Under the Mistletoe

It's been a wonderful weekend. 

We started the weekend with a Nate and Lynn night out.  Yippee. 

It was much needed.  Nate had been asking since the trailer came out this summer to go watch The Hobbit.  I surprised him with a babysitter and plans to go see it the day it opened.  All three other Lord of the Rings films we saw on the midnight showings.  But this was the next best thing. 

 

Mommy had been talking about her date night all week. 

The kids knew they were going to have a babysitter and then mommy and daddy were going to go out and watch a movie.  And Bubba said "then you are going to kiss".  Oh, what a sweet boy. 

The only problem is that we weren't the only ones kissing this week.  I got a call after school on Friday from one of the kid's teachers.  I thought she was calling to talk about the class Christmas party this Friday but before she hung up she said she had to tell me about an incident at school. 

 OH NO. 

I got the parental dread on what is to follow. 

Did she cut her hair?  Did she disrupt class?

Did she have an accident? 

Oh no, our baby girl was caught in class kissing another little boy.  

Daddy just got 50 more gray hairs. 

We had a nice long talk with her how we don't kiss our friends. 

Kissing is reserved for our mommy and daddy's but we don't kiss other people. 

I told her how Daddy is the only person I ever kissed and I was 15 at the time.  Daddy gave me an evil eye and I quickly adjusted that number to 30!!  LOL 

Oh this mommy was so shy and quiet when I was little how did I get a girl who kissed at the age of 5!!! 

{rosie took this picture, so cute!}

Friday was actually Nate and I's dating anniversary. 

We started dating 17 years ago.  A lifetime ago. 



So I gave the babysitter the run down on what to do and we were out the door. 

Nate had picked up the tickets earlier in the day so we didn't have to wait in line, EXCEPT there was a line to get into theater.  They had signs everywhere to line up for each Hobbit showing.  Crazy!  We got there 30 minutes before so we got a great seat almost the middle of the row and 4 rows up from the pathway. 

 This picture was taking right as we sat down.  There was probably 30 people in the theater and most of them behind us.  The place by the start of the movie was 80% full.  We had people on either side of us and in front of us and behind us.  No breathing room.  The only seats left were in the front. 

The movie was good. 

It showed so much more of the scenery of New Zealand than any of the other films. 

I still have to look away every time Gollum is on screen.  He is so creepy. 

The rest of the weekend was all about "family".

On Saturday we had basketball games and then made Christmas cookies. 

The girls helped me roll out the sugar cookies and Bubba helped cut them out. 

 Everyone had a hand in frosting and decorating. 

They tasted so yummy!! 

Lil Miss approves.

Then on Saturday afternoon we opened gifts. 

Nate and I had gotten the kids a few gifts and then they had made each other a few gifts too!

Mommy and Daddy got them each a pair of christmas pajamas and a handmade stuffed owl.

I thought the kids would be disappointed that it wasn't something spectacular. 

But my kids surprised me and loved every item.  Whether it cost nothing or cost $20, they had smiles on their faces from ear to ear.

This is a "I can't believe you gave me half of your silly bands" hug from Gigi.

 This is a "thank you for makin me a necklace" neck embrace from Bubba.

 Showing off their owl buddies.

 Daddy got spoiled. 

He had the most gifts. 

That's not fair.  Mommy probably got the most expensive gift but I had opened it a few months earlier.  The camera that I took all these pictures on.  You see, my old camera met its demise when it hit the kitchen tile floor.  Mommy's fault.  I was devastated.  So what happened to land on our doorstep 3 weeks later?  A new camera addressed to me. 

So my Christmas gift from Nate and the kids has already been opened. 

The kids were so excited for daddy to open the biggest gift.  A HUGE Nerf gun. 

It has three cartridges with 18 bullets each.  Serious Nerf power!

More on this later.

The last gift we had a little fun with the kids.

I had made a scavenger hunt. 

So the kids went all over the house finding all the notes I had hidden to find the last clue outside.  It is a new basketball pole/backboard/ and ball return. 

The basketball pole isn't up yet, but that didn't stop us from playing a little  2 on 3.  Or 3 on 3 if you count Lil Miss standing in the middle of the court.  

 

 Their basketball skills have greatly improved in the last year and many days you can find them shooting baskets after school or Bubba and Rosie practicing passing. 

After the girls went inside to clean up the mess from the gift opening, the boys started a new hobby. 

Something to do with motherboards, sodering (spelling), and very itty bitty pieces. 

I am a little lost in what Nate is all doing but the end projects are pretty cute. 

They are currently making a blinking red heart. 

Nate made a little system that chirps when it is dark. 

A little hobby Bubba and him can tinker around with. 

Then after the boys came in from the garage the battle began. 

We picked teams and rearranged furniture to have NERF wars.

Bubba stared open mouthed as mommy tipped over tables and moved chairs into position to defend our flag. Yep, we played capture the flag.  Do you see the napkin hanging from my Christmas garland on the mantle?  We had one flag upstairs and one downstairs.  Mommy's team didn't stand a chance. 

Daddy's combat skills from all those video games came in handy.  I had a pretty good position behind my cardboard table but it was no match against Gigi and Daddy. 

Rosie took all the pictures because she didn't want to get hit.  

                                      

We will forever be finding Nerf bullets all over the house. 

I have since told the kids the Nerf guns stay downstairs. 

But for those few hours it was Awesome!!!! (coming from bubba). 

We ended the night with hot cocoa and frosted sugar cookies.

Can't get much better. 

The kids all slept with their little owls and drifted off to never never land completely worn out. 

Mommy was worn out too.

I had big plans to get a few things done, but instead I headed to bed to and it didn't take me long to fall asleep. 

Today was much more low key. 

Church.  Sunday School.  Trip to Target.  Lunch at IHOP.  Kids playing with the Nerf guns constantly.  Supper.  Sleep. 

And our weekend is over. 

5 days til we head to Ohio for Christmas. 

All the gifts are purchased, 1/2 of them are wrapped and bags are ready to be packed. 

Friday will be here before we know it. 



For the Joy of it

Today we had the kids Winter Program at school. 

They all got dressed up in their Christmas best and were all smiles before school.

Bubba's favorite part was that they didn't have to bring backpacks to school and didn't have homework the night before or tonight.  Yippee! 

This momma got everyone ready in record time this morning.  The girls helped each other put their tights on because those things are difficult and Bubba begged to wear his watch to school "because it completes my outfit, Mom."  So with the little influence from me on what to wear, they looked absolutely beautiful.  I had to persuade Rosie not to have her hair in a ponytail today "just because it doesn't take as long as straightening"  and Gigi was just bubbling with excitement to wear her new dress. 

On Monday night, Gigi, Lil Miss and I went to the mall to find a new dress because I was certain we had a hand me down dress from Rosie to wear but I forgot that Rosie shot up 3 sizes in one year and never wore size 7/8 very long at all.  So with a vision of what she wanted (a pretty pink dress that goes all the way down to the ground like Cinderella) we headed off to the mall. 

Unfortunately we didn't come home with Cinderella's dress but we got the next best thing.... a very girly pink lace dress with a fur shawl that she wanted to sleep with.  Seriously. 

My little girl.

So of course this mother takes advantage of the kids in their pretty clothes and smiles a mile wide to snap a few pics. 

 {so grown up Rosie}

 {this girl just melts my heart and she knows it too-- she uses it against me  :-) }

{My easy going boy who didn't want Dodger to feel left out} 

And seriously the cuteness.  They were in the best mood this morning.  Rosie helped all the kids get their breakfast and she wouldn't even let me pour the milk.  Bubba cleaned out the dishwasher without being asked, and Gigi was just twirling around and around.  It was a good thing they didn't ask me for anything because I was in such a good mood we might have ended up with another dog at the end of the day or even worse a pony.   Try explaining that one to Nate. 

Nate was lucky enough to find time in his schedule to meet us at school for the program. 

The kids were back to back to back in order, since we are now in Second, First, and Kindergarten. 

Rosie sang:

He'll Be comin from the North Pole (sung to the tune She'll be coming around the mountain)

Don't Eat a Poinsettia  (pretty funny)

Up on a Housetop

and Mousie in the Snow 

Bubba was as energetic as could be. 

His grade sang:

Listen to the Jingles

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

We're Gonna go on a Sleigh Ride

and Polar Puppy

 

I had the realization today seeing him with all his other classmates on how much he has grown in the last year.  Last year he was in the front row and was one of the shortest kids in the grade, but now he is on the second riser and some of his pants are now capris.  Can you say growth spurt?

Of course in Bubba fashion, he was bowing to the crowd at the end.... even though no one else was. 

He knew he sang well.   LOL 

Our little Gigi had her debut at her very first school program. 

As predicted she was shy and walked in with her hands over her face.  I heard some other parents point her out and say look at that girl who is so shy. 

But she proved us all wrong as soon as the music started playing she was singing away. 

{Lil Miss and Mommy in the audience} 

Gigi sang:

I want to be an Elf (I know this one by heart because she has sang it over & over)

The Snowman

On this Night

The Santa Claus Rock

At the end we waited for the kids to be released and took them home before lunch.  Some kids stayed until early out at 1:10 but we took the kids out for lunch to surprise them. 

Lil Miss was so excited to see her brother and sisters.  It was like she hasn't seen them in weeks... not 2 hours.

 The kids did great at Applebee's and it was kind of fun going out to eat in the middle of the week with all of us.  I think it makes it more special because we don't do it all the time.  

 When we got home, daddy went back to work for a few hours and the kids and I found things to keep us busy.  Like climbing mommy's woodwork.  Literally.  For the first time he was in the doorway shimming himself up the archway to the top.  Not halfbad.  Don't tell Dad...  shhhhhh.

 For supper, mommy was feeling especially Martha Stewart like so we had BLTs, baked tomatoes with basil and grated Parmesan cheese on top, and pumpkin trifle for dessert. 

Yum Yum.

It all turned out really good.  The sign of a good dessert is when the bowls are licked cleaned.  And Gigi didn't leave a crumb of dessert behind. 

To make the night EVEN more exciting we also had our snowflake central at church tonight. 

The kids were able to make and wrap their own gifts for people.  

You lucky people are going to be so excited!  Sadly mommy knows that Daddy is receiving TWO presents and no one made one for me,  frowny face. 

Oh well, the smile on their faces as they taped those presents up was gift enough.   

And to top it off we left with sugar cookies and hot cocoa. 

I would call our day complete. 

This mommy is a little tired but happy. 

I have a decaf coffee in my hand and Les Miserables the book waiting for me upstairs.

Adios!



Jolly Old St Nickolas

Our house feels very festive.

I have the lights on outside (not as many as I put out last year, but I don't think anyone has noticed).

The trees are all up and decorated in the house. 

Oh, I said trees plural.  The traditional one upstairs, the white girly one downstairs and then the small table top tree on the bar which has gone from a Noah's ark tree, to a tree for Rosie's room with lots and lots of tinsel, to this year an Ohio State tree.  



The stockings are all hung on the chimney with care in hopes that someone was coming last week.... Jolly Old St Nick.

So the whole St Nick thing isn't something that I grew up with.

I remember having conversations with my mother about St Nick when everyone else was talking at school but it wasn't something we celebrated as a kid.

Nate on the other hand would put their Christmas lists in their stockings on Dec. 5th and then St Nick would come take them and drop a few things off in their stockings. 

As Lil Miss got the Veggie Tales movie about St Nickolas in her stocking we have been hearing about the story of St Nick all week and how he was a gift giver.  But not just any gift giver, he gave to the poor, assisted the needy and helped the sick and suffering. 

The story is just one more in which I can reinforce the need to give to others in my children. 

Yes, they might get gifts in their stockings or under the tree on Christmas day, but it is so much more meaningful to give to others who need it more. 

Lil Miss sure gets excited every time she hears a bell ringer and grabs for my shirt sleeve to tell me to get some change out.  My coin purse is now empty.  I have to refill it about once a week. 

She trots over to the red metal buckets and stands on her tippy toes and just barely reaches the hole to drop her coins in.  It's never to young to do that!



 



Rosie (the tallest of the four) helped the kids get their stockings down from the mantel to see what St Nick had left.  They got a movie, and a small toy and the big girls got cute ear muffs which they so desperately needed so their hair doesn't get all matted down in a knit hat.

Gigi was all smiles over her Hello Kitty earmuffs.

That same day was Bubba's birthday. 

I had asked him earlier in the week what he wanted for dinner on his special day. 

His answer:  chicken! 

My boy loves his chicken. 

So this momma decided to fry up some of Grandma Aggie's Fried Chicken for dinner.

It made the house smell so good! 

The house was permeated with fried chicken baking in the oven getting tender and falling off the bone.   Reminded me of going over to Grandma's for dinner and getting mashed potatoes and gravy and all that wonderful goodness.

I am not a pro at making her chicken because I can't master the art of frying chicken without ending up with grease burns. 

And the ones on my arm just might be permanent.  :-) 

I did the whole chicken dance. 

The one where you drop a chicken leg in the pan and jump back and then put another one in and jump back as quick as you can.  But alas my jumping skills must not be that good because it got me. 

Now I know there is a trick to this that I must learn from my mother or Aunt Carol because I am sure my grandmother was not jumping around with her chicken while frying every week. 

I need to learn the secret. 

 

When we came to the weekend we got to spend some great time with old and new friends.

Lots of food was consumed and laughter shared among us.

The kids love playing with friends and Rosie has an infatuation with little babies to play with. 

 One thing that Rosie started last week was sewing. 

Oh yes, this momma is proud my girl is sewing. 

One of her friends had gotten her a sewing kit for her birthday so we sat down and did her first project.  She made her own little stuffed frog. 

As the project went on she really got into the swing of the straight stitch. 

She can't wait to sew more projects with me.   

On Sunday night we had a popcorn and movie night. 

I love those!!

We watched Cinderella (which Nate didn't think he had ever saw!) and snacked on some Boy Scout Popcorn.  Can't go wrong with that.  

It was nice to sit down to some family quiet time when the whole weekend was filled with guitar music from Bubba's new guitar. 

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Ash surprised Bubba with his own guitar and an amp to make it even LOUDER! 

Thank you Jeff and Ash... but where was the ear plugs for mommy and daddy? 

:-)  No seriously he is in heaven and is often found now in his room on the edge of the bed playing a tune.  It's the little things. 

Now it's Monday night and I just heard Bubba tell me all about the caroling they did at a nursing home for Boy Scouts.  Rosie went along too and they sang songs and smiled and got candy canes at the end!!  So much excitement. 

Nate said he sang his heart out too.... that might have been said sarcastically. 

I need to get him in the holiday spirit. 

Maybe a family sing along is needed for this weekend to get him in the mood. 

Not sure, what do you think? 

Angels we have Heard on High

Today is a day that was a happy day at one time. 

It was the day that Nate's little niece Melissa Marie was born. 

She was as cute as could be, with eyes that could melt your soul.

Nate's brother and sister in law chose us as Godparents.

It was the first time I was picked to be a godmother.  I was ready to spoil her forever.

Birthdays, Christmases, her wedding, every moment I could I was going to sprinkle this bundle of joy with gifts and love.

But we only got 18 months. 

For a reason only known to God our father she was taken before we could celebrate her second birthday, or I could treat her to goddaughter pedicures, or watch her try on wedding dresses.

We only had a few short months to love her and be in the presence on one star shining so bright. 

Some children just have that light. 

That smile that can melt you and brings a smile to everyone who sees her.

Missy had that.

 

So as today would have been Missy's 9th birthday I reflect on how much our family has changed and how so many cousins and babies have been born. 

How many events have taken place. 

But that little girl who was born 9 years ago today is always remembered. 

I believe Missy's death has brought our family closer together.

When she passed away we all leaned on each other to get through our grief and heal.

She is a brilliant angel in heaven watching down on us.   



I was holding my "Lil Miss" today and thinking how as a parent that you could never "get over" losing a child. They are part of you.

It's something that gets easier to talk about and you find ways to deal with the loss, but you never forget. It doesn't matter how long you knew them or how long they were here on earth. They steal a little piece of your heart.  So to Dale and Stacy on this day may you find comfort to know that she has never been forgotten and that she still holds a place in our hearts.  



 Happy Birthday Melissa Marie!

Melissa Marie
Dec 10th 2003 - July 1st 2005