Life as it happens with our three beautiful and adopted children, Shayla, Yamira and Manuel: We are fast approaching the new year!

I guess I should get back on the ball and blog regularly. Seems like I only do it a week at a time now. Maybe that will be one of my New Years Resolutions? Just a thought.

So to share what we have done since I have last checked in here, I will start with last Sunday. We went to Ayi Anita's mom and dad's home for a little Christmas celebration. We visited with Ayi Anita, her brother and his wife, their kids and Anita's parents. There were a few uncles there and her grandmother was there as well. We had a wonderful time. We all sat around the table and snacked on nuts and fruit and then we exchanged gifts. I got the Bailey Uggs I wanted to badly from Anita. She rocks, no? She gave Bill a beautiful bird feeder and some bird feed. She gave Ping a gingerbread house to make and some music CDs. She gave Manny and Yamira a few CDs as well. They were so excited over all of their stuff. We were all thrilled with our loot. We made out well! We had a nice time and it was so good to see Ayi and her family.

On Monday, I skipped swimming and went to have a mammogram. Sadly, Bobby-Jo wasn't my technician, but it got done and that is the important thing. I then went to pick up a gift for a friend and then I proceeded to do a bunch of errands. Ping had a fun Daisy meeting. She could wear pajamas and she made a bunch of Christmas stuff. So she had a blast!

On Tuesday, I went into Yamira's class for a holiday party. I had a nice time with her making a few projects. Right after the party, I joined two mom's at the library. Skyler and Sophie are Yamira's best friends and so we got the three girls together and while they played we chatted. We both had a great time. In the afternoon Bill and I took the kids to their ice skating lessons. It was also Lucas' 7th birthday today!!!! Hard to believe how old he is getting. Not old, but older.

On Wednesday, I went to swim after I dropped the girls off at school. I hadn't been much the week before or this week, so I was anxious to go. Once I left there, I rushed home to shower and then I got Yamira from school and took her to therapy. The rest of the afternoon I was able to work at my desk at home. Bill took the girls to gymnastics. We also had the furnace cleaned.

Thursday was a free day. I took the girls to school and headed to the pool. Other than having to get the girls at school at their respective times, I was able to spend the day at home. I had a little wrapping to do. Mostly I napped. I didn't feel so hot, so I did spend a fair amount of time sitting on my favorite chair and dozing off. I more than made up for it though. I spent the entire night cleaning and doing all of the last minute things you have to do before Christmas.

Christmas Eve was a great day. I had a few last minute things to do, but other than that, we stayed home until 2:00 pm and then we headed over to Ayi Meri and Uncle Joe's house. We had a fabulous meal of roasted chicken with squash and cranberry sauce and a bunch of other things. Yum. I couldn't eat much, but what I ate was delicious!!!! We then exchanged gifts. Everyone seemed happy with what they got. My three got an easel that they can color, paint and use chalk at. They also got some paper to go with it. They can't wait till we get it set up. We will, we will. After our late lunch early dinner, we headed home to change because we had church at 7:00 pm and we were the family lighting the Advent candles and doing a reading. It was really poorly attended. The 11:00 pm service is nicer because there are more people and there is a nice calmness about it after everyone has been out for the night. However, it's too late for the kids. As it is, the kids didn't get into bed till nearly 9:00 pm. That is okay for Ping, but the two youngest are a mess if they go to bed after 7:00 pm. They aren't troopers, like Ping. They are our fragile flowers! Once they all got into bed, we did all of the last minute things we needed to do and got all of the presents out and put around the tree. It was a great day seeing friends.

Christmas day started at 8:30 am. The girls were so patient waiting for us to get up. They even let me shower before going downstairs. They were so well behaved while we sat and opened gifts. I was so proud of the three of them. They were so excited with everything. I took a bunch of photos and videos of it all. After we opened all of our gifts, we cleaned up and headed out to Ayi Donna and Uncle Brad's house. We had ham, potatoes and green bean casserole for dinner and carrot cake for dessert. I had a little of it all. I didn't feel good after two bites of the cake though. Of course not! You can't eat that stuff Jill!!!! We left fairly early at 5:00 pm and headed home. We let the kids play with their new train table and then we put them to bed. Spent the rest of the night watching TV. I had a ton of energy because it's the first year I could not over indulge and eat junk. Usually I am ready for a nap once the day is over. It was a very nice Christmas.

On Sunday, I woke up, but kept going back to sleep. I finally rolled out of bed regretfully around 3:00 pm. Mind you, I spoke on the phone for nearly two hours during the morning, so I wasn't sleeping that whole time! I got up and started to deChristmas the house. However, I didn't get far. Before I knew it, it was night time and we had to get the kids fed and to bed. Oh well, these things happen. I really wanted everything down and put away though!!!! Bill went to the fire department for 5:00 pm to put the chains on the trucks and to see if there were any calls during the storm we were having. He got home around 8:00 pm or so. The rest of the night was spent watching TV! We both passed out on our chair/couch.

I woke up at 6:00 am and crawled up to bed. The girls were up shortly after that. My friend Audra called because we had plans, but I had canceled yesterday. She called to see if we wanted to come over to her house later in the day for dinner since we didn't get together in the morning due to the streets being slippery. So after showering, suffering with terrible stomach issues for most of the morning and afternoon and taking down some Christmas stuff, we headed to Audra's for 4:30 pm. Audra cooked squash, broccoli in cheese sauce, made a salad and a wonderful Shepard's Pie. It was all wonderful. I was afraid to eat due to my stomach issues, but I had a little of the pie, squash and salad. It was so nice to be able to visit and catch up with Audra. It's been too long since I have seen her and her husband and two beautiful girls. We had a great time. Once home we put the kids right into bed. It was late for them. God knows how they are going to be tomorrow. I hope they are okay. We pay if we get them into bed late. We pay dearly.

Tomorrow/today as it's 1:00 am, we are going to my friend Christine's house. I am taking the kids and heading over in the morning for a visit. It's been too long since I have seen her and her children. I am very much looking forward to it. In the afternoon, we have to take the kids to their skating lessons. So because morning is fast approaching, I have got to get to bed.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and have a very Happy New Year!

Mama Out!!!!!