Monday I got to see my girls Kate & Carrie for our bi-annual dinner.  Much fun – nice evening, good food, no screaming kids.  :)

Tuesday I endured lots of screaming kids.  That was the night of the Santa photo but that wasn’t it – there was also a large lights display that the kids liked (though I think they tired of it quickly on) and dinner with my good friend of over 18 years (omg, I had to think about that one, am I really that old???) and her one-year-old as well.  An interesting dinner consisting of Kayleigh being the ultimate ham and climbing on the table not once, oh no, but twice.

Wednesday was extremely busy starting with a concert with Elijah’s guitar class.  That was interesting.  I let him go in first at 2 but the concert was at 230 so I came in with Kayleigh about 15 minutes later.  Immediately upon entering the room, she freaked out and even grabbed the trash can that was by the door in an attempt to stop me from pushing her (in her stroller) further into the room.  She would then scream and cry if I tried to sit down or be near people etc.  Finally was able to stand on the other side of the room near the door and she was quiet playing with my wallet and debit/credit cards.  Sigh.  It wasn’t the best view to see E or get pictures of any kind.  When it came time for us to leave early, ’cause I was on a time schedule, I felt both guilty and relieved.  Of course, my kid was the one who stood up and talked after every song and was the one who announced the songs loudly as he was finding them in his book, etc.  Oy.

After that, I had to drive the 30 miles home and get dressed and, leaving the kids in good hands with Stacey’s son and his girlfriend until Stacey could get there, headed back north and met my sister-in-law and her sister for dinner, our mother-in-law and Sarah showing up soon thereafter.  From there it was to the Fabulous Fox Theatre to see Beauty and the Beast.  We’d planned this for a while, having bought tickets not long after Sarah and I went to see The Addams Family.  These tickets were just under $83 a piece and we sat in the front row of the Mezzanine.  The show was ah-mazing.  It was really good.  Of course, this was Disney’s Beauty and the Beast so it largely followed the movie with a few more numbers in there.  Everyone in the show performed marvelously and we all just really enjoyed it.  The girls are already making plans for The Lion King in the summer.  There were a lot of kids in the show, though, my first time really encountering kids at The Fox and during the first scene with wolves attacking Belle’s father, I whispered to Sarah, “wow, this is kind of scary,” and almost immediately all kids in the place started wailing in fear.  There were three such scenes.  I think the little girl behind us wanted to leave, poor thing.  But how they did the wolves, you could see the people running them, all in black clothes, and the wolves looked like they might have been skins of the real thing (doubtful, of course)… it was really good.

Thursday was the slowest day but I still had to head out to Elijah’s swim lessons.  However, after this week, he’ll no longer be in “lessons” but officially on the swim team.  His teacher gave him his t-shirt and told me how to sign up for his insurance, etc.  I have to get him a pair of Speedo shorts things very soon, too.  He’s nervous about it – he thinks that he can’t swim without the swim fins no matter how many times his teacher and I tell him that they don’t help him swim, they just work and train his muscles more.  Earlier in the day we spent a long time discussing how no one is going to let him drown — the life guard, his coach, and if I have to jump in there fully clothed, I would — besides that, he CAN do this, he just thinks he can’t.  Both his coach and I are hoping that being around the other kids on the team will help.  As of the last several months, all the other kids in conditioning class have dropped out.

Friday started the Christmas festivities with the annual gathering of my mom’s family at my  uncle’s.  Yet another Interesting Kayleigh Night.  Steve was with me this time, he got the day off – last year he’d had to work and I was just miserable dealing with her crabby butt over there myself.  This time we traded off but, boy, was she an absolute terror all evening.  She didn’t even want to stop and open presents.  That became the theme of all Christmas to her, “no one’s gonna make me sit down and rip some paper up, so help me, God.”  But all the ladies loved their gifts of Naked Soap items and a candle that I’d made, my adolescent and teen cousins loved their scarves and stripey knee-high socks, parents and babies alike adored the owl hats I’d made for two little 6 and 7 month old baby boy cousins, and the other random gifts were much loved as well.

Saturday, Christmas Eve, was spent at my parents’ house with all my siblings in attendance.  Good times.  I love my family.  We might argue from time to time but largely we really get along well and everyone is respectful of and cares for everyone else.  It was another night, however, of opening Kayleigh’s presents for her and trying to get her to look at them.  Of course, I’d failed to bring her Spongebob DVDs that I’d made where there’s no extra crud in there it’s just episode after episode to keep her attention when really needed.  She does love the Bob Bob.  She also got a baby doll with accessories from my parents and it was so cool to see her when we finally got her to look at it.  She got the cup out and was feeding the baby right away.  Very good to see her engage in pretend play like that, that’s one of the things the therapists are always asking about and pushing.  My mom and dad loved their canvas of all the kids, something I’ll probably be posting later — too tired now!  And the other pictures as well.  Mom was very interested in how I got my niece to not only wear a tu-tu and knee-high striped socks but to co-operate and smile for photos.  Let’s just say it was a joint effort.

Sunday, Christmas Day, a day we would love to spend at home by ourselves, but it never seems to work out that way anymore.  We did spend the morning with the kids – they shared a stocking because Kayleigh’s stuff wouldn’t fit in the other two I’d found around here – then they got to open presents.  Kayleigh did the best at this present-opening, probably because she was at home and there were no distractions of “hmmmmm what can I find to throw and break?”  Once again, I spent too much money on them.  They get so much junk from our parents and siblings and some of my aunts and uncles and cousins that I should just stop buying them stuff from us!  I am thinking of putting up some of the stuff I got Kayleigh that she’s showing no interest in.  I did put up one V-tech or Leapfrog (hey I can’t remember) toy, and she’s not noticed it’s missing.  She loves her Baby Alive though, and Elijah’s Spongebob Legos.  Elijah loves his new Legos too, I just wish the stupid things would stay in sets.  I’ve realized that I’m a bit obsessive compulsive about keeping toys in their proper groups… eek.  Legos built in their sets and kept put together, all the pieces to this toy all together, etc.  And that just doesn’t happen around here no matter how I try.  I’m going to have to learn to deal with it!

The biggest news of the day was that Steve bought me a Kindle Fire!  I almost can’t believe it.  We don’t really buy for each other for Christmas or birthdays.  Earlier in the week he’d texted me from work telling me to give him a list of 6 things I wanted… heh.  That was actually harder than I would have thought it would be because both of us are guilty of pretty much buying whatever we want or need this year.  Oh yeah, you know that’s gonna stop.  Not to say I have bought a lot of high-ticket items, but for instance, I couldn’t tell him I wanted a purse, I’ve bought them when I wanted.  Couldn’t ask for a laptop, had to do that earlier this year.  Didn’t want to ask for clothes because of my weight loss I’m trying to just wait as long as I can to buy clothes.  Didn’t want to ask for jewelry, I’ve bought it when I saw it and wanted it this year – nothing expensive, maybe $5 here or $10 there but still, I have plenty of new stuff – and I don’t wear expensive jewelry (cause I never have any haha).  So I’d said a Kindle Fire was #1 but then later said bleh, too expensive.  Plus, I figured if I was gonna get one of those, he’d be coming to me and telling me to order it.  But apparently they sell them at Walmart and he went in all on his own and bought it and I did not peek while it sat in the other room for 3 days.  What a pleasant surprise.  Then, of course, while I’m first checking it out, he says to me, “so what’s that thing do, anyway?”  :)

The downside was that I’d bought him a massage thing to go in a chair and you sit on it, right?  He hates it.  Says it’s too hard.  This happened to us a few years ago and we returned it, but I didn’t think that would happen again – different  brand, different type, etc.  So Stacey’s got it right now, trying it out to see if she’d like to keep it.  She’s got stronger back muscles than the two of us combined so maybe it won’t be so rough for her!

After all of that, the kids played with their new stuff and then we went to Steve’s grandma’s and met the rest of his family, most of them anyway.  Stayed with her a while, returned here to let the dog out and pick up a few things, then to his parents’ house for dinner and more presents.  Again, the kids made out like bandits.  Nothing high end, but just a lot of stuff.  Kayleigh’s really gotten the Spongebob stuff.  In between us and my family and Steve’s family I think she’s gotten two plush Spongebobs with blankets (interesting story on my part and the other from my sister), two coloring books, a story book, sleeping bag, tote bag, pajamas, and I don’t know what else!  She loves him.  Of course, she was again being a terror and after presents and watching the DVD I’d brought of the original Grinch show, Sarah finally put on Kayleigh’s Spongebob DVD… sucked her right in and we all got a break.  That kid…  I don’t get it really.

Her other favorite item?  A pair of kid sunglasses I put in the stocking.  What a turkey.

So it’s been a good week, very busy.  Today I spent the morning cleaning up and throwing away trash – getting it to the curb literally 5 minutes before the trash man came.  Then playing with the kids – games and what not – some of my own game I got for Christmas from my sister-in-law, crocheting, reading, watching a movie.  Busy busy!  :)  The only thing I wished I’d gotten in was some scrapbooking!!

She’s also helped me out a lot this year in making gifts for my aunts and cousins.  We’ve put together a little bag for each containing a bar of soap, body cream, and a body spray.  I’ve also added a small candle that I’ve made.  I only wish I’d had time (or been able to get my act together enough) to crochet up some wash cloths to go along with these.

Marie calls her soap “Naked Soap” because she uses only the basest of ingredients.  There’s nothing unnecessary in there and she doesn’t even use a pre-made base, everything is made from scratch using all natural ingredients such as goat’s milk.  She’s also got body butters seasonally, bath salts, bath melts, and sugar scrubs.

In fact, I’ve been using Marie’s soap almost exclusively for about a year now.  I love the way it makes my skin feel – clean but not dry and not greasy.  The scents are wonderful, too.  The scent going to my family this year is Green Tea & Ginger.  Looove it.  She was so kind as to give me my own body cream (actually forgot to order something for myself this time around, ha) and I put it on my… um, winter knees… earlier and it’s already made a difference in that skin.  Feels great and the scent is nice and not over-powering (which is sometimes a downfall of an otherwise good lotion).

So, I know, it’s too late for Christmas this year, but check it out!  :)   http://nakedsoap.net

Don’t feel any different, not sure what people get so freaked out about.  Granted, I didn’t like that grey eye brow hair the other day, but I took care of that.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Had a good evening with Kate and Stacey and was also joined by my parents-in-law and Sarah.  Elijah was upset when he had to go to bed at 9, he thought we were partying big time.  I guess he called it right… Chinese food, Mountain Dew, cheesecake, movies, and good family and friends, that is a party.

And now, my friends, ’tis time for bed.  Busy day tomorrow.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God… No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy… It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens…

And 147 years later, we are still at it.

Besides the obvious…

my husband…
our son…
our daughter…
our parents…
our remaining grandparents…
the ones who went before them…
our 8 siblings and 4 siblings-in-law…
our niece…
our friends…
our house…
my husband’s new job…
the fact that we didn’t drown in debt while he was laid off for 10 months…
food on the table…
and even the dog…

…I try to make a point of – all the time – being thankful for the “little” things…

enjoying a movie with my kid…
a nice sunny day…
the rain when we need it…
that my kids get along great 99.9% of the time…
a baby’s laughter…
helping friends and family when I can…
that my boy cleaned his plate 3 times today, even vegetables…
the praise I received about a photo I printed for my grandpa…

etc.

To me, Thanksgiving is not a day where I specifically give thanks, I do that year-round. But today was a nice day to get together with my immediate family and some extended family. I was disappointed that my sister and brother-in-law couldn’t be with us, BUT I am thankful that they both have jobs, even if that means we didn’t get to see them today.

I encourage you not to take things for granted the rest of the year. Take each little blessing and comfort and necessity, and make each day of the year a day for thanksgiving. Really, it’s not about turkey.

We gabbed so much I only got 2 layouts done. Ha! But that’s ok, it was nice to work on something of my OWN for a change. Lately I’ve been doing so much on the computer but it’s been someone else’s website, someone else’s photo editing, someone else’s book to put together, etc. I feel like I haven’t scrapped in a long time. Heck, when I got home that eventing, I had to sit down and use photos I’d taken of my friend’s kids to design her a Christmas card!

So, when can we do this again? :)

Sunday night I went out with two of my sisters-in-law, my new one and Steve’s sister that’s getting married next month and moving several states away. We just did dinner and a movie again, but it’s great fun. Just last month we did this and saw Grown Ups (which we all three absolutely loved) but we figured we’d better have some time together while we can. This time we saw Dinner for Schmucks which was amusing. Heh, this is a lot of movie time for me, 3 this year, rofl! Usually I’m there once a year or less! For dinner, we went to a Cajun place that Steve is always saying we need to go to, it was pretty good! Was really nice before people started showing up, but then it got hot and stuffy in there pretty quickly. I wasn’t too happy with that since we’d already spent time in the heat timing the wedding processional at the outdoor venue, so I was very glad to move to the cool movie theater.

Monday morning all four of us went to a home of a fellow homeschooler and Steve helped them with a few household problems they were having including one no one was expecting. I reformatted a computer and got frustrated with satellite internet and printers and print sharing between Windows 7 and Vista! Never did get it working the way I wanted but my friend said it was ok, she’d just use a different printer for the one computer instead of sharing. Note to self, never buy a wireless printer, just too much of a pain in the butt!
Then that night was the meeting and those are always interesting, the after-party, always fun! I was proud of myself this time, for returning home at a decent hour. I left the restaurant at 10:30. I think the other ladies had to have been there at least until midnight! ;-)

Tuesday morning I had a doctor’s visit, just a check up. Joy. Then I went to one house and fixed a printer issue and upgraded Microsoft Office for them. It took entirely too long. I swear, Office is a bear to install, it’s such a pain. From there, to my friend’s house to teach a computer lesson, then home! And then (and then? and then?) Friends stopped by and dropped off a laptop for me to copy photos, went to their meeting, then came back bearing chocolate cake and milk and a couple hours of conversation. I was pretty embarrassed by the state of my house, but I haven’t been home to do anything! Hopefully I can do some catching up tomorrow though!

Today Steve went fishing and I took the kids to meet a friend/cousin at Subway. We got some food and took it to the park and sat and ate and talked while E played for about an hour and a half. It was great fun! I don’t get to see this friend often at all, she currently lives several states away. Good day.

Now? Kids are asleep and it’s My Name is Earl re-runs with S! That and working on the programs for my sister-in-law’s wedding and my other sister-in-law’s wedding book!