Move along people!

After church tonight Victoria and I decided that we would treat ourselves to Taco Bell drive thru. James has been swallowed by a big blue black hole called a semi these past few days getting it ready to hit the road next week. He went to an earlier service and headed back to the truck to do more work which left us solo after we left church. We got in line at the Bell and proceeded to inch our way up to the window to get our food. It was taking quite a while and Victoria was getting antsy. We had finally made our way up to the position of next in line to get our food and the car in front of us must have had a big order because they were taking a substantial amount of time. Victoria inched her way between the two front seats and let out a sigh saying "Can't these people just go to McDonald's???"

Christmas morning!

The babies and I giving Christmas hugs in their new outfits from Santa.


We had to beg Anthony to try to open his gifts. He only was interested in this one once he saw that there was a car inside. He was more interested in knowing where the pancakes were.



Addison didn't have much excitement for her Christmas presents that Santa left her other than carrying them around the house for a while. She was very excited and squealing while doing that though.


Baby Alive. This was the big gift other than her digital camera this year for Victoria. Baby Alive talks, has creepy eyes that blink, and pees and poops after you feed her runny baby food that has to be mixed up and a bottle of water. Baby alive not only pees and poops out of it's bottom it also pees and poops out it's hip joints, arm pits and any other seam in the doll. Sooo much fun!!!!

Indy and then the in-laws

James woke up very early this morning to make it to Indy to take care of more paperwork for the semi and I spent the morning looking for documents online to fax to him when he got there (later finding out that he didn't need them, so typical of goverment offices) Once he hit the door we were in bath mode and the kids all took a bath together for the first time. Victoria was in hog heaven. We kept the babies bathtub in the tub and just let the water overflow in it. Victoria got to help them wash their hair and really felt like she was doing something special, not knowing that we were throwing all of them in there to save some time, and hot water.

We took off and got to Mom and Dad's around 5ish and started stuffing our faces. We watched an awesome DVD, CD, CDR (that is for you Tyler) that he had put together for the family of pictures of the past year. Wow we have changed, the babies are growing like weeds and I need to get my butt to the gym tomorrow! LOL! We stayed for about 3 or so hours and my hubby started to fall over on me from getting up so early and Victoria caught wind of someone saying that tonight Santa comes and she was coat on, and in the car, in 2 seconds.

When we got home I got everyone in bed and started the assembly of the Santa presentation. I hadn't had a chance to get all of Victoria's toys out from Mamaw and Papaw's party or the kitchen set she got with Gramma Harb's "credit card" so I grabbed my screwdriver and James grabbed a bag of goldfish and watched me knuckles bleeding while I put together Victoria's kitchen. He and I joked around for about an hour about me getting banged up and him being an owner/operator now and not having to do any assembly in the house, while laughing hysterically. We had a ball! I tip toed into Victoria's room and placed her presents under the tree that Santa had put up in her room and displayed her other gifts around the tree with a note from Santa explaining the meaning of Christmas and that he had assembled all of the toys because he saw that mom and dad had been really busy the past few days. I fell into bed and James and I were asleep in about 10 minutes.

Split Christmas

Today is the Craig family Christmas. Brooklyn came over Sunday to stay with us and left 10 minutes later when we found lice eggs in her hair. Her sister brought it home the night before. I had enough with dealing with the little critters so I had her leave her stuff in the car and I took her straight into the bathroom to do my own investigation. I felt horrible for her she had been so excited about coming over and she had to leave as soon as she got here. So for the Craig Christmas we had a split celebration those that were egg free this week and those that were not egg free this week. Victoria, the babies and I took off and headed over early before Brooklyn's mom dropped her off and we had our Christmas with Mamaw and Papaw while Daddy was off picking up our new semi and taking care of paperwork. Once we were done we took off to head to the house and get ready for church and Daddy (who has no hair) spend the evening with Brooklyn and Makenzie and his parents. We stressed about it all night and morning and James came up with the split Christmas idea and I believe it worked really well. I am sure that the two oldest girls enjoyed having daddy to themselves.

Victoria and I took the babies and headed to church to drink hot chocolate and listen to Christmas songs and a good teaching about the Christmas story. She really enjoyed the service and kept wiping away tears off of my cheeks while they played O Holy Night. It was nice for her and I to have some time to ourselves too. All in all it was a nice family Christmas for everyone around.

Christmas Monday!!!

After a great weekend at church where Victoria got to join us in "our church" where it snowed on stage it was time for Leslie Monday. I had been working on our homemade Christmas gift for her. Leslie and I have a ton of inside jokes too many to name actually I have been keeping a running log of all of our Mondayisms so that I could make her a scrapbook with all of our inside jokes. I named it "The big book of things that only make sense to us!" It turned out great and she loved it. She got Victoria an adorable dress that she wore to Christmas Eve-eve service, and the babies some precious pjs. For me she got me a coffee cup and some homemade Fair Trade chocolate and a pic of us in the Krispy Kreme drive thru. She also brought a homemade quilt from an old client of mine. She made the quilts for the babies when they were born and they were beautiful, but she really outdid herself with this one. It is toddler size and made with a house pattern on it. It is so bright and happy and Victoria loves it. She informed me that the peacock blanket that I made for her, she doesn't want to use anymore. lol! We had a great time and while my loving husband watched Shepard and the twins we headed off to Walmart with Victoria to do some shopping, and analyzing of Christmas light with Leslie, the Simon Cowell of Christmas lights.

Aunt Punkin invited us over to make Christmas cookies this morning. We had a blast full of sticky fingers from icing, and funny songs about sweet potatoes on the back porch after the racoons got into her trash the night before.

Victoria and I beside Punkin's Christmas tree. Victoria is wearing her Santa apron and hat that Gramma Harb got for her.

To my Christmas Angel....

I recieved your gift in the mail today only signed "Merry Christmas from a Christmas Angel". I don't know if you read my blog or how you knew of our need but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am welling up with tears as I type and have been since I opened up the card. I don't know who you are but my father said you shouldn't reveal the identity of a Christmas Angel just let it be and enjoy it. If you do indeed read my blog I want to again say thank you and let you know that I stand in awe of the spirit of giving this Christmas. You have earned your crown in heaven!

The view from the front seat

Today Victoria recieved a Walmart gift card from the prison ministries from Tina. Victoria thought she had hit the jackpot. She calls gift cards, credit cards. We headed off to the store to pick up some stuff and spend her credit card. She thought is was really cool that her and mommy went by ourselves without the babies while dad was watching them. She gets to ride in the front seat on very short trips when we do that. She sat in the passenger seat like it was a throne. I put on her seat heater and she talked about the fireplace under her butt.

We met Leslie when she got off of work to go and look at Christmas lights. We went to Lake Forest. That was definately the place to go and see lights, but we also learned that just because you have money doesn't mean you have taste when it comes to putting up Christmas lights. There were some beautifully decorated homes and some that looked like drunk monkeys put the lights up by candlelight (that one is for you honey). We got lost and had to hook up Leslie's GPS to find our way out. After a trip to Wendy's for some fries and a drink we headed home beat from all of the running around fell into bed.

Arby's BBQ Chicken pizza and an old friend.

Tonight I had my friend Jill Pennington over. Although not related to the Pennington side of my family she is family just the same. I have been in a creative mood in the kitchen and have been making up new recipes. Earlier this week I invented chicken and rice puff in the crock pot. It is very easy all you have to do is add way too much rice to the recipe. Tonight I decided to try BBQ chicken pizza. I made a batch of oven fried chicken and cut it up and mixed in 6 packs of Arby sauce that I had and some extra BBQ sauce. I put it on top of a pizza crust and added Parmesan cheese and some mixed shredded cheese. It turned out pretty good, at least mom and Jill said it did. We enjoyed conversation and food while watching the babies play in the antlers that Jill brought for us to look at Christmas light in. Victoria was unable to make it to the festivities because Mamaw and Papaw wanted her to spend the night.

While Victoria was gone I played Santa and wrapped presents and made out the note back to Victoria thanking her for the wrapping paper that she picked out for her gift. I found her table top Christmas tree in the shed and set it up in her room on her end table, from Santa. Santa told her that while rummaging around in our shed he found and it knew that she was upset that we didn't have room for a tree this year due to the corral in the living room for the babies. She really got a kick out of it. I love playing Santa.

On top of all of the happening in the house across the country my cousin Jill had her little girl. Theresa Kathleen was born! Congrats Jill and Kevin!

Happy 12th Birthday John and Athan!

Today is Johnathan's 12th birthday. I got an email from his mom Anne letting me know that he had a sleepover with some friends and is getting a phone for his birthday. He was chosen student of the month, out of 265 kids in his grade, at his school and continues to be an honor student. I still haven't heard from him directly but I love getting to hear how he is spending his special day. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will write me tonight. We will see.

11 years ago today I decided to celebrate his first birthday by getting a cake of my own. I went to the JayC grocery store in Sellersburg and headed to the bakery. I picked out a small cake and asked if they could put Happy 1st Johnathan. The little grandma must have had a hard time hearing me and asked me to repeat myself, after telling her "Johnathan, you know, like John and Nathan" to help her with the spelling she nodded to let me know she understood. I wandered around the store to pick up a few more things and headed back to the bakery to pick up my cake. I set it in my cart and headed to the front to make my purchase. I glanced down as I was walking away from the bakery to notice what the kind little grandma had written on my cake. "Happy 1st John & Athan". I almost wet my pants from laughing. It really took the edge off of the sadness that I was unable to celebrate with him myself. I should have taken this as a sign from God that I was going to have twins down the road. I never did eat the cake because it continues to make me laugh. It still sets in my parents freezer.

Angels

I have never missed an opportunity to complain about the kids driving me nuts so I have to take the opportunity to praise them on how well they did today.

The babies 15 month doc appointment was today. I was unsure how it would go considering that I went to check on the babies last night after giving them a bath and found Anthony laying in a mess asleep on his bed. Seemed dinner didn't agree with him or his "bug" hasn't completely left his little body. Needless to say Anthony arrived extra clean with 2 baths for the night. They have grown 2 inches in 3 months and now are weighting 20.1 for Anthony and 20.11 for Addison. While waiting in the room they just walked around and played with the table and sissy. Victoria was abducted by aliens and was so well behaved I couldn't stop smiling (which is hard to do when you are waiting on the doc to enter the room). She was so cute with them keeping them entertained while we waited.

After one shot and a prescription for some magic butt creme (lol) We headed off to get our prescription filled and get Anthony a bottle of Claritin to see if that will help with the chronic congestion that he has. Poor little guy snorts when he is eating and snores like his father, well almost. Grandma Harb met us at Target and we headed to Horseshoe, formerly Ceasers, to eat. Grandma gets to eat free and gets to bring a guest so we were happy to oblige. The food was great, service was even better and Anthony left with a new girlfriend. He was really laying on the charm blowing kisses to our server. Addison covered herself in mashed potatoes and we headed out to let Victoria play on the moving sidewalk, always a favorite for children.

We spent a couple hours in Walmart shopping and even still after leaving the house before 9 and getting a shot the babies and Victoria were still on their best behavior pushing 6, and that is with no nap. I couldn't' have asked for better children. So well behaved and polite I wanted the day to never end.

When we got home Addison and Anthony started their obsession with Little People. Mom started her obsession with them after a visit at Mary Beth's mom's house. Davis Mary Beth's adorable son has all kinds of them and I just fell in love. Addison has been toting around a block Grandma found at a yard of a little girl with piggy tails and we figured with the Christmas present from my Granny that Little People was the way to go with our first purchase. Addison got a car with a mommy and little baby in the back seat that plays music and honks and Anthony got a cop car that has a working siren. When he figured out how to turn the siren on by pushing the lights on top of the car he continued to push it and give me a look like "Did you see that? I, Boogie Bear, made that happen!" He felt so powerful.

Oh I wouldn't trade today for the world. I get frustrated a lot about very minor things and forget to just appreciate my kids and today God reminded me that they are a joy, a joy indeed!

Cobwebs in December

If you have been following my blog you will know that Monday is Leslie day. In the past few weeks we have been laughing hysterically at the VH1 series Scream Queens. What can we say, it doesn't take much to entertain us. Leslie decided to make it extra special and brought us some Halloween spiderwebs and some plastic Halloween goblets complete with fake blood painted on the sides. Victoria thought we had lost our minds until we told her to go and get in her dress up clothes, put on a costume and hang out with us. She chose her red devil dress that Grandma Harb found for two dollars at Meijer, a witch hat and her black and neon yellow stripped tights. We enjoyed a great bowl of chili and some peanut butter cookies while watching this week's The Office (for the 4th time for me, one of the best ones ever) and some Samantha Who and we had Victoria to bed after watching her Shrek the Halls. We turned out the lights and lit candles to enjoy the finale of Scream Queens. I am well aware that we made a big production out of a insignificant show but that is just what we do on our Mondays. We refuse to be grown ups and always have a ball! We wouldn't have it any other way.

All is well!

This morning my prayers were answered. James woke up without any symptoms. I knew it would be a 24 hour thing like it was for the rest of us, and I am glad it was. He had fun teasing me about my forgetfulness and I had fun teasing him about the fact that he can't take bath without falling asleep in it. After a morning of playing, teasing each other, water fights, pillow fights and wrestling (all before noon) I had to say a sad good bye to my husband so that he could go to work and start his week. I miss him already. Drive carefully honey, love you!

Patients

I could of spelled the title either way. Our home is full of sick people. It started with Addison a couple of days ago, then we all stared dropping like dominoes. Victoria was the next to fall starting at 2 in the morning continued all through the rest of the day. Anthony started a couple of hours after I started running to the bathroom. It was not a pretty picture. Thank God James was on his way home, the poor guy! He walked into a war zone full of trash cans and clear paths to the restroom. Mom and Dad called and hear the news and did a grocery run for us via phone in Walmart. They met James at his work to transfer the groceries so that he could bring them home and Mom and Dad wouldn't be exposed to the plague.

Today we (me and the kids) are feeling a hundred percent better and Daddy is wadded up in the bed like a burrito now, with a fever and experiencing all of the symptoms that we all had. I feel so bad for him so I am letting him rest as much as he can before he has to go to work tomorrow. I don't know what I would of done without him yesterday. I was helpless, as I usually am when I am not feeling good. It was horrible to not have strength to do anything little ones all needing me more so than normal. Thank God it seems to be a 24 hour bug. If anyone else is dealing with this my heart goes out to you, I feel your pain.

If I could only do what James tells me

Last night I was looking for some comfort in a book..the book of James. Holidays are a time of gathering of friends and family. A Lot of family are excited about this and a lot of families have people that get thrown into an anxiety attack thinking about it......that would be me this year. I know it is senseless to stress about something weeks away, but I am having hard time dealing with unsettled issues. There has been drama in our family in dealing with our oldest Makenzie. It has really been bothering me and I have been spending a lot of time praying about it and trying to find a way to get through to her. In trying to "get through to her" God has gotten some things through to me, funny how that works.

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I have to admit I am not experiencing pure joy in this. It is uncomfortable, it is messy, it hurts to know that you are getting rejected. I am going to find joy in the fact that God is working in this situation and I am learning through this.

James 19: My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about he righteous life that God desires.

CON-VIC-TED!!! Shew, I wanted to just throw my hands up and admit defeat, then I found Psalms 18:16-19, I found joy.

Oooooh I'm driving my life away!

Well what is new in the Craig home? James has picked out a truck (when I say truck I mean semi) for purchase. He has been talking about it for some time now and with the help of my incredible parents I believe it is going to happen. He has been working for Summitt for a while now and is on a dedicated run that is running him into an early grave and not making enough money to give us hope of getting out of debt or ever living somewhere other than our trailer. My dad and him have been talking about getting him a truck and how much more money he would be making if he were running the same amount of miles in his own truck, it seems senseless to not go for it. We have both been praying about it and God seems to be saying yes. The offer that we gave Freightliner for the semi seemed to go quite smoothly. This is going to be quite a transition for us. It is a new way of doing the same thing. Kind of like when I went from working for a salon to renting a booth from a salon. Essentially doing the same kind of work but having to take care of the paperwork, and maintenance of the business. I am hoping that in this economy that this will help us keep our head above water and get out of this sardine can into a home with a little more breathing room. As James says we see a light at the end of the tunnel and it isn't a train. We will see how this goes.