Phew, I made it!

Well, I made it through the weekend packed with plans! YAY! We had a great time. I am tired, but I think everyone enjoyed the festivities. Now I need to wash clothes and pack for the BIG TRIP I mentioned earlier. We are heading out Wednesday morning for my husband's grandparents house in Dallas, TX. We will spend a few days there with extended family and then head to Oklahoma City to his mothers house and celebrate with his brothers and their wives and kids. A few days there and it is home for a day to wash and rest, then on to my parents in Cheyenne, WY.

I have not at all been looking forward to this trip. As a matter of fact, I was trying very hard to get out of it earlier this month. I tried bribing hubby, whining, complaining...but of course, he wants to see his family. And I admit, he doesn't get to see them often. They don't visit us and we have been a few times to see them, but at Christmas time, I like to be home. I guess that sounds selfish, but I enjoy staying home. If anyone wants to visit they are more then welcome. And so I guess it is really about time we made a trip to his family. But it still doesn't make it easy on me to have to change my traditions.

I have come to accept this trip and stop trying to get out of it. I do look forward to seeing my sister in law (wife to hubby's younger bro). Her and I get along great and can commiserate about the same family traits in our husbands and the rest of the family :) We talked last night and made plans to go see a movie when we get to TX, oh and do some after Christmas shopping as well.

So please pray for a safe trip for us and that the kids are well behaved in the car (it is a 16 hour drive to Dallas, we will do it in 2 days). Also check out another great prayer for this week leading up to our Savior's birth.

And Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!!!!!

Tis the season

So, I am reading all sorts of things about not taking your family for granted this holiday season, and not getting overly stressed, just enjoy the ride, etc. Well, I like that idea. Just have fun, make memories, don't worry about doing everything perfect. Hmmm, somehow in the midtst of my good intentions, my schedule filled up. I have been going non-stop since, umm...well, um...now that I think about it, since September! I am looking back at my calendar here. I have everything written down that was a scheduled appointment, class, field trip, playdate, trip to see my parents in WY, and dinner dates, mom's night out, dad out with the guys, (phew I am tired just reading it) and we have been running constantly for months...no wonder I am tired!

And lately I have been pretty preoccupied with all the stuff. I am caught up in what I need to accomplish and what I have left to do before the BIG TRIP, that I haven't stopped to consider what my children are going through. Like today, we were walking into Walmart and I was carrying the baby, my purse and a newly purchased Starbucks Pumpkin spice Frapuccino (venti). My sweet Princess was walking in front of me and I guess she stopped for whatever reason and I hit her head with my hand and my newly purchase aforementioned drink went tumbling to the ground. I was in a hurry; angry it spilled because 1) I just got it and had only a couple of sips 2)I am trying to be frugal so when I treat myself like that it is kind of guiltridden anyway and 3) I had just had the thought that maybe I was carrying too much and should have left the drink in the car. So I proceeded to very childishly tell her it was her fault for stopping in front of me and why didn't she watch where she was going and now I didn't get to enjoy my yummy drink...I am so ashamed.

I love my baby. She didn't mean it. I shouldn't have gotten mad. It is times like that when I feel like the worst mother in the world. And it's not like I just got over it. I stewed about it through the whole store. My hubby called and I was short with him because I was still mad. And tonight I sit here regretting it all.

And I am again looking at the schedule for the next few days, (wrapping friends gifts, baking cookies for a cookie exchange, making cookies for Literature club -we read the gingerbread man, boy and baby, carrying out a pre planned party for my husbands work friends and their families where we bake cookies and visit, still have to buy those gifts, and then there is the labeling and mailing of the Christmas cards, oh and I haven't written the Christmas letter to go with it, and there is homeschool group caroling, and then another Christmas party with church friends, not to mention wrapping "santa" presents to take-secretly- to grandmas next week, oh and washing and packing, car maintenence....) and I am overwhelmed by all the commitments, things I don't think we can just get out of as my husband suggests. I want to enjoy this time of celebration. I want to enjoy the family and friends that I am doing all this for...

Maybe next year I will learn. Maybe I will remember and choose to say no to a few more things. Maybe.

Still Learning

I am getting the hang of this blogging thing I think. I still don't have much of interest to say, but I am leaning cool things like how to link to other blogs! What a revelation! I am learning the lingo, and most importantly I am getting great holiday tips like this one from Advent for evangelicals or here at Real Learning where you can get ideas for making some holiday gifts.

I also tried a tip from Tammy who left me a comment on my post about "making" the kids pick out library books. I did as she suggested and picked out some books, left them on the coffee table, and said nothing about them. J-train picked them up and read them! I am amazed! Now if I can just figure out how to trick him into writing :)

Oh wait...I did! Over Thanksgiving I found a story he had written, comic book style, last year. At the bottom he had written "Part 1". So I read it and then said, "That was great, I wonder when Part 2 will be out?" And he spent the next few hours composing and drawing pictures for "Part 2" (and this one is coming to DVD and VHS soon LOL).

hmmm...could I trick him into cleaning the bathroom?? Maybe I shouldn't push my luck! Thanks for your help Tammy!