Following Christmas

Billy went back to work the day after Christmas, so for us the holiday kind of abruptly ended.

It was the warmest day we had in weeks, and with the looming responsibility of taking down our Christmas décor there was nothing to do but take it down.  It was totally worth it, since I found two things that had been misplaced! (One under the tree skirt, and one under our pile of extra Christmas cards.)

I even took the time to WD-40 our outside projector screw for next year, since Michigan weather did not treat it well last year and it was freezing when we put out our decorations this year. = )

Once the tubs were stored away, Emily and I set to work on thank you notes.  Everyone signed and they were ready for Billy when he got home.

We also found homes for all of our new Christmas goodies:

Emily sporting her new, super cute, headphones:

And I installed my first ever vanity plate, Haley bought it for me for Christmas.  Single Michigan plates bother me as a whole, but I totally fangirl over my car now. = )

On Wednesday I promised grace pancakes with smiley faces, so Thursday morning this was our breakfast.

My second objective was to get started on end of year teacher gifts.  So, I repaired everything that needed mending, then had the kids come up to pick out fabric for teacher gifts.

Grace asked if we could go to McDonalds.  I told her that I was working on my sewing, but if I finished what I wanted, then *maybe* we could go Friday.

Later, I went downstairs to make myself some tea.  Grace quickly approached me and asked "Mutti, why aren't you sewing?"  Sheesh, I'm working on it Grace, I just wanted some Tea... lol

We received the rest of my Sam's order, and after I claimed my large box, everyone laid claim to the smaller boxes.  Juliet wanted to make hers into a robot.

"I can't clap"

I was successful in cutting and embroidering everything in my pile.  That mean that today, we loaded the car with a few errands, and stopped in at the Eyeglass shop to retrieve Alice's replacements and get the other three an adjustment.

And ended up at McDonald's for lunch. = /  It's far from my favorite, but at least I can get breakfast there, all day long.  The kids had fun.  (after taking this picture, I realized that WGJ had all taken off their socks.  Ew.

From there we went to the bank and then to pay our sewer bill and take some mail to the post office.  A super exciting day. = )

But, now I'm managing to finish my final objective from yesterday: updating the blog!  So, I guess it all worked out.

later days

Christmas Day

I didn't take many pictures this Christmas, so many of them are sub-par.

Avia came over (early) while the kids were still rifling through their stocking/Santa gifts. = )

Once the kids dragged Billy from bed, we all opened the wrapped gifts from under the tree.

Everyone enjoyed opening all the gifts from Aunts & Uncles (and a few from us as well.)  Gift cards are becoming a common request around here.  I'm not entirely sure what lengths uncle John had to go to get William a Steam card on Christmas day, but he was one happy little boy!

We had a nice, if simple, ham lunch around noon, and then Avia quickly took her leave, feeling sick. = (

The rest of the day was spent trying to avoid puddles of baby alive discharge (water) while the twins ran back and forth to the laundry room to get dry diapers for their babies, having a giant nerf showdown, shopping online and playing computer games.

Merry Christmas all!

later days

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year fell on a Monday, so I started the day by going to pick up my groceries from Sam's.  My mom and sister joined me, and since Billy had the kids, we decided to stop in a volunteer run (read: minimal operating hours) thrift shop.

I found $10 worth of things, even with their half off sale! I picked up a single player game for Emily, since she has been really excited to play Uno lately, but I do have other chores that need attention. = )

We went to the four o'clock service at Journey Life.  It was a nice service, but all of my children holding open flames at the end took a toll on my stress level.

We managed to not set anything or anyone on fire, and so we had a family picture afterward.  This was the one they posted (so I'm guessing it was the best, or at least the most entertaining. lol.)  All the kids were wound up, but particularly Wiwam. obviously.

In the car we enjoyed some cookies, and when we came home they got to open their Christmas PJs.  Juliet was yawning in every single picture. = O

Once the pajamas were on, it was time for pictures.  I promised them hot chocolate, after the pictures, but they looked really cute holding the mugs.  I'm a fan of most of the pictures we took on the couch*.

And this is why we don't have hot chocolate on the couch; William.

Not sure what Emily was doing to Grace.

Juliet must have been tired, and Alice was ready for cocoa.

Apparently William said something gross, and Alice was disgusted.

"let's take a selfie!"

I did get a great shot of all 5 of them though:

And then this happened:

Once the silliness took over, I went to boil the water and Alice checked the "Santa Tracker."

We put our reindeer food:

And Santa got some sanitary cookies:

Thanks to a busy day, bedtime was pretty smooth for everyone except for Emily who was just too excited to sleep.

Billy started putting out presents before I came down, but I was able to help finish up.  And he ate all of my non-imperial cornflake cookies that were cooling on the counter! all.of.them.  punk.

This was one of those evenings that was crazy and hectic and makes me so incredibly thankful for the gift of Christmas.

later days

*It's only been a year and they all looks sooo much older than last year!

2 Weekends

Last weekend, Emily's friend Abby's sister, Emily had her birthday celebration.  She sweetly invited all 5 of mine for the event.  Billy and I didn't really have a plan, so we went to a dinner place we'd never been.

It's in a hotel, so the entrance is pretty impressive.  The food was really good!  We picked up everyone, except for our Emily, who was staying the night, at 9.  Around 1030, I got a call from my sad Emily that she wanted to come home.  = (  They don't live far away, so I was able to retrieve her about 10 minutes later.

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This weekend wasn't nearly as fancy, we broke out the board games and played candyland, Eye spy, Uno and Battleship.

I did a little winning and a lot of losing, but it was a day well spent.

later days

Class Parties & Teacher Gifts

Y'all, we barely made it through this week.

On Monday Emily and Billy stayed home sick.

Since Emily had put gingerbread house on the list, I bought her one to work on after I finished grocery shopping, since I figured she'd feel better after a good rest.

All 5 of them enjoyed eating it for dessert that night!

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On Tuesday when Billy tried to remote start his car, it wouldn't start.  I tried it at the ignition, it wouldn't start. lovely.  After a call to Avia, Billy was on his way to work in my car, and Avia took Emily and William to school since Alice was under the weather. While I waited for triple A to arrive (and the monthly medicine shipment) Billy was sent home from work and so he got to be in charge of Alice while I took his car to Walmart.  Avia unpacked the medicine and took the box in for recycling.  What would we do without Avia?

I didn't take any photos to document my morning (!?) except a display to show my friend.

I treated myself to lunch at Cracker Barrel, and by the time I finished shopping at 5 below, where I saw tons of cool stuff, but the long line was prohibitive of a purchase, the car was ready. Somehow, the battery was still under warranty, despite the fact it was a southern battery (which would have been the last time we replaced it,) so they fixed it for free! Walmart for the win!!

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On Wednesday I was down and out, and William stayed home sick, plus the twins were out of school, so Avia had to step in and entertain them so that I could go to the twins' IEP meeting.  

I am thrilled to report that Grace and Juliet are no longer needing any sort of accommodations or modifications.  They have been kicked out of the special ed umbrella, since their speech is exactly where it is expected to be for their age!!!!!!!!!

She stayed on so that I could rest, but I really have only a vague recollection of the entire day.  Thanks Avia!

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On Thursday everyone was healthy enough to fake it, and make it to where they were supposed to be.  William's party was that morning, so I went in and enjoyed snacks and stations with him and his kindergarten friends.

I'd found blinking reindeer antlers at the store right before I went in, and as soon as he saw them light up, he wanted to trade me for his boring ones. ; )

They did make some reindeer hats, so once he donned his creation, I did get my sparkling ones returned.  My favorite kindergartner had a great time!

After the kindergartners resumed their day, I helped clean up the classroom, then ran home to put away the few Christmas gifts I'd left on the counter (since Emily's party ran until the day's end.)

At Emily's party I also travelled between stations.  She also wanted to trade me her boring headband for my blinking headgear.

My favorite station was building a "Christmas Tree" out of gummies and toothpicks!  It needed to have space below to allow for a 'present' (piece of laminated paper on a clothespin) to stand.  We were successful!

Cookie decorating, holiday bingo and "would you rather" rounded out the stations.  My sweet Emily had a great time, and we were ready to head home at the end of the day!

That night, we had regular homework, which was sad in lieu of the abnormally festive day.  But we powered through.

Alice's teacher emailed a review key for their Math test (on the Friday before Christmas break = ((((  ) When I asked Alice to get hers out, she'd "forgotten" it at school.  Luckily for her, I was able to print of the review and modify it so that she could still get in the practice.

We start homework/piano practice as soon as they get home, and we were still going at 7:30 that night.... ugh.

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When Friday finally arrived, after taking it's sweet time, I was excited to party with my Alice.  Since her party didn't begin until 11:45, I took care of a few dozen things I'd been 'meaning to do' around the house.

I was the second parent to arrive, while the class was still at a special.  So I was put in charge of cheesing the nachos!!! yum.

They had pizza and nachos and donuts, and an optional veggie.  Alice felt extra special since her party was on Pajama spirit day!  When they started the movie, Jumanji, I took my leave and went to take care of errands that would have elsewise been put off until the kids' return to school in January.

Grace and Juliet's party was scheduled for that afternoon, but since it went until the end of the day I tapped my mom to help me with pick up.  When I asked the twins who they wanted to come, they unanimously decided on Avia.  So, she got to hang out with them while they partied, and I did errands before claiming my big kids at the end of the day. = )

I love their school & teachers so much!  I am so thankful for all of the adults who spend their days pouring themselves into my children.  This year I made personalized cups, and my mom found 5 cute baskets for each of their teachers!  I found a few other tokens to put in, but I wish I could give so much more!

We are all still limping and moaning and coughing along.  So we  are thankful for a nice break so that we can all heal and be 100% for the new year!

later days

A collection of all the other pictures

There are just a few pictures here and there that I want to keep, but don't need an entire post. Or maybe I should aim to blog daily or weekly, then I could post little posts and have these in individual posts.  I smell a new year's resolution....

Making cornflake wreaths!

Daddy gets extra cinnamon imperials. =  )

An afternoon of writing envelopes to all the people in my life that I love.

William claimed the Santa hat when we were unpacking our Christmas bins.

My mom found this awesome tiny wooden nativity at a yard sale for the kids to play with.  They enjoy it, and they leave my inherited one alone. = )

These two party so hard!

Emily ate her poptart into the shape of a guns up! Wreck'em!

I love these creative little gnome trees! = )

All five of my children were invited to Big Emily's birthday party this weekend.  We did our best to give her something she'd like, which is currently unicorns!  The boxes have a bracelet and necklace in them, respectively.  I asked my Emily what she liked best, but she wasn't sure.

Last week was a school fundraiser at the skating rink.  So, we loaded up and enjoyed dinner at the rink while the kids wore themselves out on a Thursday night.

My poor alice has been less than 100% all week. = (

Emily's class had the greatest number of students present, so they won the laser tag game. = )

On Wednesday, We got to have lunch with Daddy and Aunt Rocky!  It was super quick, because I had somewhere to be, but it was a nice treat to eat with them. = )

Such a fun season!

later days