So Long Christmas

I hate to admit this.*

But...
I just put ALL our Christmas decorations away.
ALL OF THEM.
(Except for the actual ornament less tree--I need Jay's help on that one).

I couldn't stand it anymore.
The broken decorations.
Stuff ALL over.
It was driving me crazy.
And we have a birthday party to plan in a few weeks.
So, I took care of it today.

It was a mad house.
With both kids, cat, dog, Xmas toys.

But as I sit here and type,
Viewing my surroundings...I feel calm.
Collected.  Accomplished.  Peaceful.

Although the toy situation is out of hand. 
I'm waiting to purge, donate, sell, later next week.
After our two more Christmas'.

*Written on December 26th, 2013.

Top 10 for the (LAST) week:

10.  Address Book Renew.  It needed to be done.  I had addresses in my address book from my freshman year of college.  It was bad.  People that I hadn't communicated with in YEARS.  I mentioned getting a new one to my mom--and low and behold she had an extra package of replacement address cards!  Cause everyone just has a random extra package like that, right?!?!  Anyways, in one sitting, finished it.  Little things like this make me smile:o)

9.  Stomach Issues Back.  This week my stomach issues came back a little.  Had a little blood work done--everything checked out fine.  Must have been something I ate during this splurge of holiday eating.  Again, made me appreciate where I'm usually at now. 

8.  Vacuum Died.  Like HUGE.  Smoke, spark, black on plug-in.  It was crazy.  Have never seen anything like that before.  I have to admit I was a bit scared.  Jay came to the rescue (like he always does in situations like that--what would I do without him?!?!).  And my MIL came to the rescue too:o)  She's letting us borrow her old one until we finally buy one. 

7.  After School Snow.  A few times this week I made sure Clayton was in his snow gear when I picked up Mal so they could both enjoy some outdoor weather after her school got out.  It's great seeing the kids enjoy the colder temperatures.  And it's great exercise (also makes them sleep better).

6.  Sew Much Fun.  Had a chance to sew a bit more this week.  It.  Was.  Awesome.  Wish I could do that every week.

5.  Holiday Prep.  Crazy how much it takes to prep for the holidays.  You forget this until you are amongst the chaos and frets of getting it ALL done.  My list is/was a mile long.  Thankfully, festivities were spread out enough that I could worry about a few things at a time.  And actually take my time. 

4.  Homemade Gifts.  There is something SO great about making something for someone.  I made a lot of our Christmas gifts this year.  And I had PURE joy in making and giving them to our special people in our lives.  I need to remember this next year.

3.  Clayisms.  Clay is obsessed with our Xmas train.  So much we ended up putting it up for most of the holiday season.  This week he started saying Mallory--in the most adorable voice ever.  I can't wait to really be able to listen to his words and sentences in his cute little voice.  The screaming is getting OLD.  And driving us crazy.  On the way home from my parents' this past weekend, Clayton handed be a booger.  YES.  A booger.  And told me it was one.  SO I guess, I should have known better than to take it.  But I did. 

2.  Malloryisms.  A few of Mal's sayings:
"Daddy doesn't know the words to doctor." When I told her I was leaving and that Daddy could play doctor with her.  Sometimes I am SO make believed out:o)
"Cat's aren't fun to play with."  After chasing Leo around the house, and trying to get him to sit with her.  We had a whole discussion on the difference between cats and dogs.  She still loves Leo.
"Come here you little pistol."  Talking to a grape that was rolling away from her.  I think she gets this from MY dad.  Hilarious.

1.  Christmas with the Engelhardt's.  Great time!  It was so much fun to just hang out with my family for a weekend.  Good food, games, drinks, play, presents, shopping, AND extra space!!!  My parents just finished up a HUGE renovation of their house.  Giving them MORE bedrooms and bathrooms.  It made a huge difference in all of us staying there.  Kids could run around and truly be kids without getting into too much:o)  Kids played awesome together.  Boy cousins were a riot together!  Mal got a sewing machine:o)  Clay got some big trucks.  And Jay and I got pots and pans (the highlight of the weekend!! We came home and that was the FIRST thing we washed and put away! Ha!  Times have changed!).  Just the beginning of this holiday season...

I'm late.
SUPER late.
And I've got another one to do after this:o)

Until next week,
Mrs. Newell