Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Time!

Christmas is coming, my thighs are getting fat,
too many samples of this and of that.

Sugar overload, kids are bouncing off the walls,
climbing on the ceilings, and spinning down the halls.

Shopping is so crazy so many gifts to buy,
kids on best behavior, trying not to tell a lie.

The mistletoe is wilting, and growing something furry,
Dad's a last minuet shopper, buying presents in a hurry.

Mom is hiding presents, and threatening those who peek,
"All will be returned if you play hide and seek."

Stocking up on band aids from the wrapping that I'll do,
And plenty Coke a Cola, for late nights will help me too.

The fridge is overfilled with food enough to feed a crew,
Complete with christmas trimmings, and plenty of milk for you know who.

The little ones keep opening presents from underneath the tree,
“No, it’s still to early!” I say, then they open more when I can’t see.

Kids can hardly sleep still reeling from their high,
Picturing santas sleigh flying over in the sky.

Then begins the count down, always such a riot,
No, not till christmas, till we start the new years diet.

The Ever Shrinking Playground Swing

One of the things I loved most about recess as a kid, was the swings. I ran as fast as I could to beat the other kids at what seemed was "musical swings" -there were never quite enough swings to go around. I hopped into the seat, and pushed back as far as I could and then let myself go, pumping my legs with great pride. The goal was to be the "highest swinger" and on occasion, depending which swing you had, it was fun to touch the leaves of the trees with your feet or head. I remember feeling like there was no better feeling in the world then feeling that rush of wind in your face and fearing you might fall of the swing at any moment because you were so high. If you were maxed out on the height you could go, the swing would give a little jarr like you were going to fall, it never happened but it sure gave my stomach butterflies.

And if you were really brave, you would jump out of the swing when you were in mid air, and pray not to get hurt or worse, caught by the aide on the playground. That would for sure get you a time out on the wall, and it was always worth it too.

I revisited my old friend, the swing on the playground today. Though it wasn't the same one from my childhood, it still looked like it would do the job. Circumstances were also different today, I am not a small child any more and I actually had my 2 girls with me. As I sat upon the swing all kinds of memories flooded my mind. My youngest wanted to sit on my lap while I swung us. I agreed, afterall the aides at school never let us do that and I was an adult now, and it was my turn to make the decisions and I was choosing rebellion. I pulled her up on my lap and we began to descend down memory lane. Funny thing about memory lane, It usually never is how you remember it being. IT only took about 15 seconds and 3 pumps of my legs to realize that my arms weren't as strong as they must have been before, it was hard to hold onto the chain. Not only that, my hands hurt. Then there was the whole nausea thing. I felt so dizzy within seconds, and quickly learned that closing your eyes, does not help. It makes it worse. After toughing it out for several minuets, because my youngest was having a great time, my 6 year old informed me that "mom, your bum is supossed to sit on the swin part." I then informed her that my "Bum: was a little bigger then it used to be. I then procceded to casually,ask her if the swing hurt her bum at all. "No" she replied. "Oh, it hurts me." I responded. "Well, it doesn't hurt me because I"m skinnier then you." I must of looked pathetically hurt, because she quickly back pedaled " I mean, your just bigger then me." Not helping, -more pedaling " I mean your a mom" no matter how it was said, she was right I was bigger I was a "mom" now and all i could think of was abandoning the thing that once brought me so much joy. My hands hurt, my arms were tired, I was going to lose my lunch at any minuet, and my bum region hurt because I was too big. Stupid swing.

You better watch out!!

I can hardly believe that christams is upon us! And even more shocking, I am almost completely ready for it! Shopping is done, a tad bit more wrapping, goodies are made, decorations are up, the only thing missing here is the snow! The kids are sooo ready for Santa, Annie has already begun unwrapping some of her presents!

We will be home for christmas this year, kinda fun to wake up in your own house Christmas morning, it makes Bart and I feel like "Big Kids" although, I am quite sure we were considered "Big Kids" a long time ago. i don't really think Annie has any clue as to what is going on here this month, but I know she's enjoying taking down all my bulbs from the tree, and seeing the lights on the outside of the houses at night.

I just finished making my goodies to pass out to friends and neighbors last night. I'm sorry not everyone is around to hand them out to .So, so that you could enjoy them too, I took pictures. I really feel that it is the thought that counts. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ( and remember I'm saving you calories. )

Tea Party

As you can see we had quite the turn out. 13 girls!! We had so much fun, We made a craft then proceeded to have a very princess- like tea party, complete with "please's" and "thank you's" Eveyone seemed to have a good time, although it didn't take quite as long as I thought to enjoy a "leisurely" lunch and before I knew it they were full and ready to play! All the girls looked so beautiful, we had many princess's, a few fairies, and even a cheer leader!

Co-co's Birthday!!

SHe has been counting down forever!! I remember when she asked me awhile ago when her b-day was and I told her 180 days! And it finally came! What a bust day we had! Co-co had a special breakfast of chocolate chip waffles and powdered sugar, followed by mom bringing in her requested panda express for lunch! Annie and I sat and ate with her, she was pretty excited- all her friends died over Annie. Then her class sang "happy birthday" and she passed out cookies to everyone. Then mom went home to bake her cake and prepare for family to come over for pizza and presents!! She got so many nice things (Lots of cash!) and a bike! But the birthday is not over, oh no, she's having a "Tea Party" on saturday with (heaven help me) 12 little girls! I'm not sure how it happened, but her list of guests kept growing and growing, something to do with her telling more and more peole she came into contact with. I'm thinking this is the last birthday party for awhile! So more pictures on that later!

SO just when I think life couldn't get any more dramatic,I go and one up myself. It started out as a harmless "Kids eat free night" at Denny's with my friend Alysan and her 3 children which, we do often. Bart works late, and she gives her husband and evening to do his thing. Seems harmless enough... Well Denny's was fine. A little rowdy like always but it wouldn't be Denny's without rowdy kids on eat free night. So we retire to my house where Alysan and I hang out in the "girls lounge" upstairs and I update her on the room's progress.(she loved the room by the way)Well a few minuets of unsupervised children, led to her youngest, Brooklyn, coming up the stairs to let us know there was some playing around on the phone going on down stairs. Then the phone rings. Now, my first thought was, "oh the kids have my cell phone and are calling the house phone from downstairs to be funny." Bartel does this more often then I like, so I am well aquainted with this funny business. So I answer. "Hello?" The voice on the other end then says, "Hello, this is 911 emergency, we just received a call from this number, is there an emergency?" I quickly apologize and explain that we had a little one playing on the phone and that it was an accident, and that I was again, very sorry. She is nice and actually, chuckles but then informs me that they've already dispatched an officer, and he was on his way, she said they would explain what happened but that it was up to the officer if he would still come out or not. Great. So I hang up and Alysan is green, because she knew the moment the phone rang who it was. I tell her what was told to me, and we quickly gather the fold together. Some kids we're outside, taking the dog potty, and it was dark out, some were running around screaming inside the house, and some were watching Tv. Just your normal everyday stuff. But we don't want to seem like we're totally not aware of our children. So, while I pull out the Childrens Primary song book, and begin a cheerful rendition of "we'll bring the world his truth" on the piano,so that we don't look too white trash, Alysan has all the kids on the couch, playing officer and reading then their rights about playing on the phone! Well nobody admitts to the offense, so we pull out the big guns Oh yeah, we had them spread it against the wall while Alysan explained what happens to real criminals. She then proceeded to pat them down. Well I didn't want to miss out on good cop, bad cop, I had to put my 2 cents in too. So I went in the other room and made them their numbers for a line up. We had them then hold their numbers for a mug shot.And we expain what 911 is really for. Well all of the sudden the door bell rings... Brooklyns crying with a blanket over her head, she's sure someone will be going to jail tonight. I open the door and A very intimidating officer is looking at me and 5 other little nervous faces. He begins with the usual, "How's it going? We received a call from this house ." I begin with my story, talking way too fast I'm sure, probably making me look guilty and officer "Mc Grouchy" is not too impressed. He looks at the kids and say's "you know you really shouldn't call 911 unless it's a real emergency, there is an accident around the corner and no police officer is there because we are here." NOw this whole time this officer is looking directly at Chloe, whose eyes are huge right then, because Mason said "Yeah my little sister called" Well like I said Brooklyn was hiding out so I'm sure he aasumed it was Co-co. beings that she was the only "little sister" around other then way too small to be calling 911, Annie. He says goodnight and I apologize to Mc Grouchy for the 100th time, and he leaves to go to his oh so important accident around the corner. We were a little peeved at how gruff he was. I mean they are little kids, not teenagers pulling a prank. So, we call it a night. Alysan gets home and apologizes again and says that on the way home she remembered that Brooklyn had just gone the day before on a field trip to the Firestation and learned about 911. And we think our children don't hear a word we say? Guess the firefighters need to work on emphasizing what an emergency is and when to call 911. By the way, 4 year old Brooklyn gets an "A" for being a good listener on her fieldtrip. Way to go Brooklyn!

NOthing screams "time to go on a Diet!!" Like swinging on your front porch swing and having it break on you! Now granted, just about our whole family with the exception of Chloe, was swinging on it, and thanks to Bart, we were swinging with gusto when the unfortunate event happened.Fortunately, both sides of the swing didn't come down. But unfortunately, Bartel was sitting on the broken end and scraped his back a bit, but quite honestly, I got the worst of it with a very bruised calf. It almost prevented me from exercising this morning, but not quite-darn.... But, needless to say we are alright, it would have been far worse if it had broken a few minuets later when our good neighbors were walking by. That may have been a tad embarrassing... I would of had to fake laugh and pretend it was no big deal and then cry later!

For yesterday's family activity, we headed out to Saguaro Lake with the Perkins Family, Jason, Tatum, Matix, and, Sawyer . The weather is weirdly warm right now. It's very odd to me that we are still acting like it's summertime here. I am just dying for some cool weather. I purposely turn down the air just so I can wear sweaters, of course I have to peel them off as soon as I head outside.

But we had a great time! Much licorice was consumed by all and the wake boarding was not too bad I must say! I'm very impressed with everyones athletic abilities, and I'm thinking I need to get on the ball (the workout ball) here to keep up! The water was a little too chilly for my liking, I think I'll stick to my summerwakeboarding trips.

We had a very productive Halloween with carving pumpkins, school parades, trunk or treating, passing out candy and crusing the neighborhood for goodies. But I think the kids had a good time. If you can't tell, Bartel was a "ghoul" Co-co was "tinkerbell" and Annie was a "hoochie pirate"-(the outfits for the girls were a little shorter then anticipated!) But they all had a good night and collected way too much candy-good thing their dad can take care of them! Bart had "Edward Fangs" created and cured to his teeth, he was one hot vampire! I choose to be a skater /goth ....girl? complete with heavy black eyeliner and black lips and nails. A nose ring, 2 lip rings, tatooed arms, baggy black clothes and a fierce skull beanie. But as you see I have no proof...oh, darn. Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.

Duners

Bart's favorite pastime. At the sand dunes with his family in his sand car built for 5.

So we have been soooo busy with our household projects and it looks as if a few projects are finally coming to an end...almost. Our latest project has been our new craft/office for me (randi) we converted some valuable but not very well used attic space for our new room and the outcome has become invaluable now. We still have the floor to paint an fixtures to put in but it is currently in use! Very exciting now I can do my own projects without the worry of curious hands getting into everything and the best part? I can leave it out for days if I want and my family will still have a table to eat at it the kitchen! How much is that worth? Enjoy the pics, it's been fun decorating and I have to give some credit to Bart and his artsy ideas, he is a jack of all trades and has been a great Mr. Fix it. And he has good hair, how lucky am I?