Is it really the most wonderful time of the year?

As the song goes,"it's the most wonderful time of the year", I have to wonder if this guy was smoking something when he wrote this. Every year we seem to get sick on the holidays. This year started out the same. I know I said I would post a picture this time but I am still in Cali and not at my home computer. Still, this needs to be told for all to laugh and feel grateful that they are not in my family right now. I know the last post seemed like I was complaining and I hope this one doesn't come across that way. Anyway- The Holiday season started out with Karly cutting off the side tip of her middle finger. Thankfully our Bishop is a Doctor and he pulled it off for me. Her finger is now healing but will always be deformed. Kids-don't try to cut your own apples!! Moms are happy to do it for you. The following week, just before Christmas, Evan decides to push through his top three front teeth. He fevered for a few days and once they pushed through I realized it wasn't just teething that he was suffering from-All together now mom's -he had an ear infection to top it off. Well ain't that dandy!! So we drove to Cali and arrive in time to find out our two nephews had the flu and had been at our parents house the night before. Well, wonderful-oh, and they are coming back tonight-GREAT!!!! Not that it is in anyways they're fault nor do I blame them. I blame my luck. So we decide to just hope they don't get sick. So Tuesday comes and I am still exhausted from the trip but feeling happy. We go to the tide pools and then head to Old Town for Dinner in San Diego. Once there, I am trying to squeeze past a plant and my Bro.in law and Tanner decides to go the opposite way. As he insists that I pick him up over this very large pot to put him in his chair, my diaper bag snags the large, heavy, wooden chair and pulls it down on my foot. Of course I am in flip flops- what else would I wear? As I am leaning over another chair, squeezing my eyes shut to keep the tears and screaming in, a guy taps me on the back cause apparently the fallen chair is in his way and he is not capable of assessing the situation-or picking it up himself. As I hobble around to sit, my husband asks me to move to a different seat-twice and for some reason everyone else wants to ask me questions or talk to me at the same time. You know when you are in a lot of pain and people want to talk to you how you just want to rip off their heads to stop the noise? Anyway, I got some ice, apologized for snapping at my husband and limped through the rest of the week in California. Oh, but this dinner had much more in store for us. My loving and considerate younger brother, Michael (who is only 17) offered to take Tanner to the bathroom because he said he had to go. Now, we aren't really potty training right now but encourage him when he prompts it. Well, he brought him back and neglected to tell us that he no longer was wearing a diaper. We found this out when he pooped. Yes, liquid and smooth poop all over at the restaurant. Unfortunately I was in the bathroom when it happened and Gary had to deal with it; and we all know how well most men deal with poop and public places. So that was Tuesday and we were supposed to go to Disneyland the next day-Did I mention it has been raining most every day we've been here in "Sunny" San Diego? So we decide that since there is a 90% chance of rain on Christmas eve, we should move it to Christmas day cause there is only a 70% chance. Well, it didn't rain on Christmas eve but let me tel you about the rain and wind on Christmas day. None of us were prepared for that downpour. But I am getting ahead of myself. Christmas eve my mom and I make dinner for everyone and right after everyone left and just before Santa come, Evan begins to vomit. He continues through the night. I finally went to bed about 3am when he was only dry heaving every 20 minutes instead of throwing up. At 5am, we got the kids up to open presents and get ready to leave. We get to Disneyland just before 10am and Evan throws up outside the gates. It's cold and rainy and I tell my mom to buy him a hat for his Christmas present instead of the sweatshirt she wanted to get him. I didn't know she told everyone else to go to the Matterhorn. So when we get out we make our way to meet them and just find Gary waiting for us. He informs us that the ride is down and they all took the kids to some kiddy rides in Tomorrowland. When we get there, I look around and realize Tanner is not there. I ask where he is and no one seems to know-all casting blame on the other-"I gave him to you" and so on. So we dart off in different directions looking for him and calling his name. My two year old comes to Disneyland for the first time and gets lost in the first 15 minutes. I will say that Disneyland has an awesome security system and they are on the lookout always!! I think I looked and searched for 15 minutes before I heard that he was found. For the rest of the day he was not allowed to go with anyone else. I was too afraid of losing him. Although he did get lost kind of in the peter pan ride line. He was only 15 ft. from us-making his way to the front. The rest of the day was spent trying to stay dry and warm, dealing with lines and crowds and Evan throwing up. He threw up outside the haunted mansion, in the peter pan ride and once again outside the gates. I smelled awesome by the end of the day. Today is Friday, the day after Christmas. As I write this I am fighting hard to not get any more sick than I am. I got the flu too. My other sisters are suffering from it as well as a couple of nieces and nephews. Hopefully Gary won't get it since we are driving home in about 36 hours. Merry Christmas to all- I hope your holiday season was the "happiest season of all!!" It will be interesting to see if anything else happens in the next 36 hours.

Such a slacker!

So I am just updating without pictures because I am a slacker! It has been crazy! Four kids is not any easier and I don't care what people say. Each child just makes life more "interesting" and stressful. So I will give you the rundown of the past couple of months. We have been sick. Like a horrible game of telephone, we keep passing it along but changing it slightly as it goes down the line. Flu-got it; cold-got it; screwed up shoulder from falling down the stairs (twice I might add)-still have it; Head cold and sinus infection-got it; husband with kidney stone-unfortunately got that one too. On top of that I keep having this fear that someone is missing all the time and since I am still not regular-sorry, I know T.M.I>- but it makes me jumpy and stressed to think that there could possibly be another one coming. Please not one more right now. . . .or ever, if possible. If it's meant to be than I will do it but it will take a lot more spacing and much more convincing. I think when you get to the point in your life that you screw up your kids names on an hourly basis, you know that's the stopping point. Now that the holidays are here, I am getting excited. I am done shopping pretty much, my tree is up and decorated and all the presents are wrapped under the tree. Now I am working on dejunking, organizing and trying to live happily in this tiny home with no storage or closets to put anything in. Gary and I are contemplating putting it back on the market after Christmas. We'll see if it feels like the right timing. We finally ripped up the driveway and fixed the sewer line so we feel like we can leave now. I will be sad to leave but I need some way to keep sane. Love my children, adore and utterly cherish my husband, I have wonderful friends and sisters close by- I am so grateful for my many blessings. Started running today and am feeling great! If I don't post for a while it may be because I am cleaning up yet another mess of glitter and baby powder all over the floor or saving my baby form his oh so "loving" older brother. Hope all have a wonderful holiday season. Love all of you-especially those that leave comments and don't give up on me even when I lapse the blogging for months!