it's beginning to look alot like...

our poor tree...it looks beautiful to the little ones...but Margaret put her second grade Christmas ornament over the angel...and the tree looks like it might fall over...

Cookies... I tried to reason with Jonathan, Charlotte Claire, and Camille that the cookies look nice with less sprinkles. Jon said that was JUST AN OPINION. They insist the ones covered in them taste better and look better...

It snowed last night, so we woke up to that Christmas-y brightness. The kids were already in their snowpants by the time I got out here this morning. I joined them. We went out and romped around with Rosie, got the sleds out, they went down the swingset slide on sleds. Any semblance of order in the kitchen/dining room has been infringed on by the mitten bin and the boots...

And someone still has a suitcase from a recent trip to Jamaica, in the kitchen...um, about that...I AM going to take care of it...I WAS going to the other day, but...well, I am probably going to do it today.

When we came in this morning, Kathryn was making French Toast. How nice, the little girls just got their boots and mittens off and had a hot breakfast. They had some tea, too, and now they are playing dolls. I am having my oameal and coffee, and sitting here seeing all the things that have to be done. It is Saturday, and I would like to just do fun things, but there is always something housewife-y to do. I have already swept the kitchen, but it needs mopping again, and ect. I feel like I am the only one who cares around here and trying to get them to work with me and help is like pulling teeth. As soon as I say their names sometimes, they say, "MOM!", dragging it out to three sylables. They are mostly still sleeping, the older ones, except for Margaret and Kathryn, who went shopping with Abigail.

I plan to stay in today...except I might go see THE BABIES!!!! Yes, they were born! My sister is grandmother to twins! Their names are Sebastian Peter and Linnea Rene. Sebastian was born first, and that's all I know. They were also born naturally, which is always nice with twins. I can't wait to meet them. My sister was supposed to be there when they were born, both Thomas and Susan wanted her there. But...the hospital people only let Thomas in, said it was just in case they had to do emergency surgery. Cheryl said she would leave if that happened, but it was firm and final, she could not go in. She was not very happy about it. I felt bad for her. Her name was on the list of people who were authorized to be in for the birth, so I don't know if it was just the nurse who was on duty maybe loved rules and power, I don't know.

So I have lost my vacation weight plus an extra pound. I am telling myself that this does NOT mean I can sneak in some cookies here and there. It is just a total mind game, this weight loss thing. I know I rant about it too much, but it is my battle these days. I am fine most of the time with just eating healthy food, but sometimes, blah. By this time next year I plan to be done with all this weight, and be in maintenance mode for the rest of my life. I feel SO much better now having lost the 51 pounds. Vacation was better, the airplane seatbelts buckled easily with room to spare, I could sit in those previously terrifying pool lounge chairs without worrying about how in the heck I was going to get back up...

I am excited about Christmas yet I dread it. I am not organized. I am not very smart when it comes to the way I shop. It would probably be better if I just waited until November or so and got the kids what they really wanted for Christmas, instead of buying stuff all year cheap, and giving them stuff they might not really love. And it would be nice if I kept better track of stuff....I am going to be just as surprised as some of them when they open stuff, I don't remember what I wrapped for whom. I started with a list. I have several lists, actually. But lists are not the magic answer for people like me, because a list has to be maintained. I did get them things they wanted, but I hope I didn't forget any special requests.

And...I really should get moving...