Journal: Christmas is coming

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny and cold, but not tooooo coooooold.  The week ahead actually looks pretty moderate.

Clothing myself in:  Grey sweats, yellow tank and a pink hoodie.  Messy bun.  Socks.  Comfy.  I love lazy days around the house with my family.

Around the house: Nice fire burning in the fireplace now.  Kids are playing nicely (enough) and hubby is making a pie.  I GOT THE CHRISTMAS LETTERS WRITTEN!!!!  And stuffed and addressed!!  And SENT!!!!!!!  Hallelujah!  Buying and wrapping is essentially done.  I am really excited about the gifts we Santa got for the kids this year, I am excited for Christmas morning!!  Speaking of Santa, I really liked this article.

 

The baby:  He nods yes or no when you ask him a question.  He doesn't have any words but he sure understands what is going on.  He is just so cute.  LOVE him!!!!

 

The kiddos:  Kolbe fell up the neighbors' front steps yesterday on the way to take them their Christmas card (and they didn't even end up being home!) and got a little gash on his forehead.  I thought it may need a stitch, but decided to wait until Aaron got home for work at lunchtime (minor emergency was open until 6, so I figured we had an out if the butterfly bandage didn't work).  He's had it bandaged up the past day now and it looks like we will be OK without a stitch, which is good.  That would have been very traumatic for him.

Gemma just has four more days of school until Christmas break!  Looking forward to that!!  Last Friday at school they had their "Santa's Workshop" where they did Christmas crafts and built gingerbread houses.  I got to go with her and it was a fun afternoon.

In the kitchen: Honey Chicken and broccoli salad; Beef and Veggie Stew; Baked Salmon and sides; quesadillas

Crafting:  Because I'm pretty sure the honesty police will get me if I count gift-wrapping as a "craft".  We will be working on our annual salt-dough ornaments sometime between now and Christmas, I am thinking that will be a good activity once Gemma is out of school.  It is fun but something I definitely have to gear myself up for.  Lots of (sometimes messy) steps.

Learning:  Oh my goodness, I put out a request on FB for recommendations for handwriting practice, and my former boss linked me to the Zaner-Bloser website.  If you click here and then scroll down and click on "free version" you can make all kinds of handwriting worksheets.  I made a whole binder of Scripture verses for each letter of the alphabet (thank you Catholic Icing), letter and number worksheets, Commandments, Sacraments.  Now Gemma can just flip through and choose something to copy.  SO excited!!  I am hoping to have her do this 3-4 times weekly during homework/learning time.  AAAAAAAND, since I put them in a binder they will be all ready for use with future children. 

Reading: Enjoying our Picture Book a Day selections immensely. 

Watching:  Gold Rush season 4.  Oh my goodness, they have no idea what they are doing in Guyana.  It is like watching a train-wreck.

Bringing me joy: Advent.  Confession.  Gifts for the kids and others.  Looking forward to the parish mission.  Advent.  My family. 

Thinking about:  meh, not much.

Pictures to share: I traveled to my aunt's funeral (with Clement) this week.  This is me with my Uncle Dennis (my aunt's hubby) and "Hank" the Koala.  Hank used to ride in Uncle D's Firebird and when I was a little girl and rode with him I'd always play with Hank.  I later 'inherited' him and he has been a fixture in every vehicle I've driven since.  Please pray for the repose of the soul of my aunt (Gloria) and also for my Uncle Dennis and their daughters.  This will be a tough Christmas for them. 

Kolbe's bonk-bonk

Recent cuteness

Not much to say, but have some cute pics to share. My cousins from Alaska were here last week, here's Gemma with Claire, who is about 3 1/2 months older than she. Yes, Gemma is a tall, tall girl. Wonder where she gets it?? HA!
Here's a sweet one of Gemma and daddy just hanging out.
Gemma playing with my good friend Kristal's grandson Lawrence. She was "sharing".
Gemma and godmother Vickie before bedtime the other night.
Gemma got her first "owie". And here's how... this is one for the baby book. She has started taking some steps, so the other day when we went to the park I thought, "oh how cute would it be to help her walk down the sidewalk to the playground," about a block-and-a-half, mind you. Well, she would have none of that. She wanted to crawl. All by herself. On the sidewalk. And she did. The whole way. Got to the park, crawled over the landscaping timbers, across the rocks, over the river, through the woods, errrrr, I mean and to the swing. Then she stood up by it as if to say, "okay, we're here, put me in now please and I shall live here." Seriously, I do think she would just move right in to the park if we let her. I digress, point being, as I was undressing her that night, I noticed she had rubbed her poor little right knee absolutely raw! I think it bothers me more than it bothers her, although when I ask, "Gemma, where is your owie?" she plops her little bum on the ground, and searches one knee, and then the other until she finds it, at which point she proudly points to it and says, "owEEEE, owEEEE". Pretty cute. We tried a bandaid, but that didn't work out so well. And, due to this little mishap, and just being ready I think, that girl has taken OFF with her walking. It is amazing, she just go go goes. YAY Gemma!
On Thursday she was super tired, she had had a really rough nap, or lack-there-of, on Wednesday, I think due to teething and some of the other stress we've had around here lately, and then she had a rougher night on Wednesday night. So Thursday she is eating her lunch independently like such a big girl and I noticed after a bit she was awfully quite. So I looked, and this is what I saw.
When I went to get her out, she woke up long enough to give me that zombie look and say, "oh, hi mommy," in a very monotone voice. Then she put her little head down on my shoulder and would you believe I carried that girl back to her room, changed her diaper, nursed her and put her in bed and she stayed asleep through it all. Yes, you read that right. I changed her diaper and she slept through it. And then on top of that she slept over 3 hours for her nap and had a great night last night. Think she had some catching up to do.

Well, as usual this has turned out longer than I intended. Story of my life. Thanks for checking in everyone, and yes that means you Uncle Jim!!