As If You Care...{let's pretend}

Yesterday the Men of Honor met at Mr. Love's house.  We thought it was just a schedule issue.  Turns out

these men were served dinner and were taught proper table etiquette.  Absolutely adorable.  I told Mr. Love at conferences that, "yeah, yeah, Caleb is in your class and yeah, yeah his grades are good but what I really want to talk about is Andrew and how I have a major crush on Men of Honor."  He just laughed.

Speaking of conferences, I also had a quick chance to speak to Andrew's math teacher AKA the mother of his current girlfriend.  She's so sweet.  We got laughing.  It was a riot.  We plan to catch up sometime regarding those two little honeys.  Super cute. {yes, I did more chatting than learning last night}

 Andrew's next thing in MOH is to earn tenants for finishing books on subjects of character, diligence, leadership, etc.  He has to take quizzes on what he has read plus take on other tasks such as forming something such as a food drive for the needy and some other awesome responsibilities.  After that he works on being commissioned, then honored by his peers.  Somewhere in this journey he can become knighted but maybe that isn't quite right. {but I think it is}  After these steps, he...maybe that's where the "knighting" fits in.  Anyway, in order to make it to this last step he needs to memorize The Fellowship of the Unashamed by Dr. Bob Moorehead.  The first time I read it, I was taken aback.  It is powerful stuff.  The last paragraph knocked the wind out of me, quite literally.  I couldn't even catch my breath.  I just cried and cried.  Imagine reading about your child and how, once God is ready for him, He will know right where to look and that your child will be recognizable as a man of honor.  If I cannot find peace in that...I just don't know.  {this online version is worded differently than the one handed out by Mr. Love.  Ours seems longer and the last paragraph is way bigger {not longer with more words but more BANG} than it is here...but you still get the idea.

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit

Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.


I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.


My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.


I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.


And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)


By Dr. Bob Moorehead

 Sometimes it just is what it is at our house...

 Andrew got in a fight with an exercise ball at church.  I cannot remember whether or not I wrote about it already but without glasses on he thought his scratches were blood {although there was a little blood at first} and he was so concerned with not wiping the blood away because he thought he looked cool like this. {his words}

 We like abundance in our home.  Okay, maybe it's me who likes abundance.  At any rate, I threw all these away when I replaced them with another new one...and I had already thrown a couple away. {I happened to find these a bit later}  I am definitely a fan of Falsies and especially falsies Flared by Maybelline.  It works as well as any department store mascara for a quarter of the price...at least at Target.  I heart Target. ♥

 One thing we don't have in abundance at our house is frozen veggies.  That is the reason we feel  a little territorial about our Meijer frozen green beans.  Originally it was frozen peas for very obvious reasons but they disappeared and not wanting to mix bags up accidentally we have gone to the frozen green beans for all injuries.  And I don't buy any other Meijer frozen green beans...just in case.  Kyle wiped out on the basketball court and needed medical attention.  Quick.  Lucky for us we had the beans.  And a nice comfy couch. {he was so worried someone would see this pic of him in his under drawers so I told him they aren't even noticeable.  Six year olds can be gullible}

 Speaking of six year olds, they get too big too fast.  This bug graduated to a bigger bike last spring or summer and one mention from Caleb that he outgrew his bike {How did I never consider his bike?  He's like seven foot sixteen! ☺} and all of a sudden we took inventory.  Caleb is now on Keith's bike, Andrew was on my old {blue} one and is now on Caleb's old one and Kyle moved up again to Andrew's sweet little neon green rhino.  Before the first ride, however, a few adjustments needed to be made...

 The chain needed to be oiled and the brakes checked.  This is all new...handle brakes vs. pedal brakes...

 And away he went!  Apparently I was the only one concerned with taking the downhill trek with new brakes.  It was a total success.  And we all went for a bike ride {sans K who was doing something somewhere}  Everyone looked so nice on their new rides.  No dorks that day, with knees hitting the handlebars or rising above them.  We then celebrated at Hobos.  Yum.

 What's more random?  That we wear hats after showers before bedtime, that someone would actually purchase this hat or that I care enough to post a picture of it?  It's just kind of how we roll.

 Lastly, this is what Andrew has been doing the last couple family-free Tuesday nights.  While the cat is away the mouse will play.  He stumbled upon a new pastime.  He even mixes it up with old episodes of Friends mixed in for good measure.

New And Fresh...

i'm feeling a bit sassy today and wanted to try something new.  The weather is beautiful and i can only enjoy it from the window so i am taking the opportunity to enjoy the summerish weather online.  be still my heart, pinterest. ♥  i was already non-productive just flipping through magazines for new spring ideas.  now i get to be non-productive for free! {no purchase required}   this sun makes me want to get outside and do tons of outdoorsy types of things and, like in years past, i will get nothing done inside.  welcome, spring!!

This, That And The Other...

Did you know that some Feng Shui masters say that clogged drains deplete finances, health, aspirations, travel, clog sinuses, and simply, wreak havoc in general?  Ha, I think it's time to clean my drains!

The last time I attempted to blog was February 23rd.  I saved it as a draft to finish it at home during the weekend.  Hmph.  Looks like I have more to work on than just the obvious.

For a brief moment the other day I considered a hiatus...like a real hiatus...from blogging but decided that was too drastic.  I want to blog.  I just feel too overwhelmed some days so even though I get the chance, I am too brain dead to sort my thoughts.

I think in order to make any sense of anything at all, I will not look back and instead only start with today.  Lots has happened and plenty is share worthy but to keep my sanity I will only share what I already saved from the draft last month.

Andrew went to camp last weekend.  Or maybe it was almost two weeks ago.  He came back home a new man.  He kind of moped around the rest of the weekend and for the next couple days, citing his new love for all things camp and Mr. Love and how it was his best time ever and how he missed it all so much.  He's been reading the Proverbs each night before bed.  It's lovely. Last fall he joined Men of Honor through the school at our church.  Although the definition of the club doesn't necessarily fit Andrew, I knew it was going to be a perfect fit for him from the beginning.  I was pleased I didn't have to talk him into joining.

Mission Statement

Men of Honor exists to make passionate followers of Jesus Christ by training & camp; mentoring youth, most of which are at-risk and fatherless youth ages 11-17 in principles of Chivalry, Honor, Moral Excellence and Courageous Leadership utilizing a three pronged strategy of life changing camps, conferences, and weekly curriculum based meetings.


Axioms {the first time I walked in and heard Andrew leading the axioms I was tickled pink...and very proud...he says the first line with gusto and confidence and the remaining "men" follow with the second line}

I am a winner...

I am a man of honor;


I do the right thing...
Because it's the right thing to do;


My word...
Is my bond;


C.H.I.P.
Character, Honesty, Integrity, Perseverance;


If there is no man...
I will be the man;


Manhood and Christ-likeness
Are synonymous;


Being a male is a matter of birth...
Being a man is a matter of choice;


There is no greatness outside of God...
1, 2, 3... YES!

I love that he is enjoying himself and that he feels like he belongs to something special.  Mr. Love is an amazing mentor...lucky us.

Coach Aardema asked if Kyle could skip a night of Awana to attend senior night at the varsity ball game because the team wanted to award him with something.  Kyle has been the water boy for the team all season and has been in heaven every game.  He loves all the boys on the team and they are all so gracious toward him.  My little doll is never at a loss for words but the night his name was called to come out with the seniors, in front of the crowd, he was blown away.  He was awarded a team tee and a signed basketball from the team.  No words could ever explain the pure joy that radiated from his little heart that night.  We are so blessed to be part of such a wonderful community of family, friends and school.

I found this awhile back in my weekly church bulletin.  Had I seen it during the service I would have placed it in the offering plate.  Some days I get to sit back and smile knowing I am doing a good job raising my children.☺

A few weeks ago our wrestling team headed to state finals in Battle Creek.  They were escorted by police and fire personnel and were greeted by many street-lined fans and supporters downtown.  Kyle made a sign for the occasion.

I RECEIVED MY BIRTHDAY RINGS!  I was a little bummed {for a minute} that their size was a bit more slim than I expected but one mention of the thought and my seester whipped out a gift for me from her purse from Vegas.  A little bulk isn't always appreciated but in this case it works fabulously...

I also received another treasure from the little TenBrinkmans.  My sweet Isaac always knows exactly what Aunt Jodi will love.

During the Crop last month, a few players, as well as coach, were schooled in Cricut design.  That machine is the bomb.  I have the old school model {smaller} and it is a handy instrument.  I think expression is to die for.  I wonder if the boys felt the same way??

And just when you thought this post couldn't be any more off target, I am sharing a poem.  I may have posted this before, but then again maybe not.  The thoughts don't leave the head plenty of times.  Either way, an anonymous middle school student {who happens to live in my house} wrote this and it is framed and residing in the CSB board room.  It's always fun to be in there and catch a glimpse of this and reflect on my eldest and how proud he is of his school and the community he lives in.

“I certainly don't regret my experiences because without them, I couldn't imagine who or where I would be today. Life is an amazing gift to those who have overcome great obstacles, and attitude is everything!”~ Sasha Azevedo

I'm getting to a point in my life where I am actually starting to believe this and live this way.  I one hundred percent believe in this but for some reason I always seem to think I'm exempt from fitting in this truth.  I need to learn to let go of the past and allow myself to be the person I am supposed to be.

I Cannot Believe All This Fits In My Head...

So as good as I am at promising pics of projects and such on here and not producing, I figure I should at least touch on snippets from my last post.  The problem is I cannot do anything small so I could go pages touching on all our recent happenings.  Hold tight and hang in there...I will do my best to get you done today.

I mentioned books and Valentine's Day and reading.  I just finished The Help.  It was slow moving at first but I ended up really excited to pick the book up every night.  It was the only time I had any time.  I also finished The Five People You Meet In Heaven and Heaven Is For Real.  That one had me from Go!  There really wasn't any of that let's get ready for the story.  It was more like hello!  This is what's going on!  I'm totally enjoying carving out time to read.  Lucky for me I have five books sitting on my nightstand to keep me occupied.

Caleb needed me to sign a paper from his school counselor last week.  It was his action plan for his next year's class schedule...as a freshman!  In really no way can I believe that boy of mine will be in high school next year!  It is completely out of my realm of understanding.  Not that I cannot fathom me being old enough to have a high schooler...I just cannot grasp that as fast as time has already flown by, it will go at turbo speed the next four years.  Yowza.

Speaking of high school, I pulled off a major event a few weekends back with my first ever solo fundraiser.  By solo I certainly do not mean I had no help.  I just mean I came up with an idea a few months ago, handed it to the coach and was told to go with it.  And in true Jodi fashion, I let it go awhile because I took on coaching again, and returned to it to have it grow a mind of its own.  I just figured nobody really wants to buy cookie dough, gift wrap, nuts and pizzas for every fundraiser, especially with multiple children in multiple sports.  I decided to offer a crop...a scrapbook fundraiser...and it was definitely uncharted territory.  It seemed like a no-brainer to me.  I didn't have to "sell" the idea {other than to the coach} to anyone...people just wanted to "buy" into it.  It was crazy.  For one week I was a total wreck, but kind of in a good way.  I like the thrill of the pressure, or so I say.  In the thirty six hours before the event I added nine people to my attending list!  I received donations from basketball parents for food, as well as from some of my amazing friends.  The event went great.  I was calm the entire day {yes I was!} and got to chat with the attendees.  I even cleaned out my craft room at home and fully funded the door prizes for all attendees! {that's actually sad, but that's for another day}  I received so much positive feedback.  It looks as though I have found my new volunteer area of service.  Now to drop a few others...

My baby lost his first two teeth the same day as my crop.  I picked up a cal from Kyle letting me know the first one fell out.  Ten minutes later another call came in from K letting me know Kyle lost the other.  Sometimes playing football in my basement is a good thing.  He attempted to blow the whistle when his first tooth fell out.  Prior, we were checking every. single. day. to check the progress.  The teeth were so loose that it already appeared as though he lost a tooth because they moved so close together.

 It was to the point where he could move his teeth straight out with his tongue.  Nothing was really holding them in.  Can you appreciate the filth in his nail or does it just gross you out that it's in his mouth? {puke}

 My baby!!  He's a big boy now.  Those little adult teeth are already growing in.  I can definitely wait for the tops to fall out...kids aren't real cute when those jagged nasty adult teeth first surface.  Awkward.  But for now, I love it.

Kyle was also invited to a birthday party a couple of weekends ago.  I can't say it was his first because we've been doing daycare parties and our friend's kid's parties for years but it was still an exciting day for him.  The party was at the Comfort Inn.  It was a pool party and some kids from his class were invited.

 the birthday girl...

 Swapping spit...they thought it was funny.  I thought it was pretty gross, but...Jenna is Kyle's best friend...

 This may need some explaining...maybe they are playing horsey rides?

 The very nature of this photo explains the fun had...and the reason many of the moms were heading out, sans kids, to the theater that evening.

My middle is in another relationship.  He's so cute about it.  He came home from the dance and told me not to tell anyone {or the mom will kill the girl and she will kill him} but he danced with a girl. {actually he told me Sunday because he was at his dad's after the dance}  By Monday he had a girlfriend.  I wonder what that means.  It originated Monday but I think the deal went down Tuesday...Valentine's Day.  I hope she wasn't expecting anything that late in the game...{or at all...otherwise...the curb}  I told him to make sure he talks to her and is kind to her.  I remember "going with" boys in middle school.  One of them would call me and we'd spend twenty minutes on the phone.  Just sitting there.  And we never talked in school.  Never.  What a waste of time.  Pretty ridiculous.  K had a beer with her dad Thursday night.  he didn't realize the correlation until the dad confronted him about it.  He was joking. {I hope}  Then they had a good laugh about it.  I told Andrew the next day that the cat is out of the bag. You should have seen the look on his face when he found out HE knows.  K explained that it's okay...the daughter is the one who spilled the beans to the dad.  Cute.  It's for the best.  I don't know how long he could keep it under wraps with the mom being his math teacher. ☺

Spent the day Friday in GR with my fam.  It is supposed to be the weekend we head to Traverse City with friends but it wasn't in the cards this year.  Cheer districts were scheduled Friday and Kyle's soccer game was scheduled Saturday.  We couldn't skip soccer since we did the week before for the birthday party.  It was a harried mess.  We were here, there and everywhere in a short amount of time.  Returns one place, shopping at the mall.  Before we knew it, it was way past lunch. We drove a half hour to eat, then headed to Target, all before making it to the high school.  I had a meeting at four forty five and the competition started at six thirty.  In that time, the girls were only scheduled to use the mat once for fifteen minutes and once for three minutes.. The rest of the time we waited.  And practiced.  And practiced some more.  And waited.  I would say it was their second best performance all season and possibly their best score!  Not bad for twelve girls who have not only never done competitive before but who also mostly qualify as a jayvee team competing against varsity squads.  Hopefully budget cuts don't affect competitive next year.  This year we were classified as non-school funded. {I coached for free}  To be honest, I don't know that I have it in me again.  It's a lot of commitment and a lot of missing family stuff and although I volunteer with the best of 'em...there is wall I won't slam into more than once.

We were going to spend the night in GR so Kyle could go swimming in the pool and so we wouldn't have to drive home in the middle of the night.  K realized Thursday that we couldn't pull that off because we had nobody to fill the wood stove with my neighbors being in the Cayman Islands. {dang those peeps}  It worked okay.  We used the money we saved in hotel costs to go roller skating and out to eat again Saturday. {we planned to do so anyway but it was nice to have the savings} Those poor kids.  We came to the realization that the last time we took the kids rollerskating was two thousand three...nine years ago!  I know they've gone since then, but I didn't realize Kyle has never been!!  I'll post pics soon with more on it. 

Half way through my list...could add half a dozen more to it.  Will have to be patient I suppose.

{Thirty Eight} Tangents...

Already you can tell that this may be a lengthy post.  I haven't posted in over a month.  It certainly doesn't seem all that long ago.

To give away what really isn't worth knowing, I turned the big 3-8 this past Monday.  I didn't even say the number out loud until that night.  That's when I announced I was heading to bed and K gave me a strange look and asked, "Really?  It's only 9 o'clock!"  I answered, "Yeah, but I'm thirty eight now and I'm really tired."  That about sums up my life right now.  Sad.  I know. {but isn't this piece of art fun?  thanks, Jen}

Before Christmas I found...wait, back up.  Six years ago I mentioned to K that I would really love to have a set of three stackable rings, each with a different stone, to wear in honor of my kids.  When Kyle was born he bought me his version of what I had described.  The thought was absolutely lovely.  I wear it sometimes, but it gets swallowed up amongst the other ginormous rings I wear almost daily.  Before Christmas I ran across a set of stackables on Etsy and planned to buy them myself as a gift.  The bummer is that they were all sold out!  I checked the site in January and found out the rings were going to be produced again!  Not what I had originally wanted {no stones, silver} but these are lovely and am in total love with them.  I told K I'd really like them for my birthday.  He gave me money and told me to order them.  Thanks, dear. ♥  They have an approximate four week creation time and I ordered them on January nineteenth so I'm hoping they arrive real soon.  Aren't they to die for??  I cannot wait to own them! {you can obviously  guess what mine will say}

Valentine's Day was lovely.  I love visiting my OBGYN on a holiday.  I bought all the men in my life books this year as gifts.  And according to faces and voices, I did a stellar job.  K always reads presidential books...biographies and autobiographies...and he likes to go in order.  The exception is a JFK book he received for Christmas.  He's been reading that lately and really enjoying it.  I bought him Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Andrew has been reading Harry Potter {his fave} over and over.  And over and over.  I took him to the bookstore two weekends ago {we had a date} to find a new interest for his brain.  The book lady tried selling him on the Hunger Games series, but over A's head, I was mouthing to her that I already bought them for Valentine's Day...needing her to back off, nicely.  I don't think she understood a word I said, but she still backed off, nicely.  Kyle was E.A.S.Y.  Sports...duh!  I bought him a Sports Illustrated book and I got a great deal on it too.  It sells for nineteen ninety nine and seventy seven kids offered it and I had a forty percent off coupon.  Score!  I also found him a Little Critter Treasury on the bargain shelf for seven ninety eight.  WOOT!  I had a convo with Caleb not too long ago about him needing to get back into reading.  He was such a great reader from a really young age and used to enjoy reading.  In recent years he has fallen prey to sports magazines and other people's notes. {nosey kid}  I took special care in picking something out for him.  Although I believe he would enjoy the Hunger Games also, I wanted to cater to him so I leafed through books in the sports section.  I wanted something to pique his interest but also something that would make him think and learn something.  The first book I found, The Best Game Ever, looked perfect.  It is about the game against the Giants and the Colts in 1958, remembered as the greatest game in history, being the first sudden death contest in NFL history.  Seventeen future Hall-of-Famers were on the sidelines, including Vince Lombardi. {another fun fact I will share in a moment refers to him as well}  For the other book, I wanted to get him something relating to basketball.  He loves everything basketball and hasn't always excelled in it.  Last summer he blew us all away and came into his own.  He didn't let anyone in his head and didn't think...he just played.  He had a pretty good school season this fall, but I feel the same ol' thing happening again this winter.  I teach him respect...but at what cost?  He lets so much get to him instead of just hearing what is said, respecting it, and then moving on to get the job done.  I want to remind him life is bigger and better than just middle school...or even high school for that matter.  I found just what I didn't know I was looking for.  I bought him Sacred hoops:Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior.  "Act with a clear mind-not thinking, just doing...live in the moment and stay calmly focused in the midst of chaos."  It's kind of his mantra.  And it's perfect for Caleb.  I am always talking about mindfulness with the boys...this guy stresses it.  I couldn't have done a better job if I tried. {toot, toot}  The best of all was the reaction from each of them...all priceless...I scored big time...and so did they! {and I wondered if they'd be disappointed not getting the usual five bucks and box of candy}  It was definitely a splurge for me but one that will pay off in the end.  Love books.

{killer paragraph-sorry}  Whew.  I intended to load photos of the major happenings in our lives right now but the cord is missing from the office and my sister is on vacation so I have to either wait more time to do this or just keep typing away without anything to show for our triumphs.  {decisions, decisions}  Maybe I'll give a few quick highlights and will touch on them later.  Here's the teaser...lol.

*high school
*The Help
*Men of Honor
*crop
*missing teeth
*budding relationship
*romance
*my story
*signs
*districts
*wild fun
*comfort zones
*birthday party
*laundry woes

**Mother-in-law...I will keep you informed. ☺

I'll continue on with my thirty eight tangents another day.  Soon.

Too Many Things...{aka I Have Turrets}

So it has been {another} coon's age since I happened upon this little page.  Stating, again, how busy I am would be an understatement and now I'm finding that I'm falling asleep on the couch before my bedtime but once I get to bed I toss and turn all night with all the going-ons in my brain.

Ho hum.  There is potentially much to tell but I cannot think of anything more important than to first share a little texting convo that happened within the last ten minutes between my it's-her-day-off sister and myself.

kristin: untitled {photo}

kristin: u need these

jodi: these??

kristin: picture before.purple madden heels

jodi: i saw those! super cute with a lbd if nothing else! want to send u my cc through the universe right now!

kristin: i can buy them. i owe you $$

jodi: u r right. r they my size?

kristin: one size 7.5

jodi: k. KEEP THE RECEIPT!

kristin: k. love them!!!

kristin: me too! thanks!

So just like that, I got myself new kicks.  That was easy. {where's the button?}  I forgot she owed me so now the shoes are kind of like free, right??

These things are stinkin' cute!  They are lavender/lilacish with what looks to be a black strap in the small phone pic, navy blue on this pic and actually another color purple in real life! Ha!  Thanks, sis.

I was driving home from practice the other night {first competition tonight} and decided to call K a minute to chat.  That may or may not have been the night that I was supposed to pick up Caleb from open gym, waited a half hour and when no parents pulled up, called to figure things out and was told he forgot about it and didn't take Caleb to the gym, which turned out being Caleb forgot to tell K it was cancelled, K forgot it was ever going on and Jodi was not excited!  But anyway, I called and K had to go because Kyle was cutting his hair.  Kyle was cutting Keith's hair.  Kyle was cutting Keith's hair??  Now I know we're all insane!  He had a perfectly logical reason behind it, too.  Whateves.  I just shake my head.  Welcome to my world.

Since going to the dark side last December, {with my hair}

 I've had solid color hair ever since.  It's the first time ever.  I've highlighted since I started my first job at a hair salon twenty one years ago and even during bouts of home hair coloring, my highlights have shown through.  Solid has been okay til now and I'm just kind of bored.  I'm a little picky.  Don't want orangey {picky, right?}hair {brassy or red} and I don't want bleach so that it looks like I'm going gray.  Hard to please, I am.  yesterday I bit the bullet.  Came out a whole new me.  Hair colored darker, level eight super skinny highlights, new layers, waxed brows with a new arch...and my new eye palette came in the mail...

Okay, maybe not, but I felt a little high maintenance when I left.  I shook it off.  I'm okay with it all. ☺ And for the record, I don't look really any different than when I walked into the salon.

I wanna do projects!!  I'm whining right now.  I have so many things I keep starting {as in just a smidge on purpose so I can tell K we need to finish it} and need to finish and other things in my head and other other things on paper that I want to do. {and I need to type faster because Tammy Faye's face is scaring me and I need it to disappear} In my mind I have the coolest house ever.  No time for that right now.  I've got to get through tonight.  And then February fourth. And then February eighteenth.

I tend to get all excited as the new year rolls around, with all my resolutions for the coming year, only to fail miserably on some, if not all, by the first quarter.  This year I decided to choose a word as my resolution.  One simple word fits so many areas in my life.  My word is discipline.  It's pretty.  It's tough.  It's hard.  It's attainable if I try.  Discipline is ongoing.  I cannot really fail.  I can just try harder.  I like it.  Here's to discipline!

Turrets...see?  I guess maybe I could have told about my SPIDER BITES!  Today is our first competition and I'm so PANCAKES!  But instead I just went all over the place with my I SEE DEAD PEOPLE!

'Suppose it's not quite the same thing...

Christmas Day...YAY...!

 We spent Christmas Eve with my family at my parents' house.  As always, we had plenty of food, plenty of laughter and plenty of fun!

 We may have eaten right away.  Is it totally lame that I cannot even remember?  I think the main reason for eating first was so the adult men didn't miss any of the football game. (that goes for Caleb as well...and apparently he can entertain himself regardless}

 After months of faux cuts, the boys finally had a schedule that allowed them to get into the salon.  Unfortunately, it has been so long that I think Annie forgot they need I prefer bangs!!

 The annual cousins picture turned out a bit better than this but I decided it's fun to get the other kind...and hey!  Kyle is actually behaving in this one!

 Since not everybody can be a rock star all the time, I'm also sharing this man photo...

We all received lots of fun gifts.  {opened after the game of course} The kids sprawled theirs out all over the house.  Later, we played a game {or two or seven} of Catch Phrase then headed to church.  Anticipation was building because this was our first Christmas Eve service at our new church.  We were the first twelve of fifteen there but then the pews quickly filled and the buzz of people filled the sanctuary.  It was definitely a different service than I was used to-no organ music, no boisterous voice giving the sermon- but the message was good and we sang Silent Night by candlelight, which is my fave.  Pat, Jen and {sleeping} Abbi met us for the service and took the bigs home afterward.  in anticipation of the arrival of Santa.  Andrew even brought home peanut butter fudge for the jolly guy.  Ahhh...traditions.

It's never easy being non-traditional, especially at Christmas, but with our situation, it is what it is. ☺  Every other year the boys come over early afternoon to open gifts and it has worked for us so far.  Until this year.  Kyle is finally old enough to notice and it was killing him to have to wait!  All day he asked if it was time to open presents and he kept trying to make deals with us and other times he flat out cried.  It was so unfair to him.  We settled on letting him dump out his stocking.  Next year will be easier but the year after that...?  I'm really concerned.  Although the bigs will be fourteen and sixteen {sigh} I will never change want to change them opening their gifts together.  Lucky for us we have some time to figure it out.

yeah...hand warmers...originally the gift on Santa's list...

 You know by the look in this kid's eyes that Santa was not the smartest guy in town on Christmas day...

 I love that Santa knows everything...even Kyle's favorite gum flavor!

 And have you ever seen anybody, a kid or otherwise, ever get this excited for a new scrubbie?  Maybe I'll start buying them from now on!!

 This is a "YYEESSSS" in case you cannot quite get what he's saying...Kyle loves him some Charles Woodson...and this guy is straight out of his Michigan days...{he's jumping in the air}

 Another WOOT!  A big want on the list was NFL pink ribbon stuff to add to the uniform during game time...wrist bands it is!

 The older I get the more I lose focus of taking dang pictures!  I had a little voice to my distant right saying, "Did you get that?" while all the fun was happening.  Yeah, I got it in my brain...but we all know what happens from there!  I remembered to snap shots of Kyle with his stocking because it was still calm in our home at the time.  Since I'm not sharing these in order, you would guess I just don't enjoy the bigs' faces at Christmas but in reality, we were half way through opening when I realized I was not taking pictures!!  Oh well.

It amazes me that a boy can get so charged over another v-neck tee...but he does!

 {he seriously needed a new shirt on or a new opening location...colors are just bad}  Diary of a Wimpy Kid's pre-ordered book...glad he didn't get it before he opened this!

 "Sweet!"  For the price of these babies, that was a perfect expression! 

 I suppose it's a good thing this new air soft gun shoots 400 something per something..?{I really cannot remember what it was...I was out of my mind when I bought it}

 I totally felt bad for Caleb this year.  He only asked us for clothes and shoes.  He wanted clothes so bad {against the laundry superintendent's better judgement} that when eight year old Isaac mentioned not knowing what he wanted for Christmas, Caleb told him he should ask for clothes and said something about wishing he did when he was eight and if he only knew then what he knows now...WOW!  He really wanted some Sanuks from Santa...{they are not shoes, they are sandals-whatever}hope he wasn't disappointed that he got them from us.  I had already purchased them and wrapped them when I heard that's what he put on his wish list.

 I still cannot get over the bangs...

Santa was good to all of us this year.  Almost everyone got what they had asked for...actually we all did...Caleb's gift was just apparently altered a tad due to my being on the stick. {see above}  First, Kyle had asked for a new camera.  His broke and we couldn't figure out how or what to do about it.  I guess that idea didn't count because technically it was stated before Andrew wrote the letter to Santa.  Once paper and pen came out, he changed his thoughts and gave a list.  We explained that we only ask Santa for one gift...something we really, really want.  The bigs know to ask Santa for something I would never spend my money on.  Good ol' Santa... So Kyle wanted a football.  Then he didn't.  Then he asked for hand warmers.  I'm sure Santa would have come through for him but I felt totally bad not telling him to ask for something else instead.  By the third letter, he settled on a Nerf gun.  I had already purchased dart tag for two of them {Target was running a mean sale} but knowing that boys like {Nerf} guns, I didn't return it.  I just had to tell my mom {again} to change her gift idea.  Santa came through with a Nerf disc gun...super great!

Andrew remained consistent with his wish.  He has let it been known that he wanted the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon.  Because he basically only asked for games and Legos, I made it known I was not going to be purchasing this extravagance for him.  Thank goodness for the jolly one.

Caleb was sooo hard to buy for.  I may have already mentioned this.  He really is easy but hard at the same time.  He said to me, "I have a football.  I have a basketball.  What else do I need?"  What a kid.  Love him.  However, at Christmas...I needed him to love me back enough to give ideas.  Finally, days before Christmas, Caleb gave an answer to Andrew so he could finally send his letter to the North Pole.  He wanted Sanuks. {again, I went over this}  Lucky for him, not only did he get what he wanted already, but Santa brought him a new pair of kicks, too...{and they are much sweeter in person...and light!}

My darling husband asked Santa for new underwear.  I know, I know...we dream big!  He's a big fan of the comfort waistband from Hanes so these are a new treat for him.

I asked Santa for knee socks.  It just keeps gettin' better, doesn't it?  It's actually surprising since I don't even like wearing socks...even in the winter!  I guess that's why I asked Santa for them...definitely something I can use but not really into paying for myself.☺

After presents were opened and the house was {mostly} cleaned, the house filled with crickets as I finished up getting ready for the next party.  Everyone disappeared, not to be seen again til our guests arrived.

We celebrated Christmas evening with the Stratton clan.  As if we weren't already stuffed enough, we pulled out more food just to be sure.  We hung out, snacked a bit, opened gifts, snacked some more and then my BIL opened one of his gifts and we played Taboo until the evening came to an end.

We are so blessed with wonderful family.  So many wonderful friends.  So many wonderful things.  We have a home.  We have heat.  We have running water.  We have food on the table.  We have jobs.  We have school.  We have love.  We have each other.

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas.  May you all be as blessed as we are in two thousand twelve.