Goodbye, 2011.

So, this year is finally at a close. I am so happy it is over and I am ready for new beginnings.

In 2011, we had lots of snow days and lots of days out of school.

• David had shoulder surgery in January. We were all so happy for him. I started my student teaching and had a wonderful time. I got a new room added on to the house and new furniture!



• In February, Eli turned fifteen and we went to Gatlinburg for CYC with seven kids!



• In March, the girls left and my family fell apart. This alone set the tone for the rest of the year, for both myself and the little kids. We had to find a new normal and we still struggle to understand why or how. This was the first "loss" that the kids had ever faced and is probably the closest thing to death (without it being the actual thing) that they will ever experience.



• We spent April walking in a daze. I think that Easter was in April.



• In May, I graduated from college and turned thirty six. My family gave me a great party and I was surrounded by those who love me.



• In June, Tripp turned six and I got a summer job teaching SPED and found out that I loved it!



• July was our long awaited week at the beach. Then, I got hired to teach 3rd grade.



• In August, my new job started. Eli went on to 10th grade. Emma started 2nd and Tripper went to kindergarten.



• In September, Emma turned eight years old. We were all busy with adjusting to school and my full time job. I got my first "big girl" paycheck!



• In October, we had a wonderful fall break and enjoyed a great night of Hayride Trick or Treating with a great group of friends.



• November brought my new sweet niece Adaline Fowler, a special celebration for my wonderful father in law, and our first Thanksgiving at home. Black Friday Shopping was a bust.



• December gave us a thirty eight year old Daddy! Ha! We also got two weeks off of school for Christmas break.

So I guess that we could say that 2011 was a life changing year. I am hoping and praying that 2012 will bring more answers, blessings, healing, and love. I am thankful for my family, the security of my home, the knowledge that I have people who love me, a wonderful job, great co-workers, and a chance to make a difference.

In Between.

After a wonderful Christmas, we are now ready for a great New Years celebration.

What does that leave us with? The week in between.

It is time to take down decorations, shopping is over. All that is left is a mess of toys that don't have a home just yet. We know that there is another celebration time coming, we are just waiting it out.

I really dislike this week. It is sad for me, it makes me anxious. It always has. There is so much to do. So this week, we are staying at home, getting things ready because we are going to The Wilderness in the Smokies for New Years Eve! How exciting is that! We have never been before and the kids are super excited about swimming and playing in the water.

As for Christmas, the kids were happy. We have Nurf guns and bullets floating around. We have American Girl dolls, and clothes everywhere. Eli is wearing his new North Face jacket all over the house. Dave and I got new chairs for our dining room table. And new Asics :)

So now, lets make it through this in-between week. I am starting my teaching list for next week. I am ready to get back in the swing of things.

Christmas Eve Eve!

Here we are, on Friday, December 23... Christmas Eve Eve!
Shopping is complete. I have to wrap one more gift. I haven't baked a thing yet. I have nothing to do except take Emma to the eye doctor for a check up.

It kinda feels strange.

I have already been out of school for one week. I have nine days left to be off. I am in the habit of staying up until one or two in the morning and sleeping till nine'ish. It is almost ten a.m. and the kids are still sleeping soundly.

Emma pulled her eighth tooth last night right at bedtime. I was somewhat drowsy and she went and wrote the tooth fairy a heartfelt letter, asking for her to dip her wing in the water, and then to write her name in the glitter. I was just so tired and a little perturbed at the request. Yet, the tooth fairy came through for Emma and she was excited about 5 a.m. this morning when she crawled in bed with me to tell me her findings.

And I know that this season is almost over. So I was glad that the fairy made it right last night.

Tripp does not have any loose teeth yet. I checked. He is following in Eli and Emma's footsteps and will be past seven when he loses his first tooth.

Questions I Don't Want to Answer.

Here are some things I have heard recently:

1. Hey Mom, What does SEX mean?



2. What is GAY?



3. How do babies get out?



4. What does it mean when you do this? (sticking up the middle finger)

Needless to say, these are things I am not ready for. I have had to answer these, and tread lightly, giving minimal information.

Would you like to know my answers?

Sure you would. Here we go.

1. So I said, "What do you think it means?" and Emma replied, "Wellll, Sally asked her daddy and he said it means if you are a boy or a girl. You usually check it on a paper for school so they will know what you are." Horray for Sally's daddy! I bypassed that and I would have never thought of it. Feel free to borrow :)

2. Again, this wonderful questions came from Emma as we were driving through Nashville the other day. I wondered what she had just saw. I asked "Why?" and she replied, "Just tell me, already." So I reverted back to when Eli was in 3rd grade, and he refused to sing, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" for Veteran's Day Program at school because Johnny would be gay. And I said, "It means HAPPY". Emma replied, "Tammy's mom said it meant something different - something bad." And I said, "Oh, Emma! Look! It's Toys-R-US!"

3. This question came from all three -Emma, Mallie and Tripp - as Aunt Terri was having our new baby Adaline. After listening to various comments that included a "door in the belly that a baby can open" and Tripp's answer - "Momma's poop babies out of their butts", I answered with "Momma's have a special place for babies to come out." And that ended it with two of them. But not Emma. So we had a mini -conversation of where that special place is located.

4. This one came from Tripp, while I was in the Verizon store, upgrading my phone, sitting at the counter. We were the only customers in there - with three workers who thought my kids were "the cutest things ever". Until Tripp stuck his middle finger up at every one of them as he asked loudly. I took him to the car as they were programming my new phone. He tried to run from me. I swatted at him and I missed. He then told them that I smacked him in the head. And for the record I didn't but I felt like it. :) Not only did my sweet boy flip people off, his momma hurt him. Needless to say, he was grounded when he got home.

Christmas Break.

I made it to Christmas break.

I am so excited to have this time off with my family. As you can tell, it is three in the morning. I have a cold (imagine that!) and I am having trouble sleeping. But no worries, because I don't have to be up at any time tomorrow. Horray!

Yesterday we had the big family Christmas, which only lasted for an hour, then we came home and hung out on the couch, just the five of us. Then we divided up. Eli stayed at home, Dave took Tripp to the woods, and Emma and I went on a girl date and did her shopping.

Then, later in the night, Dave threw Eli the keys and we went driving. I about died. I cried in the van as he drove us around town. This was only the second time he had ever driven. The night before, I let him drive around the high school parking lot. Now, on day two, it is open road. I guess that it is just another sign that he is almost grown.

Eli has never shown any interest in driving. Ever. And he will be 16 in two months. He doesn't have a permit. So from one day to the next, he is wanting to drive. And it makes me sad.

This year, it doesn't feel like Christmas. I am not really in the "Christmas Spirit". I am almost done with my shopping. I ordered my Christmas cards a month early, and I have not even mailed them yet. In fact, I have only received three, and I usually get about 50. I guess some others are not feeling it either.

Let's hope this next week brings me tidings of comfort and joy. Maybe I will bake some cookies.