Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Today, the little kids and I are headed out to Gatlinburg to do some shopping and watch the Ball Drop at midnight and the fireworks show. They are so excited!

Eli went ice skating with the youth group and then he is spending the night with some friends from church. Can you believe that he did not want to go shopping with us?

Dave and his dad have went to Atlanta to the Georgiadome to watch UT play in the Chick-Fila Bowl.

See you next year!

Interview with the kids.

I just stole this from this super hilarious blog... I am interested to see what my kids say.

I will do Eli on his own.



Emma is six. Tripp is four.



Here goes.





What is something mom always says to you?

Emma: "Go Brush Your Teeth"



What makes mom happy?

Emma: Cleaning your room.

Tripp: Brushing your teeth



What makes mom sad?

Emma: When your mess up the house and she has to clean it again.
Tripp: Spanking kids.



How does your mom make you laugh?

Emma: When you tell her a joke.
Tripp: Saying funny stuff like "head ball"



What was your mom like as a child?

Emma: a good little girl.
Tripp: being nice to her little brother uncle chris.



How old is your mom?

Emma: 34

Tripp: shruggs shoulders.... 15... 17... 14?



How tall is your mom?

Emma: 25 inches

Tripp: 52



What is her favorite thing to do?

Emma: playing with her kids

Tripp: cuddling her kids


What does your mom do when you're not around?

Emma: clean the house.
Tripp: come in and sit in time out.



If your mom is on TV for something, what will it be for?

Emma: you would talk about stuff and like say what the weather is.
Tripp: seeing your kids and talking to them.



What is your mom really good at?

Emma: type

Tripp: cuddling



What is your mom not very good at?

Emma: "whoa, that is a good one!" washing a dog.
Tripp: not cleaning rooms



What is your mom's favorite food?

Emma: I got to go with Salad.

Tripp: tootie.



What makes you proud of your mom?

Emma: when she is a good mom and she does her best.

Tripp: loving her.



If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Emma: Betty Boop

Tripp: George Lopez. no, boobidie boob.



What do you and your mom do together?

Emma: we go shopping together.
Tripp:Cuddle



How are you and your mom the same?

Emma: our eyes - they are both brown

Tripp: I dont know.



How are you and your mom different?

Emma: um, our hair

Tripp: I don't know.





How do you know your mom loves you?

Emma: help me with my homework.

Tripp: Cause God told me.



Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Emma: Walmart
Tripp: Chuckie Cheese



What does your mom do for a job?

Emma: at the church.

Tripp: uh, she does everything so she can get alot of money.

Bad Mother of The Year!

Lemme share this with you- I am running on little sleep. I need some outside opinions and reassurances, so here goes.



Yesterday, Dave and I went to a funeral. The kids were at home playing. Everyone was jolly.



When I came home, Dave went to work, the kids were still playing, so I thought, "Well, this would be a great time to get a few things done. I have about 1 1/2 hours." So I went.



No biggie.



Nothing unusual.



When I come home, it is 5:15, no one has napped.



No biggie.



They have been taking no naps, or 30 min - 6 p.m. naps.



Following?



Ok, so Tripper was laying in the floor, by the heater, under his blanket.

I figure, he is just sleepy, this is not an unusual occurance.



I get him up, get him dressed for 6 p.m. church, and he tells me, "My eyebrows hurt. I am walking in circles. I can't see good."



Since he watches ICarley, HM, and all those dramatic shows, and he has been playing on the computer, and singing with Rock Band, I did not really think that he may be sick.



Just sleepy.



So we go to church. When I get him outta the van, he is still groggy. I think, "Hmmm, he will sleep through church. I will get to listen."



So we go in.



And he says the same thing about his dizziness, his eyes, his eyebrows.



I show Dave, we put him down, make him walk, Dave holds up fingers. He knows how to do all the stuff. So we go in, set down, and do church services.



About 10 minutes in, he is asleep. About 20 minutes in, I notice he is hot. Really Hot. HOT.



Dave agrees with my conclusion. We only have about a 50 minute service. So we wait. He wakes up about 10 minutes before it is over. He just lays still.



He is really sick. He never gets down to run. or play. and then he throws up.

I did something that I usually do not do. I ask if we can go to the ER.

We went. He was negative for H1N1 and Strep. He was diagnosed as a "virus."

That is OK. We spent the entire night listening to him vomit, talk to Emma about green balls (Emma was at Grandma's) and talk about opening Christmas gifts.

I think that I was so busy that I just did not pay attention to the "signs" - I rationalized that he could not be sick because we had not been around anyone; he likes to lay under his blanket and pretend to be a rock; it is not unusual for him to nap at 6 p.m. for about 30 minutes.

Anyways, my point being is that I got a couple of comments from someone and one look - "how could you NOT KNOW he was sick?

Anyone else ever miss "it"? Not catch that a kid is sick? My mother guilt is eating me alive. And I have a strong dislike for judgemental mommies. Especially one with only one kid :)

Summing up the past month.

I unloaded my camera yesterday and I was surprised to find almost 200 pictures that I (or someone else) had taken in the past month. I thought it would be fun to share what kind of life we have and how much fun we really have.

Me and Emma and Tripp taking self portraits on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.

This is the coolest picture of the kids at the Sadler lunch. I got up on T-giving morning and figured out that I had not bought anyone anything new to wear. So we winged it. This was the mood of the day.

Then I got this picture of this sweet little boy. Sometimes, I just want to eat him up.

A few days later, I found this... my sweet boys cuddled up together on the couch.
This is a regular occurrence.

That weekend, we put the Christmas tree up.

Then, later that night, I found Emma and Tripp saying a Christmas prayer to Santa.

And it ended with "Amen."

Tripp went through a stage where he liked to wear Emma's hot pink head band to exercise.

He even slept in it.

And he did Karate in it.

And they battled with marshmellow guns while wearing workout apparel.

One morning, I got up to find Tripp on the couch sleeping.

He was wearing my snuggie and Emma's eye mask.

Someone in the house borrowed my camera.

And took self pictures.

And random pictures.

I guess she wanted to see how her tongue looked on the camera.

And, I guess she wanted show her Daddy's hind quarters.

This was in Tripp's room. I know this because of the green and blue background.

Maybe the flash surprised her?

Then, there was the church Christmas party.

Tripp told us that this was a girl dressed up as Santa.

Emma caught it, too!

Here is the kids on the Right to Life parade float.

And here is a close up of Eli's Christmas Miracle.

See the important message from Santa?

I wanted to share this just so you see that the kids did not only get Santa gifts.

It looks like a toy store threw up in the house.

Here is my favorite picture of the season.

This was straight after Eli opened his phone.

The little kids jumped on him and hugged him.

They were so excited that he got his phone.

Then, they asked for one, too.

Our Christmas Story - In Pictures.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I would like to present to you all our Christmas, in pictures.

Christmas Eve festivities began last night with a little music with Uncle Tommy, Uncle Donnie, and a friend named Anita. We ate, sang and then opened gifts from Grandma and Granddad.

Here is Tripp and Uncle Tommy.

Emma and Mallie loving on each other.

Eli with a dead rat on his hat, Matthew with his hat sideways, and Tyler wishing that

I would not have caught him trying not to be in my picture. Note the teenage angst.


Later on, we made it home. Emma said, "I have two words for you. Good. Night." And she went to bed and went to sleep. Tripp followed after her, so I had to put a Little Debbie snack cake and milk out for Santa. This snack cake is a 100 calorie one.



After preparing for the upcoming breakfast, Santa stopped by and laid out all gifts and stuffed all stockings. This year, he left notes on each gift and encouraged each child to listen to the parents and obey. We will see how that works out.

By 7:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, no children were awake. After making noise to get them stirred, they finally came downstairs. Tripp dug in to the gifts. He got a Cars Laptop.

Here is Emma with a fur vest from Gymboree. I also got her matching hair bows, but she didn't notice them, and I had to dig them out of the trash later on that morning.

Eli received the gift of the year. Here he is opening it.

Notice the expression.

I wrapped his special gift in JC Penney boxes.

Here he is thinking, "Oh, Man. I asked for an IPOD touch.

She got me clothes from JC Penney. Not EVEN American Eagle."

After going thru three different boxes, he finally gets to the center.

Guess what it looks like when he figures out what he really got....

(Oh, and check out Tripp's ratty hair in the picture, too)

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

IT IS A CELL PHONE!!!

Dave got me a bracelet that is a post all in itself.

I have reached a new level and I can't wait to tell everyone all about it...

But right now, I am going to sing with my kids and Dave while we play Rock Band 2.

Christmas Traditions.

I have accomplished so much in the past week... there is still some left to do today.

This is a great holiday season... I am thankful to be off of work and spend time with Dave and the kids.

Yesterday, Eli went with Grandma and Granddad and the other two big boys to Knoxville to watch a UT basketball game and stay in a hotel. This is a yearly tradition. Grandma finds something neat for them to do every year. Not only does it get the boys out of our hair (ha!) it helps them to make such good memories. They have done things like go to Motor cross events, Titans Games, and I don't remember what else.

So last night, Dave and I took the little kids on a surprise date. We skipped church, closed the store at 5:15 and went out to eat. Then, we went and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. They were so excited when we told them! They sat thru the whole movie, only wanting popcorn at the end. It was a special night for us and I realize that they are growing up.

Today, I am going to work with Dave at the store, then I have to get groceries at some point. And then, it is off to Grandma's for our yearly appetizer party and opening gifts.

Tomorrow, we won't get out of the house.

Years ago, we stopped leaving the house on Christmas Day. Everyone opens gifts and stays in pajamas. The kid was getting bigger (we just had Eli at the time) and so one year we said, "If you want to see us, come over to our house. But you better wear pajamas." And guess what? They did. About 15 of them came over. And we fed them breakfast. And hung out in pj's. It is lots of fun.

Tomorrow, we will have biscuits and sausage gravy, french toast casserole, honey baked ham and an egg casserole.

And this is what we will see about 9 a.m.

Countdown to Christmas!

Date: Sunday, December 20th
Time: 10:39 p.m.
Location: Home
Activity: watching kids coloring a velvet picture from the Dollar Store in the livingroom floor.

I am just letting them hang out... you would think I would make them go to bed. But they are being so nice, I am letting them play.

Toy delivery was great today. We went to three houses. I had delivered to two families on my own earlier in the week. There is something so great about taking a family a box of food that is unexpected. One couple that I took supplies to had a five month old baby... it was a very young couple. I gave them my phone number and told them to call me if they ever need anything at all. I doubt they do - it is the people who need it that never ask for the help.

Isn't it neat to realize that everyone has a story? Those people who look "normal" and "perfect" have issues - even when they pretend not to. I think that the issues build character IF you work to overcome those issues. I think we would all work better together if we admitted our flaws and supported each other.

My most favorite thing about other people is to find out is what a couples' story is... you know, how they met, fell in love, got engaged... I love the fact that everyone has a past whether they acknowlege it or not. I love the story of how Dave and I met, how it all fell into place, how it just worked... I love our past, I love our present and I am anticipating our great future together.

Getting my act together.

Yesterday was a pretty productive day. I managed to clean most of the house, including the kitchen cabinets. There was lots of expired canned food. I guess that I don't cook as much as I should. Or we just don't eat at home that often. My house is starting to look OK, so that makes me happy.

I even wrapped four gifts and now our tree doesn't look so pitiful.

After church today, we are going to do our annual toy delivery for the Jaycees. This is my absolute favorite part of Christmas. I love taking the stuff to the kids. Some people are greatful, some live in places that you really believe that they need the toys, some drive brand new vehicles, some live in nice subdivisions and in new houses... but that is their problem. I am just thinking about the kids.

I am going to have to work tomorrow and Tuesday. I feel like it is Christmas and I really don't want to work at all. I want to bake cookies. I guess I can start that on Tuesday evening.

I need to make a list of my new purchases and get this shopping finished.

I have to go get ready for church.

Catching up....

I guess that since I finished my semester, I should be blogging every day. But I still have to work and I am trying my hardest to get ready for Christmas next week, so maybe I can get my act together.

Here are a few random things that are going on:

1. Dave and I are supposed to go Christmas shopping tomorrow. I hope, hope, hope we get to go. It is supposed to snow 1-3 inches tonight. Wow!
2. I still have lotsa laundry on my bed to fold. Well, it is not on the bed now. It was yesterday. Today, it is on the chair.
3. I am feeling some kind of head cold coming on. And I am not really pleased about that.
4. I haven't mopped in a LONG TIME and that is on my to-do list for the weekend. That, and clean the toilets. And bathtubs. And do more laundry.
5. I have no idea of what to get anyone for Christmas.
6. I am not very happy with my job situation right now. Not so much the job, it is my circumstances. Every day I am reminded that there are mean people in the world. And they work to sabotage special things, well, that makes it hard for me. Especially when they are not what they claim to be.
7. I am looking forward to only working on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
8. My mother in law is taking me and the kids to Gatlinburg for New Years Eve so we can shop till we drop and watch the midnight parade. Isn't that so kind? We will have a blast, I just know it.
9. While I am shopping till I drop, Dave will be in Atlanta watching UT play in some kind of bowl game. That is so neat!
10. I always believe that whatever you are doing at midnight sets the tone for your entire year. So if that is the plan, I will be hanging out with my mother in law ALL YEAR ;) and Dave will be watching football and yelling. Wait - that kinda seems like what we do already. So that is fine with me.

Starting to think about Christmas...

Christmas is in two weeks! Can you believe it? This year has been the fastest year of my life.

Now that some school pressure is off (I still have a project due on Sunday AND another final on Tuesday) I am starting to think about Christmas shopping for the kids. I just have to find the time to do it.

Tomorrow is the busiest day of the season, it seems.

We have five functions tomorrow.

1. Sadler party
2. Christmas parade
3. My Dad's Party
4. City Christmas Party
5. Ornament Swap at church.

On Sunday, Eli is going with my brother and Emma is going to the movies with some friends...
Maybe I can find a sitter for Tripper and we can do some of that shopping....

Finishin' Up the Semester...

OK. One last story about the semester... no more complain' cause Iamthisclose to being done.



Just so you know what I am doing AT ALL TIMES - here is a rundown of what is left.

• Today 4 p.m. - Final on Parental Involvement in Education (you'd think I would have this down, right? Not with a 26 year old CHILDLESS teacher) I don't think I have blogged about her yet. I will double check, wait on my final grade, and then let you have all the info on that one.


• Christmas shopping for the kiddies who don't get a Christmas... this is a yearly tradition - 6 p.m. Tonight. Me. Dave. Some other guys. Their wives and girlfriends. The guy at Big Lots in the Camo pants.


• Tomorrow - 30 Day Lesson Plan for Physical Ed. Class. Yeah, right.


• Study for the final on Tuesday - THE BIG FINAL in Geology. Right this instant, I have a 77. Do I love it? Heck, yeah! I am thrilled. But it won't be a 77 in about, oh, 2 hours or so. I just bombed a couple of tests in that class today. It is OK, though, cause a C is a C whether it is 79 or 71. I willl take either.

Another Day.

Do we ever realize how selfish we are?

Last night, while I was blog browsing, I read my good friend Jenni's blog.

This post made me think about how selfish we are. I am worried about money, Christmas presents and food, yet the link to this lady and her contributions to life is a true wake up call.

Last night, I rocked Emma to sleep. She was snuggled up close to me under her fuzzy pink blanket. I thought about all the children in the world who don't have fuzzy pink blankets, mommies that rock them tight, and toasty beds to snuggle into at night.

We are truly blessed.

Instead, everyone just spends time complaining. Spending money. Complaining.

All these children need is love, food, clothing and shelter... things we take for granted. Everyday.

So while I sit here in the warm, with nice shoes, and worry that my hair color is faded, there are children who are hungry.

If you get a chance, go read this.

Talk about perspective.

Mother Woes.

Years ago, I read about a lady who boycotted her house. And her husband. And her children.

It seems that she just got fed up with doing all the work and stopped. Not only did she stop, she took her pillow and blanket and went and lived in the tree house.

It got the family's attention.

I only had one child at the time, and I remember thinking, "Wow. How bad could it be?"

Well, I am there.

It seems to me that no one else cares how the floor needs mopping or how trashcans work. People, please. When you finish eating the honeybun, the wrapper goes INTO the trashcan.

Every Saturday, I spend my time putting away the laundry that I spend my Friday night washing. I dust. I vacuum. I get clothes ready for Sunday morning. Nails are clipped. Floors swept. Dusting is done. (I hate dusting). Countertops are bleached. I go grocery shopping.

By Sunday afternoon, you can't tell I have even been around.

This morning, I go upstairs and I get Emma up. And I look around. It seems that within the last 24 hours, a tornado attacked my children's bedrooms.

As I walk down the steps, it seems that the tornado left a path of distruction thru David's room, living room, kitchen and my room as well. (Tripp and Emma took naps in MY bed yesterday - with a sippy of red juice).

I know everyone says that I will miss this mess. Yet, I don't think so.
I just wish they would pick up their stuff and not rely on me to do it.

I am sitting here at work, thinking about what I have to go home to.
I am going to have to clean (again) and pick toys up (again).
The same stuff I did on Saturday. And last Friday. And Thursday.... get the picture?

The playhouse is looking more and more attractive.

End of semester. A Bullet List.

Because I have random thoughts and I don't have the time or energy to find and create transition thoughts to get it all together, today's post will be in bullet format.

Here goes.

• I did a paper yesterday over an observation of a child. It ended up being about 8,000 words and 17 pages. Not kidding.
• I was only on page 4 at 12 p.m. I finished at 5:30 p.m.
• See why my mind hurts.
• Emma is singing to Tripp "Jingle Bells, Tripper smells." Tripp is crying.
• On Thursday, I have a Geology Lab Quiz at 10, a lecture test at 11, an education final at Tech at 4 and Christmas for Kids shopping at 6.
• It snowed today.
• Today is my nephew Ethan's birthday. He is three. Happy Birthday Ethan!
• I have mounds of laundry on my bed that needs to be folded. I am thankful that it is in a central location and it is clean.
• My last test of the semester is at 10:30 on December 15.
• Only ten days to go.
• I keep buying random Christmas presents for my children. I have no idea what is in the closet. It stems from mother guilt. I don't even own wrapping paper yet.
• I have to go study now so that I can list the Geologic Times Scale on Thursday.

Happy Birthday Super Dave.

Happy Birthday David.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

You are my most favorite.

And you are the oldest guy I have ever dated.

Funnies.

Last night, after everyone was bathed and teeth were brushed and clean p.j.'s were put on, my little Emma and Tripp went to the Christmas tree and got down on their hands and knees.

My children got down and prayed.

I asked them what they were doing. Tripp says, "We are saying our Christmas prayers." I asked him, "Well, who are you praying to?" And Tripp says, "We are praying to Santa. Emma wants a puppy and for her family to have a good Christmas. I just want a kitty."

Mixed up, much?