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Me...

I've changed this title because it sounded a little...oh, I don't know, but it was a little too about me! I wanted it known that I exist, but news flash...I already know I exist and bigger news flash...so does everyone else!! So instead, here a few pics of me with a few of the ones I love.

Stevie's Pizzaria...

We had a lovely time at our annual Northland Christmas party at Steve's. Normally, Steve does up a fancy feast for us, but this year he decided it would be fun to build our own pizzas. He had quite the spread of toppings for us to choose from. I think I put most of them on my pizza! We each received our own aprons to wear. We were planning on sledding down the gulley hill, but there were concerns of crashing into the trees, and after hearing Steve's horror story, we decided against it! We topped off the night with many rounds of Catch Phrase! (thanks, Chris and Kevin, for the great idea!)

Live From the Apollo...(Bethlehem)

Saturday night was the CIA Christmas program called, "Live From Bethlehem." The boys were each reporters with the press and, oh my gosh, they were a stitch! I always make sure the boys learn their lines for different school and church plays, but I am careful NOT to pay too close attention to all the practicing and I don't sit in on the group practices because I want to be fully surprised. Boy, was I ever! I asked the boys, the morning of the play, if it was a humorous one. They both said it was not, so I thought I would put a little spin on their parts for them. i knew they were reporters and by listening to a couple of their lines, I thought they could do a little improv to make the audience laugh. they both hesitated, but I told them it would be "fun"!! Later that day they told me it could not be done because they had to hold a mic and because Mrs Vanderleest said no changes would be made. (did they rat me out??)

I didn't realize Andrew would be the opening act. You all know Andrew's voice and his persona...he is easily excitable and he has such a high pitched squeaky voice, that when he gets excited, all his words run together and is hard to understand. Well...he did a phenomenal job! What a natural! He is my artsy child. He was clear and precise and although the dialogue was already written, he pulled the humor off without a hitch! Yes, there was plenty of humor in the entire play. Everyone did a wonderful job. Kudos to the entire staff for putting the whole thing together.

I planned on video taping this play, but decided against it at almost the last minute. I am sooo bummed!!! I want to play a clip to share with all of you. Caleb loves to act! Everything Caleb does, he does with such gusto! He always give 100% whether it is in sports or productions-and that is exactly what it is when Caleb is involved...he kills me! I remember the difficulty I had, when he was younger, with trying to figure out how I was going to relate to him. He wasn't very social and was very, very shy. When keith and I got married, the boys walked me down the aisle, and you would've thought that Caleb was going to have a heart attack because he was sooo nervous! He made eye contact with NO ONE! Pat has always said that he "hung back" in school and always watched other people. (sorry Pat-I'm trying to be careful with my words so I don't make you out to be a tool) I, on the other hand, was outgoing and very social. I had no idea how to parent a "wallflower." Wow, what a turnaround...those of you who haven't always known Caleb are probably surprised as heck that he hasn't always been a scene stealer and crowd pleaser. One thing is for sure, he has always been a mommy pleaser!!

My big guys are pretty darn comedic! Aside from sports, Caleb thinks acting is the best thing since sliced bread. They have both had parts in past church plays, and each has had a part in their 3rd grade productions of The Littlest Reindeer. Maybe someday, while watching TV, you'll hear, "Live from the Apollo..." and hear one of my guys' names follow!!! Nothing is impossible!!

One_shoe_on...

Kyle is growing so fast and I am enjoying him more and more. It was a big adjustment for me to go from Caleb and Andrew to plus one! Nothing held us back. We could come and go without any kinks in our plans. As I mentioned previously, I am apparently very regimented and I haven't handled "adjusting" my ways very well. I am learning, and Kyle makes it easier every single day. I remember going to his wellness check up in September and discussing his language development (or lack of) with his pediatrician. I knew not to be concerned...I went through the same thing with Andrew when he was 2. I didn't panic over his underdeveloped skills, I just wanted to get on the ball to correct the problem. Kyle has 2 brothers and a father who constantly talked for him. I believed he could talk, but was being defiant because we stressed over it so frequently. Dr. Golz advised Early On, which is a wonderful program, and it was the same program Andrew went through for a year from the age of 2 to 3. The doctor gave me a referral but nobody from the program ever called me. As luck would have it, the words slowly but surely began emerging from my little "punk"!!! He is so funny and such a joy. He is constantly making everyone in our house laugh and we are all so blessed to have him in our lives!! All he has to do is smile that big, toothy smile (I don't know WHERE he got those teeth!?!?) and we all bust up! He is getting good at putting words together and his favorite is, while wearing both shoes, to take one off so he can say, "One_shoe_on...one_shoe_off." You really have to hear him! He also loves football (go figure) and his favorite players are Brett Favre, Reggie Bush, and Tony Romo! He loves to say their names. He will constantly yell, "down_set_hut", or, "hut_hut_PASSSSSS!" and then throw the ball away from you and run in the opposite direction! He is a riot! He loves the school bus and loves to talk about the bus, the bus_stop, and his bus_shoes! He even has special shoes just for going to the bus stop!!! How could I ever think he was putting a kink in my lifestyle? Maybe, just maybe I've been putting one in his...!

We didn't make Santa's cut

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1193468335

1st of December

Christmas is officially upon us and I, again, have no idea how I got here and how I am going to get where I need to be!! There is always this ideal for me...you know, the way the holidays are supposed to go, from getting the perfect Christmas tree (early) and getting the perfect pictures at the same time...decorating the tree and each other...listening to Christmas carols right through Christmas without wanting to pull your hair out...watching every last Christmas movie (and loving them all)...baking dozens of holiday cookies and other goodies...having ALL holiday gifts bought, wrapped with the most festive paper and ribbons, and placed perfectly under the tree...having all decor up the day after Thanksgiving...strolling through the mall just to take in the sights and sounds of the holidays........
Oh, I'm sorry- my mind took a siesta to an apparently simpler time...a time I certainly wasn't around to enjoy!! Of the above, I have managed to make it half way through Elf with my family. I guess I shouldn't feel too bad because the entire crowd dissipated at about the same time. I guess that is my point...where are our heads? We are all so busy with everything else that we don't take time to slow down, especially during the holidays, to enjoy the season and each other, as well as all the other important people and things. It is only the 1st of December, so that is what I will focus on this season...taking the time to enjoy, really enjoy, the people I love the most, as well as all the other people I truly cherish.