Happy Birthday Sam!!

My baby boy is a teenager!

Sniff, sniff...I can handle it.

After all, it's not me getting older...it's him!

Can't hardle believe it's been 13 years though. I love you Samuel Montgomery, with all my heart!!

A Blue Ball...A Bowling Ball

Mom and James invited us to go bowling today. Now mind you, I have not bowled since I was in Jr High and there's a good reason. I'm AWFUL at it!!

Yup, NO HOPE for this one!!

Regardless we had tons of fun!

Danielle and Nick joined us.

And would you check out the sheer force of will on that face!

Nick, I mean.

Then there was Sam.

Who managed to lose not just to his brother...

not just to his seven year old sister...

(who could only average 3mph on the ball)

but also to his GRANDMOTHER!!

Now to his credit, my family has NEVER been bowling before. And we gave Mags and Liam the gutter rails. Sam didn't do too bad considering. He even managed a STRIKE!

Then there's James...

The Turkey...dowt, denied. Not quite a turkey!!!!

Love you all!

A Fashion Trainwreck

We had a little fashion competition on the day after Christmas Day...I just can't decide...

Who looked more ridiculous?

Corn, in his new skull clad bomber jacket?

Marley in her new windbreaker?

Or...

Mags, in her new red lip gloss, her new faux fur scarf and her new rubber galoshes?

Disclaimer: I was not responsible for the appearance of any of the above subjects.

Love you all!!

Gingerbread

The kids decorated the gingerbread house Grandy & Pa  got them today. Liam and Maggie wanted to have it ready so they could leave it for Santa tonight.

The thing definitely ended up looking like there were too many hands in the pot.

But, the kids had fun. And, hey I figure after today it's Santa's problem, right?

Now, the sugar buzz...THAT is my problem. Just what we need tonight of all nights...sigh.

I love you all!

Tracking Santa

The tracking has begun...Santa recently left a city in Queensland. Maggie pulled out her world map to track him herself. Liam is dancing all over the living room, screaming "He's coming! He's coming!". Their approach to this is telling. And amusing to me!

Merry Christmas Eve! Love you all!

A Painful Coming of Age

Well, painful for me anyhow. Sam is either craving parental face time or he's kissing up cause his birthday is coming. He asked to play Scrabble with me tonight. Man, playing games with Sam anymore is hilarious. He's such a smarta, ahem, aleck. I added "sea" to his word "men" and he laughed uproariously for half an hour. I explained several times that "seamen" was a word for sailors...but he claims since he's an adolescent it doesn't really matter how it's spelled. I guess. Then, he jokingly accused me of being racist for using the word "jew", but turned around and added an "s" to it on his next turn. He's a hoot I tell ya.

Now, his dad is teaching him the life skill of poker. (Sigh) My baby is growing up.

During supper, he and I started arguing about something and Jon told Sam to give up because I'd never allow the argument to end with me wrong. Sam turned to him and said, "Yes, but I'm her son. I can't be wrong either!" He proceeded to convince me he was right. Yes, Virginia, I have created a monster!

I love you all!

My Bad

Yesterday, I had one heck of a headache.

You see, that's what happens when you spend the night clenching your teeth in your sleep due to stress. Clenching your teeth for nothing.

Sunday, when we arrived home from the Garrett family Christmas, Jon being the stand up guy that he is, started the dishwasher. Now, for starters, I would like to mention, that countless times I have pressed start and walked out the door to do whatever needed done. Why Jon didn't do that? What can I say, it's a God thing. I personally, ingnorantly, preferred not to be here while it ran. It's noisy. So, my ever helpful husband put the dishwasher liquid in and started it and 15 minutes later we had bubbles, bubbles everywhere.

I was freaked out! Much as I would love to have all matching appliances...Jon still hasn't found a job. We could have replaced it easily. We have enough in savings to buy a new dishwasher, no sweat...but...Jon still hasn't found a job. Not for a lack of trying mind you...no one is hiring. Out here, even Walmart laid off their seasonal help after one week. We stand in the lines that prove it. But, I digress, the point is their are no jobs to had right now, so we need to preserve our savings...not buy a pretty new black dishwasher. You all know how I like shiny new things, how I loathe saying no to nice things...but even I said no. Jon and I discussed it and decided (gasp) we would do dishes by hand until he found a job. Which Liam thought was very cool. He said, "MOM, Will we have to do dishes like in the olden days?"

So, I pulled ALL the dishes out and Liam and I washed them. Then, I whined on facebook about my fate.

God Bless Julie Prince...who said, hers always looked like that when her husband put the wrong cleaner in it.Now, being the insufferable domestic diva that I am, how do you suppose I reacted to that???

Yup, you guessed it, I grilled my poor husband. The unfortunate good hearted soul who was only trying to help. Who, in the end I had questioning himself! "I don't know hon, maybe I squirted it into the receptacle to hard and that made it sud?"

Jon, I'm sorry. I love you and I appreciate your help around here and I confess before you all now...

Upon closer investigation...well, it was kinda...my fault. I had put a mostly empty hand soap dispenser on the top rack. And, well... you know. It kinda suddsed up.
After figuring out that it was, ahem, my fault, I ran the dishwasher empty and once it was rinsed out it was fine!!! Yay!! Poor Liam, he'll have to get dishpan hands later in life.

I love you all!

That Face

The kids could hardly contain their excitement for a week and (poof) just like that, it's over.

Yesterday, we had Christmas with the Garrett clan.

We had a wonderful time.

Relaxing.

Hanging out with family. Which can be both pleasant and occasionally...

scary.

Some of whom we only see once a year (sigh).

And, of course...

opening presents!!

Look at that face. That face is what it's all about. That face is why we stress and spend too much. That face is why we fret and anticipate and giggle when they open their gifts. We grown ups do all of it in the hopes of seeing that face.

Merry Christmas everyone! We love you all!

Dreaming Of A White Christmas

We managed to get some snow out of the "big" storm...only a few inches and Liam is busily putting them to good use.

He is working on a snow fort now...

He has already built 3 snowmen. Last time I looked out he had dismantled one of them to add the snow to the fort. We just didn't get enough for him to build everything. He comes in once an hour to eat, drink hot cocoa and thaw out a little. We've seen relatively little of him today.

Meanwhile, all the christmas lights are on in the house.

I have cheese soup simmering in the crock pot.

It's so cozy. These are the days!

Love you all!

A Long Winters CatNap

Scrooge decided to make himself comfortable this evening while Jon and I watched Jeopardy.

It's great that animals lower your blood pressure and all...but am I the only person who feels terribly guilty if I have to get up when a cat is laying on me?

My arm fell asleep.

Before long I had to pee.

And he slept on.

Everytime I thought about pushing him off...he'd get all sweet and lovey on me and I'd resolve to let him lie all over again.

Don' let go my kittycat.

I love you all!

Ups and Downs

Had an up and down kind of day today. This morning I picked up the kids stockings from Marcia (a wonderfully sweet lady from church). She embroidered their names on them. They look awesome! She did a great job. So I was thrilled with that. Then I headed to Katies house so we could go to Mansfield for some shopping. She was in a fabulous mood today initially...she found Austins' missing iPod. Missing for like 2 months. Found before she bought him a new iPod for Christmas. All was right with the world. We went shopping and had a good time. Catching up. Laughing at Cash. I got Sam some clothes for his birthday and Jon some stocking stuffers. We were having a good day. The indicator that the whole day would not be bliss should have been when Austin called Katie from the school office...sick...when we were standing in a ridiculous line at Target.

At the risk if getting sidetracked here, is it just me, or have you too noticed that stores are apparently trying to cushion some of their "losses" this year by understaffing their checkout lines?

Anyhow, we wrapped up our shopping, grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to Katies house. Chatted a few minutes, checked out Cash's new comforter (aye, matey) and left. Well, started to. As I was getting ready to pull out of her driveway, I looked to the left and saw dear sweet little whiney eared Miley. The LaFevers dog. Someone had hit her. It was so sad. I carried her in for Katie and I just kept thinking "This could be Marley". We are all guilty in our house of letting her run loose. For many reasons. Because it's cold and we don't want to go out to her chain. Or it's hot. Because it's raining...or we're tired of taking her out every 5 minutes. Whatever. Anyway, when I got home, I gave everyone a very stern lecture...Marley is NOT to be outside unless she's chained up. I felt SO BAD for Katie having to tell her kids. I do not want to ever have to do that...of course, neither did she. Please pray for the LaFevers this evening. They lost part of their family...
I love you all!!

The Big Man

We took Mags and Liam to see the Big Man after church today. Liam was pretty certain he was the really real Santa. When we were done at the mall, we went to the China Buffet.

I was very disappointed...they didn't sing Deck the Halls for me.

Not a duck in sight either.

Baffling.

I love you all!!

Garrett Girls Cookie Bake '09

Let me tell you something about the Garrett women. They are unrivaled at making messes...

but, they are also unrivaled at making cookies!!!

Garrett women know when to take a load off...

and when to have a drink and rest their fuzzy ACT wracked brains.

Above all else,

They know how to love each other. And have fun.

And laugh. And drink. And eat.

What can I say? We're extrememly talented women.

Then, there is of course the fact, that we are brought together by our mutual love of the Garrett men. And thank God for a Garrett man when the oven handle breaks in the middle of cookie baking day!

Happy Christmas Cookies from us to you!!! Love you all!

Secret Santa and Lunch

Wow, I've gotten a little behind! We've actually been busy this weekend and I have things to tell and show.

Friday was Secret Santa at the elementary school. Jon and I both went in to volunteer. Jon only lasted through Maggie and Liam's classes. But at least he was able to help them shop!

I didn't manage to get a pic of Mags shopping. I was helping some indecisive little kids pick out a candle for his brother...or somthing like that!

I did, however, get pics of both of them eating lunch...

Maggie and Maura...they share a love of horses.

Liam and Anthony. They share a love of recess.

K...that's all for Friday...moving on...

I love you all!!!

Homework Blues

After a delicious meal of spicy meatloaf and mashed potatoes...I put the kids to work on their respective homework.

Hard to keep them focused once the camera is out though.

Sam keeps his phone close by when he does homework. Apparently texting is the new form of cheating. Well, cheating by my standards anyhow.

Things here are pretty quiet. I hosted Mom's Prayer Group today and came away a little sad. It appears that the true meaning of Christmas is being lost in the bustle for even the most God loving hearts I know. Everyone is so stressed out. The word that came up over and over was overwhelmed. Every woman I know is overwhelmed right now. Kinda makes it heard to enjoy the holidays for them. It's kinda weighing on my mind. I love these women. They are my support system. All I can do is pray though...and offer to help. I'm a happy gift wrapper, but it does no good if they won't take me up on it.

I've also been feeling less than 100% the last two days. Ever since I got my H1N1 vaccine. I'm not sure I will ever believe that those flu shots don't make you sick. That just doesn't seem to be my experience!

Oh well, I love you all!!!!

Color Me PROUD!

You all remember Sam, right? My gifted underachiever? Well, he's been on top of his game so far this year. Practically a different kid! He's had all A's and B's all year. I know, I know, it's early days yet. But, so far as I'm concerned it's still quite an accomplishment for him.
Today, he brought me a letter. The letter informed me that he has qualified to be invited to apply for OWjL camp this summer. It's a camp run by Ohio Weselyan for students who test into the top 95% on all of their tests. Or as he jokingly called it, Nerd Camp. WOW!!! I don't know HOW in the HECK we're going to swing it...but what an opportunity! I am definitely going to have him fill out the application. It's $600 for him to go (I'm currently accepting donations), but there are scholarships available. So, we're going to get this ball rolling and trust God. Isn't that awesome!!

Go Sam!!!

Scoot Over Big Jake

For Mags is a fickle girl.

Tonight, Friday is her favorite horse. And let me tell you, he's a BIG horse!

She couldn't even get on him from the stool. Melissa had to lift her on.

Is it just me? Or does little miss pink boots look even smaller on the back of that big 'ole horse??

I would be severely intimidated. Not Mags, she gets up there without batting an eye and yells, "Watch Mom, we're gonna trot!" Obviously, she is still LOVING her riding lessons.

Things here have been pretty quiet. Getting last minute stuff done for Christmas. Everytime Jon and I think we're all done one of the kids adds a geft exchange...at school at youth group...it's apparently never ending. Sorry I've been such a slacker on here lately. I'll try to do better, there just hasn't been much going on. Love you all!!!