UPDATE---yeah it's been a month already

So, Santa did come and he didn't maime himself on any forgotten toy or someones dirty or clean clothes on the floor. (With my kids, you have both.) We had a very busy and fun Christmas but I have officially decided to just say NO to some of the Traditional get togethers my family has.

I think we just tend to see toooooo much of everyone so by the Christmas Brunch everyone is tired and simply wants to enjoy some peace and quiet. It's not like we didn't see them for the extended family Christmas party, or Christmas Eve get together just that same week. We also get together for lots of food and fun with games on New Years Eve. So, I know I say this every year that we are going to skip out on the Brunch and touch base with my family in a week, but I just can't seem to make that resolution stick. It could be that I have been doing the brunch my entire life. I'm the only one who seems to care, however.

Darin is usually so tired from the chaotic morning that he would rather regroup before going to his parents house for Christmas dinner. I can't say as I blame him, cause it was nice to have time to enjoy some of the gifts that we received. My kids like seeing their cousins but I think they would be okay to wait 'til new years to show their toys to the cousins on my side. You know that you're in trouble when in the middle of eating your six year old says we need to leave and go to the other Grandmas. I think he knows that once we do that, he'll be able to get home a little faster.

I was going to tell my mom of my decision so I would have time to psyche myself up for next Christmas and not succumb to guilt, or family pressure, but I think I'm a chicken. Wish me luck. I figure if I tell her in January, she'll be okay. And if not, she'll have the rest of the year to get used to the idea and I can stick to my guns and just say NO>>>>

There was a Clean Base

So, here I am. One week before Christmas, having so much to do, but not wanting to do it over and over. Does that sound familiar. You clean up a room for a party the next day and it's a mess in about 45 minutes. Sometimes being on top of things does not pay.......

That is how I came up with my life saving motto of "there was a Clean Base!!!!!!!" Yesterday I went and wrote a list of Household chores that needed to be done, hopefully only once, before Christmas:

Strip and Wash sheets
sweep and mop bathrooms
wash tubs and sinks in bathrooms
clean out van
wrap School Gifts
Deliver friend gifts
clean and vaccum downstairs
Wash downstairs rug with carpet cleaner-----Santa's coming after all (clean Base Concept)
Make Cookies for Santa

Now some chores are everyday occurrances and can't be sufficiently "Christmas" done until Christmas eve, especially when you have 5 kids ages 10, 9, 6, 4, and 3 running around.

Clean rooms---under beds too
Vacuum
do all the dishes
garbages
sweep and mop floor
pick up all toys -- especially ones in Santa's possible path--we'd hate to be responsible for maiming Santa.

Now, those who know me, know that patience is not one of my most noteable strong points. In fact, I'm one who likes to know what needs to be done and just do it. None of this dilly-dallying. Especially if it is unpleasant. That way, I can get past it and bask in the knowledge that the deed is done.

So needless to say, the week before Christmas is bitter sweet. I love the anticipation of the gifts, the songs, the decorations, the good food and company. I also love the clean house once all thkids are asleep and we are waiting for Santa to arrive. There is only a one day that the house if ever Christmas Clean. And then it becomes Christmas Dirty with wrapping paper, twist ties, cut zip ties, and boxes everywhere. But just knowing that there was a "Clean Base" makes that mess all the more pleasant.

I guess I should thank my mom for all those Christmas Eves spent cleaning our rooms--even under our beds, while she mopped the floor and listened to Santa's travel report on Tom Barberie's radio show. I now also better appreciate her frustration and last minute vaccuming downstairs before Santa comes. It did make for a more peaceful, calm, fresh, and clean morning to see all the wonders that Christmas brings.

A New Era

Hey, this is me--Kris. Those of you who do not know me, this computer thing is a new frontier that I'm more than a little nervous to embark on. But first things first. I've officially decided that all new bloggers should have their "BFF" write their first blog. Talk about an ego boost. It makes me sound like I know what I'm doing on this adventure we call "life with 5 children".

I think I may be hooked, or at least a little enticed seeing as I stayed awake for about an hour last night composing my first official blog in my head. This morning, I can't remember much, but last night it sounded really good. So I guess I'm going to wing it. Who knows, I may turn in to a techno-friek after all. I am a bit stubborn, however, so I just pray that I don't break anything or make things "lock UP".

It reminds me a bit of when I got my first cordless phone for Christmas 13 years ago. When I opened it, I thought it was the least practical gift ever. We only lived in a small basement apartment where corded phones were more than efficient. I asked Darin why we needed one of these. Now I know!!! I can't even imagine life without a cordless phone. In fact i'm a bit lost when my phone needs to be charged or when one of my lovely small ones decide they need a second opinion from Dad and call him on the cell. You know that the phone never gets put back. But those small inconveniences are nothing compared to the "AWESOME" advantages that a cordless phone brings.

I can take the phone in the bathroom (to clean it--of course), wash the dishes, sort and do laundry, make beds, sweep the floor, pick up toys, garbage and books all while talking to my best friend. Isn't that so COOL!!!!! Vacuuming and helping with homeword is a bit difficult but I'm sure I've tried that too. Needless to say, I have had to EAT MY WORDS when it came to the new and most necessary item--the cordless phone. Who knows, maybe I will become a "Blogger " after all.............Let the adventure begin.

Here We Go!

Hello! This isn't actually Kris - it's Amy. You see, Kris is under the weather so I get to write her first post! What an honor. Seriously, how many people would you trust with your blog? So I figured I'd tell y'all a little bit about my friend Kris. How about we do it kind of like a meme? I'll list as many things as I can think of about her so that you can get to know her a little better.

1. She's married to Darrin - he's a pretty swell guy. They've been hitched for 13 years now? (Maybe 14 - I can't remember)

2. She looks HOT with her short hair. Seriously, you'd look hot too with this do - but only if you had the right attitude to pull it off!

3. She's got 5 crazy, creative and hilarious kids! They keep her on her toes, but she's good at keeping up with them.

4. She's a neat freak - as much as she can be with five kids. She puts me to shame with the amount of cleaning she does every day!

5. She's lived in Utah most of her life - except when she served a mission in Chile.

6. She speaks Spanish because of #5 and so she can totally eavesdrop on people in the checkout line at the grocery store - I'm so jealous.

7. She loves to read. But only trashy LDS love stories. And mysteries. And adventures. Okay, she likes to read a lot of different things.

8. She really likes Diet Coke and peanut butter M&M's. If she's having "a day" all I have to do is make sure she's got those and it automatically makes the world a better place to be. In fact, I think that's how I bribed her to be my friend... (Personally, I like to have a Dr. Pepper and an entire bag of Oreos when I'm having "a day." Or if I'm being bought. Diamonds or cash work too. Just saying.)

9. She's a pretty patient lady. We talk on the phone often and I hear her when she's talking to her kids - rarely does she raise her voice. Why can't I be more like that, I wonder?

10. Finally, she's a really good friend. As Anne of Green Gables would say, "She's a kindred spirit, a true bosom friend!"

Love ya, Kris. Get to feeling better soon!