I still believe in Santa Claus...

because as long as I believe the child in me will never die. I can't imagine losing the joy that this time of year brings.

Christmas is such a fun time of year. As I watch my kids and the happiness it brings them, I am reminded of my own childhood. Growing up we didn't have a lot but my parents always made Christmas special. There were always presents under the tree and when I look back now I have no idea how they did it. There were six of us and we were not disappointed. We knew the meaning behind the holiday but never lost the excitement of Santa. I remember the nights that I couldn't fall asleep anticipating the big day.

I hope that my kids always believe in Christmas. I hope that they know the true meaning behind the day. I hope that someday they will look back and remember how special Christmas is, not for the presents, but for the memories. Memories of the traditions we have, memories of family, memories of the feeling of awe when they walk down the stairs in the morning to see that Santa has been there.

I know one day Santa and all the gifts he brought will be a memory but I hope the one gift they always remember is the Baby in a manger. I hope they never forget the gift He brought with Him and gave to them...the Gift of Life, along with Peace that passes understanding, Hope for tomorrow, abundant Love and never ending Joy.

I wish you a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Birthday Tyler

I cannot believe you are 16 today.

Time has gone so fast. I am proud of the man you becoming!

When you have a child
You learn it's a serious business
To have a little fun
You give grace and get forgiveness
Not seven times seven
But seven times seventy one

And when you have a child
Those four walls you call a house
Take on a life of its own
When you bring 'em home
You will cry and you will laugh
When they hurt it cuts you in half
It's your flesh and bone

And year after year
Pictures fill page after page
They never really grow up
Still your baby at any age
The first time you hold 'em
It's like you see God's smile
What a smile
When you have a child

And then boy meets girl
And perfume and gasoline
Reign on your perfect world
Curfews are often broken
Thank yous aren't spoken
He's got the keys to that old Dodge
And she's wearing a corsage
And her mama's pearls

And year after year
Pictures fill page after page
They never really grow up
Still your baby at any age
And the first time you hold 'em
It's like you feel God's smile
What a smile
When you have a child

You pray that phone call never comes
And if God forbid
How would you live
How could you go on
And on and on and on

And year after year
Close the chapter and turn the page
Blue ribbons and losing seasons
Flipping tassles on the stage
Oh but you don't need a photograph
You've got at least a million
Pictures of that smile
When you close your eyes
When you love a child
Ohh when you love a child
"When you have a child" by Reba McEntire

"Tell her I don't want anything..."

Yesterday, the kids were off school and we didn't have anything planned. I had to help Jacob with a school project. Other than that we were just being lazy. My mom called and asked if we wanted to go to 50 cent Monday at the local thrift store, I told her I would call her back after lunch to let her know. In the mean time I told Tyler that Grandma had called and wants to take him to the thrift store...

"Why?"

"So you can help her pick out your Christmas gift."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, she doesn't know what to get you and she thought you could give her some ideas."

"Tell her I don't want anything."

"Tyler, you can't tell me that kids at your school don't shop there and besides, when someone wants to buy you a gift you can't act like that and she want you to help her find things for the other kids."

Joshua overhearing says,

"I want Star Wars figures."

"Do you want the ones with arms or no arms?"

"With arms."

"Mom, just tell her to get me a shirt."

"What kind of shirt?"

"A t-shirt"

So, I call her back and tell her what I said to Tyler. When I got off the phone I said, "She told me she only has a three dollar limit so if you stick with 50 cent things that is 6 items."

He must have believed me because he put on his shoes and helped get the kids in the car.

He eventually figured it out but imagine his embarrassment when...

we got out of the car and bumped into his friends girlfriend. His face was red as a beet!

Basketballs behind my tires...

as I am backing out of the driveway. Only happens when you are running a little late just to give you an extra thing to stop the car for.

Pee on the toilet seat, always a pleasant surprise in the morning. So, you reinforce "Pick up the seat!" But I gotta ask, what is the point of lifting the seat if you are not going to hit the hole? Just to leave a flood for me to step in. It is a no win situation for the lonely girl in a house of boys.

Every Thursday the kids have library, "Boys, don't forget your library books!" Every day we pack lunch, "Boys, don't forget your lunch!" "Joshua, don't forget your glasses!"

"Mom, why do you say the same things everyday? You don't have to keep telling us we already know!"

Sure enough...phone rings..."Mom, I forgot my glasses." or I am reading a story in the library when my son walks in, "Mom, I forgot my lunch."

I know random stuff but this is just a small sample of my mornings this along with...

"Don't aggravate your brother!" (300X)

but it is always worth it when you walk into school and the teacher stops you to ask if you went to Florida over the weekend because your son got up and told the class that is what he did over the weekend. When she asked him how he got there, he drove with his family, of course. She explained that wasn't possible and that it was last month that he went with his family on vacation. But he insisted so she left it at that. As we laugh about the "story" and she turns to walk away she asked, "You don't have a private jet that I don't know about, do you?"

I wish...

Someone asked me today...

if I kept a journal. I said no but I do have a blog and if you ever want to know what it is really like at my house just start reading past posts and they are only part of it.

...this morning as I am trying to fix my hair, I notice the kids are being too quiet. Quiet in my house usually means kids are up to no good. I come downstairs to check, sure enough, trouble! I will just say, one of our kittens has stiff fur from the spray starch! How and why do you think of such things?

...last night we walk in the door (I didn't even have my shoes off yet, that is how quick they are!), one of them heads straight upstairs, gets my hair spray and starts to spray a dollar bill to the towel chest. Why? Because I forgot to put the hair spray away shame on me.

...lately, it has been, "Mom, so and so said the f-word." Sometimes, its the b-word, s- word, or d-word. I can't handle it especially when they say it out in public! The people around us do not know that the f-word is fart, the b-word is butt, the s-word is stupid and the d-word is dumb! They just look at us a little funny.

But they are so cute...if I had a nickel for every time I heard that! Sure, they are good looking kids but unfortunately good looks does not mean good behavior.

I love these kids, really, I do. When Bill and I are sitting here with nothing to fix and no one to yell at I will read this and probably cry and wish that just one more time someone would yell...

"MOM..."

I look forward to this every fall...

Gimme a V...

The Looman's took a family vacation. The first one ever, if you can believe that!

We stayed a five star resort, if you can believe that!

Didn't get thrown out for rowdy kids and managed to not break anything, if you can believe that!

Seriously, it was a really good time. Just give my kids water to play in and they are happy as can be! The beach is definitely the perfect spot for them. They all want to move to Florida and I am thinking they may be on to something! I am still sorting through pictures but I will definitely post them.

If I learned anything this past week it would be to not take anything for granted. I have been so blessed beyond what I deserve. God has been good to me.