Christmas Break

I am always so excited when the kids are home for break. Those first few days are lovely. No running back and forth to school, no volunteering, packing lunches, running, running, running.. and then the reality is.. the running doesn't stop! This season has been unusually nutty due to school. The session didn't end until Dec. 18 and then I still had to check daily ( I was worried) for my grade. So my brain didn't go on Christmas break that first week. Greg's parents came Dec 20 (not the 21st) but that is a whole other story of how both Greg and I can't read. I still had work, though Greg is taking two weeks of vacation. It amazes me how we think we will get so much done, but the plain truth is, we have gotten a fraction done of what we planned and just have to let it go! The kids have 4 adults to entertain them and have consistently needed constant interaction. Today I am pushing for more independent play.

Anyway, the holiday... I was home this year!! And I found true delight staying up Christmas Eve, wrapping presents, getting Santa's milk and cookies ready, and stare at my tree while cuddled up with Greg. The kids are old enough to really get into it this year and it was so much fun. Ryan was up on Christmas morning at 0530. I held him off until 0645. Charlotte insisted she heard reindeer feet on the roof Christmas Eve. So presents were opened and the kids had a ball. 99% of the stuff was perfect. Ryan has since spent many hours building his Lego sets! Charlotte loved her wooden animals and carried her nesting dolls around for 2 days. There wasn't much commercial stuff--which I was very thankful for and I don't think anything takes batteries. The kids have played with about half of what they have gotten, and the rest is waiting quietly in a pile by the couch. I bought a kaleidoscope for Charlotte that is just beautiful and a prism for her window--more rainbows! There were several Usborne books that are great and the kids each got a giftcard for Barnes and Noble from the grandparents--but even better--Mom said they could buy whatever they wanted with them--the only caveat for Ryan is that he has to pick stuff he can read to me. So he picked a Transformers book, which he has since decided is too old for him. But the others are great. He actually had picked out too many books and had to put some back! Beth and Lori got him the Magic treehouse books on CD--totally cool--he loves listening to books on CD during quiet time and they are great in the car. Charlotte got a Tinkerbell play set--but of all the Disney stuff that she can glom on to--the princesses continue to be a favorite, at least Tinkerbell is constructive and is seen using her brain!

We had Christmas with the Gauls on the 21st and with the Hollenbaugh's the 27th. Janet and Steve came down from Michigan the 27th as well and stayed overnight. We had a yummy breakfast at Mimi's Cafe before I had to go to bed and get ready for work again! There will be pictures forthcoming. I am home now until Friday. I am glad for the break.

Oh, Christmas Tree

So, today was a day I looked forward to all week. The bulk of a large paper was done, I was to leave work early last night and spend the day putting up Christmas. My school schedule has really put a dent in my free time--so no Christmas decorations are up yet. Well..best laid plans. I ended up staying thru the night at work, slept 4 (a half) hours according to Greg. We then headed out to Meijer to get tree stuff. I have never had a real tree. I am supposed to say real as opposed to live, I guess, since there is no root ball. This is a sore point for me. I ultimately want a live tree that I can plant in the spring. Since our yard has enough trees, I will wait and do that at the next house. For now I try to ease the guilt with plans of recycling the tree. So we went to a lot and picked a great tree. It was so fun going through them. Really tall ones, squat ones. I took great delight in finding one. Greg and I agreed on one as the kids ran around the field. A big open space is all it takes to keep them happy! The guys there trimmed the bottom, netted it, put it in our stand and loaded it. We cleared a space at home and brought it in. I now understand the term, "trim a treee". I did eventually trim part of it--unfortunately I realized I could do this after I had put the lights on--so a strand of lights got trimmed too. Oops. So it is majestic and magnificent and has plenty of water. I love it!!!!!

Ryan found one too, about 2 feet tall--it's adorable. The Thomas the Tank Christmas ornaments are now on it along with a strand of blue lights he picked out. The high point for him though, was picking out the star for it. He was quite dismayed I wouldn't put a star on our tree. Ours is topped with a Boyd Bear topper from Megan. It will always top the tree. So Ryan has one of his own. He named his tree too..it's Thomas.

Quotes of the day--yesterday

"Mommy, do we celebrate Hannukah?"--Charlotte

"For God's sake!"--Ryan

"Oops, I forgot Grandma and Grandpa!"--Ryan

"Mommy, you're right"--Ryan

Keep in mind, we have had no discussions about Hannukah here.

I nearly fell over when I heard my words coming out of Ryan's mouth that way! Oops.

And Ryan said the grandma and grandpa comment in the car on the way to gymnastics--he had starting making up and singing on the spot a Christmas carol about the things he loved in the car--toys, and all of us made the list.

The last was made at Target yesterday. I had told the children that I would not be buying any toys that day. Ryan spotted a copy of "The Pirates who don't do anything" DVD. And really wanted it. I very nearly gave in. But it was $20 and we are watchng our pennies until payday so I had to tell him no--it was very hard. But then he said what he said--very grown up and solemn. And he was fine. He is growing up and breaking my heart:)

Ode to the blue Minivan

Oh, blue Honda Odysseys
You do zoom about,
Carrying precious cargo
You zip in, drop off, zip out.
There are so many of you
Out and around
Why did Honda make so many
To stand out in a crowd?
Everywhere I go
A Honda can be seen
But only the one
I want to see
Is far away
From me.

Final weeks of class

I am in week 6 of 8 in my nursing research class. It is by far the hardest class I have taken. A large amount of information to read and digest and write about in a coherent manner. I guess this is what the masters is all about. I am very much looking forward to the Christmas break! I had to keep the pace up over the Thanksgiving holiday which really sucked. The instructor takes several days to get back on grades so I chew my nails (figuratively) and try to realx--what's done is done. I will be quite happy to pass with a B. I never thougth I would say that, but it's true. Some of the nurses in class hold admin positions so they are somewhat familiar with processes and know what to write. I am stumbling along as a staff nurse and often feel as if I am treading water.
Anyway.
Janet and Steve made the drive down last Saturday and stayed thru dinner and a visit after. They were in good spirits and like most of us, quite busy. Promises were made to come down for the Christmas holiday. I can look forward to that and reading whatever I want over the holiday break! Greg's folks are flying out as well and I am watching the days fly by. We don't have our twinkle lights up or Christmas stuff out. There aren't enough hours in the day!
I also saw Twilight with a bunch of friends from work and AJ. The book was better, as I suppose it often is. I can't get shmoozy over the actor that plays Edward--I'll still take Matthew McConaughey! The actress playing Bella spends most of her time looking bereft, concerned, confused..whch she is very good at and they all look the same. Jasper looked like Edward Scissorhands. All in all a decent start, we'll see if they hit their stride in the next one.

I am compiling the list of books I want to read from the library. I had a few in my hand at the bookstore and put them back--hard to do, but I don't think I'll re-read them soon and we have enough.

We all have runny noses, but thankfully, nothing worse.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

My friend Megan and I worked the Thanlksgiving holiday, she worked days, I worked nights. She hosted dinner today and it was delicious! Her folks came down and a friend from her Air Force Museum days came as well. I napped after eating, the combination of sleep deprivation and stuffing myself really did take the wind out of my sails!
Work was good in that I got to work with my friends which is always comforting and usually alot of fun. It is times like these that I realize how much I will miss everyone when I do eventually leave. I know the routines, I know where everything is and the people I have gotten to know are like another family. Well, I won't be leaving soon but that it is on the horizon makes me a little sad. One thing I will not miss is how nights gets shafted. No food last night...none. Cafeteria wasn't open (nothing new), no box lunches and bonus, all the restaurants are closed. Luckily our registrar brought in a huge amount of leftovers. But, really, it still sucked.
Today was Black Friday and since I was close to Toys R Us I thought I would wander down after work to see if any of the Legos were marked down. No luck there, but seeing the nutball crowds was a hoot. I'm not in the market for a new TV or washer and dryer, so none of the sales meant alot to me. I don't want plastic junk toys. Ryan so far has been easy to buy for. Charlotte is the one that is tough. She likes Disney princess but I don't want an overabundance of that stuff. She loves her stuffed animals--but does she really need more? and the Polly pockets are here and there and annoying. Too young for Wii...I want to get her a light bright..do they still make those?

Time to knuckle under and write my paper.

P.S. I have been almenting that my Aunt Jeanette has been out of touch for several months. She called yesterday. She and Steve are down for a visit tomorrow:)

What's new and exciting

It has been too long since I have added anything to this board. School has kicked into high gear and this week will be an interesting mix of work, relaxation, friends and cramming in a lit review for my research class due Sunday. The kids have school today and tomorrow. Greg is off starting Wednesday. I hope they have a nice Thanksgiving home--I will be at work! We go to the Gauls Friday--I am very much looking forward to good company and good food.
We have started getting a thing here and there for Christmas--I absolutely cannot believe the decorations have been up in the stores for so long already. Thanksgiving is just getting plowed over. We really have so much to be thankful for. We have dialed down presents this year, I am reminded todo ths every time I go into the kids rooms to move a pile of stuff.
Ryan has expressed an interest in Harry Potter--we will start reading him Book 1. He still loves Magic treehouse. I guess Wendy's had some of the books on CD as part of their kids meals. Megan gave me their Pirates Past Noon and Ryan listens to it at least 5 times a day ( and we do too since it's on the boombox in the living room)! We put an Ikea bookshelf by his bed and that has kept his bed clear of the many books he looks through.
Charlotte gave Ryan her legos. She is still fascianted with my dollhouse and every day I walk into our bedroom to find new configurations of furniture on the floor with the people arranged. She is attached to something everyday. Today it is a puppy she took to school. She still sleeps with her Darby doll every night (Ryan has started asking for Kim, his teddy, at night too.). Last night I was up way too late and found both kids in the bed with Greg, sleeping feet to head. It was hilarious. They managed not to wound each other I guess. I took my pillows and slept in Ryan's room. The glow in the dark paint is quite cool and I fit on his twin bed:)
Charlotte continues to thrive at the AS.
I think Ryan misses playdates. It is impossible to set them up with the kids at the primary. No phone numbers, no directory. He doesn't like the kids next door (I don't either). Luckily he gets along with his sister. We are working on a playdate with Carter (his friend from Antioch) after the holiday.

Time for pick-up!