Monday Morning

Here I am blogging in my pajamas.  It is just one of those Mondays.  Didn't want to get out of my nice warm bed, so I didn't until 7:00.  Which meant I had 45 minutes to get kids up and off to school.  But I did a great breakfast of french toast sticks (very easy because there is not cutting involved--great finger food, and of course from the freezer), yogurt and apples.  I literally dragged Andy out of bed and pulled his pajamas off and dressed him in the process.  Much easier that way.  Of course I was still making lunches as the kids needed to go out the door, and at about that time I found the science fair project paper that Andy needs to turn in today that wasn't filled out yet.  Scott filled out that paper,  and amazingly, teeth got brushed, backpacks found, and A and J managed to get out the door on time.  However, we did not get scripture reading done this morning, which we do pretty well about 95% of the time.  Communication between Dustin and his ride broke down so I ended up taking him to school because his ride didn't show up (which meant scraping windows--I miss my garage) and he was 10 minutes late.  But even though he woke up late (at 7:00) he managed to shower and blow dry and straighten his hair and all that.  I really did not know that boys could take so long to get ready for school!  But hey, he looks good (at least in his opinion--no so much in this mom's, though he did get a hair cut a few weeks ago).  Brennen is the last to leave for school and he is so independent and all that so smooth sailing there.  It is strange to me that my older boys go to school later than my younger kids.  In Utah my older kids left a good 45 minutes to 1/2 hour before my younger ones.

I have a load of laundry in, the dishwasher is running and Cameron is happily playing with a pirate ship and guys, or little people, or something--such an easy kid.  Can I go back to bed now? 

Referring to some past posts, I am happy to say that my laundry is caught up.  There is still some waiting to be folded and put away, but my laundry room is clean (or at least the slight organization is back) and it is under control enough that I don't feel so overwhelmed.  Now I just need to clean my room!
About Brennen's early morning basketball, I feel really bad about my attitude.  He did not make the team.  I am proud of him for getting up early everyday and trying, and not quitting even with all the running he had to do.  I was sort of thinking that maybe there wouldn't be a "cut" and everyone who showed up to practice would make it.  He is okay with it though.  He said "At least I don't have to get up so early now."  He is in a local league which we signed him up for a few months ago, so he will still get to play.  He starts practicing this week.  He can learn more and practice at the hoops across the street at the park (when it warms up), and be ready to try again next year.

In other news, it is 11 days until Christmas!  WOW!  My three-year old Cameron was very cute.  When I asked him what he wanted Santa to bring him he said "Presents".  Very easy!  I got him Little People play set thing.  So I asked him if he wanted Little People (because he loves them) and he said "I already have little people"  like, gosh Mom, don't you know?  Still so sweet and innocent.  Doesn't realize he can be "greedy" at Christmas. 

I better go get started on cleaning my room. . .cause you know Santa doesn't come if your bedroom isn't clean.

Our First Christmas Tree Cutting

I grew up with fresh cut Christmas trees.  I have great memories of Christmas tree cutting trips.  When I was younger we would go to our friends' house who lived on a farm about an hour away, and then our two families would go together.  Half the fun was just being at the farm!  The animals, the barn,sometimes a frozen pond. I can also remember going with my Grandma and Grandpa a few times, and as a teenager going with just my dad and sisters.

This year I wanted my kids to have that experience so last Saturday we bundled up, took some hot chocolate, and headed out even though the temperature outside was ice cold.  And no, it wasn't like the movies where there is a snowy forest.  It was cold, but no snow and not really a forest.  But there was lots of sagebrush.

In the car on the way, I prepared the kids that we might not find the perfect tree, but told them "with light and decorations and love it will be great."  Scott and the boys found a big tree.  I thought it was too big.  But Scott cut it down anyway and lugged it to the car.  And we tied it on top.

I still thought it was too big.  In fact I was even complaining a little and then Dustin said  "With lights and love it will be fine." 

We got it home and in the house:

I told you it was too big!

With a little off the bottom and the top, some lights and love, it is beautiful!  Our very first cut Christmas Tree!

But after the fun of decorating, it was time for bed.

A post note:  It may have been fun for the kids, but I think the one who enoyed it the most and is most proud is the biggest boy--my hubby!

Laundry, Laundry, Go Away

It isn't fair that laundry does not take a sick day, a holiday, or vacation. When your family goes on vacation, the dishes vacation too, because of course we are not in our kitchen to use them. They also take a semi-sick day because when Mom is sick, the husband usually picks up some fast food for dinner, which leaves very little dishes to clean up.

But laundry is a different story. It just never, ever goes away. It follows you on vacation and piles up on holidays and seems to triple on sick days. The week before Thanksgiving I decided to make some Christmas pillowcases to sell at a craft fair, so for two days I was sewing instead of doing laundry, so I got a little behind. However, had I known that I was going to be in bed sick the following Monday and Tuesday I would have thrown some laundry in during my sewing days. On the Wednesday before Turkey day I worked hard to catch up on everything--grocery shopping, house cleaning, and laundry. And the kids were out of school too (enough said). I was also preparing for 26 people to eat at my house the following day. Then of course, Thanksgiving and the weekend happened, and my brother and his family were in town so no laundry got done. Yet the laundry waited, almost taunting me.

I am still trying to dig through the piles--clean and dirty. The washing and drying is not that bad.  It's the folding and putting away and the matching of socks.  And when I think I am catching up, more laundry finds its way into the laundry room. Maybe we just have too many clothes. . .

You Have To Be There How Early?!?

I'm just NOT a morning person. My son is trying out for the 7th grade basketball team. Practice starts at 6:00 am. That is in the morning. When we should be sleeping or at least hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock. I am not trying to be an unsupportive mom or anything, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if he didn't like it and decided not to stick with it. The coach told us there is lots of running and the boys will be in the best shape of their lives. So maybe Brennen won't like all that running and we can go back to waking up at a normal time.

During football season, Dustin was in the marching band. He had to be at school by 7:00 for practice. That wasn't as bad as 6:00, and he went with our neighbor boy who drives. It didn't really involve me too much, but I was happy when it was over.

Now this early morning basketball. And it is cold in the mornings. Whine, whine, whine. The thing is, I am all for sports. I think playing on the basketball team will be great for him. I don't know how good he is or how competitive he is, but it will be good for him. I just don't want to get up and get him out the door so early! whine, whine, whine.

He has only tried sports a few times. He is an artist, a builder, and a musician (percussion, guitar and piano). If he doesn't succeed at basketball that's okay because he is so good at so many things, but I hope he likes it and has a good experience. And the early morning practices should only be for a few weeks until the girls are done with their season (and then the boys can have the gym after school).

I am not a morning person, but maybe having to get up to get him out the door will help me get other things done, and I can enjoy the morning quiet before the rest of the crew, the noisy ones, wakes up. And, I told my husband he gets to drive Bren to practice.