Time for my household to get back to the basics.....I have been sick and/or working an insane amount of hours for the last month.  My house and children/hubby are running around like nuts.   Need to have discussion with oldest son about rules again...some are going by the wayside and need to be brought up again.  Nothing major...last night I told him I was charging him a quarter everytime I have to tell him to hang up his jacket, underwear and towel on the floor after the shower....etc....just reminders to clean up after himself!  

Me...I just need my routines back!!!!  I only function and survive with lists and routines!!    So here they are......

MORNING ROUTINE
Swtich Laundry
Breakfast
Computer/Calendar until 6:30
Shower/Dress
Medications
Make Bed
Wake Tommy  7:30

I need to make my menu tonight and finish some Church paperwork for my committee too!  

Hubby has two flavors of ice cream going.....and I have my turkey soup cooking.  The soup should make at least 5 meals for us.   My MIL requested split pea soup, so next weekend I will make that.   I had some ham I bought on sale so that should be easy enough.    I make enough food to give meals to my in-laws and my BIL.    Since I bought a few things that I hadn't planned on at Target today.... I am going to have to really try to make meals from stuff around the house this week.  Should be easy enough.  I have quite a few meals in the freezer.    We certainly have plenty of soup. 

Well time to neb and read for a bit.......later!

I have been playing my little 15 minutes game and trying to resuce the main rooms on the house.   YIKES...the Christmas bomb had gone off.  The living room, bathroom and kitchen are pretty much back under control.   I still have to organize the toy shleves a bit.  I have done about 3 loads of laundry and have a ton more!!    I will have to keep doing that laundry. I tend to forget and start something else.  

Hubby just home from getting things to make ice cream.   He liked the ice cream we made yesterday so much, he wants me to make more.   Well my timer has gone off and now it is time to get some more stuff done around here!   Later!

Taking a small break and then I have to get the house back in order.  I need to find a home for all the new toys and things.   I did go out and hit Target this morning for a few deals.    I didn't buy any toys yet as they were only marked down 15 to 25%, I will wait until January.  

I bought a few things.....

• Gift Wrap Containers x 2 for my wrapping station (all done)


• Clear Container for my Gift Bags


• Gift Item for Next years holiday baskets for my family (already know what I am doing for next year)


• Gift Lables


• Holiday thank You Cards


• Holiday Hand towels (2)

I think that was what I all got, everything was 50% off so that is pretty good.   I came home and organized all my gift wrap and gift bags.  I moved them from the office down to an area in the basement.  Turned out pretty good!   I might organize my greeting cards today too.

I am going to clean a bit, make soup and do a ton of laundry for the rest of the afternoon.  Maybe even a little nap would be a good idea....hmmmmm........Tomorrow I am going to try to head back work. 

SATURDAY..............

Tommy woke about 6:30 but crawled in bed with us and let us sleep until after 9:00..WOO HOO!!    Then we went to see if Santa had come......yes he did!!!   Tommy was very excited.  Santa left a Rescue Hero Command Center....(bought on clearance last year in January....good planning Santa!!)

Santa also brought Tommy, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Light Year from Toy Story just like Tommy asked. 

Santa also always brings a couple of new books.   Tommy was giving, NO DAVID, DAVID GETS IN TROUBLE and How to be a Pirate for his books. 

And of course as tradition would have it...Santa brought everyone a Wonka Bar....we have yet to get a golden ticket!

Josh also got books - Demon and Angels by Dan Brown and Deception Point By Dan Brown.   Santa also gave him prepaid fuel cards!   

SANTA gave family gifts this year.......he left us the 3 cd-set of the different Shrek Movies, an Ice Cream Maker and the game Scene It?

So after opening presents and playing we curled up in our jammies and watch Shrek while a butter braid bake for our breakfast.    For Lunch we had French Toast and Ham and Eggs.....

Amy (Josh's GF) came over and broght more presents.......

Me - A lovely black scarf.  I don't know what to call them, but it is one of those that is popular right now.  I have wanted one of them.

Hubby - Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Book

Tommy  - A book - I'll Always Be Your Friend

Josh - Amy gave Josh some books, PrePaid Fuel Card, and some gag gifts.  Her parents gave him a Prepaid Fuel Card, a key chain and necklace.   (see the theme...the kid needs gas for the van alot!)

Amy's Parents gave us a lovely set of hand painted candles.  Very pretty...I have them on my coffee table right now.  

After opening presents again it was time to get Tommy to take a nap.  He wasn't so happy about that!!

Once Tommy was down for a nap I made my Christmas phone calls to family.  Called my Mom, Danny, Becky and Susan.   I called my sister but she wasn't home.   Might have to try her again tonight. 

Then we (me, Hubby, BIL, Amy and Josh) played Scene It? and made Ice Cream!  We had a great time playing the game.   Really fun!    We played twice then it was time for everyone to head home.  Josh took Amy home and then went to his Dads.   Hubby took his brother back to his place.   I of course loaded my BIL up with leftovers and frozen soup.   I want to make sure he is eating ok now that he is single again.  

Now I have to strain my soup.  I have the turkey carcass boiling to make soup tomorrow.   Clean up the kitchen and head to bed.    

I hope everyone had a great Christmas....we had a lovely time with our family, quiet and laid back...just what we wanted.  Time to just enjoy each other. 

I will leave you with my last picture....SANTA TOMMY....notice the stocking on his foot.  LOL!!

  

WOW,...have the last few days flown by.  I hope to really relax tomorrow...LOL!!  Not like I am capable of that anyways.  I am always on the go!  But I do plan on going to bed early tonight and reading.  

FRIDAY.....

BIL (Steve) came over and watch the Football game with hubbby.  I got a good nap in.  We had a 18 pound turkey, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes.    We opened presents from each other....

TOMMY - received a Leap Frog Letter Phonic Fridge Magnet (we plan on working on id letters in the new year), Blue CLues Computer Game and a Rescue Hero from Mom and Dad.   He got a Jamie Lee Curtis book for Josh. 

JOSH - Leather Jacket and small brain teaser thing from Mom and Dad

ME - Hubby and I have for a few years been setting a dollar amuont for our gifts.  We usually set it really low and either make each other something or something.  I sort of did this cuz my hubby would buy we wildly expensive gifts....he jsut loves me alot!! LOL!!   So we set limits...and it has been alot of fun and creative!   This year our limit was $20.00.   He gave me a Cookbook Breakfast and Brunches and a gift box of chocolates.  The Chocolates are meaningful as when pregnant with TOmmy I was diabetic and the nurse while I was delivering went home and came the next morning and gave me this chocolate and said, once you have this baby you can have this chocolate.  So hubby gave me the same  chocolates to remind us of that amazing day of such pure happiness when Tommy was born.....    In my stocking he gave me a small music box that played the processional from our wedding.....the other day he wanted to remind me of.....he is so wonderful.   Josh gave me a Yankee Candle.....peach scent....YUMMY!!

HUBBY - I gave hubby a note about our future and how we will be the young couple in love able to do things togehter without finding a babysitter.....so as a peek into that future I gave him tickets to a local playhouse to see the play Proof.   Us out alone...with no kids.  A rare treat!    Josh gave hubby a gift certificate to Half Price Books......a favorite Sunday afternoon haunt of ours.  Josh gave hubby a gift certificate to Half Price Books......a favorite Sunday afternoon haunt of ours. 

STEVE - We gave my BIL the book Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

ERIK was at his mother's house this year for Christmas so he will get to o-pen his presents at New Years when he is here next. 

Then we rushed off to the Candlelight service at Church.  Lovely service....sad that I couldn't sing since I have no voice.  I love to sing all the Christmas Chorals!   We got home after 10:00 and got everyone ready for bed.  I have turkey to cut up and put away and we had Santa toys to put together....that took until 1:00am.   Hubby was tired and had a headache....so wasn't what he wanted to be doing.  But he did it for me.  Gotta love him!    My BIL stayed the night and we all called it a night!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS...........

Christmas Eve - 2004 - on our way to church.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS......12-18-04

Steve, Kristen and Hubby (Paul)

Bonnie (SIL) and her son Joe

Grandma

 

 

Tommy and Kristen (cousin)

Nick (cousin)

Chelsea (cousin)

The Tree O Presents.....

All the cousins:  Chelsea, Lisa, Joe, Bob and
one hiding his face is Lisa's BF.

Erik and Tommy

Dale, Julie and Bonnie

 

Nick is Santa this year....

Me, Amy (josh's GF), Josh and Uncle Steve

Just woke from a 2 hour nap.....AAAAH.....now to make supper and open presents for each other. 

We are having our big meal today on Christmas Eve since hubby's brother is with us.  We are going to candlelight service at 9:00 tonight as well.   Tomorrow should be a bit more laid back hopefully.   Tommy and I just made the Banana Bread from Linda's xanga.  It smells yummy.   I had alot of bananas to use up so we have two of those banana breads baking and I will try another recipe which makes 4 loaves.   We should have banana bread for a while.   Tommy loves it!  Our freezer will have lot of breakfast choices for a while.  I should make some muffins too.   We will see what I feel like doing. 

Well I am going to go neb, since I have to get the turkey in to start cooking at by 3:30.  Later!