More Christmas

Sunday we left and went down to do the Christmas round with all of my family. First stop, Grandpa John's (my stepdad). We got there, had a good dinner, and then all the adults left so Grandpa John could have some good one on one grandkid time. Really, we did it for his benefit! lol OK, really since it was our anniversary, we went out, but not alone. My older brother Allen and his family were in town, so we all had Caitlyn be our DD and drive us up to a small bar. We all had SOO much fun! Turner and Gavin took to each other like they'd been together every day for their whole lives! lol They are 1 year a part, and boy are they going to cause us trouble in the future. These boys get together, and you just see the mischief start to multiply. The kids had a blast and loved being around Grandpa John. And the next morning he got up with all the kids to let us sad sad bunch of adults try to recover. There were tequila shots, lots and lots of "to-kill-ya" shots...need I say more!

Such brotherly love!

Allen and Donny - my brotha from anotha mother..and father. Donny has been Allen's best friend since I can remember and he is just a part of the family by now.

Allen and Ashley

The cousins - Turner, Christopher, Mackenzie, Gavin

Dad and the kiddos - Cameron, Allen, Dad, me, Caitlyn

Don't they just look like trouble!

We finally got up and around and drove about 30 minutes to Moberly to see my dad and Grandma. Had lunch there and did Christmas. The kids always love their Grandpy, so of course that was good. Grandma is still getting around pretty good. She did tell me that she had a scare the other day when her blood pressure spiked super high and she had to be taken to the hospital. But they just gave her something to bring it down, don't know any other cause. She takes BP medicine on a daily basis, so scary that it would spike so high even on her meds. Grandma D has been such a huge part of my life. I take it for granted that she has just always been around, but I know that our time with her is limited. She is still on her own, and doing well though.

Then we left and drove another 30 minutes to my mom's. We had dinner there and did Christmas again. Nannan and Grandad were there too. Nannan seems to be doing well, but grandad isn't. Visibly he isn't doing well, and as Nannan said...he is slipping. It must be so hard to see someone who you have had around every day for almost your entire life start to fade. I'm sure it must take a lot out of Nannan to take care of him day to day. I pray that they will be ok. Otherwise the dinner was fabulous and we had a great time again.

All the kids, grandkids, in-laws - missing in action: Tyler (in jail right now for 30 days for probation violation) Uhhhh, never gets dull in our family!

Nana and her Grandbabies.

That is about all I got for ya. We are having a party tonight which is going to be a blast. Let's just say, jello shots, Rock Band, our cool neighbors - how could it not be!! Everyone have a fun and safe new year!

See ya Next Year!!

My Journal

OK, so the best part about this blog is that I have a journal of our lives captured here for years to come, so this post is going to be purely a "journal post". Just that normal stuff that I want to remember about our lives right now.

Jobs...these seem to be a big part of defining our lives at this time. Pfizer is still going good. Nothing that gets me excited, but it is still a steady constant and there is nothing wrong with that. They are a great company, I really enjoy the people I work with, and we are getting ready for some new stuff at the beginning of the year, and I always love a learning opportunity. NY&Co is still going good. I really enjoy doing retail - who would have thought. Aaron and I were talking about it last year and just how much I've changed - 5 years ago I would have hated this job. Guess I've just become more social and girlish in my old age! Last week I worked 5 days there, so it was a pretty busy week on top of my "normal" job and getting ready for Christmas, but.....wait for it, wait for it.....I'm now off for 3 day!!!! Can I get a Whoop Whoop! Ok, maybe I'm a little over excited, but Christmas day was the first day I've had off since Thanksgiving...but I'm on vacation at Pfizer now too so I have 3 whole days that I don't have to go to work! Aaron went on a ride-a-long with a company for a sales position last week, but was not impressed at all. Can you believe the guy went through McDonalds for lunch (ok that is fine), Aaron ordered a value meal, the guy a sandwich off the dollar menu -AND THEN ASKED AARON TO PAY FOR HIS LUNCH!!!! I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the job must not be paying so great if he is having to have a stranger buy his dollar lunch for him! lol So we turned that down. We are waiting for everyone at the college to return from their Christmas break (Jan 5) so that we can get more info on him going back to school. That is what we are really going to try to make happen. Even if Aaron does end up getting a job, he still plans to do school too. Things are still going really good with him being home with the kids. The last time he was home was when Mackenzie was a baby and he was in night school and I had just started at Pfizer and it did not go so well. So I've always been hesitant, but it is going good. Aaron really does a great job with the kids. Austin has been a trader, last week he cried for Aaron to take him to bed, BUT after that 1 day at home for Christmas, he is all back to be a momma's boy! Ha Ha

Christmas: Christmas morning the kids woke up about 7:45. The night before we read to the kids out of the Christmas book when we were putting them to bed. Mackenzie said "mom, can you even really believe that tomorrow is Christmas, I can't even stop thinking about it!" I love the magic of Christmas. And nothing is better than seeing it all through the eyes of a little child. Oh if I could just bottle that up and keep it forever. I sure hope she still has a couple years of believing left, but even when she gets her suspicions...mom will never admit anything different! They had such a great time opening gifts. Turner kept wanting us to undo each toy that he got. His favorites: his train table, Splinter, T-Rex, foam disk gun, and his Hungry Hungry Hippos - oh yes, we did it. But doesn't every child have to experience Hungry Hungry Hippos - and doesn't every parent have to endure it! Actually I'm not sure who was having more fun playing it, the kids, or Aaron and Cameron! Which reminds me, both Uncle Cameron and Aunt Caitlyn were with us Christmas morning - AND they were both up here with us for all the morning fun. Mackenzie loved all of her stuff to. Right now she is playing with her Barbie stuff. But I think her favorite thing right now is her Leap Frog Word Launch that she can hook up to the TV. She is loving exploring how to make words - and is getting better every day with reading. (STILL don't have my head wrapped around that yet!). And she loves her swimming puppy dog - so glad that Santa was able to hunt it down. Now he did not get her her bible, but she didn't put that on her list until Christmas morning, so Santa must have already left the North Pole to start delivering presents before he got the request. So I'm thinking that may be a birthday gift. She was so sweet...I have to admit, I do get caught up in the Santa portion of Christmas a little more than I should, but leave it to Mackenzie to bring it all back to the true meaning - when we sat down for breakfast she wanted to make sure we all thanked Baby Jesus! Austin loved just going around to everyone else's presents. He liked the paper and thankfully wasn't trying to eat any of it, just tearing and scrunching. I made an awesome (if I must say so myself) breakfast of egg casserole and monkey bread - both of which turned out perfectly! We all sat down together and ate - Christmas morning breakfast is kind of becoming a tradition around here.

I can't believe that Austin's birthday is so soon. He now has 7 teeth, has for a while. Yesterday he really took off walking and is making it across the room at times, wobbly still, but he just takes off on his own. He has been talking up a storm, sure it is all in baby talk, but he loves to talk. Aaron can get him to wave his finger and say "no no no". Which reminds me, the other day I asked Mackenzie what she was going to name her swimming puppy, and she decided on naming him "No No" since that is what she is always having to say to him anyways! I told her maybe I should have just named her that then! lol I LOVE to hear what kids are naming things - I think it is so telling to what the scope of their world is and what is important to them.

And for the big deal.....today is mine and Aaron's 6 year anniversary. Last night we just hung out together and drank by ourselves after the kids went to bed and just talked and talked. It is so nice that we can still have so much fine all by ourselves. I mean, we were laughing and just being silly. It was a nice reminder that I did marry my best friend. We have had such a wonderful life together. I think the next 6 years will be very different from the last. We will be entering a new phase in our lives. We talked last night about where we both are on having more kids, and neither of us wants another right now. We are jsut very content with our lives and our children. I think this is the first time in my life since I was like 16 that I haven't been thinking about when I would be getting pregnant and having a baby. But the idea isn't locked out, the doors are just shut right now. I think that we may end up having more kids in a non-traditional way - not necessarily adoption, but I could just see us helping kids that need a good family around. And who knows, maybe we would be one of those crazy people that decides on more kids in 10 years! Basically - we don't have a plan, haven't shut any door permenantly, and are open for whatever life brings us. I wouldn't do a single thing in our past differently, we've followed our hearts and things have worked out beautifully, so I think we'll just keep on trusting ourselves.
I'm getting summoned by Mackenzie to start making daddy is breakfast so we can go wake him up, so I'd better go for now....

6 years ago

was it really only 6 years ago that I was asleep in my hotel room waiting for my wedding day....and now we have had 2 house, 3 cars, 3 kids, 2 roomates, 4 jobs later, and here we are. Time flies when you are having fun. 1 phrase sums it all up..."I'd do it all over again!".

Santa, a Ninja, and Hanna Montana came to visit!!

I'll have to come back and add some more text. We've been fighting our internet all day so I haven't had time to post and now it is time for me to go to work. But here are some pictures to hold you over. We had a wonderful Christmas. The kids must have been VERY good because Santa sure did drop off a lot of stuff.

Mackenzie making cookies last Tuesday. This was a batch she made all by herself. This was her first time getting to hold the mixer all by herself - she felt so grown up!!

Christmas Eve - maybe it was the cookies that got Santa to leave so many presents!!!

Christmas morning in front of all the loot - can you tell momma hadn't had her coffee yet. Daddy must have realized by now that is a deadly combintation because I got a coffee maker!

There are no words for this picture!!

Turner and his BIG T-Rex (aka Sharp tooth...ROOOAAARRRR)

Mackenzie will be all ready for baking next year! This goes with her Easy Bake Oven...

The kids with all their loot...hopefully Santa won't get ALL the credit.

Future Santa????? Isn't this just soo adorable. My baby's first Christmas!

"Mom, Santa forgot a few cookies, don't worry I'll finish them off!" Caught in the act while everyone else was focused on presents.

A Ninja swept through - that must have been who made this mess!

Austin riding his Zebra (mommy's $5 garage sale find from this summer!)

And Hanna Montana stopped by to strut her stuff.

Christmas Letter

If you click on the images, it will open them bigger so you can read.

Just a short post today. I'm exhausted. Left the house yesterday at 6am, didn't get home until 10 pm. long day, no kids, not much husband.....I'm ready to go home, lay down on the floor and just let the kids climb all over me. I need to feel them, touch them, hear them, kiss them, hug them....

But I did get to see them all this morning, make them breakfast and take Mackenzie to her Christmas Party at school. Here is a pic of Me and my Baby Girl.

So I've always thought that Austin looked just like Aaron, but after another look, I think he does take after his momma!

When i take picture like these, I totally think of how they will look on a big screen at his high school sports award banquet or wedding video. I know, I'm such a mean mommy! lol Better be nice to your momma kids, I've got some dirt on you!!!

This is a picture of Turner yesterday when I got home. Austin's pants, Mackenzie's mittens, and 1 sock - I guess I don't have to remind everyone that they are home with daddy during the day! lol

And this is a picture I took of Turner last night in the bath - this is such a classic Turner face - see the sweet mischievous look there?!

And for the Grand Finale for this post......Drum Roll Please......Look Who's WALKING!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mackenzie

Here is a picture of Mackenzie after her Christmas program. I had stopped and gotten her a dozen roses. I mean this was her first performance after all! She of course loved the flowers, she always loves when I get them from Aaron. Gosh how I love that little girl!

So things about her these days.....

-She is actually pretty wild herself. Sometimes I think maybe she is more the instigator of Turner's wildness!

-She still loves her brothers. Talks to Austin like she is a little mommy.

-Still sleeps with Chou Chou every night, but otherwise she doesn't play with her too much or have to take her with us everywhere during the day.

-She loves wearing dresses, will only wear "soft pants", no jeans because they aren't comfortable.

-She is so excited to be getting close to the age of loosing her teeth. We get updates on anyone who has lost a tooth in her class.

-She is teachers pet. We just switched her to a new class (since she is only going T/TH class only now) and the teacher was ecstatic that Mackenzie was coming to her class. She told Aaron that Mackenzie is her little girl at school.

-She is starting to read and can sound out 3 letter words with the short vowel sounds.

-Is always wanting me to hold her these days.

-Loves doing her gymnastics and is now working on back bends and assisted walkovers.

-Thinks that we are lying to her when we tell her Mommy and Daddy do magic. (the other day daddy was trying to convince her that we were magic because we can make babies, and she said no God made me, and Aaron said, God just gave us the DNA, but we put the DNA together to make you - hmmmm daddy and his science/sex ed lessons!)

Of course there are times that I get frustrated or she gets in trouble, but Mackenzie is as perfect of a daughter as I can imagine. She is close to a carbon copy of her mommy in her disposition, and is very sensitive. She is so sweet, and big hearted. She will do amazing things for this world, I am certain.

Gosh I don't even know where to begin. I can't think back to yesterday, much less all the way back to my last post. Well, I'll just start dumping stuff out and maybe more will come to me. first, I got tagged by another blog to do this.

The object of the picture tag is to:1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer2) Select the 4th picture in the folder3) Explain the picture

So here it is....

And look it isn't even me or my family! This is a picture of Fran and Sean when I went up to the hospital to visit on his "birth"day! And Fran...don't even yell at me about posting this - you looked beautiful!

Last week....well Aaron was home with the kids all week as he is staying home with the kids now that he isn't working. He is having a great time with them and they are loving having daddy home all the time. We have talked about the whole job thing, and there is a possibility that Aaron is going to get his teaching certificate for HS so he can teach and coach. it has always been a dream, so this is a great time for him to pursue it. I'm behind it 150%. I think he would make an excellent mentor for kids that age. He has a knack with them and went through so much himself that he could bring to it. I can just picture it so clearly it just seems right. And seriously, do I not just scream “coaches wife” or what! Lol And really I just keep thinking of Friday Night Lights movie, and the daughter out there screaming at the boys to get it together – so Mackenzie! Just so Aaron is ok with it being a family effort! Lol I don’t know, it just feels right. So wish us luck. I know it isn't going to be easy financially for the next couple months, but well worth the price of a dream.

Friday we had Mackenzie's Christmas program. It was SOO adorable. I didn't get many good photos or real good video. I hoping they sell a video of it or something like that, but at least I have something. I did however forget my camera at home today though so I don't have anything to upload. Mackenzie was a wise man!

Friday night the big kids went to a "parent's night out" at a local church, I had to go in to work for a couple hours, and then got off and went home real quick and shampooed the carpets before the kids got home. Feels so much better to have them done - our carpet was getting pretty grody. Saturday day was busy finishing up the bedroom carpets, having a mini-meltdown about finances - and then off to work I went. Got home about 10:30, watched Aaron and Cam jam out to Guitar Hero, and then back at work at 8 yesterday. Got home, finally took the kids through the local light display, grabbed dinner out, then the night was over and 4:30 this morning came very quickly. Gotta say, I'm a little exhausted. I do fine going along just staying busy - but then one day it catches up to me and it is like - BAMMMMM - running into a brick wall. I turn in to a blubbering idiot, and then it is over usually within a day or so and I'm all good until the next one! Well, this weekend was my "blubbering idiot" stage, so hopefully that has passed!

It is so hard right now. It is just an internal struggle right now with "am I doing the right thing", "am I being a good mother", "how long should I keep this up"........but right now it is a necessary evil and I really enjoy working at NY&Co so at least I enjoy my time there.

Well I think that is about all I got. Hope everyone had a great weekend, and if you are local got through the bad roads ok today. I narrowly missed being in 2 accidents this morning because of the icy roads - YIKES. But I made it safely.

Whew...big update ahead!

This past weekend Grandma (or as Turner says "Maw Maw") and Pop were in from Phoenix. The kids had such a great time. Although I had to work both days this weekend, and with Aaron loosing his job, I'm sure it wasn't quite a happy go lucky vacation for them, but it was an important time for us for them to be here. And Denise was such a huge help around the house, and the Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner that she made was her best yet. Way to go Denise! So here are some cute pics of the weekend. We had Christmas with them Friday night so that they could see the kids open the presents from them. And come on, who doesn't want more Christmases!

So the kids had a blast and have already made out like bandits.

Saturday night they had a lot of their friends over to visit. Aaron and I were supposed to be at his Christmas party and staying at a nice hotel for the night (boohoo) but it was nice to not have to be running around all weekend and get to enjoy time with them and the kids. Before the party started, Denise was getting ready, and i told Mackenzie to go get dressed for the party, like wear the new outfit that she had gotten.

So she come back in in a black shirt and jeans and said that she wanted to match Grandma - so cute. Even had to have on the same color socks. So then I had the idea to put her hair in curlers so she could really match Grandma. I mean how cute is this?!

They wanted me to take a picture after the curlers were out but we never got around to it, but this is the picture that is priceless anyways.

Turner has been on a big kick of wanting to feed Austin lately. The other day I let him have a go at it.

But I guess Austin didn't think Turner was spooning the food in fast enough and took things in to his own hands!

Last night we went to a Parents as Teachers program and got to see Santa. Turner was all ready with his big list of things to tell Santa....train, cars, puzzles. Mackenzie finally told him what she wanted, a baby doll that swims under the water. Hmmmm, I don't think Santa has that in his workshop :(

And one more photo op before we left.

Aaron had an interview yesterday. He said it went well except for the guy said he had reservations about Aaron switching jobs too much. But that is what we are going to be up against this round. He is supposed to call him this morning to see if he is in the running for the next round. My fingers are still crossed.

Too Funny

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Bad News

So we have a bit of bad news to share...Aaron lost his job yesterday. It is very hard on him right now. He really liked this job, the people he worked with, and he put so much in to it. Unfortunately he just ran out of time. Last night we met up with some friends and two of his work colleagues to drown our sorrows. But we know that we will come out of this on top. Everything happens for a reason. They say that the things that don't break you only make you stronger, and this is not even close to being something that could break us, so we will use it as an opportunity to prove what we are made of. Last night as i drove home, I was reflecting back on another blog entry that I had read regarding finding something to give thanks for in every situation. So I started making my own list....

1. Thanks for The Reba Greatest hits CD I have in my car that I could belt out last night while driving for an emotional release
2. Thanks for no one being in the car with me to hear the mix of screaming, crying, singing, screeching as i drove home last night
3. Thanks for my in-laws being in town so that I was able to leave the house to be with Aaron last night
4. Thanks to our friends who showed up to give us their support.
5. Thanks for the opportunity to make us stronger
6. Thankful that our test right now is only this and not something that could be so much worse
7. Thankful that as bad as this might get, we still have it really good
8. Thankful that I already have the job at NY&C to help us
9. Thankful that we have a strong enough family unit to get through this
10. Thankful that we always have a network of friends and family who are always willing to help us out however they can
11. Thankful Aaron already has another interview on Monday
12. Thankful I still have my job
13. Thankful our benefits and insurance are through my job and were not impacted.
14. Thankful they are paying us through the end of the month
15. Thankful that they had respect for Aaron and our family
16. Thankful they are willing be a strong reference for Aaron
17. Thankful that we will still have a roof over our heads and food on the table, able to provide for our children, and everyones' health (we TOTALLY realize it could be so much worse, trust me)
18. Thankful that we have money in savings
19. Thankful for the new doors that will open as this one closes
20. Thankful that we are able to still have the attitude to be thankful

Thank you everyone for your support. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

OK, so here are the rules

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Don't mind my wild and crazy Turner running around like he has been raised by wolves. he was actually doing better singing along which is why I originally grabbed the camera, but by the third try it took mommy to capture it on video correctly, he was pretty done. But Mackenzie still sounds beautiful, and you can still here Turner's inserts here and there.

So funny story to share....

Last night I pick Mackenzie up from school and on our way home we had this conversation...

J - We've got to hurry up and get home so I can fix dinner for you guys because I have to go to work tonight

M - Why do you have to work mommy?

J - So I can make more money so I have more money to buy you gifts for Christmas

M - You never buy me anything.

J - what do you mean dork, for Christmas?

M - Yeah you never buy me anything for Christmas

J - Hmmm it just so happens that I was just looking at pictures today of last Christmas and it sure looked like you got a lot of presents

M - You just got me an outfit for Chou Chou and The Last Mimzy

J - Hmmmm there were a lot more presents than that

M - No, you and daddy just got me those, SANTA brought all the other presents

J - Oh that's right!

That darn Santa, stealing my thunder! So this year I've got to one-up Santa?!

What a difference...

a year can make. This was me 1 year ago!!!

OK, now this is directed to my so called "friends" - CLEARLY I cannot trust you to tell me when I've gone miserably wrong with the hair and look like the New Year blimp! But maybe I was just that scary of a pregnant chic for you to dare! LOL And honey, oh honey, I am so sorry....and I wonder why you may not be enthused to knock me up again!
Check out how much Turner has changed too, he turned in to a little man this past year.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Got our tree all decorated last night, now we are officially ready for Christmas! When I got home there were a bunch of needles on the floor and I was like "Wow this tree is really loosing a lot of needles" Aaron's reply "That might have something to do with the fact that Turner was fighting the tree with his light saber this morning"! Such boy behavior!

How do you like the unhappy faces in the picture. Austin was PO'd that I wouldn't let him get down so he could crawl over and check out the camera and Turner was mad that he wasn't on my lap, and there is me smiling through it all before the timer went off!

We got our Christmas lights up this weekend.

Poor Cameron was so terrified on the roof. He lasted for about 10 minutes of pure agony on his behalf, pure entertainment on mine! See he couldn't even smile for the camera! LOL

With cousins on Thanksgiving. Ali and Kayla are getting so grown up, it really makes me feel old. Ali was like 2 when I met her!

I found this picture today of Turner at the same age as Austin is now. He was getting in to mischief even then! lol

(for comparison purposes)

Yesterday we went shopping for our tree, got the lights on it, but then I had to leave for work. We will put ornaments on tonight. Our house smells so wonderful now. This is going to be a busy week with working, working, Aaron's parents coming in to town, and Aaron's Christmas party - but all good things, so it should be a good one. We get to have another Thanksgiving dinner this week - yum yum. And we get to celebrate Christmas. Oh how I love the holiday season!!! This truly is the best time of the year.