2012 is on it's way.... ready or not!

What does 2012 mean to you?  To us, it means a going to be eight year old, four year old and two year old... a little more independence all on accounts, a little more into things, a little more grown up looking.... it also means a 10 year wedding anniversary and two 40th(!!) birthdays....

2012 is going to be good.  I feel it.  We're in heavy discussion about our new house *REALLY hoping to move in 2012*, what our needs and wants are.  (and surprisingly, we're not at complete opposites on either side).... we're going places, baby! 

Tonight, we'll ring in the new year with our Toyota family -- it's going to be a TON of fun... starting with dinner at Red Lobster (my personal favorite) .... and then likely heading to downtown Rochester, to Big Brads...

Life is good... and it's only getting better.

XO  Happy New Year's -- smooch the one you love at midnight *or before if you're not planning to stay up for that moment in time...

T'was the Night Before Christmas....

Today's challenge: remember ingredients that I need to buy for the stuffing that I'm making for tomorrow's dinner...  I don't have the recipe along with me... :)  and you'd think I've made it enough times that I could kind of go on memory --   hmm... you'd think.

Santa is going to visit our house again Christmas morning.... Brandon's aunt, every year, dresses up as Santa and has to make a '2nd stop' at our place, because he 'forgot' to leave a few presents.... this is guaranteed to send Lily into hiding... but the second Santa leaves, Lily is running to the window to see how / where he goes... *last year Santa "drove away in a car that looked just like Connie and Mick's car!" -- which inspired Santa will be walking this year... I'm pretty sure if Lily sees (her) him.... she'll know it's not a 'real' Santa.  This year she explained to me the 'real' Santa has a real beard... all the other ones... are his helpers.  Oh, ok.  Got it.  The one at our mall... he's real.  Some of the ones we've seen on TV, they're just his helpers.

*This was the last time Lily was willing
 to sit on Santa's lap.

My sister-in-law made her own chimney for their house -- I showed my girl the picture last night of their fireplace and Lily asked if Falon could come to our house and make one too.  Fal did a great job on it and I know why Lily was so impressed...

Lincoln was trying on his Santa hat :)

I still have to find and get our stockings out tonight... and after the kids go to bed, I'm going to decorate the tree.  I bought this pink shimmery tinsel... Lily is going to think it's awesome.

Last night she asked instead of reading our normal bedtime book, if we could just talk about Santa and Christmas.  Of course we can!  <3

Can't wait to see the faces of my babies as they walk downstairs and see their presents under the tree tomorrow morning.  They are going to be so excited.  I have my batteries for my camera charged and SD card cleared.   Tonight, we'll be sprinkling the reindeer food out on the drive, so they are able to snack while Santa is busy with his work inside our house...

Merry Christmas... from our house to yours!

Preparing for Santa's visit...

Unlike when anyone else is coming to visit, we haven't been doing any significant cleaning... I did do about 6 loads of laundry yesterday... I don't think Santa really cares, not the way the rest of the family does, when there's no clean clothes to put on....

We went to Lily's class Christmas Tea this morning.  Very cute, despite my girl was too shy to perform, so she sat next to me in a knee high chair and we watched her classmates as they proudly stood up and performed "12 days of Christmas".  They had hand gestures and positions to represent each day... Grandpa John, Grandma Sandee, Aunt Connie, Daddy and Mom were all there, to watch her shyly sit next to me, and look down at her feet when we'd ask why she wasn't singing.  We already had a pretty tragic week at school, so I didn't really care.  We were there, and that is all that was important.

Christmas is only 3 days away... and this year, we didn't even decorate the tree -- I mean, at all.  Other than a couple strands of lights... which Lincoln and Lucy CAN NOT leave alone.  So, I don't know what I'm thinking with my 'great idea' of decorating the tree Christmas Eve... leaving the kids a note from Santa saying something along the lines of, "....thanks for the cookies, and I really like when my friends have beautifully decorated Christmas trees... I understand why yours wasn't decorated -- because of Lincoln and Lucy, but I couldn't leave without spreading the Christmas spirit..."  she would totally think that was awesome... and it won't be many more (if any?) years that she believes...   since I have all my presents wrapped now... I really can't think of a good excuse to not do it...

I finished my Christmas shopping today... so really -- I do have a couple more things to wrap, not enough to say I won't have time to decorate the tree.  Tonight after the kids go to bed, I have to finish making my nephew's tie blanket.  I think the fleece he picked, with the solid color back is going to look great.  I'll post a pic.  :) 

I have two little people, at my feet... begging to get in my lap and are needing my 100% attention right now, so this will have to complete today's post. 

Three french hens....

Christmas Tea

This morning, I dropped Lucy off at our daycare mom's to attend Lincoln's preschool class Christmas Tea.  He was playing so nice, following direction, making me proud.... until he saw me.  He came running, waving his hands, saying, "Mama, mama, mama...."  and it was so sweet.... but then it's like he reverts into this little pot of wet noodles, can't stand, doesn't want to wash hands for snack, doesn't want snack, pushes away any offers of help, dumped his chocolate milk in his lap.... oiy.  Why is it the 'best behavior' goes out the window when mom shows up? 


It was still really sweet though, his classmates had wrapped gifts for each other, they made us a gingerbread man that had a pile of post-its right in the middle of their tummy... cute stuff.  We decorated some cookies, played with play dough, they sang some songs with jingle bells.... and then before we knew it, it was time to go.

This morning, we decided to see if Lucy's curls were long enough to go into a pony... and they were....

Lily is so excited for Christmas to get here.... yesterday, I wrapped all the gifts, realized I've hidden a few too well... have to find those.... and left out two items that were supposed to be stocking stuffers... she came running upstairs, "MOM!  There is a chocolate Santa and some skittles downstairs, who's are those?!?!?!?"  Um, so we had some of the Santa for after dinner desert.  Ooops.  :)

I hope to get into town tonight to FINISH my Christmas shopping.  I have to make a list of the things I need, otherwise, I'm wandering aimlessly in the store, wondering what I should get and who still needs to be bought for.  I'm on a mission to complete this tonight... it will solely depend on if Brandon is able to get home from work on time, so that I can get to the stores before they close.  Fingers crossed.

Lily's first grade Christmas Tea is on Thursday, Daddy will be able to come along for that one... we're so excited!  Hope to post some pics of that!

I think this might be my first year in Minnesota with no snow for Christmas!!

Wow... It's been eight years since we last saw you???

Today, we traveled west of the cities today to spend a family Christmas get together with some of Brandon's family. In preparation for today, Lily and Brandon were talking about where we were going and who would be there.. which led to the discussion that Lily has two cousins, and Daddy has 21. Of those 21, we saw 3: Colin, Mike, and Tony. We hadn't seen Tony and his wife, Monica for eight years. They had never met our children nor had we met their son. It was cool to catch up. The last time we saw them, Tony and I shot a few games of pool and I spanked him. He remembered that and proudly told me when we went to the "kids area" that ha a 9' table, he was unbeatable for the day. I said that sounded like a challenge and he said it was. We playe four games, and the one I didnt win, I scratched on the eight ball. Made me miss my old days of pool leagues. :) The visit was fun, Lily didn't want to leave because they had a really nice house... understatement of the day... the kind of place that makes you hope... someday. But we're about 30 mins from home. Lily and Brandon are in Cabelas, picking up a few things, while me and LK and LW are jammin in the car to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cd... :) after we leave here, we're headed home to put babies to bed. Considering they didn't have decent naps today, they did pretty good. They were pretty well behaved, using their manners. Can't tell you how my heart swells when Lincoln and Lucy will tell you 'Thank you' when you give them something. It's just cool. This week I work Monday, then the rest of the week off. Good thing because I still have not one gift wrapped. Not done shopping. Will be taking my phone in tomorrow to get it fixed. Lincoln's class is having a Christmas tea party on Tusday and Lily's class is doing another on Thursday. So cool that we can go to those. ;) And then, it's Christmas. And then it'll be time to put it all away and start the New Years resolutions... I know what mine is.... Do you have one yet?

Post party glow

Oh, we had a good time last night... I told everyone as soon as we were done eating, we were having a group photo, with my self-timer on my camera... and then I remembered I had never used it before and wasn't sure I knew how to... but I figured it out... and it didn't turn out too bad:

I made a big salad, taco lasagna and of course, birthday cake with icecream... everything was delicious... Lily loved her gifts... no surprise.   :)

She LOVED her cake... gummy life savers and icing = taste great together!

SO tonight, serious clean up mode in the house.... it was a late night, and the only thing that we cleaned up were dishes and the started the dishwasher... otherwise, everything lays as it was left.  Thank goodness Brandon doesn't work late tonight!  He's a good helper!

So we've closed the birthday book and we're back on with full-focus on Christmas... Nine ladies dancing.....  nine.  Holy buckets.... Let the wrapping begin!!

Birthday celebrations - Round 3 *ding, ding!*

And tonight concludes the birthday celebrations... the 'family party'.   I just finished making her cake, still have to run into town to fill up some balloons, buy some icing and icecream... a few ingredients for the dinner we're making... ya know, nothing like last minute.  I think I work best under pressure.  That, or I just get that, 'Well, it is what it is' attitude and make due, with whatever 'it is'. 

She is excited.  She LOVES when her little cousin comes to play.  They adore each other... and we're so happy that she lives close enough that they're growing up together... We love you, Mills!

Lincoln made us the CUTEST Christmas present at preschool... it was all wrapped up in homemade wrapping paper, with Christmas stamps randomly placed all over it.... the kind that melts your heart as a parent, to think he's doing this!  I know he had help... but it's still a treasure that will be on display every year.  This year, it found a special home on the kitchen cupboard, for all to see as soon as they walk in.  <3

Also, in preschool, his class took a field trip to the middle school to listen to their choir sing Christmas songs.  His teacher sent me an email saying they were considering not taking Lincoln, even though his love for music, they were concerned he wouldn't be able to sit through the entire performance, and asked my thoughts.  Um... exclude my kid?  No.  So, I wrote back, "We have to trust your judgement as his teacher, that said -- it makes a mom's heart sad to hear that her child is not being included." He went.  And he did GREAT!  WTG, Lincoln!!  And the teacher said, "Some days I learn more than my students, and thank you for your honesty, Michelle."  Love my boy proving assumptions wrong, one at a time.  XOXOX


Lucy is napping and I have some more stuff to get ready for tonight, so I better get busy!  I'll post pics tomorrow of her last big bash! 

Seven today.... my, my, my....

This is what a 7 year old looks like:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LG!!!  SEVEN!  Seven!!  Wow.  In 9 years, she'll be driving herself to her job.... in 11 years, she'll be graduating.... hopefully heading to college.... and I'm sure then, just as I am now, I'll be thinking, where did that time go?  I remember her birth day so vividly.... the significant times through out the day and night that events changed and progressed... and then seeing her for the first time... after imagining all those years what my baby was going to look like.  I'm so superficial... I remember asking Brandon, "What do you think about, when you think of the baby....?"  And he answered, "What I'm going to teach her.  The kind of Dad I'll be."  And I felt SO shallow... because ALL I could think of was.... "I wonder what she's going to look like...."  "Will she have my toes?" *I hoped... but no, she got her dad's.  :)  She's such a good girl.  So pleasant.  So compassionate.  Loving.  She is the kind of daughter that makes a mom and dad proud.  :)  We love her to pieces.

This morning, I woke her up extra early to open her birthday presents.... silly girl didn't want to!?!?! She said she'd rather wait until tonight.  I don't know who's child she is...because I'm sure I was the kid begging her parents 2 and 3 days before to open gifts.... not my girl.  She'd rather wait until tonight.  Gifts in front of her... she'd rather wait.  Wow.  That's some unbelievable patience.

Tomorrow night we're having the "family birthday party" so aunts, uncles, cousin, grandparents are coming over for dinner, birthday cake and gifts!  It will be a full house, but fun, without doubt.

Sunday we have a family Christmas party... saw some really cool home made paper lanterns, made by a little girl who's four -- so I have all confidence my girl could make them -- think we'll have to do crafts on Saturday, see how they turn out and maybe bring some with to the party as gifts...

As the song goes, ten lords a leaping.....  assessed the gifts last night... Lincoln and Lucy by far have fewer gifts than Lily, but I don't think either of them will mind.  What they do have, they will be happy with.  :)   I'm DONE with gifts for the kids.  Still have to make a tie blanket for my nephew with the Vikings fleece *oh, Vikings -- you have really bombed this year, but we're not fair-weather fans....* and that should be it.

I work Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after.... but thankfully, am able to work from home on Christmas Day.  Hard to believe... it's only 10 days away.

Unpublished

Unpublished posts can be very therapeutic. It's an unfiltered vent that feels great, without any repercussions. Whew, and I had a doozie tonight. I'm good now though. Like kidney stones, this too shall pass. Good night!

Eleven pipers piping....

11 days 'til Christmas... holy smokes.  I feel so rushed this year... I'm guessing it's all the things going on... birthday, Christmas parties, shopping, wrapping, etc.... I'm between panicking and sayin', "Well, it is what it is... where ever we're at with gifts is going to have to work."  Ok, and the Christmas card thought is getting pretty foggy... Brandon will be SO disappointed if I don't get those out, but I'm still on the fence with sending them.  Maybe I'll do "New Year's Greetings"....??

The big girl's birthday party was a huge SUCCESS!  Oh, my girl was in her glory.  Create, paint, design.... birthday cupcakes, presents... friends.... it was fun.  Definitely a party I would have loved as a girl too.  :)  We pick up their creations in about a week, and will deliver to their respective owners... will be fun to see them finished and the faces of the kids when they see their projects finished....  My friend Cindy, came to give Lily her gift, help me with the kids, and set up, tear down... she told me to hand over my camera and she would take pictures... and she did!  She took a ton and they turned out AWESOME.  Thank you, Cindy!!

Tomorrow is Lily's actual birth day... 7 years ago... oh, the memories...  Brandon and I both work late tomorrow, but Brandon's going to drive her into school and deliver her big birthday cookie (from Sam's) for the class to celebrate. Tomorrow night when we get home, we'll open birthday gifts (which I still need to wrap!) and Thursday, we're having the family over to celebrate again.  She's my favorite big girl.

I did finish all 100 cookies last night.  The exchange is Thursday, but I'm off, so I brought them into work today.  I'm SO glad to be done with those! 

And Friday... let the wrapping begin!  *excluding her bday presents, which will be wrapped tonight after they're in bed!

Grandma!

Grandma Donna pulled into the driveway yesterday and has been busy since.  I'm sure by mid-day tomorrow, there won't be a dirty laundry item in the house.  Not only does she love to wash it, she folds and puts it all away too.  She's also made homemade chicken noodle soup, -- Lily had 4 bowls since she got home from school, and Lucy loved it too.  :)  She cleaned my bathroom and has been going through closets to sort out what's too small and what can be put away until next summer. 

She also sorted out and neatened our pantry and 2 junk drawers.  Those are the little things that are so nice when done, but things I never seem to do.  Our pantry was a mess, I'll be the first to admit it.  That is one area that I just stack, pray it doesn't tip, and close the door.  My mom comes in and in less that 12 hours, it's all straightened up and everything's in its place....

She spoils us.  It's a nice break for me... I love her.

We're full on crazy for the next few weeks.... I have to still do those cookies.... Lily's birthday party is this weekend... next week is her real birthday, the day after is the family party, that weekend (12/17) she was invited to the class bully's (in Lily's words, several times this school year) birthday party and I'm not sure I'm cool with her going... but I know she'd have a blast at House of Bounce... Then the next week is the week before Christmas when wrapping is going to kick into high gear.  *I have nothing wrapped.  I don't know what I was thinking when I declined the $3.99/package extra cost from Amazon to wrap everything... it's sounding like an amazing deal now.  :)  We were invited to a family Christmas party on 12/18, Brandon & I were invited to a Christmas party 12/10, Lincoln has a preschool Christmas party on 12/20 in school... seriously, I'm not even sure how I'm keeping this all straight.  We were invited over to another gathering on Christmas Eve (but I have to work, so Brandon will probably go with all three kids by himself...)  Did I say full on crazy.  Yeah.  It is.

I'm looking forward to 2012.  Making some plans.  Will be marking our 10th wedding anniversary and we're both turning 40.  More to come... *no more babies.  Just in case you're wondering.  That's a no.

8:58 pm

Do not EVER go to Walmart at 8:58 pm to print pictures. Their machines "automatically shut themselves off" at 9:00 pm, and there is no way to over ride them. *insert cough that suspiciously sounds like, 'Bull$hit!'*

Oh, and the unprofessional, unhelpful girl that works in lay-away, the one that has zero customer service skills and a piercing through the side of her bottom lip... Her name coincidentally is Michelle. I told the manager on duty, I hoped that  Michelle wasn't being paid over minimum wage, otherwise, they're grossly over paying her.

FYI, Target's instant print photos machines are turned on until their doors are locked at 10:00 pm.

So that was my evening last night.... I'm over it now though.  I've boycotted Walmart for the rest of my holiday shopping.  *not really.  :)

Lily is "Star of the Week" in class today (hence my late run to Walmart) -- she's supposed to fill out a sheet about her, bring in 10+ pictures of herself, her favorite book, and three of her favorite things.  The sheet that she filled out -- she said that her birthday is 12/14, she is 6 years old, she has 1 brother and 1 sister, 2 pets, her favorite sport is Vikings, her favorite color is pink, her favorite class at school is art and music, her favorite place is with family.  *that melted my heart.  And her one wish if she could have anything:  to ride a unicorn.  I love her.

Off tomorrow, headed into Walmart to get my ingredients for my Snickerdoodles.  All 100 of them... and Grandma Donna's coming to visit.  :)

'Tis the Season

I love when it snows big, fat snowflakes.  I love Hoar's Frost.  I love Thanksgiving, Christmas and the birthdays in between. All of those make the rest -- cold weather, scraping windshields, and slippery roads -- seem a lot more tolerable.

We're preparing for my big girl's 7th birthday... 10 kids, cupcakes, icecream and some crafts... Color Me Mine... (check out their website: http://www.rochester.colormemine.com/) Oh, my girl is excited.  I think she's asked, "How many more days until my party, mama?", at least a dozen times... in the last 3 days.  :)

We have our tree up, with lights only -- no ornaments, since Lincoln and Lucy are having some difficulties with 'No touching', 'Don't grab the strand of lights', 'Don't pull on the lights', 'Don't throw things at or into the tree'.... oh, the joys of a 3 and 1 1/2 yr old.  *it has not been tipped over -- YET -- so we're doing pretty good.  (A friend of mine posted on her FB a picture of her two youngest boys, standing on either side of their tree, laying on it's side flat on the living room floor.  The boys expressions were priceless... eyes wide, mouths shaped into little "o"s... seriously would make the best Christmas card.  Ever.) 

Decorations are going up slowly... trying to get through birthday, then focus will be solely on Christmas.  Shopping is in full swing...   lists are made, checked twice... I volunteered for a Cookie Exchange... you know, for filling in my free time -- baking 100 Snickerdoodle cookies.  Yes, 100.  Lord, what was I thinking?

Another blogger inspired a 'North Pole' party idea... for the kids... magical, cookies and milk, a buffet with reindeer food and little mason jars, to make and sprinkle in the snow on Christmas Eve... invite some friends, wear pjs... doesn't it sound like amazing memories in the making?  Might have to do something like it, on a smaller scale....

Next weekend is 'Christmas in Kasson'.  Very cool that I don't work and will be able to take the kids.  Wish the hub didn't have to work every Saturday, so he could enjoy these moments with us... maybe someday soon.  Keep climbing, babe.

Christmas letters and picture are still just in thought.  I need to get on that too. 

Wishing all the magic and wonderment in the eyes of a child, to you and yours in the 20 days, 13 hrs, 45 minutes and 32 seconds until Christmas... but who's counting?