Santa Came to Town.

Jolly ole Saint Nick graced our home. Maisie, Hannah, Jacob, Greta and Henry. Zoe not pictured.

The reindeer parked in the field.

He left each child a bag of goodies.

Henry especially loved the North Pole Oreos.

A true believer. Greta asked Santa to be her pen pal.

This little girl was so excited...she could barely stand it.

She even had trouble remembering her wish list.

Not scared...yet not having it.

Let's hope this keeps them off the naughty list.

A New Spin on the Christmas Story.

If only Bethlehem had the same technology as we do today.... A police escort by an angel would of been convenient for Joseph and Mary. I bet you didn't know that the stable also housed Bethlehem's firetruck and tow truck. It's safe to say that Henry just doesn't understand the true meaning of Christmas. I tried to get a picture of him steam rolling the 3 wise men with his grave digger, but then realized it may not be appropriate...funny...but not appropriate.


On a more poignant note:

The kids clean up pretty nice if I do say so myself....

This is about as dressy as he gets. Apparently I don't put shirts on him with buttons, because he kept pulling at them and looking at me like they were foreign objects. ... we really need to get out more.....
On a random note,here is a glimpse of my tree skirt at home with all it's gifts.

I honored our gift limit this year and I feel great. My Christmas shopping is officially OVER. DONE. ...momma's feeling giddy.

Beloved Tree Skirt.

When Greta was born, 9 years ago, we started a tradition that since has become my favorite. This tree skirt is made out of "snow" that I cut into a huge circle and trimmed with some tartan Christmas fabric. The trim is hard to see against my rug...sorry.
Greta was only 2 months old for her first Christmas. Back in 2000 we were newlyweds with a newborn...I remember on Christmas morning Greta laying in the bouncy seat and me opening up her gifts for her. Wow... I started to reminisce there..sorry..back on track...


In the below pic you can see her 2001 footprint when she was 1 year old versus her 09' footprint. Check out Maisie's first print in 2002 (she was 3 1/2 weeks old)...look how teeny tiny they were! And she's flat-footed. Her footprints crack me up every year when I do this...This little guy couldn't wait to strip his socks and pants off . I should of done him first...he was all up in our business trying to step on wet pant. Then come to find out that his feet are really, really ticklish...he could barely stand it... After the painting we were entertained with a performance from our personal "ice skaters"... Definition of ice skating: skating on the dusty wood floor with socks. Their routine was uplifting and very technical. A bathroom dishtowel acted as a prop...we're fancy over here.
And in case you are wondering how my girls are handling their new bedtime rules? Greta went to bed at 8 p.m. tonight and Maisie at 7:45 p.m. She had a memory lapse again this morning and walked out the door without her mittens. I'm dead serious....those mittens are a serious menace. And if you remember correctly those mittens should of already been packed and ready to go last night at 7 p.m. So, this clearly was a violation and she diligently went to her list and slashed through 8 p.m. But I'm proud that she made it through the rest of the day AND night without anymore incidents. And more importantly I didn't feel the need to scream into my pillow tonight...my head is a little less foggy...but we are only on day #2....so I'm not going to get ahead of myself....

When the paint has dried on our skirt, I'll post of picture of it under the tree...that's the best part.

Losing Control.

It has been one of those nights. I am sick and tired of repeating myself, sick of tired of spouting out punishments and consequences and then only following through half of the time. Mostly because I am just too tired to care, NOT because I don't have good intentions...I give up...and...I. am. fed up.

Then I find myself ready to pull my hair out and on the verge of a full blown momma tantrum...which only means something has got to change.

Getting ready for school in the morning should not be this hard and getting ready for bed at night should not be a fight... I'm at a stand still. Let me ask...Am I the only one that is repeating herself every morning? Yelling the same orders day in and day out? Why can't they remember to brush their teeth and brush their hair? Why do I have to remind them EVERY SINGLE DAY to do the same things (and other things) over and over again. We have been in school for almost 4 months... nothing has changed it's the same routine.... what is wrong with them?!!!

I have threatened to get their hearing checked, I have threatened to let them go to school with dog breath and forever be known as the "dog breath girl"... Maybe Maisie can actually put a bird in her "nest-like" hair for show -in- tell in the morning....that would be fun...NOT. So why don't I follow through with these threats?... Because I fear it reflects poorly on me. It makes me look like I'm an unfit mother that can't get her kids together in the morning. It looks like we don't own a bar of soap or a comb. Or maybe the class would feel the need to take up donations for Maisie's family because Maisie doesn't own mittens or a hat. It appears this child doesn't own warm gloves. But that's not really the case. For some reason she can't keep track of her gloves. And we are on our 3rd pair of mittens thus far this winter..... I would be screaming in a pillow right now if I wasn't afraid it would wake Henry.

So, I came up with a plan. I am GOING TO STICK WITH IT....

I'm not shouting out orders anymore. They are in charge of their own destiny. Or I should say they are now in charge of their bedtime. It's very clear. When they neglect to get themselves ready in the morning, do simple things like put their dishes away and flush the toilet (yes this is a big problem in my home and my biggest pet peeve), feed the hamster, things that they certainly should be able to do without their mother harping on them... they loose a privilege. One privilege... their 8 p.m. bedtime. For everything they "forget"to do they will loose the privilege of staying up till 8 p.m. and consequently loose 15 minutes with every violation.

As you can see Maisie is a repeat offender. I don't think anyone is surprised. This will be tough on her, but it's gotta be done. You read that right, she did go to bed tonight at 7 p.m. No longer my problem... And I had to make a last minute addition to her list. Because somehow her hamster has become me and my husbands responsibility... not our problem anymore either...
And just so we are all on the same page. I made it all very clear. This is posted in the mud room. The list must be done BY 7 p.m. THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL. And just so you don't think I'm being a tyrant, I did go over all these rules with the girls before we implemented them. Also, if a child thinks it's okay to start this chore after 7 p.m. (a usual stall tactic) they will loose another 15 minutes. Hence, Ms. Greta's Sunday night bedtime of 7:45 p.m.

This has got to work. They need to learn responsibility and I need my sanity back...pray for me.

New Allergy

Apparently it's not just cats, dust and mold I'm allergic too. It's also baking. No, I am serious and I have eye witnesses to this UN natural phenomenon...so this explains a lot when it comes to my baking mishaps. It's a handicap, if you will...

Some girlfriends and I took some much needed girl time on Friday (because school was finally back into session) and had a holiday baking marathon. Of course I've never been a participant in such a thing. And, I really don't have much to bring to the table in terms of baking recipes BUT I did want to get a glimpse of the secret baking society and see what the hub bub was all about. After all I was honored by the invitation...I don't own an apron or a fancy Kitchen Aid mixer, but I do own a sifter now, so I felt prepared....cough cough.

And in case you are wondering what on earth did I bring to bake? Nothing. Nothing to BAKE that is. I opted to bring the makings for pretzel rods dipped in almond bark and cinnamon honey butter. (which I stole the recipe from another blogger called: Fly Through my Window.) OH and I brought the Christmas music....you can't cook with out an inspirational CD to get you in the festive spirit. I told them that what I lack in baking knowledge I will make up in presentation. Hence the fancy cinnamon butter jars. (with the help of Rachel's Cricket)

The Christmas goods: waffle cookies, Oreo cookies, peanut clusters, pretzel sticks, cinnamon honey butter, lemon bars, frosted cookies....

I certainly wasn't prepared for the mutilation and cramping of my hands just by shaving almond bark. The best part of this picture is the tabloid photo of a celeb in her bikini. I'm pretty sure no one was thinking about putting on a bikini that day...

Tastes just like the Texas Roadhouse butter...yummmmm

I now have 2 more items on my Santa wishlist. The Cricket (I'm sure I didn't spell this correctly)- Rachel had a crafty machine that helped us make the perfect circle and tree tags for our butter. And I still really want a fancy Kitchen Aid-man that thing can whisk and mix.

I didn't get permission from the secret baking society to post pictures...but here are their faces. They LET me in the picture...how nice of them.

BACK TO THE ALLERGY. After 1 hour into the baking process I started to sneeze and wheeze and by the end I was having a full blown allergy attack. ... I think it was all the powdered sugar in the air... so this new handicap in the kitchen may prevent me from baking again...sorry kids momma's health is more important than a banana cake and fancy confections...I'll never feel guilty again for my store bought creations.

Boy meets Pig.

Move over Monster Truck Jam you have just been served. Meet Olivia.

This sprite little pig has stolen my sons heart. He loves her... in a "I love my tractor" kind of way....and we all now about his profound love for his tractor.

But Olivia....his heart swells and his face...well see for yourself...You know the phrase, "if you don't close your mouth a bird will come and poop in it." .... if you haven't...you heard it here first.

You may be thinking... it's a pig? It's a GIRL pig....how does she even compete with Monster Truck Jam, tractors, trucks, and the deer hunting channel?.......what's a mother to do?...she makes him happy. I'll gladly welcome her into my home. If only I could persuade her to start doing his laundry...

First Snow Day

There was sledding...

There was a nose to wipe. This little guy had to yell from the window due to a nasty cold. There was hot cocoa.

There was movie time. A Christmas Story, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch Stole Christmas, and my personal favorite, White Christmas.

There was baking.... well I scooped up key lime white chocolate dough onto a cookie sheet and then my oven baked...

There was beef stew simmering in my crock pot...mmm

There was laundry...lots of it....

There was a pig that oinked "jingle bells"...over and over again...

And there was blogging...

NO I AM NOT NESTING.... NO BABY... JUST LOTS OF CAFFEINE. And with the girls home I could get some things done with out Henry on my tail. We've had our tree for 3 days and he has successfully broke an ornament each day... This tree may be bare by the 25th.

What Say You?

They told me it snowed this morning....

I couldn't tell? ...

...Maybe it was GI-NORMOUS TREE that has successfully blocked my view...and any sunlight...

Furthermore...if you drive by and wonder why my lights are on at noon, it's because this tree is sucking the light out of my home. So much for the utility bill this month.

wait...is that the light coming through???

Henry heard the mailman's truck and started to run for the window... but he got tangled up in the arm-like branches ... then it acted as a sling-shot and flung him across the room like a scene from the WWE...he proceeded to give it the stick eye... I tried to tell him that wasn't in following with the Christmas spirit....he wasn't amused.

Thank goodness for the kitchen window....Oh! There's the snow!

On a mission. Definition of the PERFECT TREE: must be tall, needles must be soft, needles and branches must face upward for maximum ornament hanging, tree must smell fresh, and stay fresh.

That's all I'm asking... would a fake tree be easier? Yes. Of course. But let me tell you something, I am married to Clark Griswalds' long lost brother....and we don't do synthetic over here...he's manly like that...or so he thinks...

The best part for the kids is when they shook the tree to make sure there wasn't any varmints still living inside....like a squirrel. I told them I was happy we have a squirrel-less tree. I don't think Scout could handle the chaos or the chase....he's too old...and so am I. Yes, we had to use the saw...again. Some men never learn that bigger isn't always better. Half my living room is gone...but they are so proud.

This was my job. sorting through the lights and ornaments...

This picture really has nothing to do with the day. But these overalls crack me up. Ignore the Kit Kat all over his face. Apparently my husband started a new tradition. They will start off every deer season scouting deer and eating Kit Kats. Noticed the Kit Kat smeared on my couch in the background?... "real nice Clark."

I hope at the end of this holiday season I can afford more than a paper bag. I vowed to go easy on the pocket book this year for Christmas. I gave "the talk" to the girls. You know the one about how Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth and not about getting gifts. We're putting a limit on the presents and going to try to enjoy the season and not let it exhaust us....or lets face it...I really mean exhaust me.

Years past I have been know to go crazy. I admit, there was even a time when I cried on Christmas morning because I was afraid the kids weren't as happy as they should be.... but in reality they were just over it. After running around for 2 days from one Christmas to another they lost their Christmas spirit...which led to a big let down for me. Because I'm the one that does all the buying, wrapping, decorating, and making sure that each child has the same amount of gifts...blah...blah....it's exhausting people! And I have learned my lesson. They don't want to be overwhelmed either...I GET IT.

So I have stuck to my guns. The presents for the kids haven't got out of hand. It makes me feel guilty, sad, happy and proud all at the same time...you know what I mean? I'm just being honest. But I know the pay off on Christmas morning will be huge.

On a sidenote, don't you wish you could be this happy shopping with your children? None of them are screaming at the top of their lungs. No one grabbing for candy. The baby doesn't insisit on dropping his pants for the clerk....sorry that was Henry in ACE Hardware yesterday....I digress...She obviously doesn't need her good friend to take her flayling, crying baby out of the store..cough...cough Gordmans... and then lie to the clerk and say it was her friend's kid. Wow, where did that come from?.......

Pretty wreaths for the inside.

This is my favorite. It's from my new favorite blogger, her blog is titled: Tatortots and Jello. You'll find her on my sidebar if you want to see what else she has up her sleeve...this wreath is made only with marshmallows, gum drops and toothpicks... genius!

These are mine. They are up year round...and I did have to switch up this buffet a bit. Mr. Henry wouldn't stop trying to pull the "snow" off it...so now it's a winter scene without the winter snow...
momma's still keepin' it real...

Little somethin' somethin'

Still no tree in our front window, but the girls' trees are complete with every sparkly tree ornament imaginable.
Yes those are fake presents. We wrapped them years ago and store them with the fake trees. Maisie's is in true cowgirl style and Greta's is full of all things silver, green, and blue. The photo of Greta's tree doesn't do it justice, it's really pretty in person, especially lit up.

And I finished my new door hanger.

I'll show you my door jewelry in all its glory when I get all the outside decor ready...now I am off to wrap up more gifts...fa la la la la....

Weekend in Pictures.

Thanksgiving at grandmas, cherry cheese cake, left overs, cards, turkey, deviled eggs, Maisie's birthday with family, Zhu Zhu hamster is not a mythical creature, made a cake, cleaned my house, cards with friends, too much beer, learned new song lyrics, too much food, too much cake, diet went out the window, casino with friends, bad a black jack, but now love roulette, love casino... casino loves my money, birthday again ...this time with Maisie's 2 best-est friends, made lip gloss, made body glitter, giggled, skipped, ate Cold Stone, candy cane ice cream, ice cream with gummy bears, laughed, screamed, smiled a lot....lost my voice...exhausted.

It's the Gift that Keeps on Giving...

Bring on the Christmas Holiday...

You will start to notice a Santa theme. He goes with the color red..what can I say?
Can you see my Christmas serving dishes peaking through? Just about every year we are blessed to have Santa take time out of his busy schedule to come visit our children. The frames shown here are from my MIL, she found them at Goodwill. They have our snapshots of Santa and the kids in them. We collect snow globes. It's Maisie's favorite Christmas decoration. These long silver stems were the inspiration for the buffet this year. Remember this glass decanter I got at Marshalls?
Maisie and Santa made the local paper last year.

I keep all the Christmas-time books in storage with everything else. So, it's fun to see the kids go through the books every year as I pull them out.

This candy cane stripped Santa is my favorite piece. These fun sprigs will go on the tree when it arrives. I also adorn the tree with pheasant feathers. It has been a tradition of ours since our first Christmas together. Unfortunately my husband still insists on a real tree. I hate the maintenance of real trees, but I DO like that I can cut up some "real" greenery to put around the house for garlands and fillers. Of course they make the house smell great too.

I'm sure Henry will do a taste test.... I don't think they are poisonous? Oh well, it's not like I haven't called Poison Control before.... yikes. Oh, FYI Chrysanthemums are poisonous. I don't know how we got on a lesson about poisonous plants...but ANYWAY... Feliz Navidad!

The Compromise.

After reading the comments on this blog and a few comments left in my email box I decided "I" needed to step out of the equation and give Greta some control. However I should of taken some sedatives beforehand, poor Maria our hair stylist, I was the annoying mom silently screaming on the inside. But like ripping off a band aid off, you gotta to do it fast so it won't sting. Ta da!...yes we even did some sweeping bangs....like a band aid remember...

This picture cracks me up...but it portrays the day perfectly. I was unsure and Greta was elated....my face says it all.
I know I probably made her hair a bigger issue than it was...I realize this...but I have a sentimental attachment to her hair. Actually I know now that it was a sentimental attachment to Greta's childhood.

This pic was taken to ensure we don't get middle child syndrome.So, Greta won this battle. And I have calmed down. She is growing up BUT she is not walking out the door... yet

BUT, if this leads into her wanting a bra or a boyfriend, you'll never hear the end of it! And I will stalk each and everyone of you....