Happy New Year!

15 years of spending New Year's Eve with my hubby will be broken this year. Whaaa! I won't be kissing him at midnight like I have for the past decade and a half. Hubby is an RN and that's one of those jobs that requires holiday working. I feel sorry for myself and the boys will be missing Papa too. But....I know....we are all healthy....and my hubby has a job..... so I don't feel too sorry for myself....just a little Whaaa.

I know, PDA! But, I'm posting this for my hubby. Happy New Year! Call me at midnight;)

That's what I like to see

After a rough morning of bickering, crankiness, and a few time-outs I was feeling rather annoyed with my boys. I gave each of them a little bag of left over popcorn and when I walked into the living room this is what I saw!

I was such a happy mommy! They were all sitting side by side enjoying each other and their snack. My solution to sibling rivalry.....POPCORN!

Before and After

I love a good makeover with before and after photos. So here's my living room makeover story. I ordered new furniture 3 months ago and it arrived today! YEAH! We have been without any furniture in the living room because we gave our sofa's to my cousin when I ordered the new. Well, if you have ever seen "spring vomit" as I called those couches you could understand why I was thrilled to have someone take them even if it meant no furniture for 3 months. We did move a small love seat from the family room into the living room. It was really cozy reading the paper each morning with hubby and 3 boys. Lots of ,"ouch, stop poking me, scoot over, stop it!".

This morning after moving the love seat out and getting ready to clean up the Christmas toy bomb.

Boys snuggling after hard work of taking all the new toys and putting them away.

Yeah, new sofa! (Strange spots are on picture from camera and not on the new furniture!)

New chair and ottoman too!!! Love them sooooo much.

Oh, poor hubby is home sick from work....the nasty bug caught up with him! He is snuggled down with the boys watching Never Ending Story.

Poor Tuba is still so sick. He's snoozin' through the movie.

Merry Christmas!

Well, I haven't been posting much here. We have had a house of sickness. It's been the nastiest booger nose, cough fest, fever virus illness. Mr. P, Baby Guy and I were sick first. Then I got well and Mr. P got worse and ended up on antibiotics. We got well (although the little boys still have cough and boogs) just in time for Christmas Eve and then poor Tuba came down with it. He has been suffering with a high fever for 3 days. Good thing for Super Dad holding it all together for us! He grocery shopped, cleaned, did laundry, and took care of us all. He's truly the best:)

We had a nice Christmas in spite of this illness. Hubby went to the Christmas Eve service alone but still had a nice time. The boys were beyond excited for Santa to come. I should say that I mean hubby is one of the boys...as he was the most excited! He couldn't sleep all night and every hour or so woke me up by saying, "I'm too excited, I can't sleep!". Finally at 4:00 am he got up. Shortly after 5:00 am Baby Guy and Tuba were awake. Tuba's fever was burning up. Baby Guy would have gone back to sleep but hubby got him up. Then he comes in and tells me, "You better hurry and come down. Baby Guy is going in to see what Santa brought". Now, Baby Guy doesn't even know who Santa is or what he does! So, I got up and then woke up Mr. P. After gently calling his name he shot straight up and said, "Wow, that went by fast". He dashed down to see if Santa brought his requested gift (he did). When he saw his pile of Santa items he declared, "I've been good!". It was so fun to watch the boys with giant smiles on their faces opening gift (even if it was 5:20 am). We were done with gifts, had a huge Christmas breakfast, watched a movie and went down for naps just before 9:00 am. Everyone except Mr. P (no nap) slept a good 3 hours. We had a lovely day. For dinner the little boys and hubby went to his Mom's house and Tuba and I stayed home. They brought us some dinner (good thing my MIL lives so close) and Tuba and I ate in bed and snuggled. What a nice family I have and what a nice Christmas I had too even in spite of this illness.

All Dressed Up

Baby Guy was having a blast wearing head phones and a long beaded necklace while playing with toys.

Catching Up

Well we've been busy decking the halls. I'm done shopping (Yahoo!). Now, I need to get wrapping. I don't think we can put the gift under the tree until Christmas this year. Between Baby Guy and Shiloh (the cat) I don't think they stand a chance. Also, Mr. P and Tuba are REALLY excited to open them...too tempting. My cards are ready for the mail....if I would only remember t0 get stamps. We got our tree, it has lights and today we will put up the ornaments. All the boys went out and put up the outdoor lights. I'm feeling very non-stressed and joyful....so far so good:0

The Elves putting up lights

My boys at Mr. P's Pre-school Christmas Concert. What a hoot. Mr. P did NOT want to go up on stage to sing but I "persuaded" him. He stood perfectly still (think deer in the headlights), didn't udder a word all the way through 18 songs! After the show he told me he sang them all in his head!

Faces of Layla

Yesterday I received the Faces Of Layla book for my birthday. It is amazing and so beautifully done. The photos were all taken in Dec. of last year. That was only 4 mos. after Baby Guy left Layla House. Many of the children we met while in Addis are featured in the book as well as the wonderful staff from Layla House. I sat looking at the book with my boys on the couch. Baby Guy was MESMERIZED! It was so fascinating to see his reaction to the photos. He sat quietly and stared at each photo. Many of the nannies who cared for him were pictured in the book too. I can't help but think they were familiar to him. These were the ladies who fed him, rocked him, bathed him and nursed him back to health. When I was at Layla to meet Baby Guy and bring him home I was so touched to see the love he had for the nannies and they for him. He would light up and smile at them, giggle when they tickled him and look when they called his name. I knew he had been so lovingly cared for in the 4 months he was at Layla House. If you haven't seen this book....it's a must have! Nearly the entire price ($50.00) goes to the GRACE fund which gives money for hard to place orphans. Go to benefitorphans.org to order your copy.

St. Nicholas

Happy Feast Day of St. Nicholas from the Wild At Heart boys!

Although Baby Guy looks a little shell shocked he actually enjoyed seeing Santa again this year. Tuba loves Santa and really loves the candy cane. Mr. P loves Santa too and told him exactly what he wants for Christmas this year...."Star Wars Lego I"!

Tuba's New Sign

Tuba uses some sign language such as more, please, all done, drink, and potty every day. Sorry is another sign he made up on his own. He rubs his cheek with the palm of his hand. Tuba came up with a new sign this week. His new sign is for firewood. Everyone who knows Tuba well, knows how much he LOVES a fire! He now uses this sign to let us know he wants more wood on the fire....which is like every two seconds;) Our living room has been nice and toasty (about 77 degrees) most nights. Tuba's favorite thing, other than church is to stand in front of the fire and dance away.

Here's "Firewood"

Fun in the snow was enjoyed by all and the toasty living room made it extra nice for me:)