A different version!

Gretchen's version of a Christmas Classic:


'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a kid was stirring, not even a mouse (well, maybe a mouse)
Decorations were hung around the house with care
In hopes that Christmas morn would soon be there.
The children were all sleeping alone in their beds,
While visions of dolls and Legos danced in their heads.
With hubby at the Xbox and me in my PJs,
I finally sat down at the computer to play.
When somewhere in a distance there arouse such a clatter
I sprang from my seat saying, "Now what's the matter?"
All I wanted was a little time all by myself
Then I saw something moving, maybe an elf?
I don't believe in Santa, this can't be real
I've done all my shopping and I got great deals.
Then I was given a gift I cannot express
I was shown my life without a child's mess.

It turns out I don't mind the frustration of kids
The never ending laundry and sippy cup lids.
The dirty diapers and bad dreams in the middle of the night
The bullies, the homework and the best friend fight.
The cooking of dinner that no one will eat
The snotty noses and coughs and the fever heat.
The endless dusting and cleaning of the commode
All a very small price for this wonderful abode.

When my two-year old showed up just to tell me,
"I love you, Mommy!" Somehow, he's almost three.
I'm constantly wishing my children's childhood away
When I should be enjoying them since they aren't here to stay.
I kissed my little boy and tucked him back into bed
"Thank you, little man, for clearing my head."

I sometimes forget, they grow up too fast
And I need to make good memories that will last.
For now, I promise to enjoy them instead
Of waiting for the day that they don't wet the bed.

Suddenly, through the blinds the sun began to shine
And I realized I'd fallen asleep and now it was time.
The kids were now waking and ready to begin
To celebrate the birth of our Lord and King!

Girl Time!

Mollee got to start her Christmas break off with some 'Girl Time'! She got to go to a birthday party at 10:30, then the 15 little girls went together to the movie theater to watch "The Princess and the Frog". My younger sister, Ruth, picked Mollee up after the movie to go get her nails and toes done. She got cute snowflakes and dots.

Thanks, Aunt Ruth!!

Holiday Break

Apparently, I'm taking a holiday break! This has been the position of my treadmill lately!

Christmas Sunday

Our Christmas Sunday photos - I was fought a little on my idea of what they should wear, but, this is what we got!

Mollee in a sweater and skirt (not a velvet dress!) Tavis, of course, in a suit (with mommy's addition of a blue sweater)Daegan in blue plaid (without the red tie that went with the shirt last year when Tavis wore it)Capps in red plaid, with the Capps smirk that you can find in every picture of him
And Mac in my favorite ensemble that Daeg wore a few years ago (so glad I found it!)

A group shot (which made us a little late to church - well, late for us. We usually get there at 9:15, but we weren't there until 9:25)And one that will be cherished by mommy for years to come, my two guys in ties!

Christmas Parties 2009

Today the kids had Christmas parties with their classmates. I once again found myself running between three different parties (next year I'll be running between four different ones).

Tavis' class decorated cookies, here Tavis is with his buddy Chase

They also decorated ornaments, by attaching it to the end of a drill and as the ornament spinned on the drill bit, the kids painted it with a paint marker. Very neat idea!

Mollee's class had won a pizza party from their Fall bag sale. They also decorated cookies.
And they decorated Angel ornaments with glitter, here is Mollee playing with the glueDaegan's class started a little later so I was able to attend most of it. They had a birthday party for Jesus!Here is our favorite Mrs. Wieldraayer getting a present from Daeg

No party is complete without a round of musical chairs. The first round Daegan got out first, second round he won! Mollee and Tavis' parties finished early and most of their classmates went home with their parents so Mollee and Tavis joined in at the end of Daegan's party for "The Candy Cane Story", read by Mrs. Wieldraayer.

Now, 16 days of no school = 16 nights of no homework!

Not all about Christmas!

Today Daegan's class had a Mexican party:

Christmas Card Picture

I've mentioned this before, but I am a stickler for doing the same 'photo session' each year. For example, on Easter there is always a picture of Jason and Mollee and one of me with the boys. In February, (because it started with a good Valentine's Day sale one year) I always get a professional picture of the kids together. And for our Christmas card I always try to get a family picture on Thanksgiving.

That didn't happen this year!

Therefore, I attempted to get a family photo on a random day. I have a remote to my camera, so I can set it up and get everyone in place and then just keep hitting the remote until I think we have one. This is a sample of our first set (Capps, obviously, didn't understand being 'seen' by the camera).

We switched him to the outside so he wouldn't get "lost" and I think the whole ordeal put him in a bad mood.

But, we did get one to use (or does his expression look strangely familiar to the one at the top of my blog page?). I'd hate to torture the family and try again!

Merry Christmas to you all!