what a christmas-y week

i haven't been this busy in a while. i think i was out every day. sometimes with the kids, mostly without...yahoo!!---i love them dearly, but give me some alone time and i'm lovin' it, ya know?

last friday, i took meg to the doctor b/c i thought she had an ear infection. turns out ear wax can emit some seriously funky fumes. but, since we were there anyway she got her well baby checkup and she is almost 16 lbs. of healthy happiness. she is in the 25%.... for everyone that knows what that means... as far as height and weight.

tuesday was a night out with some girl friends. we solved all the worlds problems and had a blast "chitty chatting". that's what connor told me i did. i got home after he was in bed that night and the next day he asked me if i had fun "chitty chatting" with my girls.

wednesday i did something i'm sure. but it's all a blur b/c i was super de duper busy thursday. see, thursday was the mother of all things. i went bowling and bowled a 172! yeppers. my best yet. but i think i did so well b/c i was pumped about going to WHITE CHRISTMAS AT THE FOX! fabulous. i got to tag along b/c my cousin had to study for finals and his ticket was up for grabs. nathan watched the kids for the second time that week... i know... superdad, right?? white christmas did not disappoint. how could it? half of my family went and took up an entire row in the balcony. the show was spectacular and i even got some spending money to buy some almonds.... mmmm... i can still smell them!

then friday was a christmas party with our sunday school class. i got to decorate one of the tables. so let me explain: there were seven tables and several of us were asked to decorate one. that made each table unique and it was super easy to clean up b/c everyone just took home their own goodies. super idea, right? i am not at all crafty and creative. but i had red plates so i said i would do a table. i borrowed bunches of good stuff from my aunt claudia and got an idea for a centerpiece from my mom. i used nicole's silverware b/c mine isn't as nice. she has the sleek stainless with a matte finish....lovely. so basically i borrowed and stole ideas and the only part of the table that was mine was the effort of putting the thing together. it was fabulous. i loved it. my aunt even wrote merry christmas in white chocolate for me to place on each plate.

the kids spent friday evening with my parents while we were out. my mom's school does a movie night in the gym and she thought connor would like it. and he sure did. they were showing alvin and the chipmunks... but of course, connor called it alvin and the "chicky-munks". i love when kids say things wrong. they had popcorn and snacks and the movie, and since it's christmas you can guess that santa was there. this is the first year i've talked to connor about santa. i thought it should be simple for him. he grasps things that are simple. so i said, santa is like a cartoon. then i always ask, "who is REAL at christmas?" to which he replies, "baby Jesus!" we can delve into the santa = satan discussion next year. :)

that little tidbit leads right into what happened with my mom at her school's movie night. all the kids were getting to sit with santa and get a candy cane. so, my mom thought maybe connor would have some fun with it. here's the story.... she typed it out for me.

bb: ok, connor it's your turn.

santa: well, hello, connor. how are you?

connor: hi, santie clause!

santa: come here, connor.

connor: no, i'm fine.

santa: well, don't you want to sit on my lap and talk?

connor: (hesitantly) ok.

santa: how old are you, connor? are you three?

connor: yes, i'm three.

santa: do you come to this school?

connor: yeah, sometimes.

santa: what are you learning at school?

connor: well, i know Jesus is important.

a stunned santa replies: what do you want this year?

connor: i just want one of those candy canes.

santa promptly hands off the candy cane and the kid.

NEXT!

i love it!! oh, man i wish i could have seen that little victory.

since we usually head south for christmas we do our little family christmas whenever the mood strikes. usually, that means whenever nathan gets out to the store to get my gift and then comes home giddy and can't wait to open gifts. well, this year i made him wait. we planned a real christmas party with a nice dinner, games, and presents. it was a great night. and now, the crunch is on to get ready for christmas. busy, busy, busy. but who doesn't love this time of year? it's fabulous!! what a perfect time to look back on a year full of blessings, lessons learned, and God's grace and mercy bestowed on us.

connor pulled all the presents out for us

he loved his tow mater....almost as much as this last minute impulse buy from nathan's cvs run.....

megan got her first doll

i picked up some dvd's for nathan

and he got me the Bible i have been desperately wanting.... yeah, he's the more spiritual one of us. :)

and here's my table all decorated and with at least one candle lit. i forgot to do the tea lights before the picture. and that crooked spoon is bugging the fire out of me. i must have bumped it when i set my stuff down right before the pic.