Christmas 2010

I guess I never noticed how commercialized Christmas is until I had kids. It is all about the gifts. The day after Christmas everyone is asking, what did you get? Were your kids spoiled? Every time the kids see a commercial its, "I want that for Christmas." I don't know if I was the only one who was losing focus of what Christmas really is.

I am however blessed at all the gifts and fun things our kids got this year from family everywhere. They had an awesome day.

Christmas Eve was crazy busy just like any other mothers. Last min. wrapping, cooking, shopping, cleaning..the list goes on and on. We stopped by my Aunt's house so she could give the boys their gift. She had this amazing scavenger hunt to find it. One clue would lead to the next until the boys were outside in her backyard where they discovered bikes!! She has a great backyard that is all brick so it is perfect safe place for the boys to ride!

Later that night the boys were able to open one gift from their Grandma and Grandpa Jo Jo. Of course it just so happened to be matching P.J.'s which was perfect. A tradition that I want to keep going for years to come.

About 11 pm Christmas Eve night I had a breakdown. I asked my husband is this what Christmas is going to be like for the next few years? Staying up all night the night before prepping, totally exhausted and frazzled. He said yes. I figured. We finally got to bed around 1am and just knew the kids would be up well  before sunrise.

5:30 AM was here and 2 out of 3 kids were up and ready to see what Santa had brought them. We managed to keep them out of the front room until 6:30. I go to get the baby out of bed and I hear Aiden screaming, "Santa got me a scooter!" Yup, he had discovered it and Christmas morning had officially begun.

The next 3 hours were lots of coffee and opening a few gifts before everyone arrived for breakfast hosted by me. Grandparents started coming and I got a flash back to when I was a kid living in Riverside and I remember having Christmas at our house and my grandparents pulling up and unloading tons of gifts. The same grandparents that brought me my gifts were now showing up to bring my kids gifts. The same mom that once stayed up all night to give me and my siblings a great Christmas was now in fact a grandparent herself. It is crazy how fast life just passes.

Few hours of opening gifts, eating, and visiting everyone left and we just looked around the house and thought, Oh my! Then we put the kids down for a nap and crashed for more than 2 hours.

Dinner was hosted by my mom (which was amazing...fillet and lobster) While there we did our 3rd annual gift exchange. Everyone buys a gift and then we draw numbers to see what order we choose gifts in. We can steal, kill, and destroy for the gifts. Ok, nobody actually does that but my mom and I are always hoping for a innocent fight to break out over stealing gifts. Its always a fun time. I think next year we are going to have to shake it up a bit!

The rest of the evening was just great. Laughter, good food, crazy kids, and lots of love. THIS is what Christmas is all about. Families coming together to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

24 Hours Away

A few weeks ago my mom told me she had a free night at the casino and that we should go away for the night. I was all up for it!! After all,  a night away seemed like Heaven to me. She told me she would meet me after she got off work and we found a bus that takes old senior citizens up to the Casino (over an hour away) This was great because I wouldn't have to drive and I could ride back with  my mom on the way home.

My Grandma and Aunt Toots came over with their overnight bags in tow. They would both stay the night with the boys. After they arrived Aunt Toots drove me to the pickup spot. We stayed in the car until the bus came laughing at all the old senior citizens standing outside with their bingo bags and fanny packs on. Then comes time for the bus. It pulled up and I felt like I was being dropped off for my first day of school. I was so nervous to get on.

I was waiting in line when a nosey person was asking me all sorts of questions. I think they were freaking out that a young person was about to board. I asked, "This bus is going to the Wildhorse right?" They laughed and said no. I almost got on the wrong bus.(above) Minutes later my bus arrived (below)

I got on with 2 other old senior citizens. One mans name was John who rode the shuttle every single Wednesday to play in the poker room and the other was a crazy woman talking to herself about losing $700 last week and promising to herself not to make a mess on the bus.

My  peace and quiet time begun. I had over an hour to sit, listen to music and read...ahhhh 

Met my mom at the hotel lobby and we got all checked in. At this point it was so unreal that I was actually away with no kids! I felt like I was a million miles from home. Not just 70.

We got a room on the top floor and had a wonderful view of the parking lot, dirt, and The Smashing Pumpkins tour bus (they were playing there that night)

I'm doing things a little out of sort now, I have  been trying to figure out for an hour how to re-arrange my pics. Oh well. You can deal. This was dessert time. After dinner, after gambling...My mom had strawberry shortcake......

And I had chocolate cake with a really neat chocolate card on top (that  brought me ZERO luck)

After dessert we were SOOOO stuffed and SOOOO tired, but my mom still had more fun in her during the elevator ride up to the room!

We went to the room after a little gambling to get ready for dinner. Although I didn't really dress up, I put on heels (that I took off IMMEDIATELY after dinner) It felt good to try and look somewhat nice.

My mom looked beautiful. I cant believe she is 50!!! I mean ummm 39.

We went to this resturant called Shulas. Its for some football guy. His last name is Shula. Dont know what the first name is. Anyways, it was AMAZING. It was also one of the top 3 nicest places I have ever eaten. Complete with the mulitiple forks and knives and all.  This time is one I will always remember. The special talks my mom and I  had about life,marriage, family, dreams, hopes, goals and heartache. 

After dinner we played and had our dessert and then called it a night (at 10pm!!) which is late for the both of us. I was proud of my mom for hanging in there with me. Or should I say I totally hung in there with her cause I was WORN out and she did really well.

 After sleeping in till almost 8am and taking our time getting ready we hit up "Starbucks" although it was NOT Starbucks nor did it carry STARBUCKS (I'm really worked up over this still) Come to find out they just bought the license so basically the cups and signs are Starbucks but not the product. I was not very happy. Oh well.

We played a little more then went to eat lunch before checking out of the room and getting back to reality.

As we were waiting for valet to get my moms car I look on the ground and there is a ladies purse right there with nobody around. Weird people. We turned it in and then got in the car to drive home. I crashed for a few in the car because I acknowledge I am a lightweight. lol

I was gone almost exactly 24 hours and it felt like a week. If any of my family (mom, Grandma, or Aunt) read this I want to thank all of you for such a memorable time. I will always remember this time I got to spend with my mom and away. Feeling like a woman again and not just a mom. I had such a great time and without any of you it never would have been possible. I love you all and am so thankful to have each of you in my life.

Dear Justin,

Dear Justin,

I doubt you will ever read this blog. In fact, I don't even know if you know that I have a blog. Wait, you probably don't even know what a blog is. Ok, anyhow. That's besides the point. The point of this blog is to express how great of a daddy you are. There has been so much negativity lately I just want to focus on something positive.

Wow. Sometimes it just hits me like..."We have 3 boys!!" I sometimes still cant believe we are parents and I cant believe we have been doing it for over 4 years! Never in a million years would I have ever thought we would have 3 kids let alone 3 boys in 4 years!!

I could never have asked for a better daddy to our kids. You are so loving and so hands on. You have changed every diaper when asked or just because it needed to be done for over 4 years now. You never complain if I kick you in the side and beg you to get up in the middle of the night for me. (ok, who am I kidding, you do complain sometimes because you are a very grumpy man in the middle of the night, but you still will get up and do it) You are so affecionate and make sure each of our boys have a million kisses a day.

Each of all our boys know how much their daddy loves them and they adore you. As soon as the kids can hear the key in the door they come running to you screaming, "daddy" You drop your stuff and get on the floor to wrap them up in your arms.

You tell the best bedtime stories. You are so creative and have such an imagination. No wonder Aiden would rather you take him to bed than me!

I know I can count on you to be there for our boys. To help them and to teach them. To play with them and to discipline them. Even after you come home from a long day at work you always find the energy to get on the floor and wrestle with them.

As for me, you are always the first to tell me I need some "me" time. Take a realaxing bath, go hang out with the girls, get away for a few hours. You are always there to encourage me and support me as a mom. I see this and even if I dont tell you everyday, I appreciate it and I appreciate you.

Thank you for being an amazing daddy. I love you so much for this.

XOXO,

Amy Jo

8 Months

To My Precious Josiah Reid,

Sometimes I forget your name is Josiah. After you were born you just didn't "look" like a Josiah to me. I love your middle name and so it has stuck (well for the most part, daddy still calls you Josiah) and Jax calls you "Re-Re" which is super cute when he says it. At least you will have lots of names to choose from when your older.

Anyhow, I wish I would have been doing this all along. But better late than never. You are 8 months old (and one day) You had a big month last month. You started sitting up on your own and you started scooting. Not officially "crawling" yet but you can get where ever you want fairly quickly.

You are my sweet and special boy that I cant get enough of. You love being cuddled by whoever will cuddle you. Usually everyone is fighting to have their chance to love on you, including your brothers. They ADORE you. Seriously adore doesn't even cut it...they think the world of you and take such good care of you. Aiden wants to be wherever you are and Jax is always wanting to sooth you, feed you, change your diaper, and he always goes with me to lay you down.

You are my joy Reid. You are the most amazing baby and growing up so fast. You have already overcome so much in your short life and I know you will do amazing things in life. You have a special light in your eyes and a smile that will melt any heart. I am so blessed that Jesus allowed me to be your mommy. I love you with all my heart and soul. Even though I want you to stay little, I cant wait to watch you grow!!

Love Forever and Always,

Your Mama