Goodbye 2008, I'll miss you!

This year has been so amazing, as I've learned how to be "just a mom" and all that entails. You know, "just" taking care of the kids, house, yard, budget, groceries, meals, activities, etc. I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment, even those moments that the kids are driving me bananas. I've never once considered that I'd be happy to go back to work.

I've been able to be there for play dates and park trips, ballet classes and Terrific Toddlers, beaches, laughs, cries, and tummy aches, first steps, first sentences, and first days of Kindergarten. I've been there. I've seen it and savored it, documented, cataloged and tried my best to help make memories that my kids will never forget. Because, I believe that is one of the most important jobs we moms can have. I've been so blessed with this time and I've never taken it for granted.

A couple weeks ago, right before Christmas no less, Lance was informed that his company is not doing too well and that everyone would be getting 20% pay cuts come January 1st. That's tomorrow. It's scary, because that's a lot of money to cut out of the monthly budget! That's a lot of things we won't be able to do and moments where we might be holding our breathe as bills come in and money goes out. But what's more scary is the thought that I may have to go back to work. Lance is looking for another job, but the market isn't great right now, and who knows how long it will take him to find another job. In the meantime, there's this little voice in the back of my head telling me to savor every moment with the kids. Just in case. Just in case this dream comes to an end, even if it is just temporarily.

Worrying and stressing isn't going to do any good, so I have just three new years resolutions, this New Years Eve.

1. Take 15 minutes of quiet time every morning. Make the time. Set the alarm earlier if needed. Let the kids scream if needed. 15 minutes to myself to think, read, pray, and prepare for each day.

2. Blog every day. I've gotten really bad about not blogging and it is something I enjoy. I need to make time for it.

3. This one is the biggest one. I need to let go. I need to give it to God. My worry and stress and wanting to control things doesn't actually change anything.

Farewell my wonderful 2008! Here's hoping 2009 is just as great!

What's at the end of the rainbow?

If you ask my 5 1/2 year old, she'll tell you it's a leprechaun, who very well may be scary. Ahh, but not too scary to take his gold. The way to do it? Make him laugh. By grinning at him. Or telling him a knock knock joke.

"Knock knock"
"Who's there?"
"An ORANGE leprechaun!!"

Get it???!!

Yeah, me neither.

That was our fun ride to school this morning, as Morgan saw A RAINBOW!!! With a HUMP!!

The words you don't want to hear your child's teacher say

"Oh, I meant to tell you yesterday what Morgan said in class. It's great! I just love five year olds!"

The class is asking each child to earn a dollar to buy socks for the needy. They were discussing what they could do around the house to earn a dollar. Morgan's idea? "I am going to get rid of ALL the bugs we have in our house. They are ALWAYS in my bathtub". Honestly, I don't think we have *that* severe of a bug problem, but apparently it bothers her! Stupid spiders!

Then, again today, I learn that they were discussing LOTS of things at circle time today. Boo boos was one topic since one little boy had cut his hand. Morgan proceeded to describe IN DETAIL to everyone about a cut she got on her UPPER INNER THIGH from a life jacket strap that was too tight. Her teacher was practically rolling on the floor in tears as she described the situation to me.

I guess it's time to have the talk about things that ARE appropriate to talk about at school versus things that ARE NOT.

I married a grinch

Which, if what they say is true about you marrying someone like your father, is a "duh" statement. Lance does NOT get into the holidays. I've tried year after year after year. I've tried to prove to him the Fun! and Joy! that come at this time of year. Nothing. I've shown him what it's like to have a happy holiday. Nada. He still dismisses the entire month of December as a complete and utter waste of time and money. Sure, he'll suffer through my craziness of decorating anything that's sitting still long enough, and he'll participate if he has to, but he just doesn't feel it. And, before now, it would really put a big damper on the holidays for me. At least the events leading up to Christmas. And this year, with us leaving for Florida so early, he didn't want to even decorate. Not. Even. Decorate. This just didn't even compute. How can we not decorate? I guess it's no big deal when you're not really into Christmas.

But now? Oh my! Now, I have a daughter who's old enough to get it. I have a daughter who's been bitten by the same Christmas Spirit bug that I have and is anxious and overly excited about all things Christmas related. She was beside herself decorating the tree on Sunday. With each ornament we pulled out, we would reminisce together about where we got it or the year that we got it. It was so much fun! She got so excited yesterday that it was December 1st so that she could hang up the first ornament on our advent calendar. And at breakfast and lunch today? She asked, in such a way that it's almost like she believes it's too good to be true, if she could eat off of the Christmas dishes. And this one really melts my heart....she asked today if we had Christmas NAPKINS!!! Oh, a girl after my own heart. Imagine my disappointment when I had to inform her that we do not, in fact, have any Christmas napkins. *sigh*

So now, it doesn't matter that my husband doesn't get into the Christmas Spirit. Because I've got my girl who does. Wow, how cool is that? I am sitting here wondering if my mom felt the same way. I've always been excited to decorate. And I remember my Dad being sort of grinchy at Christmas time. I remember getting SOOOO excited when he'd go the extra effort to put lights up outside. I remember thinking to myself that *that* was what the Christmas Spirit was all about. Doing something extra because others will appreciate it. And that deep down, he must have felt some joy from that. Right?

Morgan asked me yesterday if we were putting lights up. Given the previous discussions on the validity of decorating when we're leaving for Florida, I didn't want to say for sure that we were. I told her we'd have to talk to Daddy. Pretty much as soon as he walked in the door last night, she told him that she put the first advent calendar ornament up and then in the same breath asked him if he was going to put up lights on our house. He told her that he would. There might be joy lurking under that grinchy exterior after all.

Things that I've been remiss in discussing here

1. My daughter's report card. 4 is proficient at grade level (which is where you want them at the end of the year) and 3 is basic approaches grade level standards). She got 4's on all academics except for one of the phonemic awareness ones (I.D rhyming words...she said that run and red rhymed---the teacher said that 90% of the kids missed that one because they are focused on the first letter) and "Follows one-and two-step oral directions" (due to her lack of focus because SHE'S talking). She got a mix of 3's and 4's for Work and Study Skills. A couple 3- for "follows school and classroom rules" (not raising her hand to speak) and "demonstrates verbal self-control" (yeah - that one is pretty self explanatory LOL). The commentary was all glowing. Her teacher says she "LOVES her Morgan" and that she puts a smile on her face every day. She said that even the tough stuff - her talking - was just a result of having such a happy child. She's so happy that she just wants to tell everyone about her life. She said she's a true joy to have and that she "came there wanting to learn" and how that's so great because not all kids are like that and it's tough to pull them into a desire to learn. She said I didn't have anything to worry about with Morgan.

In true Morgan fashion, she wanted to go LINE BY LINE through her report card. I tried really hard to be upbeat and positive, but to also give her something to strive towards. I just don't want to be the parent who's all "What's this A- all about!!??". We told her we were very proud of her report card and that if she improves, especially in the areas of the 3-s that she got, she'll get a good surprise after her next report card. So, we'll see how that works out!

2. Bennett is now consistantly putting together more than one word. "Big Bird Bed" and "Love You Momma". Now if we can get him to listen to more than one word. ;-)

3. Thanksgiving festivities. Morgan and her class kicked off the holiday on November 21st with the Turkey Tango and the Thanksgiving Feast. Unfortunately, the night before was when I went with my friend Kristin to the midnight showing of Twilight and Kaitlyn and Morgan had their own midnight showing. Poor girl was sooo tired during her party. Here are a couple pics from school.


After that, we had a full week of no school ahead of us and we hung out and made the best of it. On Monday we just hung out at home while I cleaned. We headed to Superfranks on Tuesday with some friends. On Wednesday, Bennett's playgroup headed to the library for percussion time. It was fun, but a little long for the toddlers. After the library, Morgan went home with Chenoa for a playdate, which gave me the perfect opportunity to get things going for our Thanksgiving feast. I made the cranberry salad, two pumpkin pies, and cornbread muffins. On Thanksgiving day, we woke up and made a big breakfast of Pumpkin Waffles with homemade Apple Cider Syrup. Yumm! While the kids were napping, Lance fried up the turkey and I cooked the sweet potatoes, jiblet gravy, and green beans. We ate around 5 and we had so much food, I brought a couple of plates over to our elderly next door neighbors. It was a quiet, relaxed Thanksgiving and I loved it!



Black Friday was awesome! I met some friends at Kohl's at 4am and we shopped there until 5:30 when they headed to Target and I headed to Toys R Us. I stood in line for AN HOUR AND A HALF for one particular thing at TRU!! I hope it was worth it! After that, we went and got some breakfast before going for round 2 at the mall. I hit the jackpot in children's clothing at Macy's and then we hit a few other stores at the mall before finally heading home around 1pm! That's a long time to shop! Luckily, I came home just in time for nap! I took a good long nap and then before I knew it, Lance was leaving for a night out with his geocaching buddies and I had my friend Kristin and her daughter Kaitlyn over for a girls' night in. We all ate popcorn and the girls watched movies while Kristin and I chatted. It was fun!

4. Christmas is coming!! Yippee!! I'll leave that for a whole other post unto itself. :)

5. Our latest addition to our toy stash. Hello slide! I think the video speaks for itself!

Hhmmmppphh....is this thing on??

My friend Melissa keeps asking me when I'm going to blog again. I know it's been over a week and while I'd like to give you all the logical excuses like Morgan was out of school and it was Thanksgiving and we were busy, what it really boils down to is that I didn't feel compelled to write. I mean, why force it? Yeah, sure there were a few funny moments between gym happenings (like this older woman who I used to go to church with before I had Morgan ~6 years ago, asking me if Bennett was the bump that used to be in my belly. Wow. Yes, she just has incredibly stunted growth. Oh, and her gender suddenly changed 19 months ago) and various Morganisms. But, I haven't really had that itching in my fingers to hit the keyboard.

Well, folks, that has changed. Because you'll never believe who made their appearance in our house on Sunday. ELVIS! That's right. And rather than hear it from my biased perspective, you can go straight to the source. Before you go off on some crazy rant about future therapy sessions for my children, I want you to know that Morgan practically BEGGED for the elf to arrive.

Yes, I have gone off the deep end. And you love it.