Little Miss chatting with Santa at our town’s Christmas Tree Lighting.  Pumpkin’s select 6th grade choir sang that night.

My Dad took the 6 oldest grandchildren to see a movie a few days before Christmas while my mom and I gave my SIL a break and took the twins to see the Trains at North Park.  It was such a treat to spend time with them!!!  I just don’t get the opportunity to be with them.

On the 23rd, our family along with our beloved Aunt EJ and Uncle Lynn headed to the Plazas of the Americas for a little ice skating.  Fun family day!

Aunt EJ and Uncle Lynn loved our new dogs.  I was very suspicious of them hiding one (or two) in their trunk when they left.

It was such a treat to have our first overnight guests in our new home be family.  Most of our family live really close to us so having our Amarillo fam stay with us during the holidays was so much fun!

Our fam of five on Christmas Eve ready to go to the Christmas Eve service at Park Cities Baptist Church.  We spend most of Christmas Eve day with the husband’s family.

The Lad and his cousin, Daniel.  Do you sense the admiration?!?!?!

Christmas morning at the Knightly Manor…..

I love so m any6 things about Christmas, esp. anything to do with being with our families BUT I must confess that one of my favorite traditions (newer ones….started about 5 years ago) is spending the early morning with just the five of us THEN hosting Nana and Papa over for a low key ….but yummy and filling breakfast.  The kids love to have their grandparents to themselves.   This was our first year in our new house so breakfast in our first ever real dining room was a treat.  The big thrill during this annual meal is the Crackers.  Or some folks across the pond call them Poppers.  I found tin crackers (and English holiday tradition) five years ago that are much bigger and able to hold more items.  We draw names at Thanksgiving and must buy (or make) two small items for our “person.”  The third compartment must hold a handwritten note from the giver.  I treasure these notes!   Well, most of the time.  The Lad had me this year and said something along the lines of  “I hope you don’t die.”

(gulp)

Count them……

Yes, there are eight!  All eight of the Griffin grandchildren.  I still can’t believe that my brother and I have a total of 8 children.  Who would have thought he would have more than me?!??!?!  I love them all!

The husband reading the Christmas story with a little guy on his lap.  I loved how this twin just plopped himself there and did not budge for a long time.

Lots of game playing happened this Christmas!

I do hope you all had a very very very lovely Christmas.  I am so very thankful that the theme is Jesus and I have a FULL family that celebrates our Savior with us.

Our baby girl was born on pumpkin day (aka Halloween) 12 years ago.  I was convinced she was a boy.  Not sure why.  We already had a 14 month old boy so I assumed it would be perfect to have another boy for him to buddy up during their growing up years.

The day before our second child was born, the husband I were driving around Rockville, Maryland (where we were living at the time) and realized that if the baby was born the next day, he/she would be a Halloween baby.  We realized that we couldn’t name the child Hallie (short a sound) like we had planned.  Hallie Halloween  just didn’t sit well with us !  :)

Our sweet pumpkin….

We love you more than words can tell.  Here are a few facts about you…

1.  You certainly bring sunshine into our lives.

2.  You are a peacemaker!  You want all to get along and you want to solve conflict fast.

3.  You are a quick learner.  You seem to pick up new skills fast (just like your daddy).

4.  You have a strong understanding of the Word.  You also have memorized quite a bit of scripture.

5.  A cuddle bug!

6.  The reading bug has caught you this year!

7.  You are an animal lover, esp. dogs.  Especially our new dogs!

8.  Your voice has developed into a beautiful gift.  I am SHOCKED that the sweet melodies flow from the  mouth of MY daughter!!!  You have been diligent in voice lessons despite that darn sight reading.

9.  You always want to GO.  Of all three of our kiddos, you are the most non-homebody.  Someone says “GO” and you are in the car.

10.  Shopping is one of your favorite hobbies.  You take your time (mom better be in the mood AND patient).

11.  Your are still our pickiest eater but have matured in trying new things with a good attitude.

12.  You don’t get mad often…………..but when you do……………..it is UGLY.

Dad and I LOVE LOVE LOVE you.  You are a blessing in our lives.  We continue to beam with pride when you bless others too!

So….stay tuned (all 7 of you who read my blog) for more.  Aren’t you excited!?!?!?!  

Happy weekend!  

BUT our children are NO less loved and appreciated AND celebrated this year than years of past.  In fact, I love each of our cherubs more this year than I did last year.  How can my love for them GROW and GROW more from the first time I held them in my arms?

So….my goal this week is to sum up my precious children at 13, 12, and 9.  Did I just type that?  How can my children be that old?

The Lad at 13!

I never knew a 13 year old boy could be so stinkin sweet and cute.  I am sure he would die if he saw  those words describing him.  You are precious, honest, goofy, loving, intelligent, eclectic, and funny. A few fun facts:

1.  You love to watch cooking shows, esp. the competitive ones.  You are always up for competitions.

2. You are constantly urging me to cook up something new.  You also beg me to allow you kids to play “Chopped.”

3.  You prefer to take showers at night, claiming you want to be “moist” at night, not in the morning.

4.  What a hugger you are!  This momma eats that up!

5.  Reading is still a big part of who you are!

6.  Last week I found a sticky note stuck on my sweater.  A certain 13 year old male wrote, “I love you.”

7.  You LOVE cloudy and/or rainy days.

8.  Football is your obsession.  It killed you that Daddy missed a big part of the football season this year.  Needless to say, I heard a lot more about football than I typically would have cared to know!

9.  You informed me that you will not date until you turn 17.  I replied, “well, that works for me.”  You paused a few minutes and said, “Well, it just might not work out.” I asked you what you were talking about.  ”Mom, if I date a girl in high school and she does not go to Baylor, then it just won’t work out.”  I did not know you had chosen an university and I wonder who on earth you plan on dating!

10.  I love watching you battle what is right over the will of your flesh.  I don’t like to see you struggle but it is evident how you are gradually becoming very sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  You want to do the right thing!

11.  I love how you ADORE your daddy.  You have always had a tight and special bond with him and  it seems to get tighter by the day.

12.  You do not like to talk on the phone.

13.  Playing games is always something you like to do.

14.  You are convinced that OUR ipad is YOUR ipad.

15.  You despise writing.  You have horrible handwriting!

16.  You get rather upset at me when I put on hand lotion.  You are rather sensitive to smells.

17.  You enjoy listening to sermons on Sunday mornings and at Momentum (youth group).  You take in every word.

I am stopping at a random number for no particular reason.  I could go on and on about my precious son.  What a gift you are to us.  I know the teenage years have a reputation of being HORRIBLE but I am looking forward to the upcoming years.  I know the Lord will work in your life.  I can’t wait to see what you do with that!

Kingston

Concho

We adopted these two live wires from a friend of a friend.  They are a couple years old and house trained.  The kids LOVE having TWO dogs.  This momma is still not completely use to having dogs in the house…..and on the beds.  They are not allowed on the new white couches though!

Pumpkin NEVER sits down to do her homework.  The coffee bar is HER study spot.

We adopted two yorkies today.

The lad broke his front permanent tooth. Ugh!
I am taking the day off from school tomorrow to regroup and enjoy time with the husband…and to go to my annual checkup.

Things are a little out of whack around here but our hearts are full!

I am away at a scrapbooking retreat this weekend so it makes sense that I am sitting at a Starbucks alone blogging….right?

I am in a huge funk this weekend, Well, it is more like I am mad at myself and am struggling to forgive myself of my horrible ways.

I won’t go there either.

I have titled this post 5 times thus far. Apparently I have no real direction in writing.
Rambling would be the best title.

So…..5 attempts to write something with more depth and I got NOTHING but ramblings….

Imagine, me rambling.

So here is to ramblings….
1. As stated above, I am at a scrapbooking retreat. I struggled with going and leaving the kids scattered with friends and family. Little Miss has given me nothing but grief about leaving her. So….Daddy can leave for 6 weeks but I can’t leave for a day. She has, in fact, not wanted to leave my side for three weeks. She has been invited to many activities with friends and even family members but refuses saying, “only if mommy goes.”
2. I am a horrible stressed out mother. I will leave that at that.
3. I am apparently very very dependent on the husband.
4. My folks have been beyond gracious to me (and the kids). I KNOW we would all be dead if they have not stepped in and assisted me in single parenting.
5. 15 days left in this separation from the husband.
6. The husband is being VERY VERY productive in Zambia.
7. I am not being productive here in the USA.
8. Not being productive stresses me out.
9. I am stressed out that I am stressed out
10. I think single mothers ROCK! I do NOT know how you precious ladies do it EVERY SINGLE DAY.
On a more positive note:
11. I am a Team Leader on my campus and our principal is taking us on a field trip to look at flooring (at another school) for our new building. So, I get to have a day away from my little preschoolers and be with adults on Monday. That makes me so happy.
12. Our new couches are FINALLY arriving on Thursday.
13. So happy to get rid of the red couches but a bit apprehensive about having cream colored ones.
14. Salted Caramel Mochas are my new thing.
15. My van is about to hit the 100,000 mark.
16. My mom created a daring fall bed in the backyard full of all sorts of fall goodies. She is sooooo gifted and generous.
17. 15 more days…..Did I already mention that?
18. I have not spent time with my dear friends for a long time.
19. We have started a discussion about going on a cruise……
20. I have a love/hate relationship with time alone.

I best head back to the retreat center and at least get a wee bit accomplished. I really want to keep driving on I35 North and go hug my children. Told you I have a love/hate thing with being alone. I need to get away but then I experience enormous guilt.

We are awake but I have three kiddos in my bed (glad we no longer have a full and enjoy a queen now) watching cartoons.  I was not a big fan of having a tv in our bedroom but I must confess it is nice.  It also is nice company for me at night.  I have been recording shows like the Waltons.  I know, I am old but that show makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I am also a BIG fan of books and movies that are historical fiction.  I am always fascinated with different time periods.  The husband is not a big fan of tv in general so I am taking advantage of it while I can.

I am going to scoot and enjoy my lazy day.