Sunday Synopsis (of the last 3 weeks!)

First of all...thanks to all my friends for continuing to check my blog and comment during my little hiatus. Life got so crazy as we got closer to Christmas and something had to give. This was it! But things are settling and I've missed all of you and so here we go. My last three weeks...
First of all, many thanks to The Kirnancrib for my white elephant gift. Her poem indicated it would help to clean up a stained reputation and boy does it ever! Nothing says Merry Christmas like a Tide Stain Roller. Thanks and let's be sure to do that again next year. It was a blast!
I also got to do a gift exchange with Adrianne who lives in Argentina. I was SOOOO excited to get authentic Dulce de Leche from her! I LOVE Dulce de Leche ice cream and hot chocolate, etc. and am thrilled to have the real stuff! Thank you Adrianne!!

Now for a quick recap of my crazy life.

• Shortly after my last post, #3 cut #4's hair for the SECOND time. Yes, you read that right. This time, he took off all the hair on the top of her head along her part. She has a cowlick on that side so her hair always parts right there. I would have gotten a pic but 1.)I was too furious to even think about a photo-op and 2.)her hair is so fine I don't think a camera would pick it up. From a distance, you can't tell. I didn't notice until I found the pile of hair in the kitchen. #3 got in enough trouble this time. I'm pretty sure he won't be doing that again. (Not to mention he'd need some serious scaffolding to get to the scissors now.)
• #1 had 3 different concerts with his band. He's really getting into it and even sings backup loud enough to be heard! I am the dorkiest mom sitting there with my perma-grin on. I'm glad there's lights in his eyes so he can't see me. He'd be so embarrassed! Although he's amazing on the guitar, we need to work on his moves a little bit. He wasn't born to dance.

• Christmas was wonderful. I don't know what I'd do without my kids. They make the holiday. #4 was everything a child should be at Christmas. My boys get excited but are pretty restrained in showing their emotion most of the time. #4 was excited about everything from the biggest gifts to the smallest chapsticks in her stocking and wasn't afraid to show it. As much as she tries me, I'm so grateful for that little girl!

• My parents came down and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us. Our parents take turns coming for our Christmas Eve tradition and this year was their turn. I love having the grandparents with us on Christmas morning! I worked a few hours Christmas Day and then we headed south to the in-laws.
• We spent almost a week at the in-laws which is quite a long time for us these days. When our kids were babies we'd stay with our parents most of the holiday but the last few years we've kept our visits pretty short so the kids can enjoy some of their break with their friends, too. It was really nice to stay down there this year. Life runs at a slower pace when we visit. They don't have internet access at their house though which is another reason for my hiatus.
• While at the in-laws I got a crazy stomach bug that lasted two days and ended up in the ER for 3 liters of fluid and anti-nausea meds. On the plus side, I consider everything I ate over the week between Christmas and New Years to be negative calories!
• I got to spend my birthday in St. George where the weather was a balmy 53 degrees. Hubby followed me up and down every aisle at Target and never complained. He also followed me around the mall and let me buy TWO pair of shoes when I'd only planned on one. He didn't say a word when we went into AE for a pair of jeans for him and walked out with a cute little sweat suit for me (and no jeans). He even let me pick Cold Stone for lunch and didn't crack any jokes when I got the big size. It was a good day.
  
• The last two days of Christmas break I cleaned out and organized my basement. Without hubby. The WHOLE thing. He's tired of me reminding him of this little detail so I'll throw it in here (he'll read this and get one last jab). My dad helped me a TON the first day. I think it would have been way too overwhelming to even start if he hadn't jumped in and got to work. I'm happy to say my basement ROCKS! I finally have my food storage out of boxes!! (And realized most of it expired two years ago. Bummer.)
• In Hubby's defense, Bowl Week has always been recognized as a sacred holiday at our house and asking him to be secluded in the basement without a TV would be like asking him to cut off his balls and hang them from a necklace around his neck.
• I got my new King Size bed set up with my new comforter set (that I bought in June in anticipation of my new bed this Christmas!). It's the first time we've owned a King. And I'm thrilled to report that Hubby has yet to smack me in the face in the middle of the night during one of his sleep adventures. It's been heaven.

Thanks for sticking around and reading all of this (if you made it!) I know a lot of it is mundane and incredibly uninteresting for most of you but I justify this little hobby (obsession) by calling it my journal and most of that is relevant in journal-land.

Happy New Year!!