New 'do!

I did it.  

I can't believe I did it.

But I did it.  

Just now.

It's something we've talked about for a long while.

At least MONTHS now.

But I've been waffling back and forth.

Part of me wanting to.

Part of me NOT wanting to.

Finally, 

today

was

THE

DAY!

What do you think??

For the record, Eleanor LOVES her new cut.  I'm sure I'll love not having to comb through tangles and/or braid it every night.  I'm also sure that I'll miss her long locks.  She looks like a bigger kid now.

Back to the Grind

Christmas is over.  The kids are all nestled in their beds.  The remnants of a great Christmas Day have (mostly) been picked up. The overflowing counter-full of dishes has been diminished to a much smaller amount, awaiting their turn for a wash in the dishwasher.

I'm just about ready to call it a night.  As soon as I unload the dishwasher.  And then re-load the it.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful, joyous day of celebrating with their friends and family!

Cookies for Santa

Yesterday afternoon, the kids decorated a few dozen Brown Sugar and Spice Cut-out Cookies.  I mixed up a few batches of royal icing and colored them.  I had bought some squeeze bottles at one of the big box craft stores the other day for just this purpose.  Best idea I've ever had, as far as cookie decorating is concerned!

The kids all had a blast!  Santa sure had some yummy cookies to snack on last night.  There are more than enough left over to share with our guests today.  

Merry Christmas!!

May your living room be as chaotic as ours is!

Twas the Night Before Christmas (Mommy Edition)

I saw this poem earlier.  I couldn't help but want to share it.  I posted it as my Facebook status, so you may have already seen it.  Still, I know at least a couple of my regular readers are not on Facebook, and I wanted to share this with them too.  Enjoy!

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hopes we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet (not asleep) in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And, thanks to Grandpa, a train with a toot!

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat....
Let no parts be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns or replacement;
If we can't get it right, it goes in the basement!

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, concise, but not clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if we failed, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than eagles the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!

Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand."
"Honey," said hubby, "you just glued my hand."
And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact 

To keep parents busy all Christmas Eve night
With "assembly required" till morning's first light.
We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work,
Till our eyes, they went bleary; our fingers all hurt. 

The coffee went cold and the night, it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.
Then laying the tools away in the chest,
We fell into bed for a well-deserved rest. 

But I said to my husband just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.
Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
And not have to run to the store for a thing! 

We did it! We did it! The toys are all set
For the perfect, most perfect, Christmas, I bet!"
Then off to dreamland and sweet repose I gratefully went,
Though I suppose there's something to say for those self-deluded... 

I'd forgotten that BATTERIES are never included!

We survived!

Okay, so the weekend is over.  But I'm not yet back to work (the boss offered to let me take today off, rather than go in to work for only an hour or so).  So, technically, it's still my weekend.

We all survived my first week of working rather well, if I do say so!

We're still adjusting, but I'm fairly confident everyone will be unscathed from the changes we've made.

While Gordon will at least start dinner preparations before I get home most nights, he didn't have to on Tuesday.  My friend, Tracey, had talked to me on last Sunday, about my upcoming first week of work.  She said she'd like to make dinner for us one night.  So she made us homemade chicken parmeson, buttered penne, italian bread, and chocolate chip banana bread for dessert.  It was SO delicious!  (and a whole lot better than the fish sticks Gordon had cooked the night before!)

Christmas is tomorrow.  Lots of things to be done around the house.  There is simply no way I'll be able to get to it all.  Time to dig in deep and remember not to sweat the small stuff.  Decorating cookies with my kiddos is FAR more important than scrubbing the bathroom.

Merry Christmas to all!  May you enjoy the joy and peace of the season with your loved ones.

Quick, Fly-by Check-in

Good Thursday morning, peeps!

I don't have a lot of time -- should be getting dressed and "putting my face on".  I just wanted to let you know how we've been so far.  I've been working for three days now.  We're all adjusting pretty well.  There are a few kinks we need to work on, but for the most part, everyone at the Crazy House is doing just fine with this new schedule.

I plan to make a more detailed post at some point between now and Sunday evening.  Gotta go now, before I end up making myself late for work!

First Day Done!

I did it.  I got through my first day of work.  Better yet, I'm looking forward to going back today!

I hate feeling like I don't know what I'm doing, but hope to pick it up rather quick.  Sandra, the gal who is training me, is nice.  Actually, ALL of the girls in the office are nice.

Getting home last night, and having the children greet me at the door (rather than me greeting them as they get off the bus) was really nice.  Odd, but nice.  It felt good to come home to my welcoming family after an honest day's work.

I wonder if/when the novelty of it all is going to wear off.  I pray that I don't find myself becoming all "ho-hum" with the drudgeries of working every day.  May EVERY day be as adventurous as the first!

Newsbreak

**  I started writing this post on Friday.  I had to walk away.  It was too hard, hit too close to home for me.  Now I will try to finish typing it up and get it posted.  I can't NOT pay tribute.**

I'm sure you have already heard about the massacre that occurred at an elementary school in Connecticut today.  Thankfully, that town is nowhere near where we live.  My babies are safe from harm.

My heart aches.  I ache for the children of the Sandy Hook school.  I ache for the teachers.  I ache for the families.  I ache for the first responders.  I just ache.

May each and every one of the people affected by this tragedy feel the loving touch of God.  May His grace fill them with a calming peace.  May they know He is at their side as they go through the first few difficult days ahead.

Getting ready for the adventure

Today's the day.  I will re-join the world.  I get to pretend to be someone besides Wife and Mommy.  I start my job!

So far, the morning has gone rather well.  I woke, made Gordon's lunch, and sipped my cup of coffee.   I instructed Will to get dressed.  I assembled Will's lunch and Nora's snack.  I sipped my coffee some more.  I pulled out clothes for Nora and told her to get dressed.  I made my own lunch.  I topped off my coffee (mostly to heat it up a bit) and sipped some more.

Now, I'm waiting for my oatmeal to finish cooking.  Once I've eaten breakfast (and ensured I will NOT spill any on myself), I will get myself dressed.  By then, I expect Will's bus to be here to pick him up for school.

Once Will has been happily sent off to school, I can fix my hair and put my face on.  By then, it should be just about time to take Nora to the sitter's.  And then the real adventure begins!

Getting my ducks in a row

This is my last week.

My last week of volunteering at the elementary school during the school day.  My last week of running errands while everyone is off at school or work.  My last week of greeting the children when they get off the bus.  My last week of being a homemaker.

In anticipation of starting my new job next Monday, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row.  I finished planning out the dinner menus for the rest of this month.  I'm working on mentally preparing the kids.  I'm completing the necessary paperwork for their new babysitter.  I'll be grabbing the bus forms from the elementary school, so the Littles will be allowed to actually get off the bus at their babysitter's house.

I'm nervous as heck, just thinking about the changes coming to our family.  But I know this is what is best for me.  It is what is best for our family.  We will all adjust.  We will grow.  We will thrive.

Anxious

It used to be that I would use the word "anxious" to mean excited.  Happily excited.  Energized and looking forward to a special happening.

Now, when I say, "anxious," I mean nervous.  Frozen with fear.  Sick to my stomach with trepidation.

I have battled anxiety for a number of years now.  Sometimes it's a minor nuisance.  Sometimes it's almost debilitating.

I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety and anxious moments lately.  Earlier this week, I had a job interview.  Lots of anxiety about that.

Even more anxiety has ensued ever since.  Questioning whether or not I was really ready for this next step in my adult life.  Worry over the logistics taking this job will require.  Fear that I will make the wrong choice. (and will, therefore, regret my decision)

The biggest step, for me at least, in battling anxiety is facing the fear.  Looking the obstacle in the eye, squaring my shoulders, and dealing with it head on.  Holding my head high, and faking it till I make it.

I will face this latest anxiety head on in just over a week, on December 17th.  It will be my first day working outside of the home in almost 8 years.  I am sure to continue feeling anxiety for a few more weeks, into the new year.  But I'm going to continue forward.  I will not let anxiety get the best of me.  I will not allow it to keep me frozen in my tracks.  I will not let it hurt my family, because I'm too afraid of the next step.

Almost normal!

It has been over two months since my surgery.  I'm not 100% healed yet, but am close enough.  I'd say it's about 98.5% healed.

I've been anxious to wear something besides my sneakers and one pair of ballet flats.  I've missed wearing my dress boots.  I've missed my heels even more!

Yesterday I decided I'd give heels a try.  I figured I might have some tenderness.  In case it was too uncomfortable, I brought along a comfy pair of flats to change in to.

I really think that I'd have made it through church just fine.  I would have, honestly, had Nora not accidentally kicked my foot RIGHT ON my incision site.  Three times.  Each time was definitely accidental, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

Maybe next week will be a little easier.

Seven Years

Our boy is now seven years old.  Seven years!  Hard to believe, but easy to see.  He's definitely no longer our "little man".  He's a big kid.

We celebrated Will's birthday with a couple of his friends on Saturday.  Rather than have a party, Will opted to invite two friends to go to the movies.  We saw Wreck-It Ralph.  After the movie, we had cupcakes and opened presents at the house.

Will reports this was a very good birthday celebration!

Out-takes

It's that time of year.  The time when I try to corral the family to sit together nicely.  When I attempt to get a picture of everyone looking in the proper direction, smiling, and sitting up straight.  AT THE SAME TIME.

It's time to create our annual Christmas card.  I like to torture myself include a picture of the children, if not the whole family in the design.  

This year was especially difficult to get the perfect shot.  We ended up trying two different nights.  We had composition problems.  We had attitude problems.  We had wardrobe malfunctions.  We had background issues.  We had timing mis-queues.  We even had camera/tripod problems.

Finally I declared us done.  I'll figure something out for our cards.  I simply couldn't torture any of us any further.  Here are some of the out-takes:

Nora wasn't quite done with portrait time, so the girls and I took just a couple more shots.  Those weren't much more successful than the entire family....

One day we'll look back on all of these silly, not-quite-right photos and laugh.  Right?