Josie's birthday

Today my one and only daughter turned 6! With her birthday coming so soon after Christmas, it's hard for us, her parents, to get enthusiastic about a party and such. Actually, earlier in the month, we had a combo party for both her and Jayce, one that family comes to. Jayce also had his own "sleep over/video game" party on his birthday with his friends. And we will let Josie have a party with her friends later next month. So, don't think my kids are deprived of special birthday happenings, despite our lack of enthusiasm.

Tonight, I made her an ugly birthday cake, we gave her a new comforter for her bed. My mom came over and gave her new sheets to match. Right now, her room is ugly (not as ugly as her cake) and I'd like to redo it but she keeps drawing on the walls. She denies it every time but since she writes J-O-S-I-E all over the place, I am guessing it is her. So, we discussed keeping her room clean and treating her belongings better so that she can have a big girl room. Maybe in the spring.

Josie has grown into a beautiful young girl. Although, she's always been beautiful. She was tiny when she was born, 5# 7oz. She wore premie clothes for the first few weeks but quickly grew fat and quickly out grew her newborn clothes.

Seems just yesterday she was just learning to walk and now she runs to the school bus every morning.

I pray that God allows me to slow down and appreciate all the things that make up my daughter, for I realize now the days are only going to go by faster.



Dec.2002, dressed and ready to go home. (Actually, I guess the picture is Jan. 2003!)



Mar. 2003, with Great Grandma Ruby. As you can see, she got fat. Fast. (Josie,not Grandma)


Feb. 2005, holding baby brother Jarrett for the first time.



Tonight blowing out her candles. On the ugly cake.



With her new comforter.

Christmas Pictures

Christmas was great. Or, is great. We are not done with Christmas, we have one more get together to go to. We are up to 5 now. This is the curse blessing of having a large family that is in the same area.
First, we go to Judd's dads. Then our own little party at home Christmas morning. Then my moms family, aunts and uncles and my grandma. Then Judd's moms. Then my dad's side of the family. Then one party with just my parents and hopefully my brother. This is the one we have remaining.

I tell you all this so you will be extremely jealous of my busy, fabulous life.

Not.

I tell you all this so you'll hopefully forgive me if I don't go into all the lovely details of our Christmas. I am pooped. And to top this all off, Jeven developed some sort of scary leprosy looking rash. We took him to the doctor today because a) nothing was helping it and b) our deductible will start over Jan. 1st.
Turns out is a strep rash. Huh. Yeah, I was confused a little as well. He doesn't have strep throat, just a rash. But, regardless of my medical expertise failing to diagnose his condition, he is on antibiotics and should be looking somewhat normal soon.

The kids were all extremely happy with their gifts and our house looks like a tornado has hit it. An- inside- the -house,- spread- toys- around- and- leave- cardboard- boxes- in -it's- wake-tornado.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!


Jeven with Dorothy the Dinosaur from the Wiggles. I don't know about where you live, but here, Wiggles stuff is HARD to find. I found this, with the tags still on it, at Goodwill for 99cents!


Jarrett with his new Wall-E undies! Yay!


Josie was surprised at her Barbie. She REALLY wanted the new Diamond Castle Barbie. She was happy because she got both of them!!


Jayce with his video game. He was surprised because normally "Santa" can't afford the PS3 games, but the one he really wanted went on sale at the last minute.


I had the kids put all their names in a hat and each picked one. We then split up and took them each to the dollar store to buy something for the name they picked. Jeven drew Josie's name and Judd took him to the store. He picked out this puzzle all by himself. Luckily, in the spirit of Christmas, Josie thought it was funny.


This last picture is not really a Christmas picture, more of an aftermath picture. Jarrett had more fun with this box than anything else. He's such a ham. A cute ham.



I hope you all had a merry, blessed Christmas!

Visit with the Big Guy....

....You know the one in the red suit and white beard?




I know that some Christian families don't do the whole Santa thing. But we do. To some extent. We don't push it on our kids and we don't ever, ever say that Christmas is "magic". I don't have a single decoration that has Santa on it. My kids go see him once. And if they don't want to, they don't have to. Jayce does not believe in the guy, but the other kids do so he plays along.

Frankly, I was raised in a house that Santa visited but I always knew what Christmas was really about. It's the same in my house today, with my kids. We celebrate Jesus' birthday along with some fun with surprise presents and some mystery of how Santa comes through our pellet stove.

This year was the first time that Jarrett was brave enough to sit on Santa's lap and talk to him.
All of my kids (so far) at the age that Jarrett is at now, think that Santa is a one stop shopping center.
When Josie was 3, we visited Santa and as we walked away, she started crying. Loudly. We finally figured out that when she told Santa she wanted a Dora doll, she thought she'd leave with the toy. We had to explain that she didn't get anything until Christmas morning.

When we went to visit Santa this year, Jarrett walked right up to him and said "Do you have that Wall-E robot?" like one does at Walmart when you're looking for the low fat crackers: "Where would I find the Wheat Thins?".

Jeven would have none of the strange man so he sat in the stroller.

Santa did say that I had cute kids and I am sure they are the cutest that he's seen all year. Santa wouldn't lie.

I'm Busy

Before there is any finger pointing, I must clear something up from the very beginning. I TRY not to say to my kids "I'm busy" when I am well, busy. I will say "I will do that when I am done with this" or "In one hour,it will be lunch time" or " You have to wait just a little while then I will get you some." I want them to know that I do have work other than meeting their every want and desire. Sometimes, what I am doing is more important than getting them their 4th cookie.

But, somewhere my little boys have picked up the term I'm Busy. However, they don't use it in the right sense.

At the dinner table, I told Jarrett he needed to eat 3 green beans. His response: "I can't. I'm busy."
Huh?

"Jarrett, you need to go get dressed"
"I don't want to. I"m busy"
"Jarett, it's time for bed"
"I don't want to go to bed! I'm busy"

And it's not just Jarrett.

This morning, Jeven wanted to come into bed with us. I asked him what was wrong and he said "I don't know. I'm busy."

So, apparently "I'm busy" is a general term to either get you out of something you don't want to do or when you are trying to get something you don' t normally get.

I am curious where they've picked this term up in the first place.
At least it's not pure sass. It's hard to keep a straight face when they defy you with the use of improper grammar.

Snow Days

Outside our front door

Today is the third day this week the schools have been closed because of snow. What makes this lovely situation even worse better is that today was suppose to be the last day before Christmas break. This last week has been hard, (finding things for the kids to do, the fighting, the whining)and now, since they are out of school for the holidays, there is no end in sight!

Sending the kids out to play in the snow seems like a stupid wonderful idea. If you enjoy an hour of putting on warm pants, long sleeve shirts, coats, hats, gloves, boots on 4 children (ok, technically Jayce can put on his own clothes but sweats and a t-shirt don't pass inspection, buddy roe), send them outside only to have them come in 5 minutes later because GASP! they are cold! Then you take off all the clothes, wipe up the wet floors, dry the clothes and feed the hungry polar bears. Only to have them ask 5 minutes later if they can go back outside!

I know this is a cycle that mothers have dealt with for centuries. It's part of a mother's job. And I am sure looking back on it, it will create some great memories. Hopefully, they will remember the fun playing outside w/ their friends, the movies and popcorn, the hot chocolate, the lights of the Christmas tree and the excitement of waiting for the BIG day. Hopefully, they won't remember their mother getting grumpy at the extra laundry and constant work in the kitchen, or when their little brother pulled all the ornaments off the tree and it fell over (then again, maybe that will be a humorous memory later).

Hopefully, I can bottle up the cold noses and wet, cold kisses and save them for when I am old and gray and they're dealing with their own snow days with their own children.

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like the look of wrap but use bags more often
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real
3. When do you put up the tree? After Jayce's bday on the 9th
4. When do you take the tree down? A little after New Years.
5. Do you like eggnog? No, Gross!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Three-story barbie house with elevator.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Most of the men in my family
8. Easiest person to buy for? Josie
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Usually mail but not this year ) :
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Judd bought me a thing that attatched to the side of the bathtub that made it into a "spa". Yeah. It blew a fuse.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Story ("You'll shoot your eye out!")
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I like to start Oct. but can't always afford to.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not really. Ok, maybe.
15. Favorite Food at Christmas? Lil' Smokies wrapped in crescent dough. Yum
16. Lights on the tree? White
17. Favorite Christmas song? Away in a Manger
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? We have a rule, we stay home until noon then travel to family.
19. Do you know all of Santa's reindeer's? Not personally.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I would like to have an angel but our trees are never big enough!
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Losing the meaning of Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? white and red with white lights
24. Favorite place (other than families) to go during Christmas time? church
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? For the joy to last all year

Josie Lynn

Ok, I am not biased or anything but isn't this the prettiest young lady you've ever seen?