So this is Christmas...

Wow! What a whirlwind this past month has been! It started with my 30th birthday around the beginning of the month and has been non-stop since then. We still have New Years and Ray's birthday to go before all the madness ends.

Like I said, it began at the beginning of the month with my birthday. I thought it would be a rather quiet set of holidays as my in laws were going to Hawaii to spend Christmas with my sister in law and we usually go there for Christmas. So, I thought we'd just spend a quaint little day or two at home by ourselves with the kiddos. I was nervous it might not feel like Christmas but confident we'd get through it.

Boy, was I wrong?

About it all.

Have I learned nothing these past 30 years??

My in laws did indeed go to Hawaii. But they flew out of ,like they always do, and they took the opportunity to spend the night with us before their flight, like they always do. We love having them and it was our chance to have a little pre-Christmas Christmas with them. It was a lot of fun and the kids started the first round of getting loaded down. Chloe and Hunter were super excited with all of the new stuff Meme and Pawpaw bought them for Christmas. And, so were Ray and I. To top it off, Pawpaw cooked an AWESOME meal...who can top that??

I thought the rest of the holiday would go fairly quickly and uneventful. I had 99% of my Christmas shopping finished so I figured I was out of the stores and the mayhem.

Have I mentioned how wrong I was?

Last minute plans fell through, and instead of just showing up on Christmas Eve at my moms with kids and eating a meal she cooked...we changed the plans and I now had 10-12 people showing up at MY house for a meal I was expected (well, I offered) to prepare. THE NEXT DAY...aka, CHRISTMAS EVE.

I panicked a bit but headed to the store. I swear I barely made it out of Target alive. I am not being dramatic. They were trying to apprehend a shoplifter near the produce section. I happened to be in the line of fire for the RACK OF RIBS he decided to hurl from the interior of his coat before fleeing the front doors. WOW!

At the end of the day, I had all I needed to prepare said dinner. Now, I just needed to clean my mess of a house and start the meal.

I worked all day on the turkey and the casseroles. Everyone arrived around 6 and we had a blast. It was all worth it. The kids got spoiled as usual and they loved every second of it. It was such a blessing to be with everyone and I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, maybe we'll change the past tradition of Christmas Eve at my moms and start having it here every year.

Santa passed and the kids got more junk, I mean toys, this morning. Every single thing on Chloe's list in fact. And we played and played and played all day.

We didn't go anywhere. I didn't cook a turkey since I had the night before. I actually cooked a spaghetti and we had a nice, quiet day at home.

I am so thankful for the things that I am blessed with. My family and friends are irreplaceable. Everyone is healthy and for the most part happy. What else could this little cajun girl ask for??

I hope you were all just as lucky and blessed as me this holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Until next time...CNS

I am so lame...

I just figured out how easy it is to post photos on here. I mean really, there is actually an Icon that I have never noticed. I feel like an idiot.

So, here are a few pics of the kids I so often brag, I mean, talk about.

Enjoy!

The Greatest Friend on Earth...

Have you ever had someone come into your life in the most unexpected way? I mean so random that it just had to be an act of God?

This happened to me about 5 years ago and I have never been the same.

This person has lifted me up when I was sure I would never rise again. Encouraged me when I thought that it was impossible to go on. Made me smile when I was sure the frown would never leave my face, and listened to me, I mean really listened to me when no one else would. Stood beside me when I was otherwise standing alone.

And when I am having the worst of the worst days and I feel like I can't go on, my dear friend always knows exactly what to say to make me life my head from my desk and my heart from my toes and keep on keepin' on. Dear Friend ALWAYS saves me.

Just thinking of him and knowing he is there if I need him helps keep me sane. Knowing that I am lucky enough to have had him choose me as a friend, well, that helps me live, it helps me breathe and it helps me go on every second of every single day.

The fact that I can count on our daily conversations keeps me alive. See, we don't live close to one another anymore and I miss my dear friend so much it HURTS. Not just sometimes, but ALL of the time.

I know for certain that my friend has no idea how absolutely spectacular he is, because he couldn't. He couldn't even imagine how wonderful it is to be his best friend.

I write all of this because this time of year is a time to reflect on all we are grateful for. I am grateful for my husband, I am grateful for my children, and I am so incredibly grateful to have found a life long best friend that is as amazing as my dear friend that it needed to be shared with the world.

So thank you, my friend. Thank you for ALWAYS reminding me that life is not all bad. Thank you for choosing me as your friend because honestly, my life would be much less spectacular without you in it.

Until next time...CNS

Because 30 is the new 40, right?

What the hell does that mean anyway? 30 is 30 and 40 is 40 but whatever. Seemed like an appropriate enough title for the day of my 30th birthday. Otherwise known as FREAK OUT day.

Just kidding. Kind of.

In all honesty, 30 is my scary age and I have been dreading this birthday for most of my adult life. I mean, it just seems like a milestone that I am not entitled to yet. I don't feel like I've done enough. It's like I haven't earnedit. Does that make sense? Do I ever?

Anyway, so the day has arrived and it isn't all so bad. I don't feel any different. Maybe I should but I don't. And really, I am kinda relieved to say goodbye to my twenties anyway. I mean, I had some good years. Some of the BEST years of my life. I got married and had babies. But, it is now time to move on and I think I am finally ready.

So, here I am. I am THIRTY years old and I am fine with it...

Now, that is what I call maturity!!

In other news, we attended my company Christmas party this weekend which was GORGEOUS as usual and we had an entire night without both kids which has never happened before. Let me tell you, we had a good time!!

Then on Sunday we got our Christmas tree and decorated the house and yard. It is beginning to finally look like Christmas at the Schneider house.

Tonight is Ray's company Christmas dinner and obviously it happened to fall on the night of my birthday. The scary part is that it is at a local Mexican restaurant and I made Ray swear there would be no singing to me while forcing me to wear a sombrero. I would sooner die and I hope his co-workers are aware of this.

Hope everyone is gearing up for Christmas and having a great week.

Me, I am gonna go ahead and begin to enjoy my next decade.

Until next time...CNS

Random Rambling...

Man, I have so much going on these days that I should be blogging more often. I mean, I could probably write two or three posts a day but I just haven't found the time to sit down and actually do it. Then, when I do my brain is so fried that I have a hard time getting it all down. So, here goes nothin'...

First and foremost, we had a great trip home. We spent most of our time with Ray's family and didn't get as much time as I would have liked to visit friends but it was a great trip! We had a fantastic Thanksgiving lunch. I mean, Ray's dad always goes all out and we all ate until we couldn't move. It was pure bliss.

Then, on Friday night Ray and I got away for a while and went to the Casino. We had such a good time. It was nice to be out all alone and I had forgotten how much I love to play blackjack. Seriously, good thing I don't live anywhere close to a casino cause I might be in trouble.

Sunday was a long drive home. It always seems a bit longer because we are tired, but mostly because I don't ever want to leave. The kids hate leaving too so they are pretty cranky and it makes for a miserable trip. To top it off, Ray got a ticket for not stopping completely at a stop sign in Iowa which was complete BS but I won't rant about that, as much as I really want to.

Monday was back to the daily grind. I hated getting up and going to work. I didn't want the weekend to end. But, me and the people I work with had tickets to see The Eagles so I was pretty stoked about that. It was a super fabulous fun night with only a few hiccups. I really wish grown people (especially MEN) would learn how to control themselves when they drink alcohol. I mean the guy I work with got so wasted he couldn't stand up and he was acting like a fifteen year old that had never been drunk before. It was so aggravating!!

I didn't get in until TWO in the morning and the hubby and kiddos were obviously already fast asleep. But, when Chlobug woke up and saw me this morning her face lit up brighter than any Christmas tree I have ever seen, and she whispered, "Mommy, come see what I have to show you in the kitchen!". She tip toed ahead of me and could hardly contain her giggles as we approached the breakfast room. Suddenly, she picked up a piece of paper, which was a "sunshine report" from school. Basically, they get these when they have a completely fabulous day and don't get in trouble at all. As some of you may know, my baby girl struggles a bit in school and so these are few and far between, but that makes it all the more special when she does get one. I told her I was so proud of her and she informed me that her daddy was also proud of her and that we should frame the sunshine report. I am going to buy a frame today because she DESERVES it!

All in all I have to say that I am THANKFUL for my life. I am so grateful for all of the people in my life that make me the person that I am. So, if you are reading this and I have forgotten to remind you lately...THANK YOU for being you and helping to make me, me.

Hope everyone enjoyed the first holiday of the holiday season as much as I did!

Until next time...CNS