{Ahh..the little things}

so incredibly tired....

In fact, I am off to bed after this post.  At 9 PM.  Wow.

I am SOOOO ready for Christmas break & so thankful that tomorrow is the last day of school.  I know (as always) I may feel differently once I am trying to entertain the kids for the next few weeks, but I am so ready for a break from the constant running to/from schools, and the nagging in the mornings.  It can not come soon enough!

In spite of being completely exhausted today, I managed to make 3 kinds of fudge, build 5 gingerbread houses, gather up & wrap 3 teacher gifts, and get my kids to bed early!  Now I must follow...

back to blogging?

I really want to get back to blogging - it just seems like there is not enough time lately.  I am sure it is because of all of the "extras" around Christmas - it seems like we have had something to do nearly every night of the week!  Tonight it is a girls Christmas dinner - I am looking forward to it :)  Dinner in a nice restaurant, fun times with my girlfriends,a gift exchange...should be lots of fun!

I've still been doing alot of crafting, and Ellie & I sold alot of our stuff, as well as stuff from friends at a sale at our church last weekend. All of the proceeds went to the Sudan project, which is our church's big mission area.  They have built schools (and adult life skills training places), water yards & churches for the people in that area.  Anyway, we raised $155.50 and are still waiting to hear the final total raised.  It was alot of fun, and I am looking forward to making it a yearly service project for our family.

I've also been busy around the house, not just decorating for Christmas, but also doing some painting, purging, organizing and some much needed deep cleaning.  It is amazing to me how much "stuff" we have & I thought that it would be a perfect time to get rid of some of the extra (of course, only to bring in LOTS more at Christmas time).  I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel though.  Not that I want to wish away the days of my kids being little AT ALL....but, I am noticing that this year the older kids are getting very few toys - and toys makes up 90% of the mess around here.  I also know that when the time comes that my little ones are no longer collecting their little toys in groups around the house, that I will be sad.  The other day I walked into the bathroom and saw this.....

.    .

These little moments make me pause & smile :)  right in the middle of my busy days.  I love being a Momma to preschoolers - it really is the best age, but it sure does go by fast!  Next year Zander will be in Kindergarten, and Ava will be in preschool - it seems so strange to think of  already.  Four kids in four different schools -oh my!  And I thought we lived in the car now...