A Very Merry Christmas

The Snowflake family had a nice Christmas, how about you?

Celebrating at Mr S's mom's house. Little cousin was SO cute - he had to eat JUST LIKE the big kids.

Opening presents...

A Project and a couple of Shows

In addition to everything else our bunch does, we've also got many school responsibilities.  This year the Jr's had to worrk on an Egypt project. JrMrS chose to do a pyramid and JrMsS chose to do museum exhibits...

All of the materials they needed for the prjects.

JrMsS working on the styrofoam pyramid.

Getting Ready for Christmas - Home Decor

I love Christmas! As much as I hate the work of decorating and undecorating - I love the decorations I have (except my tree - MUST get a new tree next year), however I did make/buy a lot of new things this year to mix with my old.

JrMsS got a new stocking from grandpa (grandpa buys all of the stockings)

My WRECKED kitchen and hearth room.

A snowy Snowflake Christmas

We've had a very busy few days around the Snowflake house over the long weekend.

Our Christmas celebration technically began on Wednesday night, Mr. S and the girls and I went out for a quiet dinner and I got my x-mas present from him - a new digital camera!! Yeah more (better) pictures!!!

Thursday I was off, but spent most of the day cleaning and wrapping a MILLION gifts - okay, not that many, but enough to have to run into town for tape!

If it was up to Mr. S, this is how everyone would get their gifts..

Thursday evening, right as the snow was beginning, my parents arrived safe and sound. Yay!

Friday morning, Mr. S went and got the boys, my mom and I started baking/cooking, and the kids played in the snow...

 Playing with the Panoramic setting...

The week of ups and downs

This has been the week of ups and downs. I'm not really sure why, but it has.

Monday we finally broke the Ice Princess (Mr. S's ex) and she agreed to let him have part of his weekend, to take them to his mom's Christmas and to let him have the boys Dec. 27-30. So at least we won't be going to court of that (at least not for now). He agreed to only having to pay for half of JrMrS's instrument (she didn't make us pay for the whole thing like we offered), so it was REALLY great news. But, I said it's the week of ups and downs...

About an hour after we got that news, my mom sent me an email about my dad's most recent dr visit. I have complained and complained about my last two months of being sick and hurt, but this is a man that has Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, went through heart bypass surgery, had toes amputated, thyroid surgery, etc, in other words he's been very sick and very hurt for a lot longer than I was/am. He has more challenges ahead unfortunately...he was told he only has about 25% functionality of his kidneys. He's going to have to start making even more life changes to his health and will have dialysis in the future. My dad has always been there for me, even when I've done really bad and awful things. He's my biggest cheerleader and I honestly don't know what I'd do without him. There's still a lot of tests to be done, but it was not good news.

Tuesday Jr. Ms S and Jr Mr S had their holiday concert. I just can't believe how much they've grown up.

Yes - the guy in front of me is wearing a "do" rag ;P

Missing my Christmas Spirit

I'm not really sure what it is, but I just cannot find it this year. Is it the lack of time? The lack of gift ideas for my friends and family? Getting over being sick/hurt? All of the ex crap? Just stress from work, kids, life? I'm not really sure.

We have been REALLY busy, we are constantly running from one thing to the next. Last night the stars aligned and Mr. S and I FINALLY got to have a date night. Our last one was so long ago, I can't even remember. Between kids things, working, etc, we just haven't had time (and probably won't again for a while). It's really sad...when did life become this hectic whirlwind? We had a nice night, regardless of the frightful drive home and back in the blizzard, a nice dinner and I got to watch HP7 - I'm such a Pot-head.

I know everyone is trying to get through this difficult economy and a lot of people aren't in the best place, but I can't remember the last time I've had such a depressing Christmas. I have no ideas for my husband, my kids, my family. I have three people done out of my list and that it! It's the middle of December and I'm no where close to getting everything done. No one will give me ideas either and I think that's what makes it the hardest. I have too much on my plate right now to be super-creative. I'm sorry...so PLEASE give me ideas!!

Luckly, I am getting better health-wise. My muscle is almost healed (part of it is still tight and sticking out - yuck!) and my cough is just an infrequent annoyance now. I've met my sick quota for the year, right? Next time I promise to listen to everyone - I'm playing the baby and getting the rest I need.

A Snowflake Update

I've been trying to avoid anymore negative posts. Things in many ways have improved, especially on the health side - other things are not so good...I guess such is life - you get the good and the bad. As the book I'm currently reading states "it's all about what you focus on though" (RAPT). So for an update..

To start with the good...I'm feeling MUCH better. I'm still coughing some and part of my herniated rib is still...herniated..but so much better now. The long Thanksgiving weekend (and my muscle relaxers prescribed by the urgent care doctor) aided so much in that. I really appreciate that my husband finally saw that I needed the time and my sister was such a big help with my obligation to get the house decorated for Christmas for the kids.

I think that mine and Mr. S's marriage is more on track again. We needed focus (again...focus on that which is most important to your life), we NEED date nights and I think we're getting there - we're going to take the time to focus on each other and close out the "bad" or "stressful" that consumes us. I think that for the last few weeks we've both been much more happy with where we're at together and that's a good thing.

Also good...the girls and I got to spend the weekend together and had a lot of fun together. Mr. S and the boys were all deer hunting this weekend, so we spent Saturday shopping and going to lunch. I was SUPPOSED to be Christmas shopping, but I think I spent more money on buying the girls new clothes and LMS's fish. So, needless to say..I'm WAY behind on Christmas shopping. Sunday we spent most of the day watching movies and catching up on Glee together. Such a nice relaxing weekend. Now I need to find Mr. S something else to hunt so we get more "girls" weekends and less wrestling matches :)

Speaking of LMS's fish - we had a death in the family...Taylor Fish..our beta from Mr. S's cousin's wedding in June died. LMS was SO distraught last Sunday, but by Monday she was ready to flush him with the promise of a new fish this weekend. We've welcomed two new members to the family, Goldie and Firey, a couple of large fan tail goldfish. So, a happy/sad story.

For the bad..hmm..where to start...

Busy, busy Snowflakes

As I wrote in my break-down post last night, it’s been a really busy week and a half around the Snowflake household. Here are a few highlights:

Last weekend, Mr. Snowflake asked his mom to babysit the girls so that we could finally have a date night. It was nice to have a few hours of time just to us; it’s been too long since we had an evening to ourselves. We caught a matinee showing of Sherlock Holmes (very good movie) and used some gift cards we got for Christmas and had drinks and dinner at Olive Garden (yum!).

I Love Christmas...Wrapping it up

The last week did not turn out as planned in many ways. We had several plans and many did not happen due to the SECOND blizzard of 2009 and other things happened that weren’t planned. I thought it was a good holiday and the kids kept repeating that it was “the best Christmas ever”, so in my book, it makes it a good one.

I Love Christmas...Busy, Busy week ahead

This will probably be my last post before Christmas, if it is I hope everyone has a happy, safe, merry Christmas. Hopefully you’ll find your stockings full and your wish lists under your trees.


This week as I said is going to be really busy. Today I have a work party to go to called “Top Gun”. Basically we play a bunch of bar games and pick on each other and then the winner gets bragging rights for the next year. For the last few years the Air guys have won, so we’re hoping someone in the “Dump” group wins this year (although it will probably not be me unless my partners help my score).

I Love Christmas...My dream wish list

If I was a really good girl (yeah, right) and the amount didn’t matter, this is what I would ask Santa for this year.

I Love Christmas...except for when life is too busy

One thing about having five kids is that inevitably there will be several weekends a year when you get NOTHING done because of sports and their activities. This weekend was a perfect example.

After a really long week at work, I spent Friday night running back and forth from our house to the town our kid’s school is in (8 miles away) running JrMsS around to Girl Scouts, then home, then back for Basketball practice, ran to Mr. S’s aunt’s house for a Tastefully Simple Party, then back to pick her up, and then home. I was exhausted to the point of tears that night (more so from the REALLY long week at work, but the running around that night didn’t help).

I Love Christmas...Holiday Programs

Gotta love the holiday programs that go with the season.  The kiddos all had their holiday program last Thursday night.  The thing about this school though is that they sing the SAME SONGS EVERY YEAR - Ugh.  At the girls old school, they did a new program every year, so at least you had something different, but not this school.  Oh well.  I only have to listen to them 4 more years (I've already heard them the last three).
The kids looked really adorable.  The girls were very excited about dressing up in the wedding dresses again and I added a cute little sweater from Old Navy.

Kindergarten (Twin Snowflakes)

(TS2 is on the bottom row in the purple shirt) I was disappointed that we sat so far back, I only got heads and I didn't get TS1 because he was too short.
First Gade (LMS)

Fourth Grade (JMrS and JrMsS)

JrMsS is in the second row right in the middle and JrMrS is below her to the left.
Do you like to go to holiday programs?

I Love Christmas...Top Ten Favorite Songs

To get me out of mu "funk" I'm going to focus on Christmas.  Like I said before I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the songs.  The list below is only my opinion of the top songs.

#10: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Benda Lee.  When I'm in a mood or I'm getting ready for a holiday party, this is a fun one to listen to.

I Love Christmas...

I like holidays, especially when there are days off from work involved.  But there's something about the whole Christmas season that I love.  There's something in the air (or the water), I don't know, but it makes me happy.