Friends 4 Life

Wow I didn't realize I'd taken such a long time away--yikes! I was working on something last night and I'm so excited I'm going to share it here, I love it! At Pretty Scrappy, one of the stores I sell at, I'm hosting this month's Template Challenge (click that for the link) and had to create a template. Here it is:

Then I decided to scrap it using my new Christmas Kit...here's that:

And then I decided I wanted to scrap one of my all time favorite photos...last year when JenGi, Cat and I got together with our families and had one of the nicest weekends I've had in a very long time. Funalicious, actually! Here it is:

I just liked the way it turned out so much I had to share. We're all well here--school is out today after our 1" nothing snow turned to 4" over a sheet of ice. Poor Niki fell twice outside the school as she left and called me freaked out and crying all the way home. She is fine and so is baby, thankfully. Cody did a great job driving home in the mess with his little car and sobbing sister next to him. He said he lost control three times but didn't let on to Niki so she didn't get afraid. How cool is that? He's looking for a new car and his resolve to buy a 4x4 has strengthened!

That's about it--I'm off to shower and get the housework started. I was up until 3 working on the template, so I slept until 9:30--I wish I were young again. Up until 3, sleep until 8....

Getting Caught In The Act--My First Tutorial

If you had your druthers, how would you tell your child 'the truth'? Is there a worst case scenario to this coming out of sorts? Yeah, what would be the worst way your child could find out? Hmmm, maybe it would be, oh, I don't know......on Christmas Eve night as you're crouched down on the floor writing out name tags to separate the boys' gifts, simultaneously inhaling eating the chocolate cookie your son left for Santa, having already downed the eggnog, thus accounting for the yellow moustache!

And when we heard the noise on the steps, we turned, froze like the proverbial deer. "You mean Santa's not real?" Said with surprise mixed with sadness. I turned to him, mind tearing out 1000 different explanations to use...and I come up with "Uh...yea-ahh he's real. Can you believe it? He forgot to put tags on, so we woke up and came out to help him out!"

I'm feeling very clever until I turn and look up at my handsome husband standing behind me, scissors dangling from clenched teeth, tape in one hand, and bag of stocking stuffers in the other. Next to me lay the unfilled stockings. Would be believe Santa didn't remember those too? That we were just gonna help him out there as well?

And if he bought all that, do I want him to?

1) Do I want my boy thinking Santa just willy nilly threw his things in the living room, not really caring who, what and where, and then didn't even bother to eat the cookie or stuff the stocking? Is THIS the impression I want to leave on Alex, my baby? Okay, yeah. It might work and it's Santa's toes on the line this way, not mine!

Okay, but...

2) Do I think maybe at 10 it's time he knew anyway? That once the legs don't dangle from the lap, the gig is up? It was rather, ahem....embarrassing when GiGi came a few weeks ago--we visited Santa. Whereupon her kids, several years younger, agreed with a 'wink' to keep the silence.

The truth needed to come out. Just not on Christmas Eve. And if on Christmas Eve, just not while we're 'in the act'! If there could be an award for most ridiculous life 'stuff', I'm gonna win that one. Or trip over presents and elbow kids outta my way trying!

*Side note, Santa brought me a leather coat. Not just any leather coat, mind you, but a big giant mondo-sized leather coat. Thanks, Santa, your image of me is touching. Wait a minute! Is this Mrs. Claus' coat? Because if it is.....

I also got six ornaments, thus the 'six' in the photo. I don't think last-minute shopping bodes well for me. Six? I love them, they are so beautiful in their own little boxes and stuff. Six boxes. To be exact. Six. How many ornaments will feed a small family in...idk..Timbukistanyadahosia? Because I can sacrifice.

A Heart Broken Can Still Celebrate!

Christmas is nearing and while I look forward to so many of the wonderful traditions John and I have begun for our family, along with John's family, I dread this one just a little. We'll do Christmas Eve services (I get to be in the choir the first service...apologies all around ahead of time for my friends who read this and attend; but I've always wanted to be in the choir, so you'll have to break my toes before you get me kicked off!). Then it'll be a quiet family night and Christmas Day spent in Platte City with John's family.

There will be a noteable absence in our home this year. We will be missing Nicole this year, she likely won't be home. And while I don't feel led to go into the details of her absence, it's weighing heavily on my heart, and has been for over a month now. We miss her, we worry constantly, and we pray she will change her heart and come home. She's being led away from our family by 'friends' who aren't necessarily interested in her best interests, who tell her what she wants to hear right now. And at 18, there's nothing we can do. I know, I've tried.

And because I love her more than any word has yet to describe my feelings, I'm writing this as a very broken person right now. Our lives have been shattered, I literally live one hour at a time, it's the only way. I simply get through my days right now, but that doesn't mean my days aren't good, I love my life and I love the days God gives me. He keeps giving them to me, so I keep thinking I owe it to Him to try to make them worthy of His time.

I have the friends and family in my life God knew to put before me to draw strength from. And oh boy, I have and I will again. This is simply a season in my life, in her life. And it will pass and I will look back and smile, I'm positive.

I've hesitated posting about this for a myriad of reasons, and some of them still hold true. So I don't want to add a great deal of details about Niki's personal choices; they don't define her and I need to be very careful to protect her now in a time when she can't do that for herself. I write this today for two reasons--first because I've been pretty detached for awhile and I'm sorry. I'm renewing my commitment to my family and friends, that I will step back into my life now full force. And that includes you, I miss being plugged in and I'm excited to get 'with it' again.

Secondly, I post this because Christmas Eve is going to be a toughie. Pray. Pray pray pray pray pray. Please. For me, for my family (the boys are hurting, both of them), and especially for Niki. I honestly believe in prayer, I haven't lost faith through this. No way. If anything, I believe I see God's hand in so many aspects of this--in the way the people who do know have reached out, in the diversions that have been so healing (GiGi & Cat weekend come to mind!). And of course the simplest things now take on far more meaning than they ever did before. Here's one more example:

I opened the mail today (it's been a week since I've been motivated enough to even go out to the box) and had a package. Hmm, I muse, it's from Dawn. Tearing into it, this is what I found:

This ornament says "Joy" and it was about the best pick-me-up I could have asked for. So...like I do like to do, I took a picture with it. I've been baking and shopping all day, so it'd be polite to overlook the non-chic ponytail I've got going on (I say this as if I usually always have chic hair!) I made Dawn a scrapbook page, it's one of those diversions I've been using--learning PhotoShop. I sent this along tonight for her:

Merry Christmas!

VOTE Time!

Okay I JUST now heard about a fun Christmas photo contest Karen is hosting! And....I knew right away I had a good photo to enter! I'm entering the photo from last week, our Christmas Lights of KC Tour '08--with Cat, GiGi and myself.

Cat, Me (Gidget) & GiGi (Alex is the little head peeking in between)

**Go love on GiGi today--it's been a difficult week.

I Saw Joseph Do The Hammer Time & My Angel Might Get His Wii!

It's a good day today--for today John gets that bonus and tonight, we shop. In a panic, because most folks have already grabbed up the good stuff, so we're left with what's left. And I have these boys who like the latest techno stuff out there. And as some of you know, we're doing this Christmas with cash. People who do cash are very cool, but only if they think far enough ahead to SAVE for Christmas. People like us, we must run out just a little over a week before the day to grab up what the cool people who saved left behind.

We'd probably do fine if the boys wanted Christmas socks. Or cologne. Or a chi chi chi Chia!

There are resourceful ways to deal with the issue, and I'm prepared to use creativity and craft supplies if it comes to that. Like the Wii. Would I be able to please Alex's desire to own the Wii if I bought a television remote, painted it white and add the logo, tied on a little strap for his wrist? Maybe......but I'll need help. John will help, he likes helping. He could crouch low behind the television with the PS2 game controller. Watch (from a hole we cut into the cabinet which sounds kind of creepy as I write this) every move Alex makes playing Battlefire Gunnerboy In The Big Scary Woods Full Of Fighting Ninjas And Paratroopers.

I think we'll try. Everybody wins--Alex gets his game on. John improves his hand-eye coordination, synchronizing to Alex's movements AND he gets to play video games all day. And I finally get a remote that not only works, but that nobody is willing to hack the batteries off of. So..... adding to my list: one remote, one can of white spray paint, one Sharpie, one new CD label for 'new Wii' game. One set of kneepads for Johnny-behind-the-television, and of course one bag of popcorn for me. Under say, $30. Not bad for a novice cash-shopper like myself!

You may be thinking what you're thinking I haven't thought. How to keep Alex from playing when John isn't there to turn the Wii on? Pshh! I'm the momma--I keep a list of 'groundable' offenses in the back pocket of my jeans!

Finally, in the spirit of the holiday, here are pictures of my little Wii playing angel. He was in our church Christmas program Wednesday night and did a fine job as an angel! The clarity stinks, sorry. I did, of course, find time to take a shot of Cody and myself from the back of the room.

And I wish you'd been there--Joseph discovered that the spotlight, along with the fabric backdrop, created a shadow. And that shadow moved with him. And the more dramatic and exaggerated his moves the funnier it looked! I didn't react quickly enough to capture it. But know this....Mary was seeking room at the Inn with NO help at all from Joseph. Hey, the man was busy getting into his Hammer Time! Just like a guy! Oh somebody in that audience owns a $10,000 video. If you're reading this, I'll trade you one video of an angel singing and reciting lines for one Joseph entertaining himself while Mary fends for herself.

GiGi, Cat & Gidget, Part One:

It's been a quiet day today..this morning our home was filled with laughter, a last minute rush to get in conversations, and then as quickly as they came, they left. GiGi and her family slid away on the freshly fallen sheet of ice. I miss her already. She's incredibly easy to talk to, I selfishly want her to sell it all and move up here to the Kansas City area. Right now.

Some of you might know that Cat and GiGi are the first two friends I made when I began blogging. Cat lives very close by, goes to the same church, and is a very dear friend I see quite a lot of. But Gi lives a few hours south, so I haven't seen her since our whirlwind hour at Silver Dollar City this summer.

As I go through the pictures, I realize to tell it right, it's going to take two, possibly three posts. If I did it in one, you'd be bored to tears, and that would be no good at all! Nope...so part one right here.

GiGi landing on our porch just after our first measurable snow arrived, which was very cool because we went through the Christmas In The Park lights display the first night, and those lights look so much more amazing in the snow. If you can take a look at GiGi's smile and find you're NOT smiling back, you might need to look into that. It's just not possible--she's that adorable.

When the lovely Cat and her family arrived, we downed some pizza and got ready for Christmas Tour Part One! We split up, guys & kids car and ladies car! Before we took off, though, we took the traditional shoe pic....

Whose Shoes Are Whose?

Right here--Cat, Gidget (Me) and GiGi (who admits she's a little afraid of the skull sneakers...but I have a fear of GiGi shirts, so it's a wash)

Here's me with Cat girl

And here's me with Gi girl! I can't tell you how excited I have been to be able to do that! I know, I know, I need to get a life!

This is the guy mobile--Cat's husband is the handsome gangsta in the driver's seat, her son is peeking out the window. And the good-looking guy in the background would be my Johnny. We're getting the traditional hot cocoa for the trip through the lights. We gave the guys a two way so we could talk to them when we wanted, and Gi's husband J entertained us througout the drive. He's pretty funny...ask him about his rabbit humor sometime. For my money, the best part of the night was just being in a car with the three of us trying to get in as much conversation as we could cram into such a short time!

GiGi's little boys, Little Man and Gremlin, cannot be done justice if I tried. But I will try to tell you how adorable and extremely polite they were. John and I got a kick out of both of them...it's been awhile since we've had little guys that young around. They are little treasures. I don't recall ever meeting children so excited about being here, which made it just that much more fun for us.

So after the lights, Cat and her fam headed for home and GiGi was good for about ten more minutes, lol. You can literally watch the sleepiness overtake her eyes, it's like a switch turns her off right in front of you!

I've got so many photos of the next night, so I'm going to just slam you with them tomorrow. I'll give you a teaser photo, though...our meals were delivered by a train. And we wore little train hats. And we like our train hats. A lot.

**I confess I went back to bed when they left and haven't felt quite myself most of the day, which is why this post took so darn long to get to. I haven't done that in such a long time--I slept from 11:30 until 2:00! I'm hoping for no sickies this week, I don't have time for sickies!!

Got A Crappy Christmas Gift? I Can Help With That!

I lifted the idea off GiGi's site (she's a crappy pair of long striped socks) and I'm not bragging or anything, but you need me. Yeah huh, you do!!

You Are a Self Help Book!

While your advice is not always welcome... It's always right on target.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Two More GiGi-less Days!!! And don't forget only six left to enter Deck The Blogs--there are some very fun entries, spend a few minutes over there with a mug of cocoa! And a candy cane. Got to have the candy cane!

Throwback Thursday....Finally Doing It!

For the longest time I didn't think I had anything much to use for Throwback Thursday, then I realized this: the things the Pinks & Blues Girls think are throwback are kinda the things I do have, when MY kids were little. AWWWW! When did this happen?! So....until my mother finally gives in and allows me to have some photos (oh, get yourselves ready for eye candy marathon then!), I still have a few things that kinda 'throw' me! Oh...and before I go on, you should click the P&B link...contest-palooza time! (Gigi, counting on you). Okay:

This is Christmas 1993 at my late father's house, and judging by the paper-winged angel, it was still fashionable to spew blues and mauves on EVERYthing! We lined up the all his girls and all his guys! The first is my little sister Antoinette, Jamee, Me (love the do?), our daughter Niki and of course, Dad. He doesn't appear it in this photo, but this is where that 'whacked' humor comes from...he was a riot! Miss him miss him miss him.

Now guy time: Jamee's husband, Andy; Antoinette's husband Joe; my husband, John, our son Cody and of course, Dad (Gigi, are these your glasses?).

It's still a little bittersweet looking at these pics--those were good days. If you'd told me none of these people except John and the kids would be a major part of my life in eleven years, I'd have looked at you sideways! Still hear from Andy here and there, but he's remarried and they're busy now. I have come to terms with my 'place' and understand it completely, but I miss him, Sarah and Max quite a lot. Maybe I'll blog it later down the road, idk, but I was just telling my dear friend Susan there comes a time when I have to stop and let them be as close to me as they want to be; I just worry the kids will think I've abandoned them. I would jump 1000000 miles up and swing from 10,000 stars to get to them if they needed me.

Don't worry about me, I'm quite fine (see new pic below...brand new!--kids shouldn't leave the camera on the kitchen counter if they don't want mommy taking head shots. Period!), will be back blogging with abandonment soon....been conjuring up some blog rules, blog friend rules, etiquette, that sort of thing. We need this, someone has to say it, so may as well do it, lol.

Wordless Wednesday

(briefly narrated...)

A half a year ago today:

I threw up the deuces in a miniature house at the Hallmark Crown Center,

and we busted outta there in the tiny wooden car with a giant drum on our tail...
Ooops...did I embarrass teenaged Cody? Pshh! They should hire him...keep weirdos out of the courtyard Christmas in an upscale shopping center....clearly we upped the class factor. Again.