Auld Lang Syne

Well, once again we find ourselves at the edge of a cavern in time.  The time when we say good bye to one year and welcome the new one.  A time where we will spend the next 3 months trying to remember to write 2009 on all of our documents, rather than the 2008 we JUST got used to writing!  Most of us think of Times Square and the "ball" dropping at the stroke of midnight.  This year that iconic symbol is getting a facelift!  The most recent ball is actually parts of the old ball and has been made bigger and better and covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals!  It weighs 11,875 pounds and is lit with 32,256 LED lights!  WOW!  I guess it takes a lot to make it look this great!  Here are a few pictures of the new ball in action!:

For those of us who have little chance of being in Times Square tonight to see the ball's debut- don't be sad!  With this new ball comes a NEW tradition!  The ball will now remain out year round so everyone who visits the Big Apple will be able to see this wonder in person!  Now to get to NYC!  Anyone for a road trip?

The original ball was beautiful in it's own right and just for "auld lang syne", here's a picture of it!

Wether you're a person who makes resolutions or not, this is the perfect time to reflect on all the events of the past year and look ahead to the ones that are coming in the next.  This was a wonderfully heartbreaking and blessing filled year for my family.  We will miss those who have gone home to Heaven, and welcome with warm hugs those precious ones who have joined our family in 2008.  This was truly a year of marked blessings and 2009 looks to be overflowing with it's own abundance of blessings.  While we prepare for what will prove to be the difficult departure of my brother-in-law for his tour in Iraq, we have great peace knowing that he will

 be serving his country with honor, and we know that God and His angels go with him.  Please keep our family in your prayers, and we will do the same for yours in 2009!

Have a happy and safe New Year and Merry Christmas!

Drum Roll, Please!...

And the winner is................. Katie Johns!!!

Wow!  You guys are SMART!  I had several entries that had all the guesses correct!  So it was decided by a drawing.   I think that part might have been rigged, seeing as it was my sister who won the contest.  I can assure you that I did not rig it, but Katie IS known for those types of shenanigans, so I wouldn't be surprised!  Just kidding!  Everything was fair and square!  

Now Katie is the proud owner of a beautiful evening bag by Shananagins Bags!!   I had so much fun with this contest!  I just may have to do more of these this year!  

Thanks to everyone who entered, and congrats to KATIE!!!!

Joy to the WORLD!

The Lord is COME!

Merry Christmas!  From my brood to yours!   Well, at least half of them.  Have a WONDERFUL day and enjoy your families!!!

On the road...

Hello everyone! I'm blogging from the road on my way to Savannah. Ooooo- I LOVE Savannah! That seems to be the usual response when I mention going there. It's true- everyone loves Savannah. What's not to love!

So I'm going to Gorgia to attend the Baptism of my newest cousin, Garrison Lee- better known as Tripp. He's a cutie, and we will be meeting him for the fist time today! If he's anything like his big sister, Robbin, then he'll deffinately be adorable! I promise that I'm not "borrowing trouble" when I say that I can only imagine ththat this little man I'd bound and destined to be a handfull with a name like "Tripp". I can hear of now, " Oh, that one? He's a TRIPP!".

I'm going to keep this short. My battery is being eaten alive composing this! I'll post pictures tonight or tomorrow, depending on how late we get back!

Sent from my iPhone

Save the Drama for Your Momma!

Today was fraught with drama!  I still don't know where the day went wrong, but somewhere along the way it took a terrible turn for the worse.  What started out as Brian being his usual goomba self, melted down into an actual temper tantrum resplendent with flailing arms, bemoaning cries, and actual tears!!  At first he was pretending to throw a tantrum, but when I didn't take him seriously he decided that the real deal might get him noticed a little better, so he brought out the BIG guns.  I had my handy dandy camera, well- handy.  So I took a video of his antics.  Don't worry, I've spared you the worst of it all!  In this video he's still pretending, but there had been a stray tear or two that were squeezed out just before I started filming.  Just keep in mind that the whole act started because he had a teeny-tiny scratch on his leg, like the size of a paper cut.  Without out further ado...

The Wound that Launched  Thousand Tears!!!

A Decade of Awesomeness!!!

Today is a bittersweet day for me!   Grant is turning TEN today!  Of all the munchkins' birthdays this is kinda hard for me.  Grant was only 3 weeks old when I came to work for the Williemas Family!  So I have watched him grow and change so much over the years.  He was the youngest child I had cared for, ever!  I'll never forget the first time Donna asked me to give him his bath, he was maybe five weeks old, and I'd been there for only a few weeks.  I'd never given a baby that small a bath, and I had a minor freak out inside my head:

Donna asks, "Do you think you could give Grant his bath for me?"

I calmly respond, "Um, sure. I can do that."

(What I was thinking was: Oh, no!  She wants me to do what?!! Me? Give that tiny baby a BATH!? How? He's so little! What if I get the water too hot?  What if it's not hot enough?  What if he gets cold and then gets sick?  What if I get soap in his eyes?  Holy, cow!  He's gonna be wet and soapy and What if I DROP him!  I can't do this!  Should I tell her that I've never done this?  I mean I've watched her do this, but I've never done it myself! -  OK! Breathe!  Calm down... you can do this.  You've watched her do this several times.  It's not rocket science.  Just be careful and, no, I wouldn't tell her that you haven't done this before.  Just ACT like you're a pro, and you'll be fine.  I think." 

I went on to give Grant his bath, everything went just fine.  He was probably a little cold, but he survived, and if you asked him today he probably wouldn't even remember it.  So it couldn't have been THAT bad!  Right?  To this day, I have not told Donna that story.  She doesn't regularly read the blog, but my luck, she'll decide to read this post!  Well, Donna, if you are reading this- I've greatly improved on my bath giving skills!  And I NEVER dropped Grant, EVER!  (Brian is another story.)

I get so much joy from this little man.  He can always make me smile, even in the midst of driving me bonkers!  Here is one of my FAVORITE blogs about Grant.  In honor of his decade of awesomeness, I have made him his own slide show!  Enjoy some of my favorite pictures of my favorite 10 year old!!! Then after you're finished click in the "Here" to read the old post about Grant's Mirror O' Vanity!

Happy Birthday, G-Man!  You're the Awesomest!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Freebies and Frustrations

Should I begin this post on a positive note or save the postitive for the end and end happily ever after?  Hmmm. Maybe if I end positivly, then my mood and day will follow.  So I start with the "frustrations" part of this post.  

I wonder how our teachers survived us.  And even more so, how is it that they didn't end up bald by the time they retired?  (From pulling their hair out in a never ending fit of frustration...)  This is the end of the second quarter for us.  That means quarter tests, grades, and the dreaded Book Review!  Dun-dun-dunnnnnn!  Grant it, when you put into perspective, my job isn't nearly as stressful as say, oh, Idunno a brian surrgon or a soldier fighting on the front lines in Iraq., but it can be stressful all the same.  Like now.  It'll pass, but for now it seems overwhelming.  Maybe it's the straw that's braking this camel's back with all the holiday hoopla.  This too shall pass.  I just need to remind myself to enjoy the right now, and not focus on the dozens hundreds thousands of things I have to get finished before this time next week!!!!!  AAAHHHHHHH!

Now for the fun stuff!  If you'll recall, I have a little contest running right now!  I wanted to post a picture of the bag that some lucky guy or gal will be winning!  (Hey, the guys could give to their wives, or mothers, or some other special lady in their life!)  The one in the picture is one I made for my fabulous friend, Meghan.  She loves orange, so I lined this delicious, chocolate brown velvet envelope bag with orange silk.  It's accented with a crystal snowflake broach, and has a single bangle ring for a handle.  The prize purse will be the same style (we call this our "Cora" bag, after my youngest niece.  It's cute, yet spunky; just like the little girl!)  I've had a few entries, each one seems to think that they are the winner!   Are you gonna prove them wrong?  Good luck, and have fun!

Fa-lalalala- HaHa! Ha! Ha!

So with Christmas barreling down upon us, and less than a week of shopping days left to prepare, as I see it, there are only a few choices for how to go about getting ready:

1. Go postal and start shooting up the place!
2. Ignore it, and act like it's just another day.  Bah! Humbug!!
3. Run around like a chicken with it's head cut off, shopping, wrapping, shopping, wrapping, and then shop some more.
4. Dig a hole and hide in it until the first of the year.
5. Take it all in stride and try to find the humor in the situation while enjoying your friends and family.

I don't know about you, but I try to be #5, but somehow I end up looking more like #3.  Right now, as I type this post, I'm thinking of all the things I need to do before the

 24th!  So- in an effort to lighten up the situation I'd like to post a little quiz that my room mate and buddy, Yvette brought home from work.  It's a "play on words" quiz.  The following are the titles of popular Christmas carols that have been reworded using synonyms. (For those of you who haven't seen the inside of a classroom in a while those are words that have similar meanings.  ;) ) Here's the deal: You try to figure out as many of the song titles as you can, and send your guesses to my email address (I'll give it out at the end of the post). To make the quiz a little more fun, (and so more people participate) I'm offering a prize for the person who has the most correct guesses.  Should there be a tie, I'll have a drawing to see who gets the coveted prize.  I bet you're wondering what that prize might be...  well, I'll tell you so you don't have to wonder any more. (I know it makes your brain ache.)  The prize will be an Original Shananagins Bags Handbag!  

Without further ado, the QUIZ!

GUESS THE CHRISTMAS SONG:

1. Bleached Yule:
2. Ruddy-colored seed sweltering in a conflagration:
3. Singular yearning for the Twin Anterior Incisors:
4. Righteous Darkness:
5. Arrival time: 2400 hours-Weather: Cloudless night:
6. Loyal Followers Advance:
7. Far off in a feeder:
8. Array the Corridors:
9. Bantam Male Percussionist:
10. Monarchial Triad:
11. Nocturnal Noiselessness:
12. Jehovah Deactivates Blithe Cavaliers:
13. Red man en route to Borough:
14. Frozen Precipitation Commence:
15. Proceed and Enlighten on the Pinnacle:
16. The Quadruped with the Vermillion Proboscis:
17. Delight for the Planet:
18. Give Attention to the Melodious Celestial Beings:
19. The Dozen Festive 24 hour Intervals:
20. I Desire a Water Horse this Yule
    

OK- so copy and paste the quiz in an email and send it to: catholicgirl1975@gmail.com!  The contest will end December 24th at midnight, so any entries submitted after that date and time will not be considered.  What are you waiting for?  Get crackin'!!  I'll announce the winner in my Christmas post.  Feel free to invite family and friends to try their hand at the songs!  Oh- I almost forgot!  My friend/co-worker and fellow blogger, Meghan Stewart is doing a similar post on her blog, "Meghan Stewart Photography".  Be sure to enter her contest as well, because she is offering an equally amazing prize!  Her blog address is  www.meghanstewartphotography.wordpress.com

Have fun, and test the Christmas Smarts of all your friends and co-workers with this little quiz, it's good for a TON of laughs!

I'm a Mobile Blogger Now!!

This is so cool! I can now post to the blog from my iPhone! Now I have NO excuses to not post. I can't wait to write a post from on location! Looks like I'll have to invent a field trip to take the munchkins on so I can test it!

Plus this is just ONE more reason to LOVE my iPhone!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

Sent from my iPhone!

Give Me Attention, or Give me DEATH!

Sorry, I know that I've had the word "death" in the last two post titles, I'm not usually a morbid person, but somehow "death" seems to be creeping into my posts.  Let's see if I can explain why... I think we can all sympathize with the fact that kids just love attention.  It never ceases to amaze me what lengths they will go to in order to steal a few moments of attention from an adult, even negative attention.   Well, these kids are no exception.  They ALL love attention, and for the most part they get it.  I'm pretty sure kids would survive knowing that the world doesn't revolve around them, and a little bit of ignoring them goes a LONG way to teaching them that.  It doesn't hurt them when you ignore them, I promise!    

While you, me, and the pediatrician all know that one can NOT die from being ignored, some kids are convinced that they can and WILL die if they are not paid constant attention to.  I have a few of those in my life.  I'd have to say the biggest one is Brian, though.  He can't stand not being the center of everyone's attention.   He goes to great lengths to get ANY form of attention, good or bad, it's all the same to him.  (Case in point: the last post, when he added his own comentary to the blog while my back was turned!)  He not picky, just as long as he has an audience.  He is forever making some sort of noise, telling some corny joke, throwing himself on the floor or against a wall, quoting some movie, or some other generally distracting thing- all in the name of getting our attention.  I know some of you softies out there are thinking, "Awwww!  Poor baby!  He must not get much attention being the 7th kid and all!  He must be STARVING for attention!"  Honestly, people!   Get ahold of yourselves!  He's not neglected, for Pete's sake!  He gets more than his fair share of attention, but it's never enough.  If I didn't know better I'd say that he's addicted to attention. 

The other day I was helping Celine with her school work, and was in the middle of teaching her a new concept, when I feel a tapping on my arm.  I briefly looked over at him,  but just kept working with Celine.  I guess that wasn't the reaction he was looking for, because he began tapping me again, this time he didn't stop tapping.  Have you ever had someone tap you non-stop?  Here I was talking, teaching Celine, when; "taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap"?  It's maddening, but I was determined to not give him the satisfaction of thinking his annoying little tactic worked!  So I ignored him, and continued helping Celine.  Even after I had finished I still didn't acknowledge him.  This apparently was more than he could take.  In a fit of exasperation he exclaimed, 

"Shannon!  Why are you not answering me?!"

 Calmly I answered him, "Well, Brian, I was teaching Celine, and you were interrupting me." 

"But I need your help!"

"And you were interrupting what we were doing.  People who interrupt are ignored."

Well his response was instantaneous.  He didn't miss a heartbeat before he dramatically declared:  "I'd rather DIE than be ignored!"  

"I know, Brian.  Believe me, this much I know."

These types of statements never phase us when it's Brian who is making them.  He's known as the Drama KING around here.  He can never have enough attention, ever.  I think that he thinks that he is still the baby of the family.  Either that or in his mind, found in that gargantuan cranium of his, that he is an only child.  I think he's in for a giant shock when he finally figures out that is SOOOO not true.  I will say that it makes for some pretty hilarious conversations, though.  Hilarious. 

St. Nicholas vs. Santa- a Fight to the Death!!!

OK!  OK!  Not really!  I was trying to grab your attention, so don't send me nasty comments and threaten me with coal in my stocking!  Actually, what I wanted to write about was something that happened last week.   In an effort to help the munchkins better understand the meaning of this season of Advent, and to help prepare their hearts for Christmas, I've been doing some special things with them.  We've been observing the Jesse Tree, and last week we postponed our usual Religion lessons and instead, learned about the life of St. Nicholas.  brian rocks because he - sorry... Brian took over my Mac when I had my back turned.  See what I'm dealing with here?!  Rest assured that he was dealt with accordingly!  Anyway, as I was saying before...  Each morning we are reading from the Old Testament and placing an ornament on the tree that represents what we read that day.  Here is a picture of Brian "hanging" an ornament on the Jesse Tree, it was taken a few days ago at the beginning of Advent.  What we are trying to do is place a little more emphasis on the CHRIST part of Christmas.  The munchkins have really surprised me with how much they are getting out of this.  They seem to be making the connection between the Old and New Testaments, and it's been wonderful for me to be able to dive a little deeper into the prophecies of old that for told of Christ's coming.  That being said, kids are what they are: KIDS, so you know that there have been some typically crazy moments.  

Like when  I was trying to give them some background information on Ole' St. Nick, and all they could do is goof off and be distracted and ask ridiculous questions.  One question was "I wonder who would win in a fight to the death- Santa or St. Nick?"  Or another good one was, 

"If St. Nicholas is dead, then does that mean that Santa is dead, too?" 

"No."

"He's a GHOST?"

"NO, you have to be dead to be a ghost! And there's no such things as ghosts, anyway.  Can we please get back to learning about St. Nicholas now?"

"You mean there's no such thing as Santa?"

"AHHHHH!  You boys are driving me nuts!  Stop asking ridiculous questions and let me finish this so we can do our project for the day!!!!!"

Needless to say, the next day I came up with some busy work for them to do while I taught them the rest of the week.  They colored pictures of St. Nicholas while I talked about him the rest of the week.  It helped to hold their attention while I conv

eyed the info I needed to.

At the end of the week they all made hand puppets of St. Nick.  They turned out SOOO cute!  Here's a picture of them: 

From left to right: JP, Grant, Brian, and Celine.

I think they did a great job, and over all they got a lot out of learning about the life of St. Nicholas.  Like when they wrote letters to Baby Jesus, asking Him to help those less fortunate than them.  Some of the things the requested were for Jesus to be with those who were hungry, homeless, lonely, those that didn't know Jesus, and for everyone to "have the best Christmas ever!"  These letters made me tear up!  They were so sweet, and you really could see the kids thinking about the needs of others.  Lastly they made Advent promises to God, telling him how they would show God that they love Him.  

I loved this unit.  I got as much out of it as they did!  Next we tackle the end of the second quarter!  Once that is done then I'll begin a Unit on the Sacred Mass.  My hope is that they will better understand what it is we do during the Mass, and in turn help them to better assist while at Mass.  I can only imagine what they will come up with next.  Strike that- I DON'T even want to imagine what they will com up with next.  All I can say is that it is NEVER a dull moment around here!

Santa, Baby...

Well, with Christmas a mere two and a half weeks away, a fact that I am reminded of daily by each kid in this house, I find my time to get things done withering down and my list of things to do growing each day!  So I thought I'd be all proactive and take care of a very important item on my "Christmas To-Do List".  No, I'm not referring to my shopping list, or wrapping the few presents I've managed to buy, or even mail out my Christmas cards.  I'm talking about my letter to Santa, of course!  I thought I'd share a few of the requests I have made for Jolly Ole' St. Nick to bring me this year.  Feel free to take any hints from this list when considering your gift to me.  (Just be sure to let Santa know so you two don't get me the same thing.  Nobody likes returning gifts, nobody.)

Dear Santa,

I have a VERY good girl this year! I have been working very hard to regularly post to the blog, and I've even kept my room clean.  Well, most of the time... I've been very nice to my little sister, even though she can be a brat sometimes, and I've somehow managed to not pulverize any of the munchkins this year.  So as you can see, I so deserve to be on the "Nice" list!  That being said I'd like to share my Christmas Wish List with you.

Thanks to my dear friend, Meghan, I have developed a liking for scarves.  I am a BIG fan of pink, and I'd like it if the Mrs. would make me one.  They keep my neck all warm and cozy, plus the munchkins like to pretend that I'm a horsey and the scarf makes a nice set of reigns!

I'd also like a new niece or nephew.  Either one would do.  I haven't had one of those in over a year now.  But don't tell my sister- she might object, and I really want one!   

Next I'd like to add that, while I love making purses and hand bags, I REALLY would like one that was made by someone known for making purses, like oh, Idunno, maybe PRADA or Louis Vuitton.  They both make such nice little bags. Oh, and while you're at it, a nice pair of Manolo Blahniks would go great with either designers.  I'm a size 8 1/2, and they don't have to be pink.  Any color would do.  Please. 

This next item is a little less materialistic.  I'd like a little peace, please.  Sure world peace would be amazing, but I know it would be a bit much to ask for the purse, the shoes, AND world peace, so I think I would just like to have some peace in general.  You know, like maybe the munchkins aren't as loud next year as they were last, or maybe they play Rock Band a little quieter, maybe you could even install little mute buttons while you are visiting them on Christmas Eve.  Whatever works best for you, but I'd really like a little more peace.  Even if for just a brief period of time, I'd appreciate it.  (Even if was for just long enough to finish this post!)

 Now here's the biggie; I know every year I ask for this same thing, but I haven't gotten it yet, so I'm asking again.  I want a husband.  Enough said.  I know it's a tall order, but not nearly as tall as word peace, so I think you can handle this one. (anyone out there reading this: I AM open to blind dates, so feel free!  Seriously.)   Also, if you bring me the hubby, then I promise to stop asking for that pony you've never brought me after all these years of asking!

I'd like to be a size 8.  That's reasonable, right?  I mean, I'm not talking super model here.  Heck, I'd even settle for a size 10.  I would just like to look like I did when I was 14, minus the frizzy blonde hair, that is.  And I'll take it anyway I can get it- lipo, a personal trainer to the stars, or maybe a body transplant.  I'm a strong supporter of plastic surgery.  (Just not the Wacko Jacko type stuff!)  

I want a housekeeper.  Someone who will pick up after me, make my bed, cook my meals and then wash the dishes, do my laundry, scrub the toilet (*blechk*!), clean the cat littler (*double blechk*!), and change the roll of toilet paper when it runs out.  Wait.  As I write this I'm reminded of a dim memory I have of a time when I actually had somebody that did all this stuff for me.  What was her name again... oh!  That's right, we called her MOM!!!!  Well, I want a housekeeper. Not another mom.  Just so we're clear.

I would like, just once, to walk into a room to a roaring applause.  Like, standing ovation, finger whistles, and WOO-WOO-WOO's applause.  I'd just like to know how that feels.  Just once.  

Just in case I don't get the husband- then I want that pony.  I think it's only fair. 

When considering my Wish list please remember that I HAVE been especially good this year.  Not counting that one little slip up.  Plus- it was never proven that it was me.  (The surveillance video was too fuzzy.  thankyouverymuch.)   In closing I'd like to add that I hope you and Mrs. Clause- along with the elves, have had a wonderful year.  Rest up and take lots of Vitamin C before the 24th, because there's been a nasty cold/virus thingy going around, and I'd hate for you to catch it!  I'll be sure to leave the usual offering of milk and cookies out, unless of course you're back on the cabbage soup diet again.  In  that case I'll leave a bowl in the microwave for you and a glass of Crystal Light.  (Man, that soup stinks!)

I love you, Santa. 

Again? Really?

Apparently my Mac has some magical power over children.  I'm beginning to believe that it calls to them with some high pitched siren song only short people can hear.  A while back I blogged about some funny things I found on my Mac, by accident of course.  They were too funny to pass up sharing with you.  Well, last night I was doing a little work and this popped up on the screen:  

Cute, huh?  Well there were a few others just like it, and they led me to wonder what else might be found.  So I did a little looking and found mountains of stuff!  More than you could even begin to imagine!  There were movies, snapshots, posed and candid shots, and I could go on.  There was a 3 minute mini movie of JP and Grant battling to the "death" using light sabers and the "Force", in fact, there were two movies!  What?  One wasn't enough?  Did Grant not die slowly or painfully enough for JP?  Don't worry, I won't subject you to that little gem.  Heck, I couldn't even watch it all the way through!  And the hi-jinx aren't limited to one or two kids- or even the little kids! I found pictures of Colette hamming it up for the camera!  Some of the pictures I found had just one kid in the picts, like sweet little Celine up there, others had multiple accomplices.  The funny thing is that when I ask them about it they all respond in the same, eloquent way, "Huh?  What do you mean?"  I'm guessing that while Meg and I are downstairs preparing snacks, the munchkins are upstairs busy hijacking my Mac and entertaining themselves by tying up the memory on my laptop with preposterous  pictures and mind numbing movies.   But that's just a hunch.  Here's a few more of the many pictures I am now proud to have ownership of.  The captions are my interpretation of what each munchkin was thinking when they took it...

"Let's see who has the cheesiest smile!  Ready? 1-2-3, CHEEEESE!"

"Ha! Ha! I won!  I have the cheesiest smile!  Are u pouting back there?"

"1. Miss Piggy impression 2. Angelina Jolie impression (big lips) 3. *gasp* Did you hear someone coming 4. Shhhh.  This will be our little secret!"

"Ha!  Look at me!  I'm a Japanese Jay Leno!"

"Well, would you look at that?! I can see clear to my brain! Wait that's something else in my nose, sorry!"

"Help somebody shrunk my head!"

"Take me and my bizarre little pet-man to your leader!"

So, what have we learned today, children?  Never leave your laptop alone with children, and that maybe I should install a lock on this thing!

Until next time...