December to Remember

My poor ole blog has been feeling a ton of neglect!  I have not had a spare moment since the middle of November to document the events and thoughts that the Dream Weavers have encountered!  This will definitely be a season we will remember.  I honestly think we are in a point in our lives where we are the busiest we can possibly be.  This has caused stress, illness, frustrations, and so much immeasurable JOY!  We will never have this season again.  The kids will all continue to get older and more self-sufficient.  Times like this are fleeting.  And we know it.  But while we are in the trenches, it is EXHAUSTING!

So, since the last post, we have had QUITE a few event, changes, and exciting things going on.  For Thanksgiving, we had the usual!  Family and friends gather at a local restaurant with a HUGE pot luck meal, and then a fun game of Dirty Santa for those who want to participate.  My husband pointed out this year that the thing he misses the most about this tradition is that there are no left overs!  I hadn't thought about that.  I guess next year we should cook a small turkey for ourselves as well! It's always a good time, and I am glad we have that fun tradition.

Thanksgiving 2013

Emma is between Volleyball seasons, so she is honing her babysitting skills by practicing on her brother for short periods of time.  We are so thankful for her sweet spirit with her brother.  But, she lacks longevity.  He bores her pretty quickly.  LOL  Lara is on cloud nine as she has just found out that one of her dance numbers for the Spring recital is a Lady Gaga song.  She is also a wonderful babysitter for Finn!  She lasts a little longer, and has a great way of engaging him and keeping him busy.  Maybe soon they can start their own babysitting business!

Lara, Emma and boys from our neighborhood in the Cleon Snow!

Jake has just started basketball practice for his season.  This boy LOVES basketball!  He got his uniform at the second practice, and insisted on wearing it to bed...

Jake loves basketball

And then there is Finn.  This boy literally keep us hopping.  He is at the adorable (-ly frustrating) stage where his personality really starts to shine, and his fuse is very short.  I know he gets frustrated because we can't understand him and he has SO MUCH to say!  But, he is just so cute, and fun.  He absolutely LOVES to sing.  And he is an independent player, so it's fun to just observe him from across the room - playing alone and singing.  He loves book, building things with Legos, music, and his Little People.  But, he still suffers with those pesky preemie lungs.  He got RSV.  AGAIN!  UGH!  But, we are so lucky that we caught it early and avoided hospitalization.  He was cleared to go back to school after missing a week today!  I hope seeing his friends and teachers will snap the boredom streak he has been in.  Between him being sick, and the snow storm we had last week, there was a solid 4 days that he didn't leave the house.  He was BORED!  I am happy to say that being in the house all those days really built his vocabulary!  He has gained about 50 more words in the past week.  He lost 2 pounds of weight, though.  Always a give and take with this kid!

Finn with RSV

And during ALL the hustle and bustle, this Momma took a new job.  I know, RIGHT?!?!  And it was totally unexpected.  A friend read the job description, emailed it to me, and encouraged me to apply.  So, on somewhat of a whim, I did.  And I got called for the interview. And then I got offered the job!  WOW!  Not what I thought I would be doing this last 4 weeks!  I had to quit a job I love, work the last 2 weeks there, start a new job that is WAY outside my usual work zone, and juggle all the changes this caused at home as well.  My new position is a 30 hour a week job, and I go in at 7:30 am and get off at 2:00pm.  This changes some of the roles and responsibilities at home.  But it is SO SO SO worth it!  More time with my kids, a challenging job, and a change for the better.  I started last week as the Media Marketing Specialist for University Dining Services at Oklahoma State University.   I am in charge of the website, the social media platforms, the digital menu screens located around the dining facilities, and other special projects.  It is a brand new position, so we are all learning as we go.  I got exactly one day of training last week before the snow storm named Cleon made a mess things.  So, while it has not been a smooth transition, I know I will love this job once I get a little more comfortable with it!

SANTA 2013  Emma, Finn, Jake and Lara

And Christmas is staring us in the face!  We have exactly ONE gift purchased.  It has been a little busy around here.  But, we still have time.  And Santa Britt has a list, and a trip planned.  We WILL have Christmas!  The kids are excited about the season, and we are enjoying the festivities at their schools.  What a magical time of the year.  And this year, I know we will remember this December for a long time to come!  SO many changes - for the better!  Merry Christmas from our family, to yours!

Merry Christmas from the Weaver's 2013

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is December 1.  Tomorrow we only have 23 more shopping days till Christmas.  Tomorrow starts one of the busiest months this busy family can have.  (I am still practicing my “NO”  from a few months ago!)  Tomorrow there are 3 craft shows and a community wide garage sale at my kids’ elementary school – and probably more I don’t know about.  Tomorrow Lara has a full rehearsal for Nutcracker Dream and I have to buy tickets (current count is 17!) for us and our friends.  Tomorrow the OSU Cowboy football team plays its last regular season game for this season.  Tomorrow sounds scary.  And fun. And BUSY. And perfect.  This is what I like about my life.  The tomorrows that are filled with crazy.  Memories in the making!

The USPS/UPS/FedEx elves have started filling our kids’ Christmas wish lists, and I have tried to find creative hiding places for the boxes.  The weather is looking good and the Husband is feeling better so Christmas decorating is on the weekend agenda.  There is no better time to get in the Christmas spirit, right?  It’s all fun and magical and filled with hope and sparkle!  

Sidebar – speaking of elves…  The “Elf on the Shelf” craze is in FULL FRENZY on my Facebook/Twitter/Instagram feeds!  Here are my thoughts on it – in an Instagram: 

It's gonna be a long December... #elfontheshelf

My friend @hamby71 and I have been working on a Zombie version of the little pesky guy, and my husband has come up with a "Cracker" (what 5 year old Jake calls a Nutcracker) version.  I think it is super creepy - both the elf and the tradition.  And, I have a friend whose Elf now has severe burns from hanging out on the chandelier the other night and almost burning their house down.  Plus, this über busy, full time working, over volunteering, super mom of 4 does not have TIME to play with an elf every night and come up with crazy scenarios...  I do, however, have an amazingly creative and talented sorority sister/photographer friend who does.  She had a Facebook page for her Elf, Moss Moss.  Check it out here.  It won't disappoint my elf lovin' friends!

For our family, we put the emphasis on Jesus’ birth, and what that means for our life, but we also participate in the Santa Clause side of things, too.  In our house, each child gets 3 gifts – much like the Magi brought to Jesus in the form of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  We try to do something they need (like sports/activity equipment, shoes, etc.), something they want (activity, book, specific toy), and something to share (video game, board game).  As the girls have gotten older, that model has gotten harder to follow, and with Finn being so little, there is not a lot he can share with 10 year old twin girls!  But, we still try to keep it minimal.  Then, they get the “big” thing they really want from Santa (unwrapped, under the tree Christmas morning), and stockings stuffed with fun little goodies (which always includes a new toothbrush, and usually socks!).  The Man in the Big Red Suit follows the instructions of this conservative, tight budgeted Momma pretty well!  (The Grandparents and Aunts spoil them, but that’s their business!)

As far as we know as parents, Emma and Lara still believe in the magic that is Santa Claus.  We think.  Lara asked some serious and pointed questions last year, and I bet she is pretty suspicious.  Emma, who has asked questions, too, but not “deep” ones, probably believes more.  And Jake is still oblivious!  He’s just mad the Tooth Fairy has not had to come see him yet!  But, Britt and I have had a few random (very short) talks lately about what to tell them and how to tell them when they POINT BLANK ask about the existence and reality of this Santa Claus.  The first thing I will tell them is that no matter what comes out of this conversation, they are in NO WAY to relate any of it to either of their little brothers! LOL!  I came across this blog post on Cozi.com again today.  The Truth About Santa | Cozi.com  (Cozi.com is the family calendar web based software I use and LOVE!)  I remember reading this blog post last year, and I think it does a god job of relating what I want to tell my kids.  And the first few comment threads are full of good information as well.  Read it, and see if it might help you when the BIG QUESTION comes up at your house!

So, as we hurl towards 3.5 weeks filled with hot chocolate (although not here – it’s like 73 the next 6 days!), ornament exchanges, work gatherings, Dirty Santa parties, plays, ballets, sporting events and kids on sugar highs from the fun sugary treats we all found on Pinterest, keep this in the back of your mind.  “Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.”