Fourth and Final Christmas

Kevin's parents came up today. Anna and Carter each got a Leapster 2. I got the three pictures I wanted for the chocolate painted wall in the kitchen. Kevin got to hang them which was a challenge because one was a slightly differnet size and each had it's wire at a different height on the back. But they are hung and look nice.

It snowed some more and we're getting another 1/2 inch tomorrow morning. I'm hoping I can make it to work without too much trouble on Monday. We're getting another storm on Wednesday so it's good I'm off on Thursday and Friday next week. Crazy weather.

Christmas #3 - Santa Claus Comes to Town

Anna woke up first. She came into our bedroom and asked me if she could watch cartoons. Ok I said. I turned them on and as she is sitting on the couch her eyes got wide and she said Santa Came! But she still didn't get up to go check everything out. I think she even said something like "I think I see my DS"

I actually went back to bed and she watched cartoons for a few minutes. But Kevin and I knew it would be long so we went ahead and drug ourselves up. We also wanted to see how much snow we had gotten. Finally Anna said she wished Carter would wake up and I told her she could go wake him.

She came out and said that he said he didn't want to get up. She came downstairs and I was headed up to get him when he peeked his head around the corner from his room and got that twinkle in his eye when he realized Santa had come.

Anna got a Nintendo DS with Dora Puppy game. She was obsessed with it all day. She also got a cow webkinz and rainbow markers that click together, all from Santa. Carter got a digital camera, a dump truck and a pillow with Slugger and his name on it from Santa.

From mommy and daddy they got books, Anna got doll house toys and Carter got more Geo Trax train toys.

Afterwards we bundled up to play in the snow. But it was bitterly cold and windy so we only lasted a few sleds before coming inside to warm up with hot chocolate and oatmeal.





The roads were too bad so Kevin's parents decided to wait until Saturday to come up so we headed to Sam and Candi's in the afternoon. The Christmas they were supposed to be hosting also got cancelled because of the weather. So we helped them eat a nine pound roast, mashed potatoes, gravy and green bean casserole. I also ate quite a few peanut butter balls.

This year didn't really feel like Christmas to me. Even with the snow and the kids being really into it. Not sure why. I have felt unprepared all month. I started out so good getting the decorations up early but too many hours at work this month made me a bit of a scrooge at the end.

Plus I hate the cold as I might have mentioned a few times.

"Can I taste-test the cookies for Santa?"

Yes Anna, yes you may.

The kids are cracking me up this year - looking out the window and saying they see Santa's sleigh and Rudolph's nose.

"I want to go night night" - Carter

Why can't they say this every night? Ha.

Well, we had lost the charger to our digital camera battery so I wasn't able to post any pictures over the last two weeks. No idea what happened to it. It might be in Tahoe. So desperate times (have to have a camera for Christmas) call for desperate measures and I spent $40 on a charger that won't even hold the battery in place in the wall charger so we had to put tape on it.

Today we had Christmas #2 at my parent's house. Zach gave Carter a voice changing mega phone and my parents gave him a drum. Kevin says he must have wronged someone in a past life. They are two of the most annoying toys we have ever had.

Before:


From Uncle Ben:


From Uncle Zach:




My favorite moment of today was the twinkle and amazement in Anna's eyes as she opened a jewelry box my mom gave her and the ballerina began to twirl and the music played.


I mailed my Christmas cards today. So they will arrive after Christmas, but hey, better late than never.

We have a tape shortage and lots of gifts left to wrap so we may be using stickers and scrapbook adhesive because we are currently in a blizzard warning and everything is covered in a sheet of ice underneath the 8-10 inches of snow we are anticipating.

Merry Christmas!

Less than three days till Christmas

And I just addressed my Christmas cards. I am so behind this year.

I added up the total hours I worked two weeks ago and it was nearly 60 hours. No wonder I haven't been able to keep up with my daily posting.

One more day and then a four day weekend! And apparently it's going to snow quite a bit on Christmas Day. The kids are way excited!

On Thursday Tassie ate an entire platter of cookies while I was away at Starbucks getting some coffee.

I think at Carter's checkup he was 36 inches tall and weighed 36 pounds. I think. Although on our scale he only weighs 32 pounds.

Santa always put toothpaste in Kevin's stocking. I think this is a horrible stocking stuffer. Who wants toothpaste? What did you get in your stocking? Best stocking stuffer ideas?

Poor Carter

Poor Carter has eczema everywhere. It looks awful and he said it doesn't feel good and it must be itchy cause he keeps scratching. It's the worst on his left shoulder and arm, down the right side of his body and behind his knees. His cheeks are pretty red too. I literally have been covering him head to toe in Aquaphor the last two nights.

Tonight I had used up the rest of the Aquaphor I had so I went to Walmart and bought two of the biggest tubs they had. I joked that I needed to get it at Sam's Club but Carter didn't understand and kept asking me if I got the "medicine" from Sam.

I also got a prescription filled that we got at his checkup on Thursday (when it actually didn't look too bad but took a turn for the worse on Friday). We also started a humidifier in his room tonight. In addition he has a light rash covering his entire body. I've been giving him Benadryl but it doesn't seem to make it go away.

He also had two bloody noses today. I ended up making him stand in the bathtub until he would quit crying cause otherwise blood was just getting everywhere, including on me and the rug.

I think he and I are ready to move somewhere warmer.

I ventured out to Toys R Us today and had pretty good success. I think I was there for over two hours. They were sold out of Lincoln logs and doll clothes. Seriously. I also can't seem to find the game Simon. I thought Anna might like that game but maybe they don't make it anymore. I'll have to look for it online.

My mom and I took the kids to see The Princess and the Frog. It was pretty cute. I think Carter ate an entire large bag of popcorn. I thought he would take a nap but he didn't fall asleep until after we left and were driving home.

Tomorrow we have Christmas #1 of four Christmases in less than a week. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I only have to work Monday through Wednesday so that's good.

Is Christmas Over Yet?

We have four Christmases over the next week starting in two days. All I want for Christmas is to sleep late, wear my pajamas all day and veg on the couch but it's not looking like we'll have any downtime time until New Year's weekend.

Carter's Christmas Program

Candi's video is from the right side and mine is from the left. Her's is so cute cause it captures everyone's reaction as Carter arrvies (we were the last ones and arrived just in time).

Alex and Carter got to sit next to each other. Super cute.

Here are mine... Jingle Bells (I have to tell you cause you might not be able to tell from listening to the yelling, lol)


Santa Claus is Coming to Town:
Ok the battery on my camera died and I can't find the charger so I can load this one to the site. So this is all you get for now :)

Yay Friday!

So after what was perhaps the most insane week at work ever, which included changing my pants in my car at one point, I got to have some serious QT with my BFF. We had martinis and good food and chatted it up like two blondes who hadn't seen each other in two weeks and were bursting at the seems to babble on about their lives. I'm sure everyone around us was completely annoyed but we didn't care.

We talked work, kids, Christmas, family, everything. I feel sooooooo much better.

No hubby, no kids. Good girl time. What more could a girl ask for?

Eh

The best news I got today: My new car is coming next week!

I had kind of a crappy day. I just want this week to be over. I'm going to bed.

Carter had his Xmas progam tonight and we made it just in time. I'll post video this weekend.

Is it seriously only Tuesday?

I was up until 2 am last night working. Carter was up at 6 (crazy insane child. wonder what he was like at daycare today). I got ready and started dinner in the crockpot. This morning I had a breakfast bookfair thing at Anna's school to go to. Then I had meetings all day including one at 5:00 pm at which point I had some more coffee. I got home at 7:30, ate, did dishes, bathed children and then laid down with Carter for an hour until he finally fell asleep. I think it is more of the no-binky thing than the big bed. He's just restless laying there.

I am soooooo far behind on anything Christams (other than decorations). I need to get my Xmas cards ordered and buy some freakin presents. I think it's gonna be an online holiday cause I really have no desire to pack up the kids and get out in this frigid wet weather and try to shop. I didn't get that nap last weekend and I could sure use it now.

Seriously. Just Tuesday?

It's 10:15 and my 3 year old is still getting out of bed

I've pondered getting a lock and flipping it around to lock him in his room.

I've pondered if they make cages to go on top of twin beds.

I've pondered putting him back in his crib.

Meanwhile I'm trying to get work done so I can go to bed. He is going to be so tired by the end of the week because instead of going to bed at 7 he's going to bed past 10three nights in a row.

Any tips for making a three year old stay in his bed?

Big Boy Bed

Yesterday was Carter's first night in his big boy bed with no binkies. I was shocked he didn't ask for his binkies. He did ask to go back to his crib twice. He got out of bed probably over 100 times. For three hours we worked on taking him back to bed. I rocked him for 15 minutes. I laid with him in bed for 30 minutes. He finally ended up crying himself to sleep at the foot of his bed on top of his quilt after Kevin "got mean" and mommy wasn't around.

My usual late sleeper was then tip toe-ing into our room at 6:00 am. He was so quiet that Tassie didn't even hear him coming and barked when he showed up tapping next to me asking for a drink of milk. After putting him back to bed he was then back up to go potty. After putting him back to bed I think he stayed in there for another hour until Anna went in and got him up. Someone will be in dire need of a nap come noon.

Next up for his room is painting and curtains. Not sure what we are going to do with the crib and the rocking chair. Maybe a slip cover for the chair?

Hungover

Oops, didn't have time to post yesterday. I'll post twice today to make up for it. Yesterday was a long day at work and then we headed to Kevin's holiday party for work. We arrived just in time for dinner and missed the cocktail hour which actually worked out great because Kevin is not much for mingling, if you can imagine.

I needed a few drinks but maybe not that many drinks and today... well let's just say I'm hungover. It was a rockin party (insert sarcasm here) as we closed it down at 10:45 pm. I made the DJ (who had a headset microphone) play Party in the USA as the last song and I was the only one dancing. I remember my dress also came unhooked at the top at some point late in the night when I was dancing. I didn't show anyone my boobs so it all worked out ok, but I was really wishing my BFF was there.

Those parties always make me feel young and not fat. Kevin and I did some pretty good people watching.

Today's to-do list
Get rid of headache
Go to Target, have a long list for here
Select photos of kids to buy
Order Christmas cards
Create annual family calendar and order for Christmas presents
Grocery store for dinner unless we order something to-go
And somewhere in there is definitely take a nap

Home Sweet Home

I am finally home tonight after spending most of the week in Indianapolis for some new training at ExactTarget.

I'm pretty sure everyone is happy to have me back. Kevin did great getting the kids dressed, fed and in bed on time. Carter wanted me to rock him and kiss him. Anna wanted to read me Amelia Bedelia and show me her new bookmark that apparently she "bought" in the third grade room on Tuesday and was clearly made by a third grader. The kids haven't had a bath since Sunday so don't smell them.

Kind of wishing I hadn't eaten so much at my two Thanksgiving dinners, the MU/KU game, and all the restaurants while I was out of town. I'm going to try to fit into a hot dress tomorrow night for Kevin's black tie optional holiday party.

And finally. It's cold. really cold. 20 degree cold. i hate the cold. welcome home!

Holiday Pictures

At the risk of spoiling our Christmas card photo, these are so adorable I had to share.

If I could just bottle the giggles here and save it forever.






Now if I can just decide which ones to order. I think I've narrowed it down from 107 to about 15. It's a start.

Daily December

As promised, I'm posting daily in December. I really enjoy Ali Edwards daily december scrapbook album she does each year but I don't have the energy or creative juice for that right now so blogging will be my Daily December.

I'm headed to Indianapolis for work this afternoon. I put on a crockpot of Taco Soup this morning for Kevin and the kids when they get home. It's a new recipe so hopefully it turns out good. Nothing like cooking onions and beef before 8 am.

I get back before the weekend and will have Friday off instead of Thursday so it will be nice to enjoy a three day weekend. I'm going to try to do some Christmas shopping by myself, or perhaps with Carter, on Friday.

I did get the house all decorated the day after Thanksgiving including the tree, mantle and front door so that is crossed off the list.

I have bought hardly any gifts, nor have I really even thought about it.