Tonsil and Adenoidectomy Day

Say a little prayer for Matthew this morning. He will be in surgery at 9!

It's all over.

Well, all the presents have been unwrapped, all the calories have been consumed, all the miles have been driven. Christmas is officially over.

We had a wonderful time! Mom really knocked herself out and we had a fabulous meal 4 nights in a row. We also enjoyed having Jilinda join our Christmas festivities for the first time.

The only downer of the whole holiday occurred on the 23rd. We had workmen over repairing drywall and our tree had to be moved. It wasn't anchored down very well and when Matthew went to show Thomas an ornament, the tree came crashing down shattering several of my favorite sentimental ornaments. Yes, I cried but quickly stopped when Matthew looked at me with huge tears dangling in his eyes and said, "I am so sorry! Now Santa won't come."

I spent Christmas Eve morning cleaning up broken ornaments, putting the tree back, and retrimming the tree. What a pain. Matthew and Thomas got right to work making new ornaments including one Matthew colored that said "1999" since one of the broken ornaments was a "Baby's first Christmas 1999". When the tree was finally up again, Matthew began dancing around saying, "Yeah! Mommy saved Christmas!" It was the least I could do.

Now back to the good stuff. As per tradition, we ate Mexican food on Christmas Eve and watched "A Christmas Carol". Then we went back to the house and arranged the things for Christmas morning. When the morning came, Lauren, Josh, Mom, and Dad came over at 7:30 to watch the kids discover the Santa gifts. The highlight of the morning was watching Mary Beth with her toys. I bought her a few things so that Matthew wouldn't think Santa had slighted her, but had no idea that she would squeal with delight and dance her heart out to all the music!

After the Santa gifts were sufficiently played with, we headed over to Mom and Dad's to eat breakfast, open gifts, and eat turkey and dressing. We all had a great time and enjoyed being together. I am always so sad once all the gifts have been unwrapped and the tree looks so bare!

After an incredible dinner prepared by Mom, we headed down to Conroe to open presents with Bryon's parents. We were all pretty tired at that point! Matthew did manage to lose a tooth while we were down there. Of the 7 teeth he has lost, 3 of them have been during visits to Conroe!

We got back home a few hours ago and are starting to sort through toys and take down a few decorations. I know most people keep their things up through New Years, but it makes me sad looking at the tree and garland knowing that the fun is over.

I hope everyone's Christmas was merry. I added pictures to the album to the right of the screen.

Christmas tag

More than likely, my last post until after the holidays. Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog. I hate eggs but this stuff makes me weak in the knees. I allow myself one or two sips a night! Great with ice cream and nutmeg.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa does not wrap gifts. Everyone has a pile with their stocking laid out beside their stash.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White, although they were colored when I was little.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Never

5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend of Thanksgiving. I like getting the full season out of them!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mexican food Christmas Eve. Turkey/dressing/sweet potato casserole with so much butter and sugar that it should techically be called a dessert! Holiday breakfast casserole on Christmas morning.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? My favorite memories as a child revolve around Christmas. It was just magical. Dad was off from teaching at ACU and spent a lot of time with us. The anticipation on Christmas Eve. Watching A Christmas Carol which we do every Christmas Eve. The smells in the kitchen. Waiting by our bedroom door while mom and dad took forever lighting the fire and starting their coffee. Hearing Dad say every year while we are waiting by our door, "I think Santa made a mistake! He left way too many presents for just the three of you!" We still make him say it every year! Doing a big Christmas puzzle that sits on our table. Nonstop Christmas music. Reading the Christmas memory book that Mom has kept since we were little. I wish I could bottle it and bring it back every now and then.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Second grade. Diane McKissick
told me. I was told not to tell Michael and Lauren because Santa would stop coming. I still haven't told them.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Never! I hated this when I was a kid but now it makes me happy to anticipate Christmas morning. Christmas Eve, we eat mexican food and watch A Christmas Carol. Christmas morning, we would play with our Santa toys, eat a little breakfast and begin the slow process of watching everyone open gifts.

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? Sand tarts or sugar cookies

11. Snow. Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! I live in the WRONG state!

12. Can you ice skate? Tried it a few times in high school and loved it. Haven't done it since.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Cabbage Patch Kid. Mom told me that it probably wasn't going to happen so it was quite a surprise. She and a friend went out at 5 in the morning one morning and got one for my sister and me! I got a new bike one year and a microscope in 5th grade that I was crazy about.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Replaying the traditions that have been a part of me since my very first Christmas. Getting to relive childhood through my children. Great food. Being with the whole family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pecan pie, our traditional cookies, white hot chocolate.

16.. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, Merry Christmas, Darling both by Karen Carpenter.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? If they are sitting around, I will eat one.

Sliding into home

Well, the craziest 5 weeks of the year are coming to an end. Starting with Nov. 18th (Matthew's birthday) and ending on Christmas Day, I have the boys' birthdays, Dad's and Grandma's birthday, various Christmas parties, room mother duties, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always joke that starting with Matthew's birthday, the race begins and I don't sleep until January! The stress and busyness have started to take their toll this week; however, and I am feeling like I am running on fumes. I feel like I am crawling to the finish line!

I have spent much of today running errands and dragging my poor kids store to store. I bought a new mailbox and lantern today. We are having a difficult time getting in touch with the girl who wrecked our old one. The only contact information I had on her was her mother's place of employment. The mother has been avoiding our phone calls the past two days and finally called me last night at almost 11 o'clock, not to apologize, but to gripe me out for bothering her at work. Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I was raised with the value of taking responsibility for my actions drilled into me and I find it amazing when others don't share that same value. I will keep you posted...

Matthew's class Christmas party was yesterday and went well. I am happy that tomorrow is the last day of school and I can enjoy all the kids home for a while.

Yet another fabulous reason why teenaged girls shouldn't be drinking and driving at 2:30 in the morning.

Fortunately for me, I have next to nothing going on this week so making this top priority shouldn't be a problem. Said tongue in cheek.

Merry Christmas, blog family!

Opening gifts

Do you open gifts Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Excited and nervous

I found out today that Matthew will have his tonsils and adenoids taken out the week after Christmas.

I have been asking his doctor for years if we could get them out. I think I bugged her enough this past checkup to get a pediatric ENT consult!

Matthew has suffered for years with stuffy nose, snoring, hoarse voice, and tonsils the size of an adult male! Unfortunately (or I guess fortunately) he has never had a throat infection so my doctor never considered taking them out.

When we went today, I explained all of his symptoms. He took one look in Matthew's mouth and said, "When do you want to get these guys out of here?"

I was happy to hear that he would take the tonsils and adenoids out, but got slightly nervous when he made me sign the consent form showing every possible post op problem. I know they have to do that for legal reasons, but scary none the less when thinking about my baby.

Matthew got scared talking to the doctor and cried from his office to the car. He always does much better when we can sit and talk it out and once I explained to him that after the surgery he could have all the ice cream he wanted and that they might use laughing gas on him, his disposition completely changed! I don't know if they use laughing gas at all, but he was thrilled at the prospect.

I am excited that they will be able to get him in in two weeks since Bryon is taking the week off.

Other than that, I have stayed busy (like everyone else) baking for parties and getting ready for Matthew's school party. So busy, but so much fun!

Ghosts of Christmas Past

No more sweaters with goofy images on them!

This picture taken at Holiday in the Park at Six Flags makes me laugh.
We (Mom or I) buy Christmas sweaters for the boys every year after Christmas for the next year. I guess last year was the last year to do that!

Matthew has put a ban on "sweaters with goofy snowmen on them"! Thomas looked adorable in his, Matthew refused to wear it with the snowman showing. He would much prefer to wear in inside out and backwards (notice the tag in front).

I forced him to wear a different one to church this morning. Jilinda asked Matthew what was on his sweater. He huffed and puffed and covered his sweater immediately.

"Plain sweaters from now on, Mom!"

I wasn't expecting the "I am too cool for you" business for a few more years!


You tell me which one looks goofy! ;)

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Tomorrow is Thomas's 4th birthday and I wanted to say a very happy birthday to him!

Four years ago tonight I was in utter agony. Of my three pregnancies, this one was the worst. Sciatica was a huge problem and I couldn't move a foot without pain. I was a little depressed thinking that I had more than two weeks to go before my due date on Christmas Day.

The next afternoon, Monday, Dec. 10th labor started! I was so excited! Not only was I about to not be pregnant, but it was my Dad's birthday and I couldn't think of a better present for him!



I went to the hospital and everything went smoothly. Of all my pregnancies, this was the easiest labor and delivery! The only funny conversation I had was with the delivery doctor. I had been telling my doctor for weeks that Thomas was bigger than Matthew and he said probably not. The delivery doctor (not my normal O.B., who was at a Christmas party) checked me right before Thomas came and said that he might be 7 pounds. A few minutes later, out popped my 9 lb. 3 oz. beauty! Goes to show mothers know better than doctors sometimes!


From the moment he was born, Thomas was a completely different child than Matthew. I remember telling my mom that when he was 6 hours old! The nurses had to "mess" with him a little to get him to cry. He just seemed so content and easy going.
Fast forward 4 years later and he still is the same way. I can honestly say that he has never given us any trouble and has been a joy to raise. From my fat Gerber baby, to my beautiful 2 year old with a headful of blonde curls, to now my sweet and sensitive 4 year old, we wouldn't trade him for the world!











Thomas is the perfect middle child. He is just as content tackling Buddy playing football as he is holding ME on his lap and kissing her. He is also very sensitive to the needs of his siblings.

"I am so excited about Christmas! Buddy will love getting presents!"

Also, he never gets out of the minivan until I have taken out ME.
"I don't want her to be lonely when everyone gets out of the car."

Thomas has always been a ray of sunshine in our lives. The child who delights in giving us the "warm fuzzies". We couldn't love him anymore!
Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

Need to vent

Not in the best mood this morning! I was so excited about the snow/ice storm coming our way. It is one of my favorite things. I love being forced to stay home all day with nowhere to go. What a luxury! All day the temperature kept dropping into the 20s. I knew that Matthew's school would get cancelled.

No such luck. I woke up this morning and it hardly looked snowy/icy at all. School wasn't cancelled, it was just delayed 2 hours so instead of me staying home and Bryon taking Matthew to school, I have to get everyone bundled up to take him 2 hours late.

Mother's Day Out; however, was cancelled. I was counting on today because I had a hair appointment that I made in September for this morning and lots of Christmas shopping to do!

Aaaaarg!

2 cakes, 2 birthday boys, and 1 confused almost 4 year old

Several weeks ago, we had the boys' friends birthday party. This was confusing for Thomas because Matthew turned 6 the day before the party so he technically was 6 at his party.

"So am I 4 now?" he asked.

"Um, not exactly. You will be 4 in a few weeks."

He did get to open some presents a few weeks ago from my in laws while they were in town. This helped pacify him.

Tonight, we had birthday cake for Thomas and my Dad, who shares the same birthday as Thomas. My sister and her husband are leaving in the morning for New York and Dad is going out of town Thursday, so this was the only night we could do it.

"So, now and I four?"

"Um, not exactly. You get to open a few more presents tonight but your real birthday isn't until Saturday."

Poor, confused Thomas!

This year, I decided on a red velvet cake. Thomas has been obsessed with the color red for most of this year so I thought it was pretty appropriate. I had never made one before but a good friend of mine makes a great one so I used her recipe. I guess I missed a step or the planets weren't alligned but it was a total flop. Tough, not sweet, soggy, yuck.

In the trash can it goes! I had 30 minutes until I had to pick up the kids so I ran to the grocery store to buy more red food coloring and they were out. Aaaaaargh!
Picked up the kids and went to another grocery store. Success!

When I got home, ME was very fussy and into everything so I had to hold her throughout most of the baking process with RVC #2. Fortunately it was a success and I was able to present it to my family without humiliation.

When I cut into it, he got so excited! Definitely the right choice this year!

Monday

Yesterday evening was lots of fun. First, Matthew had his first piano recital! I was completely nervous for him. I remember being petrified before all of my ten years worth of recitals so I think I was projecting on him! He was oblivious to the possiblity of getting stage fright and he played his two pieces perfectly. Never have I heard a more awe-inspiring interpretation of Old McDonald! ;)

Matthew reaction, "This was the first time I have been on stage and had an audience!" I am sure the first of many! We now have a one month break before lessons start again. Hallelujah!

This was one of my favorite recitals to attend. Twelve kids played and it was over in 20 minutes!

Afterward, Lauren and I took him to Fazolis for a celebration dinner.

While Aunt Lauren, ME, and I were at the recital, Thomas went to Nana's to make sugar cookies. He had a great time cooking and spending time with Nana and Deedah.

A fun evening had by all!

Gift of a weekend

Recently, our preacher preached on gratitude. One of my favorite "nuggets" from that sermon was to consider small, wonderful, unexpected happiness as a gift from God. I feel like this past weekend was a gift! We had only one thing to do and the rest of the time was spent having quiet family time at home. A calm before the Christmas storm, if you will.

The highlight of the weekend was Historic Waco's Breakfast with Santa and Santa Wonderland. One of SG's and my good friends headed it up and it was lots of fun! The kids got to eat breakfast, watch monkey tricks, meet Santa, go on a horse drawn carriage, ride a Christmas train, get their faces painted, etc.

The highlight of this event was not meeting Santa, it was meeting Shawn Bell, the quarterback for Baylor. For those of you not familiar with Baylor football, you have to know there wasn't a huge line to see him. We almost had a winning record this year which is better than the last, say, 10 years. Despite all of this, my boys idolize Shawn Bell. They have his jersey. Matthew writes about Shawn Bell in his journal at school incessantly. Matthew cried when he didn't start the UT game.

Several of the Baylor athletes were in a line ready to sign autographs but the boys were locked in on Shawn Bell.

"Are you the real Shawn Bell?" asked Matthew, eyes wide as saucers.

"I am sorry you didn't get to go to a bowl game." said Thomas always ready to make someone feel better.

"Wow you played great in the Oklahoma State game." said a still awestruck Matthew.

Shawn, who I am sure is not used to so much idolization, hollered over to his father, "Dad, you have got to meet these kids!"

The boys talked to Shawn's father and then when it was time to leave, Shawn gave Thomas a hug.

"Shawn Bell hugged me! Shawn Bell hugged me!" Thomas said jumping up and down.

What a sweet moment! The boys then proceeded to get their faces painted. Not with bugs, butterflies, or other things the kids were doing but with BU #11. They then rushed back over to show him. I think he was genuinely touched as were the boys.

The rest of the weekend was spent watching football, cooking, and me getting over the second strep infection in a month. No one in the family is getting it but me. My doctor seems to think that Matthew is a carrier. He is picking it up at school and transferring it to me without him getting sick. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

70-3 Texas!

Apparently, Matthew is now a new recruit to the Longhorns fan base. After their stunningly large victory over Colorado for the Big 12 championship yesterday, Matthew wrote

70-3
TEXAS

very largly in black permanent marker on Thomas's back! I am just about ready to send him back to the boy store!

Making fudge with Nana!

Unfortunately, my Dad was out of town so there are no pictures of Mom with Matthew but I still think these pictures are cute! Mom has had lots of fun with Matthew tonight painting, watching Christmas specials, and of course, making fudge! I will try to take some in the morning when we pick him up.

Pajama Time!

Today was pajama day at school. The kids got to go to school in their pjs and also bring their pillow and sleeping bag. I had to scrounge to find a pair of pajamas for him. PJs for Matthew usually consist of a pair of underwear! Matthew was so excited that he didn't have to get dressed today!

He woke up, got his pillow, sleeping bag, books, and stuffed animal together and left. The next thing I know, Thomas quietly went and changed into the identical pajamas that Matthew was wearing, put a stack of books together, and brought them into the living room while holding onto his favorite stuffed animal! He was trying to be just like Buddy!

Pajama Day was fun. Another mother and I came in to read stories to the kids and I made red and green sugar cookies for the kids' snack. What a fun day!

Christmas cookies!

Tomorrow night, Matthew is going over to my parent's house for his annual date with my mom to make fudge. Since he was 2, this has been a special tradition. When I ask Matthew what his favorite thing about Nana is, he always says, "Making fudge with her!"

This year, Thomas is going to join the tradition by going on a separate night to make red and green sugar cookies. Thomas, my football junkie, is excited about making Baylor and Alabama cookies! Mom's plan is to find a special Christmas cookie that she makes with each of her grandchildren.

Every year there are 5 cookies that are found in Mom's (and now my) kitchen. Christmas wouldn't be the same without them!

1. Red and green sugar cookies-These aren't the ordinary sugar cookies. She uses powdered sugar rather than regular sugar. These are probably my favorite!

2. Sand tarts-The little snowballs of joy! We were always instructed to put the whole thing in our mouths so as not to spew powdered sugar everywhere! These are our friend, Paul's, favorite cookie.

3. Fudge- I am not a big fudge lover, but I love Mom's (and Matthew's) fudge. The best I have ever tried!

4. Peppermint bark- I loved it as a little girl because it is PINK!

5. Almond toffee- Stick-to-your-teeth good!

Every year, new items are introduced. Some don't make it back. These are always there year after year.

What about you?

A lesson in humility in order

One thing I have always loved about Matthew is that he travels to the beat of a different drum. He likes being with everyone but doesn't feel a need to "fit in". When I ask him who his favorite friend is, he usually says, "Everyone!"

Imagine my surprise when we were walking down the hall recently. Several kids came up to him and said, "Hi, Matthew!" He looked at me with a smug face and said, "I am so popular! I have waited my whole life for this!"