He Comforts the Soul

Just after I posted the blog about a borrowed Christmas,Mike peeked his head out and went to the garage and pulled out a little box with our light up Christmas house, and angel Maria made last year and bell that lil Mike used to jingle when he was a tot. It brought tears to my eyes to see some of our things from when we were grounded... He is so good for me, comforts my soul, always know exactly what to do to make me feel better:)

Maria's Cello concert, Sac State string project

Borrowed Christmas without roots

Ususally every year we travel for Christmas... that's fine, it's what happens when you live far from family. Yet, even though we leave our house, we still decorate our own house, with our own tree and sing with our music loud and bake cookies - totally wrecking a probably already wrecked kitchen. Our ornaments are simple, most made and painted with the kids, hung by yarn. We string popcorn , have a million lights... and most of all, share the spirit with eachother, full of love and Christ.

This year, we have a tree, a little one, it's beautiful. But the kids and I decorated it while Mike slept to go and work another 12-14 hour shift on top of a plane in the rain and cold (I know, you walked to school 10 miles in the rin and snow through the woods or ghetto)... the point is... we did it alone, no music, cookies, I have a final tommorrow and it was something that we just fit in...Not our house, not our tree... borrowed

To boot, our ornaments are in storage, along with our nativity and wisemen, with our tree skirt and tree for that matter.

I'm greatful for what we have, It's just hard to have shallow roots during Christmas. Maybe next year...

Send me your Christmas Candy House ideas!

We are getting ready to do our annual Christmas Candy House. I don't dare say gingerbread since I don't make it from gingerbread. Anyway, they are never a work of art, but normally taste good and can eventually stand on their own after they fall about 50 times.

So, send me your ideas, tips and pics on how your family does you Christmas House, feel free to include templates... hint, hint, we seriously need some guidance! I'd love to hear some stories along with it with traditions as well!

This year we are going to make the walls of sugar cookie dough... we LOVE sugar cookies!

I remember when I was a kid, Cat made the most beautiful candy house... totally gorgeous, until Sounder our black lab ate it... we never got a single bite:(

Taking Tests

I hate to take tests. Especially when the instructor asks questions differently on exams than in class. I feel totally ill prepared for this exam today - but I have to get an A since I got a B on my last one and anything less than an A would kill my grade. I have been absent alot since I have been sick, sick kids, husband on 12-15 hours shifts for 6 months... one class... that's all I'm taking is one stinkin class and I think that it is too much. Arghhh... I hate stats!

We are spending Christmas at Coronado this year! yeah, I can't wait to get there. The whole clan will be there. Christmas will be with ribs on the beach, finandene and rice, presents in the sand, collecting shells and just being happy! I can not wait to get there, so excited!

On the mend

Soooo, it seems as though I have been sick forever. Well, it has been since 11/4 to be exact. It started as a regular cold and progressed to my chest. I remember getting really worried the first night telling my Auntie B that I hate when cold move into my chest... she said everything would be fine in a few days with a lot of fluids and rest. So here I am almost 5 weeks later with bacterial bronchitis on antibiotics. If you know me, than you know for 1: I am a bacteriophobe, 2: I hate to go on antibiotics. But, I think that I am getting a little better.

I saw a good friend of mine, Natasha Assey at the pharmacy on the same day, getting the same meds for the same thing... it is really going around. But it was so nice to reconnect with her and hear how her family is growing and to see her wee little boy who has grown into such a big lil guy. I sure do hope that Natasha gets well soon too!