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! :-)