See you next year....

I'm not sure what happened, but I fell asleep, woke up and Christmas was over.  Okay, not technically, but sort of.  I found myself with a horrible case of pneumonia the week of Christmas.  I was so sick that there were several days where I could not even get out of bed.  At all.  Somehow, my family came to my rescue and kids were carted to and from school and cared for.  There were even a few afternoons where I literally locked Cameron in my room with toys and literally passed out.  (Not one of my best Mother of the year moments,)  Layla, bless her soul, stayed in bed with me most days and just watched TV.  Needless to say the week, as well as Christmas, went by in a blur.  Here I am, on the other side, totally depressed it is over.  I feel like I didn't get to sit and soak it up.  I feel, well, I feel like I missed Christmas. 

I hate this side of the holiday.  I've never been a big New Year's person either.  This whole week always depresses me.  So much so that I end up taking things down rather quickly because looking at them is a reminder that it is over.  Needless to say, our house is 99% de-Christmased with the exception of the tree, which will come down tonight.  (sigh)  Ba Humbug.  As more and more decorations came off the walls, I also realized how bare our walls are without the decorations. We moved so quickly and the holidays were upon us that there was no time to decorate walls! I threw up the Christmas decorations and voila! Now I need to find some pieces to make it home.  As I put things away, I am also reminded that next year these love bugs will be a year older.  Cameron will be talking.  As I put away Mr. Snoring Santa Claus, I think about what Cam might say next year when we take him out.  I think about how Layla loves the decorations and thinks everything is so beautiful.  She'll be a whole year older and I hope she will still have that magical Christmas spirit about her.  I think about how Hannah will be eight.  EIGHT!  She is just at the cusp of starting to not believe.  How is that possible?  My baby girl?  WHAT?  I pray that she will always believe.  I pray that she wont ever lose the spirit of Christmas. 

How is it that the time flies by so quickly and as much as I try to sit and soak up every moment with these blessings of mine, I still feel like I am missing so much.  As if I haven't taken enough time to just sit and be with them.  Instead I am barking orders and asking them to clean up or asking Layla to please remove the Crayola Wonder Crayon from Cameron's ear as she is currently sticking it in.  Hurry up kids, lets go.  Coats on, shoes on, we have to get to work.  We have to go here.  We have to go there.  Cameron, please stop writing on the walls.  Hannah don't push your sister.  I know this is all part of like.  Part of being an adult.  Part of being a parent.  Yet so badly, I just want more time.  More time with them this little.  More time with them before they lose their innocence.  These years are so precious to me and I am just not willing to let them go.  Make it last forever... no?

All this being said, I did enjoy as much of the holiday as I could considering how sick I was.  The kids had a blast opening their gifts and the family over for our first Christmas in the new/old house, made it quite memorable.  It is so much fun to finally see some boys toys in the house these days.  There are trucks everywhere!  What made my Christmas truly perfect was having the front door open and seeing Uncle Donny and Auntie Leslie walk through my front door.  The sugar butts from Tennessee surprised us all and made our Christmas wonderful.  It was exactly what I needed and it was the perfect touch on the day.  You could take everything away but my family... I need my family and this Christmas, it was pure awesomeness to be surrounded by them all.

Be it as it may, time does go on and soon enough 2012 will be here.  I have big plans for 2012.  Many new resolutions and promises to make and keep.  I am looking forward to a new year with new hope and a new outlook.  I wish everyone nothing short of a wonderful year full of hope, happiness and good health. 

Happy New Year!

Goodbye Stress Ball... Hello Gingerbread Martinis!

This week was a blur of crazy, straight out stress!  From the hectiness of our schedule, to my crazy business at work, I was a complete and utter stress ball.  Which in retrospect, always makes me angry. It was a tough week to get through and I wish I could control that pent up, I can't breath, rushing around like a lunatic feeling and just take a step back and slow down.  Life doesn't always work that way and even though you have every intention of enjoying every single itty bitty minute, life does sometimes have a way of setting you off course from time to time.  I wish it weren't like this and as we are winding down the week, I wish I could have dealt with it better.  Take it back and have a do over.  It is what it is, and I cant go back so instead I am moving forward and taking one breath at a time.  I fully intend to enjoy this weekend and take in all of the memories with the kids.  I also intend to try and get some Christmas shopping done since there hasn't been a moment to do that!  YIKES!  I should probably plan the Christmas Dinner menu since we are hosting the second annual Murphy Christmas Dinner in our new/old home!

Speaking of the new/old home, how excited was I that I finally got the reindeer lit?  My father bought these two yard light up reindeer when I was probably in Junior High School or High School.  They were always my favorite decoration and he always made it known that one day they would be passed down to me someday.  Well that day has come and they are now up glowing brightly in my new/old front yard.  LOVE THEM!  Thanks Dad, for handing down this tradition that I will make sure it will always stay in the family!

The kids, oh these boogers, they are all over the place.  Cameron has been a bundle of fussiness.  I am guess teeth or maybe the remnants of a virus.  The child is constantly hurting himself and mostly banging his head and face.  CONSTANTLY...and I mean at least 6 or 7 times a day.  The other evening I was giving him and Layla a bath.  They were fighting over a bath book when Layla let go and Cam went flying face first into the side of the tub.  To say he looks like Rocky Balboa is an understatement.  THANKFULLY, our Christmas pictures were done the day before!  He is understanding so much more lately and trying to pronounce things like "Light", "Shoes", "Socks" and "Kitty".  He also nods his head "yes" now.  It seems crazy to me that he is growing out of his baby stage so quickly.  His favorite word of all that he repeats at least a dozen times a day however is "truck".  So you can guess what will mostly be under our tree this year!  He also loves to say," Bu-bye."  He is getting so much more brazen and the tantrums have begun as well.  If you say "no" or take something away from him that he shouldn't have, it's an all out throwing himself around, banging his head tantrum.  Can you say the male version of Hannah?  He is very strong willed and if I had a penny for every time I have to say, "Don't touch!" to him, I'd be rich!  Aside from this though, he is still a cuddle monkey and often loves to just be held by Mama and nuzzled.  He even loves to get me my shoes in the morning when I am getting dressed.  He also likes to go in the drawer and grab Daddy's toothbrush and brush his teeth with it.  We wont tell Daddy about that one!

Hannah banana is in the full out I want everything for Christmas mode.  God bless this child.  I have tried everything but bang my head upside a brick wall to get this child to understand the meaning behind Christmas.  To appreciate what she has and learn the joy in giving this season. To use kind words and stop having meltdowns when the word "no" is used.  From day one, Hannah never could adjust to the word "no".  I always feel like it is never enough with her.  No matter what I do, I can't seem to make her 100% happy.  (Hmmmmm I wonder who she takes after???????)  Besides this however, she has been a huge help with the kids for me.  She is always helping me with getting out of the house in the morning.  Being it entertaining Cam, or putting on his socks or coat to grabbing some bags to help me, she does do this.  She is so talented when it comes to drawing and anything creative.  She always amazes me with her creativity.  She has been much more huggy and kissy lately and has even found her way into our bed many nights recently.  I swear it's her way of trying to make up for some of the things she puts us through during the day.  She wants to be close to us and let us know that she is sorry.  The little strong willed spoiled booger!  On occasion when she is good for a period of time, she earns a prize.  Recently she completed two weeks of good behavior and she was rewarded withe Biebs Christmas Album.  Um, I am totally going to lose readers by posting this, but I seriously REALLY like it! LOL  We jam out every morning and every afternoon in the car to it!  Even Cam gets into the jam session.  Leave it to the Biebs to hook me!

Layla bug, oh Layla bug.  The kid continues to amuse us beyond belief.  The other day I asked her if she would like some water and when she responded,"yes", I said, "Yes, what?"  To which she responded, "Yes, Yes?"  To which I responded, "Yes....????" to which she then said..."YES WOMAN!"  I nearly fell to the floor with laughter.  She has been getting a bit fresh lately which I am hoping is just a phase or maybe a little school influence?  Or Hannah influence?  I am trying to nip that in the bud immediately.  She has been doing GREAT with potty training and is getting it down pat.  She wakes up dry every morning now and only occasionally does she have an accident.  I am so proud of her and so happy that I listened to my instincts and didn't push this issue with her.  When they are ready, they are ready!  PERIOD.  End of story!  She is doing great in school and I cant tell you how it feels to walk in the door to pick her up and have her pop up from her nap time cot and run over to me with the biggest smile while screaming "MOMMMMMYY" and wrapping her arms around me.  She is so full of love.  She exudes it.  I can't believe how much she has grown up in the past several months and it is making my heart ache.  I always felt this way with Hannah but then I could get through it by saying well at least I have Layla.  The baby girl in her is so quickly vanishing. ...  :( and now I feel like I have no more baby girls... sigh.

We are off to our Annual Romano Ornament Party this evening and I think I am most excited to show up in my pj's and new slippers that I treated myself to this morning. (I am rationalizing it by saying they were cheap and I deserved it after the week I had!) I am looking forward to celebrating with my family and getting dizzy on Gingerbread Martini's! LOL   So happy last week before Christmas!  Here's to getting it all done and having it all go smoothly.  Even if it doesnt, just look around and count your blessings.  Live each day as if it were your last! 

Check out bruiser... with an icy pop all over his face! ADRIENNNNNEEE!   

The house.. with one reindeer lit! :)  Just like it always looked.  My Christmas Miracle!

My good friend Andrea, entertaining the girls!  Love her!

Our Ski Lodge foam house.  All I can say is 3 hours later and a lot of cussing.. it was done!  LOL  The girls got tired of it after 15 minutes and the thing didn't even come with directions!!!

I married MacGyver.. and this is his tree watering creation!  LOVE HIM!

Why I am thankful and blessed this Christmas...

My high school friend Gretchen Day needs your help!  Please read!  I can't imagine the strength she has to muster up to get through each day.  I know how worried you are during a pregnancy period.  To have cancer and be pregnant and going through Chemo has to be just plain terrorizing and awful!  I HATE CANCER!  This baby boy will be such a miracle baby!  Bless them both and keep them in your prayers!  PAY IT FORWARD PEOPLE!  Be grateful for your blessings and give back!