Christmas Recap

Christmas is finally done in our home.  And by done I mean I've packed up all of the decorations and put them away in storage. 

Toys have finally migrated their way to the proper rooms, trash bags and boxes are out, and our home is looking a lot less cluttered.

It seems that it takes a couple of weeks to catch up on sleep after the holidays. Between preparing, enjoying time with family, and playing with new gadgets, it's hard to catch up but I can't really complain.  

This Christmas was a blessed one.

Spent with my favorite kiddos :)

Reading Stories...

...And just being together.

We played with new toys in our new pajamas....

...and took plenty of naps.

We said goodbye to Patrick the Elf before he returned back to the North Pole.  It was bitter sweet.  I've really enjoyed my time with Patrick and enjoyed even more how the kids looked for him every morning.

Patrick really out did it this year.  Next year may pose as a challenge for him. Haha!

We had a bit of a gift scare and had one sad little boy when he opened his Nintendo 2DS and we found that it had been removed from the box before our purchasing. 

 I saw the tears build in his eyes and disappointment take shape in his frown.  We told him that we would go to the store the next morning and get him one.  He said "it's ok.  I can be flexible".  My heart melted.  Clearly he was sad but hearing those words just confirmed that he deserved it.

I looked and looked for the receipt and could find it NOWHERE.  I even dug through the trash on the off chance I threw it out with the Walmart bag and still found nothing. I knew I had put it in my purse and I figured that either I moved it and forgot that I had, or the sticky fingers of a daughter that I have pulled it out in her search for Mommy's gum and lipstick.

We felt anxiety.  Were we going to have to pay for another one? Was Walmart going to think that we were trying to con them?  Were we crap out of luck because I lost the receipt?

The next morning our Christmas miracle happened.  

Brodey got his 2DS!

Walmart was made aware of a distributor issue where hundreds of electronics had gone missing and wasn't made aware until customers were returning to the store with empty boxes.  We were one of those customers and they showed us mercy.  I am so thankful!!!! 

 I was one hurting momma to one sad little boy and I am so glad that we could make if right.

(Thank you God for making it right)

Despite that Christmas hiccup... 

It was a blessed Christmas.

So as we put Christmas behind us we are still reminded of the true gift that was given... Jesus.  

And as I look toward the New Year that is just around the corner, I can't wait to see what that gift has in store for us.  

I can't expect perfection for 2014 but I know I can expect more blessings.

Praying you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you all have a spectacular new year.

-C

Traditions

If you know me well then you know that I am usually knitting for my family right up to Christmas Eve.  Usually up to an hour or two before we get together with family. However I am ahead of schedule and it feels awesome!  

I even have time to knit Brodey and Saiya Christmas ornaments this year which will be the first ever.   I usually go to a cool little place here in town to paint them one and have done it every year since Brodeys first Christmas.  

I decided that the tradition is not just limited to pottery but in general, is the simple gift from mother to child.  Another ornament, made special by mom to hang on the tree.  And when they grow up and have their own tree, they will have some of their mothers love hanging off of it.  

We don't have many traditions in this family but the ones we do have fill my heart with total joy.  Not just because they are "fun" but because they come from the love of our family and celebrating it.  

-Ornaments from me to the kids

-Truck stop Christmas meal

-A new pair of pajamas and stuffed animal. (From my childhood)

-Christmas Eve with my family (always)

-The Dockweiler family singing Christmas carols at my sisters front door.

-A coffee mug of my God child every year.

-Lefse with butter and sugar

-Spending the majority of Christmas Day in pajamas and playing with new toys while watching movies.

-Driving around to look at Christmas lights. (Also did this as a child)

-The Chipmunks Christmas carols. (Again, from my childhood) 

-Elf on the shelf

It will be fun to see what traditions my kids will carry on and what ones they develop on their own. 

If you haven't noticed by now I am quite sentimental :) 

Well, back to knitting!

I pray that your Christmas is a blessed one.  May you find joy in the gift of our Savior and hope for the New Year.

-Caren

Merry Germy Knitty Season

The last few days have been quiet around here.  Plenty of naps, hot drinks, Advil, and finally... Antibiotics have been passed between my daughter and I because of strep.

My view has been mostly from the couch which isn't ideal but it seems being sick is the only time I actually relax and can justify watching episode after episode of Glee. :)

David has been so helpful and I am so thankful for that.  He has picked up on the house work when he comes home from working a full day, makes dinner, gets kids in jammies and teeth brushed, tucks them in and says prayers with them, and makes sure to set out all the things I'll need to help me feel better on the kitchen counter while he's at work.  What a huge blessing that has been.  It's amazing how big of a difference having a 2nd pair of hands makes.

Thankfully my son has been spared thus far and has managed to walk away with just a runny nose.  He has been such a sweet little thing.  He had all of these ideas last night of how he could help us feel better and hot chocolate was at the top of his list.  It was a delicious idea :)

Today is being spent playing catch up now that I no longer have body aches. (May squeeze in a snoozer too)  The only thing that makes it hard to do what I need to do is this stinkin' cold weather and wind.  It's hard to pull a sick kiddo out in this crap so I'll just be doing what I can from home for now.

I still have plenty of Christmas knitting to get done.  I've completed two projects and still have another 6 to make within the next two weeks.  Fingers crossed!

Would it be easier to purchase gifts? Yes. But for me I knit for those I love and there is just something so pleasing in gifting something that took time, thought, and effort.  You can gaurantee that I've spent hours planning what I'm going to make that person, searching for the perfect yarn, and then of course knitting it up stitch by stitch.  It's an act of love for me which is why I do it.  And every year I try to do something a little bit different but of course still yarn made :) Tis the season!

Tis the season for germs, cold weather, winter knitting, and love.  

Hope you all are warm and healthy.  

-C

 

A day of play

I downloaded the blogger app onto my iPhone and thought I'd give it a try. Oh the joys of technology. 

I'm snuggling Saiya right now.  We both skipped out on naptime to run an errand, grab a Starbucks drink, eat lunch, shop, a little, and play a lot.  

Needless to say we are both a little tired but it feels good to just be together without always having to worry about routine and schedule.

It feels good to put off work for a day just to have some much needed fun.  My days home with Saiya will be limited when I start my CNA work, so for now I'm just trying to soak it up while I can.

Soon we will be pausing "The Little Rascals" to pick up brother.  Can't wait to share one of my favorite childhood movies with him when we get home.

I couldn't help but chuckle when one of the kids in the movie said "the kind of man that if he were to fall off a building, that he'd go out of his way to land on a girl". Lol or something close to that. :) 

Snuggles

Blankets

Hot chocolate

Movies

Comfort food

and some peace

Exactly what my soul is needing today.  

Hope your day has been blessed.  

-C

Post Thanksgiving Recovery

I am officially over my turkey and black Friday hangover.
Thanksgiving in my family never disappoints.
I have always felt sad for the people that have looked at holidays as an obligation to spend time with the family.
I know family circumstances vary by the person, which is why I am so thankful that I actually enjoy mine.

I have a family of tradition and I am a total sucker for just that.

 

The ladies of the family :)

We went to my sister's home for thanksgiving dinner which is really more of a lunch than anything, but is so big and filling that it makes up for two meals.

We all contributed with sides and salads so then that way not one person was burdened with the pressure of having to slave away on the entire meal.

The adults gathered in the kitchen to prepare plates for the kids while they ran around.
A prayer was said and we all dug in.

A movie was watched afterwards and as the kids played and snuggled on the couch, us ladies of the family sat down on the floor with the black Friday ads.
We do this every year.
Plan for our shopping adventure and determine what stores we want to hit up first and what items we want to purchase.

We topped the evening off with pie and after chasing the kids around and pinning them down to the floor for some tickling, we headed home.

 

Now I enjoy my black Friday shopping but there is no way that I will go on Thanksgiving day.
I just think it is so wrong for many reasons.
I went one night at midnight a couple years back and I will NEVER do that again.
5 am shopping is fine by me and usually the stores have back stock of some items so we aren't at a complete loss.

I did however convince my husband to go out later Thanksgiving night to get a couple of electronic items for the kids, which I was super appreciative of.

 

Starbucks breakfast mid shop

My sister picked me and my mom up from our homes at 5 am.
I was able to get Christmas shopping done for the kids after visiting 3 stores and was home by 9:45 so David could go in for work. 

Usually I'm out till mid afternoon and visit twice as many stores but this year I was on a time crunch.
I was exhausted and nap time could not come soon enough.
I seriously spent all weekend trying to catch up but "Dexter" on Netflix makes it very difficult to get to bed at a decent hour despite how tired I am.

 

Does anyone else consider Thanksgiving a two day event?
1 day of food. 1 day of shopping.

 

Christmas is right around the corner and I've been preparing for that.

Though I have my shopping out of the way, I still have quite a bit of knitting to get done.

 

Last nights view. Yes that's High School Musical on the t.v. Don't judge me.

I am progressively getting it done and am feeling pretty confident that I will get it all done before I hit too close to the wire.

I do have my decorating done though!

 

 

I've done more than just pictured but it can be tricky taking pictures of all the gold garland and Christmas lights that I have wrapped around the exposed piping in our apartment, and especially with my camera phone.

Stockings hare hung, Santa's cookie plate is out, and our Elf on the Shelf will be arriving tonight.
A little late, I know, but the kids know that Patrick is a very busy elf.

 

Kids did get in on some of the decorating action though.

 

Needless to say, It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. :)

I'm totally OK with that.

There is just something about Christmas that is magical.
Maybe its the lights strung throughout Conwell park, across from the hospital.
Maybe it's the lights, wreaths, and greetings sprawled throughout downtown and our mall.
Maybe it's family.

Maybe its the music.
I have no doubt that it all plays a huge part...

but there is just something about celebrating the birth of our savior that touches me in a way that I can't quite explain.

 

His birth was the start of our salvation and freedom from condemnation.

It all started with this tiny baby...
As tiny as my own children once were...
"Mary Did You Know?"

is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs for this very reason.
I can't even imagine...

From a Mother's perspective it is quite overwhelming.

God, I am just so thankful.

 

<3

On a less serious note....

I did pass my CNA course!

All that's left to do is schedule my state boards so I become certified.
Technically I could start working now in nursing homes as a nursing assistant and would have 120 days to get licensed, but I'm holding out on work until I become certified. 
The place I'd like to apply at only hires those that are certified and I don't want to settle and work someplace that I really don't want to just for the sake of working.
Not to mention, I'd really like to enjoy my holidays without the pressure of a work schedule.
I'm hoping to get my paperwork turned in with the next paycheck because there is at least $200 that has to be sent in with applications and I'd really like to get my test scheduled.
Kind of hard to throw that out with the holiday season but will be worth it in the long run.

Not to mention that my mom is currently in the same CNA program that I went through and we are hoping to test together. :)

Pretty friggin cool!!!

 

I guess I should tend to the job I do have.
Between potty training my daughter and property management,

I've got my day cut out for me.

I pray your week is a blessed one and that your holiday was spectacular!

 

-C