I can't say that Christmas is ever bad, spending time with family, friends, rejoicing in our Savior, it all makes for a good day but sometimes Christmas is exhausting.
I think part of that is self inflicted. How much can we cram into those four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas day. How many parties, family events, cookies to bake, shopping to do, caroling to sing, school concerts to attend can one family survive? I'm exhausted just listing it all out.
We had more help this year then previous. I was amazed at how smoothly dinner plans for today went and how easy and relaxed Christmas eve was with my eager beaver teen and tween elves bringing in all the presents from the garage and putting them under the tree. They worked their fannies off cleaning too, so the house could be pleasant and enjoyable Christmas morning.
They were invaluable. Thank you Jane and Kate for making Christmas eve and Christmas day absolutely enjoyable. I am so proud of the women you are becoming.
My plan on simplifying our gift giving didn't work quite like I wanted. We still ended up with more then the kids needed but they really had two bigger gifts and then a bunch of smaller things that were mostly collected over the past year. Books, coloring pads, crayons, pipe cleaners for Kate, that sort of stuff. Then there was a few desperately needed items that were bought dirt cheap and wrapped for Christmas just because unwrapping is fun!
Each of the boys received a set of Angry bird sheets, we were sorely lacking in twin size sheets. They also were gifted the thickest, extra large, fuzzy blankets I've ever seen. Also Angry bird themed.
I'm thinking I should have picked up one for myself!
The girls each received a much needed pillow. Costco had twin size, memory foam cluster pillows. I have loved my memory foam pillows and at $10.00 for two, it was killer price.
Each child had their favorites. Kent scored a Sega gaming system that Ean loves. I think the chance to go and decompress in his room could really help our behavior issues. Then of course the most excitement was the last two gifts opened. We saved the twins cranes for last.
Squeals and shrieks! It was awesome!
What I really enjoyed was my children going to so much effort for each other. The girls especially put in an unbelievable amount of effort into every gift they gave. It was beautiful. Watching them smile as their gifts were opened.
I think for me, that was what pushed a good day into a great day.
Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
The Never Ending Romance
Yesterday my husband and I celebrated our eighteenth wedding anniversary. Actually, using the word "celebrated" is a bit generous. Our day consisted of Kent taking the girls to church, while I stayed home with the hacking brothers, after a whole week of one to three boys home from school, they really needed another day off.
Then there was several viewings of "Voyager" by Kent and the girls (daddy, daughter geek bonding). Boys on and off the computer and I cooked a whole lot of bacon for BLT's, around dinnertime.
I also made the the boys help me clean the front room. I told them that I was sick too, and if I could do it, they could do it as well.
So it wasn't a really romantic day for us. That's kind of how our luck has been going lately. About two months ago, my wonderful husband announced the first Monday of the month we were going to a local Bed and breakfast. This place has the most lovely themed rooms and I've wanted to go for years.
In 2000, Kent offered to take me, but I was nine months pregnant and declined. With lots of eye rolling.
Non stop sickness necessitated moving our night to the following Monday. Even more sickness led to canceling the following week. We will try again in January, after the non-stop blur of Christmas and birthdays. It's a teensy bit sad but really, the fact that my husband tried means so much to me. Points for effort!
Then there's the romance of gift giving. After my extreme and unreasonable reaction to a simple request to buy a specific tool sold at a store I despise, hubby bought it himself and gave it to me to wrap. I'm just grateful I don't have shop at the beloved tool store.
What does that say about me?
All this is secondary. Oh sure, it's nice to go places, it's nice to surprise your spouse but is that really romance?
I don't think it is. It's fun. It's exciting. But when I think of romance I think of the moments we have together. Grabbing a few minutes to just talk. My husband lightly stroking his hand across my shoulder as we discuss, anything and everything.
Marriage isn't easy. There is no "Happily Ever After". What's there, is a chance to grow together. To hopefully become better people together. Lets face it, no one is perfect and my hubs puts up with a lot from me. I'm quick to be annoyed, often sarcastic and dang, can I be moody. Yet we're still giving our overnight another shot in January.
Whether we make it our overnight together or not, I'll still turn off the computer when he enters the room, so we can talk.
When you enjoy talking to each other, when you savor your time together, then, THEN, the romance happens.
Happy Anniversary (and one day) to us!
Then there was several viewings of "Voyager" by Kent and the girls (daddy, daughter geek bonding). Boys on and off the computer and I cooked a whole lot of bacon for BLT's, around dinnertime.
I also made the the boys help me clean the front room. I told them that I was sick too, and if I could do it, they could do it as well.
So it wasn't a really romantic day for us. That's kind of how our luck has been going lately. About two months ago, my wonderful husband announced the first Monday of the month we were going to a local Bed and breakfast. This place has the most lovely themed rooms and I've wanted to go for years.
In 2000, Kent offered to take me, but I was nine months pregnant and declined. With lots of eye rolling.
Non stop sickness necessitated moving our night to the following Monday. Even more sickness led to canceling the following week. We will try again in January, after the non-stop blur of Christmas and birthdays. It's a teensy bit sad but really, the fact that my husband tried means so much to me. Points for effort!
Then there's the romance of gift giving. After my extreme and unreasonable reaction to a simple request to buy a specific tool sold at a store I despise, hubby bought it himself and gave it to me to wrap. I'm just grateful I don't have shop at the beloved tool store.
What does that say about me?
All this is secondary. Oh sure, it's nice to go places, it's nice to surprise your spouse but is that really romance?
I don't think it is. It's fun. It's exciting. But when I think of romance I think of the moments we have together. Grabbing a few minutes to just talk. My husband lightly stroking his hand across my shoulder as we discuss, anything and everything.
Marriage isn't easy. There is no "Happily Ever After". What's there, is a chance to grow together. To hopefully become better people together. Lets face it, no one is perfect and my hubs puts up with a lot from me. I'm quick to be annoyed, often sarcastic and dang, can I be moody. Yet we're still giving our overnight another shot in January.
Whether we make it our overnight together or not, I'll still turn off the computer when he enters the room, so we can talk.
When you enjoy talking to each other, when you savor your time together, then, THEN, the romance happens.
Happy Anniversary (and one day) to us!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
We're Playing a Guessing Game
Now I have five children. For simplicity sake, lets number them with a brief description so we're all clear on who's who.
1. The child that would lose her head if it wasn't attached.
2. The child that rightfully earned the title "The Queen of Protest" at eighteen months and still wears her crown proudly.
3. The middle child, with ADHD and impulse issues, has problems interacting with others and is getting processional help.
4. Velcro boy. Intensely honest but will quickly change his story to protect his twin, often blaming the middle child even after his twin has confessed.
5. Vecro boy's twin. He gives hugs and kisses as frequently as he gets in trouble.
So the guessing game... I get a phone call and one of my children was written up at school. So which child was it?
Lets see, the first guess would be number three, the middle child. *buzzer sound*
So sorry, that guess would be wrong. See, middle boy was already home with his sticky note containing two smiley faces! A regular occurrence now, things are going much better at school for the middle child. He's taking control of his behavior, working on not bugging people. He still has bad days but at least it's not a whole week of bad days like it was at the beginning of the year.
Numbers one and two, why they never have behavior problems at school. Various meetings for this or that and when behavior is mentioned, everyone laughs because the idea of either of the girls with behavior problems is ludicrous.
That leaves the twins. Immediately you consider the stinker, number five. Nope, not that kid either.
That leaves number four, Mr. Pure Heart, Velcro boy himself, as the child that was written up today.
It was situation that was inevitable. A new student is in the room and this student isn't fluent in English, a second language for him. Oddly, Velcro boy isn't very good with English either, but his is from a continual language delay that seems to effect his comprehension. Throw in a relentless desire to not only follow the rules, but to have everyone else follow the rules, something was bound to happen.
There's been a few build up incidents. The child that doesn't speak English is not doing *vague waving of hands* something, in class, quite the way he should, velcro boy is compelled to correct him. New kid doesn't speak English very well, Velcro boy doesn't convey his thoughts very well, Vecro boy resorts to physically trying to correct new kid and new kid doesn't appreciate being touched.
Today was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back and the new kid reacted to Velcro boy by hitting him. Of course new kid had parents called, but Velcro boy also didn't listen to his teacher who repeatedly has told him to not touch other kids. So Velcro boy gets written up as well. Pretty much the consequence was the teacher calling me.
His teacher did say that she thought Velcro boy has finally learned his lesson and finally understands what can happen when you touch people that don't want to be touched.
Lets hope so.
I will admit to giggling when I hung up the phone, grateful my child was guilty of caring and poor judgement rather then something worse, although of course, we talked about this at home too.
1. The child that would lose her head if it wasn't attached.
2. The child that rightfully earned the title "The Queen of Protest" at eighteen months and still wears her crown proudly.
3. The middle child, with ADHD and impulse issues, has problems interacting with others and is getting processional help.
4. Velcro boy. Intensely honest but will quickly change his story to protect his twin, often blaming the middle child even after his twin has confessed.
5. Vecro boy's twin. He gives hugs and kisses as frequently as he gets in trouble.
So the guessing game... I get a phone call and one of my children was written up at school. So which child was it?
Lets see, the first guess would be number three, the middle child. *buzzer sound*
So sorry, that guess would be wrong. See, middle boy was already home with his sticky note containing two smiley faces! A regular occurrence now, things are going much better at school for the middle child. He's taking control of his behavior, working on not bugging people. He still has bad days but at least it's not a whole week of bad days like it was at the beginning of the year.
Numbers one and two, why they never have behavior problems at school. Various meetings for this or that and when behavior is mentioned, everyone laughs because the idea of either of the girls with behavior problems is ludicrous.
That leaves the twins. Immediately you consider the stinker, number five. Nope, not that kid either.
That leaves number four, Mr. Pure Heart, Velcro boy himself, as the child that was written up today.
It was situation that was inevitable. A new student is in the room and this student isn't fluent in English, a second language for him. Oddly, Velcro boy isn't very good with English either, but his is from a continual language delay that seems to effect his comprehension. Throw in a relentless desire to not only follow the rules, but to have everyone else follow the rules, something was bound to happen.
There's been a few build up incidents. The child that doesn't speak English is not doing *vague waving of hands* something, in class, quite the way he should, velcro boy is compelled to correct him. New kid doesn't speak English very well, Velcro boy doesn't convey his thoughts very well, Vecro boy resorts to physically trying to correct new kid and new kid doesn't appreciate being touched.
Today was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back and the new kid reacted to Velcro boy by hitting him. Of course new kid had parents called, but Velcro boy also didn't listen to his teacher who repeatedly has told him to not touch other kids. So Velcro boy gets written up as well. Pretty much the consequence was the teacher calling me.
His teacher did say that she thought Velcro boy has finally learned his lesson and finally understands what can happen when you touch people that don't want to be touched.
Lets hope so.
I will admit to giggling when I hung up the phone, grateful my child was guilty of caring and poor judgement rather then something worse, although of course, we talked about this at home too.
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