After Christmas Chaos?!?

Christmas day is usually followed by a slow week of lazing around, playing with new toys and staying home! But not this year apparently. I had to work some, Todd had to work some, family came in from out of town, we are puppy training, had to return about 8 million gifts that were doubles this year, having a party, an anniversary and we start puppy classes. Whew! When vacation is over I might have to relax.

Puppy Training

We got a smart one...sort of. Okay so he still has an accident here or there and might or might not yet know his name. But he's only been here for a week and has learned to sit and lay and to play with his toys (which he did not know when we got him). I think that's good progress. And he starts puppy classes Wednesday night.

Skating

My kids got roller skates for Christmas, they seemed safer than rollerblades to learn on. Of course their overprotective daddy has them all but wrapped in bubble wrap when they head out - we're talking knees, elbows, wrists and helmet...but they are doing well nonetheless. So I asked Tristan how skating was going and if he liked it to which he replied, "I think I'll be professional at it soon."

Why wait?!

I decided I am not going to wait until New Years to start my resolutions - that just gives me a whole week to eat extra crap I don't need. So...today begins my attempt to lose weight and change my lifestyle to a healthier one. If you too are planning weight loss for the new year check out sparkpeople.com - its free and its got great tools.

Anyway here are my goals:

1. To track my food intake as well as exercise daily on sparkpeople.com.

2. To cook at least 5 nights a week. By cook I mean actually cook - frozen pizza does not count.

3. To hit the gym at least twice a week and run at least twice a week as well.

My goal is to lose 5 lbs a month which seems reasonable enough; but more than that to change my overall eating habits - eating out less, cooking healthy foods more often, etc.

Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a good night! Our day was busy but fun and I am full of Christmas cheer but running on empty so its off to bed. Pictures tomorrow.

Happy Christmas Eve

From our family to yours.

Meet Max

The newest addition to our family weighing in at the least yet - a mere 5 lbs.

Orlando Fun

We had a nice short but sweet vacation to Orlando this past weekend to kick of winter break.

Friday night we went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - we had hot cocoa, froze to death, rode rides, and of course saw the amazing Christmas parade. Here's us on Main Street with the castle in the background:

We went shopping at the newly redone outlet malls. Mommy got nothing but the kids made out like bandits. With a scary pine reindeer thing at the exit:

And we went to Wonderworks, which the kids loved.

Lots of Excitement

This weekend was crazy busy but fun. We got to see the Ferguson clan - Debbie and Jay as well as Greg and Nicole and baby Lucas. We went to Disney World for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party as well as Wonderworks, the Orlando upside down house sciency kind of place. And today we brought home Max - our new yorkie. Pictures to follow tomorrow.

Goodnight!

Tears of Joy.

Tori: I am so glad you are my brother.

Tristan: How come?

Tori: Because you're just fun and I like to play with you.

Me: Now tearing up while writing Christmas cards in a chair nearby.

Tori: What are you crying about over there?

Me: They are tears of joy that you guys love each other so much.

Tori: Well that's stupid, who cries when their happy?

So some sweet moments have sweet endings. Some dont. Guess which one this was?

Complications...

I was Christmas shopping online trying to get ideas and came across these things. Remember when Christmas was asking for a doll or a baseball mitt?


Maybe its just me but doesn't it seem like the kid that wants Barbie on their speakers is a tad to young for an iPod?!?!


My dr kit had a thermometer, stethescope, shot, blood pressure cuff and the thing that doubled as an eye and ear looker!

Music to My Ears

Tonight was our church's yearly children's Christmas program. Tristan and his class sang A Babe in the Manger, Go Tell it on the Mountain, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. He managed to sing part of it, not fall of the stage and look forward at the audience the majority of the time.

Tori had a solo which she did pretty well on it. She was also a ribbon dancer, dont ask, and sang in the group choir and had a blast with all the hand motions!

All in all it was a long night of lots of kids music but its always fun to see your kids sing or perform in some way.

Sick kids...

also seem to be naughty kids. Is it just me or is this true?

Tristan's head is all stuffed up and he keeps sneezing so home he stays for the day...but its hard to keep a boy down. He wants to run and play and ride bike. He is literally sitting on the floor wearing a knights helmet pretending to drive the stool that goes with his drum set because I won't let him get up. However he randomly stands up and runs and is in permanent whiny mode.

Tori on the other hand is about to hack up a lung so she is home today as well. She has literally done 2 weeks worth of homework. Unfortunately along with super student mode she is also in "sass" mode where everything she says is dripping with the sarcasm of a 16 year old.

I cannot wait for 5:30, I think I need to run to the grocery store this evening.

On my list:
peace
quiet
sanity

The stockings were hung...

I love Christmas decorations. They all have meaning and they just make you smile. We came back from NC last Sunday morning, took a good long nap after driving all night and awoke determined to get Christmas up...getting pics and posting took a bit longer.

I have a snowman collection that lots of people have contributed too. They are cute and festive and provide my bit of winter despite the 80 degree temperatures this month. But more than that each and every one of them has a story - a fun day of shopping,a craft made with mom, someone special that thought of me, or a gift little hands picked out!

Our table is not super fancy, not super expensive, not super special - except that we eat as a family there daily, art projects and homework are completed there, we've shared laughs with friends, desserts with neighbors and meals with family. So at Christmas it gets a little special treatment.

Also in our home we believe the reason for the season and the source of our celebration is a tiny baby born in a manger, put to death on a cross, and risen and waiting his return so decorating would not be complete without our nativity.

Christmas

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~W.T. Ellis

May your heart be full this season, and the air around you magical!