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Keeping the focus

Truth be told, the Christmas "vacation" was challenging. No matter how I try to put it or go through it in my mind, there are no better words to describe it. Christmas always seems to hit me in a rush EVEN THOUGH i prepare for it by shopping on black Friday, arrange "fun charts", organize "job charts" and create incentives. Now, I'm not saying that I don't enjoy the break altogether, I'm just saying that overall, it isn't usually what I would envision it to be. Honestly, the first week was a week of catch up because my Christmas cards were not all out (and still aren't, and truthfully does anyone care?!) and I was bound to get them to everyone on my list (which seems to be a computer challenge each and every year) and my stress levels were high since the decorating was still in swing. Part of this was because we had decided to buy a tree and couldn't due to Steve's overwhelming work schedule. So instead of the anticipated "great experience" of picking a tree together as a family and chopping it down, we ended up pulling out the back up plan fake tree from the attic (thank you Bryon) a week before Christmas and decorating it for family home evening that night, since Christmas was fast approaching on Saturday. In my "emergency mode" I must say I wasn't feeling the true spirit of the season and was looking forward to it ending with great anticipation where I should have been looking forward to it. Since the older boys had the week off, Steve decided to take advantage of the opportunity to have them babysit Thursday so we could make a trip to Portland to go to the temple. As the week progressed and I got increasingly overwhelmed and scroogey, I told Steve I didn't think it was a good time to take an extra 6 hours out of my week. Steve was fine with my decision and let me know that regardless of my choice, he still needed to go and was still planning on it if I should change my mind. It was nice to be aware of my options and helped me feel free. Thursday morning, I found myself praying that I could make the right choice. I didn't remember this prayer until the following day, however, after I realized how I had made the right choice in what ended up being a wonderful temple trip and that desired feeling of peace and joy had finally entered my heart for the first time in weeks. Just in time for Christmas. My testimony of the power of prayer and the peace that comes through properly prioritizing our time was strenghthened. While on our 2 hour trip home, I was reminded of a recent & favorite general conference address given by President Uchtdorf that reminds us to slow down and think about the things that are more important in our lives. "Of things that matter most". After this trip, I was able to have a wonderful Christmas and make it through the following week of refereeing, entertaining, negotiating, and maid service with more enthusiasm. Finally I felt as if I didn't want the break to end (until Sunday when the children were so unmanageably wrestless that I was ready to hand them off to anyone else for awhile and get my house in order).

Now we are enjoying our visit from Grandma and Grandpa Alger as we look forward to Michael's baptism this Saturday.
I'm grateful for the many blessings in my life.

What they Say Wednesdays

Mom (creating upcoming weeks menu): "Jeremy, what would you like to have for dinner one night this week?"
Jeremy: "Pizza!"
Mom: "We're having Pizza on Friday for our New Year's eve celebration..."
Jeremy: "Well, I'm dying Wednesday at 7:36p.m."

Mom: "What?!"
Jeremy: "I can predict the future"
Mom: "Well, we're having pizza on Friday, is there anything else you want?"
Jeremy: "okay, fine. Subway sandwiches."
Mom: *sigh*

He's a fake

Jeremy wouldn't sit on Santa's lap. I guess he had these thoughts then. ?

Post Christmas in the car yesterday, the children informed me how they knew that the Santa they met this year wasn't actually the "real Santa" Clause. I asked them, how do you know he isn't real?!
Here are their "no D U H" reasons as revealed to me. In a quite convincing tone (might I add!):

1) Santa doesn't have those kind of glasses.

2) His voice ("it sounded like Brother Redford!")

3) He doesn't have freckle right here (pointing to right cheek) and His freckle "puffs out" (do you suppose that "freckle" is a mole?)

4) He has a fake beard (have to give 'em that!)

5) He didn't show me his heart underware (this is where I shrug and throw up my hands. Who can argue that? ...as my eyes practically roll out of my head.)

6) He wasn't wearing gloves (as you can see...he was, but the fact is, they were too concentrated on the puffy freckle and round glasses that are apparently supposed to be...who knows? rectangular?)

Soooo, they weren't fooled. Who knew?! Does this remind you of a song? Perhaps by the beach boys. Maybe a movie called "Elf". Those are the thoughts that were going through my head.

Brother Redford....pfff!

Miss Those Elves!

 One thing I'll miss, now that Christmas is over...

is how it seemed that every time I turned around...

There seemed to be an elf...

of one kind

or another.

In every size...

and every age!

Oh, how I'll miss those Christmas Elves! 

What They Say Wednesday

Hippies put a bunch of junk up here (in the attic).  I explained what a hippy was so that he would understand it was just a person dressed a certain way and that they don't go to random people's attics just to put junk in them. He then said, "yes, a hippy put junk up here then doorbell ditched us".

Okay, can you tell he has big brothers? Otherwise, where are all these funny ideas coming from?

Christmas, a time of Cheer!

Every year I look forward to the fun of the preparations and upcoming traditions of the Holidays with energy, excitement and much ambition.

But while in the process, I seem to spiral downhill until I just can't wait till the "big day" is over and I can just not think about it anymore. It's true. So here are a few of the things that I have realized about me in my effort to determine where the problems lie and where i need to change my expectations.

And I realize that with each intention comes a little dose of reality... 

Intention                                                                       

Baking will be a time where the children and I do some bonding as we happily make the perfect treats and listen to uplifting, high spirited Christmas music.

Reality

Where this might be the case in the beginning, but after someone adds who knows what to the cookie mix, I clean up at least 2 spills from the counter and/or floor, fingers keep digging in the dough and there is hardly anything left to bake, all I want to do in the end is get. it. over-with! Is it considered a bonding experience to snap at your children (only occassionally) and finally be relieved when they give up and leave the kitchen altogether? I didn't think so! But wait, I'm sure they still know I love them. :D *puh*

                                          (Baking for the Holidays? What a great idea! Right?)

Intention

The house will be decorated to create a warm, festive, comfortable ambiance for all who enter. They will leave with an added ounce of Christmas cheer and love for all mankind!

Reality

There are an endless amount of totes blocking passage into the mud room. Reindeer that haven't been put out yet, blocking the path from Garage door to house and the house is a mess (to put it lightly) Ev-er-y where! As well as a half hazard attempt at hanging garland on the banister and a rushed tree assembly and decorating (that actually doesn't turn out that bad after all). Toys are strewn all over the floor and shoes are anywhere you look. After all, there are at least seven pairs of them. Wait, be careful not to trip on your way down the stairs because somebody is going to actually take up that whatever they left there 2-3 days ago and ClOSE YOUR EYES because that potty training two year old is streaking in full glory again (being in a house full of boys...that's a BIG deal!).

                               (Pathetic!)



(embarassing!)
Intention
Christmas Cards will be made in October. Stresslessly addressed in November. Sent out the day after Thanksgiving.

Reality
Didn't have the time to even start cards until November. Sat down to start them only to have to order and gather necessary supplies (which didn't actually get rounded up until the middle of November) at which time life got busy and chaotic. November ended and here we are 2 weeks before Christmas frantically finishing cards and gathering addresses. Hoping for the possibility they will make it to at least half the people on the list *(which had to be re-made because of computer file loss) in time.

Intention
Christmas shopping will start during "after Christmas sales" and end just after black Friday. All presents nestled under the tree or wrapped in their "Santa hiding place". 

Reality
Totally reliant on the black Friday sales although there are a couple videos and books stashed in hiding (only because I forgot they were there to give as end of the school year gifts or Birthday presents). And...presents wrapped? Yeah. Just before the children will open them 8 hours later. Lovely. 

Sincerely. I must be doing something wrong. But all in all, in the end...at least the children are happy, caught a glimps of what is most important and, I might reluctantly add, I'm glad I went to the effort. So I must also be doing something right.

Right?

Or is this just an illusion and all the kids will need years of therapy long after they leave home?