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

Dentist,Dr,Therapist, Psychologist, etc. etc.

I had 5 at the dentist today. For some reason it seems this month is full of appointments. I haven't had a totally free day in such a long time. DJ was sick Sunday and had to go to the ER for fluids. Scared the life out of me. It sure seemed a lot more serious than a stomach virus, but he is fine now. I have a DR appointment myself tomorrow, and then we have a psychologist appointment on Thurs. And then another Dr. appointment on Friday. I have a school conference on Wednesday. That's another week with no breaks. I don't feel physically tired when I have lots of road trips for weeks straight but I can tell it mentally. I forget and I'm more irritable. I can't wait for Christmas Break. I'll surely get some rest then as I don't make appointments when everyone is home so I don't have to worry about a sitter. I don't know of any one else who wants to sit home with 18 kids to get a break. LOL

Home Visit

Tomorrow we will have a home visit to update our home study. I still haven't gotten all of the paperwork done that needs to be completed. I've been busy with shopping and decorating. I love the Holidays! I especially love it when everything is tidy and in order. The only time I can enjoy a clean house is at night after all the kids go to bed. During the day as soon as one room is complete and I finish another the first room needs cleaning again. The kids have played in the house most of the day today with the boys going out just a little while this afternoon. The girls are more content to sit and color, or do lite brite, or sing on the karaoke while the boys want to be out side where they can burn off energy. Oh if I just had that much energy I could get all the house done in a matter of minutes! Oh well, slow and steady.

I so hope we have more luck with being chosen for children this year than we had in 2009. All of the children presented to us were just not good matches for out family. I'm praying the right ones will come along all in God's timing. God Bless all the children waiting for families.

Boys Boys Boys

This past weekend we totally cleaned out the 6 oldest boys rooms. Oh My! I don't know what else to say. I couldn't believe it when we got everything out. We painted walls and scrubbed floors, cleaned light fixtures, fixed drawers, folded clothes, emptied toy boxes and THREW away a ton of stuff. We also found the last 40 or so pair of socks that nobody knew what happen to. Usually after the kids turn 14 or 15 I don't clean their rooms. I go nosing around in them but not really cleaning. The last overhaul these rooms had was back in the early spring. I guess I will continue monitoring the 17,16, and 15 year old rooms. They are pigs! The girls also painted their room. It got the beds rearranged and comforters washed and things a bit more organized but it was nothing like the boys. The sad part is they could not understand why I was so upset with them. What? It's not that bad. That is honestly what they said to me. Well it looks great now, but how long they keep it that way depends on how much I harp about it. I guess I'll be hoarse for a while.