Holes in the Head

December is almost over.  Can you hear the sigh of relief in my voice? 

It started with Jayce's 11th birthday.

Followed by Jarrett's Oscar winning performance at the preschool Christmas program

He nailed the opening poem alone.  He was made to perform!



Next came the joint birthday party we had for both Jayce and Josie.  Who's bright idea was it to have 2 kids in the month of December? 

After Jarrett's debut into acting, next up was the church's Christmas program with all 4 kids in it.  Well, there were some other random kids in it too but who was watching them?

Jayce was less than thrilled.  He's really hoping when he hits puberty, his beard won't be so dark.

Finally, Christmas arrived!!  To my kids, it took FOREVER to get here.  To us, it happened over night.

Just one picture.  For now. 

Last, but certainly not least we have Josie's official birthday tomorrow.  She will be 7.  Going on 16. 

Her daddy took her to the mall today.  He got her a special present.  Can you guess what it is?

Here's a hint:  She now has holes in her head!!

There's word on the street that she didn't even flinch when she got her ears pierced.  Funny how when she has a hang nail at night, the whole house hears about it.  But, punch holes in her ear lobes and she loves it. 

Typical girl! 

Happy Birthday to my sweet, beautiful baby girl! 

Merry Christmas!

I had a revelation today:  the only time one gets to really enjoy Christmas, is AFTER Christmas!

I had my shopping done early. Even grocery shopping.  Had things wrapped. 
But, here it is the 24th and I'm still rushing to get everything done!  Wishing I could just sit and light a candle and relax. 

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I hope the kids have a great time.

I had planned on taking a picture of the kids in front of the tree but..didn't happen. 


Just invision 4 beautiful children, dressed up in the bestest church clothes.  Sitting with their arms around each other and smiling perfectly into the camera.  Got that vision in your head?

Great.  Now go 2 houses down.  That's where we are.

Merry Christmas Bloggy Friends!!  I love each and every one of you and wish you only the bestest for the New Year! 

Calling All Dishwashers

Yesterday, I went to make a phone call and could not find the phone! 
It's a cordless phone (does anyone use one of the old-fashioned corded phones anymore?) where the base is on the wall.  I went to the base and pushed "find handset" button and listened for the beeps. 
Which sounded like they were coming from the living room.

"No, wait!  The kitchen."

"No, that's not right.  It's the living room."

"But it's coming form the kitchen!" 

"I'm losing my mind!"

"Where is that darn thing?"

Finally, I stop in front of the dishwasher.

"It can't be!"

Oh, but it is.

There in the top rack of the dishwasher is our phone.

I stand there for a minute and think "Am I SO tired that I put the phone in the dishwasher?"  and really start to rethink my sanity.

Then I hear laughter. 

I turn around and there is my sweet, innocent, adorable, half crazy son, Jeven, laughing hysterically!

"You find it!!  You went 'round and 'round, Mama!  I put the phone there! Yep!" 

I don't know what I was more relieved about;  the fact that I didn't put the phone in there in an insane moment or that I found it before I ran the dishwasher!!  

Is It Just Me...

...or is that the worst possible color for playdough? 

Scrambled

In a word, that's us. 

These last two weeks have been scrambled.  With a side of hashbrowns.  And orange juice.  (Now I'm hungry)

We've had birthday parties, Christmas concerts, basketball practices, Christmas parties and it just keeps going and going. 

I am desperately trying to keep sane just a few more days.  Then, things slow down and I can (fingers crossed) enjoy some holiday time at home with the kids. 

We've barely done school this week but we're ahead of schedule so we have a litte breathing room.  I plan on being WAY ahead next year so we can take maybe the whole month of December off?  Without the panicy, guilty feeling I'm dealing with now.

I have some pictures to post of Jayce's birthday, Jarrett's concert (in which he nailed the opening "Welcome" poem.  In front of hundreds of people.  By himself.) and some other random pictures. 
I will try to put them up soon.

A friend at church called me the other night and said she wasn't going to come to that night's women's meeting because "things are just so crazy!  I have so much to do".  I told her I understood.  But, then I went through what my schedule included.  Her response "Oh.  I guess everyone's busy this time of year?"

Gee. You think?  Did you think Christmas only happened in your family?  What's the deal? 

I know it's hectic and crazy this time of year.  It's so easy to get caught up in all that "has to be done".  But, truthfully, nothing "HAS" to get done.  Enjoy your family/friends.  Give thanks.  Be joyful. 

Jeven recently announced that he wanted a "green straw" for Christmas.  Christmas is simple to a child.  They are easy to please.  When we put up our tree and it was all cock-eyed and the lights weren't working, the kids exclaimed "It's the prettiest tree ever!"

I am trying to take their cue and let Christmas be simple and find joy in the cock-eyed things. 
(Please don't let some pervert google cocke-eyed and find my blog.  Please.)

My Sweeties

Sometimes, my kids surprise me.  In the good kind of surprise way.

We probably eat fast food a little less than the average family. As a treat.  After all, we are a family of six.  Even the dollar menu at McDonalds adds up really fast. 

Today I ended up doing errands during lunch time.  I figured I had 2 choices:  1)make the kids (and myself) starve until we got home or 2) stop and get something to eat.  And eat.  In. The. Restaurant. 

I hope I don't have to explain why eating inside a fast food joint, with only myself and my 4 children should bring on the ominous music.  The potential for sirens and people running out of the building is very great. 

I do the "evil eye stare" and the "YOU WILL BE GOOD OR ELSE" chat before we go in. 
I sit them down at a table ( that only took 2 minutes to pick out), go order the food, get the drinks, get the food.  While my kids sat at the table with Jayce. 

We sat and ate.  The kids were pretty good really.  Kinda obnoxious, I thought, but weren't overly annoying. 

As we sat there eating, an older couple walked across the room and said "You have such a sweet family!". 
I said "Thank you!"

Josie said "I like your necklace!"

Jarrett said "I like it too!  Merry Christmas!" 

Jayce said "Thanks."

Jeven said "ROAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"  while showing off his muscles and grinding his teeth. 

Yup.  Those are my sweeties.

A HO and a Hum

HO:  Our computer decided to become infected with a gazillion different viruses and is taking sick leave.

Hum: My parents, with wireless internet, live 3 blocks away.

HO:  It is very difficult to do online schooling with the kids without actually being able to get online.
 
Hum:  See previous Hum.

HO:  It is very difficult to get in the Christmas spirit when we can't even manage to pay our bills.  Where is the money going to come from?

Hum:  Christmas is about way more than cash.

HO:  The medical procedure I was scheduled to have this month was going to cost over $10,000.  Insurance pays 80%, which is awesome, but it still leaves us with a bigger bill than we can handle.

Hum:  It wasn't a life saving procedure.

HO:  The same day I found out we couldn't afford to have this thing done (although not life saving it would have made things MUCH better around here)I was very uspet.  My kids were very concerned because I was crying so hard.

Hum:  When I calmed down and went to the mail box, I received a very pretty necklace and earring set from a dear friend.  That also happens to be my cousin.  My kids were then concerned because I was crying again. They were afraid the men in the white coats were on their way to pick me up.  Then, they would have to make their own dinner.
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This is a very busy week for us.  With the computer out, we will have to do school at my parents this week.  That's fun.  Packing up all the books plus toys for the little kids.  Hopefully, we'll be able to hook up the spare we have and it will actually work. 

Jayce's 11th birthday is Wednesday! 
Thursday is Jarrett's preschool Christmas concert.  He has a speaking part! 
Friday I have a party to go to while my husband stays home with Jayce and his friends. 
Saturday we have another birthday party.
Sunday.  Sunday?  I think there's something there too. I should probably check that out. 

Eventually, we need to get a tree.  We like to wait until after Jayce's birthday but it seems things just start going haywire and before you know it, it's the 23rd and we still have no tree.  Maybe THATS what we're doing on Sunday!

I hope you're having a hummer of a day! 

Stupid Comcast

Like to see that googled!

Currently, we have Dish Network for our t.v. programming.  Pay too much but still the cheapest we've ever found.  In fact, we called not that long ago and threatened to cancel and they lowered our bill even more.

We have Qwest for our phone and internet.  It's a "bundle".  Let me tell you, all the hype about "bundles" is overrated. 
We are under contract until Feb. with Qwest.  At that time, we will probably change phone/internet companies.

Today, my husband got off work early.  As happy as I was to see him, he makes it rather difficult to get any schooling done when he's home.  If it's his normal day off, I've planned accordingly.  But a surprise day off, I'm all flustered.

Being the astute husband he is, noticing my "not so thrilled" look on my face, he decided to take Jayce out to a friends house and work on manly things.  Something about a engine. 

With it being nap time, I saw a snooze on the couch for myself.  Since my student that I normally teach at this time of day would be gone-Jayce.

Kids are all snuggled in bed.  I'm sitting on the couch, eating my PBJ and thinking "when I get done with this gourmet lunch, I will lay down for a bit" .

Ding Dong.  Knock knock. 

It's a Comcast salesman.  A young kid.  (ha. probably like 25)

ANY time the doorbell rings in my house, whether you were in a coma or sitting in the bathroom, EVERYONE runs to see who it is.  So, of course, all the monsters children run to the door.  When they were suppose to be sleeping.  All of them with no pants on.  (they sleep half naked.  so what?)
Last thing I wanted was for this guy to see my half dressed kids. I tell them to go back to bed.

Now, this guy was honestly trying to make a living.  I respect that. 
But, right off the bat, he wasn't selling me.  He lost points one by one.

• Ringing the doorbell.  A sure negative right there.
• Asking me "Are your parents home".  I kid you not
• Asking me "Do you mind if I come inside so I can use your table?"
• Asking me "Can I have your phone number so I can call you and check back with you?"
• Asking me "What time will your husband be home?"

And lastly:

• Asking me for my neighbors "names so I can check with them and see if they're  interested in my awesome deal?" 

I hate people that come to my door and interrupt my life to sell me something. 


I guess I should be flattered he thought I was too young to be home alone! 
And, it wasn't a ploy to win me over, he was dead serious!!  Really, I don't think he was bright enough to try a ploy in the first place.