Sparkle

 Yes, I wore a sequin dress to Christmas Eve service this year. And it is a good thing I did, because there were no candles to be found! I love going out each year to evening church with my boys all spiffed up. Then we find a nice restaurant to celebrate Jesus' birthday at. Great to be a girl in this family of handsome men.

Christmas was understated at our home this year. So much going on in these hearts though. The boys were relieved to see Santa had not left coal this year, I think it made their gifts seems better. Don't we all need a kick in the appreciate-what-you-have pants? Thank you Jesus, for coming as a baby & that you fill our hearts when we open them to you.

Radness

http://merrynewsinator.com/3j1s

Trying to get to my happy place

Matt's cousin was hospitalized last week in a crisis situation. His life was spared by a miracle. My heart is smashed to bits but these boys smiles are helping me through the storm. Prayers, please.

I have been where you fear to go...
I have seen what you fear to see...
I have done what you fear to do...
All these things I've done for you.

I am the one you lean upon...
The one you cast your scorn upon...
The one you bring your troubles to...
All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart...
The one you feel should have no heart...
The one you call the man in blue...
But I am human just like you.

And through the years I've come to see...
That I'm not what you ask of me...
So take this badge and take this gun...
Will you take it? Will anyone?

And when you watch a person die...
And hear a battered baby cry...
Then so you think that you can be
All those things you ask of me...?

"Tears Of A Cop" - author unknown

The Funnies

No where near what my friend Staci's kid comes up with but here are the great kid-isms I can remember from the past week:

Collin is really into Scooby Doo & the Boo Brothers right now. It is an old one we have on VHS. It has some ghosts that are like the 3 Stooges & a couple hillbillies in it. So as I am loading Collin into the car the other day he says, "Don't worry ma, I'll pull that tractor outta the mud!"

The next day while driving to pick up his brothers he says, "Whoa, watch where yer goin!"

The road trips must be what brings this stuff on because on the way to Grandma's last weekend Kaleb pipes up with this, "I think Collin has the HDHD, you know, it makes you go...BING!" (in reference to Collin's hyperactivity) I think all my boys have "the HDHD." They are wearing me out.

On that note, yesterday I had the worst upset stomach. The boys kept telling me, " go poop!" because that is what I always tell them. I finally took Gas-X & it subsided. Okay, this is my last year in my twenties, but really? Gas-X! I refuse to believe those days are here already.

10 year old woe

This is my officially public outcry for my eldest son. I fear his tender young heart has been lured away by the worst of culprits: the ungrateful, the thankless, & the disagreeable. Matt & I's attempt to win him back over from the dark side have been to no avail. All I can do is pray, and hope that his eleventh birthday magically brings my precious first born around. In the meantime, he will not be having a very merry Christmas. We all know what that amounts to, Matt & I have to play the Scrooge, & it sucks.

Bummed.

A few weeks back I won tickets to see the very talented Sara Bareilles in concert, right here in Boise. Elated was an understatement. The tickets came with a Meet & Greet pass so I carefully planned my ensemble & read up on her bio. Matt & I set out on what we thought was to be the date night of the year.

Sara is amazing. Warm, genuine, & a real person, not all diva-ish. That is what I gathered from meeting her in the grungy bathroom hallway for all of 1 minute & watching her in concert from the side of the stage in a room that stank of feet. I am so irritated that I wasted 30 seconds of my brief time with her on a photo that was promised to be emailed to me, and of course, never was. I wish I could have gushed a little more about how incredibly talented she is or how adorable she was, even in her sweatshirt & jeans.

It was a great date none-the-less, Matt makes any date super fun. But no pics, I will have to settle of this one of my very own Parker James looking a bit like Mr. Bieber.

The Ghost of Christmas Blahs

Just not feeling it with all the craftiness & decorations & sparkle... I still have sparkle, but the house usually has it this time of year too. A simple paper chain & felt snowflake may be all that accompany our tree this year.

Oh well, more sparkle for me!

Faux Reals

Our tree is up & decorated. This year we waited longer than usual, it was our first time with a fake tree...dah, dah, dah.... Shocking, I know. But it is a nice, pre-lit one, & it was free. Thank you Cardillos!














I love Matt's feet sticking out from underneath during the set up, & Kaleb assisting. It turned out beautifully & after I lit an Evergreen candle, same diff.

Vintage

2005, after some of the dark circles & wrinkles from parenting had formed.

Sassy

So you know the advice that says when you get ready & leave the house, before you go you should take one accessory off? To avoid looking like a gypsy, I suppose. Well, I follow a different creed. I say, add one more. My new fetish is red lipstick. I like it, it feels sassy. And so far, none has embarrassingly ended up on my teeth. Kaleb & Aden have already poo-pooed it. What do you think?