Our Christmas Vacation

What a mundane title!!! But our Christmas vacation was far from mundane this year. God allowed Daniel to have off a whole 10 days but only taking 4 days vacation from work. WHAT A BLESSING!!! If we have had 10 days in a row together in the 9 years we've been married, I don't remember it. These days were well deserved for all of us!!!

We drove to Ohio on Christmas Eve, arriving at Mom and Dad's just before midnight, Eastern Time. Despite being exhausted, we stayed up until the children were asleep, set out all their gifts from Dad and Mom and Memaw and Pappy and then filled their stockings with their gifts from "Santa". Only then were all the adults able to go to bed.



Christmas morning was great. The children were excited and I think all the adults were, too. Everyone enjoyed their gifts but I was shocked to receive our "family" gift from Mom and Dad, a Wii and a Wii Fit Plus along with the Jillian Michaels 2010 DVD. For someone with no yard and a teeny tiny living space, this couldn't have been a better gift. (Already the television has been turned off more and we've been playing together as a family.)

Over the days we were in Ohio we visited the Mennonite man that God has used to bless my parents in the process of building their new home.



Mom and I went to a massive thrift store where we found some great deals including a wool coat for me for $8. We visited an Amish community in Southern Ohio. We went to church. We just did "stuff". Nothing important. Nothing wildly exciting. It was just nice. It was a break. It was restful. I'm so greatful that God allowed us this time to decompress and refocus.

The Invasion is Scheduled For TODAY!!!

The children are coming home today from Memaw and Pappy's house! I have mixed feelings. I'm ready to see them but OH MY SOUL it was so nice having the house to myself!! Boy they just keep you busy.

They did great at Memaw's house all week until this past Monday. Poor mom. Both of them got sick while there were there and she was up several nights with Lydia puking. Plus, they get up very very early at Mom and Dad's house so I know Mom has to be exhausted.

It sounds like Lydia has turned the corner with her potty training adventure and is now wearing big girl panties without peeing in them AND is getting up to go potty at night! Wooohoooooo!!! So, I'm excited at the thought that I may very well be completely out of diapers for the first time in 6 years!! What a wonderful feeling!!

Unfortunately, I was supposed to meet Mom and Dad halfway to pick up the kids on Friday but since our van is out of commission, they are driving all the way here today, staying in a hotel, and then driving back to Ohio tomorrow. I feel bad about that because I know Dad is going to be exhausted driving all day on his days off. But I praise God for such loving and generous parents. I would be lost without them.

I Knew There Was a Reason I Should Have Had Dogs Instead of Children

Most of you know my children are at my parent's house for at least two weeks and I'm just loving it! I'm such a bad mom, I guess, because I'm just giddy with all this time to myself!! Abigail is still here but she is at school until noon which leaves me all morning for ME ME ME!!! Everybody I talk to is just astonished that I would allow my children to be gone from me so long but, wow, I'm just having a great time!! Abigail is getting all sorts of special priveledges and she doesn't even realize it. I'm completely enjoying my uninterrupted cafemom time. Plus, I'm getting the work done I planned on. So, why should I feel bad?! The children are having the time of their lives at Memaw's house. Elijah planted a popcorn kernal hoping to grow a "nut tree". He is frustrated that it won't grow! Miss Lydia is doing great going potty for Memaw even though she has on her "big girl" panties, something she wouldn't do for Momma.

So, I guess I'm just a bad mom because I think this extended visit is a wonderful thing all around!!