Christmas Season

Its right around November 15^th every year that we start seeing the “Countdown to Christmas” messages everywhere. The stores have already pulled out all the Christmas stuff and by the time we get to Thanksgiving, we’re hearing the music everywhere. I don’t think it’s a huge secret that I’m not a big fan of Christmas, I don’t like the pressure to make my house look a certain way and spend a bunch of money on stuff we don’t need. But. Mostly I try to keep my sentiments to myself. Last year, the five of us all finally officially gave up on celebrating with Santa. The youngest kid knows. We (the parents) can stop trying so hard to hide everything (we were never very good at that) and we can just be up front about the packages that keep arriving at our doorstep leading up to the big day. So that was a step towards making Christmas all around better this year.

David and the kids worked SO HARD to get everything ready. Many dozens of cookies made (thanks Eli, Shelly, David). Dishes and more dishes (thank  you Faithful Dishwasher for all your hard work!). Vacuum the living room, again and again (thanks Archer J). All the windows washed (Wow! David!!!). Laundry, more dishes, more vacuuming, dusting.

Now on to the real joy of Christmas, what we all know we’re supposed to be enjoying, but it gets lost in the stress… Family Time. Time Together.

It happened this year – we really had a chance to ENJOY each other. Nana came on Christmas Eve, along with Bampa and Grandma Shell and we had a wonderful evening together. The stories, the silliness, so many hugs for everyone. Archer snuggled up next to Nana for an hour or two while we watched a show, then everyone headed off to bed.

Then on Christmas Day, it was the Fortiers’ turn to take over the house – little by little they trickled in and the house warmed up. We were missing only 2 of the entire clan and with a group that large, I’d say that was an amazing accomplishment. To have just about everyone there was amazing. Christmas has changed so much over the years that I’ve been a part of this family. All of the grandchildren are growing up, there’s not so much screaming (with joy) and crying. Not so much of all the kids mobbing Christopher’s legs and wrestling him to the ground to pile on top of the oldest cousin. There’s more talk of dating (bleh!! I don’t wanna know!!), jobs, travelling and the BIG topic this year is who is newly driving, or about to be driving, or could be driving by now but isn’t… 

After food and presents, the kids found a game to play together and this is where I have to say, I could not have pictured this 15 years ago. I probably would not have said, “It’s great that they’re all playing video games!” We always hear about kids and “too much screen time.” But Christopher told his cousins that he wanted to spend some time with them and they ALL (that’s 9 kids aged 9 through 25) piled into the boys’ bedroom for a game on their phones/tablets/computers. They found a game that all of them could play together. Screen time, yes. FUN TIME with cousins, DEFINITELY. We had such a great time, I was sorry to kick everyone out at 9:00 because some of us had to work the next day.

I would say it was definitely one of the best Christmases yet – so much wonderful family time connecting with everyone. Thanks to all who came over, brought stuff and just hung out. And most of all, thank you to Elijah, Shelly, Archer and David for ALL of your hard work keeping the house clean and ready to entertain. My wonderful children never complained even once. Not when I  interrupted their playtime to do more chores, not when we asked Shelly to give up her room while Nana stays with us, not when I asked someone to come to the grocery store with me AGAIN. I have the most wonderful family.

The Great F5 Baking Day

Shelly watches The Great British Baking Show. David just received the stand mixer that he's wanted forever. Shelly's been bringing home cookie recipe books from the library and used book sales. Eli has been perusing Shelly's books. And Christmas is rapidly approaching.

All of these things have joined to form the perfect cookie baking storm and it came together yesterday. Five or 8 different kinds of cookies, 3 bakers working in shifts to bake 80 or 100 cookies in 10 hours. Even more impressive, they cleaned as they went and the kitchen was in better shape when the whole event has concluded, than before they had started. Way to go Bakers!!

Past & Future

7/24/15

Last night I decided I might want to do a triathalon. Sprint triathalon, not a whole thing. Not yet anyway.

And today I think I for sure want to do one next fall. So the half marathon next month is my stepping stone, and I think I'll really do the Iron Girl event next year, August 2016. So WHAT IS THERE TO STOP ME?? NOTHING!

Maybe along the way my kids will get inspired or even just interested in keeping fit, stepping outside their comfort zone to try something that looks scary but also like it could be fun. Maybe they won't even care. Maybe I'll do it for them but maybe it will just be for me, to prove to myself that I CAN. I WANT TO PROVE IT. I CAN. And I WILL.

12/18/19

I originally wrote the above stuff 4 years ago. Not sure what else I was planning on adding to it, because I never posted it. But here's the news...

Since then, I DID the triathlon. Shelly got inspired and did one (BEFORE I did mine!). Immediately after doing my first Tri, I did another the next week. This past summer, 2019, I did another. Somewhere in there, I did a half marathon. Also, I started working full time, running fell by the wayside. But last spring I did join a Roller Derby team.

Next year I'm going to turn 40. I know a lot of people dread this. But I'm looking forward to it. I've had so much fun so far, I know I have more fun in the future, whatever it looks like. I'm not as active as I should be, but I like knowing that there's really nothing stopping me from chasing more fun experiences as we go forward. What's gonna be next? Another Tri? Half Marathon? Or just skating my heart out? Stay tuned for more...

Songs and Silly Stuff

When did you say your first curse word?

What’s your favorite song?

What’s the silliest thing you did as a kid, that you remember still today?

Is Eli going to remember the time (this morning) I caught him eating a candy cane for breakfast?

Mom “WHAT… never mind, just make sure you brush your teeth.”

Sneaky sister “Eli, DON’T TELL MOM I’m the one that gave it to you!”

I NEVER got caught eating powdered sugar by the spoonful in the closet with my sister. Kids these days, they don’t even TRY to hide their sugar habits!

I don’t know about FAVORITE, but I’ve been listening to some older music lately. I cringe as I write “older” cause of all the implications that go along with that (how old am I anyway???). I went through a Country Music phase a few years ago. Memories keep flashing in my mind as these songs pop up. Siblings and cousins all dancing together in the upstairs bedroom at Mom and Dad’s house. Learning Line Dancing at our cousins’ house when we went to stay with them. Blasting Billy Ray “Don’t Break My Heart” as we played out by the pool in the summer. We wore our swimsuits ALL summer long. I can picture the sunshiny day, crazy hot but we stayed out there. I can even see Mom with her typewriter on the picnic table working away on her correspondence.

My first? I was pretty young. It was at Grandpa Shorty’s house, where the men all swore all the time, and a 5 year old girl was expected to NOT pick up that habit. Jump forward to having kids. I’d never swear in front of them, just like I’d never yell, I’d never let them drink soda, or EAT CANDY for breakfast! I’ll just say – my kids know they’re not supposed to curse in front of me, but as for school or anywhere else, who knows? That’s for them to say. J

Life goes on, whether it looks like we thought it would, or takes a few twists and turns we never expected. As Grandma Shell says, “Que será será!” 

December News

Well. Life just keeps rolling on by. I have first day of school pics are finally here. Things to note – all the kids are taller than the year before. No one was really too excited to go back to school. We have a new bus company this year and the first few days of school were TOUGH. They were working out the kinks. The kids were left waiting for their busses to pick them up, sometimes more than an hour. Thankfully, it’s all running smoothly now.

Other developments in life…

Archer’s a Sophomore. I continue to be bewildered at the way schools are run now. Choose your Pathway (think – College Major) when you’re a Freshman in high school and spend the next 3 years on that path. Seems kinda young to make that kind of big decision, but he handled it like a pro and made a good choice. He’s a School Ambassador, in charge of representing his school to the community at various events. They have a uniform! He’s so handsome!! (I’m being an embarrassing Mom, I know.) He’s cruising along with High School and Scouts and all the stuff. Camping, cookouts, more camping, so much camping.

Shelly’s in Seventh Grade. She’s in Swing Choir, Band, Judo (yay judo!!), and Piano. She was signed up for Student Council as well but I haven’t heard much about that lately, not sure if that’s still going on? She signed up for a computer programming thing called Girls Who Code. There was a rumor that she did the coding thing so she could get out of a different class that she didn’t like much, but in the end I think she did enjoy it. Or enjoyed the extra time with her friends every week. After school, she’s getting tougher every week as she learns new holds and throws in Judo. She doesn’t let ANYONE push her around! There’s a new, tougher dynamic in the home wrestling matches between the 3 kids. Look out world!

(I feel like I’m writing an annual Christmas letter that I’m going to stuff into 100 envelopes and mail to everyone I know. Lucky for all of us, I’m not committed enough to do that AT ALL.)

Eli’s in Third Grade. When Shelly found out what teacher he was going to have, she seemed extremely jealous. Apparently he’s the best of the 3^rd Grade teachers, according to EVERYONE. I’m on board with the positive review – he’s got Eli pushing to higher and higher achievements with math and reading. Eli has a few close friends in his class, they compete to see who’s going to finish the next math challenge first, and help each other out when one of them is stuck on something. This month Eli is in Dodgeball on Sunday afternoons and WOW! That kid can PLAY! He runs, dodges, throws balls for 2 hours straight and is still going strong when it’s time to go home. I never knew that old Gym Class game could be so much fun! P.S. Did I mention that he’s started reading Harry Potter? That’s a competition with his friends too – who’s going to finish the next book first?

David is working from home, with occasional trips down to Chicagoland for a day or two. He built an AMAZING butcher block style desk for his home office and he’s got plans for more furniture in the not too distant future. Also – Scouting. He’s a leader again this year for Cub Scouts and it’s going well – he started with a pretty small group at the beginning of the year but over the last few months, more kids have trickled in. Even Eli decided he would get back into the group when it was time to start building things and learning how to use pocket knives. How could he resist all that fun??

And me. (Seriously getting the Xmas letter vibe.) I did a triathlon over the summer, maybe next time I’ll prepare a little more. J Anyway, I crossed the finish line and earned my medal, so that was fun. In bigger news - I joined a Roller Derby Team in May and haven’t looked back. It is the most wonderful group of women, I look forward to practice every single week. We work hard, play hard, laugh, cry, and come back again a week later for more.

Now. I’m going to try to stay more on top of this, I really miss writing about everything we’re up to, and this quick update thing doesn’t come close to keeping up with what’s going on!

And now, as if I’m wrapping up my Christmas Letter, I’m sending well wishes to you and yours for the upcoming year.

Stay awake people, life’s flying past, you don’t want to miss a thing!!

So it is, life is not short but we make it so. Nor is there any lack of it, but are wasteful of it.

                ~Seneca