Sam's Christmas Program

Sam is really blossoming in preschool, in my own humble opinion. His Mrs. Mills just seems to bring out the best in him. After his last day of school before the Christmas break, he asked "Do I get to go to school more?" This is the same kid who has always whined "I don't want to go to school." Look at the menorah he made at school. He really is learning so much. Maybe notsomuch about counting to 8 but whatever. He excitedly told me the q-tips were pretend fire.

The preschool Christmas program was very enjoyable. Mostly, again like at Thanksgiving, because Sam did everything he was supposed to do. It's far easier for a mom to watch when your kid is being good.
I will say, though, his rebel-streak hasn't totally disappeared. I can't imagine that will ever happen actually. So, right after this picture, as he's singing Feliz Navidad (so cute, he mis-sings "At the bottom of my heart", he used his maraca to fake-shave his underarms. I have no idea how that popped into his head, but it did and he was definitely the spectacle of the program. I don't have a still picture of that but I do have it on tape. Could it be $10,000 just waiting to come out of my camera? Mrs. Mills was laughing so hard and I was losing it, too. I love that she loves his "individuality" and never tries to squash it.


Sam was dressed kinda spiffy that day. Excuse the water spots all over the front of the shirt from whenever he was making out with the water fountain. He actually had a green sweater to wear over this dress shirt, but he thought he shouldn't wear the sweater since he had worn it to school before. He was trying to look special. And by the time he got finished with his white icing hands (before the program of course), he had his corduroys looking quite special, too. Like the back pocket hands?

And this is the little whippersnapper when it was time to leave. I was still so happy with him.
Since the sun was hitting his face funny there by the van, I had him come over to an evergreen to snap another handsome picture. And then he spotted it:

A super muddy slippery hill that was just calling his name. And apparently it was louder than his mama calling his name to git right back here right now, Samuel Allen Gill! No picture of the mud-caked shoes or the then-mud brown corduroys, but the van floor/car seat will tell you it happened.

Not the Bee's Knees

I think it's pretty much winding up and over with, but I'll share something semi-freakish with you 'cause we are all about entertainment here.

Something's been going on with my knee. I really don't know what, but it's been a trip.

I was on the treadmill last Monday and there was nothing unusual about that. That night my knee felt a little weird/different, but not hurting. I decided not to run the next day, just in case it needed some rest. And it stayed feeling "different" for a few days. It started to seem like it had a mini waterbed over the kneecap. You could push down on the skin and it was like it was full of water. Kinda funky, kinda cool. But definitely not normal.

On Thursday night, going to Jack's band concert, I wore my new shoes that I wore the night of my PioneerWoman/birthday outing. No biggie--they are not tall heels. More like old school teacher shoes, sturdy and sensible. But I did climb up and down bleachers and walked sideways up a frozen hill to get to the parking lot, and once we got home, the knee was flippin' out going crazy.

It was very sore and swelled up like I had an orange under the skin. The next morning, the kids were on their own getting to the bus stop, I really couldn't walk. I web md'd it. I thought maybe it was bursitis, or pseudogout possibly. Then I decided it was something involving an infection most likely, since it was hot to the touch. I thought for sure I'd get into the doctor that afternoon, but by afternoon, the pain had really calmed down and I thought it was getting better, even though the swelling remained. So... gosh, now I'm starting to sound like Gary: No pain, no need for medical attention. Well, then by that night it was killing me again, so I propped it and iced it and then could barely get up, it was even worse. It hurt to bend or bear weight. And the problem is, that's kinda what your leg is for.

I adapted by bringing everything downstairs with me that first trip in the morning so I wouldn't have to go back up the stairs at any point in the day. When I did do the stairs to go to bed, it was the one-at-a-time, side approach I watched my Grandma take for years with a bad knee. I walked like I had a peg leg. Even my own kids stared at me.

And then Sunday night, suddenly, it started improving like a mira-cycle (Sam's way of saying miracle). I don't know if it had anything to do with the whole bottle of wine Gary and I shared on our Sunday date night, but ever since then, I am walking and up and down the stairs and crossing my legs and feeling so much better. Today the swelling is really down and I think it's almost back to normal.

Moral of the story? Yep, skip the doctor, go for the wine.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

Grant is anti-coat, and so is Sam for that matter. They don't even like to wear long sleeves even though we are into winter and having well-below freezing temperatures out there. Heck, Sam won't even keep a shirt on period, other than his muscle shirt. He has to be forced to put something over it to go out in public.





So, the other morning when Grant came downstairs dressed for school and had on a bona-fide long-sleeved shirt, I thought I would faint. It was this one picturing the planet Earth with some writing circling the picture. Then he told me the catch,





"Mom, I'm only wearing this shirt because it has facts."

And dear readers, please don't be jealous that you don't have your own drinking glasses.

Urban Christmas Tree Hunting

So Sam wouldn't give up all hope that we hadn't actually missed Christmas this year, we were determined to get a tree in the house this past week. Busy as it was and with Gary coming home fairly late each night from work, we didn't get it done Monday or Tuesday night. Wednesday came and by 7:30 or so that night, we finally had a chance to go out for a tree.

Wednesday was the day we had sustained 20-30 mile per hour winds and gusts of 50 mile per hour and a low temperature of 15 degrees. Put those all together and it was truly brutal to be outside. I'd say it was the most ferocious winter wind that I ever remember experiencing. And yes, that was my free day for the week, so I went out to do some shopping and pay money to get my hair done. And one step out of the shop and it was undone.

So to go out that night as a family to get a tree wasn't our most genius idea ever, but hey, I think it made for a memorable Christmas memory.


One quick stop was what we were looking for, so we went to Lowe's. Right away, Caroline found her very own free tree.

We seemed to be the only ones out shopping for a tree. Why is this place so deserted? Oh, yeah, because we're the only crazy people.

This picture so cracks me up. Doesn't Sam look like some little old man with bad fashion sense?

Jack and Grant did their part in helping. Jack was helpful to point out and actually stand up trees he thought might be nice ones while Grant acted as critic. And this he admitted himself as we finished and hustled back to the truck.

"I think I deserve a new Lego set for telling you what was wrong with every tree."

Grant, gotta love him... or otherwise I'd kill him. And no, his teeth haven't gone all green. That'd be his lovely retainer.I'd like to think we finally found our special tree, just the right one, but I think we just finally grabbed one to get the heck out of there. So inside we headed to pay and play on lawnmowers. And what do you get when you wear glasses and come in from freezing cold? Fogged up glasses. That get hung up on your ski mask. Robbers, be warned. It could happen to you. Somehow, I am just not sure this goes right in line with the original idea behind the ancient Germanic custom of bringing in a tree to decorate for the Christmas celebration...wheeling your pre-cut Douglas fir in a red plastic shopping cart, but hey!

Here's the before. Stay tuned for the after.

Jack's Band Concert

Jack plays a mean trumpet in the 6th grade band. He invited Grandma and Grandpa to come to his Christmas Concert. And they came!

That night, my camera was on its last measly charge of a battery so I didn't get any shots during the concert, and can I say it was wonderful music, but here's one from afterward. Jack played with his Santa hat on and a big metallic red ribbon on his horn. He's got the holiday spirit!

This is a tired girl after the concert. Musta been all the fidgeting and bleacher hopping and gum begging that wore her out.

While we were dressed in something other than worn-out white muscle shirts, I thought it was the perfect time for a family picture to use as our Christmas card. Take 1. Oh no, Sam was not cooperating.

Take 2. Ok, Caroline, what's up with the man pose (foot on coffee table) and Gary's looking high on deer urine?

Take 3. Caroline's eyes. And Gary's eyes are still glowing, despite red-eye work. And, honestly, I could do without the accentuating of my double-chin.

Take 4. By this point, Grandpa Henry moved in to stimulate some smiles and cooperation and I think it was getting to be too much for Grant as he's starting to double over in laughter. We still have some glowing eyes--it's like the brown eyes won't take the red-eye correction. By this point, it was Gary who stopped cooperating so this one just might have to be it.

An American Gothic Christmas card?

There's even a better one involving dentures outside of their usual position, but I won't dare publish it. But it did the trick in getting some smiles.

Delightful Surprises

One day this week, I came home to find a mystery package at our front door. Once everyone was home, we opened it! Someone had sent us this:

Festive and Frugal, yep, must be someone who knows us.

Oh, yes, I see they even know our kids.

And Classifieds, you know, in case Gary needs to get another, third wood chipper. Or jousting sticks. Or whatever.

So sweet of someone to send us a free paper! I just love this giving season.

Oh, but wait, there's more! Inside was this:

Hmmm, must be something dangerous?!



Yikes, rattlesnake eggs!! Also, a scorpion for Jack, but we didn't get its picture before he ran off and got under the kitchen cabinets. The scorpion. Not Jack.

Or maybe Scorp's still stuck under glass the way he came. I don't know. I just know there's no picture to prove it either way.

Earth magnets for Grant! Someone knows he is Mr. Science.

Gary seemed to think they were for him. He couldn't even stop playing with them long enough to get out of his hat and coat.

A sunny sun for us! It's hanging in our kitchen until we get through this winter. Then maybe I'll let it go outside to play. Love it!

Caroline received jewelry. Perfect, dahlin'.

Sam's gecko and snake. How fun! Something new for show 'n' tell to wow the whole preschool crowd.



Who sent these gifts, so thoughtfully aligned with who they were meant for?

Here's a hint. These pictures were tucked inside.

Thank you, Uncle Bob and Aunt Vicki for all the cool gifts and especially all of the excitement of an unexpected surprise! You made our night so much fun! Hi, Laura and Joanna!

Sorry to spoil the element of surprise, but I can't help it! I already know what we are getting you!