My Christmas With My Second Family...

Most of you know I still work part-time as a pharmacist, and that I have been with the same company for uh I guess like...13 years? I think that is right. While I have changed locations, and the faces of co-workers have changed too over the years there is just something about the people I work with. I have a history with them, and like very few people out there they get me. Most people don't. But, they do. They accept me for who I am, and so I can be myself around them. I love that. I love them. All of them.

The company used to host a huge Christmas party each year at the local country club, but we don't anymore so we can get bigger bonuses. (yay!:)) A few years we have all went out to a nice, fancy restaurant with just the people that work at the store I work at. (There are multiple locations.) This year noone was making any plans, and I panicked because I just had to celebrate with these fun people! :) I offered to host a small get-together at our home instead. Well, that turned out to be so much fun and entertainment!

We got Kathy's karaoke machine, and realized we were all very talented! There are alot more things we can do besides count pills. NOT! :)
The kids were supposed to be in bed right after everyone arrived (yes, God blessed me with good sleepers..they would have slept during all this commotion.) But, everyone thought they were "so cute" (can you tell none of them have young kids or kids at all?) to let them stay up. :)

I wish you could hear the background music to his one. This is Beyonce....ahem, I mean Kathy's version.. of "If you like it shoulda put a ring on it." Can't you hear the "oh, oh, oh" in the background?

Me and John tore up Lady Antebellum's duet "I need you now.." Actually, I said my co-workers love me unconditionally, but if they hear me sing much more they might disown me. :)

Preston was getting guitar lessons from John.

Don't you love the last minute addition to this picture? Silly Joe.

Our lead pharmacist, Greg, every year spoils us all and gets us adorable Christmas stockings and treats. This year we had baskets! Painted like Santa pants. He painted them himself! We got candy and engraved necklaces with our initials on them!

This is the kids' table. :)

Awww..everyone looks so happy when they aren't stressed about work and delivery cut off times. :)

Matt and John are going to make awesome dads. They played and played cars with the boys and kept them so entertained. And, I am not sure who enjoyed it more..the big kids or the little kids.

I will spare you a few fun more details to provide privacy for those involved. :) Let's just say a sconce got broke on the wall and a few partygoers probably felt really worn out the next day at work, but we had a GREAT time. Really. I am very blessed to have such wonderful people to work with.

Ginger-Red House Making With Dad!

Daddy is such a wonderful daddy. He really isn't into "crafts with the kids", and he would probably much rather be in the garage working on a camaro of some sort, but a few times a year like dying eggs at Easter he will stop what he is doing and really dig deep into a craft with the kids. This Christmas we didn't have a big homeschool party where we invited a ton of kids over like at the Fall Festival. Instead, our homeschool party festivities were just our family. And, so we built (or should I say they built) an adorable gingerbread (ginger-red as Preston says) house.

It was messy, a bit difficult, but fun! Paul loves to irritate anyone, but especially our kids :) and he was making them into Rudolph. Jackson after a bit to warm up to the idea liked it. Preston not so much. :)

Oh..but yes. Preston did love EATING the ginger-red house.

Jackson did, too. Man, those things are very hard and crunchy even after we let the icing soak in to try to soften it. I can't believe they ate it.

Dad let the boys help (yay!) where they could, and my kids' personalities really came out. Preston just stuck his candy on any way he could..upside down..not all facing the same direction, etc. Jackson had a "pattern" going..and when Dad messed it up he was livid. Yes, livid is the right word to describe it. When the roof started falling, I quickly was like, "Look! It made a puddle of snow! (icing) Like an avalanche!" Preston was like, "WOW!" Jackson burst into tears with an "Oh, no! It's falling apart!" Paul of course darts a glance my way, like..."this is your fault. you made him this way!" Haha! No..I didn't. God did. And, yes we are very much alike. Poor guy. At least I understand him, so I can try to help him deal with his perfectionism.

See, Rudolph wasn't feeling it..."GET IT OFF!"

I really am proud of how it turned out, and you would be too if you had seen how the roof kept falling. :)

It is time like this where I really feel the Christmas spirit. And, not just the typical kind, but the holy kind, too. Man, I have really complained alot this year. And, I shouldn't anymore. I am truly, utterly blessed.

Christmas Fun!!!

Last year when Jackson was in 3K, the holidays were my favorite part of the school year. I really knew I would miss that this year. It was one of the reasons I almost didn't take him out. Looking back, part of me wishes I hadn't taken him out of JrK, but honestly I know in my heart it was best for me. Sadly, I don't know for sure it was best for him. And, well I feel like I am supposed to do what's best for him always. But, you know it is hard to be a good mom if you are miserable and a nervous wreck. So, this one had to be decided as to what was best for me. It was hard to stomach that. But, it is what it is. He is learning alot at home though and has just started reading, so I know there are still positives to my decision.

I have tried to keep us doing some of the same things he would have done at regular school, and The Kids Spot classes really helped me out in that department. We signed up in December for their art class in addition to our regular gym class, and we got to do fun stuff! And, at home even with phonics exercises I tried to incorporate Christmas ideas to make it fun!

Here are our blend trees...

And our trees that taught us symmetry...

and our snowflakes..yes I allow glitter in my home. :) People think I am nuts.

And, our clay ornaments from TKS.

My favorite this year...our handprint snowmen (shatterproof!!!) ornaments from TKS.

If you want to make these ornaments at home, just get some playdoh, paperclips, and paint, and cookie cutters. The playdoh can be cut out, stick in an unfolded paperclip as a hook, and it will dry out in a few days and then you can paint it. Simple!

We made some foamie ornaments...

Painted some wooden ones...

And, made Santa beards with cotton balls! :) Underneath Jackson's beard are sight words he had to find when I called them out. And, Preston's had shapes, letters, and numbers he had to find.

And, here is our complete Advent calendar nativity scene where we added a new part each day. This was really a great way to explain the Christmas story to the kids. I think that grasped more of it than ever before. It was adorable to here Preston say "Befwehem." And, priceless as we glued on the baby Jesus and sang all three of us together "Happy Birthday, Jesus." Now, that makes homeschooling the best decision ever.