wow, is it over?

It's over...i can tell by the load of laundry on my bed waiting to be put away.....It seems all fun ends with my laundry...which is why it's almost always in baskets! UGH!

We got shauna home...and she remains precious! Molly was thrilled, as were all of us, and she brought a new cooking technique to us from a french girlfriend, which also was embraced and to become a part of our traditions...the pumpkin soup poured over roasted nuts, and mulled wine were both delicious & health conscience. For the first time in forever?? My time was not all spent in the kitchen...she LIVED in there! YAY! Hattin the Cat...who moved back to the ozarks after being too pent up in a studio apt..was more than thrilled to have her home!



Christmas morning was full of molly presents and fun....Molly just doesn't rip thru paper, she wants to play with or try on each gift as it is given....she opened her new coat first, and it remained on for most of the morning!




As well it should, given the fact that we actually had a white Christmas!! This is also something very uncommon in these parts (missouri) but more than welcome! Grandpa and Sarge couldn't wait to get at it!



We usually just get gifts for the kids, but Grandma & Pa surprised us with something I've been looking at all season, but just couldn't justify spending the money on....what a surprise that it was a gift for grandpas best buddies, Hattin and Lucifer! A cat tower!!Shoulda figured!!


Or maybe he just got it for them, to get them off of their favorite place to stay...on HIS BED!!




Then, we travelled back to Spg, to see the boys albeit too short of time, as we had to hustle girl-child back to the airport.....I did get the rare opportunity to have them all in the same room at the same time. Merry Christmas, Mommy!!






The hardest part to my "little angel" was letting go of all her siblings. Molly keeps pretty good control of herself, and really tries hard to act appropriately....but there were no holds barred when we had to say goodbye. She screamed all the way from gabes to the airport...finally stopping with the vocals, but still shaking her hands...and then it started all over when she saw shauna gathering her bags to run into the airport. Daddy had to make an emergency McDonald's stop...as nothing soothes the tortured soul in Molly's eyes, then some Mickey D's French Fries!! *whew* It's ok Molly...momma feels the same way!

I'll leave yall with 'dare-devil' baby...Aubrey is at her Peak in the getting-into-trouble phase! Hope Your Christmas was as good as mine, and that you have less laundry to put away!!

LMAO!!

Guys...we're doing a mid-week update, because my kid is SUCH a HOOT!

Last night was the Christmas Pageant...grades 2 and 3. Very well put together, and adorable! I dropped Molly off at her room, and asked the teach (after seeing no aides were around) if i needed to stay? or go get a seat.....Teach takes me out to the hall....just giggling. She says "nope, the only trouble we've been having with her is she keeps grabbing the mike, and saying this longggggggg story!" She told me it was too cute....but other than that, she's good with the group, knows where she needs to be, and knows all the songs! YAY!

So, she's up on stage singing her songs..and there are 3 mike stands at the front. 4 kids each line up behind each mike stand, and say their parts of a little play. Then we see it. Behind the middle mike...Molly has assumed a position at the end of the line of kids.

(this is their adorable little costumes...and the infamous microphone. Molly is just behind the little boy in green sonic shirt, in the middle)



The last kid says his part...and then molly steps up......(at this point I'm thinking God Bless Music Teachers Everywhere!!!) She motions to molly the "Hurry Up" sign language, and starting with a wee voice, and then clearing her throat...my non-verbal daughter reaches her mouth up to the mike and says....

"bub bub.....bub bub bub"

And then turns around to take her spot on the riser.

HILLARIOUS!!!! and everyone enjoyed her ending remarks!! The sarge almost pooped em and I was rolling.

Just cuz you're not a big conversationalist...doesn't mean you can't be the star of the show!


:-)

(this is her...her costume now on the floor in front of her....standing next to "Bobert" who continues to be the main man in her life at school)

A whole MONTH???

It's been a whole MONTH??? Ohhhhhhhhhh I'm not winning any prizes for sure! HA!

I think Facebook has alot to do with it...we can update in real time now...not a bunch of recapping needing to be done...and EVERYONE i know is on FB, except YOU, PAMMY AND STEPHANIE!! FOR SHAME! hahahahah!!

Lets see, we left off with Vets day...went right into Thanksgiving, where everyone but shauna made it home and ate BIG! Those boys can still put away more food than any 12 of your men, and I spent most of the day in the kitchen!


Allyson and Gabe brought wonderful pies and smoked briskit from the new barbeque place Ally's managing, ("Whole Hog" for those of you in Springfield) as WELL as my grandbaby! Aubrey Jo stayed with "mom mom" for a few days after, as the kids had to return to work. Her stays with us are the highlights of all of our lives....and let me tell ya, it takes 4 adults and one Aunt to keep up with her 17 month old, busy-body self.





Bill and Angela also came loaded with new movies and lots of fun!! Ok, maybe some of it wasn't THAT fun for bill...but Gabe seem to enjoy himself! UGH!





We had a little bout with bronchitis and molly, but we're able to muscle through it at home with NO PNEUMONIA, and no hospital stay. YAY! So that took up some time and energy. Molly wants nothing to do with getting well..she will fight you every drop of medicine,(we always wear part of the dose) or has to be hogtied to be nebulized.



We're done with that, all the Christmas cards are in the mail, and the presents secured....and for the first time this month, I feel like i can sit and breathe easy! We did get to see the Christmas parade here in West Plains (mom and dad really like parades) and even though molly was JUST getting over her bout of lung-crap....her and mom just HAD to stand out there for a bit, in a cold rain, and cheer on the participants! (and get candy)



The rest of the month has had some really good news for my other moms and friends online...i know I've asked for prayers for these families...and thought i'd update them for a sec!

Renee Garcia has her little Reece's Rainbow baby, adopted and at home now WELCOME HOME KELSEY!! (also with DS, like molly and renee's daughter Kennedy!)....and Nicki's Ashey, who had a relapse in her Leukemia??? Is cancer free as of latest scans, but continues to keep up with the protocol to keep her that way. Ben?? Amy's Ben? The wonder child-chef, and Keeper of the Love... also has had scans recently and continues to be free of the beast.....so KEEP UP THE PRAYERS....i see them working everyday. Prayers to all that continue the fight.

Shauna will be coming home for Christmas (barring anymore snow storms pounding the east coast) and we're THRILLED!! She arrives Wednesday in Springfield! Molly has a party Monday, as well as a program Mon Night, 1/2 day of school on Tuesday, and then Christmas break begins here! IM SO EXCITED!!

I just love this time of year....and not in the tradional way...there is not a load of presents under the tree but just one "something special" for each of the kids...but really, that's all. We all have everything we could ever need or want... and the whole commercial part is avoided as much as possible.

Part of the reason??? working in retail....part of it happened when we had nothing....but lately??? its just another one of the very wonderful things about having a child like Molly. She has some stuff to open, for sure (she loves the whole tearing of the paper thing) but isn't easily impressed by what we can buy. Holidays to her mean getting to see all her sibs and her niece with a dash of rough housing, laughing, sharing meals and hugs! She's a different child when surrounded by the love that is radiated by my older children and those that love them. I so appreciate each and every one of them...they are all OUTSTANDING young adults and make me PROUD!

So this is a short update, but we wanted to wish you a Molly Christmas!! She knows the real reason for the season, likes to take a quiet drive and just be in awe of the Christmas lights, and rejoices in the love of her family.

Know that we count you all among our blessing this season....Family, Friends and moms like me!!

Merry Christmas!