Holiday Madness

8.5

That is my Christmas rating for this year.

Stressful, but not down to the last moment stressful.  Everything was planned and organized; only a couple days exhaustion endured.

Sickness hit the house early this year, and exited in time for caroling.  Also an extra point for white Christmas.

Every year I tell myself it may be the last Christmas to make magical, so I want to remember it and make it special for Dyleva.

Dylan started the season right away with the paper chains, and then Eva followed suit.  Seriously, there was like 35 links on the chain.

After the tree was erected, that weekend we did the fire truck Christmas parade.  Always a favorite, but this year especially loud!

We added Christmas cheer to the inside, and outside of the house.  So much that Dyleva has said on more than one occasion, that our house is their favorite Christmas stop!

Dyleva wrote their letters to Santa, which Enano delivered and responded to!

We have done gingerbread houses, Xmas movies, holiday crafts that become gifts for our friends, wrapping, music around the clock, gone to look at the lights to music.

This year, we went to the Nutcracker with their cousins.  
It was the children's production- very beautiful, and very long.

I kind of push the the traditions.  
So much that this year I found myself stringing popcorn by myself.  In the corner.  In the cold.

Dyleva is growing out of some of it.





It is sad.  It is more Dylan grudgingly participating than Eva.  He has a Pokemon agenda.  But still, I know it will not last forever.  

Eva did voluntarily agreed to wrap the majority of my gifts this year.  

And like five days before Christmas, I realized, COOKIES!  We didn't make any cookies!  What are we supposed to leave Santa?!  A last minute crisis averted.  Both Dyleva came to my rescue in need and we baked up three different things.  

Only two unburnt.

We closed in on Christmas Eve with our annual caroling this year.  We had an awesome time!  This year we had a bus!  Everyone was healthy, and no bus breaking down.

There was even time for some fun in the snow!

Successful outing!

Christmas eve was at Aunt Jill's house.  It was very nice.  There was a lot of family, but always ends with a visit from Santa.  

We woke to a plethora of gifts under the tree.  Dylan chose the largest box to start with.

He opened it to find another box.

And another box.

And another.

Finally, the smallest box contained a ton of Pokemon cards.  Then he was content, and didn't want to open any more.

Eva was a bit more passive.  She opened mostly clothes and books, and such.  She got to all the toys last.

But of course, the most excited to open his gifts, is Marley.

We ended the day at Grandma Candy's house, where the generosity flows crazily every year.  Thanks, Mom

Later that night...

8.5

Belated Birthday

For some reason, this year it was crazy busy the week of my birthday.  I didn't get to hang with my fam.  
So I said to them, why don't we wait, and do something Christmasy later on?


Well, Weenie, you rock.  

She found a painting place that would cater to our needs!  


At this place, when you came in they talked you through, step by step how to create something...in this case Rudolph.

I was a little nervous about Dyleva having a frustration level; but for the most part they rolled with it.  We had a couple 'oops,' but most of it was happy painting.


My favorite part was seeing all the different results and how each family member tailored their painting with their own creativity.  
For example, Jenna put 'GrandmaGrandma surprise eyes' on her reindeer.  Dylan put crazy antlers on his with angry eyes.  Eva put beautiful eyelashes and a bow on her rei

Surprise eyes like GrandmaGrandma!

Drinks!

They had drinks.  They had music.  It was very nice.

I suck at painting, but that's beside the point.  It made for a very nice birthday celebration.

Thank you Tiney!

In need of a haircut

 So Eva's quiet.

She is not annoying her brother.

She is not calling for Mommy incessantly for no reason.

Just quiet.

Cannot be good.  

After basking in this bliss for about 10 minutes, my mommy radar goes off.  "Oh snap! She must be into something!"

I find her in the corner of the living room, hidden near the heater.  "Hi Mommy!"  she says quickly.  "I'm giving my girls a haircut."

I look over to see one of several figurines sitting through a spa day.

Nylon hair all over the floor of course.

But I was actually fine with it.

"Eva, you know that's not going to grow back?"

Exasperated.  "Yeah, I know Mommy."  Duh.

Okay then.  "She looks really beautiful.  She needed a haircut."  

Snip away my child.

Dylanisms V

Dylan was complaining that his leg hurt.  He gets growing pains, so I gave him some medicine. 
 "Mommy, I'm just happy its my left leg.  I am right-handed and so I am right-legged."

*****
So walking to the car after school today, Dylan said:
"I am always prepared for a good snack."
 **********

Sitting at dinner the other night, Dylan nonchalantly says,
"Hey Mama, you know those crackers you gave me in my lunch today?"

Yes...I replied.

"I can fix four of them in my mouth at the same time!"

****
I was tucking Dyl in one night, and we began talking about dreams.  I asked him if he ever remembers what he dreams. 

"Sometimes Mama, but usually," (he taps his head) "it is blank space."


&&&&&&

Dyl was a little on and off feverish for a couple days.  No reason, this is common with Dyleva.  I was inquiring about how he felt, and he said, "Feel my head!  It's just the right temperature!  Not too hot and not too cold!"

^^^^^^^^
Dylan was finishing up his Christmas card to Santa.  
"Next year, I'm going to ask Santa for coal," he casually mentions.

"Why?" I had to ask.

"Because I want it for my rock collection and it looks cool."

Fair enough.

Christmas Cheer with a humbug

December 1.

I am always the hesitant one to begin "celebration of the season."  Mainly due to the forces that rush it, like the musica that begins two months before.  The stores that stock xmas the week of Halloween.

But, it really passes quickly.

So we got hot cocoa, and went to pick out our tree. Jeff has gotten much better.  He doesn't make us look at EVERY tree in the lot anymore. 

We returned home to begin decorating, and Dylan decides he would rather play in the living room.

fun in the winter storm

beautiful night sky

I was at a loss for words.  What do you mean he does not want to engage in this, "EVA PUT THAT DOWN!", happy family memory?  Shock.

His little keester was immediately brought back to this happy family tradition.  

The littlest Bah Humbug!

Thanksgiving

I used to champion Thanksgiving as the least stressful of the holidays.   But, who are we really kidding....any holiday is stressful after children.

None the less, we take the bull by the horns and we proceed.  To strive for holiday success. 

We began with the parade, by Grandma's house.

They were really good and calm for the first hour.  Something about the tenth marching band must have driven them to the edge. 

Then the ride home.  That late morning break where tired meets cranky; not fun.  But survived.

Then the down time at home to regroup, before the next party.  Arguements over what to wear.  "Do I have to?"  What to bring.  "Why can't I bring all of them?"  and how to behave.  "It's not me...it's always _____."

Let the games begin.

I find a quiet corner where I can monitor my children and avoid controversy.  chicken.   turkey.  Call it what you will. 

But we make it.  We survive another year.  Thanksgiving remains least stressfull holiday. 

How many more days until Christmas?

The Other Side

Tia Linda invited us to take a nature walk with her.

YES!  We're in.

She told me the park.  We met there, and we are walking around.  Waiting.  Watching.  Looking for them.  

Eventually, I call.   "Where are you?"

Apparently, there is another whole side to the park.

We have been coming here for years....never knew about it!  So we got back in the car and went searching.  

Ten minutes of driving through the park, we discovered "the other side."

We found the largest leaves I have ever seen in my life.  Dyleva really embraced the new exploration.  

Eva stopped to sketch.  

Dylan climbed every tree he could find...

What a beautiful park to explore!