Shillig 4 Family

Yes, there is a Santa Claus and I believe in him. We went to a stage production put on by a group of women here in town. They tap dance and most are over 60. The oldest is 83. The program was an hour and a half long and the auditorium was sold out. It was a Christmas theme and the music brought back many memories from my early childhood. I knew there was a Santa because he always ate the cookies and drank the milk that I left out. I think I was 43 when I finally quite putting out the milk and cookies. I had a job at the local drugstore delivering call in orders and running the fountain. I lived in Louisville, Ky., the home of distilleries of all kinds. I knew that pure alcohol was 200 proof and any thing of lesser proof was diluted. One snowy night I had to deliver a bottle of 200 proof alcohol to a tavern about a mile away. I asked the druggist why would the owner of the tavern order such, since he had a tavern full of booze. He said he would dilute it and make what they...

My kids ask me many things during the day.  Just this morning in the middle of the hustle and bustle one of them asked me to build a Lego tower with them and I said, "yes." I found myself constantly telling the children, "in a second" or "I'm busy" or "after I finish this" and I thought how it would make me feel if I was constantly being "brushed off."  If you have a friend you invite to do things with you and they continually tell you "no" you'll find that you stop asking them to do things with you.  I do not want my kids to stop asking me to do things with them. Like sweet Malachi asking me to lay with him in his bed. Mali Su showing me how she braids Rapunzel's hair on her Leap Frog. Aimi Lark wanting to paint. Solomon just wanting me to hold him and not put him down. I may not have got Jake's lunch made this morning before he left for work, but I did build that Lego tower. Here's to saying, ...

We have real Internet for the first time in years.  We have been using our phones for ages.  I'm so excited to be a part of this century.   My kids are napping. We have real wifi in our home. Jake will get to play XBOX with his brothers and my brothers again. Malachi told me twice today he needed to go potty and went both times! Solomon's funky rash covering his body is on the mend. Our (free) cable TV is no longer fuzzy, thanks Internet guy for fixing that. I'm super happy right now! Look what my fancy Internet can do, add videos! Happy Thursday y'all! (building towers) (what Solomon looks like as he follows me around whimpering) (Jake went with the three oldest to tithing settlement last night since needy Sol Roy was already asleep and I don't wake him.  When they left Mali Su told me to have fun nursing Solomon.  I guess she knows what I do constantly lately, poor sick Solomon)

Tomorrow will make day 4 of potty training Malachi. He got underwear for Christmas and Jake thought he'd start teaching him that day. Malachi seems to have lost motivation to continue on, but I'm feeling the desire to save $ so he's being potty trained and Solomon is back in cloth diapers after a brief hiatus without a washer and dryer. Malachi does well with #2 but dribbles and never holds his bladder long enough for #1.  (TMI I know) I washed sheets and at least 8 pairs of underwear today. I'm exhausted, but refuse to turn back now.  Even though I sat in the bathroom on a stool nursing Solomon while encouraging Malachi relentlessly for what seemed like an hour to use the potty for him to get up, put on his underwear, walk into the dining room and start yelling out, "I sorry Mommy, I sorry" because after about 6 steps out of the bathroom he peed his underwear.  I don't think he quite has figured out what that feeling is yet.  Here's hoping tomor...

Aimi Lark turned 5 on December 26th She now likes to pick out her own clothes from her dresser, but will still wear what I want her to.  I try and give them free reign now as often as possible.   She is amazing at watching Solomon.  I love the feeling of giving her big girl responsibilities like watching him in the playroom when she and Solomon wake up before the sun. She loves dates with Dad. She always wants her fingers and toes painted. She says her prayers with phrases I know she picked up at church, that don't quite fit, but the wording and vocabulary sound so adorable (too mature) to be coming out of her young mouth. She told us of the story of Jesus' birth one day while driving, I believe on Christmas eve headed to Disney.  She got it all right except for instead of the Shepherds, she substituted the Lamanites.  I was impressed, and smiling ear to ear. She has a knack for picking up athletic things.  Skiing at 3, swimming a...

 MY SHIFT KEY IS OUT SO I'M GOING TO TYPE THIS IN ALL CAPS SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY LOWER CASE Is IN THIS POST. OUR CHRISTMAS WAS WONDERFUL AND ALL OURS.  NO LONG JOURNEY HERE OR THERE. AIMI LARK WAS THE FIRST UP AND LET US KNOW THAT SANTA CAME AND BROUGHT PRESENTS!   THE GIRLS LOVED THEIR NEW HUGE DOLLHOUSE AND THEIR LEAP FROG EXPLORER AND LEAP PAD.  MALACHI ENJOYED HIS POWER WHEELS TRUCK AND OTHER TOYS.  SOLOMON JUST WANTED HIS MOTHER.  THIS CHRISTMAS WAS QUITE AMAZING THANKS TO FAMILY SENDING MONEY FOR GIFTS, IT WAS UNEXPECTED BUT GREATLY APPRECIATED. JAKE SURPRISED ME WITH MAKEUP AND PERFUME.  IT MAY SOUND LIKE TOTALLY CLICHE GIFTS, BUT I LOVED THEM.  ALL DAY I FOUND MYSELF SMILING AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THE GIFTS HE GAVE ME.  I REALIZED WHY I LOVED THEM SO MUCH.  THIS WAS MY FIRST YEAR NOT GETTING "RESPONSIBLE" GIFTS.  NORMALLY I GET THINGS THAT I DO WANT BUT THAT BENEFIT OUR FAMILY ...

Thank you to Kenneth Barry for doing these wooden letters at the drop of a hat for a great price.  If you ever need woodworking done he's great!  He has a blog http://www.whittledinwood.com/ so check out some of his projects. My good friend Katie kindly worked with my random ideas for the photo and card and made it come together beautifully. I loved our 2011 Christmas card! Merry Christmas y'all!

When we first arrived they were taking down the flag.  I was impressed with the respect of those at the park during the little ceremony. We first hit up our favorite ride in Magic Kingdom, Winnie the Pooh.  I was quite surprised by the number of Asians at Disney on Christmas eve.  Then I chuckled when I pulled this picture off Jake's phone.  Hello there cute little Asian girl.    We watched a show at the castle after a Cinderalla show lit up the castle lights.  While waiting for the big show Jake held each child and whispered to them the story of Jesus and his birth.  He said it was quite hard to tell so that they understood.  I think for now we'll stick rather closely to the main idea, it's Jesus' birthday.  DISNEY MADE IT SNOW!  Not very much and only for a minute but my kids LOVED IT.   Mali Su tried to catch it with her tongue. It made for a fabulous even...