Christmas Recap

Yeah, yeah, yeah....I know it's been almost a month since I've posted anything, but let me explain. We left for California on December 23rd and flew home on friday, January 2nd. We got in super late that night, but Saturday morning I had to get up and out the door by 6:30am to drive three hours to Austin, TX for a volleyball tournament. I was gone until late Sunday evening. My last week has been mostly catch-up from being gone, still having practices for my team, and dealing with sick kids (mostly worn out from traveling). So there, my list of excuses. ;)

Here I am, ready to tell you all about it!! Our Christmas was really nice. My little family celebrated Christmas at home the day before we flew to California. Santa came a few days early because Austin wrote him a letter and let him know that we wouldn't be here on Christmas day and that he needed to bring the presents early...what a smarty pants!

Cali amidst the mess of Christmas.

Marcus was focused on his own gifts...my third child. ;)
Austin treasuring his "Omnitrix"...that's all he really asked for so Santa did GREAT!

Cali loves Dora. Can you tell? Then we were off to California. Not only was it special to be there for Christmas time, but for those of you that don't know, my Dad was in a bicycle accident and I was really feeling helpless from so far away. I was thankful to be able to be there, the same day he came home from the hospital, and be such a big help. My step-mom had her hands full just helping him do basic things, so I did some cooking and a lot of cleaning. All my siblings were in town, so there was a lot of help around. He's doing well, for having a halo bolted into his head and after having back surgery. He'd ended up breaking his neck and his back in 3 places. Poor guy. He's doing so well now that he's pretty much independent...all but driving.

It was great to get to hang out with all my siblings and to have all their kids around for mine to play with. We got to talk to my brother in Africa on Christmas morning which was really awesome! He sounds so great and he's approaching his 6 month mark of his mission. Being in Africa has done wonders for his figure...he's lost about 30 lbs so far and has to get all new clothes sent to him. Just think how much more he'll lose in the next 18 months! I need that diet. ;)

I was definitely ready to come home though. But having to go straight to a tournament three hours away wasn't my idea of a homecoming. I wanted to sleep in Saturday morning and spend the day unpacking and resting. I did get to unpack, just to have to pack back up and leave at the buttcrack of dawn!!! ugh...

But now we're finally getting things back on track. I need a vacation from my vacation! Apparently the kids do too...they're both sick, mostly just worn down I'm sure. This too shall pass and things will be back to normal in no time. I'm glad to be back home and to able to catch up on so many of my friends' blogs. I missed you all and it's good to be back!

Christmas Tag

I got this as a forward and saw it on a blog, so I'm a copycat....so sue me!

Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping presents for my family, but bags for my friends.

Real tree or artificial? In Oregon we had a real one, but this year we got old faithful out of the box.

When do you put up the tree? Usually, the week of Thanksgiving (this year it was before).

When do you take the tree down? First week of January

Do you like eggnog? Not the thick stuff, but I found one called "Silk Nog" that's WAY good!

Favorite gift received as a child? I loved my handmade cabbage patch doll and my glow worm.

Hardest person to buy for? My Dad....the man has everything he needs or just buys what he wants when he wants it.

Easiest person to buy for? Marcus...anything camo and he's good to go.

Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but Cali liked to play with it too much so I put it away.

Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail...I love that personal touch.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably the lovely bag and scarf from my in-laws last year....no offense, just not my taste. ;)

Favorite Christmas Movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas!!

When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually I'm a procrastinator, but this year I was done before Thanksgiving because I started in September!! Yeah!

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of, but I usually buy new stuff for gifts, so probably not.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's goodies that we baked today....fudge, toffee, and snowballs, yum!!

Lights on the tree? yes, white ones.

Favorite Christmas song? "O Holy Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful"

Travel at Christmas or stay home? I'd rather stay at home, but this year we're heading to California to be with my family....I'm SO excited!!

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen....right?

Angel on the tree top or a star? Nothing this year...sad

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning!!!

Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Idiot drivers and crazies in the store.

Favorite ornament theme or color? I love a simple theme...green with red and silver accents.

Favorite for Christmas dinner? Fried Turkey or Ham and Grandma's potatoes....yummy stuff.

What do you want for Christmas this year? I really can't think of anything that I just have to have....but I do want my Dad to be well.

List a family tradition that you have implemented in your own family: Decorating and Baking together....I love it!

Let It Snow!!!

An amazing thing happened in Houston, TX just two nights ago...SNOW!! We looked out the window after putting the kids to bed and noticed that it wasn't raining anymore, it was snowing. We grabbed the warmest clothes we could find (because all our winter/snow clothes are put away) and ran out with cameras in hand. Not that the snow itself was such a phenomenon, but the fact that it was snowing here, on the gulf coast. We also decided to get Austin out of bed to play for just a bit...what cool parents we are! It was all still there in the morning too. This was Cali's first experience with snow. She had a blast, but only lasted about 45 minutes before she was done being cold and wet.

This is what we found as we walked out the front door.

A snow angel...still in his jammies too!!Austin and Marcus were soaked to the bone, but they sure built a great snowman!

I had a really hard time getting Austin to come back into the house even though he was completely soaked.
Ahhh...memories.Cali really loved the snow...it tasted SO good.Look at my little Rudolph. This girl needs a coat!
We had a really great time playing in the snow. It made us miss Oregon even more! We were glad that the kids had an opportunity to play in the snow, even if it was just for a little while. What a fun, memorable day. It makes it feel even more like Christmas. We're almost there!!

Little of This...Little of That

I had my first volleyball tournament this weekend so Marcus stayed home with the kids all day. After a while they got a little stir crazy so they headed to a community gathering where they had Santa and Mrs. Claus and even some snow! They had a blast...just wish I could have been with them instead of yelling at 15 years olds. (We did have a pretty successful day overall, just a few bumps in the road that I had to smooth out. More to come, I'm sure.)

Cute little Cali enjoying her day with Daddy.

It took a while to round up the troops, but finally got a pic together. (just don't look at their outfits or Cali's hair...I said I wasn't home ALL day!)Cali has proven that she is a climber, just like her brother. Her pose at the top of the chair was priceless....proud and unsure of her fate at the same time. (I'm not sure if she was afraid of getting in trouble or afraid of falling.) She sure likes to push her boundaries, and my patience. She has a look that says, "Yeah, I did that. Are you really gonna punish me?" She's just too cute and mischievious at the same time!

Marcus, unable to wait a few more weeks till Christmas, brought home a new Wii game. They are two peas in a pod when it comes to video games! You'd think they were deprived. They don't play very often, but when they do, they sure are focused and it's hard to tear them away.

After a week at Grandma's house, and having been extremely sick, Austin has been having a little more than just quiet time in the afternoons. Sometimes he fights the sleep, but other times he embraces it. This was one of the days that I promised him that he didn't have to take a nap, just have a little quiet time in his room. Usually he'll just grab a couple (stack) of books and hang out till I come get him. This day he decided to wait for me, patiently, under his bed. I guess I took a little too long for him and he gave in to the inevitable. Isn't that just hilarious?

He's also been ending up asleep in odd places and positions after going to bed at night. One night I went in his room and he was curled up with his pillow and blanket in the middle of the floor. What a goof ball!

Therapy Session

I'm such a slacker and I haven't posted in WEEKS!! I can't even say that I haven't had things to post about, that's not the case. I get so busy looking at everyone else's blogs that sometimes I don't have any time left for my own. Crazy blog world! But I couldn't go much longer without sharing about my Thanksgiving week.

Austin got to go Monday to Grandma and Grandpa's house to spend the night with them all by himself. He has three cousins that are always getting to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa and he wanted a turn. How could I say "no"? So off he went....and threw up in Grandma's car on the way!! Poor little guy. He was fine after that and played until he dropped. What a trooper! We headed up to G'ma and G'pa's on Wednesday to get ready for the feast on Thursday. Some friends, that live here but don't have family here, joined us for the holiday festivities Wednesday and Thursday. We had a great time having them there with us! They went home after filling their bellies and Marcus' brother and kids came up that evening. Friday morning my mil and I went shopping and by the end of the day decided that we weren't driving back, so we decided to stay the night with my sil (whose husband and kids were at my in-law's). Marcus called that evening and told me that Austin had thrown up again but was fast asleep. The next morning Austin was running a fever so we packed up and drove back home. Long story short, he ended up having strep throat and was REALLY sick this weekend. We got him to the doctor and all taken care of. Poor miss Cali girl has a sinus infection too. We're just having a low key kind of day. Movie anyone?

So back to the real story. Thursday was more than just a Thanksgiving feast for me. That morning was my therapy session. No joke! The best kind of therapy and anger management available....not that I'm angry, but it's a great release. I had this vacuum that was terrible!! I don't really mind vacuuming, but everytime I used this thing it stunk SO bad that it made me hate vacuuming, so I just never did. It was my in-laws and they gave it to us when we got married (used and old!). It was beyond time for a replacement, so I got a new one last week and it was time to destroy the old one. That was my therapy...destruction!!!

We hung the stupid thing in a tree by it's cord!!

before...

after!!!

Ahhh...I'm a new woman (with a new vacuum). If anyone ever has any appliances, phones, etc. that just drive you nuts, give me a call and we'll take care of it....with a shotgun!!