please help

Thanks Barbe, Karen.  Well I don't expect calm  - even under normal circumstances my family is anything but calm - LOL.  I will settle for HAPPY - RESPECTFUL As much as I am looking forward to it for the kiddos every get together is a bit nerve racking,  as oldest DD is VERY out spoken and hates SIL and all that is going on,  but she minds her manners as I have asked. Sooooooooooooooo all will be good. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

If I haven't said it before - hope everyone has a happy Christmas and that 2011 brings some good things to each one of you. For those who hate Christmas or who are sad, alone or disillusioned, it will pass! If you find it easy to be happy at this time of the year, that's wonderful but for many, it's one of the loneliest and most stress-filled times of the year. I used to find it sad when my kids were younger because they used to go to their father each Christmas and it was hard to see all the happy, intact families.

I'll be spending the day with my husband and his family in Sydney. He has to work until lunch time and then he has a few days off after that so we'll have some time together. My sons are scattered around this year. The youngest is in Salt Lake City with his gf, enjoying a white Christmas and the other two are with their father & step-mother. We were all together last year so it's their Dad's turn this time. I'll catch up with them next week.

 Anyway, love and peace to everyone here.

Jane oxoxox

Cathi - if anyone is allowed to have a meltdown, it's you! I don't know how you hold it together the rest of the time and with all your baking, child-rearing, stress over your kids, health issues...etc etc, it's no wonder you had a minor explosion. Ed will understand! The others - Jaclyn will forgive you and as for the other two, well, they are a bit wrapped up in themselves to even consider how you might feel. I hope and pray they come to their senses in 2011 and learn to appreciate their wonderul Mom, m-i-l and Ed too and all that you do for them. Pleeeeease don't feel bad! They'll all get over it! I wish I could swoop into Florida and make everything right for you. oxoxoxxo

Sheila - I really really hope you get that job! That would be a great start for 2011. xxx

Oh Shelia, Ed and Jaclyn do so much thats why I feel so bad taking my frustration out on them,  but they do understand and I have given my apologies, I found out Thursday AM that SIL had all day today off, Amanda worked over night last night, I knew she would be sleeping this AM ,  so yesterday I said to Amanda , oh good Bill's off Friday he can help watch the kids,  while I get stuff ready for Dinner Christmas Eve,  Jaclyn had kept Ella the night before,  to help out,  Amanda said to me I'll mention it to him,  but I think he just wants to rest on Friday  - I saw red .  BRIGHT SANTA RED, but of coarse I am not allowed to LOOSE IT WITH THEM, I just snidely said to Amanda, OH I UNDERSTAND, Bill does need his rest,  after all he is the only one in the entire family who sleeps every night all night long undisturbed.  So because I wanted to cuss up a storm  - Jaclyn was here helping out I lost it with her, and Ed,  I was bad.

But here it is Friday 9:30 no SIL no call form either, Ed actually had to go into work this AM and pay some vendors and comissions,  he took Landen with him,  Jaclyn will be over in a bit.

So yes Jaclyn and Ed do way more than their share and take the brunt of my frustrations on their shoulders. But it's Christmas Eve,  I am not going  to let the other too,  ruin what all of us have worked so long and hard at - 

Soooooooooooooo Merry Christmas Eve - Merry Christam to All.  And Shelia what a GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT , if you get the job.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Cathi, I actually asked my step-mother to leave my home once. I was quite calm when I did it but it helped me grow up a bit. It is doable. Two people gone (if DD goes with him) is better than a house full of miserable people with tension you could cut a knife with!

I want you to visualize detaching a whole bunch of wires and buttons that connect you and the idiot. When he tries to push a button, look at him like he is an armadillo or something interesting, but that you don't want in your living room! Do NOT let him push your buttons!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas -  hope everyone is having a great day.  The Eve and AM, went better than I had expected,  except for a minor disagreement between Ed and Bill, but Ed is calm in his POSITION MAKING,   Landen got a litte red radio flyer from Santa, well while SIL was changing  Landen he was talking about the bike and when he was done he could go ride in,  in the meantime Brandt had gotten onto it, Landen came out  - being alpha male yelling and screaming at Brandt and pushing to get off his bike - what a 2  year old would do,  SIL just let the bad behvior continue, thus Brandt started pushing Landen back, afte a few minutes PA-PA stepped in the ULTIMATE ALPH and made them both leave the bike alone,  well then fibnally SIL chimed in,  I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT THATS LANDENS BIKE"  Ed said yes you are right Bill that is Landens bike,  however Landen does not push, yell or scream when he wants something, he uses manners and is polite about it -   SIL just kept on ,  WELL IT'S LANDENS BIKE,  Ed- Bill your right  it IS LANDENS BIKE, but thats not the point,  the point is manners and sharing - a few back and forths and Ed finnaly just walked away,   still don't think SIL got the real point,   kids will be kids, for sure but yeah gotta  lay down the ground work -  I have noticed that trait in SIL for a while now, he has isseues if Ella plays with Landens stuff or vice-versa - it's alway NO-NO thats Landens or thats Ella- no share concept.

But anyways, things went well,  Landen and Ella are spending an overnight,  Jaclyn and family went to MIL after AM here,  Ed and I cleaned up after everyone left,  and have had a quiet afternoon,  I showered and went from one set of PJ's to the next - LOVE IT.

Sooooooooooooo Good night to all and MERRY CHRISTMAS NIGHT. XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Cathi, glad everything went well, and quiet coffee time tomorrow morning too.  Ed did a nice job dealing with Bill who sounds like he has a mental age of 3 or 4.  Had a great day with my grandkids, daughter.  Up at 6:45, but my grandson already had the coffee  made.  Hope everyone had a beautiful day. Karen

Oh Barbe you hit the nail on the head, I did blatt like a baby,  and God only knows why,  but I did.  Landen and Ella got back at about 4;30 on Sunday,  once again seem fine, but I am a little concerned about the possible verbal confrontations ,  DD * SIL were at each other a bit here,  digging little insults, and I know it is from being tired with the children there, and this time was just a bit over 24 hours.  This weekend they have them from Fri-Sunday eve.

Ella started a mad dash to the Christmas Tree,  and Amanda hardly reached herbefore she tugged at it, and SIL said WOW whats wrong with you your not really on your game with these kids anymore ????? Amanda replied - oh sorry Bill thought maybe I could COUNT ON YOU-  Oh wait no I can't cause you just go in the bedroom shut the door and sleep?????  SIL said well I was tired out from the kids, Ed even chimed in and nicely said a  YOUNG STRONG MAN LIKE YOU- tired out after just a few hours.  Anyway there were several more little altercations between them while Landen was at the counter,  finally had to tell them no more.  Getting a taste of reality isn't all fun and games.

Hope all of you that have ben snowed on are ok,  no snow here,  but FREEZING COLD for Florida standards.

HAPPY MONDAY ALL - XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

WOW Shelia you had some snow,  can't imagine being in all that white stuff again, we are having another cold snap,  frost warnings again for inland,  never get frost right here on the water,  but it's cold and windy , but by the end of the week they are saying 77 degrees - I LOVE THAT,

I am thinking I have cracked a rib somehow, every time I move it hurts like @#!@#$ right in the lower rib/diaphram area, guess it's off to the DR in the AM, not sure how I did it, if thats the case.  Oh well another day in the life - LOL

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO ALL.

Cathi, not at the age your two little ones are now, they do keep you on your toes.  My grandson and I went to lunch today,  It was a reward for a great report card - grades and comments too.  He is 12 now and I noticed a tiny shadow of a mustache, seemslike it was yesterday I was carrying him on my hip in a store so he wouldn't get into stuff.  He has a very dry wit and it was afun time for both of us. He was like your Ella as she made a beeline for the tree.  Time goes by so fast.  Karen

Wow Vathi, you do have your hands full.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers XOXOXOXOXO.

I wat you all to nw that I am thank for my family, fiends and I have two wonderful bosses  I really love my job and want to do the very best that I can.  All of you are in my prayers

Cathi, glad the courts have revised the date. Hopefully they will step up and take more responsibility with the children. I know you have missed the time with Alexis. Hopefully your rib isn't broken just sprained. 

 Sheila 

Barbe, I believe that God, the Spirit, the Universe, Nature, whatever one chooses, is part of us and works thru us all. So often I see "mistakes" "goofs" etc that actuall are complete and true and telling. Some might call it a freudian slip, I"m not so sure....

So glad things seem to be working out Cathi. Please take care of yourself so you will be able to be there for the little ones when necessary.