The Christmas after Christmas!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas holiday!! We are enjoying ours. Cindy (Mike's mom) is in town visiting for the week and we are just hanging out, doing a little post-xmas shopping and enjoying the time off. Mike's dad got the kids all gift cards to go and get something for themselves and let me tell you, they certainly have enjoyed that little freedom!! Making decisions when you are so little and its your own money to spend is awfully hard to do but they sure are managing alright! Maria decided she wanted to get a couple new games for her new DS and has been enjoying them since the agonizing decision of picking only two. Lillian has her heart set on another fairy doll (Silvermist, the water fairy in particular..) to go with her new Tinkerbell doll but she is proving difficult to find! We are not giving up hope and are going to check out a couple more stores but in the meantime she used part of her gift card to get a baby Cinderella doll that she fell in love with from the moment she spotted it.. And Mikey wanted guns.. I don't know whether to be scared or amused at the pure pleasure he takes in shooting things! He got a cowboy costume and a cap gun set with holster and he has been in heaven! For the past two days he has been running around targeting anyone that moves.. laughing uncontrollably when he shoots you. It was funny at first but getting a teeny, tiny bit disturbing now.. We have told him not to shoot people anymore and that has taken a little of the fun out of it but he still enjoys running around thinking he is the Sheriff of the house! Oh, he insists on wearing eye goggles now when he shoots since a little of the cap smoke blew in his eyes one time.. that's my boy, safety first!

Santa did it again!

I hope everyone had a very happy xmas and Santa treated you all well! He certainly did here! It's amazing how he knows what the perfect gifts are for the kids. All 3 of them received what their hearts most desired.. Mikey a remote control monster truck, which he has been crashing into everything since he opened it.. Lillian a Tinkerbell doll that does not talk or sing.. She had very specific requirements but Santa was able to pull through.. And Maria and her Nintendo DS, pink... The look on her face says it all when she first opened it.. Pure joy! We had a very good day, relaxing and laidback.. Today I need to clean. Mike's Mom comes in tonight and my house is a wreck. Currently Mike is out hunting for truck parts for the green money pit (as I like to call it.. the rest of you know it as the '68 Chevy truck). Not much else going on.. We plan on playing with our new toys and just hanging out for the next couple of days.. Those are the best vacations when you don't have to go anywhere or do anything! Later!

I LOVE dentists...

Why does it seem that whenever we go to the dentist they have good news.. and bad news.. It's like they want to make sure that we keep coming back to give them our money. All three kids had dentist appointments today, it was Mikey's first time! Thankfully they all did great, no fears so far! That may change in the future however. The dentist started out with glowing reports for all 3 kids, great teeth, no cavities, keep up the good work! Then he goes in for the kill and proceeds to tell me that 2 of them are most probably going to need orthodontic work when they get older due to their overbite. BAM! Dollar signs start flying behind my eyes.. I knew Mikey was most likely going to need some sort of work, that kid had the biggest overbite I've ever seen, We're talking Mr. Ed sized.. but Lillian? He then has the audacity to blame it on me.. He looks at me and says, "You have an overbite too, don't you?" Do I? News to me... So I show him my bite and he exclaims "Yes! It is exactly the same as Lillians! She must have gotten it from you!" Well, gee, thanks. Probably why I didn't notice hers since I didn't think I had a problem either! Oh well.. At least I can look forward to the next few orthodontic-free years before the money starts to fly!

Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays!! Stop stressing and have some fun!

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Rock Band Rocks!!!!

YES!!!! It is finally here! We picked up Rockband2 for the Wii yesterday.. It is sooo much fun! Mike and I played it for 4 hours last night! (amazing how time flies when you're having fun!) It is our big joint xmas gift for each other. We have been wanting one for a while now and finally just decided to go for it! Kids like it too! Especially Mikey, I think we have a future drummer in our midsts! Before we had it all hooked up he was behind the drums, sticks in his hands, feet planted and ready to go! We let him have the first turn and "play" along with a song.. I must say I am amazed at how well he kept rhythm and knew what to do immediately!! I think he plays them better than I do (which those of you who know me really well are probably not surprised.. No rhythm here!) Awesome gift and we plan on having a lot of fun with it in the future!

Lillian's concert!

Today was the big concert day at Lillian's preschool!! They actually did quite well, especially for only being four! We were treated to 15 minutes of tamborine jingling, reindeer singing, kid songs! Very special and nice. You will only be treated to 2 minutes of the finest 4 year old concert ever! They had fun and Lillian was very proud after.. As she should be, there were alot of people there watching and all the kids did great! Enjoy!

Twas the night before xmas.. 4 year old style..

So Lillian's pre-K class put on an impromptu play acting out the story of "Twas the night before Christmas".. Needless to say I do not see many future actors in the bunch! Regardless, it was very cute.. Her teachers are phenomenal and all the kids have alot of fun in their class. Try to bear through the video, Lillian's part is at the end.. I know, it is kind of painful to watch! Hey, what do expect from 4 year olds! Tomorrow they are putting on a Christmas concert.. Stay tuned in for more on that!

Happy Birthday to You!!!!!

Still trying to catch you all up on the past couple weeks!! One MAJOR event that occurred, Mike's Birthday!!! December 12th, to be exact! I know you aren't going to be happy that I posted a pic of you on here babe, but you can't be GQ 24/7! Don't worry, you don't look that bummy... I think he had a good day.. The kids and I were able to surprise him with a few things.. One of the major gifts was from my parents.. Call of Duty game for the Wii.. I got him the gun shooter attachment thingie for it.. He also got a couple things he bought for himself that I wrapped and made him wait to open up for his bday.. And the kids made him a pillow.. Yes, a pillow.. Mike and I are always fighting over this little pillow I got after my c-section with Mikey.. It was to hold on my belly when I coughed and so forth. Anyway, it is just the right size to put in the small of your back for support at bedtime.. He is always trying to steal it from me.. So I had the kids draw pictures on another one and give to him! Very cute. So I hope we made your day special babe.. (even if you didn't like my cake... He threw half of it out.. Mike likes chocolate mint cake.. So every year I try a different recipe, hoping that one of them will be THE one! Still haven't found it.. Maybe next year!) Don't worry, 34 isn't THAT old.. (but it is older than 33, which is what I am!)

Santa has come!

So every year Mike's work puts on a xmas/Santa lunch for the employees and their families. It is very nice, usually very good food, you get to see families you haven't seen for a while, and best of all.. Santa comes and gives each of the kids a present! (provided from Mom and Dad beforehand, of course..) The kids usually are super excited! This year was no exception. All of my kids, naturally, are terrified of Santa (he is a pretty all-powerful big scary guy, after all..), so no pics of sitting on Santa's lap this year or in the near foreseeable future.. I am just lucky they are brave enough to go up within arm's length so I can snap a photo of them snatching their present away before running for dear life! I usually get the kids all something the same to open.. but for some reason I changed course this year.. should have known better! Maria, although very happy and excited about her present, was heartbroken she didn't get what Lillian got.. a FurReal piglet. She had been extremely moody all weekend to begin with so the disappointment was just too much to hide. She is so spoiled, I went out and got her one to open from Santa on xmas day. Who knew she would be into those things too?!

The pics posted are as follows.. First the excitement of waiting patiently for Santa to call their name.. I think Mikey is practicing his Popeye expression, almost has it! The terrifying snatch and run of their presents, and the results of their bravery. Despite the emotional, disappointed breakdown from Maria, it was all in all a pretty good day.

Blue lollipops..

Thought these pics were too cute not to post. The classic hat in the eyes pic. You can see Mikey is giving me a little attitude, I just told him to stay away from the road, silly mommy, who am I to know what's best? You can also see his mouth is blue, thanks to a very yummy, messy, blue lollipop. Whoever invented those were genius, the proof of consumption stays put for hours! Great marketing technique!

I hate sick days...

My two youngest are sick. They have been fighting off some crap going around for about a week now and it finally caught up to them. Needless to say Mike and I have not gotten much sleep! Even the dog was up a zillion times last night wanting to go out! I think Maria is the only one that got some rest last night. Anyway, early bedtimes tonight.. Especially since Mike is flying tonight and I'm doing it solo! Poor Lillian has been throwing up all morning, which by her pic you can't really tell! Thankfully I think it has stopped and now it is time for rest and recovery. Mikey has just had a really bad chest cough and today his nose is constantly running and stuffed up.. at the same time. Now I know I have said this before but it really doesn't make sense how it can be both at the same time! I must say he is very good, almost too good, at letting me know when he needs to blow it.. Literally every 5 minutes, if not sooner, he is coming to me to help him blow his nose. Enough already! I drugged them up pretty good for naptime and thankfully they are taking a very good, long, drug-induced nap!

On another topic, it did ice a little last night, but not bad. Just enough for a 2 hour school delay! Dodged the bullet again! I close this post with a pic of Hoops, who seems to always be within 2 steps of the action. Lillian said he wanted his picture taken as well so who am I to argue?

I'm Here, I'm Here, I'm Here!!!!

I know! I have been taking a little vacation from my blog.. Sorry, no good excuse, just lazy!! (truth be told I was kinda in a funk for a bit and didn't feel like doing ANYTHING for quite a few days... Thankfully it has passed!) So anyway, I have a LOT of catching up to do so I thought I would start with the most recent and work backwards! It is snowing today. I thought we would have a green xmas this year, and we still may, lots of time for it to melt! But currently it is very pretty.. They say it may turn to sleet and freezing rain overnight so I REALLY hope that doesn't occur, ice is horrible. Anyway, I thought it was so pretty outside that I wanted to share a pic of our lights... which looking at now it has just occurred to me that I forgot to get the candle lights unpacked and in the windows... OK, imagine the lights just as they are with candles in all the windows, a masterpiece! Our pride and joy is the helicopter with moving rotors.. perfect. Later I may post pics of our neighbors and the "island" on our cul de sac.. They really get into the spirit! Keep tuned in for more updates from the past couple weeks!

Who doesn't love Frosty! I can think of one lady...

I have had no lack of holiday music while decorating the house these past few days.. Particularly one specific song... I have heard Frosty the Snowman from the moment I open my eyes in the morning (they wake me up with it..) to the moment they all get tucked snugly in their beds for the night these past few days. They LOVE that singing, dancing snowman!! Myself, not so much, especially at the end of the day. But hey, you gotta let the kids be kids! On the plus side, my decorating is about done, we just have some outside stuff to do which is going to have to wait for the weekend and Mike. In case you're wondering, Lillian has her hand on her head because she is holding her "imaginary" hat just like Frosty. Oh, yeah, and Mikey is wearing his version of Spiderman. Put him in those red pj's and he has to have his red "spiderman" socks going over them. He truly looks like a superhero! Enjoy!

I'm here!!

Yes, I know, I have been neglecting my blog again.. Just a quick update as to what has been going on.. Not much! We got our xmas stuff out and I have been busy putting the decorations up and getting the tree done. Which, by the way, takes freakin' forever! Not only do you have to clean before you put the crap out, but you have to clean afterwards as well because it makes such a dang mess! Anyway, almost done.. I'll post pics tomorrow with a video (hopefully) of what I have been enduring throughout it all! Till next time! Oh, by the way, we had a huge thunderstorm with dime-sized hail blow through today... What the heck? In december?? Then 5 minutes later it was sunny. This weather gets freakier by the year..