12 more hours!

Only 12 more hours left in this year. I really have nothing important to say about the past year, nor do I have any inspiring words about what's to come in 2008. I don't do resolutions. Well, there's always the "I'm gonna lose weight!!1!1!" thing, but I say that every couple weeks anyway, so that doesn't count.

Actually, I do have a resolution for 2008. In 2008, I will hire a babysitter months in advance, so that finally, for ONCE, I can be with other people when the ball drops. I haven't spent a New Years Eve with Craig in 8 years. I haven't been to a New Years party in probably 10 years. I once had a friend over for New Years Eve, but we both fell asleep at 11:00. It's kind of depressing, actually.

But....I do have a yearly tradition for myself at midnight since I'm usally alone. I always say a prayer as the year changes. That way it's the last thing and the first thing I do every year.....talk to God. Sometimes it's just a short prayer that I have to sneak in while someone's on the phone with me. But, I always do it. God always hangs with me on New Years Eve :-)

We're supposed to get a winter storm tonight, so please be careful out there! Watch out for icy roads and crazy drunk drivers!

Ok...gotta go....there's about to be a Wii bowling brawl in my living room that I need to go prevent.

I forgot about this one.

A Christmas morning concert....

A YouTube Christmas.

Get ready for a video extravaganza!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I know I did! Well, up until my sinuses started pounding, and now I'm just a little sick and miserable, but I've already reached my sick-blogging quota this year and won't talk about that.

The kids had so much fun today. They loved all their presents and played for a long time in the land of wrapping paper and bows.

When the mess was cleaned up, we let them unwrap the Wii. At first they didn't care about it much, but then we turned it on and started playing. They loved it! First we showed them the bowling game on Wii sports. Xavier was the first of the kids to try it out. I thought it would be too complicated for a 4 year old. Boy was I wrong! On his very first try, he scored a spare, FIVE strikes in a row, and then another spare. Neither Craig or I had ever done that well. He beat Craig's high score. Craig is competitive and was a little bothered that his 4 year old son beat him at a game he's been practicing for many weeks now.

Right now, the kids are all asleep, but Craig is in the living room, desperately trying to get his high score back. *eyeroll*

Speaking of bowling, Mandy isn't very good, either.

Sunday my friends came over and we opened presents (some were unusual!), shared funny stories (some were embarrassing!) and had a nice time.

Well, that's about it. Tomorrow I hope you all have the most boxtastic Boxing Day ever.

A Christmas spirit blog.

There really is no point to this blog, I guess, except to express some of my Christmas joy.

This year, I finally have the Christmas spirit. Usually at this time, I'm either sick, or poor, or stressed about something. I always stress about gift giving....who to buy for, who not to buy for, what to buy? Is it good enough? Did I spend enough? Or, why can't a get myself to bake a million cookies like most people do? I've always felt guilty about that. Blah. Oh, and the fact that I never remember to get the kids' Christmas pictures "professionally done" in time to send out with the cards. I've finally accepted that I can take pics for free and although they're not as good, they are sufficient in recording memories that I'll cherish when I'm old and they're all grown up. I'm glad I've stopped upsetting myself over the little things. That stuff isn't what Christmas is all about.

My kids are sooo excited. Every morning we get asked "Can we open ONE present today? Pleeeease?" It reminds me of being a kid again. How exciting when a new gift for me appeared under the tree! I remember constantly touching the presents, rearranging them every day. Guess who does that now? Daphne, my mini-me. It's so fun.

Although they're all excited about getting gifts, it amazes me how much they want to give, as well. They keep wrapping things up in toilet paper and garland and putting it under the tree. The other night Mandy was here, and Xavier wrapped up one of his toy cars and gave it to her. I asked him if he was sure he wanted to do that, and he was very serious about giving it to her. Then she left it here and he had a fit. Bad Mandy!

I will be sad when it's all over. You'll probably see my Christmas tree 'n stuff up until the end of January. Deal with it ;-)

Now, for a few random things.

Yesterday I was sitting here and Xavier walked up behind me and asks "Mom, is my blankie handsome?" I turned around and saw this:

For some reason I thought it was hilarious. Put a tie on, and you're immediately handsome.

This is Zoe's favorite way to watch TV, now.

I forgot to share this picture of the twinpeas singing at church before the play.

Little stinker managed to untuck his shirt before coming out on the stage. I guess untucked dress shirts are "in" with the pre-school kids.

Daphne's First play!

Daphne was in a couple of scenes in our church's Christmas play this year. Here is a short video clip of one of the dress rehearsals.

It'll do for now.

Just a few things about this one.

I am the mean mom who yells at her, sends her to her room, feeds her cheese and crackers, etc. My mom, on the other hand, can do no wrong! (See Adam? I told you!) I guess I need to build more aquariums to make her happy. REAL aquariums. Grandma can only build the fake kind. I'm sure I can top that.

Also...I didn't know Grandma has a friend named Juan who deals fish. Long-lipped fish.

Careers

Daphne has always loved writing her own stories. I probably have saved 500 stories, big and small, that she has written over the years. Some of them are just pages of pictures because she didn't know how to write at the time. Some of her illustraitions are amazing, too. Well, except that drawing of me she did a few posts ago. I don't really look like that ;-) She did draw me today with a fat tummy. That, on the other hand, is pretty accurate. Anyway, I think she may be a writer when she gets older. She's actually working on a book right now, apparently.

Her way. Heh. Definitely a fairytale ;-)

I see that she has been studying various literary terms as well, such as onomatopoeia.

Or, who knows. Maybe she'll just be a pet groomer.

I think that whatever she does, she'll do it fantastically.

Never trust an 8 year old.

Disclaimers: Miers = Meijer, a store that I shop at a lot. Also, Craig was in the van while I was in there. ;-)

Sneaky little brat. I wonder how many Christmas presents she knows about already.