Santa Pic # 17

...so it has been a long time since BLOG LAND.... and yes I am back. One Year Later.  What changes in a year? Well, let me tell you; A LOT can change in one year. A lot can happen whether you like it or not, whether you plan it or not....it can happen. The un-thinkable happened to me. The un-imaginable happened to me. And well, I will get to that some other time.

Today, this post is about Santa Clause. " If you believe, he will come" That is how it works here.  Truth is, I accomplished picture # 17. I love these 3 kids! These 3 fun loving monkeys!  Reality is we were trying to get a picture with the baby monkey and Santa but the stars lined up and I got all 3 in the picture. :)  They do look like orphans 'cause this was not planned, but that is how life is anyway....not planned.  I also had to post the picture of my beautiful, angelic, princess niece as well ( by the way, she is with the real santa....( look at my previous santa post...he is the real deal).

...so I am back. I have made a few blog changes....and I have lots to say. I will have to try to squeeze it in between classes though.

The BIG 40!

So there is a proverb that says " Life starts at 40".  Of course I never thought much about it until I am looking at the door of 40.  Honestly, I have never even thought much about age at all.  Sometimes I  have to think, " how old am I? ". I don't really feel young, I don't really feel old. I feel like maybe I am 34years old.....yes 34 sounds perfect....( laughing).

I was talking to my Mom this morning about what we were doing on my 40th birthday which is December 24th. I mean what can you really do on December 24th besides celebrate Christmas with family?    I told her, "well nothing to exciting that I know of , but I will need to come over and see you and Dad because I can't imagine not seeing you and Dad on my birthday, because I guess I am a 40 year old........ little kid" :)......so what does age really mean?

I know this: I know so much more than I did when I was 20 or 30 years old. I look back and I don't want to be 20 or 30 years old. I thought I knew a lot, but I really knew nothing about this Life.  However, I don't feel like I know it all and believe me I am learning Life Lessons all the time ( that's why I can feel like a 40 year old kid).

So, I don't believe life starts at 40. I believe a new chapter can start whenever you are ready. I am ready and I am about to start an amazing new chapter. At 40, I am going back to school. It is now my time to reach my goals and my dreams.  I am looking forward to not only just being Mom and Wife, but also being Lisa again.

I have had so much amazing support from friends and family. More than I ever imagined! Thank you so much!! I feel so lucky to be me.  Thank you for believing in me!!!!! I can't wait for 40 and I can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

Picture with Santa!

....well I managed to get all 3 kids to visit Santa this year again. I feel quite proud that my 13 year and 16 year old will do this for me. It is a tradition in our family. We have 15 photo frames on our Christmas tree of the kids on Santa's lap and I can't wait to add this one.

It also helps that this Santa seems to be the real deal! Isn't he cute? We make sure we see him every year and Jace is pretty much convinced that he has to be the " real one".  I also love the fact that Dakota and Hannah( and even Chad and I )  seem to enjoy this as much as Jace does.

I know some people don't like the fact that Santa is just as important to people as Jesus, but if you think about it, believing in Santa is similar to believing in Jesus and God.  Santa teaches children to believe in something that they can't see or touch. Santa's magic would not work without the help of people on earth (who believe). He teaches children to believe in something big. He teaches children to believe in the power of love. He teaches children how to give with nothing in return. He teaches children to believe in dreams. How awesome is that? I love celebrating Jesus' Birthday and I love watching my kids believe in the magic of Christmas!

My favorite place....

I was just sitting here thinking of my favorite place to be. This came up number one on my list especially after spending all weekend outside in my ski gear freezing at a soccer tournament. Oh what a long winter this will be........ Where is your favorite place?

 I can't wait for LeimLife and Old Gold Again!

2 hours with 2 kids

Random-ness from kids tonight:

H I don't want to practice tonight. It is cold. I need a break.

J Does a turtle shed his shell when he grows? Or does he find a new shell? I think he sheds it because that is what happens on Over the Hedge.   :)

H Turtle, Turtle....are you turtley enough for turtle club.

H My sub is mean....she is blah....she says she will give us detention for not doing extra credit work....im not doing it and I'm not going to detention either.

J Did you know I read with the 4th graders now. I'm the only one in the class who does. I have to take extra tests too.

J I don't want mexican food. I just want ice cream.

H You will be fine as long as you get ice cream.

J I'm sorry, that smell is from me.

H This is a picture of my teacher I drew in Class...... Laughing......I don't like her and this is really what she looks like.

H Practice was really fun tonight.

J Let's watch the Grench tonight.

H I'm hungry!

H We have nothing to eat....no pudding, no brownies, no ice cream??

oh these kids.....I love them.....

Just thinking......

 

about the loss of meteorologist Don Harman and how much his death will affect his wife and little girl. They have a very hard road ahead of them. I pray they find peace and healing during this difficult time.

 It brings back memories of losing my uncles long before I should have. And even worse, my cousins losing their Fathers at such a young age and how it will forever affect their lives.

A loss is a loss no matter how someone dies or what happens. I wish people were not so quick to judge what they do not understand. Depression, Addiction, Tragedy, whatever the circumstances are......... no one can truly understand what a person is going through. I know in my heart that a healthy minded person does not think the same as a person suffering with any type of imbalance. A person who is ill will not be able to make good, positive life choices. I don't believe that anyone leaves this Earth on purpose.

Anyway......just remembering all my loved ones in heaven. My Aunt, My Uncles, My Grandparents, Chad's Grandparents......I hold all the good memories close to my heart......thinking of you and missing you!

The Christmas Tree

 Gone are the days when I have three little kids hanging ornaments all in one clump on the front lower portion of the christmas tree. Oh how I miss the tree looking like a big old mess. I miss how proud they would be after they would hang each ornament.  It was just pure blissful chaos.

This year, it was just Jace and I decorating.  Hannah planted herself in a comfy chair and read a book the entire time. Dakota spent his time screaming at the Football game. Chad was in charge of Holiday drinks, music, and the camera( a very important job as well). It was still pretty chaotic, just a different kind of chaos. I'm thinking at least we were all in the same room.  I did manage to get all three kids together and pose for a few traditional pictures in front of the tree even if they didn't help.  Now I'm thinking......can I get them all on Santa's lap this year? Hmmm......that is my next mission.

I love these kids!