2009 in Review

• For starters Hannah gained 1 pound, Will gained 5. Weighing in at 29 and 37 pounds respectively.

• Abraham joined the bunch in June. He's turned into a big guy, and is happy to be along for the ride. This is a picture of him dressed as a Ninja Turtle.

• I got new counter tops, and a kitchen renovation, only to find out three months later that I would almost certainly be moving yet again. I really thought that was behind us for a while, yet our fabulous streak of moves is on again. I do believe we are up to about 5 in 11 years. Yay us!
• Hannah started Kindergarten. We started off great, she loved school for about 3 months. Had a rough stretch of crying every morning, and ended before Christmas break with a happy child once again. I'm hopeful the "nice" Hannah will grace us with her presence Tuesday morning.

• Will began January 2009 using the potty at school, and we have successfully been potty trained a full year. I am ever so thankful to have made it 365 days without changing a poop diaper. As a mom, that's a huge deal.

• We made an annual trip to the beach. The kids have turned into great travelers, and love the beach so much. Will has yet to actually set foot on the sand, but he really digs the pool. Will insisted on wearing his Spiderman muscle suit most of the vacation. It's a small condo complex and we know almost everyone there from years past, so everyone got a kick out of Spiderman's antics.

notice Will still refuses to place his body on the sand

• We ended the year with a huge family Christmas, which we are still recovering from. I even had the good sense to hide a huge bag of toys in the top of the closet for a rainy day. I am hoping that advanced thinking will save my sanity at some point in the future.
• All in all, we had a wonderful year. Don't get me wrong, we had our fair share of illnesses and crabby kids and parents. There were times I thought I would lose my mind, and other times I was sure I already had. Days where bedtime couldn't come fast enough, and then I would sigh as I watched them sleeping peacefully in their fresh pj's. It was a very good year, and I pray for many more just like it.

Merry Christmas

Well it's finally upon us. The kids got out of school last Friday, and to be quite honest have been driving me CRAZY. The excitement level has reached an all time high, and I'm just thankful that it's finally here; I don't think we could stand anymore. I've tried really hard to be patient, and remind the kids why we celebrate Christmas. I've also tried to reflect and be thankful. We will read lots of Baby Jesus stories today and tonight, and talk about why we celebrate Christmas. I will try my hardest not to lose what is left of my mind :)

On Monday it was crazy around here. I had answered the "How many more days?" question many, many times. The fighting was beginning to grind on my nerves, and I really needed to talk to an adult. You can imagine my glee when the cell phone rang, and I sprang to get it. In the process I hit my foot on the bar stool, breaking my toe. Great start to the week. It's also worth mentioning that Hannah decided to read all of our "early readers" which total around 6. Sounds really cute huh? It is cute for the first two or three, then it gets really boring. As a mother maybe I shouldn't feel that way, but I'm just trying to keep it real. Listening to a 5 year old read is exciting and new and, well grinding on the nerves.

Tuesday as part of the super excited hoopla Will was bouncing on me and the bed. He's notoriously rough anyway which I am trying to work on. At any rate he kneed me in the eye. It was the kind of pain that kinda makes you sick for a split second. Turns out I had a small black eye the next day.

Wednesday we managed to make it through the day with no major injuries, unless you count mental health injuries which at this point are to numerous to mention. Yesterday Mel worked until 10p.m. and Will didn't nap. This is also the day that Will decided to remove all the cushions from the sun room furniture and use them as a "pool" to jump on. He spent about an hour doing "Candy Balls" (cannon balls) off the couch onto the pillows. Funny huh?

Which brings us to today. We are spending the morning sitting in front of the fire watching Christmas cartoons. The kids have been surprisingly calm today, I guess they have used up there stores of energy already, or maybe they're just saving it up.

Hannah let me pick out any car I wanted from the newspaper. She said that daddy and her would buy it for me no problem. I'm really excited. I picked a brand spanking new 4-runner, loaded of course. Wonder when it will get here?

That's our week in review. We are all super excited about Christmas, and I am really hoping that the kids are getting old enough to understand the real and true meaning.

Merry Christmas from The Sanders' Family

By the way, I ordered Christmas cards, and I have them (all 50) in a box on the counter. They will not be addressed or mailed in time, or maybe not at all. I am such a slacker, but to my friends and family I really intended on sending you a card. I should have, and I don't have a really great excuse except I'm a lazy bum. Instead of addressing cards I probably watched a Lifetime Christmas movie or it might have been Hallmark. Just sayin'.

Improvising

I don't feel too well today. Just so happens it coincides with the first day of the kids being out of school for Christmas break. Go figure. We started the morning cleaning the kids rooms up, and trying to make some headway in the living areas. Made some breakfast, and started feeling even crappier so I decided we would lay on the couch and watch "The Santa Clause" with some hot chocolate. Will bounced on my head, and stomach. Hannah spilled a whole cup of chocolate milk on the floor. All in all it was a success.

Lunch time rolled around, and I haven't been too hungry lately but decided it might be a good idea to at least feed the kids.

As I was getting their plates ready I had a marvelous idea. After removing all 6 chairs from the dining room table, I then covered it with large blankets making a nice sized tent. We padded it with pillows and blankets; the kids are now entertaining themselves and I am again on the couch. Wonder how long I'll be able to ride this one out? I would so love a nap, but as you mothers know leaving two small children unattended even for 15 minutes could result in

"Katrina" sized mess. Guess I'll try to watch something that doesn't include cartoon characters, and maybe dig up some meds.

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On a funnier note I was getting Hannah ready for her Christmas party at school yesterday and she asks me: "Why are you dressing me so cute?"

I didn't realize I usually dress her otherwise, but evidently she thought she was super cute that day. Oh to have that confidence.

Signing off before the newness of the "tent" wears off. As an update they have now emptied the entire contents of the buffet drawers. Place mats, table runners, etc. Will is now wearing a blue table runner as a sash around his neck. Perfect!

Santa Shock and Other Funnies

• I had fussed at the dog several times tonight for being too wild and jumping on the couch. He puts his huge paw up on Will's leg and Will looks at him and as calm as ever says: "Abe, do you want to lose a paw?" Where on Earth did he hear that one?

• We went to lunch with my dad and my grandfather last week. Paw Paw (the kids Great-Grandfather) has been in declining health, but you haven't been able to trust his mouth in public in quite some time. As we are sitting around the table he looks over at Will and says : "Santa got killed." Dad and I look at each other in shock, Will is unfazed, Paw Paw repeats the slogan "Santa got killed", evidently trying to get some kind of response. I'm still not sure where he pulled that one from, or why you would feel the need to traumatize a three year old. Maybe he just needed some excitement. At any rate Will didn't mention it again, and Dad and I have gotten a good laugh out of it. As far as I know Santa is in excellent health and plans on making the annual run in 10 days or so.

• Hannah is doing an excellent job learning to read. We are on our last stack of "Popcorn" words, and she will soon move onto real books. She is super excited, and I am super happy for her. I can't believe that tiny baby from 5 years ago has become a big (I use that term loosely) school girl.

• I had a great visit at the dentist today. It was so great in fact that they want to see me back twice in January. Two rounds of fillings! At least I get the nitrous, right? Yeah still not worth it. Apparently I'm flossing "wrong". Hey I expected a pat on the back for flossing period, not a tutorial on how to floss. Any idiot can thread a string through their teeth right? Yeah not so much.

• Hannah made a Santa list about a month ago (she made one for Will too) and we mailed them off. I purchased most of the items from the list, after consulting with her on what she would like the most. I thought I was finished until I dropped her off at school last Friday. The kids had written notes to Santa. Guess who's list doesn't even resemble the list from home? Yep, Hannah's.

Elmo and Other News

Elmo was great! The kids loved it, and we were so close to the stage. I couldn't believe that there were so few people there, but it was the night of the Christmas Parade, so I think that played a part.

On the way I was talking to the kids about how excited I was and I said: " Man, I can't believe I forgot to bring my camera. I really wanted to take some pictures." To which Will replied : "Mom, can't you just use your phone for a camera." Me: "Why, yes son I can."

Can you believe that a 3 year old knows enough about technology to remember that my phone has a camera? I was impressed.

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I have had this MacBook Pro for 18 months now. I feel like I can navigate pretty well, and I love it so much. Problem is if you put one finger on the touch pad, and then scroll with the other finger it enlarges the screen. Great feature unless you can't figure out how to shrink it back down. Any MacBook users out there care to help a girl out?

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Hannah wants a heated blanket for Christmas, but she informed me that if she accidentally pees on it she will set it on fire. Maybe Sunbeam could market that as a "bed wetting aid" and really up their sales.

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I really wish I could get into some kind of housekeeping groove. Man I'm so tired of doing the same thing over and over. Two kids and three pets sure can make for some messes. Perhaps I missed the "Martha" gene, or maybe they have just worn me down. So instead of working I am wasting time complaining about working.

Lice, seriously??

There's lice in Kindergarten. An OCD mother's worst nightmare, let's not even think about the consequences of getting lice in this head of hair I sport.

I was spraying Hannah's hair with hairspray before school the other day in an effort to keep the bugs away and tried to explain that it would help the situation. She let it pass with few comments.

The next morning I got her all ready and as we were finishing up she says: "Mom, are you gonna spray some of that bug spray in my hair?"

I can only imagine that she went to kindergarten that morning and announced to her friends that her loving mother had doused her hair with "bug spray" before sending her to school. In my defense it really would be hard to get it out of my hair. In fact I think we might have to just shave it and start over.

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• We are off to see Elmo Live tonight, and spending the night in a hotel. This of course means we are on "vacation". It doesn't take much to impress kids.
• A branch fell across the street effectively knocking out our Internet service for two whole days. I am recovering from severe withdrawals. Abe also tried to maul the repairman this morning. That's always fun.

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I was watching "Super Hero Squad" with Will yesterday. He is convinced he's Wolverine, claws and all. I mistakenly said I was one of the other characters who happens to be a bad guy. I obviously didn't know this at the time. Before I knew it he was on top of me, attacking me with his claws, and bouncing on my belly. Talk about shock. This gal is getting a bit old to defend myself in a moments notice. From now own I think I'll just watch silently.

Catchin' Up

I didn't drop off the face of the Earth, but I have had sick kids and a menarige of everyday setbacks. In the spirit of picking up where I left off, which is really the only place to pick up, right? here we go:

I braved the weather Monday and headed to Kroger to do some major shopping. I wasn't really feeling it, but we had an employee discount that was expiring Nov. 30th and if you know me, you know I can't resist a coupon. Will did quite well, I filled two buggys with staples for the kitchen and bathroom along with essentials like a Buzz Lightyear sippy cup for $5. As the weather grew colder, and the rain started to drizzle we headed to the van and loaded up the huge $260 worth of product.

Then came the turn of events that all mothers have experienced, lived through, and still remember with horror.

Mel decided he needed contacts, he also decided it was me who should get them. Remember I told you Will had acted quite well for the Kroger trip. We were about 1 1/2 hours in when we parked at the eye doctor. I had this strange premination that it was gonna be bad, but I had to have the contacts, I mean the hubby has to be able to see in order to effectily do his job, which in turn pays for the $260 of groceries.

We enter, and Will takes off in a sprint. He couldn't of remembered this place, it had been like a year since he had been inside. I hurry around the corner and find his grubby little hands grasping a $150 pair of black frames. He wants to try them on, which consists of stretching the sides as far as possible before slipping them on. I quickly take them away, he screams, I pick him up, he bows his back, we struggle and I win out.

He procedes to scream as if someone were breaking his leg, the lady is trying to help me (quickly, wonder why?) and his weight wins. I have to sit him in a chair with the instructions that his bottom better not move from the seat until I'm ready to go. This is the point where he begins to scream "I want my daddy, I want my daddy". I'm thinking to myself: "I want your daddy too son, but guess what he's not coming." I signed the debit card reciept, didn't look to see how much they charged me could of been a million dollars, and we hit the road. I shall henceforth be known as the lady with the horrible demon possessed toddler, won't be going in there any time soon.

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Heavy frost this morning. Ever explain frost to a couple of small kids? Goes something like this:

Kids: "Mama, it snowed!"

Me: "No it didn't snow, that's frost, it just means it's really cold outside. You're gonna need a "real" coat today."

Kids: "Frost like Frosty the snowman. Can we play in the snow?"

Me: "It isn't snow. There is nothing to play in."

Kids: "Will it frost in the morning?"

Me: "I don't know, probably if it's really cold."

Kids: "Then can we play in the snow tomorrow and build a snowman?"

Me: "Yeah, sure."

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