After The Christmas Chaos

It has been a wonderful holiday! Christmas is always such chaos at our house and it doesn't let up until after the New Year. Here is a little recap of the last few days...

Wednesday was a short day from school. After school we went to Grandma's to paint ornaments which turned out really cute.

Thursday was really hectic! I spent the day cleaning, baking, and getting everyone ready for our family parties. First we went to my Aunt Pat's clubhouse for dinner. Everyone brought their favorite homemade soups and appetizers. Everything was perfect! It was awesome spending Christmas with my grandparents, aunts and cousins. I am truly blessed to have such a great family. Then we rushed over to John's Mom and Dad's house where all his siblings were waiting. I brought a bunch of desserts and the kids had a great time opening presents. We were all very tired when we got home at 11PM but didn't got to bed until after 2AM, WTH?

Friday, the kids woke up by 8AM and were really happy with what Santa surprised them with. Olivia got an even newer cell phone (this one is a smartphone with internet and TV) a ton of clothes, and a Ninetendo Dsi with several games. Damon got a new flat screen TV, a new dresser, Devaster Transformer, and a Ninetendo Dsi with several games. Jasmine got a ton of Littlest Pet Shop, My Little Pony, and Strawberry Shortcake toys. John got his flat screen TV and a BlueRay DVD player. I got a new toaster oven, The Perfect Brownie Pan, hot rollers, and an online class that I will be taking in a few weeks.

We had my family over for breakfast and by that afternoon, I was spent. I had the worst migraine I have had in a long time. I spent most of the day in bed fighting the urge to puke. Sooo not fun! My little family ended up missing going to my Aunt Bonnie's for Christmas dinner because I was so sick.

Saturday I was still recovering from the migraine but felt well enough to go to John's friends house for another Christmas party. We had a great time! It was great seeing a few old friends and catching up with everybody. I was really glad I went.

Sunday all the decorations went down and gifts got put away. It took all day, but for the most part, it is done. After all of the cleaning, we went to have turkey dinner with Mema and Poppie at my mom's.

We have a really busy week in front of us, but I'm hoping to schedule some time to just sit and relax. The girls are going with my SIL to Build-A-Bear Workshop tomorrow and Liv gets "spacers." Tuesday, John is going skiing with his sister and brother. Thursday we are having a New Years Party.

Here's a few pictures of the kids with some of their toys, I stole them from my SIL's Facebook page. I was sooo not in the mood to take pictures this holiday. So I didn't have a single picture to share. Sorry!

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Today we made Gingerbread Houses!

These pictures are really bad. I have no idea how to take pictures with my new flash unit. :( It looks like we live in some kind of dungeon even with every light in the house on. I promise I don't live in a dark cave!

Monday Already?

I can't believe that it's Monday already. Boy, this weekend went by fast. Not to mention, Christmas is only a couple of days away! We had a few last minute things to do, like making "Friend Gifts." Damon is such a boy and could careless about making gifts for friends. Actually Jassy didn't care to much about it either and Liv & I ended up making the necklaces for Jassy's classmates.










Of course we let her take all the credit...




Liv made her friend's a snowflake bracelet.





And of course one for herself...




Saturday, we spent the afternoon at IKEA. We told the kids that if they behaved we would get them a yummy yogurt. Unfortunately, the yogurt machine was broken and the kids were devastated. The yogurt at IKEA is to dddiiiee for! So I have to admit I wanted to cry too! But we did get Damon a new dresser and a box of hardwood for my "Photo Floor."


Sunday, was my day to catch up with housework and a few things I needed to get done for the week ahead of us.


Damon is still recovering from a horrible ear infection. He missed another few days of school last week. But he is doing a lot better! I just hope that it goes away and stays away this time. Otherwise, the Doctor says he will need a series of painful shots for three days in a row. OUCH!


One thing I forgot to mention is that Olivia is getting braces! She is really excited about it too! It's going to be a long process but I'm really happy for her. John and I think that teeth are very important. Both of us had a lot of work done on ours and knew our children were going to need to put in work to get their smiles perfect. We have both agreed that we would do whatever it takes! I just hope Olivia knows what she is in for!

Our Visit With Santa Claus

We took the kids to see Santa Claus yesterday. I was amazed how expensive the pictures are now. It cost $30 for a few pictures and the copyright, yikes! Last year I thought they let me take my own picture. This year you could take your own picture, but you still had to pay the $30 for the release. I just let them take the damn thing! I then went home and Photoshopped it to make it my own.

We went to Grandma & Grandpa's to take a few family pictures. Here's a couple of my kids:

Jassy wouldn't let me take any pictures of her at Grandma's, the one pictured above is from the mall. She was a little nervous about seeing Santa!

Christmas Recitals, Sleepovers and More...

I have been running around for the last couple of weeks like a turkey with it's head cut off. I used to be so good at Christmas shopping and would have it all done before Thanksgiving, but for the last couple of years that has not been the case. I am proud to say that I am finally done. I'm done decorating. I'm done shopping. I'm done wrapping. I'm done cussing. We are just waiting for a present to be delivered for my FIL and we still need to shop for one SIL, but other then that, we are done. I have been wrapping presents for the last week now, and am so glad for that part to be over with. We delivered the neighbor gifts this evening and teacher gifts go out tomorrow! For the next week and a half I get to relax and enjoy the fun things about Christmas. We have plans to go see the lights at Thanksgiving Point and make Gingerbread Houses. I ordered craft kits for the kids to put together for friend gifts and those should be delivered in the next couple of days.

This weekend was a busy but fun one. Saturday- Olivia had a Christmas Recital and after that, her and Damon spent the night with my Aunt MaChee for her Annual Christmas Sleepover. We met up with Yvette, Mom, Mike and Danielle at the Olive Garden for a late dinner. Sunday I had a Ladies Only Christmas Ornament Exchange at my house. We had a great time! Thanks to all who made it.

The kids have missed a ton of school the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping that we make it through the next week and a half without any sick days. Not to mention, Mommy needs a few hours to run errands and to be alone!!! All these days of taking care of sick babies while trying to get ahead for Christmas has really caught up to me and I'm exhausted.

I took a picture of our tree and put a fun texture over.

Sorry I haven't been updating my blog very often lately. Now that it is Christmas, all my free time is spent shopping and wrapping. My kids and I, have been sick most of this week and on Monday all three kids had a fever. We are all feeling better except for Jassy, she is still not feeling well.

I also want to apologize if you left a comment and it wasn't published. I had forgotten that I set my blogs up for comment approval and accidentally erased a bunch of comments thinking the emails were just telling me that someone had left a comment. I forgot that I needed to approve it first. Silly Me!

Festival of Trees 2009

Olivia had her first Dance Recital yesterday at The Festival Of Trees. She was pretty nervous but did an amazing job!