Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

This weekend marks a turning point for me. The big gasping deep breath after a month and a half of drowning in my to-do list.

All November & December birthdays are behind us. My Christmas shopping is completed. Grandma's heritage album (volume 1) is complete and has been uploaded and ordered. My Christmas cards are sent. Yearly well-checks for 2 out of 3 of my children are done. Santa has been visited. And we just returned from our last gymnastics meet of 2008. Tonight is the last Italian class of the session and because they've changed the day/time for the continuation class it looks as if this will be my last Italian class period. Which really stinks, but, whatever. And last, but not least, hubby has no further business travel planned for this year.

Taking a big deep reoxygenating breath.

And feeling good.

And finally beginning to enjoy the holiday season. It's hard not to when my daughter insists on listening to Christmas music every time we get into my van.

SO, Thursday was Smurfette's birthday. Several years ago I made the executive decision to alternate "friend parties" for my 3 kids. All 3 of my kids birthdays are within a month of Christmas and planning these parties every year for all of them so close to the holidays was just too much. I've discovered that they really don't miss it much. Instead of stressing out for weeks in advance over guest lists, goody bags, and entertainment I now make extra efforts to make their birthdays special in other ways. Last year was Smurfette's turn and we celebrated her 5th birthday with all her friends and "Tootsie the Clown." So Smurfette's birthday this year was low key.

I signed her out of school for lunch and took her out to eat. She talked the entire time about how her teacher gave her a crown, a birthday certificate, a birthday pencil, and a book and the whole class sang to her. She was just as excited to receive that one little birthday pencil and book as she was to receive 15 gifts from her friends at last year's party.

She received her free birthday treat at the restaurant and all the staff came out to sing to her. She was grinning from ear to ear at all the attention.

After dropping the boys off at gymnastics I then took Smurfette to Toys R Us so she could get her balloon and crown and over head announcement. Having all the store customers randomly wish her a happy birthday made her feel special. I forgot my camera in the car. We exited the store and saw this....taken from inside my car so please excuse the window reflections. But she just thought this was beautiful. "Mama, I've never seen the sky so pretty before."





We then headed to her hip hop dance class where it was parent viewing night. I rarely get to watch her class as they keep the door shut and parents aren't allowed to view. So this was a special treat. She's such a ham and loves shake'n her booty.

After the extracurricular shuffle we returned home where daddy was waiting for us so she could open her birthday presents.

She was so excited to receive her very first American Girl doll. "Mama, thank you so much for getting me an American Girl doll. I wanted one forever."

Friday night we celebrated her birthday with the immediate family at TGIFridays where they again sang to her and tied her all up with balloons. She loved being the center of attention.

Saturday we left first thing in the morning to visit Santa. Not just any Santa, but THE Santa! I convinced my boys into going but found out that the first available appointment was at 3:30pm. So I had to leave to take the boys out to gymnastics and then return with my niece and nephew later that day. I don't have the Santa photos yet but will post them soon.

And Sunday was the boys' second gymnastics meet of the season. They both kicked butt.

Dreamy once again took 1st place all around and Hefty once again took 2nd.

And I am once again sharing one video clip of each boy on a different event.

Hefty on high bar:




And Dreamy on rings: