'Tis the Season

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I know I did. It's weird, but I am feeling more in the Christmas spirit now that the big day has come and gone. Randy has been so busy at work, that it was all I could do to keep up with normal life...let alone decorate the house. So, I never hung the garland or stockings, and I only put out a couple small nativities. We got the tree up right after Thanksgiving and then- BAM! Randy was slammed at work and so even though I kept meaning to do all those things, there was always something more pressing. It doesn't help that on three different occasions, I needed Randy to get the boxes down from the hanging shelves in the garage. Each time he went up there, he didn't get all the boxes. And there was a week between each trip up....can you see why? I feel bad, nonetheless. But...I did get this!.....

That is why my post last Thursday was actually EARLY Friday morning. I had to shampoo the carpets before the new furniture arrived the next morning. I certainly can't clean carpet with kids running around, so I waited until after bedtime to begin cleaning. Silly me, my plan didn't work. The kids had no school Friday and I was smart enough to agree to let them stay up and watch a movie...while Randy was working on his laptop in the living room. I didn't get started until 10:00 and if you know my kids, they don't fall asleep during movies. No matter what time it is. So, they were curious and it took longer than needed.

Can I tell you how long I have waited for new couches?! Let me just say that we rescued the old set from someone's garage (they were on their way to the dump) 9 years ago! So I have wanted new ones for about 8 years. The stuffing came out of the big holes in the arm rests years ago. And I made covers just so it wasn't so obvious. I am so excited. A little neurotic, but I love them. The kids are probably wishing for the old ones back that Mom didn't care what happened to them. Go ahead, eat popcorn on them. Use the cushions for a fort. Not on these, my friend. The rules have changed. Eat your popcorn on the floor, on a blanket. And wash your hands and face before you get back on the sofa. Don't lay on the foot rests. Don't wipe your nose on them. And whatever you do- don't bleed on them (Nathan). Too late. I had them all of 3 hours. I was testing out the reclining feature and taking a little siesta. When I was abruptly awakened by my precious walking accident:

Nathan: (crying) Mom! Mom! Get me a Bandaid. (as he forces my eyelids open)

Me: (resisting, and still half asleep) What's the matter? Just let me rest a few more minutes.

Now, this is something I learned from my own dear mom. 'a few minutes' in mommy talk is really a few hours. ;)

Nathan: Mom! I'm bleeding.

Me: (suddenly realizing I am on my new couch, and he is right next to me...) WHERE?!!

Nathan: Right here (pointing to his toe that is sitting right on the plush cushion)

Me: (as I fling him off the couch- onto the clean carpet) AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Thank goodness that microfiber really lives up to it's reputation. it came right off. Nathan is pretty lucky it did...I mean, Nathan is lucky he wasn't hurt too bad...his toe, that is.

We had a good Christmas. It started Christmas Eve when we exchanged our homemade gifts to each other. This is a tradition we started last year and we LOVE IT! We draw names and have to make a gift for that person. The best part is seeing what the kids come up with. And then how excited they are to present that gift to their brother or sister, or mom or dad.

Dad to Mom: A "Macho Man Co.: Scrapbook (I'll post pictures of all these later! This was awesome!)

Mom to Hailey: some scrapbook pages of her birthday for her new album.

Casey to Dad: A poem

Hailey to Nathan: a tote bag for church

Tyler to Emma: A book titled, "The Eight Bears" (In his first edition, the only thing he could think of that rhymed with 'two', is 'poo'- Leave it to a 7 year-old boy!)

Hannah to Casey: a painted/ wood burned wooden box for his harmonicas

Nathan to Hannah: a bead bracelet and necklace with her name

Emma to Tyler: a 'hand print cheetah' -very cute!

They all slept in Hailey's room except Emma. They did much better going to sleep this year than the last time we let them all sleep together. maybe because they knew we were serious. Last year we made them all sleep in their own beds. They played "the quiet game" until everyone fell asleep[. But Casey usually can't contain himself and is the first to blow. Christmas morning. Hailey told me how Nathan thanked Casey for not making any noise. :)

Randy and I stayed up way too late. I was obviously feeling the effects of a few too many late nights, as I was finishing up a last minute gift (leave it to me!) and I sliced my finger open with my rotary cutter. This came only minutes after grazing my hand on the same blade. I probably should have gone to for stitches as it was still bleeding the next day. But I had too much to do, so I wrapped a couple Bandaids on kept going. I kept bleeding on the present, though and had to let Randy handle most of the wrapping.

Santa spoiled the kids. Casey got an electric guitar. It is pretty cool. It has no strings (yeah) and it teaches you how to play. He has not put it down and has gotten quite good at it. We gave him an air-soft gun and a tool box- the idea being, that he'll stay out of Randy's! My parents sent him a "shrunken head" made out of a coconut- WAY COOL!

Hailey got a tent and sleeping bag for her AG. She was excited about that. It has a real working 'lantern' and marshmallow/hotdog roaster, too! My parents gave her a necklace with a little silver flip-flop on it.We gave her scrapbooking stuff and a go anywhere karaoke microphone.

Tyler asked for a cheetah and 'cheetah crib'. Santa's elves, I'm told, made s special order just for Tyler. They had never had anyone ask for one before. We gave him an RC tarantula and a marble run. But Tyler's favorite gift was his coconut shrunken head.

The elves also found the dog Hannah wanted. And the dog house! She also got some Littlest Petshops and a watch. She got a little Hawaiian surfer doll and paper dolls from my parents.

Nathan got a pirate train. Which I find kind of strange that pirates and trains go together, but hey, Nathan loves both, so it works! We got a pirate ship and a good ol' fashioned jack-in-the-box. He loves his sea turtle from Hawaii.

Emma got a baby and a stroller that she became quite possessive right off the bat! Her Hawaiian dolls' name is Emma, too. Didn't know it was a Hawaiian name, but it is so cute! I made her a new blanket, and she LOVES the corn popper (so does Nathan...too bad I got the cute pink one!)

Randy got me some new Crocs (yeah!) They are the fuzzy lined ones for cold weather. I love them! And he got me some clothes. Santa brought me a gift card to Old Navy and some bath stuff- I smell so good today!

I helped the kids make a shirt with their hand prints on it for Randy that says, "Dad's Little Handfuls". Casey gave me that idea. I though it was perfect! After almost 12 years of making shirts for him, I am running out of ideas. And with he help of my very talented friend, I made him a photo cube with a picture of the kids Mod Podged on each side. I also got a Teflon coated mess kit for the scoutmeister.

We had a great time together as a family. Randy has enjoyed his time off, but has to go into work tomorrow. he is hoping to wrap things up early so he can spend more time with us. He is really liking this time home. :) We kinda like having him around, too! My camera officially died, so I am currently looking for a new one. It's a good thing Hailey got one for her birthday so I could take some Christmas pictures. I'll make a slide show, soon.

We got so much snow the past couple days that they built another snow fort. This one is big enough to sleep everyone! I opted to sleep inside with Emma, just in case! ;) They are so excited. I bundled everyone up and gave Randy his cell phone 'just in case'. He has called me four times already, needing things...candy canes, matches, a tarp, and keys...And Nathan called once, just to talk! It's 19 degrees outside, but inside the fort, it is actually pretty warm. On one of my trips out there, Hannah said she was too hot. Crazy how that works!

Tomorrow maybe I'll write my annual "New Years" letter.

**Snow fort update: Randy called to say (I'll think I'll confiscate the phone) Casey was coming inside. Leave it to Casey to bite his three year-old brother. Casey was really upset he had to come in. As I was talking to him about his behavior, I told him he needed to learn the consequences of his behavior and miss out things when he behaves poorly. He called Randy and agreed not to bite again and said he would clean Nathan's room for a week (I would have held firm, but Randy is a softy. No wonder they like him better.) Holding firm actually doesn't teach Casey anything. He does what he does because he is who he is. Not because of any punishment or incentive we give him. Believe me, we have tried it all. As Casey was getting back in his hat and gloves to go back outside, he asked me if I was going to be OK all alone inside. Just making sure I wouldn't be lonely. I assured him I would be fine, and that I actually liked being alone sometimes. He replied,"I know what you mean. That's why I sometimes like being grounded in my room all day. But it also teaches me a lesson."

Thanks for reassuring me, Casey!