Tannenbaums Away!

I didn't want to deal with Christmas tree drama this year.  I needed things a little simpler and a little cheaper.  After a long family discussion we decided this year we would try an artificial tree.  We were won over by the ease of set up, the ease of clean up, and the long-term savings.  We scoured craigslist and found a very pretty tree for sixty dollars.  It was a high quality tree, the right size and reasonably priced at $60.  Michael ran out and picked it up and then we put it in the shed for a couple of weeks.  December 3rd we decided to put up our tree.  We pulled out the nicely packaged tree in a sturdy case and started to set it up.  We unwrapped the neatly bundled branches only to discover there was no trunk or stand, just lots of branches.  We called the lady back and she scoured her storage but couldn't find the missing pieces.  She graciously took the tree back and refunded our money.  But we still didn't have a tree.

Michael hopped on Amazon to search for a tree.  There was one for thirty dollars!  It looked like a thirty dollar tree though.  It would arrive in as little as three days.  We ordered the thirty dollar tree.  It arrived in the promised time.

All set up and decorated.

Putting the angel on the tree.  This year it was Grace's turn.  She looked forward to it for days and then when she finally held the precious angel she realized the top of the tree was a lot higher than it looked from the ground.  Michael tried lifting her up to put the angel on but she panicked each time.  He eventually had to climb on the couch because Grace would not let go of him.  After a bit of struggling the angel finally made it to her seasonal place of honor.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Preparation

Years ago when I had two children who were both still in diapers Christmas was easy.  I remember Michael's sister-in-law asking us in November to get December's caroling on the calendar.  She said their schedule got crazy in December and she needed to get it planned.  I couldn't understand why she was so busy.  She only had one kid more than me.  What I didn't realize in my naivete is her kids are nearly a decade ahead of mine.  It's not the quantity of kids that matter, it's the age.  I finally learned that this year.

It started pretty calmly.  We dug out the Christmas decorations on December 1st and decorated the house.

The next day we went to the Capitol Building for the annual tree lighting.  The kids got free books, toothbrushes, cookies, hot cocoa and of course, candy. 

The next big event this month was a homeschool concert and dance show.  But before you perform you have to practice, and practice, and practice again.

 We then performed our numbers at an assisted living facility.  Grace and Sam rocked holding the signs.

Before long they became bored during the performance, but there was a bunny in the backyard (top right) to look at.  I'm not sure why there was a bunny but I was very thankful they found something to occupy themselves.

I didn't get any good pictures of the dances, just this one of Ethan swinging his partner.  I'm sure we'll have more pictures after their concert for the families, coming up this week.

We also couldn't let the season pass without decorating gingerbread houses.  Katie (Michael's sister) and Chris (Katie's boyfriend) came over to decorate with us.  We separated into teams and started building.  Katie really wanted to be on a team with a little one, so Michael and I happily let our guests team up with the littles.

 Chris and Sam's finished house.

 Ethan and Libby were happy to work together and were awfully proud of their tall, tall Christmas tree.

 Katie and Grace's creation.  Grace really did like her house; she was just being goofy.

 Mine and Michael's house.  The picture was taken by a short kid, hence the weird angle.

The next day we had a ward Christmas party.  Sam sat on Santa's lap but wasn't sure why he was there.  He did get candy out of the deal, though!  Just what we need, more candy.

The kids sang at the Christmas party as well.

We've made it barely halfway through December and I'm exhausted.  I apologize profusely for thinking my sis-in-law was being dramatic about their Christmas schedule.  It is crazy and if you want me to do anything in December then you had better let me know about it in October; our schedule fills up fast!

Post of Thanksgiving

Let's start out with the ugly truth:  The last two months have been hard.  Really, really hard.  I started back to college which has been a strain on my already limited patience.  My current classwork is not hard but it is time consuming, and, at times, tedious.  I was coping though.  Michael has been excellent about picking up the slack and we were starting to get used to a new normal.

Then his aunt died unexpectedly.  We were saddened but found peace at her funeral.  Sam was especially naughty during the funeral so Michael and I decided I would take the kids home and he would go to the interment.  He came home an hour later and I was surprised to see him so soon.  He told me there was a terrible accident while people were getting ready to go.   Nine people were injured and taken to the hospital after one of the funeral goer's car drove into the crowd waiting in front of the church.  We didn't know what was going to happen to a couple of the people hit but the families were blessed.  Two months later, a couple of people are still dealing with injuries related to the crash but it could have been much, much worse.  We are grateful for all the miracles that prevented worse injuries that day.

Two weeks later I drove to Havre, Montanta to attend my niece's wedding.  I drove over 1500 miles in three days with my sister and divorced parents.  It was the first time I've ever been apart from every member of my family at the same time for any length of time.  I was so relieved to get home.  I had no idea how much I would miss them all.  Plus I still had to figure out how to get all my course work done in time.

About four weeks ago my dear niece got in a car accident on the way to school.  I got a call from my crying sister telling me she was with a cop on the way to the hospital.  She didn't know what to expect.  Michael rushed home from work so I could go to the hospital and meet her.  Any other week I would have dragged the kids with me and had someone meet me to retrieve them from the hospital, but we were in the middle of chicken pox, and as badly as I needed to go to the hospital I didn't want to infect already sick people with more illness.  By the time I arrived my niece had regained consciousness but was heavily drugged as they stitched her face back together.  She was in the hospital for several days with scheduled physical, occupational and cognitive therapy.  My heart was breaking for my sister and my niece.  I love that girl so much.  I often tell my sister there was a mistake and Aubrey was supposed to be mine.

At this point all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and give up.  Life was throwing too much crap at me and I was ready to cry 'uncle'.  But...kids still needed fed, schoolwork (mine and theirs) still had to be completed, and life was still going on.  And it has gotten better.  Life has gone on.  By the time Thanksgiving rolled around I realized just how thankful I truly am.

I'm thankful to my brother (but mostly his wife) for hosting Thanksgiving each year because there is no way we could fit everyone and the food in my house.

I'm thankful for cousin fun while playing "Operation".

I thankful for this gorgeous girl who has no idea how cute she really is.

And this boy who won't let us take a decent picture of him.  I love him too.

 

I am truly thankful for this girl.  This is my Aubrey.  She was at Thanksgiving acting exactly as sassy as we've come to expect.  She has been back to school for a couple of weeks now.  Yesterday she was completely medically cleared, which means she can drive again as well.  Not sure how thankful I am for that. 

I'm also thankful for the man who takes all these pictures.  I didn't know I was getting a family photographer when I married him but I'm not complaining.  If it were left up to me there would probably be about four fuzzy pictures of each kid per year.

This may have been a hard autumn but I've also realized how much I truly have to be thankful for.  My life is blessed.

Raking

We always have plenty of help when it comes time to rake up the leaves.

 The lure of a giant pile of leaves inspires like nothing else.

 Cousins have even been known to show up and help "rake".

 Thank goodness for cousins.  Sam wasn't brave enough to jump by himself.

Happy Fall!

Chicken Pox: Part Two

Ethan, Libby and Grace had the decency to all get chicken pox at the same time.  It was a long 10 days but eventually everyone's pox had healed enough to go out in public.  The hardest part of chicken pox was being house-bound, especially as everyone felt pretty good the whole time.   With everyone healed we reveled in our freedom.  We went to church, the Discovery Center, the dollar store; wherever we wanted and it was marvelous.

Four days later the kids announced they found spots on Sam while I was showering.  After a longer than usual shower I came out to verify their findings.  Sam did in fact have chicken pox.  Gah!  House-bound AGAIN!

That evening I had class and Michael was supposed to fix his sister's computer.  After verifying his sister had already had chicken pox he decided to proceed as planned and take the family over to his sister's.  Sam was on board.  Moments before we both headed out Sam announced, "I am going to pook and then I am going to go to Aunt Amy's".  He then nonchalantly proceeded to the bathroom.  A few minutes later I realized he hadn't returned so I went to check. 

He decided he needed a nap more than he needed to "pook" but he would prepare for either eventuality.  I picked up a soundly sleeping kid from off the toilet who looked at me and said, "But I wanted to pook!"  Being the stellar parents we are Michael still went to his sister's with all the kids.  The only rough part was when Michael tried to buckle Sam in the car:

"I wanted to pook and then go to Aunt Amy's!"

"You did puke," Michael told him, vainly trying to convince Sam that he had puked.  Sam wasn't going to have any of it.

"No I didn't!" he cried.

Thankfully he was appeased when Michael ran back into the house and brought back the designated "puke bowl" for Sam to use if needed.  He never did get sick.  He did fall fast asleep on the toilet though.  That's a story we will always have to treasure.