This used to be my favorite holiday...used to be...

Now, I think that I would rather just stay in bed all day with my kiddos and they can bring all their toys and play in there. Much more comfortable, peaceful, and less stressful.

The peaceful has been replaced with stressful, the comfortable has been replaced with running around trying to make everyone happy and the joy of giving has been replaced by having to buy the perfect gift. Well, I refuse to find the perfect gift so if you don't like what you get this year - give it to someone else next year!

I no longer find joy in shopping for others because people at the stores are pushy and downright rude. There is no longer any time for relaxation and enjoyment of the day spent with family because there is rushing from one place to the other. There is no longer time to sleep in and just wait until the kiddos wake up to find "Santa" has come. And, who knows what the traveling will be like with the 11 to 20 inches of snow that they are predicting....

Oh, and did I forget to mention that between my pregnancy and my kiddos being sick all week that I haven't had much sleep. I guess that really doesn't help the mood either...still doesn't hide the fact that I am not looking forward to Christmas this year!

The one positive thing that is going to happen this year is that we will get to go to Christmas Eve service and be able to enjoy that short time of the true meaning of Christmas...maybe that will help my attitude to change for Christmas Day...

Wishing you a less stressful, more peaceful Christmas!!!

Stressed...

Why do my kids think that they don't have to listen??? I think that I need to change the way I am doing things because nothing - not even the time of year - is helping! Maybe they sense that I am way too tired to do any follow up or disciplining. It is kind of stressful for me around this time of year...even if they were listening and it doesn't help that I am seven and a half months pregnant with no energy. I am waiting for the nesting period because my house needs a good cleaning - after it is organized and put away. We have no Christmas decorations out - much to the boys chagrin, except the little tree that my sister graciously brought over.

Somewhere around there they managed to kill the DirecTv...which makes things worse around here - I could at least turn that on and get a MOMENT of peace but can't even use that today. The only thing that works is that it shows that it is recording something constantly. Don't ask - I have no clue what they did.

Here is my schedule until after the first of the year - now mind you that my house is still not put together....tomorrow I work, Friday or Saturday Dan will finally come home, his brother is coming up from GA for the week, Sunday is D's birthday, Monday is our wedding anniversary, Tuesday I work, Wednesday I have an ultrasound and dr appt., Thursday is Christmas eve, Friday is Christmas, Saturday is C's birthday, New Year's Eve we are doing a Murder Mystery Party with friends, and New Year's Day we are having family over for the boys' birthdays. Christmas day is usually spent on my side but Dan's family wanted to have it on Christmas Day because Bob and the boys were up. That means we would split the day and it makes it more stressful. I really love time with family and friends - I just don't have the energy this year.

Gotta go - need to yell at my kiddos again!!!!!!

Most of the Painting done!

Yeah! Most of my house is now painted...no more white. I love it - though the blue in my laundry room is a little brighter than I like but I think I will get used to it...The room has no windows so I wanted something that was a little brighter. The only ones left are the kid's (main) bathroom, boys bedroom and K's/baby's bedroom. I am doing murals on these though and so it will take more time - maybe have to wait until after the new year - before baby...hahaha!

I am so not ready for Christmas - though not really in the mood. I went shopping this weekend and got a lot of it done except for my kiddos because they were with. I just don't know what to get anyone anymore and I don't like giving gift certificates. We are going to be so busy from now until probably the end of January that it is just going to get crazy. Hopefully my blood pressure cooperates with this baby.

Dan's brother is coming up on Friday, Sunday is D's birthday, Monday is Dan and my anniversary, Wed is my ultrasound and Doctor appointment, then Christmas eve and Christmas day, then Saturday is C's birthday. We are doing a Murder Mystery party with friends on New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day we are having a birthday party for my two birthday boys along with my nephew whose birthday is on the first. Whew, I think I need a nap just thinking about it. Oh, yeah, my house is still a mess and not ready for company...guess I should go put the kiddos to bed and get busy....even though I would rather hit the hay too....

No rest for the wicked!

Painting

Yeah! I can finally paint my house and start getting settled in... All of the rooms are primed and there is one coat of paint on three of my bedroom walls. The living room is complete - along with shampooed carpet so one room is completely done! Well, we still have to hang pictures and find the rest of our furniture but it is a start isn't it?

Busy last week...

We have had quite the busy week. I worked Wed - Fri, so that has consumed most of my day. Leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night then getting the kiddos ready for the next day. I fall in bed exhausted but unable to sleep.

On Tuesday, I noticed that K had what I thought was a spider bite. I squeezed it to see if anything came out and then we soaked it in the tub with her bath. Afterwards I put neosporin and a bandaid on it. The next morning before heading to work I put some more on. When I got to work I noticed that it was bleeding and getting red. By afternoon it was hard, warm and very sore to the touch - poor girl. I took her into the clinic and it was diagnosed as a skin infection. Now, recently I heard of quite a few people with staph infections and so this scared me (dreams about her being seriously ill in the hospital!). She was given antibiotics and I was told to hold warm compresses on it. WOW! what gross looking stuff came out with just the warm compresses - I was amazed! It is much better now - but I am still keeping an eye on it...

Then, I felt horrible yesterday. BAD headcold...I have not felt like that for a long time. I was hoping to get lots of rest last night but that didn't happen. Dan called me at midnight to wake me up to give K her meds (every six hours), then C crawled in bed with me, then K was up about every hour and a half. Finally I put C back in his bed and brought K in with me. I am much better today despite my lack of sleep but I think the rest of us are coming down with colds. Hopefully that is all it is with Thanksgiving coming up.

Creative KidStuff

Today, I had the opportunity (thanks to my friend Lisa) to check out a new store before it opened up to the public. It was great! We were allowed in an hour before it opened, they had breakfast yummies, a goodie bag and we were allowed to play with some of the toys that they had set up. The store is called Creative Kidstuff (located in The Shops at West End, 1665 West End Blvd, Minneapolis) and that is exactly what they sell. All three of the kiddos loved it and I will have to go back without them and do some Birthday/Christmas shopping.

This new store location allows children to explore, learn and grow while playing with their favorite toys. It has hands-on learning and playing areas along with a huge party room where they have more toys set up for play. I thought the store had very reasonable prices on all of their items. It was all very educational as well as fun to play for them to play with. D loves to crafts and they had lots of art, drawing and craft items. There were lots of fun games and homeschooling/supplemental books and toys for a variety of ages.

My boys loved the kitchen set...they had little chef hats and aprons to go along with a little kitchen and lots of kitchen accessories. They then raced around the rest of the store yelling back at me that they NEED this or that - which was everything. K loved the fact that she was able to get down and run - which is exactly what she did. She was playing in the books, by the kitchen, with the poppers, on a bouncy dog, and much more. I wish I had brought my camera but I will take some pics of them with my purchases...D wanted the chef''s hat (but was later mad because we didn't get the apron, spoon, pans, and all the other kitchen stuff), C wanted a king's crown (he would not pose nice with it so I took a picture of K with it - she loves it too), and I got K a book (she loves books and right now most of them are packed away).

I'm back and we've moved!!!

Did you think that you would ever hear from me again??? Don't know if anyone has checked up on me since I have been gone, but a lot has changed in my little world.

First of all, I am pregnant with number four! I am 27 weeks along. It was a little surprise but we are very happy. This is by far the best pregnancy...not that I was sick or anything with the others but my bloodpressure is more stable and actually on the low side. The kids are excited - at least D and C. I don't think K has any clue what is coming her way. The kiddos are all getting big on me.

Second, we have started home schooling. D is doing Kindergarten and C is doing preschool. Both are liking it. D gets a little bored with the repetition and C doesn't want to stop half the time so he will finish his book way early, but that is okay because I have picked up some other books for him to work on.

Third, we have moved. We got this big house that needed a little bit of work to get going and will eventually be a great deal...if we can ever get it finished. I wanted to paint before we moved everything in but we are waiting on some drywall stuff to be done before I can do that. So, we are living in it with just the minimum stuff out so that we can move it when they do the drywall and we paint. It is a nice area - too far from my friends - but I am used to driving. I like the fact that there are trees here too. BIG PLUS!

Well, hopefully I will be more faithful in posting...I can't wait to get my faster computer now that I don't have dial-up anymore!!!