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| It's snowing! I guess we can expect up to 5" |
Here in our little area of the country we are getting our first snow of the season, which is always kind of exciting. At least it is happening on a Friday, so those poor poor children will not have a snow day. I mean, after all it's bad enough that the poor dears had to get out of school early due to the slick roads. You just have to love freezing rain/slushy stuff all over the roads. Nothing says slip in slide like a big yellow school bus driving down the high that is trying to stop to unload it's precious cargo. I was quite relieved to see my daughter get home this afternoon when they got out early! Thankfully my sons don't have preschool on Friday's so they were already home hanging out with Mom.
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| The other day it was Christmas sweater day at school, this was as Christmassy as we could find when it was last minute (I kind of forgot, oops!) so she was ushering in the snow before it got here. |
I am totally going to miss those boys when they go off to kindergarten though! They keep my days very interesting that's for sure. They go to preschool in the afternoons, so I get to spend my mornings hanging out with them and listening to them giggle, and we snuggle up on the couch to watch all of our (I mean their) favorite cartoons. Come next fall, I won't get to do that anymore!
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| Coloring in the laundry room area. |
They spend their mornings making blanket forts in their bedroom, and in the dining room. They also huddle up in the laundry area and color in their favorite coloring books. They also snuggle up in a big ol' pile of blankets in the living room floor, and find all the pillows in the house to cuddle up with and will watch cartoons until it's time to get ready for school. They make me laugh with their crazy antics!
Recently we attended a fun Christmas event at our local public library, I met my probably one and only blog reader, yay! It was nice to know that someone is reading, and encouraging me to CONTINUE to post. Encouragement is always nice!
I'm not as witty, snarky, creative, intelligent, or whatever, as most of the other mommy bloggers out there. That's ok though, because I'm not them, I'm me so I can only do what comes naturally to me. It won't be for everyone, and that's ok. So to those of you sticking around, thank you very much. Even if it is just to point and laugh. It's ok, because I point and laugh too, but that's for an entirely different reason. (haha)
We are still keeping up with our version of the "Elf on the Shelf". I should find a more fitting name for our little dude, seeing as how he isn't REALLY an Elf, he's a reindeer, but I don't know anything creative or witty for a reindeer. Erm, Reindeer on your Headgear? No good. Reindeer Helps You Steer? Laaaame. Eh, we'll just keep calling him Toffee, our honorary elf and call it good. (There are far too many photos of Toffee to share in THIS particular post, so be on the look out for another post very soon filled with his adventures)!
While the kids were at the Christmas activity at the local library this past week they got the chance to see Santa, which they absolutely loved. They had already received a phone call from Santa, we skipped the video from the North Pole this year (well so far anyway). At this rate, I'm just going to find some coal to dump in Mars stocking because that boy...ain't been NOTHIN' BUT NAUGHTY! We still need to go see Santa again (officially) at "Santa's House" at the nearby park here in town. Hopefully my sons don't get into another fist fight in front of Santa like they did last year!
The boys pulled a last minute switcheroo on us when it came to Christmas presents. Little stinkers, they told us what they wanted for Christmas, we got it. Yay us! We were done early with our shopping. Oh no. They then decided just recently that none of those items were what they wanted, so they then tell us a NEW list of coveted items. Well, sorry boys. Mommy is NOT a Toys R Us, and Christmas isn't all about getting what you want, so you'll do with what you get! They know that we celebrate the gift that was the birth of Jesus in our home, and THAT is the reason that's THE MOST important for celebrating Christmas at our home. It's not about the Santa, or presents, or tree or lights., but God's unending love for us, that is the true gift. Santa may not bring you presents if you are on his naughty list, but God still loves you even though you make a mistake and HIS present of unending love and forgiveness is always on the table for you to accept. (Thank you to Pastor at Church last weekend for that VERY wonderful message).
At Church last weekend the kids got to play the hand bells with several other kids in Sunday school. They did a really great job! It was so cute to watch them and Keegan was the most excited about it all. He made sure Marshall (who looked rather nervous) didn't miss any of his ques. FINALLY my kids are old enough to participate in things at Church (and their attendance is actually good enough now to be able to participate in things). I love seeing their love for God grow. The other morning my daughter comes up to me and says Mommy, I LOVE God and God loves me, I want to pray. So that's exactly what we did, we prayed together. She said "Dear God, thank you for everything you give me, and please help me do the right things, Amen". Not a bad prayer for a 6 year old! Made my heart sing!
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| My little joys waiting patiently for Church to begin so they can go up front with all of the other kids to play the hand bells! |
Tonight should have been her first Girl Scout meeting (she's a Daisy)! However, due to the weather we did not venture out of the house, so if they still had the meeting, we didn't attend it. I didn't want to try and get out on our drive through our neighborhood, it doesn't get plowed so we're pretty much on our own and with all the rain we had this morning....I knew it was going to be a pain. Our drive way is kind of a down wardish slope, and then the drive through our neighborhood kind of goes up wardish. Didn't think that whole combo would make for a good situation just trying to get out of the drive way! So we stayed home.
I'm not generally that mom that spends HOURS creating the perfectly adorable lunch for her child to take to school just to demolish or not even eat at all. Generally I even forget that I needed to make my daughters lunch, and then find myself begging my daughter to just eat at school for ONE day. When that doesn't work I sloff off to the kitchen to throw something together. For the past week or so it's been cinnamon apple sauce, a cheese stick, some cheese it crackers, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and to drink either milk, or orange juice. Creative I know. Her sandwich is usually just got in half from corner to corner. Go me. If I actually get the stuff put together the night before I will sleep a little heart shaped note in with her sandwich that says "I Love You" or "Have a Good day" or I'll come up with something witty using her sight words from school.
Well, today I was on a roll! I broke out the Christmas cookie cutters and made her 2 little snow men sandwiches. I even used that hazelnut spread that Jiffy (or Jiff, whatever they are called), makes. I even got sooo creative to use a TINY dab of black frosting in a tube and give the snowman a face, and put on some sprinkles for some color. Why? Because I rock. Some days. Plus I knew it was going to snow today and Kams was wearing another snowman shirt, so I figured why not throw in some snow themed foods. I even popped some popcorn and stuffed them in her lunch box instead of the cheese its. Told my daughter to pretend they were snowballs (just don't throw them at other kids, just put them in your mouth and eat them).
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| See, aren't they adorable? She was so proud of her little snowmen sandwiches. Though I didn't bother to ask if they still looked that cute by the time she got them to lunch or not! |
Of course the boys were watching me lovingly create their sisters lunch for school today so they begged me to make them one too, so sure enough for lunch today the boys had little cutesy sandwiches too. These kids better not get used to this. It's not going to be an every day thing here.
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| K-sters lunch, similar to his sisters. Popcorn, apple slices, and a yummy little ginger bread man he helped decorate. |
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| Mars, like his big sister went with a snowman theme and he helped decorate him as well. |
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| K-ster took far too much joy out of biting off Mr. Gingerbread Man's head! |
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| And then he went back for his arms. |
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| Mars couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to start from Mr. Snowmans head, or his feet! He eventually decided to go for the head.... |
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| He's just as rotten as his brother. Poor Mr. Snowman. |
Although the boys are rotten when it comes to playing with their food, they were very proud of themselves this morning when they read their big sisters books in her reading folder for school! They both did a VERY good job!
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| Mars happily read this book about all of the things you see on your way to school. |
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| K-ster read this book about all of the things that Dad can do. |
Yesterday our community had it's Christmas Parade that had been cancelled last weekend, it was very small! There weren't many entries. Some man (we called him the Grinch), stole our line up number and broke the stick in half and I guess was all ranting and raving about how he didn't want people in his yard (sidewalk is public property bud)! We were just waiting for the parade to start. The volunteers for the local animal shelter here in town, we always have a great time doing the parades and getting the word out about the shelter, this parade was made pretty memorable by the Grinch who didn't want us (or anyone else) around either. Still managed to get a decent pic of my daughter and I together on the float we were riding on before the parade started.
I guess I should share these last two photos! One is of our new furry friend. His name, is Hagrid. After Severus died, our hearts were shattered, and there is still a sad spot where Severus left his paw mark. However, the husband and I had gone to the shelter one day where I volunteer. I was picking up a kennel to borrow, and I was photographing some cats that were there that needed homes. My husband fell in love with the BIGGEST fluffiest cat we had both ever seen. He just spoke to us. Severus sent him to us, we know it. He knew Hagrid would fit in so well in our home and with my husband (who is a cat fan). Hagrid is our gentle giant. We love that cat and he cracks us up. He's fat, fluffy, lazy, and if he hears a can being opened he is there faster than you would think possible for a cat his size! He also poops more than an elephant and that takes some getting used to! It's insane keeping up with scooping the litter box! HA! Hagrid was quite taken aback by the Christmas tree. He was standing in front of the tree just staring at a red Christmas light one day when I snapped this photo of him with his mouth hanging wide open (I added the Santa hat on in editing). Love that cat, he's a good fit for this home. He's sturdy, friendly and gets along with everyone he meets, and loves to be snuggled and cuddled. Thank you Severus for sending Hagird to us! (Yeh yeh I know we like the Harry Potter themed names, deal with it).
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Merry Christmas from Hagrid the caroling cat...
"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...oh how I want to destroy thee..." |
Also....our little pup River has done lost her FURRY LITTLE MIND! Not that she had much up their to lose. This dog has now realized she has a REFLECTION. Only she doesn't realize that is what it is and she goes NUTSO on her own reflection which causes Molly and Karmen to jump up ready to kill something and they run around the room in circles barking like maniacs and River is so spooked about her own reflection it is ridiculous. Of course this happens when the house is all quiet, and you are just getting to a good spot on a book....then all this barking breaks loose and your heart thumps right out of your chest. Thanks dogs. Thanks, a lot.
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| River eyeballing her reflection. Crazy dog. |
While there has been stress in the job searching front, it's going. Not much else I can do other than what I've been doing. Just keep plugging away not giving up. I've been babysitting a ton lately, which is always nice. I love having kids of all ages in the house. Sure it's hectic sometimes and I meet myself coming and going but I've always loved a house full of kids. It's nice to know that at the end of the day...they get to go home with THEIR parents, ha!
Tomorrow is Saturday, and who knows what that will bring! Well, other than half a foot of snow that I can't wait to take the kids out to play in! Woo HOO! Love me a first snow! We're busting out the sled (and long johns), big ol' mittens too and going to have us some fun!
Mae
