Charlie Brown: "What is Christmas all About?"

If there is one thing Chris and I agree on is that the holidays always bring us the most stress and nothing brings more stress on than Christmas for us. He even jokes about sending me away for the month of December to a nice island so I don't torture him during the holidays with all my activities and shopping and wrapping and what for.

I guess I do get caught up in everything a lot. That is why this clip means so much to me.

Linus always says it better than I can!

If someone going to be on Santa's naughty list?

As of a few hours ago our house is 100% decorated and all the gifts have been fully wrapped. We were supposed to have our neighbors over tonight but we had something come up. Either way I'm glad we got it done... it was so do or die. Now I just sit and wait... I've explained to Harmon that on Friday he can open 1 gift and than when Santa comes he can open everything up on Christmas morning. He promises he will wait. What do you think??? I'm thinking I'm going to regret this choice (especially b/c most of these gifts are for family not just the kids) but I worked so hard on making all those bows... I'm hoping.

Hark the Herald we can't sing!!!

I need to upload my latest Christmas pictures, until than you can look at a bad cell phone pic of Rachel playing at Peter Piper in one of her Christmas outfits.

Oh well onto our subject for the day... Chris and I have serious issues when it comes to singing Christmas Carols. He was raised in the LDS church and I learned all my Christmas Carols from Catholic and Episcopalian schools. Well guess what... one of us doesn't know the lyrics! I'm not kidding you. So here we are trying to sing to Harmon and I'm singing "and Heaven and nature sing" and at the same exact moment he is singing "and saints and angel's sing". It isn't just that song: "What Child is this", "Away in a Manger", "We Three Kings", etc. etc. It is funny b/c both of us are PAINFULLY stubborn so neither of us is willing to learn the other's version so instead we just try to sing loudly over one another. Our kids are going to have some serious issues when it comes to learning Christmas music.

Right now it is no big deal though... Harm just makes up his words anyway. We were singing "Away in a Manger" and Harm wanting to take part started singing the words of "Jingle Bell Rock" to the tune of "Away in a Manager". Another time he just started singing "Harmon loves Christmas Lights". The best part he sings really loud! Chris is always dying in church b/c he sings that loud, but all the ladies tell him "don't you dare shush him"! I agree, it is beautiful

Useless singing information tidbit! I speak ASL and I love to translate music into signs for the kids especially. "Angels We Have Heard on High" I theorize is impossible to translate! How do you sign an extended version of Gloria and there are no ASL words for "in excelsis deo".

It is fun singing in the car, at home, and in church. It has helped me get into the season! Yesterday the kids were crazy (as always) and I couldn't help but smile. The holidays are truly more magical when you have critters!

The Snowman is on fire!!!

When I was small my mom would get these cute candles that were snowman or santa or whatever at Christmas time. I would always get so upset b/c she would light it and it would start to burn and the next thing you knew that snowman had his entire head burned off.

and than it was DEAD and I was just a traumatized 5 yr old balling her eyes out.

Back than I was just sad my snowman was gone. Now I think it might have been a mercy killing. Especially if that snowman was a snow-woman trying to keep her family together for the holidays.

I have tried not to complain on the blog about not feeling well since going to the doctor two weeks ago. The problem is that I just haven't gotten better. I was at the doctor again yesterday and I'm still sick (thank you Doctor Obvious). The infection is better but still very prevalent. Having had ear infections for so long is causing this perma-ring in my ears that is keeping me from sleeping. It is getting better slowly but darn it I am sick of being sick!

I just feel like my rear is getting seriously kicked. There are events everyday and my patience is low. We are all tired but there is so much good going on (it is so cute to see how happy Harmon is noticing everything for the first time). We are approaching our final countdown to Christmas!!!! HOPEFULLY I will start feeling less like the dying and dead snowman and more like the first snowman (fresh and ready for the world).

Empty home and all by myself!

On this blog I do occasionally contemplate the roads not taken. I don't do it because I'm uhappy with anything but rather just out of simple fun. For example I almost accepted an out of state job a week or so after Chris and I had met. Would I have married? What a different path that would have taken my career! Those are the little moments I always think... hmm... interesting.

Chris and I don't exactly see everything eye to eye perfectly on certain issues dealing with family and so this led me to spend the evening/night at home by myself while Chris and the Critters go freeze in a cabin in the woods.

I wasn't lonely tonight until I thought about who I was missing. I realized I wouldn't be putting Rachel in her nightgown or playing with Harm's Little People while watching Cally danced. Tonight I will have no one to tell to roll over "you are snoring" or give a good night kiss too. I must admit though it has been nice at times just to chill ALONE. I browsed, shopped, got my hair done, saw a cheesy chick flick, and enjoyed a nice quiet dinner at a cafe. It was nice to just spend a night in quiet. It also reminded me that i need to go out with my girlfriends more too. Tonight though belonged to me alone!

I think had my life gone in a different direction I would have been perfectly happy but I sure am glad that tomorrow everyone will be home! I enjoy contemplating the occasional "what if" perhaps b/c it always leaves me glad I am on the path I am... critters and Chris and all!

New Orleans: ghosts, jazz, amazing food & the two headed snake!

This was a great trip. I'm so mad I left my new camera at home and forgot it at the hotel the 2nd day! We had a lot of fun. We everything from eating beignets to a jazz cruise. Seriously we packed 2 1/2 days full of adventure. The World War 2 museum was just so humbling as was the tour of Katrina damaged areas. I actually got scared just a little on our ghost tour when they told us the story of the Lalaurie Mansion. I was actually THRILLED to research it when I got home to find out that it is for the most part all folklore but oddly enough our picture of the house has a strange marking light... a ghost? Probably not, just my old camera that is worn out.

The ghost?

The music is amazing. We saw Jazz live on Bourbon Street, at our hotel, and on a cruise. Chris even danced for 1/2 a song! Times like this you can tell we don't drink... if we did he probably would have danced with me well into the night. Oh and the food... I know I gained but I couldn't care less about it. We ate at the famous Cafe DuMond and Cafe Beignet and sucked down lots of hot chocolate there and many other fun cafes. I loved loved loved the two nice restaurants we went to: NOLA's and Muriels. Nothing beats fresh fish!!!! The hotel we stayed at was nice and I was in love with the hot tub. I wish we had one at home. It was so weird b/c the pool didn't allow kids under 16 under any circumstances. Never heard of that before.

The best part of the trip was growing closer to my husband. To be honest day two we might have killed each other because we were like this two headed snake trying so hard to go two ways at the same time. I think if we were in our right mind when we fell in love we never would have married spouses who were more in sync with our very determined strong willed nature but of course we fell in love with each other and that means learning to work as a team. In Puerto Rico we really just gelled (how can anyone have a tiff in the Caribbean) but here we learned more about working with each other and we came home a happier couple.

Here are more pictures!

Bittersweet Homecoming!

I walked into my mother's house and the Critters seemed like they had grown 5 ft since we left. Seriously, I missed them but than when I saw them I was like you all got big on me. I know I am being silly. Kids don't go through puberty at ages 1 and 3 in 3 days but it was still jarring. I think when you see your little ones day in and day out you don't realize how much they have changed. They are no longer quite as small as you picture in your mind.

They all had a great time though! Harmon subsisted on sweets, yogurt and macaroni. The twins seemed just as content. The vacation was good for the 5 of us but I am sure glad we are all reunited.

I will tell all about my trip tomorrow and download some pictures. New Orleans is a great place. The only real negative on our trip was a huge cold-front hit yesterday and continued through the day. My RA got real bad and I couldn't really walk at all by yesterday evening. That was a bummer. Today they let me pre-board no questions... that was a new low for me! It is like a 55 year old women who gets the "senior discount" with out asking. At my age I don't want people looking at me and feeling bad for me. Arthritis sucks, we need a cure!!!

Oh well sorry for the quick rant. Tomorrow I will share the fun of New Orleans and some of our funny stories.

An unbreakable bond!

I don't think I really appreciate the rare wonderful gift Callum and Rachel have.



Unfortunate luck on the airplane just now had me without reading materials. After looking at all the kitties in the Sky Mall magazine (which reminds me of my favorite YouTube video: Sky Mall Kitties) I was forced to start reading the American in house magazine. In it there was a great article a mother of twins wrote about the isolation and challenges twin moms face but at the same time rejoicing in her daughters rare unique bond.

I think I underestimate that bond. I take for granted how they have this rare magical partnership for life. I'm sure they will go on to live separate lives: college, marriage, etc. But it was like a lady told me at the supermarket yesterday (she is a twin): "when I'm sick or sad my brother always gives me a call. He lives across the country but in our heart we just can feel each other. "

Yes, having twins is hard and it wasn't what we planned but we are grateful to have these two special bonded angels.

We had to leave in a rush today. The twins were still napping. It broke my heart they will wake up and I won't be there. I'm glad I said goodbye to Harmon!!! But I wish I could have kissed my twinkies one last time.

Tomorrow morning let the adventure begin!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Bourbon St,New Orleans,United States

Romantic Getaway...

So Chris and I are leaving tomorrow and I'm just so excited. We love our kids so much and it is hard leaving them but it does us so much good to get romantic and reconnect. Our kids are growing and one day it will just be Chris and I. I want to make sure that we stay in love and stay close. Our marriage has not been easy but it has been our challenges that have made us stronger. I'm very appreciative to all the Chris has given me and I know he appreciates me.

I don't think I ever really thought I would be in a romantic happy marriage. My parents were not what I call lovey dovey and my dad kind of taught me that all guys were not Prince Charming. My goal was not really spouse and kids but Chris has made me believe in dreams. He lets me be myself and loves me for it. It is Chris, who pushes me everyday to believe in love. I like the new Taylor Swift song Mine:

I was the flight risk with the fear of fallin'
Wonderin' why we bothered with love if it never lasts

CHORUS:
Do you remember when we're sittin' there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

VERSE 2:
Flash forward and we're taking our world together
And there's a drawer of my things at your place
You learn my secrets and you figure out why I'm guarded
You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes

But we've got bills to pay
We got nothing figured out
When it was hard to take yes, yes
This is what I thought about

CHORUS:
Do you remember when we're sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Do you remember all the city lights on the water
You saw me start to believe for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Oh oho oho

VERSE 3:
And I remember that fight 2:30 AM
And everything was slippin' right out of my hands
I ran out crying and you followed me out into the street

Braced myself for the goodbye
Cause that's all I've ever known
And you took me by surprise
You said I'll never leave you alone
You said

CHORUS:
I remember how we felt sittin' by the water
And every time I look at you it's like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter
She is the best thing that's ever been mine

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/taylor_swift/#share

It has been so true. I hope we can keep reconnecting and continue to feel about each other as we first did.

Okay I promise no more sappy cheesiness on the blog. This post was more for me, so I can remember how I was feeling at this moment.

Bah Humbug Christmas!!!!

The kids love all things Christmas. It is so much fun because Harmon wants to look at Christmas lights EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. The twins just love little musical toys (like the Jingle Bell Rock penguin pictured above) and can stare at a tree for an hour.

With all this you would think I would be ecstatic about Christmas with the kids all excited but I'm not... I don't know why... maybe it is because there is so many other things going on. We bought a tree on Monday and Harmon keeps asking "tree needs lights"! I just don't even want to think about going into our garage and finding the decorations. All the gifts are bought and the Christmas Cards came in 2 wks ago and it is all just sitting in the garage. By the time my day's list of To Do's are done I don't have it in me to do more. The worse part about it all... the Thanksgiving decorations and pumpkins are still proudly displayed outside and in our entryway. They go great with the Christmas Luminarias that Chris put up!

I'm sure I will get my fight back when we get home from New Orleans. So to all my dear friends and family who I send cards too, please email me w/your current address! If you are lucky I will send them before February (which is when last year's cards came out).

Harmon my metro-sexual!

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary a metrosexual is a usually urban heterosexual male given to enhancing his personal appearance by fastidious grooming, beauty treatments, and fashionable clothes. Famous metrosexual males include David Beckham and Steve Nash!

This describes Harmon. He is all about his fashion. This particular day he had his jingle bells, matching Hello Kitty watches, and big red bow. He loves dressing up and I don't get out of whack about it. He is only almost 3 and he is just having fun. I love that he loves to play with Hello Kitty, his Barbie car, doll etc. along w/his construction trucks and other manly toys.

I think Chris is learning to accept it. Chris is a tough construction guy so this is taking a little getting used too. But I think we both believe life is too short to worry about a bow and Hello Kitty!

Crazy sick hopefully ending and a Christmas miracle!

All the kids are on the mend!!! I'm hoping that we will not be seeing our pediatrician this week and this month. So today I finally went to the flipping doctors myself. After caring for everyone else I couldn't stand feeling like crumb anymore. So I have a double ear infection and sinus infection. I actually have my first fever in years (I'm on steroid therapy so fevers are very rare). Now I'm properly drugged w/antibiotics, antihistamines, and pain meds so in a couple of days hopefully our sick days will all be over.

We did have a Christmas miracle. Harmon being on the spectrum (and just being a toddler) has a fear of most things in a costume but he actually sat on Santa's lap and I got a great picture!!! Wohoo!!!

The Turkey Day and Black Friday Smack Down!

My turkey dinner went great! I made lunch, and Chris helped me. For 2 non-cooks we kicked rear. My favorite part of the whole thing was seeing Chris rub down that turkey Bobby Flay style w/Bobby's signature sage butter (he does that instead of a classic brine). Everything was good except I was running late and trying to finish the butternut squash. Pioneer Women said to put in like 2 table spoons of pure maple syrup in there. I didn't have the real maple stuff or a spoon handy so I just squeezed a bunch in... lets just put it this way, it didn't take like the butternut squash I eat at the 4 star restaurants in Vegas. The turkey and everything else was super cool. This taught me: food network is your friend!!!

Black Friday was great. I'm actually 100% done with my Christmas shopping!!!! I was going to be a 4 am warrior but I decided since I was starting to feel under the weather that I needed to sleep in so I got to Target at nine. I asked about the special on the camera and she was like "they were sold out by 5 am" but than a stock boy was like "actually I think I saw a couple more in the back..." so I got my camera. Now Chris is giving me a hard time b/c my current camera (despite a little duck tape) works just fine. So I'm arguing if I should return it :p Later in the day I found great deals all over town for my critters and everyone else so although it was rough now I can just sit back and relax because: I'M DONE SHOPPING!!!!!!

Besides everyone getting sick the only downside of the weekend was well Texas losing but we all saw that one coming. I'm actually grateful because at least it is ALL over with... I can't stand watching one more game like that this year. I think my siblings and parents got sick of us. I don't know what it is. Maybe it is the distance, maybe it is the fact that these critters are crazy, or I dunno but everyone seemed kind of tired of us.

So I didn't get as many pics as I want. Cally stole the show with his turkey hat but Rach and Harm were cute as ever too. I love Rach's new Texas Longhorn cheerleading outfit. It is big enough to fit her next year so hopefully she will have a football team to cheer over. The cute little guy next to Rach in the last picture is Ziggy. He my awesome nephew and way cool cousin!

Health update: I'm almost back to normal and Cally is close. Chris is hanging in there. Rach is having a rough time though... she is the toughest though so I think she will be back quickly.