Christmas Cuties

Christmas Pictures

I have so many pictures it's hard to pick out which ones to post. All the kids were wonderfully happy. Still more pictures to come!

Christmas

I just wanted to say Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this Christmas so wonderful. I will post pictures soon. I can't believe it had been 6 days since I last posted! Now that everything will be getting back to normal maybe I'll be able to post more regularly. I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. God is GOOD!

Must be Love

I have had such a good weekend. No one had to be anywhere or had any events to attend. Well almost noone , some of the boys did have a wrestling match on Saturday. They had a ride (thanks coach) to the event and home from (thanks Mrs. Tara)the event. We have baked, and sang, and watched Christmas movies. It seems so much easier when school is out. Hopefully the rest of Christmas break will be so nice. The little one pictured isn't mine, but I sure do enjoy her. I am babysitting her and her two brothers. She is filling a need for me. I love babies and yes I would take another one in a heart beat. She is just too cute. I'm looking forward to this nice long Christmas break.

Christmas Party

We had a family Christmas Party Friday night and it was a blast. The kids loved making gingerbread (graham crackers) houses. They all played guitar hero and ate a ton of food. I think we ate 15 large pizzas plus lots of Christmas goodies. We made homemade chocolate covered cherries and they were delicious. I think we (mostly Kieanna) made about 300 Christmas cookies. Not all of those were eaten, but they sure were good and the kids have enjoyed those again today. We will have our traditional Christmas dinner Christmas Eve, but this was something we came up with to get everyone together and just enjoy family. Tabitha rented several movies for them to watch. I went to sleep in the chair about midnight. Finally the movie ended and I hurried everyone to bed. They were all asleep in 30 seconds flat. They never stay up that late, and some went to sleep and had to be carried to bed. We all had a great time. We still have another activity planned before Christmas. I hope it turns out as well.

School Activities

I really want my kids to enjoy school activities, but it has gotten crazy lately with everyones practices, games, matches and concerts. Last night Staisha offered to babysit for Keith and I to do a little shopping. We left at 5 p.m. We went and picked up a pizza for Staisha, then we ran to Publix to pick up milk and bread. Just as we dropped the food off at the house Krishawanda called and said she needed to be picked up from basketball practice. So we ran and picked her up, when we dropped her off Marvin met us at the door and needed to be dropped off at a band concert. So we took him and dropped him off. Anthony needed a ride from one school (where they have wrestling practice) to the high school for the band concert so we ran by to pick him up. When we got there, DJ and Daivon needed a ride home. So we took Anthony to the highschool and dropped off DJ and Daivon. Anthony called and said that he and Marvin needed to be picked up in 1 hour and 15 minutes. That sure didn't leave much time for shopping. So we ate and picked up the boys and come home. Tonight Kieanna called and said she didn't have a ride home from basketball practice. So I went and picked her up. Just as I walked back in the door Cora walked up to me and said OK I'm ready to go to my Chorus concert. So I took her to her concert. (She did great) It is past 9:30 at night and I'm waiting up on Marvin, DJ, Daivon, and Anthony to come in from a wrestling match, Krishawanda is at a basketball game and Destinee is cheering for that game, so I'm waiting on them also. Another night (I can't remember which) 4 middle school kids had a band concert and 4 highschool boys had werstling while 2 others had basketball practice. My goodness they are running me ragged. The coaches are all wonderful to help do transportation, but I know they get tired of all the hassle getting kids home too. Keith has suggested we let each child do one thing. JUST ONE. I'm not sure. They all love being involved and staying busy. I'm gonna think about it though because I'm tired of waiting up.

Thoughts

This year just like every year the kids get all stressed out and end up acting out. For the older ones it comes in short tempers and impossible expectations. For the younger ones, it's a little harder to pin point what is bothering them. All of them are excited, and happy but their is still those lingering thoughts that pop up. Like , Is my mom coming to see me this Christmas, or What would I be doing if I was with my REAL family. I try and recognize their struggles and open up conversations that will lead into us talking about whats troubling them. Working off energy helps most. It has rained so much the younger ones can't get outside and play. They are sick of movies, puzzles, and Lego's. And I am tired of them being bored. The older ones keep busy with school and church activities. I hope it doesn't rain all of Christmas break. At least they will have new "stuff" to play with. I would really like to change some of our Christmas traditions. Christmas in general has become so commercialized it's hard to remember the true meaning of Christmas on a day to day basis. I mean I know and I think about it when I'm praying and being thankful, but when I get in a store I go all crazy trying to meet every ones wants that I too become commercialized. I really enjoy Christmas and love watching the kids opening up gifts and having a good time. Thankfully our good times overshadow the hard times and acting out behaviors, and that's what my Christmas memories are made of.

random pictures