Christmas Crazies

Ok, so this year it started during the week of Thanksgiving.  Now that they are in school, they have vacation days leading up to turkey day.  Since we planned to be out of town on Thanksgiving, and we knew that following weekend would go quickly, we agreed to start bringing out the Christmas decorations.  Well, that was the beginning of the end.  Even their teacher commented to me yesterday that they are wound up.  I know my kids aren't the only ones who act this way in December.  Christmastime is so magical, full of anticipation, expectation, excitement, surprises, and emotion.  About 2 years ago, I started looking back and realizing this happens every year.  Now I've come to expect it.  Sort of.  It still makes ME crazy.  They are constantly on the brink of emotion, act out at the smallest thing, are louder than usual, don't sleep as well, you name it.  I'm not so sure about "the most wonderful time of the year"....  Maybe it is my fault.  I love Christmas and always have.  I like to go all out and have activities that are Christmas related each weekend.  As a kid, we always had a ton of parties hosted by my parents or their friends to go to.  At most of those parties we were given gifts.  A whole month of giving and receiving, celebration and fun.  When we got married, that wasn't the experience of my husband's kids.  They were used to not doing much of anything until maybe the week of Christmas.  And I won't get into the uproar that happened the year I started decorating around November 6th (that didn't happen again).  Anyway, so like I said... maybe the Christmas crazies are all my fault.  But it is worth it, right???

While cleaning up their bedroom tonight...

...and getting ready for a shower, we overhear J say, "My big, juicy, Olympical body! It's so elastic..."  OH MY.

Out of the mouths...

...of my sweet boys.  Several months ago, they told us they made up their own prayer.  Now this prayer is the primary choice before bed and sometimes at dinner.  (to the tune of Frere Jacques, sung in response):

Thank you God
For giving us
All the love that we need
Kisses and hugs

Now recently, they have added the line "to Mom" or "to Dad", etc. between the 3rd and 4th lines.  So sweet...

On the road again

Tomorrow morning I will leave early with my mom to drive across Kansas for a wedding.  Looking forward to listening to a book on CD in the car.  Not looking forward to missing my guys.  I don't know why this time feels different than others.  Maybe it is because each day the boys come home with new things they have learned at school.  Maybe it is that I'm worried about Nathan and this kid who seems to be bullying him.  Maybe it is because I know Jeff is so busy at work, trying to coordinate our new roof, trying to go to school... doing everything for us.  I don't know what it is, but I know I can't wait to get back on Saturday night...

First day of school

Today was the first day of school.  Well, rather, today was my sons' first day of school.  But, I think perhaps this day was much more traumatic for me than it was for them.  I was up well before anyone else.  I couldn't sleep.  It was almost like back in the days when it really was MY first day of school.  So many new things to look forward to and to dread.  Same type of thing, I guess, but completely different in how it computes.

Of course their first day brought back memories of my first day of Kindergarten.  Actually, I think it is a mixture of memories from Kindergarten and the Kindergarten Round-up they did the spring prior.  I remember the Letter People.  The fun wooden kitchen.  The brand new crayon box.  Mrs. Walker (previously Miss Blakely when my brother had her 4 years before) -- I overheard my mother refer to her as "Marsha" so of course I tried that once in class, and boy oh boy, that did NOT go over well!  Jonas -- the boy who was assigned to me at Round-up to show me the ropes.  Probably my first crush.  And then oddly enough, he ended up in the same class with us again later...

Anyway, out of my reverie of memories and on to picking out clothes.  It took longer for me than it did for the new kindergarteners, granted they are boys, but still...  Which shirt should I pick?

• My "Boy Moms Rock" shirt? No, too bold on my first day at the Kindergarten playground with the other parents.  Best not to toot my own horn.
• How about "Kick Back Relax Enjoy".  No.  Totally not what I'm feeling today.
• Any number of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) shirts.  No.  No longer a MOP, therefore need to move on.
• Maybe a plain-colored one.  Something to match my eyes before they turn red and snot starts to drip.  Yeah, I think that will work.

On Vacation

We took a vacation to the San Diego area to visit my husband's parents.  During said vacation, J says, "It was nice of us to plan a trip to San Diego and not Antarctica."  Yes, yes it was...

Overheard

This morning I commented on how nice they looked (just got dressed).  They had the same pirate tshirts on, and similar colored sweat pants.  As they were walking away down the hall J says “It’s like we’re twins!”  Huh.  Imagine that.