Finally Coming to the End

I’ve been going like gangbusters since early Christmas Eve. This afternoon (27th) is my first chance at serious downtime. I watched Julie/Julia and thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. Definitely worth it. I remember wanting to see it in the theater, but never got around it (the story of my life with movies in the theater!)

My hosting of Christmas dinner was successful, but I admit to being glad it’s over. When you are in charge of dinner it’s definitely harder to relax and enjoy it–you are much more aware of what everyone wants and needs and it’s your responsibility to take care of those wants and needs. Which, if you think about it, is what I do as a mother anyway!

Jim finished painting the stairs and hallway, so that’s one less thing on the “get the house ready” list, which is depressingly long still. I’m guessing that February 5th is going to turn into March 5th. Pbbbbbtttt.

Merry Christmas

No deep thoughts, no family drama, just a simple wish to kids from one to 92. Although it’s been said many times, many ways…

Merry Christmas to you!

Christmas 10

A Holiday Meme (copied from One Thing who got it from someone else who got it from someone else…..)

1. Best childhood gift from Santa: A Barbie house that my parents and next-door neighbors made from a stereo cabinet. It had four rooms and two porches (for the speakers). I LOVED IT. Except that I went downstairs at around 4am and saw it. ‘Cuz I regularly did that as a kid. I was obnoxious as a kid, and have only slightly grown out of it since!

2. Best childhood memories: Probably getting up at the abovementioned wee hours of the morning and just looking at the tree and the unopened gifts.

3. Favorite Christmas cookies: I don’t think I have one! I’m not much of a baker, so I make fudge every year and give that to teachers and bus drivers.

4. Icky Christmas memory: The year that I apparently looked through my parent’s closet and found a Ken doll and told my sister what she was getting. I wasn’t a popular child that year!

5. It’s not Christmas without: The annual embarrass everyone at dinner stories. You never live anything down in my family and the same stories are trotted out year after year. Oh, the humiliations!

6. Our Church Service: Hah. I was supposed to be there this morning, but as we had two feet of snow dumped on us on Saturday they postponed until next week. It’s music, both by the worship team, a song by the little kids (which they are doing kicking and screaming, believe me), some other numbers by members of our congregation (including an older gentleman who plays a harmonica), with a shorter message and then a fellowship dinner together.

7. Christmas Pet Peeve: All the pictures of Three Kings visiting Jesus in the stable. Um. NO, PEOPLE, NO! They didn’t get there for a LONG time!

8. Favorite Christmas CD: This is too difficult. I looooooovvvveeee Christmas music (have 659 Christmas songs on my iPod right now!). If I absolutely HAD to pick, I guess it would be Nat King Cole.

9. Real or Fake: Real. Sigh. Needles all over the floor. I like the idea of a fake one, with its lack of searching high and low for the perfect tree while freezing outside, but somehow we keep on with real ones!

10. I spend Christmas Eve: Eating Chinese food with my husband, and wrapping up all the presents. We had Chinese food our first Christmas married, back in 1995. This will be our 15th straight Christmas to have it!

Merry Christmas

To all my readers, near and far
Merry Christmas. I love you all!

On the First Day of Christmas

I have Christmas music on in the Living Room. I’m trying to get “into the spirit”. These past four weeks have not felt very “Christmas-y”, and I really REALLY don’t want the Holiday to go by and not be enjoyed because of all the to do lists. It helps, though, that those to do lists are getting shorter! I sent the fudge in the with the kids today, as well as the Christmas cards. I’ve been working on straightening up the living room this morning, because, well, it’s a PIT. The kitchen isn’t much better. And it’s all pretty much just picking up after ourselves, which none of us is all that good at, myself included.

So, here’s to the first real day of Christmas in our home. I want to consciously celebrate today and ENJOY it. May you find the grace and time to do so as well.

I Was Crafty

My Facebook status read “Alert the Media! I’m being crafty” which should tell you just how often THAT takes place!

Being that Jim is the worship leader, we are hosting the annual Worship Team Christmas Party. Please, let me assure you, this is a lot of work. Cleaning, decorating, cooking, and making gifts. Yes, MAKING GIFTS.

I hied myself to AC Moore, crafty capital of the world (ok, that status is shared with Michael’s, I’m sure). Finally, I came up with homemade ornaments. Here’s what I did.

Ingredients:
Hollow glass balls with removable tops.
Red and Green tissue paper- I got the cellophane type cuz it was prettier
Silver Sharpie. NOT a Paint Pen. Trust me on this one.
Regular Pen
Scissors

Take lids off balls. Cut cellophane into long strips. Insert strips into balls using pen because that hole at the top is pretty small. It took about three strips for the whole ball to be full. Put on lid again. Write the person’s name in silver. On the other side write our church name and 2008.

Crow in delight at how pretty the results are for someone as left-brained as me.

Just a typical day….

The day started off like a regular day…Ethan on the bus to school at 6:50, everyone else getting ready at the same time for their various schools, but then Bennett said that he had a sore throat for the third or fourth day in a row. I’ve been thinking it’s just post-nasal drip, but Hey! Let’s actually look in his mouth! Duh!

It was red and swollen. Poor little guy. I call the pediatrician and get a 10:30 appointment. Then Jim says that he really can’t run to the hospital to get Laura’s x-ray films because he has to work late. My first thought? “Well, why didn’t you get them before today?” my second thought “You know, I really do have more time than him. I can do it.” So the outline of the day (and the previous Christmas list items) gets changed. Laura on the bus at 8:33, Catie to preschool at 9, Bennett to ped at 10:30, pick up Rx right after, get Catie at 11:30. Go to McD’s for lunch, drive to Chester County hospital for x-rays, stop by St. Agnes’ cemetery to visit Connor (my triplets/quadruplets other brother who died about 12 hours after he was born) detour to Exton to get a drive-thru Eggnog latte from the previously mentioned Starbucks (see post below), do a pay-it-forward as mentioned on www.flylady.net. TOTALLY FUN! And finally get home!

Other than folding laundry and matching a ton of socks, the living room is now clean and I wrapped the shirts I was supposed to do yesterday. So, after taking Laura to the orthopedist tomorrow and then hopefully to school and not to get a cast (please, God, not a cast!), I’ll be playing catch up with the list. But that’s ok. I am determined not to drive myself nuts with getting the house ready. And if I buy pre-made potatoes (mashed or otherwise) for Christmas, than SO BE IT!! (but don’t tell!)

Finally, a shout out to Michelle at http://michellekemperbrownlowwrites4kids.blogspot.com/ Not only did she leave a comment, which again tickled me to death!, but I followed her link and was updated on Julian (please see her blog), a little boy that has touched me and is now in my prayers. Along with Cadenne Hope (http://kariabi.blogspot.com/). So much suffering in this world. I have my own, yes, but my children are finally to the point of medical stability or in heaven suffering no more. These two precious ones are living, breathing and suffering. Please keep them in your prayers.