And the joy continued...

All three cuties in front of the tree in their new Christmas pjs.

Jeep was surprised with his new blanket and squirrel!

Baby Girl received zhu zhu pets... she'd been wanting them for a long time and big-brother gave them to her!

Pepe was excited about his huge lego set (which he has already put together and loves).

Phinneous admiring his new silly bandz... he really liked his new glove and ball (that measures how fast he throws).

It was a wonderful time together as a family... not too much stuff, but enough to make everyone feel special!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

We spent Christmas eve with very good friends and their family... friends that we have had since Joe and I began dating... in fact Joe goes back even farther with them. It is a friendship in which you help each other out, compliment each other, appreciate each other... it's incredible.

I lost count at how many people we celebrated with... kids opening presents... my kids opened their Christmas eve pjs... loved watching the excitement and the embarrassment (I guess when you're a 5th grader it's weird to open pjs in front of people.)




And then we headed home...

And what to our wondering eyes had appeared... I do believe Santa had been to our house while we were gone...


They were excited, surprised... they opened half of their gifts and then chose to save the rest for morning... it was pleasant and nice and exciting and a joy to watch my children so happy.

To be continued...

Giving it ALL

This kid gives it ALL each week.

His determination, intensity and passion speak loudly.

He's struggling right now... not with the game of basketball but with the move of his best friend and his coach (of two sports).

I see the frustration. It manifests itself in pure crankiness and often tears (about something totally unrelated).




He's taught me a large lesson. I need to give my ALL each day when parenting. It's not acceptable to not be intense and determined and focused.

I need to think outside the box with this kid... I need to know how to get out of sticky situations with him. He's an extremely sensitive kid and he often tells me to "not yell at him"... and I shake my head... {I'm not yelling.} But, in his eyes and ears anything stern is yelling and he shuts down.

Oh, the joys of parenting... It's a daily struggle and joy to parent.

Stay focused, be determined, have intensity...


Give it ALL.

Tradition

I have not sent out a traditional card in a couple of years. That whole Masters "thing" really sent me for a loop... I did create a slide show that I sent via email during that time. While I LOVED the slide show (so many pictures to include and songs, etc) it wasn't the simplicity of a card. So, this year I've purchased cards. I used the picture above... went with the theme of the year... "how many sports can we play at this house"... and had some fun.

Now to address the envelopes... ha, who am I kidding... I need to find the address book!

He's 9!

Phineous is 9! My Thanksgiving (born a month early baby is 9!

This year is a year to celebrate with family... which the kids are skeptical about. But it proved to be a great birthday celebration.



We surprised him with the chance to watch Oregon vs. Duke on Saturday. He went with his two buddies and the three Dad's. He had no idea he was going... we told him to get ready to head to the store (he put on his Ducks shirt... cause he always wears his Duck shirt) and we stalled for the friends to arrive. He kept asking if his buddies could come and play and we kept putting him off. Finally the door bell sounded and his buddies had arrived... he and Joe got in the car and the friends told him where he was going. So cool! (He loved the game!)



The second surprise was an ipod touch. I know, I know... he's only 9. What do you do when it's the only thing he wants, you get a great deal, he's very responsible and it's the only thing he wants?!?!!? He LOVES it. He has even shared with his brother without.being.asked!

It was a great celebration! Which wasn't complete with out plain cheesecake :)


I can't believe he's 9! I'm trying hard to enjoy this year because I keep thinking... I'm going to have two kids in double digits next year... aaaagh! Enjoy this season :)

Gratitude :: 10

I am grateful for a "girl" day... a fun "Just Dance" workout, a pedicure and lunch. A little spoiling {especially when Mama gets the kids cold} is very nice.

Gratitude :: 9

Grateful to be able {although sometimes not willing} to workout... especially with friends.

Gratitude :: 8

Grateful to practice my teaching skills... I was blessed with the opportunity to sub at my old preschool!

Gratitude :: 7

I'm grateful for two boys that {sometimes} get along and do great things together.

Gratitude :: 6

I'm am so thankful for my sense of humor.... sometimes you just have to laugh!

Gratitude :: 5

I'm thankful for my couch... sometimes it's just what I need... a moment to sit, relax, reflect and enjoy.

Gratitude :: 4

I'm thankful for my "beast" of a car!

It is on the go very often... hauling kids, dirt, equipment, dirt, stinking shoes, kids, dogs, etc. It may not be the prettiest thing, but it is mine and it is very functional!

Gratitude :: 3

I'm thankful for my husband...

I often find myself doing a lot on my own... (anyone else have a traveling hubby). I don't mind doing it on my own... some may call me a control freak.

Lately, there have been numerous occasions where I realize it is soooo much easier to do things with him than without him.

Gratitude :: 2

I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate...

bible study / soccer board position / bike first!

Gratitude :: 1

I saw a post about gratitude that I loved.
So I'm going to do my own month of gratitude postings.



I am grateful for my spirited, fun, routine-loving, thoughtful children. Another Halloween, but this time we experienced changes. Friends were of great importance; which was fine, just different. I'm so grateful for these kiddos and all that they enjoy and especially for the joy they bring to me.

$ Dollar Store *LOVE*

The $ store and I have a love/hate relationship! Sometimes I love what I find, but often the lack of any type of quality drives me crazy. I love to be frugal, but not cheap. Buy less and buy quality is what I'd rather do.

That being said... I found a few treasures yesterday to share with you.


Just for fun... kids sized bowls that I used on a runner down the table. The kids think they should be filled with candy... I'm not so sure! Maybe pumpkin seeds and nuts? I think today I'll have them filled with their after-school snack.

Adding an unexpected Pop... I had marbles and clear "disks" surrounding my candles, but I found these mini pumpkins and acorns. While they are plastic and a bit "cheesy" I think they added great color and texture to this decoration.


Just because I wanted them... I've wanted new wine glasses for awhile and couldn't force myself to splurge. Then I saw these last week and I've been thinking about them. I ended up bringing home 6 of them for $6), ran them through the dishwasher and hung them up. I love them! They are nice and heavy and tall... perfect. Would I love something fancier... maybe someday. But these glasses won't cause me any heartache when they get hit by a football (it will happen in my house) or dropped on the granite counter.


Happy Wednesday!

I'm running?!?!

About 4 weeks ago I was feeling like I was at the depths of despair... okay, maybe not that low, but pretty darn low.

I had some choices to make... get medicated or do something to boost myself.

I chose to do something (although I'm not sure that I'm out of the woods... there is nothing wrong with medication... I'm just going through a lot of transitions and I'm trying to make the right decision for me)... I started running.

OR... maybe I should call it GULPING air! It was pretty awful at first. But I have to say, that surrounded by great friends I have kept at it. I am up to running at least 1.5 miles before I need to stop for a cleansing breath (I usually then walk about 1/4 mile and resume running). My goal has been to run 3 miles... to be able to head out and just run 3 miles. I'm scaring myself that it is getting very near. Last Thursday I went 5 miles... I didn't run all of it, but I ran A LOT!

I have always said... I will never run...

Ha... never say never!

In pain

It is terrible to watch your child suffer... Phinneous is in PAIN!

While wrestling with his buddies he was SLAMMED into a wall. His wind was knocked out of him... I worked to get him under control and then suggested the boys quit wrestling (fyi -- I hate wrestling... someone ALWAYS gets hurt.)

A little while later the boys were running down the stairs and I heard the classic thud, bump, bump, s.p.l.a.t. It was Phinneous.... now he was really not happy. But, he was headed to the trampoline...

A few minutes later I heard the screeching.... MOM!

He couldn't get off the trampoline... couldn't move... I thought he MUST be cramping... he had pitched that afternoon and he must be dehydrated, etc. I had to climb up through the tiny-kid-sized net and retrieve him (visualize my larger arse climbing through everything... not a pretty site). He was pretty upset... I massaged him and got him ice and gave him an ibuprofen... I figured he'd be fine.

Got him home, positioned him in bed and just waited for him to pass out... which he did... yay! That was short lived as at 2am he was up and in pain. I repositioned him and thought {^&*}... do I take him to the ER... did he break a bone... is it muscular... can it wait til morning...

I chose to wait till morning, but I was up several more times repositioning him... needless to say... no sleep!

***

Dr. Report... muscle strain... heat, ibuprofin and no physical activity for a week! Hot tub is a great idea (so glad I have one in my backyard)! And Ty!eno! 3 for bed time... yay!

So now I'm exhausted and I'm still waiting for him to pass out. However, he has found the Duck game on TV... it's going to be a long day!

Real Housewives

Addicted... not because I aspire to be like them, but I am enthralled with them.

Did she just wear that? Say that? Do that? Think that? Portray that?

Totally addicted... I'm also addicted to Sister Wives... I wonder what that says about me?

I think it says... I'm a woman without homework and I've rediscovered TV!

Wordless Wednesday

Check out other wordless wednesday posts.