My Party Chairman

That would be Aubree, She keeps reminding me to go buy the shrimp for dinner tonight(Roger started an expensive tradition a few years back) Now she is busily planning the games and making lists so far on the list is: Hide and seek, peek a boo, sequence..WE ARE GONNA HAVE FUN TONIGHT!!!!!

Funny thing is that she has planned some of our best parties so I'm really not worried or being sarcastic. How else would we get Dad to play pin the tail.(see picture)

Amazing

Yes! It always amazes me how the anticipation of Christmas makes December creep by untill the 25th and then life, days, time seems to speed up ten fold.

We had a wonderful Christmas .In someways, much to wonderful. Ah well. The kids were happy thanks to the fact that I'm married to Santa Claus. No, It's true, I am. The only real drawback to this, is that his kids are spoiled rotten at Christmas time. and while he's out spreading good cheer I get to deal with the rotteness. Sigh!

Luckily, they really aren't that rotten. and I love having them home for the Christmas Holidays. I believe they all got the things they really wanted except for Braden, who wanted a bullwhip. Roger wanted to get him one that was real leather and well made. They were either all sold out or back ordered for months. But I don't think Braden has even said one word about it.

I guess the unicycles they got made up for it. They were so distracted by the one wheeled things, that they didn't even ask for, that everything else must have been driven from their minds. Bad thing is that this is the first Christmas in years that we've had a white Christmas. The most they've got to do is practice balancing on them in the house.

We really did have a good Christmas. Thanks Santa!

Busy little Elf

Chance needed a vest for Christmas, too. But they aren't easy to find in his size so a busy little elf tried her hand at it and VOILA! It just lacks the buttons

A project for my wonderful Mother-in-Law.

December, I don't have the nerves for this!

With all the concerts, Christmas parties, Operettas, Shopping, etc. That happens this month I, Like I'm sure a lot of you, tend to get, oh, somewhat flustered and absent minded. So a couple of nights ago I had a sudden feeling that one of my children was missing. I looked up and asked the rest of the kids. "Where's Chance?" This began a chorus of "CHANCE!", "CHANCE!" and then a sudden scurry as we all began frantically searching for "CHANCE!". The more we looked the more frantic we got. For little Chance was nowhere to be found. The upstairs was searched three or four times, The basement was in the process of being searched yet, again. My mind was slightly hazy as I reasoned that the kid could not have left the house, after all it was dark outside and as big a talker as that kid is he's the biggest scaredy cat around. Almost, to the point of helplessly searching the house once more, Caib pipes up in triumph. "Here he is!"

The funniest thing about it, was that he was and had been in the same room as the rest of us the whole time.

I know it dosen't look like he's that hidden, But he is behind my big sectional couch in the corner On a big pile of soft blankets. I swear if there was enough room for me to curl up and go to sleep behind that couch I probably would. Oh how heavenly, to be able to escape for just a few minutes, to catch up on some much needed alone time. Oh ,All right, I sometimes need a time out, too.

Forget It!

Sitting in the Pick-up each morning I drop my kids off at school and dutifully don my fluorescent Orange vest in my role as public safety uh.....crossing guard. I spend 20 minutes helping about 6 kids cross Main street during rush hour down town.(I think I stop a total of 3 cars).

Almost every morning "Fantastic" rolls by in his wheelchair on his way to the elementary school where he works. Of course, Fantastic is not really his name but Chance somehow concluded that that was his name, one day, while I was trying to teach him that when somebody says "How are you today? " that you respond by saying something like "Fantastic!"

So Yesterday morning "Fantastic" was late and we finished with the crossing guard job without seeing him. Chancee was quite disappointed as I put the cones away and turned off the flashing lights. The whole time he watched for "Fantastic and worried about him.
When I got back into the car our conversation went something like this.

Mom:(after noticing the sad look) Maybe Fantastic is sick Or maybe he drove his truck.(Unusual)

Chance: He's can't walk?

Mom: No, his legs don't work.

Chance: Are's his legs broken?

Mom: I guess you could say that.

Chance (a pause): He's needs a band aid?

Mom: No, that wouldn't help. His legs will get better when Jesus comes again. (seizing the opportunity, I try to use this conversation as a teaching moment)

Chance (Another thoughtful pause and then): Buzz light year can fix them.

Mom: Well, Buzz light year isn't real, Jesus is. Jesus is the only one that can fix them.

Chance (yet, another deep thinking pause): Then Woody can fix them!

Mom (realizing that point is being missed, but in no way discouraged, understanding that many, many more "teaching moments" will come and go through out this little guys life rolls eyes, and slightly amused says): forget it.

After all his little heart is in the right place. Maybe we'll just go get some band aids. Don't band aids solve every three year olds problem anyway? And "Fantastic," being fantastic, would be able to help Chancee understand a whole lot better then I could.

What would you do?

The Christmas tree was finally up and decorated. It was 10:00 PM the kids were finally in bed and things were quiet. Roger and I sat in the front room quietly enjoying the peaceful, gentle glow from the lights of the tree. We had found a lovely spruce tree this year, and we, among other things, were discussing how nice this prickly tree would divert the excited hands of one little three year old.

As we sat there enjoying the silent night and the opportunity that we had to be alone; since all the children, for once, were asleep at the same time. We both were suddenly aware that the tree was slowly falling towards us.

Now, Having the information I've given you, This is my question: What would you do?

Would you

A: Say " OH SHIT!" jump up and run turn on the light. Or

B: Jump up and attempt to catch the tree in some insane attempt to prevent the priceless (to the children) ornaments from shattering as they hit the ground.

Either way I've had a little time to sit and ponder the reaction of both myself and Roger and still Laugh at how much each reaction has to say about each of us individually. I can, actually, see a shadow of Adam and Eve and their reactions when they were faced with that first and most important decision in the Garden of Eden. If your curious about the correlation I've made you'll just have to call me. I don't have time to type it out.

Anyway Roger and I have gotten quite a laugh out of this years tree "re"decorating experience.