Christmas Eve

I am sitting at the computer wondering if tomorrow will be all my children hope it will be. I know I will be disappointed because it never is what I hope it to be. I have decided that my own wonderful memories of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning have put an unfair twist on my expectations. I remember driving around looking at the lights on Christmas Eve and listening to Christmas music and Santa Watch on the radio, with such fondness. We skipped that this year because Nathan was throwing up again today and the boys fight every single time they get in the car. I remember Christmas morning seeming like a miracle to me. I always got something I asked Santa for and that was enough, everything else was just bonus. My boys did not even make a list for Santa this year. Though I prompted them to and asked repeatedly what they wanted for Christmas. They each finally told me 2 or 3 things but them proceeded to tell their Grammy the same things. So that left me and Santa with no idea what they really would be happy to unwrap. I probably overdid it trying to figure it out, but I so want them to have happy Christmas memories like mine. It is so hard to buy for 5 kids on a very limited budget and make each present special. I guess I have an unrealistic fantasy of my children actually being on their best behavior for 2 days and being happy to indulge their mom in singing along with the radio as we look at lights, watching a Christmas movie together and hushed whispering of what the big guy in red might bringing in his magic sack. Sometime I think we should chuck the whole presents thing and just take the boys to Disney World for 5 days. I would probably be less stressed.

Jeffrey is 10!

I can't believe Jeffrey is ten already. Where does the time go? Jeffrey is an amazing kid. He has a smile that shines from his eyes and lights up a room. He makes me beam with pride.

He has not always been an "easy" child to raise. He was a toddler who hit and screamed whenever I took him any where. It got to the point where we stopped going everywhere - church, restaurants, stores. It was easier to be at home with him.

But as he has grown up, he has become a an enigma. He has this way of making everyone love him. Maybe it is that smile, maybe it is the ease with which he tackles life, whatever it is , it is amazing. He does well at everything he tries - school, sports, friendships. He is not a superstar at everything, but he does well without alot of effort. I guess if I had to describe him in one word it would be CONFIDENT. It seems that he expects to succeed in everything he tries and therefore does. He is not afraid to show his feelings, he has a bit of devilment in him that keeps us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what Jeffrey will try next.

Jeffrey is fascinated with the Civil War since our trip to Gettysburg last summer. He wanted a Civil War cake. So after I iced it green he added a set of miniatures to set up a battlefield on his cake. He used every piece. He got a video game, a dart rifle and a pistol (toys, of course) and 3 Civil War books. He spent time playing with the toys but before an hour was past he was playing with the Civil War Miniatures and reading the books.

He decided he was going to write a diary from the perspective of a Civil War Soldier and sat down and started writing. (How cool is that?) He finished his first entry before he went to bed. I can't wait to read what he comes up with over the next few weeks.

Happy Birthday my amazing boy! I love you.

Poor Nathan

My poor Nathan can't seem to stay healthy this year.

Between his ears and bouts of tummy troubles with vomiting, he has missed quite a bit of school this year. He HATES to miss school. He was in tears this morning but after throwing up in the middle of the night and twice within an hour after waking, there was no way we could send him.

I am so very glad my children all love school and Nate especially. It gives them a world where they are not one of the brothers for a while each day. A place where they do not have to fight their brothers for attention or fight with them in general. I think if they did not get that break from one another they would drive each other crazy. Who am I kidding they would drive their parents crazy!

I hope Nathan feels well enough to go back to school tomorrow. He loves his teacher and misses her when he is home sick. He has been sick enough this school year. I hope this turns around soon.