Christmas Fun

We had a fabulous Christmas!  We started it out with a trip to Alabama to see my side of the family.  We had so much fun getting to spend time with everyone and the kids especially love hanging with their cousins.  We drove back Christmas Eve and celebrated with Lance's family that evening.  By that point the kids had already gotten more toys than they will be able to play with in a year and that was before Santa made his visit!  Christmas morning was very fun, the kids were so excited and loved their gifts and Katie even told me "this is the best day ever."

We started it out looking in the stockings and then opened presents once Ray-Ray, So-So and Uncle Matthew arrived.  Probably the strangest stocking gift ever are the scissors that the kids asked for and received!

Once the gifts were opened we began the torturous process of putting it all together!  The marble run was a big hit for Tyler.  Katie was loving her waitress set, her barbie dolls and car (with doors that opened - a big requirement that was hard to fill), and played dress-up from her trunk that So-So gave her all evening!  We still have some things that are unopened, and not put together (although Tyler made me promise to put his wall track together this evening) and Lance wants to put some things away, but I don't know if that will work since Tyler seems to remember all the things he got and will almost certainly ask for them once they are sidelined.  We definitely need to figure out a better organization/storage system.  I had the "bright idea" to move everything upstairs and make the playroom the main area for toys and left nothing downstairs to gather things, but realistically there will still be lots of playing downstairs (better for cars, puzzles, that's where the play kitchen is and has to stay, and the car tracks don't do well on carpet) and we need somewhere to put stuff so will have to do some re-thinking on that one.  

Yesterday afternoon we spent time with Lance's cousins and Aunt and had a great time (and fabulous meal) there too.  The kids were shy everywhere we went at first, but finally opened up and had a ball - I think they had a wonderful Christmas and we did too!  

Lights

We were able to both pick the kids up from school today and wanted to do something fun.  It was too dark to go to the park, and Tyler's suggestion to go to Publix wasn't very exciting, so we decided to go look at Christmas lights.  We debated Shadrack's but it is a longish drive, interstates were a disaster AND the kids told us they didn't want to go look at lights (wanted to get home to color because Tyler has been practicing and doing well at staying in the lines).  So, we just decided to go to see a house that is nearby (actually on the same street as some relatives which is why we knew about it) and look at others along the way.  Well, of course the kids immediately were unbelievably excited about every little light we saw (which made us wish we had decided to go to the lights/music show at Shadracks) and were having so much fun pointing out every display (and telling us repeatedly that lights without houses meant that the people in them celebrate Hanukkah).  When we pulled on the street of the house with lots of lights they started ooohing and aaahing and then when they saw the actual house we were visiting they were in awe - Tyler said "this is amazing."

When we told them we could  get out and walk around they thought that was awesome and then Santa was there handing out candy canes which they thought was really cool too! 

They had a lot of fun looking at all of the lights (they dressed themselves this morning so the outfits aren't very picture worthy even if the kids are:))  They probably got just as much enjoyment out of this as they would Shadracks, because Tyler kept commenting on how he really like being able to get out of the car and walk around to see the lights!

They were both being so silly, but really were having fun and I am glad we "forced" them to go - sometimes we do know best! 

Merry Christmas

The visit with Santa went pretty well.  Tyler was shy and wouldn't really talk, but he did give him a big hug.  Katie was just so excited she could barely contain herself.  I think the pictures turned out great - here are just a few!

All photos were taken by Mandy Johnson Photography.

Kicking Myself

Well, the Metro Schools website just posted that children are only eligible for Kindergarten next year if they turn 5 by August 31st.  The only way to be grandfathered in is to have been in a Metro Pre-K classroom this year.  I am so mad at myself for not having put them in the Metro Pre-K classroom this year at the school they will attend, so they would be eligible.  I know rationally that there was no aftercare available which made it virtually impossible, but I think I should have tried harder to come up with a solution so we wouldn't be in this predicament now.  I reiterate that I really love their school and think it is fabulous for them and if we had all the money in the world I would probably be much more content to leave them there for another year.  The education is on par, and probably better, than what they will get at the public school.  The cost, though, is a lot different!  Our debt is just piling up and is equivalent to what we spend each month at their preschool and I just don't see how we can do another year of this.  I had false hope because the metro schools website continually said the September 30th date and I thought maybe they wouldn't change it until the following year and that is why this is so upsetting - I could see a light at the end of the tunnel but unfortunately now we are looking at having to spend $30,000 + before they get into "free" school.  If I had any worries about how they would do in Kindergarten it might be different, but I know that they would do fine and if they didn't I know we could hold them back a year and not have spent all the money!  We will probably look into the Metro Pre-K program for next year, but I bet I will decide it isn't worth it because the cost isn't that much cheaper and we would have to add-on aftercare and be in pretty much the same financial boat.  I guess I need to come to terms with being financially stressed for another year and a half and try to worry less and just realize what will be, will be.  I always also had a completely arbitrary age difference if we were to ever have another child - 5 years - and I can now decidedly say that K & T will be our only two!  I certainly know why finances are the number one reason for divorce and key cause of stress, but I am going to try to make it my resolution to not let it get to me and to remind myself that we should be able to get out of this mess once this expense is gone when the kids turn 6.  I just have to tell myself that everything happens for a reason and stop second-guessing and I apologize to anyone who reads this for updates on the kids, but I needed a place to vent!  I know I drive Lance crazy worrying and obsessing about it and hopefully now I can let it go and move on :)!  The good thing is that the kids will be excited to be in the Pre-K classroom (it is like being the "Seniors" in high school) and they really love the kids and teachers at their school and will like to have another year with them all.  Plus, Katie and her little friend in her preschool class are inseparable and they will go to different schools when in Kindergarten so this gives them another year together :).

One-on-One Time

I don't now if it is that much easier to have only one child, or if the kids are just on extra special behavior when they get one of their parents all to themselves, but I really had a great time this weekend spending some time individually with each of the kids.  Saturday was in Tyler's words "a stay home day."  I took Katie with me on a trip to Michael's and to Petco for their dog adoption day.  We had fun looking at all the stuff, and fell in love with a few puppies, and then selected a craft for our project of the day.  Once we got home we made candy - Santa, elves, teddy bears, Christmas trees - and the kids were so proud of their creations, but had no problem eating them when we were done!  We didn't do much of anything at all, but had a great day.  Today Katie went to the Rockettes show with So-So, and Tyler went with me to Opry Mills.  We rode the train, and shopped - for three hours!  We went to the Disney store, looked at leggos, picked out the Build a Bears we will do sometime when Katie is with us, and bought a couple of things for Dad (that I highly doubt Tyler will be able to keep secret).  I didn't get a lot of the shopping done that I needed and hoped to, but we had so much fun hanging out just the two of us that it was worth it to have to try to find time to get out in the chaos again next weekend.  I really enjoyed hanging with my little people - they both talked my ear off and were sooo well-behaved.  We rarely get one-on-one time with them, as I know most people with multiple children don't, and it is amazing how much more relaxing it is when you aren't refereeing or trying to keep up with two going in opposite directions. 

Tyler had a ball riding the train, waving at all (seemed like millions today) of the shoppers and pointing out stores that we had already been in as we passed them.  

Katie was ridiculously excited about the Rockettes, and almost equally as excited to come home from breakfast and get her "pretty outfit" on. She came home talking all about it and seemed to have a fabulous time!  

All in all it was really a great weekend, despite that I am now even more behind in Christmas prep.  This week will be crazy at work, but the good thing is that I will be at a corporate shopping day on Thursday  so maybe I can get two things done that day - shopping for the kids we serve, and for the myriad family members who I have yet to purchase for!  We have  already done lots of fun Christmas stuff with the kids, though and next weekend they will make gingerbread houses with their grandparents while we have a last chance to finish up shopping, assembling and wrapping (Lance still thinks Santa wraps).  Katie came home today talking about Baby Jesus (don't know if it was part of the Rockettes show or something she talked with So-So about) and we have been trying to tell them the reason for the season while also doing some commercial Christmas things like looking at lights, making candy and cookies, and visiting Santa.  I think their school does a good job, too, of mixing instruction and lessons about all of the different ways people celebrate and what they celebrate and having fun and so far I think the kids have had a great Christmas season! 

December?

My last post excitedly proclaimed it being December, but the first weekend of the month was definitely not very "December-like."  It was warm on Saturday when we didn't do much after visiting with Santa, which made me really want to get out and enjoy the last(?) bit of warm weather we are likely to get, on Sunday.  We went to the zoo and after searching out the alligators (per Tyler's request) and the zebras (Katie's choice) we had a late lunch and I let them do something I swore I wouldn't again - play on the playground!  It really is a fantastic play area and the kids could spend the entire day there without getting bored, I on the other hand would have a nervous breakdown.  I decided that I would sit near the exit and let them play on their own, which lasted for about 5 minutes when I searched everywhere within eyesight and couldn't find either one (it is very maze-like, with lots of towers and stairs and hiding places).  So, once I found them both I decided to tag along - they thought it was great that they could lead me around, I quickly began to feel very old and out of shape!  They led me through tunnels, up rope climbs, down tube slides, over bridges, and across obstacle courses for about an hour and today I am bruised and battered :)!  We had an issue getting Tyler to leave, but all in all it was a good day.

Watching the alligators!

We conquered the rope climb!  

We found out last night that we will play in the Music City Bowl.  I was really, really looking forward to an adults trip somewhere like Jacksonville or Atlanta, but it will be fun to get to go to a Bowl Game again, regardless.  The time of day for the game on New Year's Eve is kind of crappy - 11:00 AM, but I think my sister and brother-in-law are going to come in town and if so my awesome sister will watch the kiddos!  Another bright side of not getting the bowl game we wanted is that we can save some money (Christmas is always expensive with gifts, so many birthdays on my side of the family, and slow time in the housing market so it was a little daunting to add a mini-vacation/bowl trip so soon after) and maybe actually get to go Disney this year like I have been hoping!

December!

It's December and we kicked it off with a visit with Santa this morning.  Tyler was being shy and wouldn't talk or look up (he has been doing that lately along with having tantrums and fits that are so out of character that the teachers are commenting on them), but Katie was super excited.  On the way home, though, they were both talking nonstop about Santa and what they need to do since he is watching :).  Last night we went out to Opry Mills, and spent most of the time at Bass Pro Shops.  The kids remembered it from a visit when they went with Lance, Ray-Ray and Matthew and Katie said she "just loves the fish store."  The logo has a bass fish on it on the sign.  The place was packed and we didn't buy anything, but it was fun to look around and there is certainly lots of fun stuff to look at this time of year at that store.  There is always the aquarium, but they had a train, shooting range, Santa's village and racetrack set up too, as well as Lightning McQueen and Princess tents in just the kid's size that they thought were fun.  We ate in the food court and were regaled with stories from school by the kids.  They sang the Dradle song to us that a friend of theirs from school taught them (and then told us all about Hanukkah and seemed a little jealous that their friend got 8 days of gifts but they only got one), and they told us that another friend doesn't celebrate anything other than snow, so we started talking about the meaning of Christmas and what it is all about other than Santa, and I really think it was a great conversation.  Of course, the kids are 4 and we do celebrate Christmas, so Santa talk is fun too!  They posed in front of the Bass Pro Shops tree and really wanted to open the presents (which I suspect were empty).  They weren't really dressed for pictures (just picked them up from school and headed that way), and we are having to be cautious particularly with Tyler about seeing too many Santas around town, so we didn't visit Santa last night.