ANSWERS TO "DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?"

Remember this post ~ Do you see what I see?

I will wait as you go catch up!!

This is the answer:

A football ornament Elijah got at his football party

A lovely, very shiny ornament Elijah made at school

And an ornament Isaiah made at school

Why is this an issue?

Our Christmas is decorated late into a December night each year by MOI!!

I believe my tree to be very pretty and I am anal about proper placement, symmetry and equal amounts of the colors. I love my decorated Christmas tree and handmade ornaments do not make it onto the tree. SAD I KNOW! Believe me my Mom hassles me about EACH AND EVERY YEAR!! I just can't handle the randomness of them. They DON'T match and there is only ever ONE of them. I DON'T do random when it comes to my tree. I DON'T do onsies. You can't have symmetry with just one of any ornament ~ NOT possible! This year Isaiah was insistent about an ornament he had made and a couple of his "beautiful" ornaments made to the right side of the tree facing the wall. He said, "Oh Momma they look weally pwetty there, huh?!?" My instant reply, "Oh yes that is the perfect spot for such beautiful ornaments!" His satisfaction was entirely too easy and satisfying for me since you couldn't tell they were even there. I know, I know stop with the mother of the year rantings yet again. I just NEED symmetry ~ work with me here. Elijah comes along with the football and places it just to the right of the CENTER of the tree. I couldn't move it so I wouldn't hurt his feelings BUT IT ALMOST KILLED ME EVERY TIME I LOOKED AT MY BEAUTIFUL TREE ALL I WOULD SEE IS THE BIG FOOTBALL. Seriously guys work with me you know FOOTBALLS don't go in the center of the tree. Then came the handcrafted, shiny ornament he made at school which he also placed in the center of the tree and a gingerbread ornament he made a few years back. You guys have no clue how hard it was for me to leave them in the spots Elijah placed them. REALLY HARD! Again there was a FOOTBALL IN THE CENTER OF MY PRETTY TREE. Luckily the dogs removed the gingerbread which was actually the cutest of them all and they ate it ~ hey I can't really say I felt too bad about that! I feel AWFUL for this since so many Moms decorate their tree with special ornaments the children make or receive each year but I just can't help it THEY DRIVE ME NUTS! I've decided as soon as we get a bigger house we will have two trees ~ my pretty tree and the random kid made ornament tree; however, I can't say that until then I won't try my hardest to not let the children see and unpack the entire bag of their ornaments I have saved. Hey at least I keep them since they are special to me~ does that make it any better?

THE DAY AFTER...DODODODO!

The Day After Christmas

The new toys are all put away in their new home!
The shreds of paper and empty boxes are all in the trash!
It was a warmer day!
NOW.....

it was time to do the "exchanges"!
Dodododo!

Anticipation of long lines loomed but the idea of clearance reigned!

First we went to the mall to exchange one thing and get a refund on another!

Had to flip out on the woman who insisted she could NOT do ANY refunds and wanted to pummel her to the ground but alas the mature adult won over again and I didn't no matter how bad my urge was.

Went to exchange shoes......five minutes.

Although we didn't have to wait in any long lines the mere nervous wreck I became while directing two small children through the crowds for an hour was enough to say, "I just want to go home!" when asked which store I wanted to go to next.

Did we go home?

NO!

Off to the bank and then the worst and longest part of the day was consumed by visiting a million AND one car dealerships looking for a car for hubby.

FUN?

NO!

It was windy and the kids quickly got tired of sitting in the car for over 4 hours!

Lesson learned: READ MY LIPS OR I GUESS I SHOULD SAY YOUR SCREEN!

Do NOT take small children to the mall on the day after Christmas NO matter how much you love to shop and NO matter how much you love clearance!

Do NOT take small children shopping for a new vehicle!!

The really sad part is I have a sickening feeling for missing out on

some good deals!

Pathetic I know!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Good news.....Santa did not get stuck in our chimney!

Here are pictures from our Christmas with my family

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAZIES!

Part of our Christmas tradition at my parents' house is to take family pictures of each family in front of the tree.....simple task, right?

WRONG!

First up my brother Curt and his family for this post they will be referred to as the Crazies....I think the grandkid picture would almost be easier! I have three siblings to take family pictures of but the Crazies were by far the most challenging!

Finally I think I got one but it looks out of focus a little!

Oh well! I love you guys!

COOKIES FOR SANTA

I started a new tradition this year...making and decorating cookies for Santa. I thought this would be a new tradition but after our first try I am not so sure. We had fun but it was rather chaotic and I don't do good with chaos.

Elijah's snowman cookie which he added a Santa hat to because "Santa will think that is funny"!

Isaiah's ornament cookie. The first picture shows his true ornery self!

I survived and the kids had fun so I guess it was a good time!

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN

Last Sunday December 21st my hubby, my boys, Shandolynne, Quinlynne, Mommacita Cleta and myself were

OFF TO.....

FOR A RIDE ON THE .....

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN

Our tickets were bought before we realized how cold it was going to be so any other trip taken to ride the train will be planned according to the weather. It was freezing....well actually it was below freezing. When we left our house it said 33 degrees and the temp gauge in the truck kept dropping on the way there. Once we arrived it was 17 degrees and I VERY quickly realized I had forgotten gloves for all of us. Luckily, Mommacita Cleta had a spare pair to fit me but my hands were frozen simply walking from the truck to the gate and they hurt something awful. So first thing we did was figure out what we could do INDOORS! Straight to take the pictures with Santa since we knew he was inside with his jolly self. There was a wait but we certainly did not mind being inside so none of us complained instead we took the opportunity to take pics...imagine that I know!

Shandolynne and I surprisingly found out besides extra warmth, scarves are good to hide double chins!! Go ahead, we laughed too!

I love Lester for buying this Minnesota Eskimo coat for his lovely Cleta! It too made us laugh so go ahead! She didn't want to take her hat off inside for fear the hair could be scary!

How many tries do you think it took to get a picture of these two?

The answer is we do not truly know! That would involve them BOTH looking at the camera while smiling AND sitting still ~ that is way too much to ask when they get together!

Same answer goes for these two! I think it is a conspiracy!

Much easier to just take a smiling picture of Elijah!

Finally they called our number! Woohoo!

Elijah, Isaiah and Quinlynne climbed into his lap and started chatting and the picture is taken. We looked at the first take ~ Isaiah and Quinlynne looked less than enthused and Elijah looked like he was on drugs with his eyes only half open. The photographer says, "How many would you like one for ten or three for fifteen?" Hmmm...let's think NONE! "Can you retake the picture since his eyes are shut?" we asked and he really said, "Well his eyes are half way open but okay!" I guess we bothered him. We bought the second take not because it was that much better but for memory sake. Off to eat which is also indoors! I had to laugh though. The pamphlets and website said the restaurants were "fast food pricing". Fine whatever ~ it didn't really matter since we were here for the experience not the food. Ok well I have never paid $46 at a fast food restaurant for 3 chicken sandwiches with fries, a corn dog with fries, broccoli with cheese and four drinks! Again it was funny to me! Off to ride the Christmas train!
Isaiah was so excited to get to ride a train since trains are his newest obsession but once we got on he panicked a little and said, "I want to go home now!"

Martez ended up carrying all of the blankets and looking like a homeless man! On the way home the temperature went from 12 to 9 degrees! That is way too cold for me esp. since that didn't include the wind chill! We were all excited to go but I think the temperature definitely put a damper on our fun! We really didn't do probably a quarter of the things offered because it was so cold but we still had a good time. Maybe next time we'll go in November!

MY DEC 20TH PHOTO

My Dec 20th photo for the December *08 Photo Project

UH-OH SANTA WON'T FIT IN OUR CHIMNEY

Here we go again with Elijah and his ton of Santa questions! He is so logical so the mystique, magic and wonder of Santa is getting harder for him to believe and for ME to explain! For instance, when we were starting our first fire several weeks ago we were trying to see if the flue was open. I had a flashlight, stretched my head into the fireplace so I could see and of course he had to look too. His reply, "OH NOOOOO, MOM WE'VE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM!!! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY BIG 'OL FAT SANTA CAN FIT IN OUR CHIMNEY!" What's a girl to say to that!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

LET'S PLAY A GAME!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

JUST LOOK AT THE TREE AND IF YOU KNOW ME......YOU WILL SEE WHAT I SEE THE SECOND MY EYES GLANCE UPON THE TREE..

DO YOU SEE IT YET?

If you know me, you know I don't do RANDOM! If you know me, you know I like symmetry! You would also know that my children do NOT decorate the Christmas tree. Oh pick your jaw up off of the floor because the reason for the post is to explain my irrational thinking and my reasoning for not allowing my children to decorate the Christmas tree but if you know me you can see why! If you know me at all, you knew what I was talking about after looking at the first picture before reading a word!

This picture may help just a little since the glowy look is gone!

Just leave me your guess in the comment section and I will soon reveal my neurosis! Hey you "Bryan" girls did you do THE "squint" while looking at my tree! ha!

MY DEC 17TH PHOTO

My Dec 17th photo for the December *08 Photo Project

MY DEC 16TH PHOTO

My Dec 16th photo for the December *08 Photo Project

This is my specially made Santa with his tray of cookies and I just love his little pudgy self carrying a big 'ol tray of cookies!! My kitchen is decorated in "chefs". I had a centerpiece made for me ~ a chef carrying a tray of various food items like veggies, fruit and bread. I absolutely loved my centerpiece but I needed one for Christmas so I had this one made and I love it! Ignore the countertops and backsplash because those I am definitely NOT in love with!!

MY DEC 15TH PHOTO

OOPS! For some weird reason I clicked save on several of my posts instead of "post"! Sorry!

My Dec 15th photo for the December *08 Photo Project

Our Christmas tree is finally up and sittin' pretty!

MY DEC 11TH PHOTO

My Dec 11th photo for December *08 Photo Project

This is a house in our neighborhood that does a beautiful light display every year. If you are from here, then you know about the Rhema Christmas lights. I call this house the mini Rhema or the Lampoon's house! It is a corner house and there are lights ALL around, on the roof, in the trees, along the fence, in the yard and they even have Disney window displays. It is absolutely beautiful and these pictures don't do it justice! The kids love it and we end up driving over there several times a week during the holidays! I am a sucker for Christmas lights ~ if only my hubby would actually put lights on our house!

MY DEC 7TH PHOTO

Santa showed up at the Roller Derby for Toys for Tots night and the boys were so excited! Elijah even took his list and Santa kept it under his belt as the only list of the evening! My Dec 7th photo for the December *08 Photo Project.

LEARNING THE JOYS OF GIVING

Elijah is growing up no matter how hard I try to keep him as my baby boy! Sad but true! At least he is a nice, obedient, loving and thoughtful boy....for the time being! Don't get me wrong he has his ornery streak but overall he is a very good kid. At high school aka elementary school they had a mini store set up so the students could buy Christmas gifts for their family and friends. Little nick knacks, FINE jewelry and toys for them to spend their own money on if so desired. Well first he bought me a ring for Christmas but absolutely couldn't stand it anymore and gave it to me for my birthday......it is one precious gem I tell you!

He then bought me a couple of other gifts and a couple for Daddy for Christmas. He then decided his Meme and Papa needed gifts JUST from him.

He bought Meme a beautiful 5kt "yellow diamond" ring which she just loves!

Conveniently Elijah bought Papa a car that he will be able to play with when he is at their house!

I am very proud of my little man for still being his thoughtful little self and for wanting to spend the money on others instead of buying toys for himself. The look on his face watching them unwrap their presents was priceless for me. He even wrapped them himself. I am proud of my boy and he was so full of pride and excitement it was cute. It makes me think I AM doing SOMETHING right!!

ISN'T SANTA SUPPOSED TO BE JOLLY?

I seriously love Santa and the whole leaving cookies and milk that I get to eat - hehe- and leaving reindeer food out so I love to take the boys every year to see Santa and take a picture. They are only young once and don't seem to believe for very long! Actually before I get into my story I don't completely understand parents not doing the whole Santa deal. I know people who tell there children from the start that Santa is not real. HELLO this kind of makes it harder for those of us who let our children believe! There are a few kids in Elijah's class who are non-believers and they have made him ask me MANY difficult Santa questions this year which I DO NOT LIKE BECAUSE HE IS TOO YOUNG TO STOP BELIEVING! However me and my dad are very good and have reassured his faith!! I just don't get not letting them believe while they are young it is part of the fun of Christmas and it won't hurt them, I promise! Elijah wrote Santa several letters this year - two wish lists and countless questionnaires. One letter went like this: Dear Santa, I want a Ben 10 game. How do you fly your reindeer? Do you run into planes? How do you give presents to everyone in one night?......................it went on and on apparently his teacher helped him write it since he couldn't possibly have done it all on his own.....thanks Mrs. Wolters! ANYWAY Saturday I took the boys to see Santa and he was there however the line was closed so they could shut down for Santa to eat and go feed the reindeer! Not fitting into my schedule Santa! Think it is diet time because I have soooo much to do today and this does not help me out! SO needless to say we did not make the Santa trip again on Saturday and instead went Sunday late morning. Just my luck there was a line - a long long line full of crying children! Everytime I have been to the mall lately there was NO line but of course I didn't have my children with me - what are the odds?! Isaiah has the serious Santaphobia that many small children get but we had high hopes this year since I have really played up the whole Santa picture trip! I promised him some M&Ms, Pop (he thinks carbonated flavored water is pop - yippee!), and he could even open one present if he sat on Santa's lap to take a picture! Sad I know but you all know you've used bribery since it is part of parenting 911!!! He was soooo excited and ready to go until we get into the line - you know the long line of children tired of waiting in the line to sit on the lap of a stranger to take a picture for mommy - gotta love it! He would not let me put him down for more than a couple of minutes without throwing an end of the world screaming fit and Martez took the stroller out of the car to load our presents to take over to my mom's house. Needless to say I thought I would need to ask Santa for a new arm since I thought it would fall off at ANY minute! No matter how miserable the two of us were and I was almost at the leaving point, I couldn't leave because I helped Elijah write a new wish list and questionnaire to Santa and he was too excited for words! He just kept watching him in awe. Well it was our turn and Isaiah is past the point of no return he's saying "I wanna go home, I don't want canny! Pease momma pease!". Elijah walked up and handed Santa his list and they chatted for a moment then do do do do........Isaiah joined the picture and WOW that boy has some lungs!! Cracked me up though once I got past the embarrassment! Santa is saying "No kicking, no kicking! Don't kick me!" while attempting to hold Isaiah's legs down! "STOP KICKING!" Santa needs a new job because the real Santa wouldn't act like that. Well then I notice the photographer really trying to catch Isaiah's attention with a stuffed animal.......SERIOUSLY.... you expect to calm him down with that......that was funny! I tell her just take the picture I don't care if he is screaming because he won't stop and I'll just show him how he acted when he is older WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE SANTA SAYS "GOD JUST PLEASE TAKE THE PICTURE!" Oh hell no.....security to Santa's little house of horrors! Just kidding! All I have to say is you shouldn't take a job as a Santa in a mall if you can't cope with crying children because that is PART OF YOUR JOB! Children will cry at some point during the whole sitting on Santa's lap experience but they get over it and move on while their mom's have the token "crying on Santa's lap" picture for the scrapbook. Mine qualifies more as a "screaming, reaching for anyone while kicking a not so jolly but still smiling Santa" picture of Isaiah while Elijah smiles on! Elijah really said that night after his bath "I've been thinkin' mom Santa was really not nice to Isaiah! Do you think he put him on the naughty list? Is he still going to bring him presents?" How sweet is he! You know he was probably worried about that all day. If he only realized Isaiah pretty much stays on the naughty list - HA HA - seriously though he does!

MAJOR CASE OF ROAD RAGE

As if my road rage wasn't bad enough when the power was out and I figured out who in Tulsa and BA actually understands the concept of A 4WAY STOP yesterday was BAD! For those of you who do not know me I have road rage - at least I admit it - now move on! The road rage has calmed considerably since now I ride with a two year old and five year old. I don't have a problem with cussing or flipping the bird since that would be inappropriate I will just follow you and say my peace which I haven't done in a long time. I will also say driving a big SUV has helped to - now I don't care as much because I think people get intimidated and are less likely to piss me off since now I can just run them over! However there are still the few of them that try to act as if they didn't see me - SERIOUSLY - how could you miss me! Well yesterday I took the boys to the mall to see Santa which was not a jolly experience for me anyway then this woman gets mad at me at a for way stop because of HER inability to understand the word STOP! It was clearly my turn since she hadn't even stopped yet but for some reason she decides to honk continuously for several minutes while flipping the bird to my car full of kids! B I could just run her over however I then decide after her persistant ignorance to follow her through the mall parking lot to have a friendly little chat! Well I follow her to her little parking space and basically tell her that it was not my fault she is to ignorant to understand the concept of a 4way stop and she really should reconsider how she acts since 1-it's Christmas, 2- I could have just hit her and plowed her tiny little butt down, 3 - I could've of been a crazy-gun-toting-just listened to my screaming child and a not so jolly Santa for an hour-driving a big car with road rage momma, and 4 - my kids are in the car so it was really not nice of her to flip them the bird....... I went on and on and she looked so scared and shocked and her silence felt great but not as great as her apology to me and them my kids - gotta love it! Not so sure which was a worse influence her idiot behavior and flipping me off for NO reason or my kids seeing me follow her and have a "little chat" - outside of the car so at least they didn't hear me. I must say though trying to explain the "bird" is much harder then telling them I had to correct her for her behavior. THEN I take all the kids home for Martez to tend to while I go to work. On my way to work I get seriously cut off then the person waves to me like I let them over 1 foot in front of me ONLY to come to an immediate stop so they could turn into Wal-mart real fast. As my breaks squeal and my horn is honking and not so nicities are spewing I realize I SERIOUSLY NEED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND OUT OF HOLIDAY TRAFFIC BEFORE I KILL SOMEONE!! Merry Christmas to all and to all a safe and please SMART driving night!