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!!!