And Just Like That It's Over.....

The day after Christmas is such a downer for me. Nothing left to go do or see, just clean ups. At least the kids still have things to put together and play with, so I have yet to hear, "I'm bored" today. Lucky for me, Billy took the day off, so he took the big kids to an eye appointment and is now installing some whachamacallit somewhere for someone. :) Both Aaron and Olivia's eyes changed for the worse, total bummer....

My iphone is a disaster, that's what I get for letting all 5 kids play with it. It's "restoring" right now, says it will be done in 2 hours. Awesome.

I gained a lot of weight and it isn't even New Years, shame on me. I put on work out clothes this morning to get me in the mind set, needless to say, I have yet to sweat a drop. Bad me... I figure if I can be really good food wise for the week, then maybe I'll lose some and also get to enjoy New Years goodies without a ton of guilt.

Billy bought me an awesome new camera, way too much for my gift, but I am excited. Problem is that it's going to take me forever to learn it all. Good problem to have though, right?!

I better go feed the troops and get some laundry done. Just like I said, blink of an eye and it's over. Back to chores.... :)

Christmas Day At Our House.....

I was happily surprised to see 6:45 on the clock Christmas morning. We went right to work, Simon and Emi's first Christmas where they really understood what was going on....

And I'll even post one of me getting my new camera. God only knows how long it will take for me to learn. I hope your holiday was all that you hoped for.....

Our Family Christmas Eve In Pictures....

Not much to say, we had a lovely Christmas and Santa was very good to us... Probably better than we deserved.... :)

We managed a gingerbread house with few tears...

We went to our annual Christmas Eve dinner @ Magic Time Machine...

We ate too much....

We survived all of mom's picture moments... :)



Then we headed home to get into our coordinated pajamas and head for bed.....

Smiles Are My Favorite....

It couldn't be Christmastime at the Ryann's without watching "Elf" together... Last night we curled up with too much buttery popcorn and coke and spent great family time together... Well, 5 of us. I just don't think my 3 year olds would appreciate Buddy the elf just yet. :)

Today Billy plugged in a heater in the garage and I wrapped a bunch of presents. The only place to go really and quietly get it done. I actually missed my Connecticut basement at that moment. Why don't Texans put in basements?! What is wrong with us??? Then we hopped in the car, stopped for dinner and went to look at Christmas lights. I just looooovvvveeee Christmas.... Except for that "I need to pee" moment in the middle of a neighborhood away from public bathrooms. Sigh... It's always something. :)

Tomorrow we're trying something different, a late lunch out, then the 4pm children's mass. Billy wanted to change it up, and it may work out better for Santa if there is more time to build and wrap. Christmas morning is relaxed (as far as 5 kids on Christmas morning can be relaxed...) and then my dad is coming over for lunch. We'll probably head over to the nursing home soon after that to see my mom, then throw in the towel and call it a day.

I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas. I know that I am blessed to have this family and I plan on soaking it all up. In a blink of an eye, they'll be grown up and with a family of their own...

It's Time For the Christmas Parties....

Well, today is the big kids' last day of school. Basically, party all day for Olivia (still in elementary school) and home with a belly full of sugary goodness. The boys will come home slightly bitter since they had 9 week exams instead. :) I am thrilled that all my baking for teachers and helpers is done, and soon I will have 3 extra people home to entertain Simon and Emi who, quite honestly, are sick of me. :) I get it, I get sick of myself sometimes too...

Last Sunday, Olivia's school choir performed at the San Antonio Rampage game (hockey) and here she is on the Jumbotron... Needless to say, she was a very happy camper that her daddy caught this shot.

Olivia is far right.

The big kids went together to the game, complete with a glass pane shattering and all, while I had 2 baking assistants with me... And one of which is slightly OCD... I lost count with how many times we had to wash our hands because they were dirty... Sigh....

Tomorrow I plan on hauling all the kids around for gifts for their dad, grocery shopping for the week and then hopefully I am done with the crowds. Billy is taking a half day Thursday and then won't go back in until Tuesday. That will be so nice and we are really lucky that he is able to take that much time off. If I don't post until after Christmas, have a very merry one, enjoy your families, and eat lots... You can make that dreaded lose weight resolution next week!

We Saw Santa Today.....

I thought there might be tears, but Emi and Simon ran right up to him and rattled off what they wanted! :) Only trouble is, they aren't too good at looking into a camera and smiling. This is what I got....

While we were walking back to the car, Emi asked me where her baby doll she asked for was. I guess she thought he would hand it to her right then and there! :)

Tons to do this weekend, we have a birthday party tomorrow (a movie, so just me and the big kids) and then Billy wants to take the big kids shopping in the afternoon. Mass on Sunday and then baking a bunch for teachers, big kids are out Tuesday! Then the fun begins... And the fights... And the boredom... ;) Have a good Friday, I'm getting off for game night at our house!

"Kevin, that's not funny..."

We were sitting at the table for dinner and Kevin started telling a joke. It was cute, not gut-busting hilarious. Simon, my 3 year old, looks at him and calmly says, "that's not funny, Kevin." :) I think this kid might have quite a sense of humor... Yesterday I was tickling him and he turns to me and says, "Santa is watching YOU mommy!" :) Love this boy.....

I am just left with stocking stuffers and baking left for this Christmas. I do have to take the kids when they get out of school to buy their dad his presents, but beyond that we're just going to enjoy the break. The shorties have their last day tomorrow, the bid kids finish next Tuesday....

Sorry that this seems choppy, I am typing while one kid is doing physical therapy and the other one is finishing lunch, so I'm not entirely focused. :) Enjoy your Tuesday!

This Is Not The Time...

Kevin and I are fighting some kind of bug. My throat is killing me and when I bend down, the pressure in my face is awful... I can do a few days of this, but then we've got stuff to do! :)

I still have no concrete plan on what to do for teachers this year... I'll start snooping through Pinterest and find something good, I just need to get moving. I did get all the Christmas cards addressed, so those will get mailed tomorrow. You know, we have only gotten 3 cards this year, maybe no one is bothering? Bad economy, maybe cards are seen as an unnecessary expense. That's ok, but I do like hearing from people you don't always regularly hear from....

I better get trucking, the big kids have CCD at 3:30 and I need to double check homework, sign agendas, blah, blah....

I Really Needed This Week To End...

They just seem to squeeze so much into the weeks before Christmas break... Tuesday was Olivia's choir concert, we piled everyone into the car and headed out. Bad part was the PTA meeting we were forced to sit through, then the strings concert, then choir. Not usually that bad, but Simon and Emi were there, past bedtime by the time Olivia's concert started and tired of sitting down. But let me tell ya, they fell asleep fast once we got home! :)

Thursday was the boy's band concert, but the shorties and I stayed home and Billy recorded it. The whole family went to the Fall concert, so we thought it would be ok to just watch it at home. Billy said they did really well, I of course, as a bad mom, haven't watched it yet. Shhh....

While all that is going on, the boys had an English essay due this week and a book oral report to finish, so really, to be honest, the house was unpleasant. They get too much on their plate, get sick of hearing me going on about, this being due, that needing work... I get it. Good news is that it's Friday and as I type, Billy is getting the movie night set up. (Spy Kids 4 this week, Kevin's best friend was an extra in it, so the kids are excited to see him in it.)

I have been tying up loose end for gifts. Big kids and Emi are done, Simon not so much. Sigh... Don't ask why I am having trouble, I just need to buckle down and make a decision. Part of it is that their room isn't huge and everything I think he'd love I can't find room for. See what happens when you decide to have 5 kids? No room for toys! Boo! I will get it worked out soon. Matter of fact, I just bought him a guitar on Target.com earlier tonight. May drive me nuts, but he is always rushing to listen to the big kids practice their instruments and then pretends he has his own. :)

This week is all about stocking stuffers and teacher gifts. I always end up baking something and adding a Starbucks GC, I'm so uncreative... But this year I have middle schoolers, and they have 8 teachers... I may go broke with that... :)

Ok, movie has started and I'm being yelled at... Have a good Friday evening!

Choir And Band Performances And I Forgot About Christmas Cards...

This week is busy, they tend to get that way towards Christmas break. Billy has had to take the boys to school in the dark to band practice before school and Olivia has a choir concert tonight. It's definitely a hot dogs for dinner night with all of us in our seats for the performance at 6:30.

Tomorrow I am off to brave the mall and last minute shopping. I just realized I have neglected the all important stocking stuffers and have to get right on that along with some Thomas the Train purchases for my littlest one....

I am so happy that Walgreens does quick Christmas photo cards because I somehow forgot to do them. :) Billy writes the family letter, so I am off the hook there. I just can't believe the year has flown by so fast. Next week I'll be a grandparent telling my grand kids about the hardships I had as a child without cellphones and Internet....

Have a good one and stay warm....

Wet and Dreary Saturday...

Yuck... I know we should be grateful for whatever rain we can get in Texas, but it's hard to get moving when it's dark and damp outside. I can claim some success as last night we finally got it together and decorated the Christmas tree. All week it has been up with just lights, and I was getting frustrated. So tree is done, Little People Nativity is being dragged around the living room and I feel accomplished. :)

Today Billy needed to get some work done so I took the kids to Target for some shopping and it was so unpleasant. It's the 3rd of December, are we already cranky? I was bending down consoling Simon with a boo-boo and this charming lady practically shouted "EXCUSE ME". She can't have kids. I mean, really, if it is imperative that you get  to the lit up branches ASAP, let me move my giant basket so you can proceed.... By the way, can anyone explain the lit up branches to me? They're pretty at the store, but what do you do with them? I feel left out, as I do with most decorating ideas. :)

So now we are in limbo with Simon. They got home around 2pm yesterday, he was so loopy on the sedative he kept running into things. I couldn't wait for bedtime because you can't reason with a 3 year old about why he should stay on the couch. Of course they tell you nothing at the radiology place in the hospital, so I have to wait until our appointment next week. I don't believe the cp is in his brain. He is a bright kid with a quick wit. Not to mention just beautiful to look at.... Can you tell how smitten I am with this boy???

So the big boys are at a birthday party and so it will be a smaller version of us for dinner. I better clean this kitchen soon... Have a great Saturday, wet, cold, or just right....

Today is The Day....

Billy and Simon are waiting for Simon's brain MRI... Happy thoughts and prayers appreciated...