all together minus one
Yesterday I headed south with just two kids in the car. We are spending New Years out of town with some friends that have a daughter my girls age. So, #1 decided to stay on with his grandparents instead of coming along. As we were pulling away, in the pouring rain, I tried to fight back the tears. Two minutes later I was boo hooing. I missed #1 so much and I wanted him to come home. The break away from the kids was wonderful, but I was ready for us to all be together again. #2 asked, “Mommy, are you crying?” I replied “Yes, I just miss Landon.” Then I look back at her and big crocodile tears were streaming down her face, she said, “I really miss him too.” I reasoned it all through and I knew I had done the right thing in letting him decide to stay. I did not want him to know I was upset, I would never want him to feel guilty about his decision.
He’s having a wonderful time being spoiled by my parents, playing with a friend he hasn’t seen in a long time, and he gets to spend one night his great grandmother. I can’t wait for Wednesday when we pick him up and we’ll all be together again.
the new mask
Look at the craft #3 got for Christmas. She was so proud of her mask. We had to go out and pick up dinner last night and she wore it the whole time. I love how she likes to be different. She doesn’t paint her face or wear the mask to get people to look at her, she just does it because she is confident and she likes it.
more of christmas
So, here is what has been going on, Christmas afternoon we headed north to visit my family. The following day, my man and I left, leaving the kids behind with my parents for a few days. (Thanks dad and mom!) The plan … get the house in order while having uninterupted time alone at home. Not the case. It’s been an amazing two days just hanging out together. Rocking to Guitar Hero 3 for hours on end (I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GAME!), shopping, eating out (where ever we want), and watching TWO movies at the theater. Wow, I love my man!!!!
I leave early Saturday morning to get the kids. The house is still a disaster, but oh well, we’ve had fun.
Here’s some more pics of Christmas ….
kids opening presents
my mom, aunt, grandmother and me
me and my cousin
grandmother and #2
my two cousin- in-laws
christmas eve
We spent it with my man’s step moms side of the family.
The whole group! …………. My crazy precious little niece.
#2 looking festive …….. and ………….. me and my two sister in-laws.
Can you believe I get the spend the rest of my life married to this incredibly good looking man?
christmas part 1
Christmas round 1 is done.
We had a really busy weekend and every minute was really enjoyable. We celebrated with my man’s brothers and sister (WE MISSED YOU BREE!) on his mom and step-dad’s side of the family. Everyone met for breakfast at our house and then we headed to MeMaw’s for a early dinner to exchange more presents with more family.
Tonight will be Christmas round 2 with the other side of my man’s family. Christmas day and the day after will be with my family.
I finished shopping yesterday and as I was browsing in one final store, I heard this hill-billy version of Joy to the World. Suddenly tears were in my eyes. I was overcome with joy at the true meaning of Christmas. I think I have just been running around stressed and trying to accomplish so much in a small amount of time that it was just like a slap in the face … it’s about Jesus.
I also can’t help but to think of Mary as I look at my kids. I’ll never forget watching my first Christmas play while being pregnant with #1. As I watched them reenact the whole birth, I just cried, thinking of Mary and her relationship with Jesus and how she watched her son suffer on the cross. That year Christmas was different for me.
Anyways, I know … I’m such a cheese sometimes.
Here’s some pics from this weekend. I’ll be posting my version of a Christmas card tonight.
#2 with her Uncle Mike and Aunt Kim …. Brother and sister in-law George and Jan
Us and my niece Karrigan (what a cutie!)
We presented my in-laws with a complete family protrait. (thanks Jan for all your hard work!)
my #2 and me
Just #2 and I went shopping last night. It has been awhile since she and I have had time alone together. I love how her personality just explodes when she gets one on one. Normally she is very shy, but there was zero trace of it while we were out. We first went to Hobby Lobby and right as we walked in she spotted a large bug on the floor. She insisted we tell someone immediately. I was in a hurry so I did not want to stop, but while we were browsing the clearance Christmas items, she spotted the man “who owned the whole place.” She bravely went up to him and told him about the bug. He was so nice. He thanked her, called her a princess and an angel and after he removed the bug he came to find her again which just boosted her little ego more as he called her sweetheart and thanked her once again. She was just beaming. Next we went to Walmart and she helped remind me of things we needed that I seem to always forget to pick up like Hello Kitty bandaids. Then she picked out the perfect Christmas gift for her sister …. a baby raccoon Littlest Pet Shop. She just squealed when she found it. After toy shopping she decided to ride in the cart so we could snuggle as we picked up some groceries. After we cruised down the Chip aisle, she started singing a made up tune – “Just plain old chips”. It seemed like with every step she seemed to get louder and louder and LOUDER. She got to the point she was just blaring “Just PLAIN old CHIIIIIIIIIIIPSSSSSSSSSS!” I didn’t tell her to stop b/c it was so unlike her to feel so uninhibited.
I loved every minute of our night. She’s so awesome.
sweet
As #3 and I were finishing our night-night Eskimo kisses I said to her, “Good night. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”
She looked up at me and gave me this huge grin and said, “Me too, friend.”
I melted.
how much do you like hot dogs?
Enough to write a paragraph about them?
#1 is not much of a meat eater, except for hot dogs. His face gets this weird look and his nose flares as he chews steak or chicken which he drowns in mustard.
So, today for creative writing I gave him the freedom to choose what he wrote about … and here it is.
my fix
As I have mentioned before, I have just recently developed a taste for coffee … I used to absolutely hate it no matter how many times/ways I tried it. My toleration and love for it now is due to the fact that Coffeemate has the most delicious creamer ever … Vanilla Carmel. I can’t go one day without it.
