the last day of the year

*edited to add, alas that collage has disappeared from my files and attempting to recreate it is next to impossible...I'm sure it was a very nice selection of pics...
I will leave you with some pics of some of my favorite people. There
are more people but unfortunately I don't have pics of each of
them...I will have to work on that this coming year.
What a year it has been, thought about doing a retrospective, a year
in review type post, then realized you could quite simply go back
and read all those archived posts, it would perhaps be just as
informative and mildly entertaining....of course I could just admit I'm being terrible lazy
today and simply don't want to exert the energy needed to review
let alone write about the past year. I also thought about posting an entry
about resolutions, but I'm afraid I am one of few who doesn't actually
make any resolutions, that way no guilt when I break them :)
So I give you some pictures and simply say...
I have been blessed this year,
and I have been challanged this year,
I have had moments of complete frustration and sadness,
and moments of total joy, and happiness.
I have watched my children grow and change for yet another year,
truly that is the most amazing gift.
I have completed another year doing a job I simply love.
I have tried to improve myself as a person,
that might simply be a work in progress for all eternity.
I have tried to give back to others, what has been so richly given to me.
I truly am a lucky person.
for those who have traveled with me on this journey in 2006, thank you for sharing
it with me, for contributing to the fabric of my story, I am truly a better person
because of each of you.
So in looking forward to 2007 I say welcome to those who
join me, I am excited to see what this new year brings...
see you next year ( I simply love saying that)

nail polish

Gracie, Yahaira, and Rosie are always so excited when Beckie comes home
because that means she is going to paint their nails. Rosie sits down and watches
waiting patiently for her turn... her smile when her nails are done is just
simply priceless. Making memories thru such a simply act is such a
wonderful thing.

Christmas Eve...

We celebrated at my sister's house this year she always has things
decorated in such a amazing way. Even Rosie's high chair was
decorated, so cool! The food was wonderful, of course I ate way
to much. The kids naturally complained about clean up duties...
it is simply a way to torture them, or so they think. Opening gifts
was simply chaos, and laughter. Love watching their
excitement, hearing their laughter, seeing the wonder in their eyes.

Little MissMatched

While browsing online stores, in search of
Christmas gifts I found this store:
http://www.littlemissmatched.com/ what a fun place
to explore. Someone has actually taken something
we all live with and made a business out of it.
mismatched socks, so cool! They sell socks, of course
but with a twist, they don't match, and you get three
socks instead of the standard two. Now this
would have been Cassandra's dream come true
15 years ago...I battled with this child over her
socks, she was the most picky sock wearer I
have ever encountered...honestly I would let
her go barefoot rather than battle with her over
socks. Rarely did her socks match, and often
she would just give me this look as if to say "what
is the big deal" of course I'm worried what
people might think, what kind of mother is she
that her poor child doesn't even have matching
socks, "what can I say I was young and actually
pretty dumb about life" and to think she actually
survived me, amazing! Naturally I had to order
some socks, definately for Cassandra, and not to
leave anyone out, Beckie, Yahaira, and Rosie each
got a set....and so did I. Ok that mom from years
ago now values the importance of fun in life, and
bending those rules on occasion, so your socks don't
match, I do beleive the sun will rise tomorrow. The pic
above is Yahaira, Rosie and I modeling our mismatched
socks...and when I look at that picture I will remember
Yahaira's giggles and Rosie's excitement and that is
a great thing. Cassandra's reaction when she saw the
socks..."well it's about time" she said with a big smile.

more pics

expect a lot of post's containing pics from Christmas, there is a wealth of them.....filled my photo card a couple of times. I decided to take my sisters advice, *gasp* did I just say that? She said to me one day "you need to give your camera away" "what????" I said wondering what was wrong with her and why she thought I would ever do such an insane thing. "No" she said "you need to give it to someone else so you are in some pics." Ok so my breathing calmed and I thought ummmmm she may have a point there...after all when I'm gone there should be pics of me to haunt my kids, don't you think :) So following are candids, people pics if you will.....

a few of my favorite pics...

from the past couple of days.

a glimpse of Christmas 2006

Merry Christmas.....

....from the Haycraft's

Twas the night

before Christmas and all thru the house all the creatures are stirring,
...(I pray there is no mouse) The stockings are hung in the
windows with care (alas no mantel to hang them from, and not certain that all those
stockings could fit) in hopes that St. Nickolas soon will be there. (of course I have
repeatedly suggested that "if" they don't go to sleep Santa can't possible visit. No need to mention me sleeping pretty certain it won't happen, if you could see the list I have to finish before tomorrow it would certainly make you cry. No plans to continue that timeless tale...if you don't remember how it goes find the book it truly is a wonderful story. (a complete aside, in second grade I had a part retelling this story my lines "His eyes how they twinkled, His dimples how merry, His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry" that was my one and only appearance in a play, seriously I was ill for days, terrified of appearing in front of people.) We are preparing to spend the evening with my sister and her family, Kevin's mom will be joining us, my dad won't be there, he is sick, it will be weird not having him there. There will be too much food, and way too much ribbon and paper and gifts, Kids will be crazy, energized on excitement and sugar,
and I can't simply wait for it all to begin.

So I send you warm wishes for a blessed Christmas
may it be filled with wonder,
sprinkled with magic,
and full of the promise that was given so very long ago....

merry christmas to all and to all a good night!

The elves are busy.....

at the Haycraft home. Josh and Cassandra oh so cheerfully loaded the car(sigh, actually cheerful would be a stretch to describe that moment)
with gifts to deliver. Josh has been busy assembling Santa gifts...the comments
drifting up from the basement have been hilarious. Rosie wanted no part of the
santa hat experience...Cassandra was able to catch a quick pic of her...she is oh
so cooperative. The cookies are ready for tomorrow night as are the carrots and
milk, Anthony insisted we needed to feed the reindeer, and when I asked what
they ate he was quite postive that carrots would be their choice...cool wondering
which adult in the house is going to take a bite out of that. Rosie's face says it all
she found a box of chocolate's, (a gift from a daycare family) that had just been opened
needless to say the box was empty in a very short time....it would seem Kevin and Pedro were determined to blame the baby, whom I'm sure consumed some but not an entire 3lb box of chocolate....just a bit crabby that I didn't even get a piece.

2 days until christmas

how did that happen????? Someone stole a week from my calander, honestly it can't be Christmas in just two days. Someone said to me the other day "I have Monday and Tuesday off" "Why?" I asked completely confused, "because it's Christmas" they said. So now I'm just trying to figure out how I missed that with all these little people around, they are usually counting down by hour by this time....(perhaps I can just say it's "because of these little people that I lost track) Oh well since I haven't quite perfected stopping time, I guess it's coming whether I'm ready or not.

since we are speaking of holiday's, today I was reminded of just how simply unbalanced life is, here it is a holiday that most view as a family event, filled with traditions, and memories and two families I know are facing the holiday's with the most unimaginable news. My neighbor's daughter was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, she stopped breathing and coded, she is stable but they have no idea what caused this to happen, they are now in a hotel with countless unanswered questions and fears. Another family has just been told that her father is full of cancer and there is nothing that can be done, his life is now measured in weeks, perhaps days. A week ago they suspected nothing...and so I wonder how is this right (I know it's an age old question with no real answer) bad things happen, I realize that, but I will never be able to accept it. Especially when it is tied to holiday's and events that are so steeped in tradition and family. Put's my life into perspective, wondering why I was so crabby this morning with my kids, at least they are here for me to hug and snuggle. Knowing I will hug them tighter today, and be thankful for the challenges they present, wondering if I will ever know the "right" words to say to someone when faced with such awful news. Praying I never become so jaded to just accept the bad that is out there.

Christmas lights

I had the most awesome pic to post of the Haycraft's Christmas lights, but my computer died tonight and I am now using one of the kids' laptop, so since my pics are on my dead computer you don't get to see the wonderful, beautiful, Christmas light....yes you are reading that correctly light as in singular, as in one. So so sad, so very sad. This year I actually wanted to decorate the house, perhaps not Chevy Chase Christmas vacation type decorating but, something simple, beautiful. It is now a week before Christmas and the only lights on my house belong to a wreath, yes one wreath...a wreath I didn't buy, a gift from a daycare family...every night rose stands by the window to look at the lights...so excited, (wondering how excited she would have been with more lights) I guess we have a scrooge among us. So instead we drive around looking at the lights, sometimes leaving little notes of thanks to the homeowners. Love that part of the season, love that the weather has been mild so being out isn't such a chore. Next time we venture out I think I will bring my camera to capture some of the more amazing homes...of course I probably won't be able to share since my computer has issues. :(

Being 2...

She gives new meaning to "2" This was her choice for sleeping attire the other night, yes the shoes were a very needed accessory. Rolling my eyes here, I hate those shoes, they require an act of God to get on, and she has mastered unlacing them and removing them with amazing swiftness. The person who saw those and thought they were cute should be shot for even suggesting they be purchased. Now her big sister Beckie thinks she is truly spoiled rotten, this may stem from the fact that according to Beckie, Yahaira has far better, cooler, stylish shoes than she does. (a note, Beckie doesn't own a pair of airwalks, Cassandra and Yahaira do, life as a poor college student is so unfair) Let's not touch that topic today :) and so with everyone now home for Christmas break, is it the picture of domestic bliss (you who think my life is charmed need drugs, strong drugs) (those who know my life can stop laughing, really stop) no I don't think domestic will ever suit me, and bliss, let's not go there either....my home is a picture of many sizes and shapes who share a very amazing bond, it's filled with conversations and arguments, (yes often over shoes) a large amount of laughter and an energy that is simply amazing.

Gingerbread house

Frosting, candy, lot's and lot's of sugar, how could this not be fun?

5 kids= 10 hands

1 adult=2 hands

balanced right?

So the haycraft's are not handy in construction by any stretch of the imagination, so why would I even think we could construct a gingerbread house? insane I know. I thought that by buying a kit it would be simple....make a note, with kids nothing is ever simple :)

First of all the kit did not come with enough frosting, not even close.. an additional 2 tubs later and we still were having roof issues, but since the natives were getting restless it was time to move on to decorating, translation candy time!!!! this went quite well considering large quanities were being consumed by the decorators. Rose had the best approach, she would take a piece off the house taste it and if it wasn't what she wanted she put it back. Ok let's not even start on the health aspects of this approach. I was impressed she put it back.... :) So as you can see by the end result it isn't contest worthy by any stretch, but hey we had a fun, and that is what really matters.

Gingerbread anyone?