The Christmas carols Emerald learned this past Christmas from a combination of Daddy and Glo:
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...crashed!"
"Frosty the Snowman....Melted."
--Andie
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Andie Today
I got a little sentimental talking about Michael there for a minute; let's lighten the mood by talking about cuddly, bubbly Mama!!
It is hard to write about myself--it is much easier to brag on my wonderful husband or darling children than it is to talk about me. I am a woman of extremes. When I am happy, the whole world is happy with me, especially my family. The children are better behaved, everyone has a better day, and we live in cheerful harmony and love. When I have a bad day though, my surly disposition sets the tone for everybody else. I always feel guilty because then Michael has to work double-time trying to bring me out of my slump. Luckily, for the most part I work very hard to maintain a sunny disposition and keep everything bright :)
I am 25 years old; my nicknames are Mama, Gingerbready, Dee, Dandy, Dandy-Dee, and Andie (thought you knew my real name, didn'tcha?)
My Favorites
Games: Fallout!
Fallout 3 by Bethesda came out and Philip Lopez (a friend of ours from college) swore by it. We bought it and....hated it. It was so blah and colorless and boring and we didn't know where to go and it just wasn't our thing.
So a few months later, we try it again. And it is amazing! How did we not like this the first time?! It is such a rich and fulfilling experience!! It is set in the ruins of Washington DC years after a nuclear attack; you are a vault dweller that ventures out to explore scorched wastelands and struggling communities, fight off ghouls and super mutants and irradiated creatures that have gone mad and rabid....ahh!! It is too awesome for words.
And then, glory of glories...Fallout New Vegas, published by Bethesda but developed by Obsidian....
Oh, my.
This game is hands down my favorite ever. It is everything I want in a game: light RPG, action, adventure, a little bit of fear mixed in...sure, real nerds will point out that when the game came out, there were some pretty significant bugs. But I didn't fall in those bugs because I don't suck, and I know I have never had more fun than when I was playing this game.
Other games I like: Oblivion, Skyrim, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Bioshock 1 and 2, and Forza 4.
Activities: My latest craze is crafting--I crochet mostly, but I learning how to knook (knit with crochet hooks) and knit; I would like to get a sewing machine so that I can start making simple things like pillows and curtains and skirts. I also cross-stitch though I haven't gotten to do it in years. I like to cook but I have been working on my baking lately. As mentioned, I play a bit of video games--the best time to play is when you are up late nursing a new baby (Oblivion got me through Emerald's sleepless nights; Fallout 3 through Gabriel; Skyrim for Benjamin).
Of course my favorite since I was a wee girl has always been reading. I adore to read, anything and everything--books about history, science, nutrition, philosophy, religion; novels in every genre you can think of (except erotica, which is just gross to me); plays and poetry and sonnets...my Nook is overflowing with books queued up, hundreds of books waiting and hundreds I have all ready finished. Reading is a passion of mine and I sincerely hope it stays with me for life.
TV Shows: There are the shows I watch with Michael like "Merlin" (which has really gotten annoying of late) and "Doctor Who" (Chris Ecceston will always be my doctor, but I really do love David Tennant), plus Supernatural, The Office, Simpsons; things of that nature. I really enjoy all of those shows, and it is fun to share them with Michael. I also have the shows I watch all by myself, like Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, and Glee. I really love shows about medicine and doctors, though not all of them are winners. I don't really think I have a "favorite" TV show.
Food: Carnitas quesarito from Freebirds--I get carnitas, Spanish rice, pinto beans, mixed cheese, avocado, poblano salsa, and sour cream......mmmm, it is amazing. Hot wings, barbecue or spicy buffalo, though I really prefer the little drumsticks to the wing-wings. As anyone that knows me can attest, I am a shamefully picky eater. It is actually kind of easier for me to tell you what I don't eat rather than what I do; but I am trying to keep this positive and don't want to bring light to those things that I do not tolerate. More often than not, I try and eat healthy--even if I don't particularly care for it (like bananas or artichokes), I still eat them because they are good for me.
Campbell's potato soup; whole wheat toast with sugar free orange marmalade...my favorite pie is Key Lime, my favorite sweet treat is Ferrero raffaellos, and I will love just about anything peppermint flavored.
Movie: I love and want to believe in magic. Not like Harry Potter magic, witchcraft or wizardry, nor the slight-of-hand and illusions of modern performers. I want to believe that the world we live in is inherently and every day capable of more. Many of my favorites, including my favorite movie, reflect that love.
Big Fish
The whole movie is just beautiful and full of fancy alongside perfectly pedestrian everyday...I find it enchanting. Of course, I all ready adore Tim Burton for his whimsical style. Other movies I particularly enjoy: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Singing in the Rain.
Songs: Since I was 13, my favorite song has been "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls. It just appeals to me on many levels, even associated as it was with a rather lousy movie. I pretend the movie doesn't exist as much as I am able. Ludovico Einaudi is a love of mine. Queen is my favorite band. I also like Pink, Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls, Joshua Radin, Garth Brooks, Newsboys, Fall Out Boy, Aerosmith, Dave Matthew's Band, and All American Rejects.
Currently, most of what I listen to is Christian--the kids enjoy it and I don't worry about them picking up something they shouldn't. Chris Tomlin and Matthew West are really great.
Books: For most of my life, my favorite book was "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. Don't get me wrong, I still adore that book; last year, however, I read a novel that really blew me away. It made a profound impact on me and rushed to becoming my favorite book of all time.
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
His style of writing is so artistic and lovely, combining that element of natural magic that makes scenes that much more moving. As an example: when the patriarch of the family Aureliano Buendia passes away, yellow flowers rain from the sky for three days, carpeting the entire fictional city of Macondo in petals.
Seriously, you guys--if you have not read this book; do it! "Love in the Time of Cholera" was fantastic too, but this book is so, so much more.
I also have worn my way through nearly ten copies of "The Baby Name Wizard" by Laura Wattenberg. It is the best baby name book on the market and really fueled my obsession with onomastics.
Color: Gold; it is irrepressible and lasting, symbolizing balance, wisdom, and immutability. Sure, it comes on a little strong and some people find it tacky, but to me it is warm and unique.
Flower: Carnations; they date back more than 2000 years, the pink carnations are said to have sprung from the Virgin Mary's tears at the foot of the cross, symbolizing a mother's undying love. I like them because of their delicate scent, soft shape, and unassuming beauty--my favorites are the whites (which symbolizes pure, innocent love) with tinted edges of yellow, pink, or red.
I am a stressed out mom that expects to be able to do everything--definitely a cliche, but there is a reason mothers work themselves to the bone. We want to give our children the best of everything, the greatest shot of growing up to be well-rounded, contented, kind people that can do anything if they just work hard enough. As I spend more time with the kids, where I start as an individual and who I am as their mom starts to blur more and more; I adore them and they are my life, but I don't want to forget who and what I am. I want to remember that I have a mind of my own, a life of my own, outside of school events and nap times, even if just once in a while :)
--Andie
Michael Today
It's that time of year again--the Kids Today! Keeping in tradition, I will write a post about each of the Wearden children, a snap shot of who they are and what they like in this moment in time. This year, however, I decided to include the parents as well, in case any one was interested. Even if you are not, I am so I will write it any way--ha!
I will post oldest to youngest so if interest begins to wane, you can stop well before the adults :)
Michael!!
I will post oldest to youngest so if interest begins to wane, you can stop well before the adults :)
Michael!!
Michael is 27 years old now; he works at Scoggin Dickey as Internet manager, certified technology expert, and certified to sell Subaru, Buick, and Chevrolet vehicles. It is not his dream job but he does very well at it and is respected by management there. He doesn't have many nicknames--I call him Mickle Bear, but mostly he is Michael or Daddy.
Favorites
Games: Easy--"Star Wars: The Old Republic"!
It is a PC MMORPG made by the incredible Bioware; as it recently went free-to-play (meaning online access without subscription fees and a free limited copy of the game), Michael and I both decided to give it a try. Michael has always been more into computer games than I have; I prefer consoles because of the ease to play. But in this game, we can play together!! We rarely get the chance, as it is difficult for both of us to focus on a video game while watching the children, but it is fun when we have a night off.
There are endless customization options for your character, which means that you can play well over 100 hours and never play the same story twice. Thousands of missions that maintain uniqueness and fresh gameplay without getting stagnant--for anyone who has not played "The Old Republic", it is a rare and very enjoyable experience.
Activities: Michael likes wrestling with the boys and playing Superheroes with Emerald. He is always happy to cook, although his creative creations are sometimes a little much! He plays his Old Republic game after we have all gone to bed, and reads as much as his very busy schedule will allow. Michael is not happy unless he is learning--he discusses religion and philosophy, researches every topic from ancient mythology to history to the most cutting edge medical advances, and can debate any current issue. Technology is his real area of interest though; his love of new devices is well-known, and he spends a great deal of time working on strengthening his knowledge of software, manipulation of codes, and development of data. This particularly works to his advantage at work, where he creates and maintains the Internet business for the Subaru side of Scoggin Dickey.
TV Shows: Mike doesn't get a wealth of time to dedicate to watching shows, but there are a few we have shared together over the years. "Supernatural" was a big hit with us--as with many topics, religion and the paranormal have been subjects of interest to him in the past, so it is interesting to us both.
The "Doctor Who" reboot from 2005, starting with the ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston), is a current favorite of his. With the kids he likes to watch "Ultimate Spider-Man", a very cute cartoon that is fun for all of us.
Food: Michael's favorite restaurant is Chipolte--he always gets the chicken burrito with rice, sour cream, corn salsa, and cheese. He was quite sad for years because Lubbock did not have a Chipotle; we finally got one not too long ago....and Michael still rarely gets it! We don't eat out very often, and when we do he tends to defer to things that I or the kids like better. Chic-fil-a nuggets are also a big favorite for him; he used to like McDonald's but as the years have gone on, it now just makes him full of regrets whenever he eats it. At home, he loves my Chicken Monterrey (chicken baked with salsa and Monterrey cheese sprinkled on top), my homemade Chili with cornbread muffins, and my breakfast burritos.
Movie: There are a few that are his favorites--if we are talking modern, contemporary movies? "The Avengers", of course. We both love Joss Whedon and he did everything exactly right with that movie, from casting to the respect shown to the female characters, to story lines...it was just everything he had hoped it would be.
More long term, he loves "Tombstone" with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer; he has a special place in his heart for westerns as it is because of memories of watching them with his grandfather, Daddad (Rhonda's father). Everyone that knows him is familiar with his love of the Star Wars franchise; he has been watching those movies since he was a little boy, and used to collect some of their figurines and novels. I currently have a "Mike" corner over by where his chair is set up with framed artwork from the movies hanging near his head.
I think the top cake, though, goes to "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. I recently got the 70th Anniversary special for him for Christmas; he was so excited :) Since a film course he took in high school, he has had a special appreciation for the classics, like Charlie Chaplin, "North by Northwest", and of course "Casablanca".
Songs: So this one is much harder to nail down. For one thing, his musical taste is all over the place. Some of his favorite artists are Huey Lewis and the News, Frank Sinatra, and Dave Matthews Band. Our song is "Happy to Be Stuck with You" (Huey Lewis); it was played as the final song at our wedding and if we had a first dance, it would have likely been to "As Time Goes By". But he also listens to contemporary stuff--Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Neon Trees. I guess it really just depends on what kind of mood he is in as to what song he likes the best.
Books: "I, Jedi" by Michael A. Stackpole has long been at the top of his list. A few Christmases ago, I read it aloud to him a little every night until we finished it--it is a really good book. With big franchises like Star Wars you will often get what amounts to fanfic--novels written by fans who just really love the story--which means you get some sub-par crap. Stackpole writes a genuinely good, entertaining story with strong characters and an engaging plot. That's my plug for that; moving on.
Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series is also a favorite of his. It kind of combines the best of what Michael loves--it is a bit western gunslinger, a bit science-fiction dystopian future, a bit supernatural, and surprisingly thought-provoking. Many of King's other novels have references and tie-ins to Roland's epic, which Michael enjoyed searching out and reading.
Michael is a laid-back guy that loves his kids more than anything. He brags about them at work, shows off their pictures and artwork to anyone who comes to his office, and is the highlight of their day every time he comes home. He searches out monsters and scares away spooks, never tires of playing with the inexhaustible children, and soothes away nightmares. There is never a question that Daddy doesn't know the answer to or a problem Daddy can't fix. As a husband, he is patient and loving--he notices when I clean or rearrange (but politely ignores it when I don't), eats every one of my clumsy meals like it is the best he has ever had, and constantly seeks out ways to ease my burdens or make me feel cherished. He is the best part of all of our worlds.
--Andie
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Christmas
You can't hate me for not writing since Thanksgiving; Christmas may be the most wonderful time of year, but it is also the busiest, most stressful, and most exhausting as well!!
First came Emerald's Christmas party at school: I volunteered early on to help coordinate the event, a little lunch party and book exchange. Emerald brought "The Best Mouse Cookie" by Laura Numeroff (known for "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"); she received "A Very Crabby Christmas", a tie in to the Cat in the Hat PBS show. When I got to the school, her teacher informed me she was running a little fever of 100; they were letting her stay because it is just heartbreaking at 5 years old to miss a party with your friends at school and the only symptom other than fever she had was being unusually subdued. I brought Cici's Pizza; Rhonda kept Benjamin so I could stay with Emerald (Gabriel was still in school). It was just a nice little party.
Gabe's class didn't have a celebration, understandably, but he took Mario Party dry erase boards and markers for car rides for all his classmates. He got "Chicka Chicka ABC" from his teachers, candy canes, a reindeer hacky sack, and a few more little toys. His class is very small, just six little boys. His teachers are so sweet and really understand and appreciate him; the Risperidone (the medicine to help his moods) is really starting to take a noticeable effect. I was afraid that it was going to stifle and suppress the best parts of him, but it just levels him out--gives him calmer, more focused days. He definitely seems to prefer life this way than those hours between doses when he is out of control.
Friday night before, we had Robert's family Christmas at Steven and Melisa's house. They have such an amazing home; it is so warm and inviting and full of happiness and love and peace. Sometimes it is honestly hard to leave such a positive environment. We had fajitas for dinner; all three of the kids loved that. Gabriel and Benjamin sat next to each other for the first time--it was funny to watch them reach over and exchange food like Amber and I used to! Gabe would steal Ben's cheese and tortillas; Benji would sneak off with Gaby's chicken...it was good to see them sharing and not fighting for once.
As always, please forgive me if I forget to mention any gifts we received--we are so grateful for everything, I just live in a fog comprised of veggie tales and sleepiness, so my mind isn't exactly "sharp".
I know Michael got a pair of warm pajama pants and a lounge shirt that he would wear every day if I let him; he also got a new pair of work shoes and a couple of work shirts.
Gabriel had a very difficult time sitting still or focusing; we strapped him into a booster seat so that he could stay still, but I could not get my phone to stream a show for him, so he mostly squirmed and stripped. He got a Lightening McQueen cars rider, a hopper, some underoos, Batman slippers, and a couple pairs of feetie pajamas.
Benjamin sat with me and did all right, for a 15 month old baby. He got a Fisher Price toy iPhone and a crawling caterpillar/bead track.
I got a giftcard to DSW (a shoe store) that I haven't gotten to use yet, but that I am going to use to buy nice flats or slippers for my cold frosty feet, and a new crockpot! I all ready used it to make a double batch of venison chili; one of my favorites when it is cold :)
Emerald helped pass out gifts and was generally just a delight; she got Abby and Emma magnetic paperdolls from the Melissa and Doug collection and a really cute pizza play set where she can build and deliver her own pretend pizza.
This year, I learned how to crochet so that I could focus my energy on constructive things instead of getting stressed and frustrated. It must have been annoying to be around me for the last few months because I was nearly constantly crocheting to get ready for Christmas--while watching TV or watching the kids play, in the car, during Bible class....the end result was that Melisa, Macy, and Grannymom all got homemade scarves this year (in Ranch Red, Aqua Blue, and Multicolored, respectively) at the Robert's Christmas. Ken and Patrick got ones at the Wearden Christmas, but theirs were some of the first I made--everyone had a good laugh when Ken unfurled his and it wrapped around his neck twice and still reached the floor. (What? I had never made a scarf before!) It was pretty funny.
It was a lovely Christmas, and I was glad we were all able to get together.
Saturday morning, our elf on the shelf friend Chip had to fly back to the North Pole to share his report with Santa, but he left behind some gifts in all of our stockings. Mostly new toothbrushes, body wash, things of that nature; but also some wet kitty and doggie food for the pets, a bath brush for Emerald, snowglobes for the kids, a travel mug for Daddy, and a new book and make-up for Mommy. I also let the kids open one present apiece from Mommy and Daddy--a pair of pajamas to wear to Christmas that night, and an owl beanie that is so cute.
Saturday night was Christmas at Glo and Pawpaws, and I am ashamed to say that I made a bit of a mess of everything. Sunday, we were leaving to go to my grandparent's, Gigi and Papa's, and I didn't know when we would be able to do our private family Christmas. So I shamelessly leapt into their plans, meaning there were entirely too many presents for three energetic and very tired children to sit through. Don't get me wrong, it was still a lovely evening; it was just a bit stressful with so very much going on at once.
Rhonda made a traditional turkey spread; what surprised me is that all three children took surprisingly well to the Waldorf salad--a "salad" of yogurt and mayonnaise on walnuts and apples and raisins and celery and such.
A little back story: for months, every time we visited Walmart, the kids always wanted to go by the pillow pet section. They would each grab the one they liked the best and snuggle it for a few minutes; I would remind them to ask Santa for it, we would put them back and keep shopping.
While we were eating, Santa came and left the very pillow pets they had been asking for! as well as a note that said Santa was bringing their gifts now but would see them on Christmas morning at Gigi and Papa's house. They were so blown away!! Emerald got a hot pink hippo that she named "Pillow Pet"; Gabriel got an neon orange puppy which is the only one that he will sleep with; and Benjamin got a neon green monkey.
The only problem that I didn't foresee is my own confusion: usually, all things Green go to Gabriel; all things Blue go to Benjamin. It is my way of organizing things in my mind, see? Well, this time Gabriel liked the orange puppy, NOT the green monkey; Benjamin of course will snuggle with either one, but Michael and I keep accidentally offering Gabe the Green monkey because that has always been my system...and it makes him so mad!!
Okay, so moving on. Highlights: Gabe got a trampoline and a big Buzz Lightyear; Emerald got a Ariel baby doll, and Cinderella on Blu Ray; Benjamin got a Little People bus and a tool workbench; and they all got a 10-foot roller coaster ride. I got a waffle maker that is pretty darn fantastic and a really cute pair of sparkly boots; Michael got long-sleeved work shirts that he loves and an electric razor and beard trimmer (I may have accidentally used his old one to shave the cat or something, I don't know).
Sunday we load up in the car and start heading for Ponder.
I hate long car rides, and this one was particularly bad because we had the car loaded to the gills with presents and luggage and the dog was coming with us...it was just a mess. I didn't even know how we were going to get back home carrying more stuff!! On the upside, it was a quick five hour drive and before I knew it, we were at Granny's house!!
To avoid any confusion: Granny is my mother's mother, my grandmother. I call her Granny. The kids call her GG because she is a Great Granny to them.
Jarrod and Julia were all ready there; Gabe went right to Jarrod and to Papa and gave them hugs. While Michael carried all our stuff in, I took the kids across to Aunt Alice and Uncle Robbie's--they have a play set in the backyard with swings and a slide and fort, and it gave the kids a chance to run out their energy. Also out there were two of cousin Justin's goats--they had both given birth recently (one that morning) and their tiny babies were there for the kids to pet. Justin had little interest in naming them, so he let me! (Knowing my borderline-obsessive love for names). The mama got Hope had twin girls that I named Faith and Mercy (yes, Emerald helped on that one); the mama Rose Tyler had twin boys named Mickey and Rickey.
If you laughed, that means you are a nerd, too.
The first night was nice and quiet before everyone got there; we had a delicious enchilada casserole that Granny made in the crockpot and I totally need the recipe for. Michael was sick so we gave him some theraflu to help him sleep.Michael went out to the van to get Gaby's medicine before bed...and noticed the lid had come undone and spilled all the Clonidine all over the floor of the van.
Aside: Clonidine, in conjunction with the Melatonin, is what helps Gabriel sleep. Without it, he was averaging an interrupted two hours in a 24-hour period. He needs sleep just like any other child, he just can't calm his body down long enough to get it--this helps.
We only have enough left for the night, which means that I have to call the doctor and have a prescription faxed over on Christmas Eve to a pharmacy in Dallas. Here's the trick: Clonidine is a compound; it has to be mixed because it only comes in pill form and has to dissolve in another solution for three days before it is ready. Which means no major pharmacy company like CVS or Walgreens are able to fill it; it has to be one of the smaller ones. Which tend to not be open the day before Christmas.
The nurse was sweet and faxed in a renewed copy to our pharmacist in Lubbock so they could get it ready by Wednesday when we came back, but outside of that, we were on our own.
The first night went really well. We all slept soundly--Emerald in her own twin sized bed, Gabriel in the pack-n-play (don't even ask me why), and Benjamin between me and Daddy. I could make excuses as to why he was there, but honestly, I just like co-sleeping.
Christmas Eve was mostly waiting around for the rest of the family to arrive. We had bacon and eggs and biscuits for breakfast, then bundled the kids up to the teeth so Jarrod and I could walk them down to see the horses. We stopped on the way down to see the chickens and jakes (that is young male turkeys, I learned), the bunny, and the goats.
Papa has several horses--Pete, Fancy, Tucker, Murray, and Ruby are the ones that I can remember. Pepper followed us down there and made the horses nervous; we were lucky she didn't get smashed.
The kids weren't done walking around, so we lead them down to the back pasture to see the ducks. Unfortunately, that is about the time we noticed it was cold as heck out there; the kids were all freezing, Benjamin (who is not the strongest walker) kept tripping and falling over the uneven ground, noses were running...but not as fast as Gabriel, who saw his chance for freedom and took it--he trucked it as fast as his little legs would carry him all the way to the end of the property, Uncle Jarrod in hot pursuit. Afterwards, we were all ready for some hot cocoa and naps.
For lunch, Uncle Ted and Aunt Cindy, Jessica, Grace, and Grant came over and we had sandwiches. Afterwards, they loaded up to go to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at church. Michael and I didn't want to take Gabriel or Benjamin, especially since there would be no childcare and we hadn't had time to prepare Gaby for, so Aunt Cindy took Emerald and the boys and I stayed at Granny's. Right after they left, Gabriel had one of his few moments of the trip--he was wearing regular clothes instead of backwards pajamas, and he got into his pants and played with his feces. I caught it quickly and Michael was able to clean him up while I sanitized everything he had touched, but it was weird because he hasn't had an accident in so long, clothes or no clothes.
When everyone got back, Mom and Dad and Amber, Jud, and Grayson in tow, we had bbq and all the sides; Gabriel had a major meltdown, one of his worst ever, because everyone coming in at once and all the noise and everything freaked him out. Aunt Alice let us into their house to let him calm down--we stripped him down to his diaper and let him watch Charlie Brown Christmas; he was so physically exhausted, he just crashed. I carried him back and gave him what medicine we had left, and he hid out for the rest of the night.
Granny made a decree that none of the children would be woken for Christmas the next morning; they would all be allowed to sleep until they wake up naturally. Now, this is a pretty big announcement because historically, we would get up around 5 a.m. for Christmas at Granny's house (a fact that has always irked the late-sleeper Michael).
We were all up and downstairs by 7.30, which is still early but I know they all appreciated that extra two and a half hours. Emerald set up camp beside GG, Benjamin was in his play pen next to me, and Michael and Gabriel were opening their presents in the quiet solitude of the computer room off the dining room. It is quiet and peaceful in there and Gabe can go at his own pace.
What I can remember: I got a decorative blanket, new purse, yarn bowl, and lots of new knitting and crocheting stuff; Benjamin got light up duckies for the bath, a froggie book, a trike, a big teddy bear, and a tool box and tools; Gabriel got a sensory box, a bouncy ball, a pair of shoes, and a Spider-Man seek and find that he would not stop looking at; Michael got a Deadpool watch, a wireless roller ball mouse, and a car charger for his phone; and Emerald got a barbie bath toy, a barbie and horse, a little purse, a doll named Olivia, and an easy bake oven.
While we were opening presents, we were chowing down on donuts--I got one with vanilla icing and fruity pebbles on top!
In the middle of Christmas, the downpour of rain stopped and it started snowing, meaning we had a white Christmas after all. Justin ran inside after checking on his other two pregnant goats and said they were both in labor! A total of five were born that day, adding with the four from before to make 9 new baby goats. They were so crazy cute and sweet. Hagar had twin girls named Noelle and Vixen; big mama Bella had triplets--Merry and Holly (girls) and Jingle (boy). I think the new goats were my favorite part of Christmas besides seeing my family.
Okay, wait--there was one other part of Christmas I really loved. Aunt Alice's skinny little mouser kitty got into Granny's house and Papa offered to give $5 to whoever caught him; of course I snatched the little guy right up. He started rumbling from head to foot, being in a nice warm house up against a nice warm body, getting his ears and neck scratched. Michael (of course) wouldn't let me kidnap him and take him back home, but I got to name that guy too--Paul Tobin, after the comic writer. I have got to move to the country--my knowledge of onomastics would not go so wasted!!
My family had to leave Wednesday; we drove through Bowie to see my Aunt Angie and her boys, and Grandma Pat and Pawpaw for lunch on our way back home. I love my Aunt Angie--she is just so cool; growing up we didn't get to see my cousins Sean or Jacob that much, but they are really great kids. I say kids--Sean is 16 and driving; Jacob is 22 and married--yikes!! I'm not ready for them to be all growed up yet.
We had to ride all the way back to Lubbock in a car that was loaded down and reeked of skunk (welcome to the country), on icy, busy roads. We were lucky--barely added any time to our trip.
I am feeling a little blue since being back, because although I am genuinely loving having all three of my little chickies here at home with me, it saddens me to think that it could be months before I get to see my family again. A large part of me wants to move out there so I can be near them all the time; it is just so hard to uproot the life that Michael and I have been building here for the last six years.
This post has gone on much too long, so I shall say: HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Wearden Family News :)
First came Emerald's Christmas party at school: I volunteered early on to help coordinate the event, a little lunch party and book exchange. Emerald brought "The Best Mouse Cookie" by Laura Numeroff (known for "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"); she received "A Very Crabby Christmas", a tie in to the Cat in the Hat PBS show. When I got to the school, her teacher informed me she was running a little fever of 100; they were letting her stay because it is just heartbreaking at 5 years old to miss a party with your friends at school and the only symptom other than fever she had was being unusually subdued. I brought Cici's Pizza; Rhonda kept Benjamin so I could stay with Emerald (Gabriel was still in school). It was just a nice little party.
Gabe's class didn't have a celebration, understandably, but he took Mario Party dry erase boards and markers for car rides for all his classmates. He got "Chicka Chicka ABC" from his teachers, candy canes, a reindeer hacky sack, and a few more little toys. His class is very small, just six little boys. His teachers are so sweet and really understand and appreciate him; the Risperidone (the medicine to help his moods) is really starting to take a noticeable effect. I was afraid that it was going to stifle and suppress the best parts of him, but it just levels him out--gives him calmer, more focused days. He definitely seems to prefer life this way than those hours between doses when he is out of control.
Friday night before, we had Robert's family Christmas at Steven and Melisa's house. They have such an amazing home; it is so warm and inviting and full of happiness and love and peace. Sometimes it is honestly hard to leave such a positive environment. We had fajitas for dinner; all three of the kids loved that. Gabriel and Benjamin sat next to each other for the first time--it was funny to watch them reach over and exchange food like Amber and I used to! Gabe would steal Ben's cheese and tortillas; Benji would sneak off with Gaby's chicken...it was good to see them sharing and not fighting for once.
As always, please forgive me if I forget to mention any gifts we received--we are so grateful for everything, I just live in a fog comprised of veggie tales and sleepiness, so my mind isn't exactly "sharp".
I know Michael got a pair of warm pajama pants and a lounge shirt that he would wear every day if I let him; he also got a new pair of work shoes and a couple of work shirts.
Gabriel had a very difficult time sitting still or focusing; we strapped him into a booster seat so that he could stay still, but I could not get my phone to stream a show for him, so he mostly squirmed and stripped. He got a Lightening McQueen cars rider, a hopper, some underoos, Batman slippers, and a couple pairs of feetie pajamas.
Benjamin sat with me and did all right, for a 15 month old baby. He got a Fisher Price toy iPhone and a crawling caterpillar/bead track.
I got a giftcard to DSW (a shoe store) that I haven't gotten to use yet, but that I am going to use to buy nice flats or slippers for my cold frosty feet, and a new crockpot! I all ready used it to make a double batch of venison chili; one of my favorites when it is cold :)
Emerald helped pass out gifts and was generally just a delight; she got Abby and Emma magnetic paperdolls from the Melissa and Doug collection and a really cute pizza play set where she can build and deliver her own pretend pizza.
This year, I learned how to crochet so that I could focus my energy on constructive things instead of getting stressed and frustrated. It must have been annoying to be around me for the last few months because I was nearly constantly crocheting to get ready for Christmas--while watching TV or watching the kids play, in the car, during Bible class....the end result was that Melisa, Macy, and Grannymom all got homemade scarves this year (in Ranch Red, Aqua Blue, and Multicolored, respectively) at the Robert's Christmas. Ken and Patrick got ones at the Wearden Christmas, but theirs were some of the first I made--everyone had a good laugh when Ken unfurled his and it wrapped around his neck twice and still reached the floor. (What? I had never made a scarf before!) It was pretty funny.
It was a lovely Christmas, and I was glad we were all able to get together.
Saturday morning, our elf on the shelf friend Chip had to fly back to the North Pole to share his report with Santa, but he left behind some gifts in all of our stockings. Mostly new toothbrushes, body wash, things of that nature; but also some wet kitty and doggie food for the pets, a bath brush for Emerald, snowglobes for the kids, a travel mug for Daddy, and a new book and make-up for Mommy. I also let the kids open one present apiece from Mommy and Daddy--a pair of pajamas to wear to Christmas that night, and an owl beanie that is so cute.
Saturday night was Christmas at Glo and Pawpaws, and I am ashamed to say that I made a bit of a mess of everything. Sunday, we were leaving to go to my grandparent's, Gigi and Papa's, and I didn't know when we would be able to do our private family Christmas. So I shamelessly leapt into their plans, meaning there were entirely too many presents for three energetic and very tired children to sit through. Don't get me wrong, it was still a lovely evening; it was just a bit stressful with so very much going on at once.
Rhonda made a traditional turkey spread; what surprised me is that all three children took surprisingly well to the Waldorf salad--a "salad" of yogurt and mayonnaise on walnuts and apples and raisins and celery and such.
A little back story: for months, every time we visited Walmart, the kids always wanted to go by the pillow pet section. They would each grab the one they liked the best and snuggle it for a few minutes; I would remind them to ask Santa for it, we would put them back and keep shopping.
While we were eating, Santa came and left the very pillow pets they had been asking for! as well as a note that said Santa was bringing their gifts now but would see them on Christmas morning at Gigi and Papa's house. They were so blown away!! Emerald got a hot pink hippo that she named "Pillow Pet"; Gabriel got an neon orange puppy which is the only one that he will sleep with; and Benjamin got a neon green monkey.
The only problem that I didn't foresee is my own confusion: usually, all things Green go to Gabriel; all things Blue go to Benjamin. It is my way of organizing things in my mind, see? Well, this time Gabriel liked the orange puppy, NOT the green monkey; Benjamin of course will snuggle with either one, but Michael and I keep accidentally offering Gabe the Green monkey because that has always been my system...and it makes him so mad!!
Okay, so moving on. Highlights: Gabe got a trampoline and a big Buzz Lightyear; Emerald got a Ariel baby doll, and Cinderella on Blu Ray; Benjamin got a Little People bus and a tool workbench; and they all got a 10-foot roller coaster ride. I got a waffle maker that is pretty darn fantastic and a really cute pair of sparkly boots; Michael got long-sleeved work shirts that he loves and an electric razor and beard trimmer (I may have accidentally used his old one to shave the cat or something, I don't know).
Sunday we load up in the car and start heading for Ponder.
I hate long car rides, and this one was particularly bad because we had the car loaded to the gills with presents and luggage and the dog was coming with us...it was just a mess. I didn't even know how we were going to get back home carrying more stuff!! On the upside, it was a quick five hour drive and before I knew it, we were at Granny's house!!
To avoid any confusion: Granny is my mother's mother, my grandmother. I call her Granny. The kids call her GG because she is a Great Granny to them.
Jarrod and Julia were all ready there; Gabe went right to Jarrod and to Papa and gave them hugs. While Michael carried all our stuff in, I took the kids across to Aunt Alice and Uncle Robbie's--they have a play set in the backyard with swings and a slide and fort, and it gave the kids a chance to run out their energy. Also out there were two of cousin Justin's goats--they had both given birth recently (one that morning) and their tiny babies were there for the kids to pet. Justin had little interest in naming them, so he let me! (Knowing my borderline-obsessive love for names). The mama got Hope had twin girls that I named Faith and Mercy (yes, Emerald helped on that one); the mama Rose Tyler had twin boys named Mickey and Rickey.
If you laughed, that means you are a nerd, too.
The first night was nice and quiet before everyone got there; we had a delicious enchilada casserole that Granny made in the crockpot and I totally need the recipe for. Michael was sick so we gave him some theraflu to help him sleep.Michael went out to the van to get Gaby's medicine before bed...and noticed the lid had come undone and spilled all the Clonidine all over the floor of the van.
Aside: Clonidine, in conjunction with the Melatonin, is what helps Gabriel sleep. Without it, he was averaging an interrupted two hours in a 24-hour period. He needs sleep just like any other child, he just can't calm his body down long enough to get it--this helps.
We only have enough left for the night, which means that I have to call the doctor and have a prescription faxed over on Christmas Eve to a pharmacy in Dallas. Here's the trick: Clonidine is a compound; it has to be mixed because it only comes in pill form and has to dissolve in another solution for three days before it is ready. Which means no major pharmacy company like CVS or Walgreens are able to fill it; it has to be one of the smaller ones. Which tend to not be open the day before Christmas.
The nurse was sweet and faxed in a renewed copy to our pharmacist in Lubbock so they could get it ready by Wednesday when we came back, but outside of that, we were on our own.
The first night went really well. We all slept soundly--Emerald in her own twin sized bed, Gabriel in the pack-n-play (don't even ask me why), and Benjamin between me and Daddy. I could make excuses as to why he was there, but honestly, I just like co-sleeping.
Christmas Eve was mostly waiting around for the rest of the family to arrive. We had bacon and eggs and biscuits for breakfast, then bundled the kids up to the teeth so Jarrod and I could walk them down to see the horses. We stopped on the way down to see the chickens and jakes (that is young male turkeys, I learned), the bunny, and the goats.
Papa has several horses--Pete, Fancy, Tucker, Murray, and Ruby are the ones that I can remember. Pepper followed us down there and made the horses nervous; we were lucky she didn't get smashed.
The kids weren't done walking around, so we lead them down to the back pasture to see the ducks. Unfortunately, that is about the time we noticed it was cold as heck out there; the kids were all freezing, Benjamin (who is not the strongest walker) kept tripping and falling over the uneven ground, noses were running...but not as fast as Gabriel, who saw his chance for freedom and took it--he trucked it as fast as his little legs would carry him all the way to the end of the property, Uncle Jarrod in hot pursuit. Afterwards, we were all ready for some hot cocoa and naps.
For lunch, Uncle Ted and Aunt Cindy, Jessica, Grace, and Grant came over and we had sandwiches. Afterwards, they loaded up to go to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at church. Michael and I didn't want to take Gabriel or Benjamin, especially since there would be no childcare and we hadn't had time to prepare Gaby for, so Aunt Cindy took Emerald and the boys and I stayed at Granny's. Right after they left, Gabriel had one of his few moments of the trip--he was wearing regular clothes instead of backwards pajamas, and he got into his pants and played with his feces. I caught it quickly and Michael was able to clean him up while I sanitized everything he had touched, but it was weird because he hasn't had an accident in so long, clothes or no clothes.
When everyone got back, Mom and Dad and Amber, Jud, and Grayson in tow, we had bbq and all the sides; Gabriel had a major meltdown, one of his worst ever, because everyone coming in at once and all the noise and everything freaked him out. Aunt Alice let us into their house to let him calm down--we stripped him down to his diaper and let him watch Charlie Brown Christmas; he was so physically exhausted, he just crashed. I carried him back and gave him what medicine we had left, and he hid out for the rest of the night.
Granny made a decree that none of the children would be woken for Christmas the next morning; they would all be allowed to sleep until they wake up naturally. Now, this is a pretty big announcement because historically, we would get up around 5 a.m. for Christmas at Granny's house (a fact that has always irked the late-sleeper Michael).
We were all up and downstairs by 7.30, which is still early but I know they all appreciated that extra two and a half hours. Emerald set up camp beside GG, Benjamin was in his play pen next to me, and Michael and Gabriel were opening their presents in the quiet solitude of the computer room off the dining room. It is quiet and peaceful in there and Gabe can go at his own pace.
What I can remember: I got a decorative blanket, new purse, yarn bowl, and lots of new knitting and crocheting stuff; Benjamin got light up duckies for the bath, a froggie book, a trike, a big teddy bear, and a tool box and tools; Gabriel got a sensory box, a bouncy ball, a pair of shoes, and a Spider-Man seek and find that he would not stop looking at; Michael got a Deadpool watch, a wireless roller ball mouse, and a car charger for his phone; and Emerald got a barbie bath toy, a barbie and horse, a little purse, a doll named Olivia, and an easy bake oven.
While we were opening presents, we were chowing down on donuts--I got one with vanilla icing and fruity pebbles on top!
In the middle of Christmas, the downpour of rain stopped and it started snowing, meaning we had a white Christmas after all. Justin ran inside after checking on his other two pregnant goats and said they were both in labor! A total of five were born that day, adding with the four from before to make 9 new baby goats. They were so crazy cute and sweet. Hagar had twin girls named Noelle and Vixen; big mama Bella had triplets--Merry and Holly (girls) and Jingle (boy). I think the new goats were my favorite part of Christmas besides seeing my family.
Okay, wait--there was one other part of Christmas I really loved. Aunt Alice's skinny little mouser kitty got into Granny's house and Papa offered to give $5 to whoever caught him; of course I snatched the little guy right up. He started rumbling from head to foot, being in a nice warm house up against a nice warm body, getting his ears and neck scratched. Michael (of course) wouldn't let me kidnap him and take him back home, but I got to name that guy too--Paul Tobin, after the comic writer. I have got to move to the country--my knowledge of onomastics would not go so wasted!!
My family had to leave Wednesday; we drove through Bowie to see my Aunt Angie and her boys, and Grandma Pat and Pawpaw for lunch on our way back home. I love my Aunt Angie--she is just so cool; growing up we didn't get to see my cousins Sean or Jacob that much, but they are really great kids. I say kids--Sean is 16 and driving; Jacob is 22 and married--yikes!! I'm not ready for them to be all growed up yet.
We had to ride all the way back to Lubbock in a car that was loaded down and reeked of skunk (welcome to the country), on icy, busy roads. We were lucky--barely added any time to our trip.
I am feeling a little blue since being back, because although I am genuinely loving having all three of my little chickies here at home with me, it saddens me to think that it could be months before I get to see my family again. A large part of me wants to move out there so I can be near them all the time; it is just so hard to uproot the life that Michael and I have been building here for the last six years.
This post has gone on much too long, so I shall say: HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Wearden Family News :)
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