Merry Christmas to all....

I couldn't wait until this day! As the kids get older, Christmas gets more enjoyable. Trust me it does. The kids get more excited. The presents get better. Theres the satisfaction of me knowing I got the perfect gift for someone. Christmas breakfast, Christmas dinner, it's all such a wonderful time.

The stockings were hung by the stairs with ribbon. Stuffed with crafts, candy, socks, and games.
My "stocking" was from FiveBelow. Zach is so creative!

Cookies left for Santa and a glass full of milk next to chocolate..just in case, Cara said. She also left a very detailed questioned for Santa to fill out. She asked his age, his favorite food, if she was naughty or nice, and 10 more ending with her wanting him to write all the names of the reindeer and their ages. 

After opening presents all morning, a homemade breakfast buffet and visits from several family members, we were all a bit tired and overwhelmed. Some of us started wearing head apparatuses..for no apparent reason.

My house ended up looking like this...

No place to sit. No place to eat. 6 happy kids. 2 tired parents.

and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve Eve

Sunday was a fabulous day! We went to church normal schedule, today was the Christmas program in sacrament. It was beautiful. Zach sang the closing song, Silent night. He's becoming quite a popular request. He sounds wonderful! I love hearing him sing. Sam leaned over during the song and whispered, "Dad, really does sing good." Sweet boy.

After church we watched A Christmas Carol. The kids were so frightened. Sam covered his face with his blanket, Michael kept asking to turn it off, and Olivia was so close to me I felt like a canned sardine. Every time a ghost would pop out she flinched. So much for my feel good family Christmas movie.

Aunt Biz, Zach's sister, is in the Air Force stationed in Germany right now. She has always been over seas or too far to see on a regular basis however she always sends the children Christmas gifts wrapped with cute personal notes attached. This year I decided to let the kids open her gifts early so they have some time to actually enjoy and play with them. We have so much family in the area that all the gifts ending up being lumped into one big memory. No one really remembers who gave what.

After the movie, the kids opened their Aunt B gifts.

Cara got an art easel. She was very excited! Obviously.

Michael a Cloud B starry night turtle. (a cute hard shelled turtle that lights different colored stars on the ceiling)

 

Sam has a spy net video watch.

 

Matthew got Leapfrog ABC's.

Olivia received a FurReal dog. That dog is so darn cute. It spins when you walk by and leaps up and "yelps" when you pet it. Right now it is sleeping along side her.

Isaac asked for money from most everyone this year.

Don't forget about my Pottery Barn collection that I opened last week because I was too excited to wait! Those were for Zach and I.

I am looking forward Christmas in 2 days. I know, I know, I seemed a bit stressed a few posts ago but now that everything has calmed down, my shopping is done, and the parties are over, I can excitedly await for Santa.

Thank you Aunt B for everything! The kids are always excited to receive from you! We miss you and hope you have a Wonderful Christmas in Germany!

Family Pictures

 

 

A most talented photographer took photos of the family a couple of weeks ago. They came out fantastic. I can't believe we were all looking at the camera and smiling. This was the very first shot. Had I of known it would be so good we could of just packed up and left afterwards. But we stayed and posed throughout Rockwood park catching some even more excellent photos. Of course, Matthew totally stole the show. That kid is so photogenic (nothing like his me.)

 

hidden talent

I bet no one knows that I can fold paper. Not just any folding, I can make animals and objects out of paper. Origami actually. Growing up in Arizona my parents had a friend from Japan and I was friends with his daughter. He taught me how to be an Origami-ist (? totally made that word up! but it sounds so good!). I haven't made anything with paper for years, besides long grocery lists and wrapping gifts. As I was Christmas shopping this week I picked up a pack of Origami paper. I planned on having an Origami party with my children to teach them this ancient art and how their Mother knows how to do it!
 

Tonight, I sat down with Isaac and Cara and we made boxes, hats, and tables and chairs, cranes and angel fish. I had fun and I hope they did too! *These aren't my exact folding, I was too lazy to get the camera out. My crane is lime green and looks exactly like this though*

While on the subject of fish...did you know I am a great fish killer, too?

 R.I.P. Goldfish. I should not of changed their water.

And Matthew being so cute has nothing to do with my talents. He was just too funny tonight playing with Zach and this hat so I thought I would add it.

Isaac and his final 2 matches

Isaac win his wrestling match! I usually can only see Isaacs match once a week because he always has a match on Thursdays and between gymnastics and cub scouts I can't get to where he is. I am so grateful my mother in law goes to almost every single one, home or away. She is such a great supporter to the kids and their sport activities.

Tuesday, I planned on going to a home match. I get a text from Isaac saying he's NOT wrestling. I quickly call Zach and MIL to tell them not to come. Then I get another text saying "nevermind". Nevermind what?  Well, I drive to the school anyway. I am so glad I did.

I walked in, sat down, Isaac runs on to the mat to wrestle first, within 30 seconds he pins his opponent. We cheer. Stand up and leave. Well, that was quick.

Isaac wins his wrestling match AGAIN! On Thursday, Isaac wrestled against Caravel Academy. He pinned his opponent in 15 seconds. I didn't get see him but MIL was there and texting me minute by minute updating me of his stats.

Way to go Isaac!

on the 7th day of Christmas

In 5 days the famous, jolly happy soul will come down our chimney to leave presents for all the nice and naughty children in our home. Did I mention I love Christmas? No? Never? Hmm...

I didn't have any presents for Zach until 9:00 pm last night. I ordered him a pair of slippers. Woo-hoo! I was under a lot of pressure since the time he told me "you are going to have the BEST Christmas EVER!" I've even suggested he take back everything because he will have nothing. Last night I ask this simple needs man (as that is what he described himself as) what he wanted. He told me a pair of house slippers. Well, its your lucky day because that's the one thing I bought. Great. No use in keeping it a secret. Two presents under the tree would be nice, though.

I never know what I want when a family member asks what I want. I never really feel I want anything nor need anything. Well, not this year, baby! My list to Santa was long and detailed. I knew exactly what I wanted!  Starting with these:

   

These dishes belong to Pottery Barns 12 Days of Christmas Serve ware Collection. Each piece represents the 12 days of Christmas. I have 6 so far. By far the cutest and most sought after piece is the Partridge in a Pear Tree Salt and Pepper Shakers. They are so adorable! Anyway, I fell in LOVE! I requested a piece from each and all. I had my name is 2 different stores on a waiting list for those darn salt and peppers shakers. Heard they were selling on EBay for over $200. HA! They are only 35$. I just received mine YESTERDAY! And only paid 35$ by the way.

Zach's sister, Biz sent me 3! I knew she bought one, I had no idea she bought 3!! When I saw the PB box out front I got so excited, I tell ya! It was like Christmas morning. No, I could not wait until the 25th...too much excitement running through me. (Sorry, Biz, I opened the presents WAY early).

Biz always sends her presents gift wrapped by the store. The boxes were wrapped so beautifully! I carefully opened each present so I could save the paper and reuse it. Thanks Biz!

OK, so Christmas makes my eye twitch (happens every time I get stressed) BUT I enjoy wrapping the gifts. I would like to a gift wrapper when I grow up. At the Pottery Barn. I enjoy wrapping so much that I wrapped all my friends gifts for her family and even personally addressed all the presents to her husband. Oh, I wish I could of written the funny things that were going through my head. I restrained myself though. Don't want anyone getting the wrong idea here.

So besides my total mental break down a couple of days ago and obsession with matching wrapping paper and perfect corners, I would say I am excited for Christmas.

diary of a middle schooler mom

I'm not sure if I am cut out for this teenage stuff. Someone said to me one time that the teenage years were the years they enjoyed the most. I highly doubt it. I haven't even got into the thick of them yet and I am already worn out. Isaac has been pushing his limits. Believe me when I say he definitely is at maximum speed and not slowing down. I'm a bit scared. I hope and pray everyday that he will get through these years safe.

I think back to when I was in 7th grade. I remember it being a tough time. I was usually made fun of because I never really fit in with the "cool" kids. I was the new kid almost every two years so I never went to school with kids I grew up with. I had to make new friends at each school. My mom was a great support and tried her best to make the "bullies" stop. I ended up hanging with friends that may have not been the best influence but they weren't making fun of me. I realize that these middle school years are horrible. Isaac enjoys school and he usually does well with his grades. A few times I had to crack down and threaten to pull him out of school if he EVER gets another D. He's brilliant but lazy. So what side of the line is worse? Maybe for him he's better where he is...just don't let me hear of him making fun of other kids.

I feel like Isaac has found himself in a comfortable spot at school, he has friends, he plays sports, his teachers adore him. I also know that he tries to fit in. Maybe the cool kids all sneak out and have girlfriends. Zach drops Isaac off for school every morning. He said all the kids wear shorts and basketball socks with basket ball shoes. Yes, Isaac is still wearing shorts to school. I tried to fight it for months but then finally gave up. I guess I don't care if he's cold. The cool kids hang out front of the school holding their cups of Starbucks (coffee or not, I don't know).  Isaac would get there an hour early just out hang out with his friends.

Is this normal? I didn't expect these behaviors until 15 or 16 at the earliest. Not 12.

I can't dwell on the negative things only, I try to remind myself he has a lot of great qualities. I am thankful for Isaac and really could not imagine life with out him, good or bad. I hope to look back at this one day and laugh. Or cry. I'm not sure which yet.

last and final Christmas party

Sunday afternoon I held the annual Clough Christmas Party. It's my Mom's side of the family and we have had a Christmas party with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and everyone in between every year. Its something I always look forward to because some family I don't see all year. The last few years the party has been held at my house since its a little bigger and most of the guests live within 15 minutes of me. My aunt and cousins live 1 1/2 hours North in New Jersey and my Uncle and cousins live 2 hours south in Delaware. Besides my grandparents, everyone else is close by.

We always have a pollyanna. This year I scored Bath & Body Works hand soap and lotion and Zach got what I would consider the BEST gift. Its a fuzzy blanket! I can only chuckle while saying that. But there is much more to this blanket. When I redo my master bedroom over Christmas vacation this blanket is the perfect throw for my bed! Zach thinks he got it for himself (as he was hiding it behind his back) but I have already taken it. Thanks, honey.

Matthew always steal the show. He is so darn cute!

Poppop and Somer

Aunt Emily and her kids

The whole gang

Poppop, Mommom, Somer, Mommom (F), and Cara


 

Diary of a middle schooler

When I began this blog my intentions was to use it more like journal for the daily trials of motherhood and all the funny stuff that happens. I look back to pictures of the children when they were much younger and enjoy recalling the memory that surrounds the picture. I want to put stories with pictures. I thought this was the best way to do it. I look back at previous blog posts and read posts that I have completely forgot about. Its fun to read about all the little things I have passed over in the memory side of my brain.

At the same time writing about personal things is very difficult as I know others read this. I sometimes begin writing a post then it sits in drafts as I ponder how I can reword it to make it seem less...well, embarrassing to read. The posts still are sitting in drafts. My life is NOT perfect. I am not winning any Mother of the Year award nor do I think my children are with out flaw.

I don't want to forget the experiences I have. Its difficult to know what I should remember and what I actually may not want to remember. It has been hard to keep a handwritten journal and scrapbooks are a thing of the past so I feel like this is all I have.

I wanted to write a bit about Isaac. He obviously is my biggest struggle right now. I don't want to make him seem like a bad kid or a bad example, though we have told his brothers and sisters to "not act like your brother, he's not a good example."

Last week, Zach called me down stairs while he was ironing his shirt in the morning. Hesitantly, I walked down afraid of what he was going to "show" me. I was picturing a dead animal. Ha!  I peered around the corner and ask "what?". Zach must of heard the anxiety in my tone because he said "don't worry, theres no dead animal." How did he know?!?! Anyway, I followed him into the office/game room where he showed me muddy foot prints on the filing cabinet and the window unlocked. Isaac has been sleeping on the futon in that room for several months, for no real reason. At that moment we both knew Isaac had used the window as a form of exit/entrance. When was the real question.

Of course we bring him right down and question him. He's not a good liar. Supposedly, he climbs in the window when he gets home from school and I'm not home and the door it locked. Let's begin here: I am not NOT home when he gets home AND he has a key...to the door. So we knew that a lie. Then he proceeds to tell us that he came in through the window when I kicked him out of the house the day before to sit on the front step (another story all together). EXCEPT he wasn't wearing shoes! He stuck by his story all day. Zach and I knew otherwise. I mean really, we weren't born parents. He's dealing with pros here.

During the day I thought about him and how I was going to approach this situation. I didn't need a confession, I knew the truth already. I wanted him to tell me the details. I took down the futon that day and put all his bedding back on the bunk bed, in the room he shares with the Sam and Michael. Later, I said to him "I know you snuck out. I want to know with who and when." Surprisingly, he answered me immediately. We then had a conversation, ok well a one sided conversation, about making good choices and blah blah blah ( at least that's what I think he got out of it). That evening Zach had a long 1 1/2 hour talk with him. Some threats. Some crying. Lots of disappointment. Loss of privileges.  He has to totally redeem himself to gain any privileges back.

Then a few days later I receive this text message from an unknown number:

Isaac: "can you pick me up before the concert starts so I can get out of school and watch Olivia"
me: "why?"

Isaac: (from another unknown number) "I just got sent to timeout...for pulling my pants down. I had shorts under. I want to come to the concert"
me: "sorry, I cant get you before I go."
Isaac: "I don't want to stay in school. Can you pick me up while your out or right now?"
me: "can you call me?"
Isaac: "No, I'm in band. Just pick me up!"

Wow! a bit demanding he got.

me: "I cant. Matthew is sleeping and I have an appt at 1. Please call me."
Isaac: "What do you mean? Just pick me up before 12:45"
me: "I'll try."
Isaac: "I get my detention during lunch. If I'm not here I cant get it."

What?!!? Is he serious? He wanted me to get him so he didn't go to detention.

me: " I'm not picking you up so you don't have to go to detention. You made a choice."

Isaac: (from yet another unknown number) "Just get me out of school please!"

I never replied.

Did I mention that he would have his own phone at school except he got that taken away after he snuck out and had 7,300 text message last month. Thank goodness for unlimited text. When could someone who is in school all day and then stays for after school sports text that much during one month? When? Oh I see, he did all these texts when we thought he was in bed, between 9:30 and 1 o'clock in the morning, Yep, go ahead laugh... feel sorry for me...empathsize...gasp...sigh..whatever...

The first month he had over 10,000 text messages. That was about a year ago.

part 2 coming soon....

another Christmas party

Saturday evening we went to the Ward Christmas Party. Oh, and look, another Santa Claus. Years ago I told the kids that Santa isn't really at every mall, store, Christmas party, or parade. I mean he isn't THAT good. He stays at the North Pole. So they know this wasn't the real Santa either. Sam walks in as says, "hey, that's Brother Buswell." Ha!

 So on the tables were gingerbread houses that the young women made. Every kid asked me repeatedly if they could eat the houses. I told them no. They didn't look edible and who knows who touched them AND when they washed their hands. I always come up with the worst scenario. They actually weren't that bad looking.

 Matthew didn't care. Who is watching this child? Seriously, not me. I turn around to see this...

The menu included soup, salad, and rolls. Obviously, kids were not eating that so they had these adorable little lunch boxes with Uncrustables, Pringles, and Apple Sauce. They were perfect! Matthew had his first Uncrustable. He devoured it! I couldn't believe it. Shh..don't tell anyone but I snuck a few home. I will be heading to Costco first thing Monday morning to buy a box of these.

I have been hooked on Paneras French Onion soup. I love it. I found a copy cat recipe and made it. It was so delicious. I think mine was a bit more salty than I remember at the restaurant but good non the less.

The program was excellent. The primary children put on a reenactment of the Naivity. Zach sang "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". He did a great job despite the sore throat and scratchy voice caused from the cold he was fighting for a few days.

Cara was part of the angel choir. I missed Sam because they made him a wise man and I wasn't looking for a wise man. Darn it. Michael and Olivias refused to participate.

One more party on Sunday.