Let the Christmas Rompus Begin!!!

I enjoyed a very late sleep in, compliments of my dear, sweet, and loving husband.  Thank you my LOVE.  He then got to watch me do my domestic diva routine-gym, eat, dishes, laundry, more dishes, car line, laundry, car line, gym again, groceries, dinner, dishes again.  Yay! Oh I forgot to squeeze in some FaceBook time.  It was in there somewhere between dinner and dishes.

I am not sure (exactly) what he did all day today.  I am sure it was no vacation for him. After dinner I heard the stereo playing in the living room (of course at a high volume).  I assumed it was my youngest touching the AV equipment, so I had to see what was the matter:

I get to the other room and it wasn't the stereo playing...it was my ever-talented husband.  I have always admired his artistic qualities.  His guitar playing has always been my favorite.  It was nice to see him play guitar and totally enjoy himself.  Even the kids stayed clear just to watch in amazement.  After they realized it was a live performance they quickly ran for their guitars too.  It was a special treat.  Thank you sweetheart.

Now that December is starting, I have always wanted to talk about my favorite items of the year.  I will periodically, give homage to my favorite things throughout my December Blogs.  One day I will be magnificently wealthy like Oprah and be able to give each of my audience members a full size sample of my favorite items.  Until then, I will share my experience and love for those items that really deliver for me.  

Good bye November 2009--I was thankful for you.  Now I am ready for Christmas (Happy Birthday Jesus) music and hardcore wrapping sessions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we spent Thanksgiving Day with my in-laws.  It was pleasant and everyone was so happy to see each other. It is amazing how much a family grows in 2 years.  We have two new babies since the last time I spent Thanksgiving with them.  Some of us have grown older, some of us thinner, some of us crazier, and some of us even became wiser.  :o)

My kids spent most of the 8 hours we were there in the the terrible sand pile that sits at the entrance to my in-laws home.  It looks like a giant Texas sized ant mound--it is about 4 1/2 feet tall and 5 or 6 feet in diameter.  Kids love it and I HATE it.  My kids always come out of it filthy and it makes me nuts.  I mean NUTS!  I still let them play in it--I can not tell them no when everyone else is allowed to play in it.  I never thought I would hate dirt so much.  LOL!

Here are my beautiful babes on Turkey Day!

They have so much fun with their cousins and dirt.  They look as though they were deep in thought-maybe pondering the atomic make-up of sand.  Have I mentioned that my children are intellectually gifted?  :o)

Although, I missed my family and all the wonderful turkey day specialities, I had fun with my sisters-in-law.  Marc had fun with his family and we all ate way too much for own good.  God Bless America!

Welcome Home Biscuit!

Welcome home Biscuit!  Here is our newest Scarborough Family member. He is a mixed breed with a little Heinz 57 and a little beagle mix.  A really sweet puppy.  He was rescued from the being sent to the pound.  And after abot $150 dollars he is safe and vetted.  We are nursing him to good health so that we can have a life long friend.

We didn't tell the kids that we were adopting a puppy.  If you could have heard the reaction we got from the backseat when we showed them what we were going to pick up.  It was like Christmas!  They were more excited than I have ever seen them.  They have been begging for a dog and we put it off for years.  So yesterday, we took this plunge.  Oh my!  What a plunge it was!  Puppy vet visits and the novelty doggie items put us back a little bit. Never --EVER--take your kids puppy gear shopping. Hah! LOL!

Nevertheless, this is the new baby in the house and he is getting used to us.  He misses his old family and wants to rome free. So we have to hear him whimper.  But, we know he will get better soon.  Tomorrow morning will be another morning full of play with his new family. Now you will see him in my blog updates too! 

Now, I will obsess over socializing and training him.

Healthy Holidays!

We have never had the flu in the house until this year.  It wasn't the swine strain (H1N1) but, it knocked my son out.  So this year when school started our pediatrician recommended that we get the flu shot. First time ever for my kids.

I still am a bit anxious about them catching the swine flu--not because I fear death but, because I fear that I will have to live through it!  Ha! Ha!  If one catches it, I assume they will all catch it.  Which means I will be nursing the family for weeks until it runs through our household.  We will have a pig party after we catch it to celebrate being well again. 

Here is what I insist upon during the sickly season:

1. Get plenty of SLEEP.--Yes, that is right.  Your body needs time to heal and fight off germs.
2. Get more water than usual.  Water helps cleans and increases blood volume.  Increasing the body's ability to fight viruses and bacteria. blah..blah...blah-just drink some water.
   
3. Wash your hands please.  Don't fake wash those hands.  Go to the dollar store or the beauty supply and stock up on those nail brushes.  Teach the kids to use them with soap.
   
4. Make the kids change their clothes after school. (I have been lenient on this one so far-not for long.)
   
5. Use the dishwasher (high heat) if you have one or a teeny bit of bleach in your dishwater (to kill the germs).
   
6. Take your vitamins.
7. Update your cold/flu meds in the cabinet. Get rid of the old stuff (I need to do this).
   
8. Keep the sick people at home! Duh.
   

What is your cold/flu season regimen? If there is something I missed please share it.  I hate when my house gets sick.  It takes weeks to heal it back.  I thank the Lord that my family is so healthy and that we rarely get sick. Scrapes, cuts, and bumps--a whole other issue and I really think my kids should wear helmets at all times (but I will save that for another day). 

This holiday season, treat others as you would like to be treated.  Keep your germs at home and don't pass the pig.  :o)

True Texans

Matthew and I had a few moments to talk last night.  Our conversation was about all of our favorites.  We went through the typical first questions: favorite color, favorite number, favorite shirt, etc.  We read a story together and said the good dream prayer.  Then my sweet little Texan asked, "Mom, one more thing.  What is your favorite word?"  I replied, "Hmm...I am not sure."  He sagely replied, "My favorite word is Texas."

Can you think of a better word to love? 

He once asked me, "Mom, um, is Mexico in Texas?" I didn't have the heart to say no, so I told him I would show him where it is on a map when we got home.  You gotta love little Texans.

Comfort and Healing

More than a year ago, a good friend of mine heard the most terrible news, that her 6 year old son has a terminal form of cancer.  After, countless chemo and radiation treatments, the cancer survived.  His tumor had not grown but, it had not diminished in size at all.  Thankfully, the symptoms had subsided and healed themselves and he has been able to live a very normal life.

I found out today that the symptoms have started up again for this sweet boy and that he is now terminal.  There are no words for the kind of pain I hold in my heart for all of the mothers that must suffer through this.  I wish that I could bare even a bit of this cross for my friend so that she will not suffer so much.  I pray that her son's symptoms are not painful and that the time he has left here on this earth is comfortable and pleasant. 

Please take a minute to pray for all the children that are battling cancer today.  Pray for comfort and healing for their families.  Pray for their continued faith in God.  Pray for miracles.