Christmas Eve

I'm not positive, but Christmas Eve day could be the longest day of the year...

 

Just sayin'

Merry Christmas from the Boyds

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Merry Christmas from the Boyds

The fox verses the gingerbread man

Ross made this at school yesterday.  It was in his 'take-home' folder. 

I have no words and can only imagine his teachers expression when she read this...

Angels

It began like any other day after school.  The air felt warm and the kids wanted to 'go somewhere'.  They talked me into going to Middle River Park where we enjoy walking the trails and hunting crinoid fossils.

Once we arrived, we noticed a gate that said "No Parking" was blocking the entrance to the park.  We've parked in front of this gate before and just walked around the gate to enter.  No bigs. 

While at the park, we followed mysterious animal and human footprints in the snow, explored a run-down wooden playset and threw heavy rocks at the ice covering middle river.   Before long, our fingers were cold and the sun was barely visible.  That's when I heard gun shots and remembered it was shotgun season.  I explained to the kids we needed to get home and that we should race to the mini-van.  We made a game out of it by pretending we were being shot at and if we didn't make it to the van before sunset, we would be trapped in the woods forever.  I'm a weird mom.

We made it before sunset, yet the moment I put the gear in reverse and pressed the gas, I kicked myself.  Sure enough, we were stuck on ice.  We were parked on a steep incline and the road was snow and ice covered.  As panic set in, I floored it at 10-second intervals causing the van to take on the smell of burnt rubber.  We slowly began making progress, but had a long way to go.  Maisie began crying that she might never see blue blankie again.  Ross unbuckled and got up front with me and for a split second I considered asking him to drive the van while I pushed it up the hill.  Can you even imagine?

I kept flooring it until our van was now sideways on the steep hill with another 20 feet to go.  Black burn-outs zig zagged across the the snow path and I could hear the gravel fly each time I pushed the accelerator to the floor of the van.  Eventually, I got out to evaluate the situation and send up a prayer.

That's when looked down the road and noticed a red truck turning around and coming our way.  A young couple hopped out of the truck as I smiled and told them, "My husbands gonna kill me, these tires were already bald."  The woman was smoking a cigarette and looking at me like I was a complete idiot. Within a few minutes, they got me moving as the man yelled, "Go, go, go!"  I hollered out my window gratefully, "Thank you so much!" as I peeled-out off the shoulder of the road and onto the highway.  

With relief in my chest, I decided to explain something important to my kids.

"You know what those people were?" I asked.

"What?" Ross responded.

"Those were angels.  God sent them here to help us."

Ross looked out the back window and asked, "Mom, do angels smoke?

Long Grove Christmas 2013

 

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Long Grove Christmas 2013

SMH

Mike had a little mishap this week.  This sort of thing happens every once in a while when a guy shaves his head each morning. 

Unfortunately for Mike, the last time I bought band-aids, I went with TXTpressions design.  I couldn’t resist, they were only $1.75 verses $2.50 for the Angry Birds or Hello Kitty designs.  I figured it was a no-brainer and I've mentioned the rising cost of eggs on more than one occasion lately...

This is how Mike went to work Monday.

 

This was the most neutral design in the box.  We had no clue was SMH meant in text lingo.  We looked it up at the end of the day. 

Turns out it means,
Shaking My Head. 

Why don't we get an Elf?

A week ago, Ross asked why Elf on the Shelf never showed up at our house.  He’s never shown an interest in the elf and therefore I figured we dodged that bullet and I’d save the expense of an elf to cover the rising cost of eggs and rotisserie chickens.  However, Ross has entered the age of Santa-suspicion and I knew I’d have to think fast. 

As much as I didn’t want to spend $30 on an Elf… you may recall I’m currently unemployed,  I also didn’t want my kids to feel left out (aka… know they could get away with murder knowing an untouchable elf was not reporting their behavior back to Santa). 

What’s a mom to do?  Luckily for me, I’ve been hoarding a surplus of creative energy by not having to arrange a mischievous elf around mini marshmallows and Legos each night and consequently, the solution arrived all too easily. 

Monday night, while preparing a dinner nobody would eat, we heard the bells.  I entered the living room and was the first to spy it.  Sure as day, a box of chocolates (which accidently had a $2 sticker stuck to it) as well as a personalized note from Santa had been placed in front of the fireplace. 

I’ll let the note explain…

Ross, Maisie and Molly,

I understand you are wondering why I did not send and Elf to your house to keep an eye on you this Christmas season.

I use my elves to watch the children I am not able to check on myself.  I have chosen to watch the three of you myself again this year.  The three of you make me very proud and I enjoy peeking in on you throughout the days.  You may hear my bells now and then.

Ross, you have been very responsible over the past couple of weeks and I enjoy seeing you like this.  I have a perfect gift in mind for you this year.

Maisie, please keep working on using your words and taking care of yourself.  You are a sweet girl and I love listening to you sing.

Molly, you make me laugh often.  Please be sure you are kind to Kratt and brush your teeth.

With love,

Santa Claus

I pray that one day, my kids have as much fun with their children as I do with mine.

Meanwhile, Maisie appears slightly less-enthused.