adventures in advent land

Today is the official kick-off to the season of Advent...the children repeated the same fairy tale several times. They asked it is the end of Thanksgiving weekenem where is our Christmas Tree?

I have decided to slow down my time frame, entryway, advent candle wreath,and the fireplace and mantle...I am going to decorate the dining room , and kitchen dining room tomorrow,but i am not sure where we will put our trees....

I vaguely recall a crazy woman who did all her decorating over thanksgiving and the next week started baking....I am no longer that girl, i don't want to be so rushed , so pulled, i am now making an effot to be still among the craziness...

We begin with the first hymn, andJer 33:14-16...we begin to wait...I am trying to do one room at a time, and tie it in with my fireplace theme of white, bule, silver and gold,it should be interesting and over the top.

I want all light inplace and ready to go on the great reveal...the feast of S. Lucy her birthday.....every little girl should be surrounded by christmas lights....advent

crazy okies

My children are so weird, not that, that would be a surprise to anyone, but sometimes they puzzle even me. Take chocolate gravy for instance, one of my favorite treats from childhood, and they think it is gross...

Seriously, how can chocolate ever be gross? I made biscuits and chocolate gravy this morning, and their friends sucked them up, my children ate biscuits with butter and jam...no gravy, not a drop...even Alexandra refused to eat it...I really don't think it has anything to do with my gravy skills, i ate it no problem...

How can you not like chocolate gravy? and while i am ranting, the store in town has been sold out of Dr. Pepper, and all coke products since Wed. stupid deer hunters buy your Dr. Pepper in your own town, and leave mine alone!!!!

Yesterday, after work Ben went to Wal-Mart(the wal-mart as it is known in OK) to pick up a few things, and i said bring me a Dr. Pepper, I am suffering from withdrawal...not a single bottle in the whole bleeping store, what is it with okies and Dr. Pepper anyway?????

I told him to go to Sonic after work, and bring me a huge Dr. Pepper before it gets ugly around here!@!!

a bomb went off

A bomb went off in my house...there was a massive explosion...it is called children, family, celebrating...today Nicole and I are going to try to repair some of the damage.

We plan to put all the china and silver away...wash the tablecloths and napkins, and if we have the energy we will put away the fall decorations, and "halloween" as Lola calls all the pumpkins that...

I have lost the advent wreath once again, and resigned myself to make a new one...before Sunday, the 1st Sunday of Advent... no pressure...none at all....

My evergreen tree was struck by lightning a while back, so i have to harvest one side only as the other is black...i am sending the boys out with Lola in the wagon to hunt pinecones...an excuse, but i don't want her climbing up in the chairs with me to put the china in the buffet, be still my heart...

I am ready to start singing Advent Hymns...O Come, O Come Emmanuel...People Look East...and my all time favorite...See How the Virgin Waits for Him...

A Tucker Thanksgiving

We had our dinner Wed. evening. Andrew and Tiffiany made the mashed potatoes, and a blueberry pie. Kyle and Timmi showed up, almost on time, only 3 hours after they said they would be here.

I am thinking about getting my 2 eldest sons watches with remote control alarms(surely such things exist). They are both chronically time challenged. It all worked out, it seems i am a little time challenged myself, and the turkey and i were not on the same schedule, so it didn't come out of the roaster when i thought it would..all's well that ends well...

We had a lovely dinner, my husband is a smart man and always brags on the beauty, and cooking skills of his wife, he is a charmer that one...he liked the outfit i had on, and literally chased me through the house, into the bedroom, and locked the door...We had a terrible argument on tues. , and he wanted to uh...kiss, and make up...at least nothing got burnt...

That's how dinner got off schedule, the children were all outside playing baseball, and the parents were acting like grown-ups sort of...

I like it when there is a lot of fun and laughter along with the meals, i am not so wild about them telling stories on the crazy things their mother has done, but it is all in fun, and i really didn't throw the pie at Ben, i just threw the pie...that was the last time he criticized the top crust of one of my pies!!!!(i was 9 months pregnant at the time, and he should have known better)

The only bad thing that happened was shortly before dinner, Christian laid down on the couch, and said i don't feel well, then her turned over and started vomiting...we cleaned him up, and then the fever started...he hasn't thrown up since last night, but he is still running a fever, and i am praying this doesn't hit all of us...

Alexandra behaved like a horrendous awful beast last night, probably all the excitement, and no nap...she slept for less than an hour, then got up about 10:00 and kicked and screamed until 3:00 in the morning...i finally stuck her in her crib at 2:00, and listened to her cry the last hour standing outside her room( i just kept expecting her to dive out of her crib)

Christian woke up crying about 3:30, so i didn't go to sleep until after 4:00, about the time Ben got up, and staggered off to work...i am so grateful he only had to work 4 hours instead of 12...we watched the parade, and vowed not to get out of bed for the rest of the day(like that really works).

We still have a very sick little boy, and a very, very naughty little girl, the rest of the children are hanging in there, and i haven't been puked on for hours...I am tired, and she is tired, i am going to try getting her to bed now, and if she doesn't go to sleep, i will just put her in her bed...Ashley is not going near her tonight that girl is so crazy, and i am starting to think she is contagious...

In the midst of all the craziness today, i went outside in the sunshine with my baby girl, and while she played(yelled pull meme lola in the wagon) i thanked God for all the blessings in my life..big ones and little ones...Thank you for family and friends, love and laughter...the grace of being born in this country, my Lord and Saviour...my beloved husband, all our dear children, and thank you Lord, for my life...

Now to go wrastle the baby, i'd like to see some of those pro's go 10 rounds with her...she'd win a tko first round no problem...Yesterday, it was 9 rounds baby 1 round Mama, i am praying tonight will be better...

who thought this was a good idea

We are officially on Thanksgiving countdown. Ashley asked this morning if i had my holiday bible out yet, i wasn't sure what she meant, and she said it is my menu and notes down to what time to put things in the oven, what time to take them out, and the temps. Even things like gravy, green beans, rolls and corn make the list.

I finally had to explain, in detail i make notes like that, because so much is going on, and if it is written down in front of me, i don't have to think....just do....

Ben took Connor, Jonathan, Sean Patrick and Christian to the movies today, while Ashley, Nicole, Alexandra and i stayed home and baked, i am not entirely sure that is fair, and next year, i am volunteering for the movie detail...

We have on our list for today, 2 pumpkin pies, 2 pecan pies, 1 coca-cola cake, 3 loaves of pumpkin bread, 2 loaves of cinnamon bread, 2 loaves of banana bread, 8 mini-loaves of apple bread, an assortment of mini muffins, 1 large pan of cornbread in order to make the cornbread dressing, cherry jello w/min-marshmallows, and sweet potato casserole with pecan/brown sugar topping....i feel fat already...

Actually, i never over-eat on the holidays, because by the time i have cooked everything, and been in the kitchen for days, i am too tired to chew....i don't even care if i eat ....

I went with Ben to the cardiologist yesterday, and we have to go back in 2 weeks...for more tests...anyway, i am behind on cleaning, and i am going to try to get the tables set-up tonight..

I am stuck because Ben wanted eggs for breakfast this morning, and now i am short, and have to wait for them to get back to finish baking!!!!!!!!!i might even say the s word as Christian calls it(shut-up).

I think i am getting irritable, because Ashley suggested i open a bottle of wine....i was okay until people asked what i was cooking for dinner...i strongly suggest left-overs or p.b.andj.

Maybe next year i will go to the movies, and we'll have pizza for Thanksgiving Dinner...

It is so weird to me, that we are having our big dinner tomorrow, but as Ben, Andrew, and Tiffiany have to work Thurs. on 3 different shifts, it just seemed easier. On Thurs. i am not getting out of bed at all, i am going to watch the parade, and just lay there.....

HONESTLY, WE ARE WORKING

I KNOW, I KNOW, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE CATCHING UP ON 3 DAYS WORTH OF LAUNDRY, FLOORS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SWEPT IN A WEEK DUST BUNNIES RUNNING AMUCK, BUT I AM LOOKING AT PICTURES WITH MY BABY.

AS YOU CAN SHE, SHE PUT CAP LOCKS ON, AND I CAN'T DISENGAGE IT...I ALSO PUT A LOAD OF LAUNDRY IN THE WASHING MACHINE, AND FORGOT TO TURN IT ON...IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO FIND THAT...WE HAVE 4 LOADS TO FOLD AND, MY LIST HAS US ON THANKSGIVING COUNT DOWN...

TO MAKE IT REALLY EXCITING, THE CHILDREN ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AT 2:00, AND WILL BE HOME UNTIL NOV. 30...AT LEAST NICOLE CAN FIX THE COMPUTER FOR ME...THANK GOD FOR NICOLE, SHE SAID SHE WILL COOK SUPPER TONIGHT, AND FOLD THE LAUNDRY WHICH I DIDN'T DO..

SHE JUST INFORMED ME, THAT SHE, CONNOR AND ASHLEY HAVE REGIONAL ACADEMIC COMPETITION, THEY WILL BE GONE ALL DAY...AND NEED MONEY TO EAT ON ALL DAY...WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT 60.00 THIS WEEK ON EXTRAS' AND I STILL HAVE A FEW ITEMS TO PURCHASE FOR NEXT WEEK, PLUS JUST FOOD TO FEED THE LOCUSTS(MY BELOVED HUNGRY CHILDREN)...BEN IS GOING TO HAVE A CONNIPTION...AND I HAVE TO GO SHOPPING WITH JONATHAN 10, SEAN PATRICK 6, CHRISTIAN 3 AND MISS MEME LOLA 23 MONTHS...SAINTS IN HEAVEN PRESERVE ME...

I ALSO HAVE TO DROP ALL MY THINGS AT THE CONSIGNMENT SHOP....LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH...AND A GLASS OF WINE WOULDN'T HURT...

no peace

My life is officially over, not only can Alexandra climb every counter and cabinet in this house(think Sound of Music/Climb every Mountain)that's the background music playing in my head...she can now open every door in the house(I keep front,back and side doors locked)...I can't keep her out of my room, the bathrooms...anything downstairs, she now has access to...got to go Christian is screaming Alla is on the cabinet, and she has the hot water running...He said i told Alla to turn turn it off, and she said No!

I walked in the bathroom, and she said Hi Mommy!!!

drat that puzzle

We have been down with terrible colds, i succumbed thanks to Christian and his need to be on top of me all the time, coughing and snotting all-over me...my yuck triggered a migraine that has lasted for 3 days...i am starting to feel human again, and while i am still not dressed today, i think i am going to live. My dear husband who has never had a migraine thought i was insane for putting the corn sacks on my face and head, covering my eyes and refusing to get up... don't you want to come in for dinner? NO!!!@!!!!~!!!!!!!! like i said he has never had a migraine...

The lights, the noise, the smells of food cooking, all sent me running for the covers literally.

Last night, around midnight, i started thinking i was going to live, and i decided, i was starving. I snuck into the kitchen, and not wanting to make any noise and alert the sleeping hordes(my children) i settled for frosted flakes..i was on my way back to my room with my booty when it happened...i walked past Alexandras' farm-time puzzle, and it mooed at me...

There i am sneaking around in the dark, with my frosted flakes, and a puzzle mooing at me, so not fair...just because i had a bowl of cereal in one hand, and the bag of frosted flakes in the other...

a sucker by any other name

This morning things were going along pretty smoothly, nothing exciting going on, Alexandra was still asleep, Christian was helping me drink my coffee, and Ben had left for his Dr. appt.

My story is a little convoluted, but i have to back track in order to make sense. Last week, we went to the bank, and our little bank still passes out suckers, and doggie treats through the drive-through, or inside you can pick out a candy... i put 2 suckers in my purse and told the babies we could have them after lunch. Our next stop was the gas station that has the bbq pit, and we had bbq sandwiches, and the little ones had chicken strips for lunch. I forgot all about the suckers, and so did they, or so i thought.

Ben left my purse down this morning, and Christian must have remembered his sucker, I was in the bathroom sorting out laundry, I was in there for a few minutes, and when i came out i saw the strangest thing.

My bed was covered in unwrapped tampons, and Christian was sitting in the middle of them eating his sucker...he had unwrapped 6 before he decided he was in the wrong compartment and found his sucker...Lord, give me strength, my sense of humor is intact, it's my mind i worry about...

in here, i'm hiding

It has been a very hectic day, my clock says 12:09, my body says bedtime...It started out okay,but i should rephrase that, because at my house normal is not normal.

Christian got up and went to the bathroom, i stripped my bed, then Alexandra went in the bathroom, then Christian yelled help Mom, the toliet is spitting water at us...now i don't know about you, but i get totally freaked out if the toliet is behaving like a volcano. With fear and trembling i peeked into the bathroom and sure enough the toliet gods were angry, very angry...there was enough toliet paper to sink a small ship and water everywhere, i mean everywhere...

I stuck the screaming babies in the shower, turned off the water, ran to the other bathroom to retrieve the dirty towels i had already hauled to the laundry room to try to stop the flood. 20 minutes later the mess is cleaned up, the towels are in the washing machine, i strip the flood ravaged children, and we all get in the shower...

Then Christian asks why do you shave your legs, you don't have a beard on them, i think thats' weird...it probably is weird, i never really thought about it, it is just something girls do.

Ben finally got my frantic phone message, and proceeded to speak to me in tongues...plumber talk, it went something like this...take the top off the overflow, if nothing happens then this is wrong, if something happens then this is wrong, and if something else happens then it is something else altogether....are you kidding me, i just cleaned all that up showered 2 children and got out of the shower myself, i am not angering the toliet god and risking the water volcano again....he said or, you can wait til i get home, and i will figure it out...option 2 it is.....

I thought things had calmed down, and Christian wanted breakfast again, and i didn't care if they ate cereal again, so we did. My first mistake was thinking we would play nice, and then maybe do a few chores, eat something we could call lunch and take a nap...I switched the laundry and asked Christian where the baby was? In there, I look in the dining room, no baby, i start calling her, she says in here mama, i look in her room, under her crib, under the iron bed, i call her again, she says in here mama, i look in the closet, under the kitchen table, in the pantry , no baby, i call her again, i can't find you, where are you? in here mama, i'm hiding...then it dawns on me, her voice is coming through the open dining room window and not the house. She was on the front porch hiding in her favorite spot, sitting on the fresh hay, in the puppies barrel...

I asked Christian why he unlocked the storm door, and he said the little puppies wanted in, and Alla wanted out. I reminded him, I keep the storm door locked so Alla can't get out...I breathed a sigh of relief, my baby thought we were playing hide and go seek...

I so need a nap after this....now if the toliet will just behave until Benjamin comes home....

a new day

The sun is hiding behind some very gray clouds this morning, and the wind is really blowing out of the north, i poked my nose out the door just to wave one last time as the little ones walked down the drive-way to meet their bus.

You can see it is cold by their body language heads tucked down from the wind, shoulders pulled in, i don't think their sweat jackets are adequate defense this morning...Oklahoma is like that, huge weather shifts day to day, sometimes hour to hour...

The wind is attacking the last hangers on, and i watch my leaves drift and dance their way to the ground, i will miss them when they are gone. The stark beauty of naked trees only appeals to me for a short time, and then i long for leaves, and buds...i guess by the time one season has become well established i am ready for the next...

Mr. Mcknights flag looks so beautiful, it is standing straight out and the wind is gentle moving it, the colors really stand out with the black naked pecan trees behind it..i found out i do have pecans after all on my favorite tree, but unless the wind brings them down, the only one that will enjoy them is the crows.

The bus is coming i see my children pick up their bookbags and then out of the corner of my eye i see something, my heart stops for a moment and i hold my breath, dear Lord no, protect them angels of heaven, running down the side of the high-way i see little heads tucked into their jacket hoods bobbing behind the cars as they try to catch the bus. The cars are all stopped, but they are so small and don't even know what danger they are in as they try to catch the bus...i am praying please God keep them safe, let Alex see them, and then he does...my children are all safely on-board and still he waits...the last little straggler is safely inside , i see the door close, and the bus begins to move on toward school...I breathe a sigh of relief and my heart beat returns to normal...

My focus goes back to the beauty around me, and i thank God for the childrens' safety, both mine, and my neighbors, and i wonder were they even aware how much danger they were in?

An extra prayer this morning, goes out...Dear God watch over all the little ones, that don't have someone watching over them...they need extra protection...watch over mine as they go about their school day...watch over Ashley and Dylan on the bus ride to the State Championship, watch over Ashley as she takes pictures of the game for yearbook, watch over Dylan as he plays football tonight, bring them both safely home,watch over Kyle, Timmi, and James as they go to school this morning, watch over Andrew and Tiffiany as they eat breakfast and head off to bed, watch over Ben as he goes about his day, please don't let it be anything serious. I know he is afraid, and watch over the 2 babies still asleep in my bed....

I think I will go join them, it looks very warm under those blankets...

Fruit

I missed Connor and Nicoles' 1st Basketball game Monday night. The girls lost, and the boys won. I had to attend the school board meeting to discuss the pamphlets distributed after the meet you at the pole event in September.

I really hate attending school board meetings, because they tend to be long-winded an hour and a half...I will if necessary..Fr. Adrian met us there, and addressed the school board first...he talked about prayer, and that the event was supposed to be non-denominational and unify the students as they put away religous differences and just prayed with each other...he also told the school board we were not opposed to prayer in any way, just the pamphlets...

The school board and i had received the same letter from the woman who was behind the distribution, and she had sent a threatening letter to the school, and down-loaded a packet from the American Center of Law and Justice that she thought supported her actions...once i put the fire out of my hair and re-read the packet, i did what anyone who has listened to the group on the radio for years, and been on their e-mail list would do, i called them....

They wanted to see the pamphlets, as did the Catholic League...I really don't have the time or energy to devote my life to this battle, but some things you just have to do whether you like it or not...

The school board ruled that no pamphlets of any kind can be passed out on school grounds without prior approval of the school board...the superintendant told me, he thought this was just the beginning, and we would have on-going problems...i tend to agree as the 3 letters i have received have been a little over the top...this woman, has wrapped her-self in the flag, constitution, and bible all at the same time, and seems un-able to admit she may have used poor judgement in distributing the anti-catholic pamphlets at school...

I did ask the pastor of the baptist church to provide the school board members with copies of the all the pamphlets his church had purchased...they were fresh out...luckily the superintendant kept our copies and brought them for all the people to read...they were shocked and disgusted by the ugliness, one board member apologised to us for having our children exposed to them...

I keep reminding myself of the fruits of the Holy Spirit...I know it will all work out, I just need to focus on Gods' word and leave in his hands...i don't know what has happened in this womans' life she thinks she is just telling people about Jesus, and she can pass out anything she wants even on school property...i contend she can tell anyone and everyone about Jesus, but if you don't show it in your actions, everything you say will fall on deaf ears...she thinks she has had a religous breakthrough, i wonder if she has had some sort of breakdown...her actions don't seem to reflect the fruits of the Spirit...I hope mine will...

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom,understanding,counsel, fortitude,knowledge,piety, fear of the Lord, and 3 theological virtues are faith, hope and love...lord grant me these gifts, and also the grace for forgiveness...please help me to remember to pray before speaking....and my hair is already auburn i don't need it on fire...

On a happier note tonight Connor and Nicole have another home game, and i am planning to attend...I have been up since 3:00 with sick children it would not be a good time for her to confront me again...i tend to have less patience when i am exhausted...i better pray before i go...

older mom, new tricks

As the mommy of 9 children, it would seem like we are seasoned in the art of mommyhood. We might even be considered experts to the untrained eye. I know very little for certain, but life, experience and children have taught me a few lessons...

God has the ultimate sense of humor, and he sends little people into our lives to test our patience our growth and our sense of humor....things that would have really upset me 20 years ago, barely rate a raise eyebrow today.

Sometimes, I have been accused of becoming complacent, and not taking life as serious as i used too. Kyle observes Sean, who behaves so much like he did as a little boy, and says he literally gets away with too much. I will admit me perspective on life, and childhood were changed by Lukes' death, the loss of Seans' twin brother, and almost losing my life and Seans at the same time. I am not the same untested mother i was all those years ago, and i think we are supposed to be changed by experience.

Kyle says i would have beat him half to death, for behaving like Sean, and did on occassion chase him around the house with a shoe or a broom..

I have threatened to just beat the tar out of Kyle because Alexandra behaves so much like her older brother, it is wired into her...and i am not going to beat her...

God has given me the opportunity to watch my grown sons interact with siblings that are almost 20 years younger, and they adore each other. I have some pretty wild children, and i always thought i was a pretty together mom...i have completely admitted defeat on the whole potty training adventure with Alexandra...i have met my match...every trick i have learned in the past 22 years of childrearing, she has a new trick, one i have never even seen before...

God has been gracious and funny in the gift of my youngest daughter...she has done things no one else has ever done...we will not forget her baby-hood or as some people would imagine the children are all lumped into 1 type or personality, and i can honestly say she is the first child to announce to me, when i went to investigate her disapearing into my bedroom, and shutting my door behind her... oh look Mama, I booped on your shoe!!! and sure enough, she had...

I am quite certain God had quite a chuckle over that one...or her latest...she gets in trouble if she tells mama no...I say don't tell mama no, so now, she shakes her finger at me and says don't tell mama no, when she and i both know she is telling mama no....

I may have a few wrinkles around me eyes, and laugh lines that didn't exist when Andrew and Kyle were babies, but thanks be to God there is still laughter, joy and babies in my home...

what time is it anyway?

Alexandra did not get the flu when everyone else was sick, but i guess we had too much going on this weekend for her. We went to Wanda and Bobs' for popcorn balls, and the kids rode on his train...we went to the school indian taco dinner, and the children played the carnival games at school.

Sunday, Nicole, Connor and I went to Mass, and then Mon. night we took the family to the All Souls Mass. tues. , Bobbie Sue kept the little ones while i went to the Dr.s office. It seems i had some abnormal test results, and Dr. Barlow wanted to rerun my tests...

Yesterday, my little girl seemed"off" last night she coughed and screamed from 9:30 to 4:00. We went to sleep sometime around then, and she slept fitfully until about 11:00. Christian and I sat on the bed with her to watch her breathe. By noon she seemed more herself and hit the ground running. She has recovered much better than i have.... We are all still in our pajamas. It is only 1:00 in the afternoon, in 2 hours we have had breakfast, and lunch, i broke out the Dr. Pepper, and i am about to take my baby crawl back onto my bed with a bunch of books and eat some chocolate....If i can hold out until the children get home, i can even take a shower before i take off my pajamas today, and then it will be time to start cooking dinner....

Maybe Nicole will take pity on me, and cook tonight. i could use someone to take pity on me....Alexandra was brutal last night...or was that this morning , i have lost track....