We made it.

Well, Christmas is over. Another Christmas has come and gone. I am always excited up until the day and then I am glad for the end. Then I start the New Years Eve Countdown.

New Years Eve used to be my favorite holiday. I always loved it. Now, it is just another day. There is no fun preparing. There is nothing really cool about it, except that it is a relief when it is over and it is time to move on. Sad?

So, now Christmas is over, and New Years is coming.

We have no schedule, except to stay up as late as we want, and sleep as late as we want.

Some days, I don't even brush my hair. I stay in pajamas. It is nice.
BUT
I think I am ready for school to go back.

What happens when moms can't sleep...

Christmas Eve Eve!

Hooray! It is almost Christmas! I said this yesterday, and Dave's response was, " Why? Because it is almost over?" No, you silly Grinch. It is gonna be so much fun!

I was thinking about how this Christmas is different than last years.... well, besides the obvious.

No pressure of school for me. That is a biggie.
We just finished unpacking things yesterday. We have been here almost two years. :)

The little kids are excited... How is Santa gonna get in the house? Where will he put the presents?

The girls are excited... What are our traditions? Will I let them eat the Christmas cookies? Gifts?

Eli - is just Eli.

Watching the girls is like watching the little kids, but I hate to think it - better. OK, maybe not so much better... just different. They are excited. Even Michelle is showing excitement. Annie is running in circles, waiting to open the presents, excited... she is sending us Facebook messages, hugging us. They are questioning us about what we do, how we do things... it is like setting a new pattern to get rid of the bad memories.

So - tomorrow we are going to make gingerbread houses.
Then, we are baking cookies for Santa.
And then we are off to Grandma's.

Christmas Time!

Once again, I have sat down to update... I see my last post was on December 6. :(

OK, here is a rundown.

Snow.

Snow.

Finished School. Missed my last practicum days.

Kids missed the last week of school because of..... snow.

Now they are out on Christmas break.

I have stayed in my pj's so much that I forget what day it is. I am loosing track of time. Days are running together. Some days, Dave goes to work and I am reading a book on the couch. When he comes home, I have done nothing more than brush my teeth and read another book, took a nap and watched a movie. Because I did four semesters of school this year, I am tired and enjoying my laziness. What gets me is this - my house was much cleaner when I was working and going to school! Crazy, I know. I just don't wanna clean. And it is just going to get dirty again.

Tomorrow, we will do a good cleaning. That should make everyone happy. :)

Yesterday, Grandma and Granddad took the big kids to Nashville to spend the night at Opryland. That left me and Dave at home alone with just Emma and Tripp. So, last night, we went on a whirlwind tour... we drove to Chuckles in Crossville, played games, went to eat and then drove back to Cookeville and saw Yogi Bear in 3D. We had a blast!

Today, we get to deliver toys for the Jaycees to underprivileged children. Well, this is my favorite part of Christmas.

The big kids will be home later tonight - Grandma is taking the girls to see the Rockettes and Granddad is taking the boys to see the Titans play.

We have major progress with the new addition to our house. One day last week (see, I don't remember the day!) I came outside and we had windows and doors on the new room. So I went and bought some light fixtures for the walls and for the outside. I had no idea how dramatic buying light fixtures is - colors that match (bronze, aged bronze, tan bronze, silver, copper...) glass that matches.... I was in Lowe's for over an hour and it was my third trip to check things out. I also have become fixated on a couch and love seat that I can't afford. :/ When you build a new room, you need furniture. This week, I told someone that Dave and I will be sitting out in "our" room in lawn chairs with our feet on boxes. That is OK, though, because no kids allowed! Ha!

The Downhill Slide.

Yes... another school story. Yet again.

So, this semester was 17 hours. Six Classes.
Seven weeks in kindergarten.

As of now, I have three classes completely finished.

Today, my professor Jane is coming to evaluate my teaching at 11 a.m.
How will it go? In my head, great! But, I have twenty kindergarten students that make that change just.like.that.

For example, the other day, during a phonics lesson, one little girl raised her hand and said, "Mrs. Sadlerrrr.... When I have to go to the bathroom, I pee a lot."

So, this should be interesting because a visitor combined with a two hour school delay ON A MONDAY will set them off... :?

Let's see... I finish classes on Thursday and have one final next Tuesday. Let the countdown begin!

Facts of Five.

Last night, Michelle and I were talking about the "right" number of kids.
What exactly is the "right" number?
Do we ever, as young married people, anticipate what our number of children will end up?

When I began to date Dave, I surely never said, "WOW! I want five kids!" But now, I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes, God has plans for us that we can't comprehend; ten years ago, if you would have told me that I would have five kids, I would have laughed hysterically and ran away. (I only had one child at the time :) )

Here are a few facts on what it is like to have five children - things I never thought of before....

• Five sets of school forms to fill out.
• Five report cards to view and sign.
• Five parent teacher conferences to attend... at the same time! This takes several hours.
• Five people with Christmas wishes!
• Five sets of gifts to wrap - I usually wait until the day before, but it is just not possible. So I started shopping early, wrapping early. I am even anticipating the amount of paper in the living room floor on Christmas morning :)

Household facts:

• We use three rolls of toilet paper PER DAY.
• We use FOUR tubes of toothpaste per month.
• We use a 96 load bottle of laundry detergent every two weeks.
• We use 3 bottles of fabric softener per month.
• Two gallons of milk per week. (If they are in school!) This goes with the six boxes of cereal. Also... two gallons of OJ, two pounds of bread, two pounds of sandwich meat... it goes on and on...
• I now buy in bulk.
• The girls start getting ready for school at 5 a.m. Thankfully, the girls ride the bus, most of the time. If they miss, or are late, we have three stops at three different schools by 7:30. Eli almost never rides the bus, so I always have two stops. What is one more?
• Dave and I have to figure out where five kids are after school and who is getting home and how. Since he drives the bus, and I have class until 4:30 (most days), Emma and Tripp go to afterschool, Annie stays at afterschool and Eli and Michelle do different things everyday.
• If someone gets sick, the system is crazy.
• That is where Dave steps in and saves me.

Happy Birthday Super Dave.

I have to say a special Happy Birthday to Dave... today, he is 37 years old.

That is just three away from 40. We have some celebrating to do tonight. :) Woot!

Dave, father of my children, you rock! You are an awesome Daddy, Husband and BFF.

Thanks for putting up with my craziness, my whining, and picking up after me.

Thanks for helping me and encouraging me to get through school.

You are so good.

Ily.