A wonderful Christmas...

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone…  Christmas Eve, we took the kids outside to leave Reindeer food, to start the process, and make new traditions.  It was fun, Ash just run around the neighborhood, and the little man thought we were really feeding reindeer. 

I’ve learned being a parent; you have to be pretty creative, and come up with come backs to questions pretty fast.  But it was fun, they enjoyed it, and so did I.

Christmas morning they were sweet, and let us sleep in until after 8:00.  And since Mr. & Mrs. Claus didn’t go to bed until after midnight, it was definitely a treat for us.  The little man is at the age now where he gets it, and it was so fun and exciting to see his face come Christmas morning.  But Ash didn’t skip a beat.  She made a mad dash into the living room to see all the goodies while bubba was a little taken back with everything he saw.  Santa was good, but Santa is always good!

After enjoying the gifts that Santa left, we had Christmas with my family.  And it was the never-ending gifts of trains for the little man.  Every box he opened had trains and more trains.  He was so excited he couldn't stand himself.  I remember what it was like on Christmas morning when I was a kid, and the excitement that took over my body.  I want that for my babies so bad...

The husband out did himself with Christmas dinner, it was
very good.  Everyone enjoyed the meal, and the company.  With this being our first year having Christmas at our house, I think we pulled it off.  And my Nana did really well, and that in itself was the best Christmas present.  She has had a rough week, so her being about to be here, and be herself was amazing.

After we did Christmas at our house, we had to rush to the
other side of town to have Christmas with the in-laws.  And that is always an adventure.  A house full of seven kids that are tired by this point…  Yeah nothing but yelling, fighting, and making the adults want to the pull their hair out.  But we made it.  We did try to get picture of the kids, and as usual this is the turn out...

For me, it was a perfect Christmas, just getting to be with family is all you need.  Even if it is chaotic, what family isn’t?  My children got more stuff than they need, but they have been on cloud nine all day playing with everything.

I will say I’m tired, and it has been a lazy day, today.  We have all stayed in our pajamas today, which is fine with me.  I do have to return to work tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to get some rest to tonight, because I need it.

Hope each and every one of you, had a very Merry Christmas, and it was magical.

I can’t believe in seven days it will be the New Year.  I need to start working on my goals.  This is our first year we are going to  write down our goals together, but I think it is something we need to do.  Do you write goals together as a family for the New Year?

xoxo, Shanna

Sometimes it just is...

Sometimes it just is, if you know what I mean…  I have found the hardest part of parenting for me, is when both kids are sick, and so is mama….  Or they are full of energy and mama is sick…

Right now as usual, it seems to be common theme in our parts, both kids are sick and so was mama the night before.  Come yesterday morning, I could barely lift my head. And even though the kids are sick, it is different than when the adults are sick.  The needy part isn’t different I guess, but I give my kids medicine, and it’s as if they just ate a bowl of sugar.  Of course I’m not going to let them suffer, and run a fever…  But why on earth does the medicine give them the energy of 20 kids!?!

This is what I was thinking yesterday, as I could barely lift my head from the couch, and I had two little ones full of energy.  All I wanted was their energy, and to feel better after being up (yet another) night!

Thankful me for (but not soon enough), the Aunt and Uncle (as always) came to my rescue, and took care of the kids while I got to just close my eyes for about an hour.  On a good night I get maybe 3-4 hours of sleep, but lately, I haven’t even been getting that!

Yesterday was a big day; it was my Nana’s first Christmas party at the nursing home.  So, no matter how bad I felt, I knew it was extremely important for her and our family for me to find at least a little energy to get me through it.  So I did, we went, and the kids got to see Nana AND Santa Claus!  Can’t say it was a joyous afternoon with Santa, but at least they did get to see him, and actual got to spend time with him, without being just a number at the mall, if you know what I mean.  I think we ended up with about half of his bag of candy canes...

Someone was more interested in the iPhone, than Santa...

Who is the crazy person touching me, Dar!?!  I will not let go of you, make him stop, pretty please...

But leave it to the great grandparents, to get her to take a picture with Santa...

It was really a nice afternoon, I’m glad I didn’t end up staying home (as that was my first thought).  I would have regretted not being there for my Nana and family.  This has been a big and emotional year for our family, with us putting her in the nursing home, and I have tried hard to make sure at least once week I either go see her, or invite my grandparents to our house to visit.  So no matter how bad I felt, I put it aside (like always), to do the right thing and not miss a special day.  My Nana (and I'm sure my Papa too), were very happy to have the entire family together for a few hours.

The sad part for me yesterday, was learning how many people don’t come and see their parents or grandparents in the nursing home, especially at this time of year.  That is just unreal to me.  As our family has always been close, and see’s each other all the time.  I talk to my Aunt sometimes 4-5 times a day on the phone, and before all this started happening with my Nana, I would talk to her at least twice a day.   When Sue told me this yesterday, it just broke my heart, to know that some of these ladies are all by themselves!  Their family should really be ashamed of themselves.  One son came all the way in for the weekend from LA, I would say if he could make it, the rest of them should have been able too.  Yes, I’m bitter about this.  It’s the holidays; it’s the time for family to be together.   I know it is hard seeing the person you love inside the home, I do it pretty much each week, but at least we are still able to be together.  And at the end, that is what is important!

I do have a lot to do today, we need to get our shop on, and get Christmas shopping done!  I have treatment tomorrow (thank you lord), and I will be down and out for a few days...  This is kinda the last day for me to really try to get most of it done.  Wish me luck!

Hope you and your familys have had a nice weekend.  The sun finally has been out for a few days, and I needed the sun in my life.  When it rains for too many days in a row, I start to get really blue.  So happiness is here today, hopefully.

xoxo, Shanna

Where has my Holiday cheer gone...

Okay, I seriously need to find my Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays mojo, if you know what I mean. 



 I have two beautiful children that need to enjoy the magic of Christmas as I did as a little girl, and right now, I suck in this department.

So, I’ve been listening to Christmas music trying to find the spirit.  But so much is going on in other parts of my life that it is making it hard.  My husband and children are fine, that part of my life is great, just other parts aren’t.  It is very stressful right now.

 

I need to find my happy pants, and be thankful.  I’m beyond blessed, and need to stop being so down in the dumps.  So let's pour me a glass of wine, and we will all be Merry, and maybe a little buzzed (I didn't just say that)!  This will be our first year having my family over for Christmas.  We have always gone to my Nana & Papa’s for Christmas.  And I think this is going to be a lot harder on me than I thought.  I thought I was going to be okay with doing this, and I am, but it is getting to be a little emotional for me.  But Christmas time is for the kids, and I've always LOVED Christmas.  My family always went out of their way, to make sure it was special.  And I do want that for my babies, so bad.  So this weekend, this mama needs to get busy.

Happy shopping and pulling it all together, to me!

xoxo, Shanna

One tired turkey...

I made it through Thanksgiving, barely, but I made it!  My family wasn’t even out of the house good, before I was climbing in my bed.  All I could think was, I had a small window to take a nap, before my little diva woke from her's.  Pretty sad, I know…  But I was up with two sick kiddos throwing up the night before, and it was after 1:00 in the morning before I got settled on the couch (after washing two different loads and having to handwash two blankies), to be woke up by the husband wanting to know why we were sleeping the couch…  Really, can we talk about it later!

***Waiting on family to arrive***

Our Thanksgiving was very nice!  My husband out did himself getting all the side dishes together.  I know he was beyond tired himself since he worked the night before and didn’t get home until 5:00 in the morning.  But he we pulled it off.  It might not have been with the same class of my Nana’s, but we were all together, and everyone left with full bellies .

***Sissy getting to sit at the kiddie table for the 1st time***

I truly have so much to be thankful for, and sometimes I (like most people) lose sight of what is important at times.  It’s easy to do when you're feeling sorry for yourself.  But at the end of the day, I’m always reminded, by two sweet babies, what is important.  I try not to take my blessings for granted, as I’m so thankful for them all.

Yesterday morning as I was getting the kiddos ready (half asleep), I was talking to them about all the things that we are thankful for.  I’m pretty I was talking to myself, and that they didn't understand one word I was saying, but hopefully one day they will.

Family traditions are very important to me, and always have been.  I’m trying my best to following the traditions that my Papa & Nana put in place, as family get togethers are now being held at our house.  As the food and company are the same, it is so different not have the holiday dinners at my Papa & Nana’s house.  But, I’m so very thankful that my Nana was able to be with us yesterday.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving yesterday!  No Black Friday shopping for us…  I have a wedding I have to start getting ready for.  I just hope I can fit into the dress still, after all the food I have consumed.

Cheers to it being Friday!

xoxo, Shanna

You snooze you lose...

I’m going to blame it on that darn snooze button…  It gets me every time.  I will seriously snooze for an hour or two, before finally getting up!  I usually don’t roll out of bed, until I hear my husband moving around and making noises, suggesting that I've snoozed long enough.   By this time, I’m late wherever it is that I need to be.  And as usual I jump out of bed in a panic and start rushing around the house, fussing at anyone that gets in my way, trying to get out the door.  All because of the snooze button.  I need an alarm that doesn’t have one.  I’m not a morning person people, I love my sleep. 

The past two mornings we have gotten some rain, thankyousoverymuch, but for whatever reason some people feel that when it rains, more like sprinkles they need to drive 20 mph in a 45 mph zone.  REALLY!!!  And I always end up behind these said people...  The roads aren't wet, it is barely raining, and they feel the need to slow everyone else down by driving 25 mph under the speed limit.  Yes, this can make me (and I'm sure all the other people that are running late), really somewhat grumpy!  Of course once I passed this person, I see she is talking on the phone.  Again, REALLY and me wanting to slap the phone out of her hand!  I’m all about being cautious, but this driver took it to the extreme, but yet it was okay to talk on the phone.  Gun it hun, and get off the darn phone!  Most people that have to be at work by a certain time, are usually in hurry, they aren’t usually taking their sweet a double s time. 

I feel like today is a Monday for me, and I’m not a fan of Mondays so I don’t like when I have two of them in a row…

Moving on to our weekend recap, it was a very busy weekend, but it was great being surrounded by family! We had a birthday party at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning for my niece that is now FIVE. How did that happen!?!

Then we enjoyed some time with Papa, BeeBee and Dar.  The kiddos played and I passed out, seriously!  It was a very nice nap.

Sunday we spent the morning with Nana.  The kiddos look forward to seeing Nana on Sundays.   After leaving Nana, we had our Sunday lunch with Papa, BeeBee and Dar.  Having lunch or dinner out anywhere with two little ones is always a good time.  The little girl loves to people watch, and holler at them.  I sure hope no one gets offended.  And my sweet little man can’t be still.   I love messing up someone else’s kitchen, but I’m also really happy when we leave!

I also got to do a little shopping yesterday… And I’m afraid

 we are going to be in trouble with this little one…

Yes sweet pea, mama shopped until she dropped…

Or more like, until the money ran dry…

I love me some retail therapy!

Happy Tuesday, and cheers to it almost being over!

xoxo, Shanna

A thankful Sunday...

Today we woke up early, so we could spend the morning with Nana.  It was a nice morning, we got her room mostly decorated, and it is starting to look and feel more like home, or so I hope.  The kiddos had fun trying to help, and the little girl was all about being adored by everyone, and trying to climb on everything.

You never outgrow Nana!

This little one, is climbing on any & everything!

Here are few things that I’m so thankful for today:

•       The obvious, my husband and kiddos!
•       Our family & friends can’t live life without them!
•       Having today, and being able to spend another wonderful day with my Nana & Papa!  It was good seeing BeeBee & Dar too, that goes without saying! 
•       That my Nana is doing so well!
•       Getting some good snuggle time in with the little man last night!  We both needed some mommy son time.
•       That my BAD mood finally did pass!
•       The chocolate chip ice cream dessert we had today, it was AWESOME!
•       Taking an afternoon nap with both kiddos and husband!
•       That my daughter didn’t cry going or coming today in the car, thank you big time baby girl for that!
•       For the good night’s sleep I’m going to get!  Thank you trazodone.
•       And for being blessed with this day!

***She also LOVES to dance!

I go in tomorrow for another treatment, and I have to start fasting (again) in the morning.  One would think between fasting every Monday, and having my wisdom teeth pulled last week, I would start losing weight, but I haven't shed one pound!  And I need to shed about 20!

What are you thankful for?

Cheers to a great day and weekend!

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna

I'm thankful for today...

I often reflect back on when I was a child, especially now that we are older and things are changing.   I remember when I was around 7 or 8, I would tell my Nana & Papa and my Aunt, that we were going to live together when I got older.  Yes, all of us in the same house under one roof, I was very serious about us all living together.  There was a house that sat on a hill right before you got to my grandparents exit, that I always told them I was going to buy, for all of us to live in.  Things were so simple then, sometimes I wish things were still that simple.
  Since the beginning of the year our family has been faced with some hard decisions, and the guilt of, are we making the right decisions.  It’s always hard when it's in regards to someone you love.  But after spending today with my Nana, I do think the right decision was made.  She looked better today, than she has in over a year.  She was laughing, and interacting with the kiddos.  It’s not easy putting someone you love in a full time adult living center, but she required around the clock care, that we just won’t able to give her (and by we, I mean Papa, my Aunt & Uncle).

 

Nana with Rehab...

It was a very nice day.  It was sad when it was time to go, and I knew we were leaving without her, that was hard, but I reflected back on the visit and how great it was.

 

Papa giving the little girl some love...

 

The girls minus me, plus Rehab.  He filled in for me...

 

My Uncle and sweet girl, look at that smile.  Such a happy sweet baby girl!

The other day my Papa said that if he could only win the lotto, he would bring Nana back home, and hire someone to help take care of her.  I know this is hard for him, I can’t even imagine.  I always said when I was younger; I wanted to marry someone like my Papa.  He has always been so sweet, loving and very caring when it comes to my Nana.  She is the love of his life, and always will be!

 

Papa, Nana, Rehab and the little man.

 

BeeBee giving the little man some love.

My Nana, Papa, Aunt and Uncle have always been there for me, they know I'm not perfect and haven't ever judged me.  I couldn’t have been blessed with a better set of grandparents, than my Nana & Papa, and my Aunt & Uncle.  They have played a very special role in my life. 

 

I'm glad we had today, I’m glad my Nana was/is doing so well, I’m glad that the right decision was made, and I’m glad to be surrounded by such a loving family as mine.

 

I want my kids to feel and have the love that I had as a child.  I spent a many weekends, school breaks, and summers with my Nana, Papa, and Aunt.  I have gone on a many shopping trips with my Nana & Aunt, and have gone on several road trips with my Papa.  I have very special memories of my childhood when it comes to them, and I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it.

I'm thankful for today, and I'm looking forward to next Sunday, as this will be our Sunday routine, spending the morning with Nana.  

Goodnight sweet angels!

xoxo, Shanna