I'm Just Gonna Say It...

I despise Christmas-time. I have a lot of difficulty finding anything joyous about the holiday anymore.

I loved Christmas-time when I was younger. I thought it was the most wonderful time of year and couldn't wait to pull out the ornaments.

Now though, it's just a huge pain.

We have no traditions anymore and have to duke out when to have dinner with family.

TV, the Internet, Magazines, Radio...all have an attitude and agenda. Consume. Consume. Consume. Buy until you can't buy anymore. Get up at 3:00AM and consume.

Children are the worst. Each is sucked into a consumer mindset. Can I have that toy? Will Santa bring me two of those? I want. I want. I want.

The stores are crowded. I can't stand being in huge crowds. I have to grocery shop in the middle of the night just to do it in peace and quiet.

I didn't even want to have a tree this year. It's too much trouble to put the thing up only to have to take it all down in a few weeks. When I didn't have children, it didn't bother me as much. Now though, I have more important things to do than deal with some silly, fake piece of evergreen. Do you know how many dirty socks three children have in a week's time? Oh no, it's far more than 42. I'd rather wash the socks than deal with Christmas.

I despise Christmas-time.

Post Turkey Nap....

Thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope all of my blog friends have a wonderful day and get to spend time with family.

So, It Starts Again...

I was in the band. I played the French horn. I hated it, but I never told my parents that. I really wanted to play the flute, but my mom and dad really seemed to want me to play the French horn. So, I did.

Band starts in the 6th grade here in Small Town, USA. Hadley heard about the band and really wanted to sign up. What did she want to play? The flute. I was tickled pink to rent one for her. That's how they do it nowadays. You get to rent the flute for a set amount of money. If your child decides to play something else, you just swap it out. After a few months, you have the option to buy the instrument or return it at the end of the year. How nuts is that??!!! The large brass instruments were and still are owned by the school because it would be completely cost prohibitive for parents to buy $4,000 horns.

Hadley's band gave a performance at the last PTO meeting. I was totally disgusted that the performance was sandwiched in the middle of the meeting in order to boost attendance. Nice play, PTO. Anyway, I had to show off a picture of my eldest rocking out. Well, not rocking out, but she is sitting and waiting to rock out any minute.

So now I am looking at a future full of concerts, quotas, football games, and trips.

You'll Poke Your Eye Out...

Boys. They are messy and sticky and wonderful. At least my little boy is all of those things. Without fail he picks up sticks to use as toys at the farm. I have to reprimand him every time. I don't like it, but he really could hurt himself or one of the girls waving a stick around.

Trying to dig a well...

...or trying to break a stick....

...or looking to see if I am nearby...

...and I was. He just didn't notice me photographing him with his sticks and stuff. Ha!

Things I Like at the Farm...

Say Cheese...

When I take a photograph of one of my children, I frequently use the "say cheese" catch phrase. Layton took it to a whole 'nother level.

Have You Voted?...Give Birth or Have an Abortion?...

http://www.birthornot.com/


Have you been to this website? I just heard about it recently. It's a website that an actual couple is using to decide whether or not to have an abortion or give birth. For reals. Check it out.

Take a Nap with Me, Sister...

Before school one day last week, the two littlest ones went back to sleep in front of the fireplace before I could get them dressed. They were absolutely precious curled up together.

No Boundaries...

I have always believed that anything is possible.

Given enough time, money, and effort. Anything is possible.

I have always tried to live my life that way, and I have tried to help my children know that they are limited only by their own ambition. If that makes sense....

Ella And The Donkey...

Ella loves the donkey at the farm. The kids named her Mary Jane. Last week, we enjoyed the last few days of warm weather with a trip to the farm to play all day. Ella and Mary Jane spent some quality time together. Ha!

I Think This One Needs No Words...

Can I Take Your Picture?...This is What I Got...

Hmmm. I guess they didn't feel like having a picture made.

Can't Even Eat Lunch Without Being a Boy...

Return of the Pose Queen...

Ella the drama queen busted out a few moves over the weekend.

Nope. She is not a camera hog at all.

Should I?...

After watching the girls play with my old batons and in some of my old uniforms....

I'm wondering if I should dig out some old photos of me twirling for the entire interwebs to laugh at. Hey now. I know competitive baton twirling seems lame. Wait, it is lame. And I spent years of my life doing it. HA!!! But, in my defense, should I ever need to twirl fire or juggle...I'm set.

A Horse is a Horse of Course...

A Deer Salad....

The hubs loves to hunt. We've talked about this before. Things I have learned from the hubs about hunting...

1. You get started WAY before the season opens. You've got to fertilize and have a food plot.

2. You plant this deer salad stuff. I think it's clover and some kind of other stuff.

3. You keep an eye on the property. You never know when a deer may come through. And, you need to know their habits.

4. I hope and pray that this season is fruitful for the hubs. He loves to hunt, and I love him. So, here's hoping to a freezer full of meat soon!!!