Holiday Highlights

I have no memory cards. I hate those little boogers. It's not entirely their fault that I keep losing them. I lay them on my desk by my pooter (Madi speak for computer) and they either get love from little Emma Mae hands or get swiped into the cleaning lady vortex. Either way, I didn't have one for the holidays and rather than go pay another $25 I just didn't take any pictures. Not one. It's sort of sad. But on the other hand, I didn't have to be the one behind the camera. I actually got to help the kids open presents and learn how to play with their new toys. Anywho, here's what everyone has missed out on...

Jonathon took Josh and I on the trip to Universal Studios. That was a great day. It was great for Jonathon to get to do whatever he wanted without being tied to the younger kids. We rode all of the rides. Well, except for the one that was just a straight drop. I couldn't do it. I was doing good to ride all of those roller coasters. I really thought I would die on those things. It was horrible. The worst part was being visibly shaken and near tears but getting off the ride and giving Jonathon a high five. I could see everytime we got off of the rides that he was waiting to see how I felt about it before he decided how he felt about it. So, I knew I had to be big and bad when I really just wanted to curl in a ball and cry for mommy. But I toughed it out and talked about how awesome it was and how I couldn't wait for the next one. We had a great trip and even the bus ride with the other scouts was a ton of fun. I can't wait for next year.

One side note about Universal. I tried to buy a memory card for my camera there. They sell for about $25 normally, so I thought I would have to pay about $40 at the theme park. When she rang that card up and said it was $90 I flipped my lid. I let Josh and Jonathon know that there would be no picture taking going on there.

Then there was Christmas. Christmas morning was wonderful. It was really important to me that we take our time and open the presents one person at a time so that we could experience it all together. We must have been really good this year because we got lots of stuff. Which was wonderful but at the same time it left me cleaning up, wondering if it was too much. Are we spoiling the kids? Are they going to learn to appreciate the value of all of these things if they get so much so easily? We did a Christmas one year where everyone in the family was only allowed to get the kids one present a piece. I was thinking maybe we should go back to that...(I tend to really overthink things sometimes) As I was pondering all of this there was a conversation going on in the playroom...

(Madi has just gotten a giant High School Musical house and is playing with it when her brother Jackson comes over to play with it.)

M: Get the hell away from here, Jackson.

(Jackson begins to walk away. I look up in complete and total shock.)

Me: What did you just say?

M: I told Jackson to get the hell away from here.

Me: What?!!

Jackson: She told me to get the hell away from her.

I felt like I was sucked into some twighlight zone episode. I think the worst part was that I kept having them repeat it because I just couldn't believe that my little angel just said that. Josh, of course, was unphased, asleep on the chair.

Aside from that, Christmas went beautifully. No one was injured and any day that goes without injury is a good day in my book. We visited my dad and really enjoyed our time there. Madi wanted to move in with them. I think the swim in the pool might have had something to do with that.

One of Jonathon's favorite presents this year was a camera. While I was taking a camera break this Christmas, Jonathon was running around taking the pictures. He took some really good ones but if he didn't like it for some reason or another he would delete it immediately. But these few pics are what was left on his memory card...

He must love Lalalalynsey because she was still there.

Our Christmas tree.

Grandma Pat's Christmas tree. I think her's only looks so much better because mine had bad lighting and was at the wrong angle. Right?

The High School Moosical doll house that drove Madi to use swear words.

My sweet girl.

It must run in the family.

Try and remember that these were all taken by the 7 year old...

These were on the crazy fun car ride down to my dad's house.

My dad. (You have to be careful around everyone, you never know what picture I will stick on my blog. Love ya, dad!)

Listen, I'm just happy that he kept a picture of Josh and I on the card. I feel so honored.

I know it's late but I hope everyone had a happy holiday!!! We sure did!