Surviving Christmas...

Surviving Christmas...isn't that the name of a movie? If not, it should be. Well, our Christmas has been memorable...and fun...to say the least. Starr began it all by breaking her foot on Christmas Eve. The kids were in the backyard playing "capture the flag" barefoot -- (hey, it's AZ!) and she slipped on some wet grass and fractured it. While I went with the rest of the kids to Terri's (Steve's sister) Christmas Eve Party, Steve and Starr went to Urgent Care.

We had lots of food and family on Christmas day...Katie (my sister) cooked up a storm and it was all DELICIOUS!!! We had family coming and going -- and my kids were totally surprised to receive a Wii for Christmas! The Wii was great entertainment on Christmas day ... and will make the best babysitter during this Christmas break! Especially since our broken foot child is confined to a chair and crutches for a while. (Thank goodness for the big furry pink moon chair she received for Christmas - and not the bike we were considering!)

Anyway, our thoughts are with all of you and thank you for your wonderful Christmas cards. We love reading the family Christmas letters and seeing the beautiful pictures and cards.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, I always thought I'd stay 29, but then I started realizing that 29 was really a crappy year for me. I was 29 when we went through that nightmare with Amanda. So why then, would I want to stay 29? I need to pick a better year...like 35 or something. Or maybe I should tell everyone I'm 50 -- that way everyone would say, "50? Dang, you look good for 50!"

Anyhow, I wanted to wear my pj's and lay on the couch and watch movies all day, but not when it's 6 days to Christmas!!!! Maybe I'll do it January 19Th. And can you believe my family didn't fix me breakfast in bed or let me sleep in this morning -- I was up as usual fixing breakfast for THEM and packing lunches. While doing so, I had this conversation with Starr:

Starr: Mom, 40's not THAT old.
Mom: You don't think so?
Starr: Nah, lots of my friends have moms in the 30's and they look like teenagers.
Mom: Are you telling me this to make me feel better?
Starr: Ya, is it working?
Mom: No -- and I'm not sure I know what your point is.

Yes, a typical conversation with Starr I'm afraid. Anyway, after the kids left for school, I ate a nutritious breakfast of chocolate brownies. (Hey, it's my birthday, I can do this!) Then my sweet OLDER sister came over and we took our calloused worn out disgusting feet out for pedicures and and then lunch. My sweet husband also brought me home a dozen roses with a sympathy card during lunch. (Very funny, dear!) Not much planned for the rest of the day, but for those who called, send gifts, cards, left a happy birthday blog, etc, or just even thought of me, thank you!! And this morning, as I was reflecting my life, I did think of one thing worse than turning 40 -- and that would be turning 40 while bring pregnant! UGH!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas....

Okay, maybe not alot -- but perhaps a little more like Christmas. On Saturday, Steve and I took advantage of the break in rain on this cool winter day and decided to put Christmas lights on the house. So we threw on our Arizona winter clothes (sweatshirt and shorts) and worked all afternoon into the evening -- our reward was sweet and we were all happy with the results...it's hard to get the total effect in a photo, but this is the best we can do.



I have to tell you about this photo: Joseph wanted to take of picture of me stringing lights on the palm tree -- after he took the picture and looked at the photo he just took, he commented "Wow Mom, you sure look skinny in this picture." So of course I had to post it! he he

Getting into the Christmas Spirit!

I just pulled a bunch (almost of years worth) of pictures off of Starr's camera...FINALLY Anyway, found these adorable photos she and Jeff took yesterday when we were decorating the Christmas tree. I thought they were pretty cute, so I had to share.

Helpful Hint

Sorry, this isn't much of a post...but had just had to share with you something I learned. So when you see a picture in a family blog that's posted -- one that you really want to keep, just put your mouse over the picture and right click...and choose "save picture as...." option and it will save to YOUR computer. Sorry, it won't work my the onetruemedia slide shows, but works great with the other posted pics.