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Alyssa’s birthday followed by my birthday combined with Christmas parties at the school, school Christmas music concerts, and Christmas all in one week, makes for some craziness.  Alyssa has been waiting for her birthday for a very long time.  We decided not to make her wait to open her presents any longer.  We made a big breakfast for her followed by opening presents in her pj’s.  Then off to the rest of our crazy day, Tanner’s class party, and swimming for Alyssa’s birthday.  I asked her if she wanted to have a birthday party, she did not, all she wanted was to go swimming, so swimming is what we did.

I find it funny that Alyssa refers to her self as the Princess, and will declare herself happy or unhappy.  She got in the van, and was convinced that when she turned three she would be able to reach the “Oh Crap” handle as I like to call it.  I got her all strapped in and got in the drivers seat when she starts to scream and cry.  I turn around to have her yell “The Princess is not happy”.  Seriously, I don’t have time for an unhappy princess.  So I calmly ask her why, and she says that she isn’t three because she can’t reach.  That she is still two and that if she was really three she would be able to reach.  Sigh… I explained of course, and told her it takes all year to grow, so let’s hope by four she can reach.

Alyssa has been insisting on doing everything in threes all week.  Three stories at bed, three stuffed animals to sleep with, three pieces of candy, three chunks of sandwhich etc.  I enjoy seeing her enthusiasm for turning three.

I’m looking forward to Christmas, but I’m also looking forward to the New Year.  I’ve been thinking a lot about goals and things I’d like to accomplish this coming year.  It’s going to be an exciting year, hopefully with a lot of positive change, and exciting adventures.

Alyssa at Tanner’s class party doing crafts with us, the only good picture of her on her birthday the first ones are just after waking up and the last one is after swimming and a bath and back in pj’s.

Before she turns 3, we just wanted to record Alyssa singing her ABCs. She’s a little quiet on the video (turn the volume up), but I think this is about as good as it gets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hek3BFF2j4

While I was at it, she wanted to sing “twinkle little star” too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRwOCd9PH2k

I got Alyssa all ready to leave, bundled up warm and in pants.  I went to do something so that we could leave, and when I called for Alyssa to come she was in a tutu, with ballet slippers on.  I was frustrated, and got fairly upset with her, because if anyone knows me I hate to be late, and this had set me back on my time line.  She looked at me with her big eyes filled with tears, and said that she was going to get nothing for Christmas because she was on the naughty list now.  I grabbed her and gave her a big hug, apologized for getting upset and told her she was not on the naughty list, that she just needed to check with me before changing her clothes.  Today I’m feeling pretty sad, because I behaved like a 2 year old today.  No I didn’t get in a tutu before I needed to go somewhere, but I might as well have.  I argued with someone today in front of other people, and in front of my children.  I didn’t show a good example to them of how adults resolve their problems.  I start to think I’m maturing, I’m growing up, and wont succumb to childish behavior, only to do so.  Now I’m not going to go into details so don’t ask.  I have an issue that I can’t seem to get over.   I feel like I have been given mission impossible, that I go to great lengths to accomplish, a fair amount of personal sacrifice, and I’m fine with that, other than the fact that no matter how hard I try, it is impossible for me to succeed.  It’s a frustrating situation to be in.  So tonight, I’m done, I’m done arguing like a two year old.  I will let it go, I will learn a lesson from it, and I will move forward trying to show my children the correct way to deal with conflict.  I really hate feeling like an idiot, but tonight that is what I feel like.   I have a feeling I’m getting nothing for Christmas.  Better yet, someone send me a filter that fits between my brain and my mouth.

Hallie has become a great addition to our family.  Everyone has such love and compassion for this tiny helpless little thing.  They find great joy in her smiles, and sounds, and messy little faces.  She in return gives them the best little slobbery baby kisses, and is always excited to see them.  They all change diapers, and pick out her clothes, and take a lot of pride in helping me with her.  Last night Aubrey put her to sleep, she has a very natural motherly nature about her, and Hallie is very comfortable with her.  Tanner has had a little harder time finding a way to bond with her.  He has been taking Hallie from me to go and play with her, he has a great plan to teach her to crawl.   If he only knew how much harder his life will be once she can crawl he wouldn’t think this was such a great idea.  He puts toys in front of her, and tries to show her how to move her legs to get to the toy.  I figured she is way too young to crawl, and she’s having a good time with his game, so no harm done.  Yesterday he made a break through, and I am going to have to find another game for him to play with her.

Stop It!

We have lived in Northern Nevada for 10 years now.  There have been years with lots of snow, and years with very little snow, but today they called an official snow day at the school.  The kids have been outside in the snow since 7:00am, that is following a large breakfast so you can imagine what time they were awake at.  They just came in and asked us to take them to a hill for sledding, it is 8:30 in the morning.  I told them to come in, dry off, warm up and we’d go later this afternoon.  It is supposed to snow all day long, so there will still be snow later on.  Often it snows, and the snow is melted by early afternoon, which is why they are probably desperate to go right now.  I assured them that there will be snow after lunch, and for now they need to come in and do some chores.  Does that qualify me as a scrooge Mom?  Chores on a snow day?  A few pictures from this morning:

Tonight was the Christmas concert at the school.  Anytime you have bunches of little kids singing songs, it’s bound to be a winner.

I am not much of a princess. I’m sure I have aspects of my personality that my husband would say are worthy of the title princess, but when it comes to clothes, hair, makeup, and all things girlie, I wouldn’t describe me as princess worthy.  Emma and Aubrey, for the most part, aren’t princesses either.  Aubrey likes to wear a cute dress, and they both like their hair done, and to have something nice to put on, but they aren’t demanding about what they wear.  Alyssa on the other hand is taking me down a very unfamiliar road, and I’m not sure I’m liking it.

Yesterday while trying to get Alyssa dressed I suggested that she put on a pair of jeans.  I got a turned up lip little high pitch grunt of disgust out of her.  Then she replied, “I AM NOT A BOY!” and “Jeans are for boys.”  I assured her that I was wearing jeans, Aubrey was wearing jeans, and that Emma had jeans on also, and that we were all girls.  I got another high pitched grunt of disgust, and she walked away and came back with a tutu covered in sequins.  “This is what princesses wear.”  “No” I said, so we compromised and she put on a pair of purple pants.  I used to think that princesses were created, not born, but I can assure you that I have not purchased more pink fluffy things for Alyssa then I did for my other girls.  We had a repeat this morning, so I said to her “go, dress like a princess, so I know what a princess looks like.”  This is what I got:

So she won today, I let her hang out just like this all day, and she was so happy.  I did suggest before we took Aubrey to school that she put on a little dress that matches those tights, and she complied.  I’m not sure what to do with this child.

Aubrey has a pair of jeans that she grew too tall for, but they were still in good shape.  She needed a new pair of jeans, so I fixed them up for her.  I think she likes them even better than before!

Yesterday I went visiting teaching, and had sort of a flash back moment.  I was remembering a visiting teaching trip from 10 years ago.  I had one child, and I knew EVERYTHING.  I had a partner that I really liked, she had 5 children, was building a house and was the busiest person I knew.  As I was having my flash back moment, I remembered thinking when I was with her that I would NEVER have 5 children, I would never feed my kids in the car on the way to dropping them off at some one’s house so we could go visiting teaching,  and I would never run around crazy trying to accomplish so many things in one day.  I have 5 children, and yesterday I fed my kid some fruit loops as I ran her to someone’s home so I could go visiting teaching, and then picked up my partner and explained to her that we had to stop at the bank on the way to our sister’s home because I had dropped my purse in the parking lot like some crazy lady and had to stop and pick it up because someone was nice enough to turn it in.  I realized yesterday that I, yes me, had turned into this lady.  “Now what” I said to myself.  Not only did I do everything I said I wouldn’t do but I used to know everything, and now, I have realized I know NOTHING.  Someone hold the boat, reverse, back it up people.  Where did the time go?  I plead with you, please tell me where it went.  Those mom’s I knew back then told me time would go fast, they warned me, why didn’t I listen?  Now I’m the OLD Lady with all the children, who is slightly crazy.  Sigh… I guess that’s all I have to say about that, I must think on it more. Life is good though, so good, and I wouldn’t trade these crazy years for anything, I will take the time to notice everything, I will be slow to judge, quick to forgive and I will enjoy every moment that I have been given with these 5 children that I cherish so much, and I will drive around crazy.

So it’s been a couple of crazy weeks.  Danny has been really busy with work.  A small school district here had a massive computer problem and had no back up for all of their stuff.  Danny walked them through a couple of things on the phone and told them that they’d have to send their hard drives out to have them recovered at a cost of $11,000.  He thought about it for a while, and finally called them and said if you have someone drive your server to me I will see what miracle I can perform.  They drove it to him, and he spent many hours on it in the garage, but eventually my mad scientist emerged from his man cave victorious and the little school district was very happy.  He charged them a small fee, and he quickly thanked his Heavenly Father for the gift he has been given.  I’m not sure if he’s an evil genius, mad scientist, or just a computer geek, but I’m thankful that he’s my husband.

A section that Grandmas and Grandpas can appreciate:

Emma got the first quarter academic of excellence award from her first year in middle school.  She got all A’s, and parent teacher conference had words like “ray of sunshine, delightful, beautiful child.”  We attended her first flute concert last night, and her band teacher made her stand in front of everyone to embarrass her because she had written music, and words, for a Language Arts project and then played and performed the song, the band teacher was impressed.

Tanner also got a straight A report card.  He also received the Student of Excellence award for October.  His teacher had nothing but good things to tell us about Tanner.  She said that she had sat him next to a very shy girl who was struggling, and enjoyed watching him help her, even convincing her to go and ask the teacher for help on something, and her grades were brought up because of his influence.  I recently read a note he wrote to his sisters, he put on there “you guys, are the best sisters ever.”  I had to laugh that he calls them guys, Freudian slip?

Aubrey got an equally great report, her teacher said you’d never know that she was the youngest kid in the class, she’s mature, smart, and just a great kid.  Aubrey, I worried a little more about starting school, she’s a little more stubborn than Emma and Tanner, but she is controlling herself and saving her stubbornness for me.

I guess those are my thoughts for the week, here’s hoping for a Thanksgiving holiday with family that doesn’t involve computer emergencies, like the last few weeks have had.