Birthdays + Christmas = BUSY TIME OF YEAR

Turning 40 wasn't so bad...I didn't really think it would be...it just sounds so ugly!  My sister, Lea Ann and my friend, Tawnya, hosted a party in my honor to celebrate the occasion.  Several good friends and some favorite cousins came and we had an enjoyable evening of tasty food and some special Jase Juice. 

My sister always has Fruit Juicy Red Hawaiian punch in her refrigerator because her son, Jase, likes it.  Her grandson, Cash, started calling it "Jase Juice" a few years ago and it caught on.  Anytime someone is having Hawaiian punch, we call it Jase Juice.  Add some pure grain alcohol to it and it becomes "special Jase Juice" :-) HAHA!  I thought my "hooch" days ended when prom and field parties ended, but evidently NOT!  Those of us who partook of the special recipe were having HOT FLASHES, whether we were 32, 62 or somewhere in between!  It was all in good fun though and everyone was responsible...

I received great gifts.  You would think I was some kind of alcoholic with the 6 bottles of wine and the special recipe my sister served - LOL - but that is far from truth.  In addition to the wine, I received an overnight bag monogrammed with my name, candles, chocolate, a cute little wine glass, lotion, a gown, a watch, gift certificates for pedicures and massages and lots of other items.  I wish I had my list in front of me and I would name everything!  I forgot how fun a birthday could be and I think I want to have one EVERY year!!!  Why do we stop having birthday parties anyway?  LOL!  I took one bottle of wine to a party the other night to share and now I'm down to 4.5 bottles (you can do the math) :-)

My oldest daughter is now driving with her permit which has added a few gray hairs to the ones I already have to hide with color.  She asks every time we walk out the door if she can drive and I have been so overwhelmed and stressed out lately, I don't feel that it is safe.  When she is driving I have to do double duty.  Not only am I scanning the highway for trouble that might happen and helping her watch all the other cars, I'm also aware of everything she does, ready to take over at any second.  I am so tense by the time we arrive at our destination that I can barely loosen up enough to open the door.  She's a good driver and when I am calm, all is well.  There has just been a lot going on in my life that is preventing me from getting any rest and if I'm not on top of my game, I feel it is unsafe for me to be the adult driver responsible.  I have promised her that when she returns tomorrow and while she is with me the remainder of this year, that she can drive EVERYWHERE we go, unless the weather is unsafe.  Ice storm????  Where are you????  Okay...I'm ready to ride shotgun and I'm gonna be singing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" the whole time.  Just kidding...she really is a good driver and I'm very proud of her!

My middle child is now officially a TEENAGER!!!!  My old blog was entitled "One Toddler, One Teen and One In-Between".  It's definitely the old blog now.  I still have a toddler and now I have TWO TEENS!  Wow - I should definitely be 40!  Kensley's birthday is 2 days before Christmas and that is not a good time for a birthday party so we are having it on Saturday, 1/1/11.  She has invited about 30 kids (mostly 7th graders) and we are having a taco bar, cupcakes and games.  I want it to be lots of fun and I want them still talking about it when they return to school 2 days later so I've got lots of planning to do between now and then. 

Edison has not been home much since Christmas and he's ready to be back in his home.  Every night when he talks to me he tells me he wants to come back to his "Mommy's home" and I am so ready for him to be here.  He has toys and games he has not even had a chance to play with and he hasn't been feeling well either.  Tomorrow, I will feel like life is back to normal (whatever normal is).  I'm off this week and I will have all three kids under my roof and that makes life good - chaotic at times - but GOOD!

I think divorce is awful through the holidays!  Of course, my kids would probably disagree.  Emily told me that being divorced is especially cool at Christmas and Birthdays because she gets more presents.  I understand that is typical 17 year old logic - ME ME ME!  Actually, I too, was quite impressed with all they received.  Of course, I felt like they had a pauper's Christmas at my house compared to what they got everywhere else, but that is an issue I must deal with and get past.  My kids love me for me and I know that I don't have to buy their love.  The girls were so good to thank me over and over for what I did get them and I appreciated that.  I did what I could and it's all bought and paid for.  My rule of not charging anything at Christmastime has not changed.  If I can't pay cash, I don't buy it.  The best thing is that I don't have to figure out how to pay for it later and that keeps some of my stress at bay!


So...I turned 40 and the world is still revolving!  I have one child who is driving, another who has entered her teenage years.  I have a little boy who loves his Mommy.  I survived Christmas and it was much easier than last year.  The good thing is that I can now see that life gets easier.  Last year, I cried when I took my kids to meet their dad after leaving my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve and waking up alone on that first divorced Christmas morning was one of the most sad times in all my life.  This year was my year.  They stayed with me on Christmas Eve and woke up to Santa on Christmas morning.  We had a FUN day!  We opened gifts, we unpackaged the gifts (which can be quite challenging and time consuming), we watched a movie together, we ate brunch, we played Phase 10 and played with other games and toys and had a great morning!  But it was no easier when their grandparents came to pick them up to take them to their dad.  I shut the door behind them at 1:00 on Christmas afternoon, I cried and I stayed in my pajamas all day long and I slept off and on and watched the clock, waiting for the day to end...

I picked up the kids the next day to spend Christmas with my mom and dad and my family.  We pretty much had a 24 hour on - 24 hour off Christmas schedule in order to accommodate everyone's family.  I met them at the half-way point and went straight to my Mom and Dad's house for more present opening.  My daughters and my brother's daughters all ended up spending the night with Nannie and Papa and I think they had a great time together.  Since my kids' dad is an only child, they only have cousins on my side of the family so I feel it's super important that they get to know each other and have fun when they are together.  Some of my favorite memories of Christmas are those spent with my cousins on Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house.  We still all get together on Christmas Eve and it's chaotic because there are so many of us now and we all have very different personalities and different ways of doing things and different ideas about things, and there is such a large age range of people...but at the same time, I cannot imagine NOT going to my grandmother's for Christmas Eve, because it's all I've ever known.  Of course, I'm becoming a pro at CHANGE :-)

The kids have spent the past few days with their dad and I have spent the past few days catching up on some much needed REST and RELAXATION!  I laid on the couch most of yesterday watching movies.  I had not done that forever!  I started with Date Night starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey and laughed through the entire thing.  I then watched The Expendables and enjoyed seeing all the old guys from my teen days reunite (Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren) and I might add that they are all still VERY fine looking men!  I finished by watching The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez and I laughed and teared and it was a very sweet movie.  Sometime this weekend, I plan to watch John Wayne in True Grit so I can be ready to see Matt Damon on the big screen in the re-make of True Grit.  I'll let you all know how that goes.  I was way more productive today, cleaning the kitchen, changing the sheets, straightening the house, taking a shower (LOL!) just getting ready for the return of my three favorite people in the whole world! 

I don't think I will ever get used to sharing my kids.  I don't like to share my kids.  It's not natural but I do it because I have to.  The very worst part of divorce is being apart from your kids when it is not your choice to be apart from them.  Oh, yes, I need the occasional break, and I try to enjoy it most of the time, but during the holidays, it's impossible!  Sharing...I try to teach my kids to do it...it's part of how things get done around here...but in the words of my teenagers...it SUCKS but I'm dealing!  I'll look at the bright side...I am blessed that my children have a father who wants them and I'm also glad that he and I are able to work out a holiday schedule that accommodates everyone.  I think our kids are worn out but they too, survived the Holidays, and they have LOTS OF STUFF, but most of all, MEMORIES, to prove it :-)

THANKSGIVING!! I've not even finished the Halloween candy yet!

Wow, until I pulled up my blog tonight, I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted. In fact, since my last post, we've celebrated Halloween and today, despite the fact that we haven't finished eating all the Halloween candy, it was time for Thanksgiving...

Edison was Mickey Mouse for Halloween this year.  I wanted him to be an Indian again; however, Emily said something similar to this:  "Mom!  Neither Kensley nor I EVER dressed in the same costume two years in a row and Edison is not going to either!"  She was correct, she had a point, however, when she and Kensley were little, I didn't live on a budget as tight as the one I live on now!  The Indian costume fit him better this year than it did last year and it was going to be a little bit different...last year he was an Indian brave with a headband and ONE feather...this year he was going to be the Indian CHIEF with a full feather headdress!  I couldn't convince Emily.  She called me from her dad's house one weekend and said, "Christy has a Mickey Mouse costume from The Disney Store that fits Eddy and he loves it, they said you could borrow it, he looks really cute in it...is that okay?"  I said "sure" --- I didn't really care who he was, I just wanted him to be cute and I wanted it to cost me the least amount of money possible!  As it turns out, he was an adorable Mickey Mouse and the temperature of the evening and the weight of the costume was perfect!!!  Be warned though, I'm already thinking about next year, and that Indian costume will still fit!!!!!

Today (well, yesterday now), we celebrated Thanksgiving.  The past two Thanksgivings have not been "Happy" ones for me, but this year I was in the mood to give thanks!  Two years ago, the week of Thanksgiving, Wasband filed for divorce.  I was a basket case that year.  Last year, my children spent Thanksgiving with their dad, and I don't recall really feeling very thankful for much in my life.  This year, I am spending the entire Thanksgiving weekend with my three kids and my family (except for a few hours when they will be with Wasband and his family) and I am at a point in my life where I can see all that has changed, enjoy every moment of my life and look forward to my future and whatever it may bring.  I asked the kids to make a list of all they were thankful for and without any complaint at all, they did.  I made a list as well and we sat down before going to my Mom's house to spend the day with family and read them aloud to one another.  This is a tradition I intend to continue. I think it will be interesting to see how the lists mature...see for yourself.

Edison's list - 2010 - age 3-1/2

1. Jesus
2. Scooby
3. Shaggy
4. Velma
5. Daphne
6. Fred (from Scooby Doo, sorry Uncle Fred)
7. Mommy (that's me :-))
8. Jamie (my niece)
9. Nannie (my mother)
10. Poppy (Wasband's dad)
11. Meme (Wasband's mom)
12. Daddy (Wasband)
13. Christy (Wasband's wife)
14. Ally (step-sister)
15. Nick (step-brother)
16. Mickey (a dog at his Dad's house I think?)
17. Bella (a dog at his Dad's house)
18. Andy (a cat at his Dad's house, maybe?)
19. Cody (a dog at his Dad's house - or maybe at his Step-Mom's ex-husband's house, not sure...)
20. Aunt Lea (my sister)
21. Jeremy (my brother)
22. Cash (cousin - Jamie's son - see #8)
23. Kain (cousin - Jamie's son - see #8)
24. Papa (my Dad)
25. Freddy P (his Uncle - see #6)
26. Emma (his sister)
27. Kensley (his sister)
28. Isaac Clay (his friend)
29. Monster Ali (we think this is Ali Hulett, his cousin :-))
30. Jacob (not sure who this is)
31. snakes (cause he's a boy?)
32. bears (?)
33. Kayma (a friend who has not see in forever!)
34. sick (i have no clue what this means)
35. Cat in the Hat (this was a book laying on the couch)
36. Lisa (his baby sitter)
37. witches (i have no explanation for this...)

Kensley's list - 2010 - age 12

1. God
2. My family
3. Food
4. Friends
5. Warm homes
6. Good grandparents
7. My healthy body
8. My athletasism (her spelling)
9. My good grades
10. My baby brother
11. Cousins
12. My horse, dogs and cats
13. My dumplings (I guess she was hungry)
14. My life
15. Water

Emily's list - 2010 - age 17

1. My family
2. My friends
3. Being able to go to SCS (a private Christian school)
4. Edison
5. Plumbing
6. Electricity
7. Dish Network
8. WiFi
9. My awesome hair
10. My salvation (she had an arrow moving it to #1 and said she felt bad that she didn't list it as #1 after everybody else did)
11. Cell phone
12. Cars and gas
13. Education (wow! - did she really write that?)
14. Rules (do my eyes deceive me?)
15. My permit (she finally got her driver's permit!)
16. Heat & Air
17. Locks (this is my child who is frightened of everything, very typical of something she would be thankful for :-))
18. Make-up
19. Nicholas Sparks (yes, I introduced her to this wonderful author)
20. Dwayne Carter (a/k/a Lil' Wayne)

And finally...Dana's List - 2010 - age 39 and holding!

I am thankful for...

1. God, who sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die a horrible death on a cross, so that I can live eternally in heaven when I die.
2. My 3 children, Emily, Kensley and Edison
3. My Health, not only mine, but also my children's.  I'm also very thankful that my kids learn very easily and that they are smart kids.
4. My parents, my sister and my brother - for always being there for me.
5. My friends who always listen and even when they tell me things I don't want to hear.
6. Wasband - that he is a good dad to my children (yes, I wrote that! - it is very important to my kids that despite our differences, that they know that we both love them.  There are so many parents who just walk away after a divorce because it's "easier".  Neither of us will ever do that and for their sake, I am thankful)
7. my job - it is very rewarding and it pays the bills, allowing me to live in my own place and not having to move back in with my parents or share rent with someone else
8. the Swagger Wagon - for getting me where I need to be, even though it cramps my awesome style!
9. Technology because it makes life a little easier and it's fun!
10. for living in the USA - actually I'm thankful that God allowed me to be born in this free country and even though life is hard for me sometimes, that money is tight and things seem to move at an exhausting speed, that I am here and not somewhere else in this world.
11. Edison's biological parents, especially his birthmother, who made a difficult decision to place him for adoption.
12. for my nieces and nephews - Jamie, Jase, Maggie, Brea, Cash and Kain
13. my children's other set of grandparents - they are wonderful to my children and they help me with the kids when I need them.
14. good things that are happening at work :-)
15. some single people I've met :-) :-) (no! not HIM)

As I write this, a certain little boy is in his bed in the room across the hall, sleeping peacefully and my daughters are Black Friday shopping with my niece, Jamie.  We gave respect to the TURKEY today and spent some time reflecting on what we are truly thankful.  Now, it's time to move to the next holiday! So, sometime this weekend, I will pull the Christmas decorations from the building, put up the Christmas tree and decorate!  I want to take time this holiday season to reflect on the many blessings in my life and even when life gets hectic and stressful, try to focus on the good things.

Many blessings for a wonderful holiday season...