Christmas Blessings

Christmas came and went very quickly so it seems....It is soon going to be the new year! Boy how times really does fly when you are having fun! Quick recap of the events since I finished working on Dec. 23rd. Friday, Dec. 24- Christmas Eve- we had a yummy breakfast at home relaxed a bit and then got ready for church. We went to the 3:00 service with my parents in Monticello where we saw good friends and family- great start to the celebrations still to come! Then it was off to Sarah and Dana's house to see the JUST finished basement (LOVE THE MAN CAVE!!!!) and enjoy our traditional Fondue dinner....we at until we were barely able to leave the table....then came the smashing of the Peppermint Pig after we all shared what we were thankful for- then it was off for home we go...we still had some things to do when we got home if you know what I mean....The kids were in bed by 10:00 and boy were they tired...that didn't stop them from rising at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning...as every good little girl and boy should to see if Santa came to visit them while they slept! There was a lot of hooting and hollering when they saw their stockings full of treats and toys. After we took time to enjoy just the four of us at home we headed to Nana and Papa's house to open gifts there and have the traditional brunch dish with cheesy potatoes....again...stuffing our selves until we were almost unable to move...we enjoyed watching everyone open their gifts and the excitement of the "AUNTIE BONNIE" trick... (wrapping a bunch of small presents inside a big one....BEST TRICK EVER!!!!) We then became slugs on the couches and watched a new movie on Nana and Papa's new Blue Ray player....we gotta get one of those! It was great....then off for home we went for a few short hours as the next day we were off to Arrowwood in Alexandria for 2 nights and 3 days of cards, games, swimming, sledding, sleigh rides, more good food, and lots of family time! We had a blast!!! It was always nice to get home too...yesterday was spent caring for our much neglected home as we were to have guests later that night! It was so wonderful to have a clean home and to be able to see my dresser top, counter tops, and my children's bedroom floors again! Then we had an AMAZING get together with friends from back in the day....elementary and high school. It had been WAAAAYYYY too long since I was able to spend time with these friends and I look forward to seeing them all again in the near future! (well ....Chani may be hard to see as she lives in California....we'll see what we can do!) My friend Kristy and her husband Ryan and their 2 beautiful little boys were over, my friend Dara and her girls, my friend Holly came solo....no kids...no hubby (we'll catch them next time!), and of course Chanteil!!! It was a great night with lots of catching up and laughs about the good old days! I was sad to see them all go home...but we will do it again soon I hope!
As for today....I may not even get out of my PJ's...and that is equally as awesome! :-) With the rain outside it is a good day to cuddle up on the couch with my kids...watch a movie with popcorn and m&m's and then take a NAP! I will post pictures later when I have more energy...maybe after my nap! I hope all of my family and friends had great a Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!

Bedtime updates...and more!

Well...it has been a while since I wrote about our bedtime worries...since then we found out Mette was "medically speaking" full of shit! Poor little girl...she was seriously backed up! This may have been part of the problem as her tummy was hurting at night when she laid down. Now that she has been "cleaned out" after copious amounts of miralax and a different laxative...things should be all better....WHO AM I KIDDING! OK..so seriously things are a little better but still very much a work in progress. Every night is a battle royal and at times a full on knock down drag out but at some point she will just pass out from exhaustion!!

As for other members of the Severson family....Gabe had a basketball tourney this weekend. Saturday was canceled due to the butt whoopin snow fall we got but they were able to play on Sunday. It was great to watch him play. He sure plays with a LOT of heart and is really ALL over the court. I can't look at times when he goes down for fear he will hit his head again and we will be on concussion number 2 of the season. He was really sore and TIRED last night...he does not even remember walking down the stairs and going to bed. To be honest, I don't either!

We are looking forward to yet another VERY busy week. Between practices, meetings, band concerts (his first one EVER...we are so excited) and getting ready for Christmas in Brewster with Jerry's family this weekend- this week will FLY by! Next week is not much better I am afraid...Every night we have some sort of get together, meeting, or something with the kids! Christmas break will be very welcomed!!! oh...maybe I spoke too soon....we have many FUN things planned for this time too!

I am on my way upstairs now...hoping, wishing, praying for some sleep and that my daughter allows the whole family to get some much needed rest!!!

Bedtime worrier....

You see, miss Mette has ALWAYS been a good sleeper...as in infant we could lay her in her crib WIDE AWAKE and she would coo herself to sleep....she continued this until about a year ago when something spooked her and she has not been the same since!
Last night going to bed was a battle royal - as it usually is...in and out of her room more times than you can count, tears, EVERY light on, door WIDE open, covers tucked in SUPER TIGHT, closet doors CLOSED, the repetition of her making sure I hear every little "excuse me I tooted" and "mom when you come in again wake me up and cuddle as big as the universe ~ EVERY TIME"!
There is only some much a mommy can take- it is hard on daddy too...but in the middle of the night ....it was ALL mommy....ALL NIGHT! She started about 1 AM and the worries, meltdown, covers untucked, stuffy nose issues, and much more! I must have cuddled with her at least 6-7 times (every time I would leave with her saying it is NOT fair you get to sleep with daddy....I want to sleep with another HUMAN too!!!! (pretty cute of her to say ~ just not last night at 3:40!), blew her nose 5 times, got 2 drinks, chap stick once, and countless checks of the closet and door to make sure they are they way they should be...this kept on going strong until about 4:15 when for the first time EVER she got out of bed on her own! REALLY...when my bedroom door opened I was guessing it would be Gabe, as I am SURE he was up with all the screaming Mette was doing upstairs....NOPE it was Mette! I looked at my husband who was trying his hardest to fall back to sleep and started laughing. I could do nothing else- if it was not laughter it would have been tears! She needed to tell me she didn't like her backpack in her room and that she was moving it to the living room. FINE was my response and I told her to get back in bed, stay there and GO TO SLEEP! The chaos finally stopped at 4:30 when I realized that I had a sad 30 minutes before my alarm was to go off...I laid in bed for a short time and then the alarm went off....I would have loved nothing more than to ignore it completely and stay in bed, but the treadmill is calling....not so sure it is safe for me to be on it when I am so sleep deprived~ we'll see what happens!
As for Mette, she is SOUND asleep wrapped up in her covers with "Lamby Poo Poo Kins" and "Teddy" in a complete death grip and I am grasping at how I can function through the day at work with 19 kids, a thousand things to do, then go to my son's first school dance as a chaperon from 6-9 PM...oh yea...then come home in what is sure to be a fun drive with the snow they are predicting and get my house ready for family and friends to come over for RIBSGIVING (the Spivak's side of the family- their take on Thanksgiving!) Tell me again why I do not drink coffee....and I am NOT supposed to have pop....sugar is not good too so high doses of chocolate are out.....what can I do to stay in the up right position? Maybe the fact that Mette is having a sleep over with Nana and Papa tonight will be enough to keep me going...I KNOW I WILL SLEEP TONIGHT! :-)

So much to be THANKFUL for....I am digging deep....found it!...oh dear...Christmas is just around the corner!

...home sweet home....that is what I was saying at 11:30 am when we pulled into our driveway from a wonderful Thanksgiving with Jerry's family! There is something to be said about traveling to spend precious time with your loved ones that you just do not see often enough.....there is also something to be said for coming home! Mette knew that when Thanksgiving was over and we got home it was GAME ON.....CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS GALORE!!! She must have asked at least 10 times if we were there yet and made sure to drive her point home that I was NOT to do any cleaning or decorating without her (she needed to take a LONG soak in the tub before anything else!)
We got home....unloaded the mini van that was filled with what seems like never ending "crap" :-), put away groceries, unpacked the bags of clothes both clean and dirty, got down the Christmas trees and bins from the storage above the garage....mind you Mette is repeatedly telling me NOT to do ANYTHING without her- I guess my repeated reassurance in the Van on the drive home was not enough....Gabe was out shoveling the driveway- OK he did about 3 swipes and was over his need to be outside after a long car ride. 
Fast forward....baths and showers are done for the kids, everything is cleaned up and we are ready to decorate....first up the BIG tree upstairs.....OH LORD GIVE ME PATIENCE and I MEAN NOW!!!!! Really, I know Gabe and I are a LOT alike and this can be good or it can be the end of a wonderful moment...today...it was the second of the two (at least at first). Just unpacking the damn tree was a battle between us....Mette is quietly standing by as Gabe and I go round after round ~ back and forth ~ him questioning EVERYTHING that comes out of my mouth! DRIVES ME NUTS!!!! Jerry, mind you, is steering clear of the whole mess...as he finishes the driveway job Gabe started and a few other odds and ends outside before coming in to referee the match!
I had to take many deep breaths and apologize for hooting and hollering at Gabe, but we managed to get the tree up and decorated! It looks WONDERFUL....So I think I should be done for the day! BOY WAS I WRONG...my kids had other ideas! They wanted to do THEIR tree downstairs. The family tree with all of our personal ornaments on it. They get to decorate it each year however they want! After the episode upstairs I was dreading this! We did have our moments where we could have choked each other...but when all was said and done we had a SECOND tree that was BEAUTIFUL!
By now it was dinner time....we all sat down to a wonderful and very yummy grilled feast prepared by my husband. Then it was family movie time....(I swear to God that this is Mette's most favorite thing to do!) After watching The Santa Claus and making popcorn for the kids and Jerry I was able to reflect on the day....
I have so many things to be thankful for...first and foremost my kids and husband! Each day is an adventure ~ yes we have our ups and downs because we are so much alike, but at the end of the day I would not trade any of it for all the riches in the world. I am also thankful for being able to spend time with Jerry's family. Seeing Jerry's dad for the first time with his new set of chompers was GREAT!
....So after the movie and the kids were fast asleep (which took all of 3 seconds for Gabe and well, Mette missed the last 15 minutes of the movie as she was passed out on me!) I was feeling in the festive mood still as the Christmas lights twinkled in the dark and all of our wonderful family ornaments that were hung so carefully by my children (all crammed into different sections of the tree) I decided to crack out the wrapping paper, dig out the bags hidden in my closet and put a HUGE dent into wrapping gifts! Well....lets just say that I am pretty proud of what I got done! All the gifts that have been bought ( I have been trying to be a head of the game this year...instead of impulse buying as Christmas gets closer) Gabe is DONE....Mette is very close to being done....Jerry and I are DONE....my parents are 1/2 way done....my God daughter is DONE....my sister and Dana (no frickin clue what they are going to get)...Gabe's godparents DONE...my grade level coworkers are DONE! With that said....I only have a few more left....and not only are they DONE but they are all FRICKIN' WRAPPED!!!
~ Now I am beyond exhausted and I need to go to bed....for tomorrow will for sure bring more adventures and more things to be Thankful for - and my " TO DO" list will be a little shorter after the productive day we have had....on the list for tomorrow...Christmas letter to go with the photo cards sitting on the computer table, baking cookies with Gabe and Mette (the KISS cookies),  cuddle time with Vivi (my god daughter), watching the VIKINGS...lord help us all if they do not win, and trying to enjoy every moment and remembering to be THANKFUL for all that we have...for we are VERY BLESSED!

Did someone say....conferences????

Tis the season for teachers to hunker down and settle in for a few LONG, pretty eventful evenings! So begins the PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE season! ;-)
I have been doing this for a while now, and it does not seem to matter-I still get a little nervous, mostly for the first couple- then it becomes old hat again! It is always nice to make a connection with the parents of the kids I spend SOOO much time with and I try to tell them that I will believe half of what there kid tells me, as long as they only believe half of what their kid tell them about me and what happens in school! Oh I have heard a few stories in the last month or so....that too seems to help set the mood for when families come in- sometimes good ~ sometimes a little awkward ;-)

Well...be it what it may; long, good, exciting, frustrating, exhausting...they are a great thing- these parent teacher conferences.

On Tuesday night we had the pleasure of our first Middle School conference. It is a little different but really good! Gabe lead his own conference. Telling us about his grades, things they are learned and will be learning in the up coming week, his attitude, work skills....HE DID AMAZING! We could not be more proud of him. It is no secrete that school has not always been easy for him and that things that were said to him or happened to him in the past he really struggled with just letting it go. His confidence is not always where we as parents would like it to be because he is so hard on himself!
Well....out with the old and in with the new.... his confidence is going up (still room to go up even more), he is working his butt off and even made the B honor roll! He is really proud of himself and how school is going and so are we!

As for our youngest....she is on her own learning curve this week. For those of you who know miss Mette Marie- she has a mind of her own and a VERY outgoing, spunky, fun loving personality! One of the many qualities we love about her and that could quite possible be the end of me!!! For the first time EVER she got in a little trouble at Preschool. When my mom got there all of the children were seated on the circle, outside gear on, back packs packed, waiting for their ride to pick them up....where was my daughter...in the corner- bag open with nothing in it, coat, hat, mittens, boots...still not on and when it was my mom's turn in line she could not just grab her and go...no she had to wait until my daughter was ready. And she was moving at HER pace! The teacher said she had an all around OFF day....when she asked her if she forgot her brain at home Mette's reply was "I sure think so.....I just can't seem to GET IT TOGETHER today!!!"
Oh the words of a mama can come back to bit you in the ass....those key words GET IT TOGETHER come out of my mouth about 20 times a day with both of them...mostly in the morning when I am trying desperately go get out the damn door and she is still playing with her barbies or in her kitchen and Gabe, well the backpack is open and nothing that is supposed to be in there is yet- then we are loaded in the good old mini van....and he is still scrambling to GET IT TOGETHER and get his butt in the van so we can leave.....Moral of this story- They are who they are....we can not control what they do or say.....we just need to remember THEY are ALWAYS listening! I know this is the first of MANY fun little things she will do or say and for now it is still cute ~ when she is a teenager.....I very well may be in a padded room with a lovely white jacket on ~  you can come visit me or join me for that fact if you are in the same boat!

A great day to celebrate....

Today was a wonderful day at Pinewood Elementary....back up a little....my day started at 5:06 am when the alarm went off ~ with my husband snorking and coughing next to me I got up ~ came downstairs and sent a short message to an old friend that I have been thinking about for a while saying Thank you for his service in protecting our country ~ then off to the tread mill I go....rocking out with my i pod on to the great mix of music my husband put together for me called "Mama's gonna sweat" I did my work out...folded laundry with Gabe's help at 5:45(lord knows why he got up early...he had a good 15 minutes more to sleep!) Everyone got ready, loaded up in the mini van- toaster strudels and all and we were off promptly at 6:43 am! We saw an amazing sunrise to which Mette said "MOMMY the sky is SOOOO pretty- it looks like a fancy lip stick color!" Gabe and Mette didn't fight on the drive in (as they often do) but instead played a counting game and sang alphabet songs! Not to toot my kids horn but Mette has some mad counting skills for only be 4 and she knew all the different sounds of the alphabet...maybe she really is listening and paying attention when we read books and talk about numbers and letters- who would have thought! (Gabe was pretty proud too...)
After dropping my kids off at school and daycare I headed to Pinewood for what I was sure was going to be a crazy day! It is Veteran's Day and I had 2 family members to little ones from my class coming and every year for as long as I can remember, any Veteran's Day program gets me all choked up! Today was no different! Before kids began to arrive, the special guests were walking the halls- men, women, young and old in uniforms or with special hats, jackets, medals hanging on their chests....they seemed to stand so proud as they walked past my room. In the hall I greeted some kind gentlemen, shook their hands, introduced myself, asked them where and when they served...then I simply thanked them for their service for our country~ it was the easiest words to come out of my mouth but the look on their faces will stick with me FOREVER! They smiled, tears in their eyes and quietly said your welcome.
As the morning went on I had the privilege to meet a set of grandparents of a little girl in my room. Her grandpa served in Korea around the same time as my father in law. He shared a few stories and pleasantries then it was of to the program they went. As I walked my class to the gym and got them seated I snuck out to see if MY SPECIAL guest was there yet....there in the door way to the gym with a few of his VFW buddies was a man I admire very much! My god father, Jim Wallin, has been a member of the color guard that comes to our school year for this program for quite some time. I was able to give him a BIG hug and kiss (which would brighten any day of the year!) and tell him Thank you again! You see, growing up I always knew Jim was in the service and it was never really talked about. When I was in 7th grade, I had a school project that involved me interviewing someone I was proud of- my hero. I chose Jim. It was the first time I had ever talked to him about his years in the Marines. He told me about Vietnam, remember I was in 7th grade and when you are in 7th grade you think you know EVERYTHING....boy was I humbled after talking to him. I wrote a pretty good paper (or at least I thought it was good) and ended up walking away from the whole thing with a new found respect for him and those who served along side him. As I have grown up I have heard about the adventures and vacations he has taken with the other Marines he served with. They have reunions every year in different places and they have become a very close group. His daughter (who is my son's god mother) Sheril has told me many stories about what it is like when they get together.....
The whole point of what I am saying is - It was a VERY GOOD DAY! A day in which we honor the brave men and women who gave of themselves selflessly to protect each and every one of us! Some gave the their lives in the line of duty and so many families will never be the same.
~ To anyone who has given of them self to protect us.....THANK YOU. They should hear this EVERY DAY- not just once a year.
Take time every day to say these little words to someone you know who has given so much...THANK YOU!  ~ It really was a Great Day!

Daylight Savings Time....oh how I hate you!

We had a wonderful weekend spent at home getting SOOO many things done! We hung up all the pictures in Gabe's room, touched up the paint job, made a Family wall of pictures downstairs, cleaned the whole house (dusting included...Mette is such a great helper when it comes to this!), cleaned up the yard, had family movie nights, had my parents over for a WONDERFUL dinner yesterday.....I can't really complain about much!
HOWEVER.....I really do HATE this day lights savings time. Mette turns into this crabby, ugly creature about 5:30 pm as it is now getting dark...by 6:30 she is completely out of sorts and in bed by 7:00- not sleeping though that does not happen until she pitches multiple fits about how wide her door is open, making sure she tells Jer and I to keep the hall light on ALL NIGHT, and repeated cuddling by both Jerry and I! It is completely exhausting! The whole bed time has been tough on her since this spring when something spooked her - but throw in the time change and we have a full on MONSTER on our hands!!! (Thank god she is so frickin cute!) As for Gabe...he is adjusting well- he got up at 5:00 on Sat. morning saying he just could not sleep ....fast forward to Sunday about 6 PM he was DONE! He laid on the couch and by 7 was in bed. It was so nice that he is old enough now not to pitch fits like he did when he was 4 (just like Mette is now).
I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well in school for everyone today and that no one has a serious case of the cranky pants!

Halloween Fun!

The kids has a great night trick or treating in the neighborhood....Mette was just about the most beautiful SNOW PRINCESS I have ever seen...and Gabe- he scared the crap out of more than a few people! He was the best Zombie Doctor you will ever find! They bags of candy lay next to the couch (my perch) as my husband lovingly referes to it....they each had a few pieces....Mette fell in love with the pumpkin seeds I made (not too toot my own horn, but they are prette good!) Going to be was not easy for the snow princess, as she was feeling that Halloween was not over yet! Here are some pictures of the kids- Hope everyone had a safe, fun, and tummy ache free night!

Now on to the next start of the day.....Jerry was up to his old tricks again at the grill! He got up pretty early....started the coals....soaked the wood chips....and then the real fun began! He placed this beautiful brisquette on the grill and cooked it low and slow all day long! It was like butter when we finally cut through it at about 5:15 in the evening! Oh....the sweet joy of marrying a man who knows how to  makes the grill his B#%*$! :-)

Here is miss Mette....the Fairy Princess Ballerina....This was her outfit for daycare on Friday....Tomorrow she will be a snow princess and Gabe will be a zombie doctor! It should be a good time!  Today was a great day ~ I worked at Pinewood in my pit of a room for just under 4 hours- I did get a lot done but oh lord do I have more to do! This afternoon we carved pumpkins.....

Our neighbor and good friend Erin and her daughter Vivi came over to carve pumpkins with us....Gabe's is the on the left, Mette's is in the middle (with the heart shaped nose), and Jerry's is on the right. We had a really good time and are looking forward to making pumpkin seeds tomorrow for the first time! They are drying out on the counter as I type!
Jerry is going to try a new item for grilling tomorrow...for those of you that know my husband well - know he is the MASTER of the grill. No kidding- I really married up in the grilling department - not that my parents can't grill but Jerry learned from his dad and we have friends from all over who are willing to come to our home if they know he is grilling. Sorry ...had to toot his horn a little...back to the new grilling item.....Drum roll please......BRISQUETTE.....oh lordy...it will be a good day to sit on the coach, watch the VIKINGS kick some butt, and have a good old fashion BBQ! Oh then there is Trick or Treating too! What a great day we will have!

He's number 16!

They played at the Dome! They won in overtime! It was awesome!

I am adding to this some old pictures of Gabe playing football this season- he has gotten quite good if I do say so myself. Papa bet him for each game he didn't flop on the field like a fish out of water he would give him $5.00- now papa's can do this and I must say it sure worked and Gabe is now the proud owner of a very nice and big airsoft gun. He and his cousins in Brewster play "games" with them outside at Thanksgiving, Easter, and every other time they can get to see each other. Gabe is totally excited to show them his new toy!

Here was Mette and her best friend Ella performing for us at home...they had many different names, many different ORIGINAL songs, and a whole lot of fun! They could have gone on for hours and I am sure this is not the last time the "Judy Robins Band" or "The Beatles" will put on a show!

Well...that is all for now! We are off to have a "FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT" next to playing with Ella, this is Mette's FAVORITE thing to do. She must ask us 5 or more times a night if we can have a family movie..with popcorn, m&m's and LOTS of cuddles! The movie Bedtime Stories is what is playing at the Severson home tonight....I am sure it will be wonderful!

Bring on FRIDAY!

As a teacher I look forward to this day the most every week! This week is no different - other than the fact that my 2nd graders are going to be out of their minds by 2 pm when our party starts! It is so fun to watch how excited they are each year for Halloween to be here! On the same note....Monday is going to stink...and Tuesday too for that matter. As they all are on their sugar highs and come down off of them when the first round of candy overload has come to an end. Oh those are FUN days :-)

As for my family- Mette has a dress up daycare party today- she just spent the last 15 minutes (she has been up since 5:40) choosing what to wear- Final costume is....Fairy balerina princess.....wings, a tutu, crown (supplied by my wonderful sister and her husband from their vacation to Califorina last year) and all the jewlels she can fit on her fingers, wrists, and neck! Gabe is excited for the first after school, Middle School activity night. This is great as it is right after school until about 5 - wonderful! He is also excited about carving pumpkins tomorrow and going trick or treating with his cousins in Albertville!

I will attempt to post pictures of the kids later- for now off to get ready- I just may drink coffee today (for those who know me well- I HATE COFFEE)- but I will have to find some way to rev myself up or I will be eaten alive today!

By the way....here is a picture of my WONDERFUL family! My husband Jerry, son Gabe, daughter Mette and me...Mama as all of them call me..Our amazing and very talented friend Anne took this picture and the other ones posted below! The are great pictures and we can't wait to hang them up on our wall! Thanks so much Anne!

Blogging Day 1....what in the hell am I doing????

So this is the beginning of a new adventure for me...blogging...oh dear what in the heck have I gotten myself into! I have spent a lot of time reading some of my good friends blogs and find myself laughing out loud and thinking "why am I not doing this for my family...what a great keepsake!" ....flash forward...reason number one- I am crazy busy! I teach full time, have 2 children that are involved in more than one activity, a husband who can work crazy hours with his sales job and I never seem to know when he will be home...did I mention I teach full time? Not just this 8-4 type of hours either...I am there as early as I can be (usually by 7:30 after I have dropped off 1 child to daycare and the other to Middle School....I teach an after school group on Tuesday and Thursdays that ends at 5:15 but usually I am out of there by 5:30 on a good day. I also have a home that at some point in my schedule needs to be taken care of....thank god we have no pets (much to my children's dismay!). Oh then there is cooking, dishes, laundry, correcting papers, answering emails that didn't get taken care of during the school day, having a conversation with my husband in passing to do any of the prior items and well some where in there I try to find time for myself...so here I sit at my computer at 10:14 pm...knowing full well I SHOULD be sleeping for 5 am comes VERY quickly and the treadmill is not the most forgiving thing if you are not fully awake when you step on! So I am going to try this blogging thing....not sure how long it will last....who knows - maybe this will become some what of a sanity keeper for me...after all - my children are asleep in their own beds- my husband is asleep on the coach ~ my home is quiet (minus the frickin' wind gusts outside). So lets give this thing a try......If nothing else it will be a good place for me to write down what I am thankful for each day, what struggles I may have faced- if I over came them or not, things I am looking forward to, and a way for my family and friends all around the world to be able to take a peek into our lives when we can't see them as often as we would like! Here goes nothing! (check back in a day or two....we'll see how it is going!)