it was safe to come out this morning

Reading a note from Santa - serious business 

Excited 

Overjoyed

Optimus!!!! 

Baby carrier!!!

The vanity

Time to play

The real Merry Christmas

Remember to enjoy your family, embrace your loved ones, and take a step back to really appreciate today.  

Honestly, I can't wait to see what type of freak out my younger sister has this year (it happens every.single.year).

Christmas Eve - a little empty

Christmas Eve used to be so much more than it is today.  For 24 years, my family (brother, two sisters, and my parents) went to my grandma's (mom's mom) house to celebrate with her.  My grandfather died when I was in second grade, so it was mostly just my grandma.  I used to wait around all day in anticipating to go to her house, begging my parents to go sooner.  She always made some type of roast with more sides than you can imagine, along with one of my favorite desserts of all time church windows (a log of chocolate with colored marshmallows rolled in it - I will make it and post some day).  After dinner we would open gifts in her family room and enjoy each other's company.  It was always extremely late when we got back home.  My dad yawned throughout "The Night Before Christmas," but always trudged on.  We left our cookies and milk for Santa and headed upstairs to attempt sleep. 

Christmas Eve, since my grandma's death over five years ago, just does not feel as special. 

"Merry Christmas" - a little early

I hope you are all home and not dashing to the stores in a last minute rush for gifts.  

We, on the other hand, are probably suffocating in mounds of Christmas wrapping paper.  

I hope my three little ones are filled with joy and amazement on our Christmas day.

I know I have all that I could ever want or need 

Friday Night Leftovers on Thursday

• No, it is NOT Friday, and indeed is Thursday.  Due to our out of state travels, today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is our Christmas.  
• Another week full of sick.  I took Eligh and Kinsley in to the doctor Tuesday due to high fevers and a bad cough and near loss of voice for Kinsley.  
• Kinsley was tested for strep which thankfully she does not have.  
• Eligh got on the scale and the nurse asked him to step off because she thought the scale was not working right, but nope he really only weighs 28 pounds, a whopping six less than his twin.  Hung my head in shame. 
• I was supposed to have my nerve conduction test this week but had to reschedule due to Cody being called into work even though he was approved to be off.  Now I wait until January. 
• Rebecca wrote pretty much how I have been feeling this week about the should I/shouldn't I work. The hubby would like me to simply stay put until the twins go to school (nearly three more years until full time due to September birthdays).  
•  He does not control me, he is the logical one when I am being torn in different directions and can't sort out all my emotions. 
• We put the three gifts we bought the kiddos under the tree on Monday and they have asked every single day if they could open a gift yet, even though they know tomorrow is Christmas. 
• Addy had a Christmas party this week at her school and keeps telling us how much fun it was and she can't wait till the next one.  No concept of time, this one. 
• The kiddos exchanged gifts this evening before bed (books).  A new tradition I think we will continue. 
• I CANNOT wait until tomorrow morning when they wake up to see what Santa has left them.  Addy is the most excited this year and the joy and excitement is contagious.  

Stop by our host, Danifred, and maybe leave her a boy name to help ease her frustration with finding the perfect name for "Blue."

Wordless Wednesday - gingerbread house

This year was our very first year making a gingerbread house.  I bought a kit, which I assumed met you could eat everything.  But, nope, the house is made of who knows what.  I did not get fancy, simply threw the icing on there, and let the kids do with it what they wanted.  We will do this tradition again, but I would like to find a kit or make one from scratch that allows them to eat the house itself.

I can really do this, right, mom?

Here I go!

This is awesome, mom!

I do know that I will not take on any villages after hearing the horror story of Danifred.  

Tasty Tuesday

This past weekend some elves invaded my house and helped me bake cookies.

First, we made some peanut butter blossoms

Then, we moved on to chocolate crinkle cookies

Finally, some sugar cookies

*Let me add that these three children have eaten maybe five cookies out of all of these cookies.  Grrr

Battling

I spent the weekend battling not only a cold that took most of my voice away, but then a stomach bug hit yesterday that left me in bed all day and night.

This morning I made a very tough decision after battling what was right or wrong and I really feel timing is everything, and right now it is bad timing.

Friday Night Leftovers - more follow ups edition

• I went to the doctor for all the tingling and now have to go in next week for a nerve conduction test.  All I know is that it is going to be less than enjoyable and feel like shocks going through my limbs.  
• Kinsley is now being diagnosed with reflux and is on meds and has another follow up in a couple of weeks.  (Remember she had reflux from baby to one year old)
• Eligh had to have blood drawn to test for allergies.  He did great but made sure to tell the "boy" that he was a bad "boy" for doing that to him. 
• Addy fell face first this week, gushed blood out of her mouth, cut that little piece that connects your upper lip to your gum, and there were teeth marks in her bottom lip.  Bleeding stopped and she didn't have to go in.  (I have had enough with all these doctors)
• The kiddos decorated their first gingerbread house this week. 
• Addy now gets dropped off and picked up at the curb at school.  Their teacher gets them in and out of the vehicle, but this was a big, make me sappy change.  
• We made two different types of cookies today, and I caught Paws on the table enjoying probably a dozen of them.  He is on the naughty list.  
• I have an interview next week.  Yes, an interview.  
• My head is full of a million different thoughts, nerves, what if's, to do lists, etc.  
• One week until Santa visits our family and he needs to wrap the last of the gifts. 

Stop by our host, Danifred, because she rocks. 

Wordless Wednesday - Eligh's three year pics

Finally, the last of the twins' three year pics.  Again, please feel free to leave comments as I don't have any idea which one to print for my 8 x 10.

Tell me Tuesday

I'm stealing this from here. 

What are your favorite or must have holiday foods?

Mine are the following:
1.  Chocolate krinkle cookies
2.  Anything mint
3.  Home made prune coffee cake
4.  Pumpkin roll
5.  Church windows (haven't had these in 4 years - sigh)

24 Questions - Christmas Style

24 Questions- Christmas Style

I am stealing this from Rebecca just as so many others have. 


 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.  Gift bags are mostly for birthdays.  

 2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.  Before the kids we had real trees.  We could do a real tree with the kiddos, but I don't think Paws would behave himself. 

3. When do you put up the tree? Typically it's the day after Thanksgiving.  But, this year we did it the weekend before Thanksgiving since we were going to be out of town the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime after New Years.   

5. Do you like eggnog? I don't remember what it tastes like, but I know I didn't like it when I first tried many, many years ago.   

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't think I have one in particular. 
 
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My parents.  If they want it they buy it, but if you don't get a certain someone something she'll be more than upset.

9. Easiest person to buy for? These crazy kiddos. 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail when we are actually all together, otherwise nothing. 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A jacket from hubby when we were dating. 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas and Polar Express 
 
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving.

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably many, many years ago.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Any type of sweets/cookies/mints. 

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored 

17. Favorite Christmas Song? White Candy Christmas - google it, you know you want to
 
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends on how far we are from family.  When we lived in GA, we stayed home as 16 hours is just too far to travel with the kiddos.  This year we are celebrating our Christmas on the 23rd, driving up to IL on the 24th and celebrating with my family the 25th.  

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yeppers.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Same star we have had since our very first Christmas in 2004.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Everything on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?  Crabby, ungrateful, selfish people. I love this time of year and really don't want to be around any scrooges. 
 
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?  Our tree is filled with ornaments I received growing up and now the kids' ornaments.  Each ornament has it's own meaning and I love that about our tree.  

24. What do you want for Christmas this year?  Nothing.  I'm just happy that we are all going to be together. 

Christmas Dance Recital 2011

As promised, pictures and videos of the Diva's Christmas recital.

Leggings just for the cold

Cuteness overload

Kinsley had to join in 

Eligh bringing in some flowers for his sissy show

Hey, look at me!

Ta da

And now some videos:

She is between the two blondes


2nd from the right

Cute babies Saturday

Addy just finished up her Xmas recital and I promise pics and video, but not tonight.  Instead, a continuation of the twins' three year pics.  Pictures of the two of them.  These, I'm going to have her make a canvas collage with (so probably seven pictures - still hard to choose).

1

A 

B

C

D

E

F

G

 (just asked him to kiss her and this is what we got - definite keeper)

Another caught moment that I'm keeping

( love the way they are sitting)

Another definite