Believe in the Christmas Spirit

Christmas morning came quickly with Mirabel running into the room announcing Santa had left her a Dora Talking Kitchen and a Slurpee Treat Maker. So, I got up and told her to go wake up Justin. They both ran for the living room. They were spoiled as ever and got everything they asked for and more! Justin got his coveted Game Boy...and hasn't used it yet...a week later. Hopefully he will get into it...We have a 4 hour trip to Massachusetts this month so maybe he will get into it. And, Mirabel hasn't used her Dora kitchen yet either. Oh well. I don't want to hear any complaints about not having any toys! We spent a fair amount of time opening gifts. I got all whiney that i didn't get tile... But, my grandmother gave me tile. She is the best....I got a whole room and hallways worth from her. She is the only one that loves me!!!!! I guess I am a spoiled brat. But, I can handle it. The kids got a flock of chickens from Judy that will go to some poor family in another country, and we got a portrait of Justin that isn't actually made yet but will be made from a photo of him.
We got to Mom's house and there were a huge pair of black leather mittens with a white cuff under the tree. Mom thought it could be Santa's mittens he left and we all went outside to see if we could catch him. There were sleigh bells ringing in the distance, but we couldn't catch Santa...he doesn't like to be seen anyway. So, the rest of the day and night...and next day the obsessive compulsive neurotic kids we have could not get it out of their heads about missing Santa and "how are we going to get those mittens back" and "what is he going to do without them" on ...and on...and on. My goodness, I was finally like..."Justin....it's just for fun" and he didn't believe me. He kept on obsessing. Poor kid. I felt bad since it was really supposed to be for fun.
We got home relatively early and watched Elf...still an all time favorite movie anytime of year. Then, I was pretty much up all night with an athsma attack. Too much cat dander. I hate not being able to breathe. I was in the shower twice and used my percussion massager to try to bang out the crap...and a few times Felix hit me on the back for a couple minutes. I am just so sensitive to cats. Then the next day I slept until 1pm because I didn't go to sleep until 6am. Sleeping shot that day. Then, I didn't dare go downstairs Tuesday fearing the cat dander in the house, so I stayed in my room the whole day until 7pm. I should have just left but I didn't really have anyplace to go. So, I was really stir crazy and upset about wasting my last vacation day.
Now, it is back to the old grind...and hopefully the days will grow longer and I will be less nutso. I can't guarantee anything though.

Peace on Earth...at least there was on Christmas Eve for me

Friday night I was very annoyed, frustrated and I could have just about killed someone. I was so upset I ended up finishing all my wrapping and doing all my assembly. So....that meant I was free all day Saturday. I got up and I brought the kids to Casey's Hill in Underhill Center for sledding. We had a blast! We went down all the sections....even the steepest part...with Mirabel screaming all the way and then saying, "AGAIN?" We were the only people there for a while, then people started showing up. I was about the only mother there...I am not sure why it was all fathers. Maybe it's like I told Shelley, if it weren't for mothers there would be no Christmas. Anyway, after that we got a snack and went home to shower. The kids were stuck on a "Jesus, King of the Babies" kick and said it all the way home! We got ready for church and drove up to St. Albans for 4 pm mass. We had to get there at 3pm because it is always standing room only. Marina sang in the choir and was an angel in the pageant. I almost cried. She was amazing. After church, we went to Aunt Edie's for supper. Uncle Roy's lasagna is awesome. It was soooooo good partially because I was soooooo hungry. There were tons and tons of gifts at Aunt Edie's as usual. The kids were having a blast but we had to get home to bed. We got home and checked the Santa tracker and he was supposedly in Canada...so we hurried to bed. I set my alarm for midnight and got up and put out all the gifts and went back to bed.

The good, the bad and the ugly...oh wait...It's the Christmas Weekend!

My Baby Boy

Mirabel the snowboarder...just like MOM!




Justin is a wild sledder...that is all I have to say! He scares me.







The Star of Christmas...Marina did an awesome job in the choir.









Mom stole some of my chex mix!!









Uncle Roy's famous lasagna and salad on Christmas Eve! Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmm Mmmmmmm!





Quincy's first Christmas











Ann with her brood








Christmas stressing you out? Watch out for relatives wielding over-sized dog bones!!








Aunt Edie's knitted snowmen...be careful Mirabel...they will be heirlooms!









Shelley modeling her new nightie!











Derek is very proud of his Spiderman Stunt Set!




Chillin' at Aunt Edie's...All these presents tire me out!

A reminder that we better get home and go to bed!

Santa did show up!!! (a surprise considering all the threats that two kids better behave)

Big heavy presents! But, not tile.

Justin getting into his new hockey bag...he fits!

Christmas at Mom's House....Sooooo much stuff. (and I whined and cried about tile??)

Dad did a heck of a job on the candy trains! Good thing Mom forced him to do it!

A tasty Christmas Dinner.

Mirabel enjoying a smoothie from her new "toy." I see strawberry daiquiri's in my future..

Cinderelli, Cinderelli...One room down...only at least six to go!! But, don't open the cupboards!

Fah who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome, welcome Christmas. Welcome Christmas Day.

Well, since I am now officially off work until after Christmas and I feel the need to find some Christmas cheer...and "singing loud for all to hear..." ain't gonna happen....I have taken inspiration from Jill to think about Christmas in years past and drum up some Christmas spirit for myself.

My favorite memories of Christmas

Playing "Jaws" with Shelley and having the tree fall over on us. That definately added an element of surprise to an already nerve-wracking game.

Seeing Rudolph up on the road in the trailer park. That was magical!

Waking up at about 3am and laying in the bunk beds talking about what could be under the tree. Then, sneaking out into the living room in the dark and taking a quick peek and running back into the bedroom and telling Shelley what she got. Then running back out to get another peek....this went on all night long. We weren't allowed to get up before 6.

Taking turns putting on the yellow plastic star.

The plastic, santa sleigh with reindeer we put out every year.

The gingerbread house ornament I made in first grade.

My bear stocking that has a big black mark on the toe. (maybe from the coal) Oranges, apples, nuts and candy in the stocking.

Always wearing the outfit Aunt Edie got us on Christmas day.

Cabbage Patch kids...even after all these years and all the love and attention they got, they still smell good.

And the year Aunt Mary and the kids came for Christmas and the excitement on Kristyne's face when she got a cabbage patch kid.

Getting a hand written note from Santa saying he dropped my Barbie doll in the snow outside my grandparent's house.

The money from Grandpa that we always saved for last that was hidden in the tree. And, Gramp always handed out the gifts sitting on the ottoman.

The creative ways Mom would give Grandpa his money....especially the money between two slices of bread.

The year I was so upset that I got luggage for Christmas...and Shelley got a boom box which is what I asked for.

Chex Mix on Christmas Eve. I finally got in on it. I guess Aunt Edie thought I didn't like it and for years everyone else got a giant zip-lock bag chuck full and I got none.

Uncle Roy's lasagna and salad on Christmas Eve. Oh my, I can't wait!

I went to the Santa at Gaynes and asked for my own room...He didn't know what to say.

All the Christmas specials...Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown and The Grinch. Now, I love Elf and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation also.

Buying Grandma a carton of cigarettes as her main gift.

Going to Aunt Winnie's Christmas night after our own festivities. I loved to spend time with my cousins.

Waiting at least a day to decorate the tree because the branches have to 'fall' and now cutting a live tree so we don't have to wait.

Dad and Uncle Roy holding the trash bags for the paper at Grandma's while eating peanuts.

Uncle Roy's box of socks.

Peanut butter fudge.

Mom going to Kmart after our Christmas Eve celebration to finish shopping because they were open until 10pm.

Taking Justin to the Polar Express in Burlington with all the elves..hundreds and they were yelling, "Justin, so glad you could make it"....he was thrilled...it was amazing.

I was so upset when I got a savings bond for Christmas at Kinney's after years of getting cash....I felt like Clark on National Lampoon's Christmas!

Trying to make Christmas for my kids as wonderful as mine was when I was young.

Making ornaments out of rose petals with a glue gun and ribbon with Mom. That was a beautiful tree. We even got rid of the plastic yellow star and sprung for an Angel.

The monopoly game I got from Grandma Fleming. I remember opening it and exactly how the tree and the house were set up that year. Odd.

When the UPS guys came with my present...a computer ...when Felix wasn't here and said..."Do you know about this?" and I didn't and they felt bad. But, I was excited.

The almost burnt scalloped potatoes every year.

Our advent calendar.

How Uncle Roy knows every gift he gets without opening it.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Marina will be in the choir for the mass. I need to leave early because last year we drove 50 minutes and missed the whole darn thing. I am going to see it this year if it kills me. We will go to Aunt Edie's for the annual Lasagna and salad dinner and gift exchange with Aunt Edie and Uncle Roy. Then, it's back home to get to bed early...last year, Justin ran to his bed right when we got home. Let's hope this year will be the same. Merry Christmas!

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

I can't believe Christmas is around the corner. And I have watched "Elf" like ten times! I just can't get into it. I think I am just so exhausted and so overwhelmed with life, I can't think about Christmas. I noticed today that Justin has hockey tonight. I thought it was over until after Christmas but I guess that is why everyone kept asking me, "Are you going to be here Wednesday?" And, even though I was saying "Yes" it was not registering at all. That really throws a wrench into my plan of stopping at the store, and then maybe getting some cleaning done. It isn't going to happen. Now, (again) I will be running around...because I forgot Justin's hockey stuff and I have to go home, then get the kids and something to eat b4 6:00.

So, as I was writing this yesturday, Jess came over and said I could leave at 3pm. That made me think that I would get a bunch of stuff done and be able to get home and to practice lickety split. WRONG! I went to Walmart and got some socks and underwear for the kids...spent almost and hour, then I went to Toys R Us ....Had to run home to get the hockey gear and then get the kids. Justin had a headache. I told him he should eat and he will feel better...he did not agree. So, as we were approaching Essex he said he wasn't going to hockey. So, we decided that we would just eat and go home. Well, once he ate, he felt better. After I had already called Mom and Dad not to come....I called them back to say he felt better and was going to go now. Then, Mirabel spilled her shake in the locker room AGAIN. She was screaming that her shake was gone. But, how many times in a season can you spill a shake in the locker room....unreal. We did not get home until almost 9pm. Crazy, Crazy, Crazy.

A lesson in flexibility

I am feeling a bit panicky about Christmas creeping up on me. All of a sudden, it is Christmas week and I do not feel ready. I think part of the problem is that I have wrapped up a good portion of my gifts and the pile looks very small. Yet, my wallet is empty. So, I don't really know when I will find time to finish up shopping and also get the house cleaned. I have had no time to clean and the house is a disaster. It is unbearable. And I am sure there will be an influx of toys coming into the house next week!

Friday night Justin played at Gutterson again. The game was pretty bad and they lost big time against Burlington. We had hockey on Saturday and then there was gymnastics. Mirabel is doing great in gymnastics but complains that it is boring. She really should do hockey...that would keep her busy. But, I guess she isn't big on the skating part of it. Oh well. I think she would be great. She would be hyper like some of the St. A. girls....I am pretty sure of it.

Sunday Justin scored for the second time in his hockey career. At Highgate again. He was skating in front of the net and Jackson fed him the puck and he put it right in. The line was on fire. Jackson was left, Justin was right and Ian was center. All three of them scored. Then, Ian scored on an empty net at the end of the game when the other team had pulled their goalie. "Well, Mom...the only reason we won was because the other team sucked." I was very tired after leaving the house at 4:45 am to be in Highgate by 6am. We were the first ones there and the doors weren't even unlocked yet. But, we made it on time...which is more than I can say for one kid who decided to join the game in the middle of the first period. The rest of the day was sleeping time.

I went to Mom's Sunday night to drill press the blocks for my Smilie project this week. We made little name trains with wooden letter blocks and Melissa and I spent all day Monday screwing hooks and eyes into wood. Our hands are all cracked and red from doing that. The project was great, but I bought a few wheels that were too small for the dowels and had to revert to plan B. We glued the wheels onto the front of the train body instead of putting them on the dowel. Very disappointing for me. My prototype had been so perfect...but I screwed it up. Oh well....there is always next time. The project went over and the kids missed reading groups. So, now they will probably lose all their skills and be behind for the rest of their lives!!!!!! I told Lil that volunteering at the school has certainly been a lesson in flexibility for me. Of course, it has also been a source of great exhaustion. I have two weeks off. Then, I will try to plan some things that are a bit less work...for me.

The Stockings are hung by the ...couch? with care.

The Smilie Holiday Concert

America's Funniest Videos ...Here we come!

The Older Christmas Angel

The Little Christmas Angel

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Yesturday I got out early and did some shopping. I am almost done. There are a few items I need to get but for the most part I am very, very close! I was nearly sleeping in Walmart...one employee said, "having fun yet?" I was just about to drop. I went to get the kids early and we decorated the tree. I can relate to that song on the radio, The 12 pains of Christmas...one being "rigging up the lights!" Oh lord. I had two non-working sets and then the others were in a ball, just about as big as the one Chevy Chase had on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. That took forever, then the kids did the ornaments. They are pretty much all down low...all on a few branches.

I had a bad spinning experience yesturday. I got there a bit late which was my first problem. Then, there was a sub. AND, I had to sit in the front row. THAT was the worst! I ALWAYS sit in the back. ALWAYS! So, I plug in my earphones and the music was way low. I need loud music...I am mostly motivated with music. So, ten minutes into the class, I took out my own MP3 player and listened to my music and I could hear the teacher just fine considering she was right on top of me! Anyway, I am used to "riding through the daisies," and this teacher cranked the wheel in the first five minutes...before my legs got a chance to warm up so I was really dying. The teacher said, "you are so focused.." ...yeah, because I am half dead, no music, and on display in the front row with the lights beaming hot.....Not my best spinning class...for the first time in over a year, I almost walked out. But....I stuck it out. I did learn something from my first spinning teacher, and that is, "this is temporary...in a few minutes it will be over and you will be on with the day...you can do it..." So, I guess that is the only reason I stayed.

So, my grandmother won a raffle prize at the Breakfast with Santa on Sunday. I just found out last night about the big winnings. I went this morning to pick up her prize and deliver some other prizes to the school. I got to Kathy's house and the boxes were out on the step. I had my dress shoes on and I was slipping around in the snow. I grabbed the boxes and I flailed all around. I set my grandmother's box down and put the other boxes in the trunk...I looked down and gram's box was gone. I looked..and it was half way down the driveway...and still going. So, I ran to catch up with it...and caught it. I wrestled it into the car. I hope it hasn't gotten away during the day today!

Run Run Reindeer

I got a call from Playcare yesturday saying Mirabel had a really bad earache. She had been complaining since Friday so I called for an appointment for her. That threw my night off completely. After work I picked her up and we got an appointment for 8:10 pm. Mirabel and I decided to go to the Scolastic Book Sale for a bit and then get a bite to eat at McDonalds. Then we headed over to get Justin at the rink. The kids were outrageously wild and just out of control. We went to Big Lots to hang out and ended up leaving there in a fit because the kids were so wild. Then, I had been planning all day to do paper snowflakes with the Smilie kids...and Justin says, "The whole school is going to make paper snowflakes tomorrow to decorate for the concert." So, there went that idea!! At 7:45 pm I am on the phone with Shelley from Walmart asking to look up the recipe for a pinecone birdfeeder! Goodness. Talk about switching gears in a hurry. We made it to the Doctor's office five minutes late. Mirabel was fine. I guess it's her throat and not her ear that is bothering her. So, off we went to buy pinecones at the Christmas Tree Shop. We did not get home until after 9:30pm. Then, I just fell asleep with Mirabel. It was 10:30. I couldn't take another late night. I was (and still am) exhausted. I got up at 4:45am to get working on an example bird feeder and to prepare the book. The kids needed baths and to eat and get ready and Justin fell asleep before reading his homework book. So, we needed to do that. I got to Smilie and everything went well. The Smilie kids are so awesome that it makes it all worth it. Tonight, I work until 6pm....and since Felix is working until 6, Mom has to pick up the kids....I will go to her house for supper tonight. I have no idea when we will decorate the bare tree that has been sitting in the living room since Sunday!!

Justin's first game at the "Gut"....UVM's Gutterson Field House....maybe someday for UVM?? We'll see how Mites goes...

Max in his nice fur collared coat. He is not impressed.

I am officially "one of THOSE mothers"...that wears a button of their kid on their coat

Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas!!

Last night we made our annual trip to see the Verizon Santa. Since we are going to be seeing another Santa on Sunday...I thought I would just let the kids know that my boss would be playing Santa and that he is good friends with the real Santa. Justin said, "Is he really?" and I said, "Yes, he plays poker with him and goes out for supper with him all the time." So, he said, "I better get my list then." We had to stop by the rink to pick up hockey photos before going to see Santa. On the way, Justin said...."What are those things we get at the Lucky Spot Store??" I named like twenty things...none of them right. Finally, I said, "Lottery tickets?" and he said "YES! I am going to ask Santa for a bunch of those." I said, "What...those are illegal for kids your age, Santa is not going to bring you an illegal present for Christmas!" So, he said, "NOW I am not ready." Crazy kid. He ended up asking for a Game Boy. Much better choice. He talked to Santa..he was amazed he knew his name. He said, "Did he see my name on my coat?" I said, "Well, I don't think so because he knew Mirabel's name too and her name isn't on her coat....." He is now convinced that the Verizon Santa is the real thing. Mirabel was thrilled that she was not afraid at all and it was her first time seeing Santa. (Well, that she can remember) She stayed on Santa's lap for longer than Santa really wanted her to I think. Oh well. She was just looking for brownie points...can't ever hurt ...especially when you are talking to the "The Big Guy." She came skipping over to me after spending a fair amount of time over in the vending machine area. And I said, "No, you can't have anything from the vending machines." Later on that night we were laying in bed, and she said, "How did you know that I was going to ask you for something in the machine??" I said, "I have special powers......AND I saw you come out from the vending machine area ...and what else could you want?" She still thinks I have special powers and that I am really smart. That is fine with me. Someday she might find out the truth. Oh no!

Justin is not bad at defense, but he doesn't like it

Some action in the game against Milton

Hey, Shel....Another reason Mirabel IS Grandma Fleming reincarnated...she sleeps with her purse!

Mirabel chillin' with her hot chocolate and Leapster at the game

Justin warming up with Moriah and more a experienced player, Erika

Justin's violin concert. He is the small one in the front. Check out Zach playing with NO HANDS!

Up all night making over 200 cookies!

The Smilie kids making gingerbread trees

Jason enjoying his cookie at Smilie

My new best friend, Delilah.

I am sitting here eating frosting from the container with a knife. (Don't tell the kids) We had a blast at the Smilie School making gingerbread trees. There are a ton of cookies and frosting left over and I am sharing with the office because I want them as far away from me as possible.....because obviously, I have no willpower! The kids loved to put together and decorate the trees. It took all of their willpower to not eat the frosting and candy. They did a great job. Once I learn how to reinstall my old camera on my other computer, I will post some pictures of them. I did make some extra cookies to eat. They were very delighted to finally get a taste. I was up until 1 am cooking gingerbread stars. Crazy. I like to cook, but there is no tv in the kitchen, so I have to listen to the radio for entertainment. I listen to Delilah. She is sickly sweet, sappy and just loves everything. The total opposite of ME! She takes requests for love songs and listens to everyone's stories, whether happy or sad. A lot of times, she butts in and ends up talking for the person and twisting their stories around. I love when someone says, "I hope that my ex-fiance comes around and finds out they still love me..." and she says, "Actually Darling, I hope you come around....you don't need that." It is kind of funny. Since I was up until 11:30pm Sunday and 1am Monday, I have had my fill of Delilah and her evil sappy, sentimental, loving ways....but I always listen.

Rose...the Bad Apple

Mirabel is a piece of work. She is histerical and anyone who knows her gets a kick out of her. Last night she had on a bunch of jewelry and she told me she was going to wear it to school and all the kids would think she was "soooo glamourous." Anyway, she rides the bus with Aunt Winnie and she does have quite a ride....I would say nearly an hour and most of it by herself on the bus. The other day she said, "I usually see our house when we go by...but sometimes I am sleeping." She says she takes a nap on the bus everyday...and she manages not to miss her stop. Of course, she is the only one on the bus at that point and the driver is related....and I don't think she would EVER forget to leave her off. Aunt Winnie called to say that Mirabel left her underwear on the bus. DANG. I am guessing it was her extra pair, but how? Why are there underwear outside of her bag on the bus anyway. I am sure she was probably showing them off and making jokes of some sort. I can see it now. I think maybe Aunt Winnie thinks Mirabel is a little Angel. She is very deceiving. I think she is under the impression that the only reason Mirabel says and does the things she does is because of the other kids on the bus. I showed Shelley her best friend Rose the other day. Rose is a tiny little girl with the face of an Angel. She is shorter than Mirabel if you can believe it and cute as a button. I said, "Shelley, there is Rose...the girl who is always getting Mirabel in trouble." She laughed histerically and said, "Riiiiiighhhhtttt. I don't think so." Mirabel is definately a ticket and if there is trouble there is a good possibility she instigated it. Mirabel is smart as a whip....and quite a jokester...and is exposed to waaaaaay to much Spongebob. Gotta love her.

Mozart never had to remove his hockey helmet before he performed!

Justin had a game in Waterbury Sunday morning against Milton. Milton has only lost one game and we have only won two games...so our only hope was that Milton was tired from their earlier game at 6:45 am. The team played aggressively and tied 3-3. It was a great game full of excitement.

After the game, we went home so Justin could take a shower and get dressed for his first violin concert. He all of a sudden came down with a flu. He was sicker than a dog and said he could not go to the concert. He refuses to admit that he might have been nervous. The concert was great. Short and sweet. He did awesome. He played Mississippi Hot Dog, Hot Cross Buns and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Now, he is not sick and of course, he was never nervous at all.

Last night I baked over 200 cookies for the first grade project. We are going to make gingerbread trees. It will be fun...but I was up 'til 11:30pm baking cookies, and I still have more to do. Hopefully, next week will be less preparation. HA HA!

It's not whether you win or lose, but whether or not you feel you deserved to win

Justin had a game in Highgate at 9:30 am. We rolled in just in time. Having home ice over an hour away is really quite a challenge at times. But, we made it.

After the game, we went to Mirabel's gymnastics. She is such a natural gymnast. I love to watch her. We left gymnastics and had NO CARSEAT. Love it. Felix left suddenly and we did not have time to get Mirabel's carseat out of the car. So, Derek illegally rode in the back in a seatbelt. We hit the first store we saw and bought a car seat. So, technically he was not without for long, but it is funny how we scanned the road and were sure every other driver was drunk and out of control all of a sudden. So, we all survived that fiasco...and moved on. We got Marina's party supplies for her 9th birthday this weekend....UNBELIEVEABLE. How did she grow up so fast.

Justin and I took off for Barre and Mirabel went with Mom and Dad to St. Albans for Marina's game. One thing I learned is that B.O.R. Stands for Barre Outdoor Rink....not Barre Official Rink or Barre Oven-like Rink. I guess they have recently enclosed it and it is now a lovly rink but it is colder than the dickens. I think they forgot to put in heat. Anyway, the kids were a bit upset that the referee who is probably all of 13 made a few really bad calls. The first way "they cheated," was that there was a player coming towards the goalie who tripped and flipped up over the goalie and into the net causing the net to be off the line. This is normally an automatic whistle. No whistle. So, the goalie covered the puck. This is also normally an automatic whistle. Again, no whistle. I don't know if Hunter thought he heard a whistle or assumed there was a whistle, but he let it go and got up, and the other team kicked it in. The officials counted the goal. Now, our team and coach are usually pretty laid back, but they had to dispute the call because it was just so incredibly absurd. And, the officials did not back down, so it just counted. The other thing, that I did not see was that according to the goalie...a player grabbed his stick and threw it into the net, and then scored on him. Basicly, the kids were not impressed by Barre. And, they are all convinced they won, 2-0...because they feel none of their goals counted. Don't try to tell them otherwise. They won't budge. They won.