Dear Joseph

     Seven... Seven years old you are. I'm sure I will say this over and over, but it seems as though it were just yesterday you were born and placed into my arms where your daddy and I gazed upon you for hours. I know every parent has asked "Where has the time gone?" but I just can't help it!

     You weigh 51.2 lbs. (I know! But he wouldn't let me continue writing without adding the .2 lol. He kept saying "51.2 MOM! Not just 51!") and are 49" (4ft. 1 1/2") tall. You wear a size 1 1/2 shoe and a 6/7 pants and shirt. Although the pants must be worn with a belt and still adjusted as much as possible on the inside. Skinny as all get out! I swear you eat more than I do!

     You've lost some of your "neediness" and uncertainty about things and are more enthusiastic and curious about the things you do and the things around you. You ask A LOT of questions, and that's really great, but why didn't anyone warn me about this stage?! It's a never-ending trivia nightmare around here. You're still cursed with my OCD, but are getting better at adjusting to change and basically rolling with the punches.

     Your behavior at school has improved drastically this month! In the 11 days of school this month you pulled a total of only four keys! That's fantastic! That's usually your daily quota. It makes me that much happier knowing how excited you get from such an accomplishment! You've gotten home with a smile on your face every day... Well... except for that one day, and exclaimed how many, if any keys you pulled that day.

     You accomplished many things the last year. You read your first Harry Potter book, you were on the A honor roll the first quarter and have been on the A/B honor roll the remainder of the year, you're getting better with counting money, you didn't break any bones :-P. I asked you what your favorite accomplishments were this year and you told me you learned how to ride a bike, you got better at math, and you read a lot of books. Things you say you want to accomplish this year: Learn to drive a car (good luck with that one!), Learn to play a new game, and read a really long book because you want to try and read faster. I love your goals. I love that you have goals.

     I love it when you tell me I'm the best mommy ever or when you wake me in the morning just to give me a hug before you watch cartoons or when you tell your sisters how much you love them. You're an amazing little boy and I am so proud of the man you will surely become. Mommy and daddy are so in love with you! You make our days worth all the while.

Love,

    Mommy & Daddy

Happy Birthday Joseph!

6a.m.... "Mom! Mom!" Joseph yells, while he shakes me as roughly as he can. "Can I watch cartoons?" "Yeeeeessssss!", I mumble. "Don't forget to tell me happy birthday!", he practically yells. I mouth "happy birthday"... I couldn't possibly forget today is his birthday!

My Joseph is SEVEN today! Seven whole years old! I'm perplexed at how fast time goes.

Every year we have a questionnaire for them just to see if and how their answers change. It's a lot of fun really. Some of the questions are nonsense but it allows me the opportunity to see even more how they think by how they respond to the question. Like, "What is your favorite scent?" It's just interesting to see their responses.

Last years questionnaire.

1. Favorite Food?     "Burritos and corn dogs."
2. Favorite Drink?     "Orange and cranberry juice."
3. Favorite Cartoon?     "Spongebob and Umi Zoomi."
4. Favorite Cartoon Character?     "Patrick Star."
5. Favorite Movie?     "A Bug's Life."
6. Favorite Animal?     "Gorilla."
7. Favorite Toy?     "Lego's and my castle Auntie Becca got me."
8. Favorite Color?     "Blue, pink, and green."
9. Favorite Letter?     "J."   
10. Favorite Number?     "1000 and 100."
11. Favorite Story/Book?     "The Happy Snowman."
12. Favorite Song?     "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
13. Favorite Game?     "Blue's Clues."
14. Favorite Holiday?     "Halloween and Christmas."
15. Favorite Day?     "Sunday."
16. Favorite Season?     "Winter, I like the snow."
17. Favorite Smell?     "Candy."
18. When I Grow Up?     "I'm going to be an astronaut!"
19. Kids When You Grow Up?     "I want four mommy!"
20. Do You Have A Girlfriend?     "Laughs hysterically and answers, "No!"
21. Favorite Thing In School?     "Recess."
22. Least Favorite?     "The end when we have to clean up and get on the bus."    
23. Best Friend?     "Hunter."     

This years questionnaire.

     1.  Favorite Food?     "Cereal."
     2.  Favorite Drink?     "Milk. I like white, chocolate, and strawberry together."
     3.  Favorite Cartoon?     "Spongebob Squarepants."
     4.  Favorite Cartoon Character?     "Patrick Star."
     5.  Favorite Movie?     "Ponyo."
     6.  Favorite Animal?     "Snakes."
     7.  Favorite Toy?     "T-rex!"
     8.  Favorite Color?     "Brown."
     9.  Favorite Letter?     "C."
   10.  Favorite Number?     "7, like how many I'm going to be on Saturday!"
   11.  Favorite Story/Book?     "Toy Story."
   12.  Favorite Song?     "Airplanes- BoB."
   13.  Favorite Game?     "Black Ops." (x-box)
   14.  Favorite Holiday?     "Easter. I saw the Easter Bunny one time!"
   15.  Favorite Day?     "Thursday because people come to the classroom and read to us then we make something like my hermit crab that broke."
   16.  Favorite Season?     "Winter."
   17.  Favorite Smell?     "Clean stuff." He must get that from me. Lol
   18.  When I grow up?     "I want to be 21! *Laughs* Oh! And a teacher too."
   19.  Kids When I grow up?     "Like 8 or something." Good luck buddy!
   20.  Do You Have A Girlfriend?     "Serenity. But not all the time, only sometimes."
   21.  Favorite Thing In School?     "Books."
   22.  Least Favorite?     "The library." "*laughing* But you just said your favorite thing was books, Joseph." "I only like the books in my classroom." Lol
   23.  Best Friend?     "Juan Rivera."


It still amazes me how much they change in as little as a years time... *Sigh*

Off to celebrate!

          -Jaclyn-

Here... Have A Blue Ribbon!

Joseph is going to be 7 in just three days! He's so excited! Every morning he runs to the calendar to count and see how many days are remaining. It's so cute!

For the lasts two years Jonathan and I had told him that he could invite friends and have this big party. One, because it was to be his fifth birthday, so we wanted it to be extra special. That year, things didn't go as planned financially and we told him that we would make it fun and special without having over a bunch of friends or having a huge professionally baked and decorated cake, and without all the balloons and pinata's. He was very understanding. It made my heart break.

The next year we got our apartment. We had to go to Missouri and get our things from storage and move it all in. So things yet again, didn't go like we had promised him. Again, he was very understanding and I cried... a lot.

This year I was determined to give him what he had been "taken away" the previous two. He decided on having a pirate party. He picked out the invitations and goody treasure chests, and he's so excited to have his friends join in and have a sleep over. We had 12 invitations. He made a list of who he wanted to invited and we made them up and loaded them into his backpack.

The next day after school he walked in the door and declared with tears and sobs,

"My teachers are MEAN MOMMY!"

"Why Joseph? Did you pull a lot of keys today?"

"NO! They wouldn't let me hand out my invitations!"

"How come?"

"Because they are MEAN!"

The next day I sent a note with him to school telling asking his teacher to allow him to hand out his birthday invitations. Today I get a phone call from her. She tells me that she cannot allow him to hand out his invitations unless he had enough for the entire class because it wouldn't be FAIR and would hurt the other kids' feelings! "It isn't my rule it's the district's rule. I even brought him into the office with me to talk to the principal and let her tell him the rule because he was quite upset with me.", she tells me. "I can give invitations to all the boys if you want." Lady! You just told me you couldn't give them out unless there was enough for everyone and now you're telling me you can give them to all of the boys?! How is that deemed "fair or not hurting the girls' feelings?" Ugh!

To shorten my story I'm pissed off because of the whole "fairness" ordeal here. Life isn't fucking fair! Yes, they're kids, I get it. But why allow them to earn a participation ribbon because they didn't actually win anything on field day? That's like expecting a raise for not giving a damn at work among many other things! Ugh! This just burns my ass!!!

Life isn't fucking fair! Teach them now...

Bleh! Enough of that... I didn't even plan on writing this, but I just couldn't quit thinking about it so it probably seems more rambly than anything... Thanks for "listening" to me bitch. :-)

Ready to celebrate and have a great party

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

After an emotional discussion with a fellow student I see that I have so much more to be thankful for than I could ever possibly imagine.


I am thankful for life. To have been able to wake and take my children to school. For close friends and family, even if I want to strangle them most days. I am thankful for being able to pay my rent, utilities and have a new car.

I am thankful for knowing I can go to sleep and know that everything is going to be okay. I am thankful for knowledge and sanity (most days) and happiness. Thankful for being able to attend school and accomplish something and witness a greatness amongst others.

I am thankful for her. Thankful for her heart, her smile, her life... I'm going to make her days better!

Be thankful... You never know when you might not see them again...

          -Jaclyn-

Five

As of right now I have 5 drafts waiting for the remainder of their post to be written and published as I sit to type this instead...

For the last week or two I have had absolutely no desire to write. What...So...Ever! Two of my posts require pictures, which I've not even uploaded from my camera... So to let you in on some of the posts... Here are a few snippets that will eventually be posted... Maybe...

"Boys have cooties..."

"...She did it like a ring around it, like in space and stuff..."

"I'm sure I've said this time and time again, but I am terrible about keeping in touch with anyone..."

"...we ventured out and did something..."

"Suck and spit..."

 So I'll hopefully be clicking the publish post button sometime this week...

Until next post...

          -Jaclyn-

Tressa-isms

"Michael is my boyfriend. Because I love him. He is beautiful too because he always has curls in his hair after a shower." "How old is Michael?" I ask. "Four! Duh!" After laughing I ask, "How do you know what his hair looks like after a shower?" "Because he is brown, Mom."

"Mom! What is this for?"
Me: "I have no idea, I cannot see it from here."
"Yes you can! You have your glasses on."

"Cops don't do this Joseph!" (Long story...)

I ask Jonathan, "Guess what I made on my freaking test last night?"
"Um... 30." (I know, he's so confident in my abilities, right?)
"A 75%! I was so pissed about that!"
Tressa: "Ooooo, Mom. You shouldn't say that bad word!"

"Boys have  uglies, girls have cuties!"

Amaya-isms

"Oooooh! I got a toasty roll (tootsie roll) guys!"

"I have dreams that I am a princess with all kinds of pretty things like Ariel."

"Mom!" As she runs off the school bus. "Do you know what Jeremy said to me on the bus?!" Tressa snickers and tells me "It's so silly Mom." "What did he tell you Amaya?" I ask. "He said when I am bigger and he has a ring, he is going to marry me... marry me for real!"

While out for Hibachi, the chef makes a large fire and she says, "Wow!... That... was SO cool!"

"Mom. What comes after P?"
"Q!"
"MOM! What comes after P?"
"I said Q!"
"No. I'm spelling paper."
"Oh! A."
Jonathan then asks, "Wait! How are you spelling paper, Amaya because there are two p's?"
"The right way."

"You need to fix your hair like this (shows how she fixes her hair). This is how we do it on Earth. We are on Earth with y'all."

.:Note:. I have NO idea what she was even talking about, but it was funny nonetheless, especially with the strong Sookie (True Blood fans!) southern accent. .:End Note:.

          -Jaclyn-

 

Thankful Thrusday And Some Rambling.

I know it's been FOREVER since I have last written. I've been super busy (read: lazy) and something always seems to get in the way of things.

Last weekend I went to Atlanta for the Bronner Brothers Hair Show. Other than the fact that traffic was stupid fucking retarded, it was a great time! I was a little disappointed in the fact that it was more about showcasing, demos trying to sell their products and about being flashy than it was educational. They did have classes, but things didn't seem to be very organized. I had gone with a mission to buy some good quality shears since I've started hair cutting class and the shears the school gives are Pakistan pieces of shit... No, really. I had the hardest time! I didn't buy a single thing! I'm so damn picky about things and I honestly hate that about myself most days. Lol. So now I will have to buy full price... If I can decide on a pair. Anybody want to donate to the cause?

People were packed in there like sardines and I wanted to go postal! Trying to view products and get past people to see anything was a difficult task all it's own. Then there was the disappointment in products available for Caucasians, but I had expected that so I wasn't terribly disappointed and I probably wouldn't have purchased anything anyway since I'm content with the products I use now. I am super excited about the Premier Birmingham hair show that will be in September or October of this year! From word of mouth, I hear it is more organized and the product selection is indeed better. Want to donate to that cause too? ;-)

The past month or so Joseph has been quite the hellion. I really felt at a loss on what to do or how to fix things. He had trouble in school. He didn't want to go anymore, he even purposely missed the bus one morning. (The short story for that one: I wasn't dressed and I hadn't finished getting the girls ready so I sent him to the bus stop without me. He comes back 15 minutes later saying he missed the bus! I was livid! Needless to say he wished he'd got on the bus!) I don't think there was a day all last month where he had come home with a good report. He was so angry all the time and got to the point where he would hit, kick or throw things at me when he was upset. The only thing that ever seemed to calm him was me grabbing him and just holding him. The whole time he'd be shaking, kicking, screaming, fighting... I found myself go through a depression during all that. I felt as though I had failed as a parent somewhere. I tried and tried to talk to him to approach the situations differently and figure things out and never found the root of the problem. I'm not sure that he even knows what is causing his anger.

Wednesday He ran home with a huge smile on his face and was so excited to tell me that he had not pulled any keys (the schools behavior/disciplinary system)! I exaggerated my excitement and pride hoping that it would help him do better the following day. It worked! Or something did because he came home four days in a row with no disciplinary reports! He was rewarded with praise and time on the Wii as well as other small privileges. He was doing great. Yesterday he had a small issue, but just a small one. So hopefully things continue to go well the rest of the week. Wish us luck!

As far as school goes I have started the first hair cutting module and I'm loving it! I've been dying to cut the shit out of these mannequins. I can't wait to finish and give my first haircut outside of my kitchen. Haha.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for one, two, and hell, even three hour long phone calls with my sister Tiffany.

I am thankful for silence on long days and even more thankful for the screaming, fighting and laughter of our children that fills the house when they return from school.

I am thankful to have been able to attend Tressa's field trip to Petsmart this morning. The look on her face when I showed up was one I'll never forget. ♥

Loving this weather! You?

          -Jaclyn-

The Influence of Music

You hear this all the time, but I love music in all shapes and forms and listen to it always.

Yesterday I get the girls from the bus stop and Amaya shouts, "GUESS WHAT ME AND TRESSA WERE SINGING ON THE BUS!"
"What were you singing?"
"RIDE IT!"

I wanted to DIE I tell you!!! She was referring to Ciara's song Ride featuring Ludacris... I wonder what the teachers were thinking when they heard them singing that?!

I think it's time to censor my music around them...

Censored music and hilarious children

          -Jaclyn-

"GQ's Valentine's Day Gifts Women Will *Flip* For"

I was surfing Yahoo this morning as usual, reading the big happenings and exciting news (read with sarcasm) and happened upon THIS article. Go ahead, click the link. You're going to see so many things you're sure to flip for!

GQ... What the fuck were you thinking when you printed this article?! I mean... seriously!

The article starts with a quote that's sure to keep you reading. Hell... It kept me reading.

"Ditch the hoop earrings this year for something that shows her just how thoughtful you are this Valentine's day."

So just how thoughtful is GQ making our men?

For Your Wife:

Fine fabric care... FINE FABRIC CARE?! I would LOVE to receive this for Valentine's because I definitely don't take anything to the dry cleaners and I already do laundry on a daily basis. I mean... One more piece of laundry isn't going to hurt.

A decorative pillow... A $90 decorative pillow! PLUS the $25 insert! Oh how exciting!

"A simple, elegant pattern to match almost any slipcover or comforter. Plus, one extra reason to cuddle never hurt."

One extra reason to cuddle never hurt until I lay on it and think of all the things we could have gotten with $115!!! Or the fact that I could have sewn it myself for $10!

Vintage pajama set... Just how vintage are we talking here? And who wears pajamas anyway? Who wears $70 pajamas???

Don't worry ladies... It's getting better!

For Your Mother:

Soap... Soap... Okay... I'm still trying to get past the part where it's wrapped so beautifully you don't want to open it, so then it just sits on the counter collecting dust and turning into an ugly mess or it gets thrown under the bathroom sink. Definitely buy me soap.

Forget me knot ring... I want this. That is all.

Steak knives... Okay, your mother probably really enjoys baking, and hardly cooks anymore because all of the kids have moved out of the house and she can actually eat out for under $100 without all the children in tow. But please don't buy her steak knives! We don't give a shit about knives! We'll probably buy them ourselves since we're the ones cooking all the time and we would need them pronto, not for Valentine's. Thanks, but no thanks.

Now it get's even better!

For Your Girlfriend:

Silva/Bradshaw Sfero Ring... Jewelry is always nice and it doubles as a pendant! Who wouldn't want it?!

Notebook... This would be a great gift... for me. Most women... Doubtful, but I could be wrong. 

Lomography Diana + Dreamer Camera... PERFECT!

So... After thorough examination of that article, these are my findings: as the wife you get shit, the mother you at least get a ring, and as the girlfriend, they're still trying to win you over, so you get everything nice!

I think I'd rather be the girlfriend!

Here's an idea!

Just buy me some Dove dark chocolates and all the girlfriend gifts plus mom's ring and the hoop earrings GQ told you to ditch this year! ;-)

Hoping your man doesn't read this article... Unless you're the girlfriend.

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

 On days like today, where I feel so depressed, my babies always put a smile on my face! I can't wait for school to be out so I can kiss them, hug them, and then yell at them for annoying me. :P

Two weekends ago, we made a trip to Target and got these pictures of them being silly.

On our way to lunch we spotted this... Why yes, matter of fact, we do.

Tressa is ALWAYS drawing or coloring something. She will spend HOURS just coloring and never say a word to anyone. She's very creative and I love that about her. Well, she asked if I could help her draw Tinkerbell because she didn't know how. "Sure." I said... This is what we got.

Tressa told me it was beautiful and then asked why she was pointing down... Hence the reason I am NOT an artist!

Then I took this picture randomly and am in awe of it... It's just so me!

P.S.
Joseph is wearing a size 3 shoe and he's only six!!! He is cursed with his daddy's clown feet and my OCD... Poor kid.

Happy Thursday. Hope someone or something makes you smile.

          -Jaclyn-

How To Tell When Your Six Year Old Has Played/Watched Too Much Call of Duty: Black Ops

• You yell at your child to "Quit throwing the markers in the kitchen. They're for coloring not throwing!" and the response you get is "But it's the care package I called in, Mom!"

•  "5, 6, 7, 8, 9101112131415!" ... Just when I thought the kids were competing on who could count the fastest, I hear, "Sweet! My dogs just got 15 kills for me!"

• You tell your child he's grounded to his room, then turn to walk away. A mere nano second later you are threatened with a whispered "Throwing sticky!"

• A trip to the bus stop results in a Nuketown like experience with RC-XD's and whining of terrible respawns.

• An airplane is spotted by all three kiddos. Tressa declares, "Airplane!" Joseph yells in objection, "It is not Tressa! It's a UAV, huh Dad?!"

• Walking down the hall to switch laundry around, Joseph peeks out, quickly backs up and says, "Planting claymore!"

• "Mom! You tripped my claymore, you're supposed to be dead." "Nope, I've got flackjacket on." "That should have got you!"

• Christmas morning, opening gifts: "Yes! I just changed my care package to a chopper gunner guys!"

• Anytime someone knocks at the door, "ZOMBIES!" Thankfully we've not had to "rebuild" any barriers!

Thank goodness Santa got them a Wii for Christmas...

Hoping no zombies come knocking

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I have had two whole weeks of TERRIBLE sleep! I have done nothing but toss and turn and cry because I just CAN'T FREAKING SLEEP! Well last night I slept amazingly! I am so freaking thankful for that! I even woke this morning feeling refreshed and happy and awake!

I thought I would be thankful for the kiddos being back in school, but honestly, I really miss them.

I am thankful for being able to smile!

Smile!

          -Jaclyn-

Best B-U-Y

This weekend we made a visit to Best Buy. Walking up to the entrance Amaya excitedly announces, "We're going in Best B-U-Y!"

"We are?"

"Yep!"

"So what does B-U-Y spell?"

"Nothing! DUH!" in her most sassy matter-of-fact voice.

"It does too! It spells buy, Amaya."

"It does not!"

"Amaya, it spells buy. We're at Best Buy."

"It does not, Mom!" "My V.Reader said b-y spells by!"

I couldn't help but laugh. I then explained to her the different spellings and meanings of the word by, bye, and buy. She accepted my answer then later still mentioned we were at Best B-U-Y.

Laughs and sarcasm

          -Jaclyn-

2010 Favorites

I'm linking up with Whitney for her corny little blog party :-)

I really have the hardest time with favorites... Mostly when it comes to music because I love every bit of it! So here is my attempt at "favorites". Join us?

If you know me at all, you know that I am a chapstick aholic! And Burt's Bees is by far the best stuff I have ever come across. I am not one for their pomegranate or the honey (which is the most disgusting smelling chapstick or anything I have ever, EVER smelled), just the original. It is amazing as is!

Just looking at the picture makes me reach for it!

I love gum! I surely got the addiction from my father who is almost never seen without any. My favorite is definitely the peppermint Trident White. 

I have this weird... thing with gum too. For some reason if I chew any gum other than Trident White, I instantly feel the urge to either swallow it, or spit it out. I don't know why or when it started, but I think it's Trident's ploy to keep me buying their gum. :-P It's working too, considering I purchase a 3 pack a week!

Perfumes. I am in LOVE with the Gucci II! It smells heavenly! I'm not really any good at describing scents, but I can tell you it smells great!

Since I'm on the subject of scents and perfumes, I'll add my and Jonathan's favorite cologne. Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio! This stuff is simply amazing! Even the girls thought so when they decided to empty almost half an ounce onto themselves when they "forgot" that mommy & daddy could smell the evidence on them!

 I was introduced to this product a few months back, and instantly fell in love. I will definitely join Whitney on adding the Chi Silk Infusion's to my favorites. It even smells great!

Nail polish! I would have to say hands down that OPI's Over The Taupe was definitely my favorite color of the year. OPI Ink and OPI Chihuahua Bites are my tops, but Over The Taupe is this years favorite! Jonathan and his mother agree that it looks like I polished my fingernails with poop, but I LOVE IT! It's a beautiful taupe-y suede shade.

I LOVE me some makeup, and I love finding a great product for so cheap! I have been using the L'OREAL Double Extend mascara.

This stuff is fabulous!!!! Get it!

I'm all about skincare and keeping my face looking 20! It's never too early to prevent wrinkles and premature aging! Lol I cleanse and moisturize daily and remove my makeup every night before bed. I got a sample of this Shiseido Skincare and fell in love instantly.

 It is great for even my oily skin and it smells nice too. The product lasts too since very little seems to go a long way with this.

Considering I'm no good at favorites, I could add to this list, but I won't. I'll stop while I'm ahead!

Happy New Year!

        -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Another Thursday to be thankful. Thankful for the many calories I have consumed through the mounds of chocolate that should never be allowed to go to waste.

Thankful for being able to make someone smile.

Thankful for hour long conversations with my sister that lead to talks of lesbian relationships via Sims 3.

Thankful for weekly/monthly planners that keep me organized and on track.

Thankful for Jonathan's job and the amazing people he works with/for.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

          -Jaclyn-

Christmas and a coma.

Hoping everyone enjoyed their Christmas holiday. I know we did.

Let's see... Where do we start?..

Let's start with the kiddos writing their Christmas lists a few weeks ago. I have already written a post about them, but I didn't include pictures.

For the longest time after, they kept asking about a Christmas tree. I told them I put it on my Christmas list for Santa. Jonathan and I had decided that we would not have one this year. Mostly because we didn't want to be out of pocket the extra expenses that come with having a tree. I mean, there's the tree itself, ornaments, lights, etc. We could afford it, but then we wouldn't be able to afford the gift we really wanted to get the kids. Their very own wii. They loved it when Nana and Papa had theirs (pre-lightning disaster) and they're always asking to play the xbox 360. Occasionally we let them play, but the games are far from age appropriate. And, besides, we'd planned that as their Christmas gift since friggin April! Lol... Seriously.

Back to the tree... Jonathan had been asking weird questions about the type of tree we should get, how big, what color, color of ornaments, lights, etc. I got irritated and knew he was up to something so I'm instantly freaking out about our finances, thinking he's going to buy this tree and all the hoopla with it. Finally he caves and tells me that it's what he told his parent's he wanted for Christmas. He gave up getting an actual "gift" so that we and the kiddos could have a tree on Christmas morning! Is that not fantastic?! He and his dad were going to pick out the tree the following day and they had lots of old ornaments that weren't used, extra lights, beaded strings, and even the tree topper that Jonathan remembers seeing on his tree every year as a child. We were ecstatic! Then we had "Operation Candy Cane" (Don't ask, and I won't tell! Lmao)

Operation Candy Cane entailed getting the tree and decorations into the house, set up and presents placed underneath all while the kiddos slept Christmas Eve night. We were up ALL NIGHT LONG! until 2am that night getting things just right for Christmas morning.

Isn't it beautiful?!

So Jonathan and I hit the sack and slept surprisingly well with all the excitement I had for the morning. Joseph wakes me at about 7:15 or so asking if he can go and watch cartoons. "Sure." I said, rolled over with the biggest grin on my face just waiting for him to come back running and waking us up.

All we hear for the next 2 minutes is whispered gasps like, "Oh" "Oooh" "Wow". Then he runs down the hall and wakes the girls. Tressa is the only one that wakes, poor Amaya is just like her mommy when it comes to mornings. They walk into the living room and Tressa is practically screaming with excitement. Nothing like Joseph and his whispering the whole time. Finally Tressa works Amaya out of bed with, "Santa came and brought a tree and presents and stockings!"

After a little discussion about all the cool stuff they see, they begin talking about the tree topper.

"What is that?"

"Maybe it's an elf."

"Or a Santa."

"... It looks like a monster."

All we could do was laugh. It is indeed a Santa Claus, a little antique, but it still looks nothing like a monster... or an elf for that matter. Lol

After waiting on them to wake us, which they didn't. We hear them trying to mess with gifts which was our cue to get out of bed. 

Many excited exclamations from all three of them the second we walked out. Eventually we got situated and stockings gone through and were ready for gift opening. We didn't get a lot of pictures since we recorded most of it for family so they could enjoy seeing the kids' faces when they opened their gifts. (I'll get those put up some time this week for you guys). 

About 10:30 we made it to Nana & Papa's house to enjoy Christmas lunch and gift opening.

Yes... Papa really was watching Star Wars... On Christmas morning! Lol

 Pink is his color... At least we think so :Þ

Then we went home and fell into a coma! We slept and slept and slept some more!

The kids got some really great things and I am ever thankful for how occupied those gifts are keeping them!

Tis all for now... I have already written what seems to be a novel and I feel there is a lot more to say, but I'll save your eyes the trouble for now.

Love and occupied children

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Another holiday approaches and thankfully it will be the end... for now until birthdays start coming up.

I can't say enough how thankful I am for so many things.

I am thankful that Rebecca's package came in the mail finally! Even if it took the post office two weeks to get it here.

I am thankful for Santa Claus. He's real, you know?

I am thankful for Joseph's love of learning and wanting to teach his sisters what he knows. He's teaching them subtraction right this very minute and the girls are picking it up rather quickly. He's so patient with them and is probably one of the best teachers they'll ever have.

I am thankful for being able to afford a good Christmas for our children.

I am thankful for their belief in Santa and the excitement his name brings to their faces.

I am thankful for Christmas parties that allow me to open others up without fear of feeling awkward.

I am thankful for the Cha Cha Slide and the Cupid Shuffle.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday

          -Jaclyn-

My Children Are Drug Addicts

Sort of... Maybe... Not really though...

The girls have been sick constantly since they've been in head start. Rather, since the fall/winter session began in August. During the summer session, they were never sick. Now, it seems they've been healthy for maybe two weeks since August. They just can't seem to shake it. It's the coughing, sneezing, snotting, sore throat, watery eyes, along with the occasional fever and body weakness/aches kind of sickness.

I could not for the life of me figure it out. Joseph has not been sick but probably once and Jonathan has been unfortunate to catch it once or twice himself. Luckily, the illnesses have evaded me... for now.

My first thought was maybe allergies. They have eczema, so that could uphold my allergy theory, but nothing has changed. The weather, sure, but I realized SCHOOL! So why isn't Joseph getting it? I Lysol the hell out of the apartment and it's always clean. I have taught them to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before all meals, and especially after blowing their noses, etc.

Not too long ago I had to make a visit to the head start to sign some ridiculous papers and stopped by their classrooms to visit and watch them learn. First thing I notice is that all of these kids are just covered in snot and coughing nonstop. These kids are filthy and germ infested yuckiness! Then I couldn't help but cringe when I see these other kids just wipe their snot down their face, cough into their hands and then start playing with my kids! Ugh! I seriously just realized the disgust all over my face right now just writing about this! It just baffles me! I am not one to judge parenting and point fingers and play I'm the better mom game (for reasons that deserve a blog all their own), but damn! Teach these kids some friggin' germ education! It cannot be that difficult ladies! C'mon!

So therein lies the problem with them being sick so damn frequently. All these sick ass kids who aren't being very sanitary. Okay, I know. They're all three and four year olds. SO what?! It annoys the hell out of me! Gah!!! Lol

I'm going to stop ranting while I'm ahead and get to blogging about what I had originally planned.

Amaya has been sick the last few days with stuffy nose, watery eyes, cough and a slight fever. I've been giving her Dimetapp for most of her symptoms with the occasional dose of Advil or Delsym needed.

Every 30 minutes she's asking if she can have more medicine. Then tonight when I got home I gave her some Delsym. She looks at me and says, "I want more than that, Mommy." What? She really just asked for more medicine! The dosage is only 2.5ml, so she was pretty disappointed I guess. I went on to explain to her in the most simple way I knew how, the difference in doses and why. She accepts my answer, takes the medicine, then proceeds to lick the inside of the dosage cap! Then she got very attitudinal with me when I took it from her!

Which makes me have a huge love-hate relationship with flavored medicines. Hell, Jonathan overdosed on grape cough syrup as a child. Had to spend time in the ER and all. Because it tasted so good. And it wasn't just him. He had a little girl taking shots right along with him. (Maybe that's what's wrong with him? :Þ)

How do you keep your children knowledgeable enough to 'fear' taking medicine without them refusing it if it's really necessary?

My children are watched very well and the medicine is high enough away from them, but there's always that "what if". Majority of the time one is sick, another one starts faking sick just so they get medicine.

It must be passed my bedtime because I am really just rambling, making no sense, and have corrected over 50 grammatical errors, and I just noticed a couple more that I don't care to fix, even some run on sentences...

So goodnight dear friends!

I'm out!

          -Jaclyn-

Portable North Pole

Saw this when a friend posted it on facebook and thought it was really cute. Watch them and then make your own little video.

I can't wait to show the kiddos. They're going to love it!

You can select what behavior (only one) you asked them to excel at and what they asked for Christmas, etc. It's too cute.

Enjoy!

Joseph's message from Santa

Amaya's message from Santa

Tressa's message from Santa

Hugs and smiles from your child(ren)!

          -Jaclyn-