Staycation, a.k.a Being Lazy After Christmas

 Who doesn't hate the word "staycation"? I also don't enjoy "a.k.a." which Emily likes to say frequently. Anyway, we took this break from school to stay home and not feel guilty for acting like we are on vacation like everyone on Facebook. I read a lot of books by the pool, we did a lot of swimming with friends, and I rarely drove anywhere. That was mostly because it was cold out but also because I wasn't doing my hair or makeup. I did however enjoy iced tea while I listened to playlists on songza for "hanging at cool hotels: South Beach". Also enjoyed my new ND cup and was shocked by our bowl game win. That goes against our tradition of always losing those. So shocked that we didn't watch the game but did record it to watch later. Just haven't had time yet. Sean started maternity leave coverage for a coworker early so he's already working the 3pm to 1am shift. So far so good it seems. 3 months to go.

 We also just hung out in the pool house because it is warmer than the rest of the house. The kids made some fort/mess out of our aging beach towel collection.

 Took the younger kids with me to a New Year's Eve epic party after dropping Megan with some friends at a boy's house to watch movies (supervised of course). Sean was working obviously.

 Preparing for the confetti fight, which is why this party was designated epic. I don't just toss that word around. Anna jumped the gun on this at least twice, she just couldn't wait for the countdown.

 And the action shot. I later found confetti in my own house.

 Emily can strike a pose anywhere, anytime.

If you sit down, you get covered. My only shot of the adults, having too much fun to pose for photos all the time. That's not how I live my life. Action shots are better. Happy new year!

We are experiencing greatness

 We still haven't solved the mystery of who wanted us to Experience Greatness but we have heard of other people who got to experience it too. Then I noticed another box of greatness just thrown in a yard down the street where no one is home, so I grabbed it to add to our stash. I don't think anyone actually is looking for these so I will just pass them out at a soccer tournament this spring. Who wouldn't want a free soccer cushion? Who wouldn't like 60 of them? Me! We will share the experience. Share the greatness. I am unable to just throw stuff away.

 Megan had some friends over to make Christmas cookies. Kids finally realized that they don't like the taste of frosting and sprinkles so we just left them plain which isn't that cute, so no photos of that. Emily thinks that she is a seventh grader too.

 On Tuesday I tricked the family into going on a service project. I thought there would be more caroling but it was mostly just handing out gift packs from the Mary Kay ladies who raised donations. We tried to talk to the residents at Via Christi and some were chatty and then others were just confused. Anna ended up being amazing at this, did such a great job, was so eager to go talk to people. The rest of us were pretty awkward at it, some may have just stayed with the cart which is just fine. Was good to get out and do something different for once.

 Emily loved pushing the cart and Sean kept her on task.

 Megan and Amelia were very sweet.

Part of the deal was I bribed them with going to get Purple Swirl when we were done. Yum, froyo on a cold December afternoon! It turns out that it was the very last day of business for them, we had no idea they were closing. Well, perhaps if we had gone more often we would have known that or perhaps they wouldn't have gone out of business if we had gone more! 

Here I am feeling awkward about the sad employees telling us that it was 75% off that day.  Sorry small business owner. I do try to shop local, it's not like I was taking them to the chain froyo place instead. I just don't get them treats that often.

 Using the new basketball hoop. I believe this is goal tending.

 He is definitely not dunking here.

I took Anna bright and early this morning to pick out her birds. It was pretty funny watching the lady grab them to put in boxes for us to bring home. They are still in shock, just sitting on the perch in the cage in Anna's room, not moving for the first 6 hours so far. She got a green/yellow one and a blue one. I believe their names are Rainbow (Dash) and Twilight (Sparkle), a nod to My Little Pony. Anna is very excited to take them out to play but they need to be left alone in the cage for a week to get settled. Let the bird adventure begin!

Pinterest observations

Clearly I've caught up on everything I can if I've gone over to pinterest land. Amazing how much more time I have when I'm not driving to and from and to and from and to and from and sometimes three more to and froms school all the live long day. Anyway, I got sucked into what was clearly a southerners pinterest board while looking for paint colors. How many Jack Daniels bottles can be repurposed into different things? How about baseball crafts? And signs, oh my, the signs. I've never met anyone who was confused about what to do in a dining room or kitchen. EAT maybe? Yes, that's it, those big letters just reminded me, EAT. Why does it never say WIPE COUNTERS????? Also, the "family rules", some people love their rules. And I'm sorry but leading with "we do second chances" just sounds like permission for your husband to go step out. Also, anything that includes the phrase "big girl panties" makes me want to throw glasses of sweet tea on someone.

This wacky trip into faux lives lead to some lifestyle blogs which are ridiculous. It's like Facebook as a paid profession, so it's extra shiny and fake and excessively photographed. It's a magazine spread but with real people. And therein lies the part that is off putting, I keep expecting those people to be more attractive. But no, they are just vain enough to think that they can get people to look at them on a regular basis (and close up shots of their shoes, gloves, watches, drinks, etc). Mostly I wonder where these 20 somethings get enough money to meet their friends for a pre-Christmas fun weekend in NYC at the fanciest hotels. They will never know the fun of slumming it and having lean years. Only downhill from there folks, you might get richer from inheritances but you can't stay young. Faux employment sure looks fun though!

Merry Christmas at home 2014

 I knew we wouldn't get a photo of us all dressed up together so here is the one of me and Sean. Anna was already at choir practice and Sean had to leave mass early to start working.

 Here are the kids after mass. Didn't realize Emily didn't have a nice Christmas dress until it was too late. Poor girl, she loves to dress up so much. This is about the max for how dressed up the others will get though.

 The girls helped with the fancy Christmas Eve dinner... pigs in a blanket. Mmmmm??

 Sad little dinner but kids were happy. Happier than it appears in this photo.

 They are also skeptical of all the photos I was taking.

 Waited until Sean was done working at 10pm to read T'was the Night Before Christmas, per tradition.

 Still reading. Then off to bed and time to wrap presents. Since we cut back this year, didn't take that long at least.

 Taken with the real camera, not nearly as good as the iPhone photo you will see later. I was so surprised.

 It's clean! Preparing for the shreds of wrapping paper.

 I got up at 7am to start the monkey bread and Megan texted at 7:45 to ask when they could come down. She was the only other one awake. Here is Emily before we finally just woke her up. Craziest 5 year old.

 Anna's wrapping skillz.

 Looks like Santa wraps like Anna...

 Waiting so patiently to come down the stairs.

 First gift, some pink legos from Santa.

 "Something to read" from Dad.

 My Little Ponies from Santa, the thing that she "wanted".

 "Something to wear" from Mom. Not very excited but actually has been complaining about lack of sweatpants lately. Maybe I don't have to wash them after every single wearing...

 Oh now that's more like it, Santa! Skylanders video game thing. He asked for some car race track but Santa knew this would have more play value.

 Emily's "Something to read" from Dad.

 Santa brought her something she had been wanting for a long time. She broke her eyelash habit and this had been promised a long time ago. Finally time to pay up. She will go pick out two parakeets tomorrow and then I will train her on taking care of them.

 Megan waited a long year for a mini-ipad. It's really a gift for everyone because now this means Megan won't be in the mix fighting over the other two iPads.

 Patrick was so proud of the gift he made at school for us.

 A handmade pillow, well done, Patrick!

 "Something you need", Emily. A helmet that fits!

The ever healthy monkey bread! Once a year!

 Safety girl has monkey bread.

 FaceTime with VA Keenans.

 iPhone Christmas tree.

 It was time for Sean to learn how to make orange julius...

 drink up, that monkey bread is strong stuff

 Just waiting for the birds now, waiting impatiently...

The big surprise from Nana and Pops. Kids so thrilled and excited to go swimming now. After all the fudge we've had, it's time for all of us to get a good workout...

After Vegas before Christmas timeframe...

 Sean asked Emily to get the toys she didn't play with anymore to put in storage before Christmas toys arrive. This is what she handed him, only this. Sorry Jessie. I can't go back in the box!

 Jack hiding up on the fan one morning. We do remember to move him and his tiny elf pal, Jackie, every night thanks to a combination of four of us doing it and an alert reminder on our phones at 10pm. Teamwork, teamwork.

 Emily just started asking for "sleepovers" with Megan and so far it has gone well. I think Megan enjoys being the favorite sibling for now as she always feels like she is least favorite. I don't know what sorts of mind games go on but Anna is pretty sly and somehow manages to be the favorite most the time. Whenever I catch wind of this drama they learn that "this sh#% ends now" but it never does. Anyway, this photo was taken around 9:30am, this one likes to sleep in. I'm sure Megan is bitter that she has to school and doesn't get to sleep in too.

 White Christmas! Well, white week before Christmas. Gone now before we even got out the snow blower. That's right, it still hasn't been used since we bought it last year.

 Patrick's class listening to a Christmas story at their party.

 Doing his party craft, looking so innocent.

 Cool 7th graders waiting to sing Christmas carols. Can't believe they will be the ones on stage leading it next year. Megan is in the middle in black, trying to pretend I don't exist.

 The rest of the school singing. 12 Days of Christmas gets pretty insane.

Pool party season kicking off! Finally the kids want to swim again. Just takes having friends over. Sean is working almost every night this break so at least we can go in the pool house and be loud there. This afternoon the kids were horrible while I was grocery shopping and woke him up. Santa may be getting a note... Other than that break is going well, I've bought real food and am cooking real meals. So nice that Sean isn't going into army either. Even with him working every night it's nothing compared to the stress of driving to post each day and dealing with staff. The staff in this house delivers hot tea, snacks, meals. Wow, I really do feel like I'm on Downton Abbey. I refuse to install a bell though! He just texts when he needs something... Last time he asked for "healthy chips" I got kale chips and he was horrified. Wait until the kids try them!