Christmas Magic

There is something about the season.  The lights.  The songs.  The decorations. The magic….

Truth be told.  I really only like religious Christmas music.  I’m not a fan of the Chipmunks Christmas or even Winter Wonder Land.  I don’t link Jingle Bells or Decking the Halls.  I like We Three Kings and Silent Night.

And then I had kids. … 3 year old kids.  That believe in everything … with a twinkle in their eye.


And so we are “Elf on the Shelf’in” it and going to see Santa and Decking the Halls every chance we get. 

And I love it. Every minute of it.

We took a trip this past weekend.  We went to Colonial Williamsburg.  It was awesome for so many reasons….

First and foremost – a year and a half ago, we thought our days of vacation were over.  We did take a vacation this summer, but we did it with help.  This was a true triumph… a vacation alone. 

Secondly – everything was Christmas Magic.  The lights, the sights, the sounds, the smells.. It was all magic.  We went to Bush Gardens one day and the entire park was lit up.  The kids just stared in wonder at the lights as we walked through the park.  At one point – Andrew asked me for a kiss.  My 3 year old baby never asks for a kiss anymore.  The next day we went to Colonial Williamsburg.  There were wreaths hung everywhere and – they were so cool.  But we also traveled into market square that evening, caught up with Santa, and window shopped the stores filled with goodies.  Christmas Magic.

Christmas Magic…. I can’t explain it any other way.  These next shots are of Colonial Williamsburg.  Yes, some of them are of wreaths – but check out how cool they are! They made these wreaths out of anything they had laying around!



He knows…. this is where he would be standing if we were, “back in the day.”




So there you have it.  Our winter mini-vacation.  Just the 5 of us… sealed with a little Christmas Magic to go on our little trip alone.  Next summer we may have to take  a little bigger trip…. alone.  Because it was just one more hurdle we crossed.


Thanks – as always – Shell….

Stalking Bees, Peaking Toms, and Dollar Store Adventures

So things haven’t been all “depressing” around these parts.  We’ve been laughing a lot.  About a lot of funny nothings.  And those funny nothings add up to one funny post for the weekend.  Here’s a list of the nothings:
1.  Andrew and Addison are so stinking funny lately.  We’ve been putting an emphasis on reading from their Bible every night and saying a prayer every night.  One day this week, they fell asleep in the car, so we did our Bible story the next morning.  Here’s how our conversation went:
Me:  So, what was that story about?
Andrew: God was mad at Jesus because he wasn’t a good Santa. 
Me: hmmm… I don’t think that was quite the point.
Andrew:  Well, Jesus also loves the little children.
Me: Yes! Let’s sing.  How about Jesus Loves the little children?
Everyone: singing the song…
Addison:  Mommy! Stop Singing! I’m talking to Jesus over here!
Yeah… That’s our religious teaching over here… Just tell Mommy to shut up … and blame it on Jesus or Santa – whomever.

2.  This past week we also celebrated my father’s birthday.  My Dad and step mother came over for dinner and while we were lounging in the back yard we noticed this.

My father, ever the “creative problem solver” came up with several plans to eliminate the hornet’s nest.  They became outrageous that I had to write them down.
Let’s take a bat to it.
Let’s go out at night, take a garbage bag, and just grab it.
Lets do like “Dual Survivor” and use a garbage bag to protect ourselves as we remove it.  (see video)

Let’s use a golf club and “hack” it to death.
Let’s use a Shop Vac and suck them up.
Let’s use a BB Gun to shot it from its perch into a bag
Let’s use a tomahawk to knock it off into a bag
Let’s build a fire pit on top of a picnic table and burn them out.  (oh… the allure of fire… now comes the real fun)
Let’s use a blow torch
Let’s use a trampoline and a blow torch
Let’s use Andrew sitting on Ray’s shoulders and a blow torch
Or… substitute a blow torch for a 2X4 with a Rag soaked in gasoline….
Unfortunately, my dad is unavailable to actually try any of these things… although, he is anxious to see how we make out.

3.  Additionally… Ray and I are sort of toying with the idea of moving again.  Our house was on the market when I was pregnant with Alexander.  We struggled to sell it (doesn’t everyone?) but … it seems an opportunity may have arisen for us to move into a bigger house.  For those of you who are curious:
Our master bedroom is 10.5 X 10.5 square feet. Yup… that’s the master. Trust me, if you were ever going to rob someone – we are not the house to rob.  We could all use  a little more space.  So… this afternoon my partner in crime cousin and I decided to scope out the potential new property.  Some people may call it “Peeping Tom” … we call it “checking out the neighborhood.”  Besides – the house is a brand new construction – thus: empty.  We decided we wanted to go under cover… just in case -

Definitely a great disguise. (Oh… and incognito is the Word of the Day on Sesame Street Today!)

4.  Finally – today is Ray’s Birthday.  The love of my life is turning 35.  Ahhhh… remember – having a birthday is way better than the alternative – not having one.  So, I took my kids to the dollar store to pick out a few gifts for Ray.  (Yes, I got the idea from Kelle Hampton – but I’m not ashamed to admit it!) Here are photos or our awesome shopping trip.


5.  Other miscellaneous – Alexander got a vaccination the other day and it put hi in a grumpy mood.  We were up most of the night. We’ve been up a lot lately. In the middle of the night.  We are going to have to work on this. Anyway, the twins became obsessed with giving shots and giving medicine.  Weirdly proud that they went right for the “mickey button”  area on their doll babies. 
We also finished the Dinosaurs my dad and I were making for the twins.  They are crayon holders and Andrew and Addison love them.  They ask me several times a day to get a coloring book and their dinosaurs out. I honestly thought they would not take the time to put the crayons in, but they are so proud of them… they are very careful.  Awesomeness! To read about my adventures making these dinosaurs, click HERE.



And… tomorrow is the celebration of my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary.  They are renewing their vows. Complete Awesomeness.  I love that it is a big deal… because you know what?  40 years of marriage is a big deal.  That is 40 years of hard work.  And anyone who says marriage is not hard work has never been married, or been married too many times.  People just don’t take those vows “till death do us part” as seriously as they used to.  I love that my mother and father in law can be a great example to us on how to make a marriage work.  And  I can’t wait to celebrate with them… and share a little bit of the love with you.

The Same Story told 2 different Ways

There are lots of small town fairs that pop up every summer.  There is the one that contains 3 rides, a little music, and lots of people – mentioned HERE, and there are more traditional one week carnivals that move from town to town.  Yesterday was the “kiddie” day – where you paid one price to ride all day.  We packed up the kids and headed out at promptly 10am so we could be in line, ready to go, at 10:30. 

Part 1.
We were in for a complete shock when we got there.  There were at least 100 people in the line… at least.  We went to the other line for tickets and that line was equally long.  I stood in line while the kids and Ray tried to keep themselves occupied.. all the while becoming more and more whiney.  Not only that, but I was a little concerned about the heat factor and Alexander.  Finally – 45 minutes later – I got to the front of the line, handed my $26.00 and received… a ticket.  With instructions to go stand in another line to get the “ride all day” bracelets for the kids.  Are You Kidding Me?!?  I turn to look at the other line… at least another 45 minute wait.  You have got to be kidding… I was so irritated.  I actually asked in the booth to whom I could complain.  (Please trust me on this… ALL the parents were upset at this point in the line).  No sign was out to say it would be another wait. I have 3 kids under 3.  Almost 2 hours wasted standing in line… my kids are going to need a nap soon at this rate! 

With whom to express my displeasure????  This woman at the booth sent me to the lady in the Cotton Candy Stand.  I promptly gave Ray our tickets with instructions to stand in line and walked over there to explain how this set up was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.  The Cotton Candy lady was flabbergasted. “Not my fault.” “Go see the Fair officials.”  No problem, Lady.   So Alexander and I walk to the other end of the fair and (ummmm.. explain) to the fair officials that this ticket set up was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.  “It’s not my fault… I don’t have anything to do with it. Go see the lady in the first ticket booth.”  No problem sir.  I’m not going away.   You see… obstacles can be a stumbling block… or they can be a motivator.  I was a motivated mommy.  When I arrived at the first ticket booth you will never guess what they said…. Yup, It wasn’t their fault either.  I needed to go speak to a woman (they gave me a description) at the ticket booth I had originally left from.  Do you see a little foreshadowing here?

The original lady.  The lady who sent me away.  She was the one who made the decision to sell the tickets like this.  When she saw me coming, I swear her face turned 2 shades of grey.  I marched right up to her and asked her if she remembered me.  Mother of 3 kids under 3?  We’ve been here for 2 hours without riding a single ride yet?  It is in the 90’s?  Her face got a little redder and she said yes.  I’m not going to lie. I had been sent on a wild goose chase, was hot, and really angry.  I used my “G” rated vocabulary, but I did give her a big piece of my mind.  And… no lie… the crowd of moms around clapped when I was done. No lie.  So – they are going to sell the tickets differently next year.  I offered to come in and give extra help if that is what they need. I left my name and number to call me next year. And we spent almost $30 for an hour of fun before the kids were just too hot to continue anymore.

I could choose to remember yesterday like that.  I could let that be the imprint in my mind. OR…. I could remember this.

Part 2.
Love, Smiles, and Sunshine.

Sweet signs for lollypops and other things candy. Love.

We really didn’t have to pay for any games…. The kids would have been totally ok with riding the tractors for sale all day.  Addison kept saying, “Just one minute! I have to shift the gears.”  Love.

Stores set up in the middle of the walking isles.  You can buy anything your heart desires…. Love.

Need to catch a dream? Make a wish? No problem. Love

Dream big Little Buddy…. Reach for the Stars Big Sister…. Love.

It’s my parental right to snap the picture of my kid screaming on the ride… right?

Because in the end – there is nothing quite like fair fries.  Loaded with salt and dripping with Ketchup.  The rides that blow the wind through your kids hair on a hot summer morning.  The people you see – that you haven’t seen in forever and they all rush up to greet you like long lost pals.  Because you are long lost pals.  Homemade ice cream. Some guy demonstrating how to climb the rock wall. Cotton Candy (even though I don’t think they will let me near that booth any time soon.)

Next year I’ll go back to the fair.  And these are the memories I want to have from that day.  You can focus on the bad things that happen… and let them hurl you into a ruined moment that lasts a day and ends up being a week.  Or – you can push aside those moments of irritation and capture the moments of smiles.  And choose to remember the smiles.  I will put away part 1 and remember part 2.

What is your favorite summer fair memory?