I Hope You Christmas!

Christmas Eve morning rolled around, and we were all still in Christmas Festivities madness.

My sister Terra was getting over Influenza A. My nephew Emerson and Brother-in-law both just got Influenza. Mica was going to bed at 7:30, for a few nights because he didn't feel good. Isaak was feeling better, but had Strep Throat earlier in the week and the week before.

We decided Emerson would stay home with his Dad. Otherwise we were good. I many times questioned if Mica had Isaak's Strep Throat, or an ear infection, but he remained fever free through all of it, so he went to have Christmas Eve with everyone.

Here's the best photo I could get of us. Mica's lips were like that in just about every shot. The ceiling is going to have a light up there. That's where the chimney flue went from our fireplace that we sold. For now it looks like a graduation hat on Mica's head. Am I right?

We went to church. It's something we only do about once a year. Sorry, but I'm truthful, plus there's a story there. My older sister dropped the bomb that they don't want to do the church thing anymore. I want to mention that we are faithful; we just don't go to church. Before the service I texted to my older sister to pick up hand sanitizer because my Aunt was asking for it. She texted, "See that's why I stayed back to get things ready, and get things like that. ;)" I texted and said, "Well I thought about it, but decided since I'm a few years younger than you I need to put a few more years in to going." I was surprised that Isaak participated in the youth sermon, and sang. 

After church we went back to my Mom and Dad's to have a huge meal of soups, shrimp, cheeses, sausages, dips, veggies, crackers, and more. 

That's when my Mom started looking really bad. Feverish! 

Everyone liked their gifts. We all loved the sweet treats a little too much!

Here's one photo of my youngest nephew walking around with the Spider-Man blanket we gave him. I gave him that, and a Paw Patrol video. For his birthday my sister said he loved PJ Masks. What did I get him for party plates? Paw Patrol. He'd never seen Paw Patrol. I said, "Well I'm getting him a Paw Patrol DVD, so he knows what it is."

I hardly get good photos of people unwrapping gifts, and spending time with each other. It's always dark when we have Christmas with my family, and dark when the boys open their gifts in the morning.

Here's a photo on Christmas Day of the boys with their cousin's the same ages as they are. My nephew Evan wanted a hoodie. It's hard to find one under $50! I just didn't want to pay that! I found one on Amazon for $28. Then my nephew Elijah wanted one. Then Mica saw me ordering it, so he wanted one. Isaak liked it too. Aunt Terra got my boys hoodies as well.

My boys hate me a little because I told my Mom to get them these sets instead of Legos:

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They are very complicated. Everything is paper! They each fit their personalities. Isaak's into plants. Mica's into books. I'm sick of Legos. Travis said, "Well you can put them together, and give them to your grandparents." Isaak said, "No way am I going to put that much work into something to have them put that out probably once a year." Ha! 

They got a lot of things they LOVE from their grandparents. No worries. I will do the paper sets with them. It may take a year, but we will get them done.

Christmas morning I got up at 7. Isaak was on the love seat at 6! Just waiting... until we all got up. This is the first year he hasn't believed in Santa. I'm glad he was still excited for Christmas! He doesn't look excited in this photo. He was just sick of waiting for us!

There were a few gifts I was pretty darn excited about giving...

Mica's Spacex Long Sleeve Shirt:

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BUT Mica decided to slice the box with a scissors, and sliced his shirt. We had to pick on him because in preschool he took his shirt, and cut it with a safety scissors right in the middle. This time he sliced right in between the A. I ordered a new one, thinking the sliced one could be a night shirt. But I did decide to try and sew it. I didn't do too bad, so I canceled my order. The best option would be fabric tape, but I'm not a sewer, so I didn't have any. 

I was oddly excited about these steam punk glasses I got last minute. Isaak loved trying some on at The Mall of America. I don't know how much he'll really wear them, but they look crazy, and fun.

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I gave both boys Cheez-it Boxer Briefs, in Cheez-it Cracker boxes. The crackers remained closed, and I slid the boxers in there. It was just a fun way to give their gifts.

I loved Code Piano, I got for Isaak to review. 

Travis and I didn't get each other too much. We got our new phones. That was a lot! 

He did pick out a saw, and a tortilla press. I got a Pizza Peel last minute, to review. He ended up loving it, and made pizza right away. It kind of looks like a spanking paddle. Ha!

I got a few shirts I picked out, and a new kitchen mat. I know not that exciting, but I really wanted a new mat! Our old one was peeling. Plus this one is red. Why not add more color into my already colorful kitchen?

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I also got a Kamboocha Starter Kit, from my Mom. I asked for it, but I'm slightly nervous trying it out. All I have to do is follow the instructions, but I'm horrible with instructions. Only I could mess up Amish Friendship Bread, that was passed down to me. I have to get past this fear of screwing things up.  

Both boys hugged us when they got their first game station, PlayStation 4. I have a lot to learn. Who knew it only came with one controller? Not me. I didn't know you have to pay extra to play online with other people. It's all new to me. I told that to the Game Stop guy, when Mica went to pick out a few games.

What were some of your favorite gifts you got or gave? 

Random Tid Bits

1. I'm happy to say that I love doing dishes, and laundry. Odd I know! When our water was turned off I hated using paper plates. I don't like wasting things! We had dishes covering the counter. I had two baskets full of laundry. Last night I did the dishes, and separated out the laundry. It felt good knowing that I could take care of them.


2. Giving is a wonderful thing! My first year students all got brand new MacBooks. I didn't buy them. I got to help hand them out. It's so fun seeing the look on people's face when they get something they've wanted for awhile! 


3. I have one student that whines as much as Isaak does. I'm not joking. It's really sad when a college student whines as much as a 5 year old does. She's either whining because she doesn't get how to do something, whines because she's not as good as other students in the class, or whines because she hasn't gotten an award for a competition that they students enter every year. I feel for her, otherwise she wouldn't come to me to whine. At the same time I tell her, "If this stuff bothers you do something about it." Then her eyes fill up with tears. I just wish you could install confidence in some people. Other students are too conceited. Those students I wish I could knock down a notch.


4. Another horrible thing happened this week. A little 5 year old girl named Payton was sitting eating breakfast with her mom and brother. A bullet went into their home, hit the girl and killed her. She's the same age as Isaak. The brother that was at the table is only 4 years old. No one knows who fired the shots. I'm just heart broken for this family! The area they lived in is the rough part of town. It doesn't matter. No one should worry about eating breakfast, and have a bullet enter their home! The family is trying to celebrate her life instead of grieve over it. They are strong people. Their only hope is that gun violence stops!







5. To end on a happy note Isaak created a fun drawing I want to share. He spelled everything out himself. 

There Are Good People in This World

There are bad people to!

Life's been a little up and down lately. At least I feel like it is.

Last week one of my students came to me crying because her Grandma was hit by a car when she was walking. She had a blood clot in her brain. She ended up passing away. My student was sad that her Grandmother passed, but she also felt for the person that hit her Grandmother. She knew he didn't mean to hit her Grandmother. Just that single act of forgiveness made me want to cry.

Then I heard about a blogger who lost her son. Someone shot him. I can't even imagine the pain she's going though! She lost another son just a few years ago from suicide. I've been thinking about her everyday. Her son was not even a year younger than me. Anyhow I love her blogging skills. She makes me laugh, brings my spirits up. Now her world has crashed underneath her.

Then I just learned tonight that a high school student is missing. Her mom works at our local Y. We go there three sometimes four times a week. How scary! They may never see their daughter again!

On with the good. There is good. I truly believe that with every bad there has to be a good happening somewhere.

Last week a local design agency had on Facebook that they were giving away the money from their ad profits to someone that needed the money. It was a local person that they wanted to help out. I thought about my sister's family. Here she has had to quit her job to take care of my nephew Emerson. He's a lot of work! Much more then a baby that has no problems at all. Emerson's odds for living were very low. Only 10% of Trisomy 18 babies make it past the age of 1 year. Here he's going to turn a year old on June 23! We all pitch in with what we can. I emailed Emerson's story into Secret Penguin the local design agency. I mentioned how they don't need diapers, my sister uses cloth ones. They don't need formula, my sister has pumped this whole time to give him Momma milk. They could use some restaurant gift cards. Time is what they need. A lot of times they just have sandwiches for dinner because they just don't have time to cook. Emerson is up for another surgery soon. This time to take his adenoids out. Then he has to get his jaw hardware out at the end of May. Secret Penguin talked to a restaurant; they designed their look. They own Roja Grill and Blue Susi. The owner donated a $50 gift card to my sister's family. The owner had a sister that past away of Trisomy 18. Secret Penguin is handing over their profits to people who need money once a month from their ads posted on Facebook.

I also watched a very moving flick that is inspiring. This again is about doing good for people. This little boy had it in his heart to make people happy. The problem was is that no one would come and share his happiness. Finally one person did and launched a Facebook invite and created press for people to show up to play this kid's game. I won't reveal the rest. It's creative, fun and inspirational. A must watch!
Let it buffer for a few minutes before watching.


Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.