A Family Breakfast

I can't remember the last time I ate breakfast with all three of my boys at the same time. Most mornings, I'm up by 5:30 making lunches and enjoying a bit of quiet time. One by one all three sleepy heads awaken, Matthew being first. By the time the last one is up, I've eaten, showered, and am getting things together to start the day.

This morning, things were different. I was up at 5:30 (reluctantly since I was awakened several time during the night) and just as I finished packing the last lunch, I heard a little voice from my bedroom. As expected the little man was ready to start the day. He joined me in his high chair for some early morning Cheerios (his favorite). Within 10 minutes, Joshua joined us, and Dominic came along 5 minutes after that. So here it is at 6:15 and I'm sitting around my kitchen table with my three favorite little men - lucky me!!

This must be a sign that today will be a fantastic day!

We're Ready for Christmas

Last night was the annual Paso Robles Christmas Parade. Being that we have never taken the opportunity to see it, I decided to take Joshua and Dominic . So forgive me for saying this, but I expected it to be so much better. We were, however, excited to see the float from the boys daycare with all of our friends on it. That was the highlight of the night. The parade lasted about an hour, and I swear my butt froze within that time. The boys sure enjoyed the parade, a tradition I'm sure we will add to our holiday moving forward.

P.S. Forgive the poor quality photos. I took them from my Blackberry, which was about to die so the flash wasn't working well. In order: STAR's daycare float (it was decorated with Disney Princess theme), Joshua and Dominic, and a Firetruck all decked out)

I have a new favorite Christmas CD - SheDaisy's "Brand New Year." Thanks to my friend Pam, I am the proud owner of this festive and upbeat collection. I can't wait to put it in my car today to rock out on my drive to Bakersfield. Thank you, Pam, for always thinking about me. I will think of you every time I listen to this one!

Christmas Light Dilemma Solved!

For those of you who have talked to me in the last few days, you are sure to have heard me cursing my Christmas lights. We spent most of the day last Sunday tinkering in the yard to ensure that we had the most decked out house on the block. At 7:30pm in the dark of night, we plugged the last strand of lights in and, pop, out went an entire section of lights. DAMN! I told Jim not to worry about it and that we would fix it on Thursday when we were both off again.

Thursday came, and we spend another several hours adding to and replacing fuses on the multiple strands. After about 2 1/2 hours I delighted to hear the Christmas music coming from our new light show box and was thrilled that they were finally working again. We left for dinner with one of Jim's dad's friends just after dusk and we all smiled as the timer turned all of the lights on. Although there were several bulbs out on the colored lights around the gutters, I figured I could switch those out this weekend. By the time returned at 8:30pm, the lights were out AGAIN! Damn a second time!! I thought for sure it was the timer that I forgot to reset the time on but I was wrong. It would have to wait since I was tired and had 3 boys to get ready for bed.

At 5:45am yesterday, I was roaming around my yard in pajamas and bare feet (by the way it was somewhere around 28 degrees outside at the time) pushing all the reset buttons on the GFI's, testing strands, checking the circuit breaker box....NOTHING! Convinced it was a bigger problem than just a blown fuse, I got ready for work and figured Jim would spend most of the day Saturday or Sunday working on it. My worst fear was that there was too much pulling on the outside box and that I'd have to lose some of my decorations.

God Bless our friend Mike Mazur. Aside from bringing a bottle of wine for us to enjoy last night, he brought his magic head lamp and fixed my lights! It ended up being a corroded extension cord plug. It was well worth the $30 on pizza and the four screaming kids to have my lights going again. I will post photos as soon as the lights come on tonight. Merry Christmas everyone. Mine is a little bit "brighter" now!

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees

around the world below

with tiny lights like heaven's stars

reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular

please wipe away that tear

for I am spending Christmas

with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

that people hold so dear

but the sounds of music can't compare

with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you

of the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description

to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,

I see the pain inside your heart

but I'll cherish all the memories

you've placed here in my heart.

I can't tell you of the splendor

or the peace here in this place

Can you just imagine Christmas

with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask him to lift your spirit

as I tell Him of your love

so then pray for one another

as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful

and let your spirit sing

for I am spending Christmas in heaven

and I'm walking with the King.

We love you and miss you, Grandpa.

The Never-ending Sick Bug

After nearly a week of him being sick, I was finally resolved that Matthew was on the road to recovery....then....BAM....102 degree fever sends him home from daycare last night and all day today! I feel awful for the little guy since he was just getting to a point that he could keep things down. I am waiting for him to awaken this morning to see how he feels. If he's up to it, I will have him accompany me to work for the day since I have a scheduled meeting that I'd like to keep. I am off tomorrow so he can stay home with me for the extra day for some Mommy and Me time.

You wouldn't know he was sick by looking at these photos from his bath adventure last night....



Get well soon little man!!