Shot of the Day

This morning was nice. Woke at 6 and jokingly told my hubby, "lets go wake the kids". He got out of bed and I called after him thatI was just joking. I got our ham in the slow cooker and our Christmas morning cinnamon roles in the over. Shortly before seven we went and woke the kids. It's so much fun jumping on their beds saying "It's Christmas (insert child's name here)! It's Christmas, it's Christmas! My younger two wake up immediately, the others taking just a smidgen longer.

We have been so blessed this year. I just have to share this favorite shot of the day of mine.


Michael is 10 and he's entered the stage of joking around with me faaar too much, and always trying to get the better of me. So I told him I was going to 'get him good' this year, and boy did I ever. My son has recently been all about basketball, unfortunately they couldn't find a coach for St. George's kids, so it looks like he won't be playing this season after all. Anyhow, he's had his Dad's old ball for a while, the thing is flat and doesn't hold air for anything, he wanted a new basketball so bad. So, all the presents are open and there's no basketball. He told me "I have $40 so I'll get to buy a basketball. That's when I suddenly remembered that there was another big box. I presented it to Michael, he was very excited.

So he opens this big box, just to find another box in it, and another box, and finally a little tupperware dish. He's giving me looks, inside is a little 3x3 card, written on it is a clue. He gets a clue which leads him to my bathroom which leads him to the fridge, which leads him to the laundry room. Funny thing is, he's still tripping out over the fact that Mommy 'got him', and his siblings are the ones figuring out the clues!

So in the laundry room he finds a big box, opens it up and inside is his basketball. He's glad and relieved, till he finds that there's another clue taped to it. That clue leads him to the microwave where a little box waits for him. He opens that up and finds a net. He keeps saying, "I know you didn't get me a basketball hoop. What is this for?" Meanwhile his sister is reading the clue that was with it which tells him to get some fresh air. He heads outside and finds a basketball goal in the drive way with a big red bow on it. He was so shocked and surprised. I'm quite satisfied that I got him so well. I've proved once again that I am still able to get the best of him. :)

It's that time of year...

It's that time of year, the time of family, friends, laughter, good cheer, and.... not much time to blog. Today is the last day of school for my little ones, so starting tomorrow I have two and a half weeks of constant noise and having to find something for them to do. I don't suspect I'll disappear entirely but my much decreased frequency will probably continue for a while. I'm spending my time with my family, which is finally whole for a change. I pray everyone has a fabulous Christmas. Remember, it's not the gifts, or the money that makes Christmas great, is the memories of being with one another, and remembering our Savior's birth. :)

A Perfectly Imperfect Christmas

One of my kid's teachers forwarded this to me. It reminded me of my crooked Christmas Tree that I posted earlier. I know nothing about Jim Fay or the Love & Logic group this is from, so I can not either endorse them or discourage their message. But I do know that this particular message made me smile, and in this season of stress and worries, sometimes us adults need to allow things to not be perfect.

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HAVE A PERFECTLY IMPERFECT CHRISTMAS

What was your best Christmas as a kid? Was it the one where there was a lot of stress about a perfect meal elegantly served—on time—to a perfectly dressed family? Or was it the one where the dog pulled the turkey off the stove and dragged it away through the dog door? There was no perfect meal that day. Everyone rolled with the punches. They rolled up their sleeves and worked together in the kitchen to salvage a makeshift meal.

The beauty of that memory is not in perfection and organization, but in remembering the joy of being together and doing things together. It was the laughter. It was one of those days when the choices were to laugh or to cry, so you all laughed it off and enjoyed one another. It brought you all together in a different way.

Holidays are times for enjoying one another. We are not suggesting that you purposely feed the turkey to the pets, but we strongly suggest that an imperfect day with little stress will create better memories of loving relationships.

We wish you a perfectly imperfect holiday season.

Thanks for reading!
Jim Fay
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Though I seriously do not hope anyone's dinner runs away from them, I'm hoping everyone will allow joy to fill their hearts during the imperfect moments.

Now it's looking like it!

This is what I woke up to this morning! Isn't it so pretty! So yeah, a couple days ago the cookies had it smelling like Christmas, now the snow has it looking like Christmas. I'm so glad my hubby's home to do a share of the shoveling! lol I did not enjoy doing that last winter.

I hope everyone is staying warm! I'll be huddled around the dryer, stove and craft table at different times of the day today. :)

Quick check in

I love my kids with all my heart. Just last night I was whining to my husband about how lonely I will be when they all grow and leave the house. I told him he better be prepared for my mid-life crisis when my baby girl moves out. But one thing I think I will enjoy about a quiet house... being able to sleep in when you plan on it! I had planned to sleep in till like 7:30 this morning, but noooooo.... two boys and a puppy made sure I was up at 6! *sigh* So is the life.

Yesterday was a very busy day. Johnathan had a tournament to participate in. I'll have to see if I can get a picture or two up on here later as my camera is currently in the back of my van, which I'm not allowed into because there are Christmas presents there from our shopping trip last night. One must be resourceful to go shopping for five different people and not let anyone see what they got. lol Thank heavens for big jackets that cover contents of shopping carts!

At least this morning I woke to an e-mail letting me know I made the Design Team at the Christmas Cards all Year 'Round blog! I'm so excited. It's my first excursion into this realm and I hope it leads to new and excited things. People have always told me how "creative" I am, it's time to put it to the test. :)

Well, off I go... gotta get this day started. Sunday School to prepare for, a Lord to serve. :)