I'm here, just been rather...blah.  I fought a sinus headache off and on for about five days.  It made the days much longer then necessary.  LOL

The kids have been enjoying the quad, and there Christmas toys.

Rob and I have been enjoying watching our Christmas pressy's to each other.  I bought him the Unit, and he bought me the first season of Fantasy Island.  They are both being enjoyed.  We love watching tv this way without the commercials.  Rob had never seen any of the Unit, but is thoroughly enjoying it.  I bought the Second Season Christmas Eve night when I realized his gift wasn't coming.   I also knew that its a series you can watch and start in the middle.  And we have.

I think when Febuary comes around I'll probably pick up the first season for him.  (Valentines Day)

I got an email on Friday saying what I originally bought him was being shipped.  I'll believe it when I see it. 

And if it comes, then I'll tell you who was selling it, and what I think of their shipping.  *snort*

My dad bought me a nice jeans coat from Walmart on Saturday.  It's not fancy, but its perfect for what I need, and my zipper went out on my winter coat, so it was also a rather necessary purchase.  I'm thinking of fancying it up by doing a little embroidery on it.  I haven't decided for sure or not though.

My dad fell asleep on his way home Saturday and woke up a foot from the guard rail and a fifty foot plunge into a very deep lake.  He was extremely shaken.  And we both decided God still has some stuff for him to learn--and do.  It'll be intresting to see what it is...

We are in love with Samuel's lizard.  He's even a better pet then the turtle, as he likes to be held, and climb up us.  He's stilla  Houdini, and he climbs a lot.  So we have to make sure the lid gets closed every single time.

I was offered money to do cornrows for someone.  I guess that means I'm mastering them.  LOL  I picked up some olive oil goop in the black hair care section and redid Zeria's cornrows Saturday night.  It is awesome stuff, and her braids still look great.  She should be able to leave them in for several weeks.  I might have this finally mastered.  My rows aren't as small as a lot of peoples, but Zeria's hair isn't typical black hair its a lot more fine as she's not  full black, so I'm not sure how much smaller I could get them and have them stay in, but I'll keep experimenting. 

Next time I'm gonna experiment with some more creative parts.  And I really should take a picture of the latest doo, as it finally looks like I meant for it to look.  *snicker*

Other then that, just enjoying life.

No baton and no Awana for one more week.  Its been a nice break, but the kids and I are both missing both.

So the kids got a suprise gift.

Okay mommy got a suprise.

My dad called us into the kitchen this morning and said he'd bought something, and he really wanted to give it to the kids.  If we were uncomfy he would take it home, and just bring it out for them to use when he was here, but he'd like it if we kept it.

We said they could have it.

What else can ya say.  ROFL

So here we are going to find it.

And here they are umm using the gift.

Yeah its real.  Its not electric. 

And yeah we have some seriously spoiled grand kids.   And yeah I felt a bit guilty accepting, but at the same time...well my kids got a really cool Christmas gift.  LOL

The second year after I got married we bundled the kids up into the car to do Christmas lights.  They promptly fell asleep and Rob and I had this fabulous romantic drive.

It was Christmas eve, and we were just wandering around admiring light displays when we came upon a house with luminaries.  I was awed by them, and thought them beautiful.  We sat and just watched them for awhile, and then kept driving.  A few minutes later we came upon a whole culdesac full of them.  Every year since if at all possible we have gone back.  Some years its been raining, and some years Rob has worked, but when we can we go.  And once or twice in our old house we did them at our house.  We lived off a county road, up in the toolies, but all our neighbors slowed down very slow and admired them.

The last two years its rained cats & dogs Christmas Eve, but this year its crisp and cold.  IN fact the gate has frost already on it.  So the kids and I dug out the supplies I bought yesterday in hopes we'd pull it off.  Rob brought sand for me.  The forecast called for clear, and we crossed our fingers.  We did about 45 of them, and they are so pretty.

They remind us that Jesus brought the light to the dark world cold world.

Jeremiah thought it was fun at first, but he quickly froze out.  The rest of them were enthusiastic until we ran out of paper bags (but not candles LOL). 

So how do you make them?  A paper bag, a cup full of sand dumped into the bottom of it.  Light the candle, place in the sand in the middle of the paper bag.  And you turn something very plain into something very magical.

Yeah the pictures are dark.  LOL It was dark!

Umm Samuel took this one.  I guess its been quite awhile since I've trusted him with the camera...so tilt your head to view it.  *Snicker*

And I love these next two...because that is how it really looked outside.  Just a tinge of face glowing from the candle.

So  Rejoice the Light has come!  Merry Christ-Mas

So Rob is working until 10 pm tonight.  And my dad will arrive at the house at 7 am.  Yeah its early, but Rob has to work tomorrow too, and I figured he needed to get in on the Christmas madness. 

So I have to get the house somewhat tidy with kid help, and no hubby help.

Tis fine.

I also had a couple "fun" projects to do.  The kids each decorate a cheap white matting that their putting a picture of themselves in as a present for Grandpa.  And we have luminaries set up to light after dark.

This all said to say..

What was I thinking when I said Samuel could have a lizard for Christmas?

*snicker*

He basically knows he's getting it.  But I ran into town early this morning to pick it up, and Rob set the cage up while I was getting it.  I was having trouble with the heat lamp bumping the cage...and so didn't put the lid on it.  I was told this brand of lizard is NOT a climber.

HaHAHAHAHA

Two hours after purchasing the lizard I went for a great lizard chase.  And when I found him I didn't realize it and made him fall 3 feet to the ground off of what he was clinging to.  I also almost squished him with the laminate flooring that's stored in my bathroom.  I moved it thinking he'd be behind it.  It toppled into what he *was* hiding on.  But narrowly missed him.

Welcome to the Signor family Great Houdini.  You were wise to attempt to run.  Your life is being taken into your own hands.

I played around after church with one of the pictures, and came up with this.  Its kinda funny cause I thought I'd removed most of the distractions from the picture before I took it, but it still seemed busy behind us when all was said and done.  Anyhow I thought it turned out kinda nice.

Stoned mommy & dadd an all

And one bonefied Christmas picture.  Of course my husband looks a wee bit stoned.  When I tried to suggest that he smiled.  He told me he was.  And then I took this.   Yeah he's smiling.  *eg*

Snort.

I told him he has a very handsome smile, and THAT stoned look up there is NOT it.  GIGGLES

Okay I'm picking on the poor man.  But hey its my right.   So I'm apparently a bit stoned in that picture too just to join him.  But it was the best one of him, so *shrugs* 

Oh and Jeremiah has hit the stage of I will NOT smile for a picture that would be asking way way too much.  Pictures are serious business.

And that was our anything goes shot.  Note Jeremiah's face.  It looks like he's saying oh my word look at the weirdos.  And Rob?  Still stoned.  I think we need to give the man some coffee.  I.V form.

Anyhow there we are.  You can decide which is the best shot.  ROFL

Merry Christmas. 

I was playing tonight, and just snapped tons of close-ups of my varying Christmas decorations.  I rarely do still life pictures, I prefer fun and creative angles on my kids.  But was in a mood, and I had to share cause I thought  a few turned out quite nice.

My doll that looks a lot like Kaylin.  She moves that light and lollipop.  My mom observed she must be very tired of moving the lolipop and never getting to eat it.   

So technically this isn't Christmas--but the Christmas lights were making it prettier then normal.  And I happen to think its quite pretty in a shabby chique kinda way.  Its one of my hanging oil lamps for the days when the power goes out. 

My glass Christmas angel with the lights behind it.

One of the beautiful gold Christmas ornaments on the Victorian tree I bought. 

And a wee teddy peaking through the branches on the Victorian tree.

My last picture is not a still life, but one I've been attempting to catch for awhile.  At first glance it looks rather bizaare.

This is the view from my computer desk--looking at my scrapbooking table.  The "bright" lights are the tree just through the glass in the sunroom.  The lights on the top of the picture are the lights on the ceiling.  The lights in the "back" of the picture are reflections of my second Christmas tree which is actually behind me when I took the picture, and all of the lights in the sun room reflecting on the second set of windows.  Its totally surreal and magical when you sit here.  The lights are multiplied many times due to the fact that the roof is lexican (clear plastic) and the walls are all windows/and or French Doors.  Plus the french window your looking through to see it.  I was very pleased with how it turned out because it shows exactly what it look likes. 

Good morning;

My mom's present came in the mail yesterday.  Since we're celebrating  Christmas with her today that was a very good thing.

Rob's gift has NOT come, and I can not get ahold of the seller.  *sigh*  I'm very concerned that I got ripped off.  But I'll maintain my silence as to who the seller is for a bit. 

My nieces present came yesterday, and since my mom is delivering it I'm thrilled.  So the two I HAD to have are here.  And Rob's a big boy he'll wait, I'm the one whose ticked.  I ordered it with plenty of time, and I hate being this concerned about it.

*shrugs*

My mom and her three girls are coming over and we're having informal Christmas.  I bought tons of different kinds of crackers a couple types of cheezes, some mini hot dogs in corn bread from Costco and  some baby taquitos from Costco and we're finger fooding it.

''

I wanted sugar cookies.  I wanted to cut cookies out and ice them and sugar them, and do a fun Christmas project with the kids.  And so we did.  Last night Zeria and I cut the cookies out and baked them while the others were in bed, and today after they helped me clean the kitchen we made a gooey mess so we could clean it again.

I haven't been up to doing this with the kids since before Jeremiah was born.  LOL  So its been a long time, and I was determined that was going to end now.  It was a fun project, and the kids were very serious about it. 

Samuel was all about piling.  He wanted as much of that icing on the top as possible.  This is one of his first cookies, each one got more and more until it finally looked like a dog had dumped icing on the top.  *snigger*

Kaylin and Zeria were about designs.  And came up with some very nice ones.

Jamari and Rainee just had fun.  And Jeremiah well we know which sprinkles were his favorite as he DROWNED the cookies in red sprinkles.  LOL

We even got some of the icing on the cookies...once and awhile. 

And now we have lots of Christmas prettys to share with Grandma Bower when she comes over with her girls to celebrate a early Christmas tomorrow.  If you remember I said she was coming after Christmas, but now she's coming before.  Its all good LOL  Except her Christmas pressy I ordered with plenty of time was in Chehalis as of last night at 7:30.  The odds of it getting here tonight are slim and slimmer.  *sigh*  And Rob's gift?  I can't contact the company I ordered it from, and I can't find my confirmed order email I deleted it by accident somehow.  I have the copy I made for myself from the site, but not the one they sent me, and now I'm beginning to think there's a good possibility it just plain isn't coming.  *sigh*  But hopefully I'm worrying for naught. 

Anyhow there's the finished result of all the cookies.  LOTS and LOTS of cookies. 

I don't remember what made me think of it, but I wanted to learn some tips for Corn Rowing Zeria's hair.  Oh wait yes I do points to a subscriber who recently added a sister to her family.

Any how I went to You Tube and typed in how to corn row, and then how to braid.

I taught myself as a result how to do Criss-Cross Corn Rows in Zeria's hair.  It turned out pretty decent the second time.  LOL  The first time I was on a strong learning curve, and I did the wrong kind of braid, but it still looked not bad.  This time it looks quite cute, I just need some gel to keep it a wee bit less fuzzy, but I knew that going into it.

I also found a really good video for doing the Fish Tail braid which I did in Kaylin's hair.  Its fun to learn something new, and will be fun to do for the girls for their Christmas outfits.

I also learned a fun bun which I did on Rainee's hair.  You braid in this big long stretch of ribbon and then use the ribbon to make a lovely bow. 

All in all a hair learning adventure.