And then I felt older.

My birthday's tomorrow.  The big 3-3.  My mom took me shopping yesterday. Twice, because I didn't find anything the first time around.  She also took me to lunch.  My favorite dish is Italian stuffed shells.  She said she had planned on making them for me and inviting everyone over for dinner, but while we were out she took me out for them instead.  Just the two of us.  She said it would be easier for her and more enjoyable for me.  And she was right.  

On the way home, she mentioned that she hoped her salad from lunch wouldn't hurt her stomach.  I laughed to myself and thought, "I'm glad I'm not old enough to experience things like that."  I haven't dreaded this birthday, or getting older, like I have in the past.  Truthfully, I haven't even really had time to think about my birthday.  It snuck up on me.  

Tonight, my sister and I went to Mellow Mushroom for dinner.  We sat down and tried to talk but the music was loud.  Really, really loud.  So loud that we had to shout and it was starting to give me a  headache.  So I made my sister ask our waitress if we could move to a quieter table.  

Yeah…I didn't feel older until that happened.  

We did move to a different, quieter table in the back of the restaurant and I enjoyed our conversation and my Greek salad with one slice of Kosmic Karma.  

On the way home my stomach started hurting.  Because of the salad, I imagine.  Just like my mom was talking about yesterday.  

Ouch.  And then I felt older.  

Christmas Eve

Tonight's Christmas Eve get together was at my aunt Jenny's house, all the way in Cornelia.  It was a great party, awkward conversations and all.  ;)

  My cousin Shaina had the whole place decorated beautifully, we had tons of food, and of course we played Dirty Santa.  I left the party with the Crock Pot I came with, so it was a good night for me!  I tried to take lots of pictures, but it just didn't work out.  I was too busy eating, talking, and running after Violet.  

In regards to presents, the boys got two things… cash and Duck Dynasty paraphernalia.  Shaun got an actual Duck Commander duck call, along with a Willie beard.  He was thrilled.  Jordan was surprised when he opened the Uncle Si Chia Pet.  My Aunt Jenny really knows what they like!  Violet wasn't really impressed with opening presents, but she received cash and pink Legos.  

We were the first to leave because Violet was so tired. We stayed until after 9 and had a long drive home during which Jordan sang "Jingle Bells", Violet yelled "Hey", and Shaun played along with his duck call.  It was a memorable ride!

Now everyone is asleep, except me.  Presents wrapped, my Aunt Jenny's Christmas dessert left out for Santa.  I'm kinda keyed up.  Going to try to read a little.  I know the boys will be up bright and early in the morning.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve's Eve 2013

I love, LOVE December 23.  Christmas Eve's Eve.  It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas.  There's such excitement in the air… it's almost Christmas Eve!  And then Christmas is here!  I love it.  

Because we are both last-minute shoppers, my sister and I have a Christmas Eve's Eve tradition.  We get a late start that evening and finish up our shopping.  I always start out in a great mood, but it fades after a few hours and I get grouchy.  I still love it though!  Last night Lori and I had two tag-alongs.  My two oldest nieces came with us because one of them had been promised a Pillow Pet.  We spent most of the night looking for that Pillow Pet and finally found it at our second Wal-Mart at midnight.  Ha!

We were also looking for Granny's Christmas present.  We heard through the grapevine the she wanted clothes and shoes.  Then the grapevine changed her mind and said that Granny never really said she wanted clothes and shoes.  Lori had the idea to get her an electric mixer.  Granny makes lots of cakes and we couldn't remember her ever using anything except her old fashioned mixer that you turn with a handle.  We needed to make sure that she really didn't have one, so I called and asked what our Christmas dinner assignments were.  Then I nonchalantly asked her if she had an electric mixer because Lori misplaced hers and needed it for Christmas cooking.  It turns out that Granny does have an electric mixer and that my mom gave it to her for Christmas last year.  Ha ha!  Oh, well.  We wound up getting her some things for her little dog, Cocoa.  We think she'll love them!  

It was already Christmas Eve when we finally finished and it definitely shows in the bags under my eyes!  I can't wait til next year!

Flu shot = flu. :(

Unfortunately, this seems to be how we do it around here.  We stopped doing flu shots for ourselves and the kids years ago when Shaun got the flu afterward for the second year in a row.  I think the last time any of us had a flu shot was back when Shaun was in first grade.  Six years ago.  We've all avoided the flu shot and the flu since then.  

This year, though, the kids' doctor talked me into it.  It was a somewhat awkward conversation because we were kind of arguing with each other.  We really love the kids' doctor.  He has a great relationship with us and takes excellent care of our children. I've never had a disagreement with him before.  We went round and round a little bit on the issue of immunizations in general at Violet's 15 month check-up.  I didn't cave that day, but I prayed about it and discussed it with C and some others and finally just decided to make the kids get their flu shots. It was an awful day, let me tell you.  Shaun was a champ, of course.  Jordan was… not.  He actually had to get two flu shots because he jerked the first one out of his arm.  He cried and carried on and our sweet nurse had to call in the same reinforcements who helped her out at Jordan's 7 year checkup this past Spring.  Violet was all keyed up after this, and of course she cried, too.  I was about to cry myself!

That was last Thursday.  This Thursday, one week later, Violet woke up with a fever.  Yep, she has the flu!  Over Violet's wails at his office, the doctor said, "She had her flu shot, right?".  And I just had to say, "Yes… I TOLD you this happens whenever we get the shot!".  And he said, "And I told YOU that it wouldn't necessarily keep her from getting the flu, but that it won't be as severe if she does get it." And then he tried to fix poor Vi's mussed up hair.  That's just the way he is.  :)

But yes, he did tell me this about the shot.  That's why we decided to go ahead with the shot in the first place.  The flu is spreading like wild fire around here.  People are being sick with it for weeks and hospitals are overflowing.  I definitely didn't want that.  So far, the flu hasn't been that terrible for Violet. She started Tamiflu and it seems to be helping. Yesterday was her worst day so far.  Today she seems a lot better.  She and her "bestie" from church are both flu-ing it this week.  :(

I'm praying no one else in the house gets sick. 

Since Thanksgiving

*We had church at Lake Lanier Islands.  The fog was thick but the temperature was great.  Violet cried and fussed the whole time because she had to sit still and the boys sang with their choirs.  It really was lovely.  I hope we're able to continue the tradition.  

A friend of mine took this picture of Pastor Franklin goofing off with the Generation Praise kids.  Jordan's to his right.

*We (finally) got a Christmas tree up.  We were going to go to the tree farm but it was raining on C's day off so we just  bought one at Lowe's.  The boys had it decorated by the time I came home.  Pictures to come.

*Violet ate Desitin and I had to call Poison Control.  No harm done, in case you've ever wondered. 

*The weather's been crazy.  Freezing cold high temps in 30's over Thanksgiving and then balmy highs in the 70's a few days later.  It was so hot last week that we all wore short sleeves to an evening outdoor performance of Shaun's choir.  

This is the only picture I took.  I chased Violet around the square in Dahlonega the entire time.  The fact that she is hardly ever still is supported by this blurry photo.  

*The oldest, the youngest, and I went to dinner after the concert. 

*I decided to be brave and take all three kids to the Christmas parade in Clermont all by myself.  We got all bundled up and found a good spot on the sidewalk close to where the parade was ending…and then  10 minutes later it was over.  Ha!  Such a small parade.  We thought it would kill a lot more time than it did.  

*I went to my niece's horse show without taking any allergy medicine beforehand.  I had a bad attack and had to go to my friend's birthday party with itchy, watery, eyes and sneezing up a storm.  

*The Christmas season is here and along with it comes parties!  We have two this week, one next week, and I think one the week after that.  It's a good thing we love finger foods!