Christmas

I love Christmas! I love any holiday that involves my whole family getting together and having fun. It is noisy, it is chaotic but most of all it is fun and wonderful. I love being a part of a large family, although it is rare that the "whole" family always makes it for one event. There is usually someone always missing. However most of my Nieces and Nephews are into their teens now and since I am the youngest in the bunch it is usually Blaine and I that end up having the most fun with them. In the summer we have giant fires and play kick the can. In the fall we go for long hikes to the trestle near by and throw rocks at the train signs. In the winter we sometimes get the buggies out and rip them around a bit. It is fun being the "fun" ones.

In just 3 more sleeps our house will be filled with laughter, noise and chaos. It is an estimated guess that 25 peoples will crowd in our new little home and join us for the best holiday of the season.

Blaine and I both have Christmas Eve off and we plan to start a new tradition by lighting a candle for Baby Jesus. Hopefully if all goes well, our candle will stay lit until late in the evening. Everyone will start to arrive at 3pm and when everyone has settled we will pray for each other and for the fun that will begin. Usually we always draw names but after years and years of that, it is expected of who will get you and who you will eventually get. This year we are doing the gift exchange where everyone brings a gift and steals a gift. It will be interesting. After all that it is time to fill our bellies with the best German food... Buns, cheeses, meats and lots of goodies. Mmmmmm! When we are all filled up, we will be heading out the door to either go home or to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at the church.

It is so neat to see the kids all dressed up sometimes towing along a new Christmas stuffy or wearing a new Christmas hat. They love getting to be big and holding onto that stick of fire. Ginny usually belts the silent night as long as she can showing her pride with every word. Malakai stares at the flame, trying his hardest not to succumb to sleep. Keegan smiles with his big adult teeth and hugs the one closest to him.

After trudging the kids home and tucking them in, they are bound to have troubles sleeping with the excitement of Santa coming.

The next morning they rush for their stockings and beg for us to wake up. Daddy will make us breakfast and then we drive to Grandma and Grandpas for more gift opening and a wonderful, very classy Christmas dinner.

What are your plans for Christmas??

Maby I should bury myself in the 4 ft of snow we have.

I know, I have been a very distant blogger. It is the season and yet again I am trying to not let it get away with me. I was crazy enough to try and plan a 70th birthday party for my mom and dad. I forgot to mention it is a surprise. The party is tomorrow and Blaine's words of encouragement ... "are you going absolutely crazy with this party happening?" There is a second of silence before the phone rings yet again for the 5 time in the last 1/2 hour. "Cause you really have every right to be going crazy, especially with the phone ringing like it has been."

No Blaine, crazy is when my mom calls this afternoon and tells me that I am the only child in the family that is an "angel." What kind of a thing is that to say to your daughter of five kids? I mean no pressure or anything. Then she calls back this evening (right when I got home from work.) She needs to tell me how Dad is getting more frustrated and hates surprises and is easily irritated with noise. Did I mention that we are having a huge surprise birthday party tomorrow? While she is pouring her heart out, my chicken soup is boiling over, Ginny is informing that she is hungry, Keegan is asking me to switch the channel and Malakai is informing us that he is watching a show. I finally had to let her go and deal with dinner. 5 minutes later the phone rings. It is my mom again, telling me I am not an angel, in fact, I apparently have my moments where I can be just as hateful, angry and overwhelmed as the rest of them.

Do you think maybe she will be eating her words when I yell "SUPRISE!!?"

You polluted my bubble

Like all parents (so I hear) we are going through a tough phase and having some issues with the kids. A friend of mine had an idea about explaining to each child how they have an invisible bubble and if anyone wants to go near them they have to be sure not to invade or harm their own personal bubble.

I tried explaining this to the kids and immediately I could see the smirk form on my 10 1/2 yr. old's face. I am sure Blaine was right along with Keegan thinking of some smart remark to make. It wasn't long before Keegan was poking fun leaning himself towards Ginny, proclaiming to pop her bubble. This went on and on in the front entrance as we gathered our shoes and coats. It went on and on out the front door as they ran ahead to the truck. It even continued on as they got into the truck. By the time Blaine and I entered the truck Blaine laughed and expressed of what a great idea that was, I finally had enough and was pleading for the kids to stop.

Of course Keegan being the one who ALWAYS has to have the last word laughs and says ..... "Mom, Ginny polluted my bubble." "What?" I looked at Blaine and then at him. Ginny starts to laugh and then she howls with laughter "I farted in it!!!" She announces.