Christmas has come and gone

Christmas is over. It was a little different in our family this year. Not only was it a tight Christmas with Dave being out of work at the beginning of the year and me for a while towards the end of the year. The kids were still happy with what they got so thats all that matters to me.

This was the first year in my entire life that we did not have anything that we had todo on Christmas eve. I did work until 8:00pm though. Normally we spend Christmas Eve at my moms house that is when we have always had Christmas with my stepsister. Well it has gotten to be to much for anyone to handle. My mom decided to not have Christmas Eve this year. Since all her children are at her house on Christmas morning to open gifts anyways. Kids got to go to bed earlier on Christmas Eve and wake up earlier on Christmas morning to open gifts at home then get ready to Grandma & Grandpa's to open gifts there. And have Grandpa's famous omlets for breakfast.

After opening gifts at moms house we went home where my kids other grandmother, aunt and cousin would be coming for dinner. Oh Joy. I would have rather stayed at my moms house. I cooked, I cleaned up just like Thanksgiving. Why can't they ever have us to thier house where I don't have to lift a finger. Oh yea we tried that one year. They decided to cook Christmas dinner a day early and eat most of it. So on Christmas day there wasn't enough for everyone and we went home hungery. That's his family for you. Luckly my mom had so much left over that we went there to eat after we had been at his families house for dinner that we were invited for.

Dave's niece was bragging on how thier grandmother bought her Guitar Hero for Christmas (mind you she doesn't buy anything for my kids, because she says they already have one grandmother that gives them way too much, and that Dave and I buy what ever they want anyways). My kids have learned that this is how she is and don't care anyways because they do get what they want from us and my family. But it really hurts my children that she brags about it. I always tell them not to worry about it. Well David finally got sick of it. He said (right infront of his grandmother) Who cares that my dad's mom (hmmm not grandma) Guitar Hero, we get everyone when they come out, and my grandma and grandpa bought us alot of things for Christmas. Dave told David he was being rude and I spoke up and said no he wasn't, she had that coming. Then David went on to his cousin that at least he has a Wii and she doesn't and his uncle bought them Guitar Hero World Tour for it, did she have World Tour, no she didn't. I just let him give back to her what she has given to them all of their lifes. David was bragging, and we talked later about it and I told him it wasn't right to brag like that and he told me I know mom but we are just so tired of her bragging and it hurts that grandma doesn't like them like she does their cousin. I felt so sorry for my kids at that moment. I had Three very loving sets of grandparents, my moms parents, my dads parents, and my stepfathers parents. Who do my kids have my mom and my stepdad. My stepdad has been the best grandfather that they could ever have from the minute they were born. They no longer have my dad whom was a great grandfather also. Now they don't have the only other grandfather that they knew their great grandfather. It has been hard on them. They have never met their fathers father. And I really feel sorry for my children that they have one set of wonderful grandparents and one set of wicked rotten grandparents. Also that it really hurts them how their fathers mother does treat them. She treats them like she does me, but that's ok because I don't like her either, and after my conversation with David I don't care if my kids like her or not anymore either. She has done it herself not me.

Just Random Thoughts

About a month ago now my computer crashed big time so much that it can no longer be fixed. Well you would think it was the end of the world in my house. I don't know whom is worse me or the kids. But we will live with out a computer for a few more weeks since there is just no money to buy a new one right now.

So what has been happening around our house is just so much. Everyone rushing to try and get ready for Christmas. Which is going to be very slim this year with just the money amounts of items my children want. As they get older so do their toys and I only have one teenager at this time. Oh no what's going to happen when they all get there???? Luckly I have very understanding children and they said it was ok that what they don't get they will get for their birthdays if they still want the items.

Here it is December 21st and my kids have not had a snowday from school yet. Friday we received our second big snowstorm of the season. During the first one at the beginning of December the kids had a two hour delay. Friday morning I woke up turned on the news and sort of drifted back to sleep seeing that there was no closing or delay. Woke back up a few mins before time to wake up the kids to get ready and on the bottom of the screen of the tv it was taking 10 mins to get thru the delays and closeings. When it finally rolled around to our district I looked in disbelief. The kids were going to school on time but were being released early What released early they haven't even made it to school yet. It had todo with the time we were getting the storm. And did we get it. Yea but not as bad as they said we were. But still enough where the roads were bad and it was a good thing the kids were home. But I had never ever seen them decide to close school early before the busses were even running to get them to school. I asked everyone including my mom and no one had ever seen that before around here.

As for school we received a letter from the elementary school that three of my children attend. They are closing part of the school for part of the year next year. The part they are closing houses the 4-6 graders. Next year I will have two of them in these grade levels since one of them will be entering Jr. High school. Now for part of the year I will be having 4 children in 4 different schools and that is going to be hard on me and them. But when they return to their school they will have an new safe wing of the school.

Wow I really was just rambling along today.

Election Day in the view of a child

This Election Day morning was a topic of getting ready for school conversation this morning. My children know my view on the election this year. Sorry to say that I am choosing not to vote this election year because I feel niether canidate is worthy of being our next president. Everyone has the right to their opion and whom they vote for and I have my choice also, and I have made that choice. In my fathers family they are all one party, my brother and myself were raised by my mom and we were always told no matter what party she is we have our own choice. This made an interesting argument between my brother and one of my uncles after my grandfathers funeral a couple of weeks ago. My brother got a couple of people thinking afterwards. With his views.

But anyways I have a mixed house. Yes my children are 13, 12, 10 & 9 but they have been following this election. For two reasons one is they hold a mock election at their school during election year and two they really do care whom is our president. I think if you ask most kids they do too. Maranda has given up she wanted Hillary Clinton as our president, not only because she is a woman, and someone that she looks up too, but she truly believed in her. I have an uncle that has always told Maranda that she will be the first woman president. When Hillary was campaigning Maranda told my uncle that it would not be true, but she told him "Uncle Dave I promise I will be one of the Women Presidents" and we all know someday she will be. This morning she said she still wasn't sure what way she was going to mock vote. She probley won't know until right before she does. David says hes just going to close his eyes and vote whom ever he checks off is his vote. Nice way to vote David, but then again he doesn't believe in either candidate either. Now both Kenny and Makayla are definite on whom they are going to vote for in the mock vote. And this is where the interesting part comes in, they both want the opposite of each other. This morning we heard why and fighting over their choices. But I think that they both gave a great argument on why they are choosing whom they are. At 9 & 10 years old they know what they want and whom they feel can give that too them. Well my dear children they don't have all the power to do what they are saying and you will soon learn that. Kenny next year in 5th grade you will learn more and maybe you can teach Makayla a year early. But you both make me very proud as do Maranda and David, to call you mine. You are all very independent, brilliant children in your own ways.

Football, Cheerleading, Football, Cheerleading

Football and Cheerleading has run our lifes since August 1st. It is now over and I am sorry to say I am quite bored with out it now. Yesturday was Kenny and Makayla's end of the year banquet. They are wearing their team tee-shirts to prove it to school today. Kenny was going to play basketball during the winter but decided he needed a break from sports. Which I was totally ok with at the time but now I am bored. I think that after 3 nights a week of practice two games to attend every Saturday it took over my life as it did thiers. I really wish they were on the same team but weren't so it ment 4 hours at a football field on Saturdays. But to see the fun they were having made it for me.

I loved hearing Makayla my very quiet, shy little girl turn in to a cheering machine. She was never shy on the side line of that football field cheering for her team and especially for her little "boy"friend and waiting for him to come off the field so they could talk. Getting up at 6:00 one Sunday morning, waking her with no problem. You have to understand she is a bear to wake up in the morning. Traveling 30 miles to be there at 8:00 for Cheerfest which there were Thousands of other Cheerleaders and parents. She just cheered her heart out. Yesturday we got our CD of pictures from that day and everyone of her has a smile on her face. There are over 600 pictures of their team, and the girls were so busy with their dance and cheer they didn't even know they were having thier pictures taken. She sure made me very proud. My baby is growing up.

Kenny what can I say, I watched him start out being afraid to be tackled during practice avoiding anyway he could by being tackled by two certain team mates during tackle drill at practice every night. To begging to have these two players tackle him and him tackle them. Also from wanting to quit after the first week of practice to "mom come on I'm going to be late for practice". There team did great with having 10 boys that had never played and 10 that played one year or a couple that had played no more than three years. They came in third for the season. Made it to playoff's, they lost thier game in the first round of playoffs but held thier own and did very well. Thier team had some very upsetting news one night at practice in September one of thier teammates could no longer play. Josh had been suffering from headaches that put him in terrible pain. Which they found out he had a brain tumor, which was cancer. Josh was in the hospital awaiting brain surgery to remove the mass. These boys asked thier coaches "What can we do for our teammate." They dedicated their season to Josh, and played their hearts out for him. They wore white arm bands with his number on thier left arms at every game. They signed his jersey and gave it too him. They asked questions to coaches and parents and always asked how he was doing. They asked the president of the football organization to raise money for this family to help with thier traveling costs back and forth to the hospital. They did everything they could for Josh for being 9,10 & 11 yr olds. They became a team helping a teammate in his time of need. YOU BOYS ARE GREAT AND KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRUE TEAM!!!! Yesturday at the banquet the whole team including Josh (which I was told by his mother is still not out of the woods for at least 5 years. The type of cancer is fast spreading and will have to have tests every month to make sure its not back) were back together as a team, and had one last team picture taken. A great way to end a great season. As always my boy makes me proud he is mine.

Another year gone

Halloween is over for another year. We did not do our Halloween party this year. Just too much going on. We just lost my grandfather on October 9th and my kids as well as myself have taken it pretty hard. My brother had to put his dog down this month after going her (the poor baby) going thru hell since he found out she had cancer in May. She had a front leg taken off, then a couple of weeks later her stomach twisted (which is very common in large dogs) and then twisted its self back(not common at all). A couple months later the cancer was back. They went to remove it but found more spreading thru out her body. They decided to just take her home and let her be spoiled and loved and die at home. Well she got to the point she was so weak my brother couldn't watch her suffer anymore. Our whole family took this pretty hard, she was loved by us all. Even though many people are terrified of Rotties you have never known one as Pacey was. She was a protector, a best friend, sometimes even a pillow for all her human cousins to lay upon. There was a ton of other things that got in the way of having a Halloween party this year also. Next year we will have another the kids love it as I do.

Now its time for me to get busy working on my Christmas crafting. First off I really need to get teachers and kids at school taken care of and thats what I am starting to work on.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

It's here!!!! It's here!!! My favorite day of the year. It comes in close second with my kids right behind Christmas. Lots todo today. I have to work 6 hours tonight so of course I have to miss all the little ghosts and goblins out there, and worse I will miss my own enjoying the night. Even though I did make thier costumes I haven't seen Randa in hers. But hopefully Dave will remember to take pictures of them in their costumes for me. I will be able to see David, Kenny and Makayla at their school parade today. Today is also my sister Colleen's birthday. HaHa she is a year older. So if you read Colleen. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY 37TH, 37TH, 37TH BIRTHDAY YOU OLD WITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so you know what I am saying. Love ya, enjoy being the age I was last year but you can still say you are the older one.

Now that I finally got the kids Halloween costumes done, and since today is the last day of October it is really crunch time for me to get Christmas gifts made. I have 29 people to make gifts for plus 6 teachers, and 12 girlscouts. I really have a feeling that alot of people are going to get store bought gifts this year and some of them won't be happy with that. Don't worry Mike and Jay you will both get your Oreo balls but that might be the only gift you get.

Now I am off have lots of things to get done today and have to leave the house by 12:50 to make it to Makayla's class to help kids get ready for their parade by 1:00

Yea they are done

I finally got all four costumes done. I really had fun with Kenny's hobo costume. Today I hit the only thrift store in town that I didn't yesturday, just becasue I forgot about this one. And I hit the jackpot on finding things for costumes. I also finished up my two Halloween trees. These were the last of the Halloween crafts that I had to get done for this year. I already have alot planned for next year. Just need to get them out of my head and into my notebook. With a list of supplies needed so that I can work on them one weekend a month during the year. I also need to have kids thinking about costumes for next year so that I am not running around figureing out what they need for them at the last minute again. I don't like how it was done this year. I like having everything done ahead of the time.

Now I can get to work on completing teacher christmas gifts so that they are ready to go.

Halloween Costumes

I dislike that my kids have decided to wait until just about the last minute this year to decide what they wanted to be for Halloween. All but Makayla that is she knew that she wanted to be a rag doll as soon as I brought home a box of old dresses from a garage sale about a month ago. I found a dress that I thought would make a great Parie girl costume but had to buy the whole box which was just a dollar anyways no big deal I can donate the rest of the dresses to the Drama Department in Maranda's school they will use them for something. After Makayla and her friends found the box I brought home they have been using the dresses to play in which is alright too. Because she is just growing up so fast as it is. But now my kids have all decided on their costumes with Kenny finally deciding last night. So I will have a rag doll, a vampire, a black widow and a hobo for children on Halloween this year. Makayla's costume is done since she had a Halloween dance for girl scouts this past Saturday. Davids and Marandas are done except for the clotheing they are wearing with them. Tonight I am going to work on Kenny's hobo costume while sitting at work. I do have to remember to take pictures of them. And they will be posted as soon as my other computer gets fixed. For some reason this computer won't let me post pictures anywhere.

Christmas gifts

I try and make 95% of Christmas gifts for extended family. I also make alot for my children also. My family perfers homemade gifts from me. My 8 year old niece last year said to me that she knows that her Aunt Kimmy will make her something and not just go to the store and buy her something because I care enough to make her stuff because I love her and I show her when I make her stuff. My brothers are always asking for certain things that I make usually Oreo balls and baked goods, or they are asking could I figure out how to make this or that. I am happy that I can please my family with the things that they love. I have been searching online for ideas for Christmas 2009 ideas. Since I have to craft all year for Christmas I like to start early Later this week I want to start getting that list in order. Not that I am ready for Christmas 2008 yet.

Made for my 4

Hi my name is Kim. I love to craft for my 4 children whom all love to craft also. I am going to use this blog for my crafting, and other things in general. I love all holidays and love to incorporate new traditions into the holidays.