Christmas Fun

Christmas was a eventful few days for us. :) The kids had so much fun and were on gift overload! We spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family. Unfortunatly Isabelle was not feeling well so she laid around and slept most of the time...she definatly was not her normal self.

Dylan loves to work on stuff and my parents got him his own toolbox with a few of his own tools, nails, etc. He loves it and has already built a few things!

This is how Isabelle spent the whole time opening gifts. :(

The next morning we opened gifts as a family in the morning and then we have had a tradition for a few years now with Israel & Kati that they come over for breakfast. Mark makes huge delicious breakfast burritos for us.

Dylan and Maggie :)

Israel bought Mark a ping pong table! It is Mark's goal to go undefeated against Israel for lifetime...so far his goal has been met. :)

Christmas night we spent at Mark's parents house. We had a great meal together and had lots of fun opening more gifts!

The excitement of opening gifts!

Thankfully Isabelle was feeling better and was able to be involved.

I feel very blessed by having really wonderful family.

Frazzled

I'm really only posting this so that I can vent my frustration!

Ughhh, I just left Target and had all the kids with me. They had brought some of their own money to spend and had picked out some treats. Well we were standing in line to check out and Cadence goes and hits Dylan in the face with her candy treat (a princess candy necklace). I then told her that she lost her treat and she responded with "I"ll say sorry". Which in most cases I may have let her keep the treat since she was so quick and on her own want to say sorry. But she had already been on the naughty spot two times today (which is super uncommon for her) for not having kind hands. The news of the treat being taken away was obviously very upsetting to her and she proceeds to scream/cry. I just let her cry and throw her little fit and waited for our turn to check out. I did get down and talk to her and she would stop her fit during that time but as soon as she realized that she still wasn't getting her treat, she would start in with the crying again.

We finally check out and when I actually had to remove the candy from her hand. Her yelling is now not just crying but saying, "I don't want to". I walk out the door and am met by a woman in her 60's who leans down and looks Cadence in the face and says, "you know what, I don't want to hear your yelling!" in a nasty voice. I then say to her, "Don't ever speak to another persons child that way". And she says to me that I need to shop somewhere else because no one wants to hear her crying. It takes a lot for me to get worked up but I was instantly in defense mode of my child. We exchanged a few more words and I walked away. The lady behind me at least was kind and she chimed in by telling the lady she had no right to talk to me that way and that if she didn't like kids that she should shop somewhere else. I got in my car and was literally shaking.

I of course don't approve of the way Cadence was acting and I guess should try to be more aware the people around me and the way they feel about the situation verses not caring what they think. But tonight was the first time I've ever had someone be so in my face and rude.

Dylan said his night was ruined because that lady scared him so much. I responded with "don't let someone else not being nice ruin your day". I guess I should listen to my own advice. :)

My heart is full

Yesterday morning I told Dylan that we were going to have a play date with some friends that we don't see very often. He instantly started for looking for things to bring with us to be able to give as gifts for all the kids in their family (4). I told him that was a great idea, that he should make up little "goodie bags". So we found stickers, tattoos, pencils, etc. He was excited to be able to give the gifts and I was excited that he had thought of it all on his own.

Well, we had to run an errand to Target before arriving at their house. Dylan announced to me that he was so glad that he had brought his wallet with so that he could find somthing to buy. :) We were doing our shopping and came to the toy section, he was asking all the prices of the toys and I had to inform him that he didn't have enough money...he only had $4. Then we arrived at the matchbox cars and he was excited that he had enough to buy them. He right away told me that he was going to buy 3. I answered with "why 3"? "Oh" he says, "I'm buying one for Cedric, one for Enzo (the friends we were on our way to see) and one for me".

I leaned over to give him a huge hug and affirm him in showing my immense pleasure of his giving heart. My heart was so full!

Work Christmas Party

Mark & Israel volunteered to make lunch for their team at work for their Christmas party. It was a feast of food with tri-tip steak, cajun seasoned shrimp, mash potatoes, green beans w/bacon, biscuits and more amazing dessert than anyone could ever eat!

And they were able to come to our house to celebrate and hang out during their lunch hour. The picnic table fit everyone perfectly!

It was complete with a apple cider toast. :)

And what is a Christmas party without a gift exchange...

I think everyone had a wonderful time!

Number 34!

My birthday was on Monday...and I have to admit that I have had much better days. Not because of people not making me feel special but because I was sick all day long. The kind of sick where it was hard for me to stand up straight to walk from the sofa into the kitchen, the kind of sick that I was curled up on the floor in my bathroom just so I was close by the toilet. Not fun.

I guess the good news in it all is that I was able to celebrate with my family the night before with a great dinner & wonderful gifts. And Mark gave me my gift the night before as well which is the picture below. I love it! I've worn it every day since. I have a piece of jewelry that represents each child but this one has all of them together. :)

Michelle (Mark's sister) birthday is today. We sent her a gift package and included was a story that Dylan wrote for her. It was all his idea, words & pictures! It was so cute and he was so excited to make it for her.

I had told him that I think it will be her favorite gift for her birthday. :)

Happy Birthday Michelle!

School Christmas Stations

Last Friday I was able to help out in Dylan's class at school during his fun Christmas stations. I haven't been able to be in his classroom yet, so it was really fun for me to be able to see him interact with the other kids! They made Christmas cookies, had hot chocolate & read The Polar Express and made luminaries. :)

I also got him a new lunch box (it was a super good deal & I liked that I don't have to use any baggies, etc.). I gave it to him to put whatever stickers on that it came with and this is how he decorated it. :) He actually didn't like it at first, he thought the other kids would think it was silly (amazing how young you are when you are aware of your peers thoughts). I told him to try it out for a day and see how it goes. He gave me a reluctant "ok".

When I picked him up from school I asked how it went at lunch and he responded with, "everyone loved my box and they all wanted to sit by me!".

Fun. :)

Feliz Navidad