Christmas Vacation...How I miss you

I miss getting days off between Christmas and New Years.

I miss the time to recharge my batteries.

I miss hanging out with my kids enjoying things we got for Christmas.

I miss it.

I really do.

*Sigh*

Silent Night

We had a very meaningful service at church tonight.

Sang my favorite hymn in the dark by candlelight.

It makes me cry to think of a tiny baby born to die for us.

I love Christmas and the beauty of the Candlelight and the meaning of it all.

Christmas Spirit

I've been feeling a little Grinchy this Christmas.

I work with kids who get everything they want. Their parents spend more on childcare in a month than we spend on our mortgage payment. They have no concept of not having their basic needs met...and it's left me not feeling the most cheerful.

We celebrated the HOLIDAYs at school...couldn't leave any holiday out and yet in reality we left out Christmas. We did the trees, snowmen, stockings, wreaths but the True meaning of Christmas the giving of a Savior...that wasn't talked about at all...was even frowned upon.

Dan and I have never done Santa with our kids...they know that there was a man named St. Nicholaus who gave presents to those less fortunate but they know that he was a man. This man loved GOD and wanted to show God's love by giving to others. There is no man in a big red suit who lives at the North Pole and gives presents to good girls and boys with his magic reindeer. We watch the movies because they are fun and cute but my kids know there is nothing real about it.

Today my focus is on the Saviour coming to give the ultimate gift. The light of the World. My focus will be on giving to others because I have been given so much. My focus will be on others and not self.

The Avatar and a Sleeping Daddy

What I hear...

right now...

the cartoon Avatar playing on TV...

Dan snoring...

it's a cold and sleepy night!

Wiggly Belly

My belly can move on its own.

It jumps and launches.

It's the weirdest sensation.

It's even had the hiccups

It keeps getting bigger.

It's really firm too.

I have my own little shelf!

"Holiday" Program

We're having our "Holiday" program tomorrow...not a Christmas Program a Holiday Program.

The kids will sing Christmas songs...about Santa, Trees, and Bells...no nativity at all.
We will sing a Hanukah song...no baby Jesus in the manger.

A "holiday" a time where kids get lots of stuff but miss the one thing that they really need...and I can't really talk about it...I read a book about the Baby in the Manger today and not one of my kids could tell me what that meant...

I'm missing the joy of Christmas and the celebration of the Birth of a Savior...where I work it's all Santa and stuff...no joy...just stuff.

It's really Sad...and empy feeling...I'm thankful that I have joy in my CHRISTMAS...its more than just a Holiday!

The Little Things

The little things make me happy!

Dan got my garage door opener programmed last night...poor guy was in the freezing cold garage with just a little space heater perched on a stepstool and when he finally got it to work the heater and the garage door opener on at the same time caused the fuse to blow! So he was then cold, with the door slightly up, on a stool in the dark! Poor thing...we got the lights back on and it WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning, my work pants were still in the dryer...I had washed them last night but ran out of time to get them in the dryer...and Jaron needed to go to school so I took him in my jammies...and I didn't get out of the car once! It was so nice!

Thank you Dan for fixing the door! I love you!

Pictures from the weekend

Here's my view as I look down at my ever expanding belly!Our beautiful Christmas Tree!
My Mantel all decorated for Christmas and lit up!

The mantel not light up...still pretty!

Working Momma Woes

I'm a working Mom.

I've been a working mom for most of my kids lives and for the most part it works for us.

It wasn't working this morning.

I had a big ol helping of Momma Guilt...over my current work hours.

I've been blessed in the past to have job hours conducive to school hours. Also I have had the privilige of having my children in the same school where I teach. This is no longer the case.

The kids are now home before me...way before me.

Janea really doesn't like my hours or having a babysitter in the house...She does love our babysitter but it's not the same as having mom home.

She laid the hurt down pretty hard this morning.

My feelings were very hurt, and the wound of working late was very raw this morning.

I'll admit it, I broke, cried, and wanted to do nothing more than quit...but I didn't quit.

I will be able to quit around the time of the baby but for now I am where I am. With lousy hours...that are hard, but we will make them work. I'm blessed to have a job...even when the blessing doesn't seem that great

Awwww...

I got home last night from work and found this....

Dan had found one of my gloves in his car and left me a message....I love you too Honey!

ugh...ugh...ugh...

that's me grunting like a caveman.

I was up for about 2 hours last night with gastrointestinal distress.

I was glad when it passed.

I did get some sleep but I am quite tired this morning.

On a completely different note...
my oldest and youngest seemed to switch places this morning.
Janea was all about getting up and ready and Jaron was being a little slothlike this morning...usually it's the other way around.

I just realized Jaron really isn't the youngest anymore...I'll have to find something different to call him...

Went shopping online for baby bedding...it's stinkin expensive! I don't know what we are going to do...I just know I am not spending a ton on bedding that the kid probably won't even appreciate....just so I can have a cute room for him.

We think we have a name...and I am being outvoted...the kids LOVE it...Dan likes it and I guess I will have to get used to it...Janea and Jaron are already calling him by this name so I guess that's that!

Dan's been sick all weekend...he's been like a hibernating bear...staying indoors, grunting alot, sneezing and coughing...I feel bad for him...he's been kinda out of it this weekend. He's off to work today and I hope he feels okay.

Jaron's better...just a virus I guess...but he did enjoy getting to go to my sonogram with me and my Mom.

Well, the baby is kicking and I just realized I gotta get my lunch ready for work...off I go...

Over Already???

Is the weekend already over?

Weekends are never long enough...especially when they are full and busy!

Saturday:
I had Christmas Cantata practice in the morning.

We ordered pizza for lunch...Papa Johns...super yummy!

I took a nap...love it!

We got ready to go run some errands...we went to the bank and things...and then decided that we should go see the lights at Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake....so pretty, so fun...such a long wait! Usually when we go the wait isn't too bad, this year it was longer than usual or just seemed longer since I needed to go the bathroom about halfway through...having a little person jumping on your bladder like a trampoline makes for terrible bathroom pains! So on the way out we stopped at CVS! So I could go potty!

Played Monopoly Streets as a family!

Sunday:
Church I love worshipping with my church family

Lunch: Taco Bueno...so yummy

Shopping with Janea: Got her a few new tops and a pair of pants, some girl stuff and a present for a family member!

Resting for a while!

Grocery Shopping...Walmart was insane!

So tonight I will take it easy and relax and prepare for the week ahead!

Outnumbered

Janea and I soon will be outnumbered. The male population will be increasing in April....the results of the sonogram is.....

BOY!!!!!

I will try to post pictures soon...need to scan them in on my parents computer...we don't have a scanner!

Thanks I needed That!

I've not been feeling real good this week.

I've been tired, crabby, not sleeping really well, and just feeling blah!

I won't call in sick for general yuckiness or anything...that isn't what sick days are for. Plus, I don't want to take advantage of my works generosity in giving time off. And they are good about trying to be accomodating for doctor's appointments or stuff like that. I did really want to call in and just have a chill day but I couldn't justify it and I wasn't really sick and if I called in sick that would be lying and that is wrong.

Jaron got sick this week. Out of the blue. Fever, coughing, ear goop, the whole nine yards! So I called in to stay home with him...a valid reason to stay home! So Jaron...thanks for getting sick! It was nice to have a day off yesterday and a morning off today...I think I needed it...I'm feeling more rested and not as yucky!

Is it wrong to be thankful for sick children?

Halfway There!

So I am 20 weeks today.

A "normal" pregnancy is 40 weeks...this means that today I hit the halfway mark for the baby!

However my two previous pregnancies ended at 38 and 37 weeks.

So I'm over halfway there!

Tomorrow is our Ultrasound to find out the growth of the baby and how it's doing...tomorrow I hope to know if the "it" is a boy or a girl. We'll be happy with whatever comes...It's getting a little bit more real. Baby J was being Ninja baby this morning!

I'm still in shock that I am pregnant!

Oh Dear

Got home from work tonight and found that Jaron was sick with a fever.

Looks like someone wont be going to school tomorrow...and I may get my day off that I've been wanting!

I'm praying that they are understanding about the kiddo being sick tomorrow!