The Christmas Break

I am pretty sure I am certainly in the running for mom of the year, I mean how couldn't I be....

On Thursday, as usual, I had crossing guard duties.  My mom-in-law "momma" picked up the kids from school.  She called me as I drove to her house saying Anthony had hurt his arm at school.  I somewhat assumed it was minor because I got no call from school and he could move his arm and fingers and twist his wrist.  Momma did say she thought it was broke.  I should have known she'd be right as she was in the nursing field at one time in life.  However again, I assumed she was being grandmotherly and overly cautious and catering to her grandbabies every whimper.  For the record he was NOT crying when I saw him, he just didn't use the arm which would be typical anytime you hurt a body part broken or not.
There was no way on earth I was taking him to get checked out anyways unless he was having difficulty breathing or something truly urgent as the School Christmas play was only 2 hours away at this point.
So we left grandma Pam's and rushed home for Anthony to get into all black.  Then we rushed to Walmart to buy Jayna an outfit as she'd managed to filthify her clothes at school and for the 2nd time in 2 weeks her new boots had fallen apart (the soles were chatting... same thing happened to the previous pair after wearing 3x... cautionary advice to the few places who still have a Wet Seal-- YES they may be on sale but NO they won't last longer than a week.  So happy ours shut down in the massive Wet Seal closing of Jan 2015.  Clearly if they couldn't make/import at least walmart quality merchandise then they deserve to go bankrupt.... now back to the story) We rushed to my friend Alisa's to barrow her phone to record it.  Then made it to the school by 5:45.
I helped all the kids become penguins before the play began at 6:30.   Jayna was fully supported.  Nana Jan and Cousin Kierra came,  Grandma Pam was there.  Poppy and Grandma were there.  Friends Tanya, Andrea, Adrianna and Alayna were there.  Daddy and I were there of course.
The kids were fabulous, absolutely! 
Long but a nice preview of 30 of the 80ish minutes

half the penguins singing: Anthony 2nd row from top

Jayna says  "Whatever Ernie"

Jayna declares "this is the best Christmas EVER"

the cast

The ones with speaking parts take a bow

Grandma Pam and Jayna

Mrs. Berti and Jayna (her tutor from last year)

can you tell Ant isn't quite up to par? Andrea, Adrianna and Alayna gave the kids gifts!  Such sweethearts

Daddy rewarded them with Dinner at Red Lobster--- notice his arm is just hanging while he gives a thumbs up with the other

A brief funny story--- after the play we were taking the kids to eat dinner.  Marko drove separate so he left a bit sooner.  I didn't tell the kids where we were going, just that they'd like it.  They saw me turn into the mall and immediately assumed Chick Fil A.  So I asked what they wanted me to order them.  Then they see me pull into their favorite Red Lobster and Ant's quite pleased, but Jayna almost seemed bummed after having already had her head set on those nuggets and fries lol

On Friday the kids went to school.  Ant's arm was still hurting.  I had worked 3rd shift and so we rushed out the house so we could go to McD's for a biscuit for them and Wlgreens for an ace bandage for him.  I wrapped his arm and as usual dropped him and Poppy and G'ma's.  I headed to crossing guard.  They got out of school at 12 so I picked them up.  Holy cowness his hand was SWOLLEN.

which is injured?

 Jayna already had a dr apt for for after school.  Mom was meeting me there because I had crossing guard and typically drs are slooooow--- yet another reason I rarely go.  Mom asked the dr about Ant's hand and he said it was likely broken.  Mom took Jayna and Kierra while I took Ant with me to crossing guard.  After crossing guard I took him for Xrays at the walk in med-express.  It was confirmed, snap, crackle ,pop.  They set him up with a splint and got us an apt for ortho.  We quickly ate some Hardees in between the two appointments.

At the ortho they let Anthony pick his cast color.  He chose black for the Steelers black and gold.  He was less than happy.

He was suddenly happier when he got a new video game afterwards--- especially since dr said no trampoline on contact sports (ops we have forgotten to follow that one since he got the smaller cast in January)

He has gone to the ortho dr every two weeks since Dec 19th to have new xrays and get recasted.  We are hoping it will be castless at his Feb 3rd visit and then into a brace.  But he is much happier with the smaller cast other than he says it hurts his thumb.

I hope to never again have a Christmas Break--- hopefully the kids never take the wording so seriously again... from now on it will be called Christmas vacation to prevent any confusion!

Thanksgiving

We, as usual, headed to West Virginia for Thanksgiving.  Dad the kids and I left about 1pm on Wednesday.  It was already prettily snowing- but not laying probably because we had just had two warmer days.  I did make a last minute pit stop for a $5 sled and dollar gloves for the kids.
When we got just beyond Elon, about 30 minutes into our drive, this was the scene.

We got there way earlier than usual.  However, as usual we were royally spoiled with Nana's homemade veggie soup.  And most the others also were a fan of her chilli.  Anthony approved of her peanut butter and jelly.  The next car full of visitors arrived just before 7.  Izzy had her son Brett and her grand babes, Lauren, Averi and Ryan.  We all ate and about that time Amanda, Aidan and Uncle Alden came over.  The girlies all wanted to go spend the night with Uncle Alden, and were likely driving him crazy with their begging.  However thanks to Amanda being a distraction and the girls trying to lock her out....

Uncle Alden safely and quickly escaped solo.  And when the three girlies realized it----

They sped outside in shock that he got away-- they got out the front door coatless in time to see him pull off.
Around 11 Vicki and Jake got to Nana and Papa's and near midnight everyone called it a night.  I so wanted to take a picture at 5am of the girlies cuddled together asleep on the living room floor, but I didn't want to risk awakening the twins-- I knew Jayna would sleep right through it.  I got the Turkey from the garage fridge at 5am for Nana to begin her endless hours of cooking, then went back to bed.  I got up at 9am. Nana, Amanda, Dad and I helped in the kitchen all morning.

As in like every household we watched the parade while cooking... and look how well Papa kept the kids under control in the living room watching the parade.... for about 5 minutes ;-)

At propmptly 1pm, Thanksgiving dinner was served.  As always it was a feast and so delicious!!

THIS FEEDS A HUNGRY ARMY OF 23

The kid table: 1 of 3 tables we had

Our guests: Amanda w/ her Aunt Carolyn, Helen with her "favorite" Dave and Jayna with Robert and Freda

After eating, Amanda, Aunt Chris and I did 2 hours of dish duty.  Typically Tricia, Marko and I do the dishes.  But, Ticia just started a new job and was unable to make it for Thanksgiving-- and therefore she couldn't force Marko into helping.  I tried to get Nan to do disposable plates and utensils but she was having no part of that suggestion (of course!).  After doing dishes, I found the kiddos knocked out!  At 4:30 our friend Kelvin arrived to visit!  Notice the color of his shirt? (ignore the word Marshall)?  I know he knew his cowgirls were going to loose so he was secretly, undercover cheering for the Eagles!  And it worked!  Way to go Eagles!!!
At 5:30 Amanda, Izzy, Vicki, myself and all the kids but Anthony headed out for our beloved Black Friday tradition, which Amanda lovingly renamed Grey Thursday.  First we hit up Big Lots to view their dvds and Christmas decor.  Then we went to enjoy our beloved Walmart chaotic fun.  Amanda rushed for the dvds.  I went to capture her T-fal pots, 4 set of lamps and a box of dishes with Jayna.  The other 5 hit up the toy section.  We met up in line.  I'd consider it a very successful 1st black friday for the kids.

Left: whoopie cushion fun @ Big Lots, mid: Jayna and Ryan in Big Lots, right: in line at Walmart

Then we headed back to Nana and Papa's.  Averi and Jayna decided to take Uncle Alden up on his offer, the start of a 2nd generation tradition.  They got to have their sleepover.  Oh how special it truly is to have my kid(s) enjoy the things I loved as a kidlet!  Meanwhile Ryan and Lauren went with Jake and Brett bowling.  Anthony was napping with his daddy.  NOT that I can envision that momma's boy going else where for a sleepover...

Then, Vicki, Izzy, Amanda and I went to Kohl's.  I quickly found what I wanted and then held our place in the longest- by far- line of our night.  It took forever to get to the front- about an hour.  The man behind me was a bit cooky, but also sometimes entertaining as he prank called random friends using very believable random foreign accents pretending to be "Bill from N'Telos" calling about their bill and asking from their credit card info.  Amusingly Kohl's got hacked over Thanksgiving, and on Friday our credit card company cancelled our card and contacted Marko.  There was no fraudulent activity on our card, but since I used the card at Kohl's it was a precaution.  Next we hit up Izzy's favorite store Elder Beerman.  I can't mention purchase details from our outings as so many were Christmas gifts.We got home before midnight, word record!  Izzy gave Nana and Papa their gifts.

Amanda and I went out to Lowes at 5am for a few more bargains.  I was assigned to buy Jake's item, while Amanda got her two.  This wasn't hardly black Friday.  We were like two of six customers. Friday morning Nana made her world famous Pumpkin and Pecan pies, while the two remaining kiddos kind of sledded down the drive in that 2 mm of snow flurries.

Then Uncle Alden came over with the two girls, scooped up the other 3 kids and myself.  This year because of the icy rodes we couldn't do the bridge, just the visitors center for the bridge.

 

Then of course we headed to our traditional black Friday lunch-- DQ!  Uncle Alden generously treated us to kids meals (ok I got the $5 meal deal not a kids one) and ice cream!

Then we were back to Nana's to play in the little bit of snow we got!  They got so spoiled last year with sledding on the drive way and a nice amount of snow, that they were willing to sled in any amount of snow this year, just to get to sled!

Then we headed to Aiden and Josie's house.  They have such a fun house!  And they are always so welcoming and kind letting us invade their home to play!

We got back to Nana's for supper and pie!  After supper but before bed the kids also enjoyed a late night sled ride.

Nana made us her fabulous pancakes for breakfast on Saturday.

After breakfast, it was time to pack up, take final pictures and take off for our homes again.  It as usual was a wonderful family and fun filled visit!

Uncle Aldy with the kiddos.  Some things never change.  He's always been an amazing Uncle!!

So lucky to not only have grandparents still living, still married, but to have such family oriented hands on devoted grandparent

Nana and Papa with most of their favorite kids

Izzy and Amanda,,, missing Trish lots in this photo

And how about a laugh... we stopped by Tamarack on the way out of town...

Jayna was helping the statue with his issue... sniffing his pitts and suddenly he realized he had no deodorant with him.  Thanks to Jayna and her spare container of Degree for her 24 hour guarantee--- the day was saved

Happy Cow Christmas

We try to do playdates with friends in place of exchanging gifts.  Our first such playdate was Dec 2 at Chick Fil A for kids night.  We met up with Wendy, Chuck and the four kiddos.  It was crazy crowded but the food was great and the company greater!

We ate and enjoyed a photo op while we waited for Wendy and her gang to arrive.  When they did, they ate their meals while my beggers traded kids meal toys for ice cream.

 We of course got our group shot with Santa Cow and Santa Elf.

 The kids also got to each make a Christmas ornament.  Then they were served hot chocolate and could choose their toppings: marshmallows, sprinkles, candy cane, whip cream.  Time with friends was great!