Christmas was GREAT!!

The visit with my parents was fun, and Christmas was awesome. My boys were thrilled with their presents, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day.

Mark loves his camera! Yay Santa!!! Eric got a Solar System book & mobile that I think is his favorite gift. We, I mean, Santa got him a cars remote control car that I think will be fun for him once he uses it enough to get how it works. He runs it into walls a lot :) His other favorite thing is a Knex "bucket of buddies" set that he's using to create all sorts of creatures. That was actually Mark's gift from an auntie and uncle but Eric loves loves loves it! Zack's favorite thing is playing with the big boys toys but he does like his little ride on toy Santa brought (but not as much as I thought he would!) Ben got some jammies, some little soft shoes (like Robeez, but from Target) and a few various toys that he loves!

I was spoiled freaking rotten. From Kevin and the boys I got a beautiful necklace, a popcorn popper and popcorn (hehe LOVE the things the boys pick out for me!!!) My parents got US a chest freezer and a set of pots and pans (poor Kev, he's a good sport but I'm sure there are other things he'd rather have), his parents got me my food processor!!! I've wanted it for so LONG but never just got it! I love it!!!

Ok, I've rambled enough about material things... really my favorite part of Christmas was just hanging out with my family, watching the excitement and joy in my kids faces and just realizing exactly how lucky I am!

It's Granny & Poppy Day!!

I am SO excited they are coming today! YAY!!! Mark remembered as soon as he woke up that they were coming today and said "mom is it a special day" and I said "yes Mark what is special today" and he and Eric jumping up and down said "It's Granny and Poppy day!!!!!" Such enthusiasm... so fun! Of course then they wanted to go to the airport right that second which obviously wouldn't work...


Oops gotta run... they are fighting. Mark "Super Mark to the rescue" and Eric responds "no!!! I am NOT a bad guy!!!" Oy...

Tis the Season

... to run your children ragged dragging them through endless stores, hours of shopping until they are so worn out they crash and burn or have a melt down at a very inconvenient time.

Seriously, I can not remember seeing as many crashed out kids in their strollers as I have in recent days. Not itty babies, but 3 and 4 year olds. I 'm not entirely innocent either. I've ran Zack around and ended up dealing with a meltdown a couple of times in recent days. It's hard to avoid with so much to get done before Christmas. And it's not that bad, I guess for the little ones to take a little snooze in the stroller. Just part of the hustle & bustle maybe.

But I can't help feel a little sad for those kiddos who just need a nap in their own little beds but are being dragged around endlessly so mom and dad can get to just one more store.

Tape please mom

Tape is a hot commodity around here lately. It is funny and perhaps a teensy bit frustrating. It goes something like this. "mom can we draw candy canes" Of course, I say sure. We get out the crayons and the paper. Then they need scissors to cut the candy canes. And then it's the tape. I currently have candy canes of various shapes, sizes and colors hanging ALL over the house. It really is quite fun though, because every time I see a hanging candy cane I think of how much fun they had creating them. I mentioned frustration though, and this is caused by when they decide they need tape, and then get it themselves. Leading to me needing tape and unable to find it. I think I have it under control now. :) Bought a big 6 pack of scotch tape at Sams over the weekend. I may never need tape again. Although, the boys must hang several things a day each, so I may in fact run out sooner than expected.

So Much to Say

I have so many thoughts on my mind ALL the time and I really wish I had more of a chance to SIT down and type it all out. So many times I'll be driving in the car and just thinking and there is so much I want to post here or in a journal of some sort but by the time I have time to sit and type I can't for the life of me remember what those thoughts were coherently enough to type it out. I really do need some device to just "download" my ponderings so I don't lose them. I want to record every single thing these cute boys of mine do but it is really hard... but I will try to recapture some of my recent thoughts today.

I was blown away

I struggle at times with a declining faith in humankind in general. I get rather disillusioned with the dishonesty I see and just people treating one another badly in general. On Friday, November 16th I had such a great moment that renewed my hope in our society just a little. It didn't take a big event, just a small act of kindness.

Going shopping with four kids is no picnic and the norm is for me to get stared at, and of course the comments such as "are they all yours?" and "you have your hands full!" Yep I do. These comments don't bother me anymore although I still fight off the urge to say "no they aren't all mine, I just like to bring extras with me cause it's SO fun shopping with kids." Anyway, not once until the other day has anyone offered to help me when I struggled. For the most part my kids are very well behaved. However, it's hard to control when the baby will get fussy or IF Zachary, who is very much 2 will decide to pull a 2 year old trick. Eric and Mark are usually fine beyond the expected asking for every.single.thing.they.see. So, I'm at the cash register. I had gathered my groceries with Ben in my arms because he decided the cart just wasn't working for him and was crying his sweet little eyes out. Pushing the cart with Zack and Mark pushing a large load of groceries. I was unloading my stuff onto the check stand as fast as possible while holding a squirmy baby but the man behind me didn't glare because I was going too slow. He didn't comment on how many kids I have, he didn't say "WOW, ALL boys?" he said, "You take care of that baby and let me help you." I was blown away because as I mentioned this has never happened before. It made my entire day. I must have thanked that man 7 times while he was unloading my groceries. I still can't believe it but I was so happy to see someone helping another person. I hope I see more of this. How refreshing and really really helpful this man was to me!

Conversation of the Day

From Mark --

Me "I love you Mark"

Mark "Mommy, I don't like pretty words... and love is a pretty word."

Me "So what kind of words do you like" (fighting back laughter)

Mark "Cool words"

Me "ohhhhhh what kind of words are cool?" (still stifling laughter--he was oh so serious)

Mark "like race cars, and stuff"

I'm shaking my head typing this. I guess the quest to be "cool" has begun... at four...

To end the conversation I laughed and said "well, buddy, I can't help it. I love you." and he was silent.