The Season

We had a wonderful Christmas program today in Sacrament meeting. Our choir director is awesome. She asked me and another girl to accompany the choir in two Christmas songs on our violins. Of course--I love doing that stuff...and strangely, when I told her that I would be willing to play anytime and that I was happy she asked me (I really mean it too--I like to) she started to cry. Anyway, the Spirit was really there as we tried to grasp the true meaning of Christmas. I really love to listen to people who are musically gifted with their voice. One girl sang Mary's Lullaby and I can't even describe how beautiful she sang. It was awesome.
And it's the season to seemingly buy people presents and go over budget and so on. This year we have really tried to cut back on spending--mostly because airfare has taken its toll on our independently wealthy status--and since we are not set on spending my fathers fortune (we are out of the will anyway it seems) it has been mostly stress-free. I told the boys that we were traveling this year and that we were only giving a few gifts and some things they need. It's funny how when they see a catalog they want everything-but when really pressed, there are only certain things they would spend their own money on. (Isn't everyone like that?) We have gone to Deseret Industries and found some great deals--off the subject-I found TWO nice plywood made little rocking chsirs (read: industructable) that only need to be painted. Sam loves his and Trent has claimed the other. They were only 3 dollars each! Amazing. So Shawn and I found some deals, then we also got some things they needed...but the majority of our time has been spent at home hanging out together.
Aside from the regular sibling fighting, it's been fun to read together, watch movies, play games (computer and other) and just relax together. The stress of getting the perfect gift is gone. (Tranlation: there really are no perfect gifts until after Christmas when you realize what you could have bought) I did find a fun gift for my mother that reminded me of when I was little and used to sing an annoying song (I never thought it was annoying-but I'm sure the others around me were plenty sick of it). I think simplifying is the way to go.
The man who spoke in church today mentioned that he and his wife wished they had simplified this year because amid all the shopping, they didn't feel like they had any time as a family. I think we are going to do this every year (I don't mean keep the airlines in business single-handedly but simplifying). Now, in my Christmas letter, I did mention that the season feels rushed-it feels like time is just flying by-with children in school, trying to keep up on housework, keep Sam from dumping things and playing with water or his new favorite-the fireplace, callings, special musical numbers, practicing piano, helping Kimball learn to read...etc. It's just life coming at me a million miles an hour. I think that's why I have enjoyed the simpleness of NOT shopping fro gazillion presents we don't need, going to endless parties while trying to keep children from destroying others homes (sorry mom and dad, you are going to have to really sam-proof your house) and just the general rush of everything. I have enjoyed going to Temple Square with my family--ok ok, it was fun after we got home--trying to keep boys away from snow and water is NOT that great-but the lights were beautiful as usual and no one fell into a fountain and got soaked or slipped on ice and broke a body part--and then making cookies, and brownies and toffee bars.
I guess we really haven't done much-but it's been fun to spend the time hanging out at home-doing the games, reading and of course-where do you think all the cookies, brownies and toffee bars went? YUM YUM.
Merry Christmas.

An Atypical Day (I hope)

This morning started out as normal. Sam walked in my bedroom about 7:30am with his doggie and book, climbed over Kia (who lays next to my bed and sleeps), and into my bed. I tossed him over to Shawn's side (who was already gone to work) and hoped he would go back to sleep. He didn't. Then Trent came in, climbed into the recently vacated spot of Sam's, pulled the covers on and started talking. Sam was mad that Trent took his spot even though Sam didn't really want it in the first place--that is until someone else claimed it, so he cried over to me and laid on my pillow and took my covers. It was at this point I mentioned cereal, then Sam was pulling my hand to go down and get some breakfast. Cameron and Kimball were still in bed. It was almost 8 am by then. Got Trenton and Sam breakfast--quickly so Sam wouldn't consume MY cereal or dump MY cereal. Wolfed down my food and went to wake up Cameron and Kimball. They both wanted cupcakes for breakfast. But then Sam and Trent want cupcakes too and they aren't nearly as neat about eating them as the two older boys. As we were pressed for time, I relented though they had already started eating them. Then it was load everyone into the car and off to school. And when I say everyone--that includes Kia the dog. Trenton screamed the whole way to school because Kia's big butt was in the way of his seatbelt and she was not moving. Cameron was yelling at Trenton to be quiet and Kimball was believe it or not quiet. Dropped them off-Trent climbed into another seat and buckled. Got home, found shoes and socks for the kids and then went to an exercise class where everyone was surprised to see me. As if I never exercise. Got tired out there, forgot my weights, don't have a mat, but Trent and Sam didn't fight with anyone and didn't have to hold my hand the entire time. Got home and took a quick shower. Came downstairs to the water running in the sink, the sink plugged and one inch from overflowing, Sam SOAKED from head to toe (I could wring out his clothes, I even had to put his shoes on the vent so they would dry) and a new swimming hole from my kitchen sink to the island. Stripped Sam, wrapped him in a towel, got two big bath towels to soak up the water, drained the sink, took Sam up to get new clothes on. I decided to make bread today, because the whole wheat loaves I like to buy have gone up 100% and I am a real cheapie. But first I decided to whip up some cinnamon rolls for the kids to munch on when they got home from school--seeing as my grocery shopping isn't going to be until the weekend--that took a few minutes. Then I started on the bread. Now Trent wants to help and Sam wants to see-but with both of them together I can even get to the counter to make anything. Then there's howling when I move one. Then they both want to lick the same thing. I get the doughs done and start on an FHE treat--brownies. Now lest you think I cook like this every day--I don't. Only when I feel like it and I don't have to clean the house from top to bottom. Which essentially means maybe once a week. So of course Trent and Sam have to eat some chocolate chips. And I have to carefully watch what goes in the bowl because Sam likes to add new things like crusts off sandwiches, egg shells, cooking utensils. I'm constantly saying "NO SAM! NO--SAM-U-EL!!!" And Trenton is giving me the running commentary of some game he played two weeks ago and how he has super powers and that I'm lucky he killed all the bad guys. By this time, I'm folding laundry, and then it's lunchtime. Quick apples for lunch and then thankfully Sam stays in his bed for naptime. I finish baking the bread and folding laundry and go lay down for an hour because I have to pick the boys up from school. They are so lucky it was snowing today...else I would have made them walk home. On the way home from school, Cameron tells me he is the star of the week and is supposed to have a poster with pictures and stuff on it TODAY. So I drop them off at home and run to Wal-mart to get posterboard. I print out some pictures for him and he arranges them. Shawn comes home. Then Cameron and Kimball have a concert they are supposed to be singing in and have to be there early. Kimball starts bawling/crying/screaming in hysteria that he doesn't want to go and it's so dumb and he told his teacher he wasn't going to be there and he doesn't want to get his church shirt on and then it's not fair he has to sit next to Trenton in the back of the car, and on and on. Cameron just says how dumb it is but gets dressed then in the car. We go to the concert. Sam is a handful and Trenton doesn't stop talking. We really can't see Cameron and barely see Kimball but endure. (They actually sang and did a good job). We get home and everyone is starving--because I was supposed to have dinner ready, do the poster, fold laundry, and settle fights all before we went to the singing. I make a quick breakfast-it's 8pm. Kimball takes an hour to put away the dishes after dinner (breakfast), and Cameron finishes up his poster. Sam doesn't want to go to bed and continually gets out-Shawn finally gets tired, turns him over to me and goes to bed. I put all the kids to bed without a story (I'm WAY TIRED) and then sit at the computer to type this. I had to get it down. I wouldn't believe it myself.
At least there was a minimum of fighting-no one went to time out today (nothing short of a miracle), and there were no major arguments until on the way home from the concert (when everyone was tired/hungry and sick of hearing Sam scream at the top of his lungs because he isn't getting the toy he wants). Cameron helped fold socks, Trenton took a bath, Kimball did his kitchen duty and then everyone went to bed--and even stayed there.
Wow. I need a vacation. But then there's planning, and what to keep the kids occupied with, and how much are we going to spend, and what exactly are we going to do...it's enough to give me gray hairs. Oh wait, I've already got them. Well, hopefully they won't multiply because of days like this. Tomorrow has to be better...