A Chrismas Story in Pictures

Decorating homemade cinnamon ornaments:

What is left of Gabriels ornament. He painted and painted and painted! He wouldn't let me take it away to dry but just wanted to paint it.

Getting a light saber for Christmas.

A boy and his Power Ranger

The Spiderman toy

Can't forget the slinky!

Putting their heads together to build the T-Rex Wrecker

Mother and daughter making the dressing

No roasting pan? No problem! We can improvise!

Merry Christmas Michael! We miss you very much and will be thinking of you today.

Babbling on...

This morning, another hour I survived through church with three children.



Father Michael (NOT Michael, the father of my children) shook my hand, smiled and asked if I was going to stay. It was another birthday Sunday. As he spoke, visions of the previous birthday Sunday scraped through my mind causing me to involuntarily shiver.



As I shook fathers hand and smiled, I mentioned that it gets a bit crazy. He just insisted and said "Really please stay, enjoy some cake and meet some people". I just smiled again and said 'maybe'.



Is it a sin to NOT take the advice of a priest? I didn't commit to going into the social hall. I just said maybe in my really low voice. He probably didn't even hear me.



As I walked to the van I imagined the priest stalking me with his eyes, watching to see if, in fact I went into the social hall or kept going. Sorry to disappoint. I felt guilty. I wanted to go in. I did! But I had already experienced a birthday Sunday. It was very crowded. People just stepped around us, I didn't meet anyone. Well, except the nice cake lady and we know how that ended.



All the way home I wondered if this would be added to my naughty list when it came time for confession. Yeah, and father Michael would probably be the priest taking the confessions.

The boys are good, their usual selves. Spencer counts down the days until Christmas on the Santa calendar we got from Chris. My shopping is complete. I think. There is always another thing to get and as I type this I realize I did miss one, but it's an easy online one so no more sweating it out with the kids at the store with all of the other crazies.

I am at 30 weeks. Can't believe I only have 10 weeks to go until Samanta is born. Whew! How time flies. Actually, I have an appointment today. The sugar glucose test thing. I have to drink a sugary drink and then sit around for an hour and then go back in for them to check my sugar levels. I am going to take advantage of that time. A book? Snatches of peace and quiet, a blessing.

Have a splendid day! Will get the 30 week belly shot soon.

A picture is worth a thousand words

It's that time of year again; a time for shopping, hanging with the family, baking, traveling and more shopping and taking the kids to meet Santa. This pic is our cheapie, freebie we received at Wal-mart, hence, the bad quality. You get what you pay for, or in this case what you don't pay for.

Yes, I DID go shopping with the boys and managed to get out of there in one piece.

As the boys and I strolled down the toy isle so Elijah could 'look' at the toys I spotted a very un-Santa, Santa. I think this Santa is actually a woman. Mrs. Claus filling in?

As we approached this she-Santa, Gabriel had a peculiar look on his face. He was definitely sizing up the she-Santa. Maybe he was wondering why this Santa looked a little bit different than the ones he has seen depicted in the books we read. At any rate, he pointed and said "Santa!"

The Wal-mart staff informed me that they were taking pics and would we want one? After moments pondering whether I wanted to chance it and remain in the store for a few minutes more I decided to get their pics done. What the heck!

As we were leaving Spencer said to me "Mommy, you know that's not Santa". He really is too smart for his own good. I just told him that yes I knew and that Santa is very busy and sometimes has people help him out. He seemed to know that's what I was going to say and agreed with me.

Then of course it really was time to get out of the store. Can you say: Poopy pants?

This morning I locked myself, Elijah and Gabe out of the house. Elijah cried that his throat hurt and there was nothing I could do. My neighbor was there and said she would help. She did, bless her heart.

With the quick thinking of a seasoned veteran I unlocked the van and put a DVD on for the boys to watch. I did have my van keys, but the previous day I had taken the house keys off the ring for reasons that are unimportant so I won't explain other than to say I kept seeing that damn house key on the counter, thinking that I should put it back on my key chain.

Always go with your intuition.

Luckily I had left the upstairs master bedroom window unlocked. The neighbor got a ladder and screw driver to pry off the screen. I will from now on be locking that window just in case anyone thinks they are going to get into my house that way.

As my neighbor climbed up into my bedroom I quickly ran through my mind the condition of my room. My bedroom is my sanctuary. Did I have undies lying about or was my bed a mess? I didn't think so and was right; there was no need to worry. Would you have? Maybe I am just weird to think about that.

Then I began to ponder the thought of what if I did have undies or personal items lying about. NOT that I have weird personal items lying about mind you!

Would I have just called a lock smith to avoid embarassment?

Yes.

I would have paid someone to open my house up instead of having my neighbor see what kind of underwear I own or how messy my room may have been. Afterall, there are times when the housework gets put on the backburner around here. I mean, sheesh! Despite what some might think, I really am not super woman! :)

Okay, so maybe that's TMI.

Elijah drew a very cute picture of me today. As he proudly handed me the picture he said "Here, this is a picture of your big fat belly mom". Gee. Thanks kid.

Great picture don't you think! Elijah is finally beginning to draw shapes. Yay! And yes Michael it does resemble one Spencer would draw. Hmmm wonder if maybe this is hereditary? Do we have aliens in our blood line?

Speaking of Elijah, he is doing well. He does have his moments in the middle of the night when his throat is very sore, but otherwise he is a trooper.

Michael sent me a few pics of himself on the ship. Unfortunately, I cannot open them, except for one, which doesn't really showcase his new look. Here, hanging upside down with his commanding officer is the new mustached Michael.

WARNING!!!!! What you are about to see may shock you. Viewer discretion is advised!!!!!

I know. It is difficult to see his face, but we are still working on getting more pics. I have another idea on how to get the pics opened. When and if it works, I will post them.

Here's hoping the Christmas season is treating you kindly and that you are filled with the spirit of giving. My address is....................ha ha ha!

AND let's hope the magic of Santa makes it through another year in our house.

See ya tonsils and some pics- UPDATED!

Bright and early tomorrow morning Elijah and I will set off to the hospital to have his tonsils removed. He has been a good sport about it and has not seemed worried. I asked him tonight if he had anything he wanted to know about the surgery. He just jumped around and said that tomrrow he and I would go to the hospital. Tomorrow he will probably be singing a different tune, but I am equipped. I have the ice cream, frozen fruit pops and ice cream sandwiches, plus juice and apple sauce. Unfortunetly for Elijah Fridays around here are Pizza Fridays. He will not be able to enjoy the pizza.



Today we made the cake, decorated it with blue icing and sprinkles. Good-bye Tonsils. We all enjoyed a piece of the cake, which of course ended up all over faces and little hands, which I did not get a picture of.

When there's no one to take a pic of me I get Spencer. He did good! A natural.

UPDATE!!!!

Elijah got through the surgery well. He is resting when he can and eating lots of ice cream sandwiches and fruit pops. He is miserable, but is holding up. Poor little guy.

When the doctor came out to tell me Elijah was out of surgery he told me that Elijah's tonsils were enormous. What we could see looking into his mouth was just the tip of the ice berg. Let's hope this helps his loud snoring!!

Chris, Elijah loved his Power Ranger and will enjoy playing with his sticker books once he gets better. He has the PR sitting with him on the couch as the kids watch Scooby Doo (another winner)! Spencer REALLY REALLY wants to watch the Grinch so that one is next.

TMI and a day at the park.

Yesterday, my neighbor was kind enough to watch the boys while I ran to the mall.

Ever go to a mall with 3 kids? Yeah, Michael I know you have. It's crazy and I suppose some people might get a rush from that kind of thing, but me, I will stay grounded and sane, thank you.

I arrived at Macys to restock my low supply of Clinique.

Yeah, I know, but whatever! Shut uuuup!

I was wearing this shirt:

And before anyone gives me crap about it, don't! It's my shirt and I think it is funny. Besides, I think I have earned the right to wear it!

Anyway, as I am waiting for the saleslady to finish with a very chatty customer the saleslady keeps looking at my shirt and finally asks what it says.

I never imagined the conversation that would come from wearing this shirt. Really, maybe I am just from another time and space, but the things strangers will divulge to you. Shocking!

Clinque saleslady tells me and the chatty customer that she doesn't use brith control and hasn't had to use BC for 2 years and hasn't gotten pregnant, NOT that she is promiscuos or anything, she adds.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I have something written on my forehead?

I smile and politely nod as if to say 'Okay. I see. Now can you stop telling me this?'

The polite nod doesn't work.

Now the chatty customer chimes in because now it's okay to talk about personal business with perfect strangers, although 'chatty' and saleslady may know each other, I doubt it. Chatty tells us about how BC makes her fat and crabby and how she had some operation because her flow was heavy and that because of the operation she couldn't have children and her doctor never told her THAT, but it's okay because she has two kids.

I just stood there with that polite smile. I think at this point the Clinique saleslady knew it had gone too far too.

WTH!!! Who does this? I dont' want to hear about your 'flow' lady! I have enough gross things to deal with on a daily basis. TMI!

Anyway,

I took the kids to the park, which was fun for them, but cold! Brrrrr! Can we go back to Cuba now?

Here are some pics of our park outing:

Have a great day!