Christmas is in the air, and so is LOVE!

Oh, how I do love this time of year! It's starting to get chilly, the leaves are a changing,( turning yellowish counts as a change, right?) and the christmas music is ringing throughout the house and my man's thoughts have turned to gift-giving! Now, normally Jared is lovingly referred to as "the Grinch", by the children and myself, however, this year he has made efforts to improve the quality of "merrymaking" that is going on around Christmas Central! Shocking, I know! He's been asking the kids what we can do to make the holidays better this year and cleaning was only mentioned as a brief sidenote this time. He wants to plan a trip and do service and invite people over and get the house decorated early... I'm getting apoplectic just thinking about it! I wonder if he means outdoor lights, as well? Anyway, there is something very romantic about my man wanting to help to create the Christmas Craziness around here! Oh, l'amour,and Christmas... Can it get any better?

the princess and the eagle scout named screech...an epic tale

basically this is ivy (the princess) and nick (the eagle scout) and i (ivy) am making this post on my momthers (randa) blog because i (ivy) am super cool and i guess the eagle scout (nick) is pretty cool to but not as cool and wonderful as me (ivy.) and also i (ivy) dance really good and well at the same time and nick (the eagle scout named screech) doesnt dance but does other nonsense we dont like to talk about cause its really wierd (i.e. homework, nerd stuff, and skatebording) and i (ivy) basically am just a dancing fool but i am not foolish/princess.
i hope you (you) enjoy this epic story told by me (ivy, the coolness/dancing unfoolish princess/most popular person you ever met/superstar-i could go on forever) Love YA

i (ivy) hope i confused you (you) with this entry haha

IVY is the BOMB and the BEST Dancer
in the ENTIRE WORLD yo

When Good Kids Go Bad

This is the face of an angel. She looks like an angel. She sings like an angel, though she won't sing for me anymore. She acts like an angel, except when her sisters "borrow" her jewelry, or when there are too many people visiting her in her room. She has been an angel to many people in her life. I've hardly known another person who is so good to others, is so sweet, that everyone considers her friend or that think of her as their daughter. The name angel has come to stick with Syd and myself. Jared gave me a charm necklace years ago, with a charm representing each of our kids. Syd's was an angel. I picked out and planted roses that reminded me of all my kids, Syd's was "Angel Face". I have three or four Christmas ornaments on "MY" tree that represent each of my kids, you guessed it, Syd's is an aardvark, just seeing if you're still paying attention. No, it's more angels. My little angel is patient and content, usually. She just waits for us, everyone, ME, to do the right thing. If it isn't going to happen , she just gives one reminder and then fixes it for everyone. She just got her braces off this week and she looks even more beautiful. She turns 22 this week and starts cosmetology school next week! It's an exciting new start for her and I couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become. Perhaps I have proof that there ARE angels among us! Happy Birthday, Syd! I love you to costco and back!

When Baby grows up

You know that gray area between sleep and awake, I think it's called twilight sleep, but things don't seem real and yet they are vivid and colorful? That's the place I find myself lately as I look at photos of my children. Where did the time go? When did my baby who cried for years straight( yes, I said years) become a young woman? When exactly was that moment that she became independent, began wearing more than glitter lipgloss, started brushing her teeth without being reminded, could do her hair unassisted, became old enough to ask for a phone and seem to be old enough to need it on occasion? And then for a moment, a very brief moment, she slips back and wants to hold my hand. Then just as quickly,the moment is silvery-gray, almost hazy, just like the dream of my baby being placed in my arms.