Christmas Traditions

On the first Sunday of December, we always have my mom's side Christmas...I guess I should not say always because it actually got cancelled due to the weather...see you all next Sunday!!! Anyway, after the party, we all put on our matching pj's. The kids have always had matching pj's, but three years ago, Children's Place started to carry adult pj's as well. The first year we all got polar fleece pj's. Jimmy said no more HOT pj's. Last year, we all looked like we were going to break out of prison. Jimmy said I had to have color. So here you go, no hot, lots of color matching TenBrink pj's...



Now, to just get three kids to smile with their eyes open would be terrific. It doesn't help matters that he does this intentionally!

Of course, Brady has to make his way into a few family photos as well. Hey, at least he is looking at the camera...more than I can say for my kids on most days!

Classic Camp Chaos

After 40+ pictures, not one good one...this will have to do...sorry Ashley...next time maybe you will remember to smile!!!!! It was a ROUGH day for Ash...and James was SO HAPPY about the pj's, I thought I should probably stop:)!

For the record, doesn't Jimmy look sexy????

Thanks Jennie

Jennie put this cute blog idea on her blog and I am so copying it....

1. Snow is putting presents under our Christmas tree.:)
2. I'm looking forward to seeing my husband...he has been gone all week.
3. Love is the best emotion ever!
4. One of my favorite old TV shows is Facts of Life.
5. I'm done with crazy stalker people
6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is the smile on my kids faces.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having Kyle, tomorrow my plans include making some Christmas gifts and Sunday, I want to remember to love every one of my family members (my mom's side Christmas party)!

~check it out fridayfillins.blogspot.com

Christmas Season...

As many of you know, I am a LOVE JUNKIE, through and through. I love love. I think everyone should have love and spread it around, which means I LOVE the Christmas season. I think everyone should just be full of love and happiness and I make it my mission to make sure everyone feels the same way:)! Right Jennie:)!!!!
With that said, my kids are getting older and the memories of Christmas are a must. I want them to have traditions, and to always know home for the holidays. This year is the first year of doing an advent calendar since we went from a family of 2 kids to a family of three kids. You don't think adding one more is a big deal, but it is really kicking my butt this season. How was I going to put three pieces of candy in the calendar? Was I going to have to buy three calendar's? I came across this calendar in one of my scrap booking magazines and thought it would be perfect. It has little drawers and came in white...you could decorate it how ever you wanted. Well, I ordered it and actually did it (yes, Jennie, this is for you...a project completed and pictures for you Kelley:)!) . Not the best, but it works!

The drawers are actually "big" enough to stick three kisses in. That is the only candy I could fit three of. I have put quarters, stickers, and tattoos. Can anyone think of anything else that might fit in one of these drawers? Not a big deal, the kids think this is GREAT and they are more than happy with what they are receiving. Lesson the mom should learn; more and greater isn't always better! I have to keep reminding myself of that during this holiday season of gifting:)!

I leave you with a few pictures of Ashley. It is not a secret that I am not a big fan of three year olds. Don't get me wrong, I love Ashley with my whole heart, but come on, three year old are very pissy!!!! BUT, times like these, I could have lots of three year old...maybe because she is sleeping!

Yes, this is how she fell asleep a few night ago. Legs in the air...I don't know how she can do it. I think Eeyore has some magical sleeping powers or something!!!

And last...why you should never let a three year old get themselves dressed in the middle of winter (or anytime for that matter)...

Yes, the shirt is navy blue, the vest is brown, purple, pink, red, orange, and tan and the skirt is black, red, white and silver. Isn't she a vision of loveliness???

I'm thankful for the blessings...

a little Kelly Clarkson for you...

This Thanksgiving Eve, I am going to attempt a thankful list. I know I have so much more to be thankful than what I put on this list, but here is a few in no particular order and I will stop when I am needed to help put my three crazy kids to bed. Which leads me to my first couple of blessings...

I am thankful for my 3 wonderful crazy fabulous kids. They make me have a variety of emotions throughout the day, but ALWAYS at least once, without fail, bring the biggest smile to my face.

I am thankful for my husband, he too, can bring a smile to my face, even when I am in the worst mood...maybe it has something to do with those dimples and great butt...

I am thankful to have a house to live in. It keeps me warm, it provides me with daily entertainment...how would I spend my evenings if I couldn't clean the house and do laundry (which are also blessings!! I have the ability and means to keep myself, family, and home clean)?

I am thankful to have two wonderful parents who set a GREAT example of love. Growing up, I thought they were out to get me and maybe (just a little) crazy. Turns out, they weren't crazy, they were parents! I have 100% turned into my mother...and that is a huge compliment to me!!!

I am thankful to have a sister...a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker all in one. I am also thankful to have Keith, Caleb, Andrew, and Kyle. They all help complete my family and I would not have it any other way.

I am thankful to have in-laws. I am thankful to Jim and Cheryl for having a fabulous son that I was lucky enough to marry. I am thankful that they raised him to be a good husband and an even better father...for the record, he set his "even better" standard high...he is a great husband!! I am also thankful to have a brother and sister in-law that moved back to Michigan to be closer to family...now to find the time to see them and actually get to spend some time together:).

I am thankful to blogger...to be able to write this list...to take the time to actually think about all the wonder things and PEOPLE I have in my life. Funny thing is, if there were no blogger, I would not be in contact with some of these wonderful people.

I am thankful to blogger comments...I just LOVE when people leave comments on my blog!!!

I am thankful to have WONDERFUL friends (who leave comments and who don't!). The older I get the more I realize YOU NEED TO HAVE FRIENDS...someone who has your back...both figuratively and literally!!!

I am thankful for my job. In this economy, these words are enough, but I am lucky enough to actually LOVE my job and work with the BEST people. I am thankful for Steve, Lynn, and Larry for being my family 9-5 Monday through Friday (except Wednesday's :))!

I am thankful for Shelly. I have never had to worry about the safety of my children or of they are loved. You have no idea what kind of pressure that takes off from a mom! The kids love Shelly and love to go there. They have never cried about going...they think of it as their second home and I will be FOREVER grateful for all Shelly has and will do for my kids.

I am thankful for my (and my families) health. Minus being a little off our rocker every now and again :), everyone is happy and healthy.

I am thankful for bed times, for being able to be home at night to tuck my babies into bed, to give them hugs and kisses and most important, to tell them how much I love them and I how lucky I am to have them.

I am thankful to God, for His many blessings. The ones that I realize and the ones that are so simple that I do not even pay attention. THOSE blessings are the ones that I am most thankful for. I am SO thankful for all that He entrusts in me, for his confidence in me that I will let these kids live another day:)! Seriously, thankful does not even begin to describe ALL the gratitude that I have.

Well, there is so much more...like freedom...that I am thankful for, but I am being summons to a bedroom or two for some "night time lovin' " and I am not about to miss it!

It's that time of year again...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Card Preview

So, trying to be somewhat prepared, I got the kids in their "Christmas clothes" and started taking some pictures. Classic chaos kids could not all look at the camera at the same time or else had this face that looked like they had to take the biggest poop. Regardless, a single picture of the three of them smiling (not constipated) and LOOKING at me was harder than I imagined! They did, however, manage some cute pictures alone. I went to "find" a Christmas card with several openings and that was WAY HARDER than I originally thought too. The only multi-photo cards I could find had 4 openings or 3 (1 large and 2 smaller). Darn three kids anyway!!! So in the end I compromised with a group photo. Not my favorite, but like Jodi said, they are all looking at the camera and smiling...that is about as good as I can get!!!!

A few individual shots that I really liked:

She likes to tip her head, annoying at times, but cute in this photo:)!

These were the individual photos that I liked the best, but could not find a home for...

I love her eyes in this picture!

Cute girl, holding a purse, screams Alli!

My handsome boyfriend!

Side note to my Fab Five girls (Jennie, I LOVE this!!)...I had the absolute BEST time in Chicago, I just have not had the opportunity to blog about it. Basically because I have no idea how to get the pictures off from Jimmy's camera. As for not leaving any comments...I don't really have a reason other than my comments would be too long, I would cry, laugh, and use some naughty words to describe how COMPLETELY WONDERFUL you all are and what a FANTASTIC time I had. Can't wait to see you at at Olive Garden!!

Life is not all that crappy

I realize that life is not one big "rose colored glass". LOTS of bad things happen...life is crazy...CHILDREN AND HUSBAND make ME crazy...as I do all by myself! Life does seem to pass me by on some, OK most days. I wonder how life can go so fast. My children, these precious gifts from God that I wanted more than anything...DRIVE ME CRAZY!!!

Do you see the word CRAZY a lot in my blogs? :)!

On my way to Chicago I was talking to one of my friends about "getting through" our day and she has little saying that she says to help her through. I sing! Yes, like Ally McBeal. I have always been this way. Someone can say a little phrase and I break out in song. It is how my brain works. It makes me happy. I have found myself doing this more with my kids. It is my way of counting to ten. The most recent song is Trace Adkins...Your Gonna Miss This...I am not a big Trace fan, but this song is so true. Instead of worrying about what is next or wanting something more or different than what you have...just be happy for the THIS moment....because in 2 seconds, this moment is gone and you are going to miss this.

Please do not think for one moment that life is all rosy now and I am "at peace", I am just trying to appreciate what I have a little more. That everything in my life...the crazy and all...were meant to be mine.

This blog is my one place in life that I can actually take a breath and look at the positives. Like I said before, my life is not all sunshine, but here, on this blog, I can take the "good" of the day and talk about that. Look at the positives in that. BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT!!!

For instance, I do ALL the "work" at the TenBrink household. It is not a secret; Jimmy will agree. I maintain...it's my job. Jimmy has been very busy at work (for the record, not complaining, in this economy I will take the busy). To be honest, he really didn't do a whole lot to start with, but that is not the point here:)! So much so that just this past weekend, Jimmy came down stairs and said "You know, I have no idea how to turn our dishwasher on"! Classic, we have had this dishwasher for 2 years!!! I started to laugh and he said "We have "inside" and "outside" jobs, you do the inside, I do the outside." Note, there are not many "outside" jobs, I pick up dog poop and the lawn gets cut by one of his customers.

BUT...life has a way of working out...look at the good in a CRAPPY situation...

These picture are my husband outside in the bitter cold standing in crap!!! Yes, our lift station has been causing some issues for some time and finally just had enough. My husband (honestly, the great man that he is!!!) has the ability to fix most things. I have no idea how he does it, but he really is quite amazing. He says it is because he is a boy. Regardless...I bet he was wishing he didn't have to do "outside" work:)!!!

See it is all how you look at it. Yes, I do a lot more in the house, but I will NEVER stand outside in poop in the freezing cold...NEVER!!!! It makes all the laundry and cleaning seem not so bad!!!

And finally, I leave you with one more great thing.

My little Christmas tree is front on my big Christmas tree

Oh and one more, a beautiful tree outside our house. I HATE winter, but love fresh fallen snow. I know what you are thinking...crazy...but I do. It is so pretty. Everything is clean and like new. Especially in the morning, the sun is shining and the day can be anything it wants to be...it is a clean slate...just looking for the positives....and I am singing...walking in a winter wonderland!