Wonderful Holidays

Things have been quite busy at Jarjusey Kunda. Since last I touched base, we've had plenty of playgroups, study groups, field trips, holiday shopping, playdates, classes ending and starting, a fun holiday cookie exchange and of course.... christmas!

Feeling quite broke at this time of the year, and eager to file the tax return = ) the kids are thoroughly enjoying their holiday stash. This year we had the luxury of having 3 full days of xmas. The first day was over at grandpa's for a nice xmas dinner. Then xmas eve was hosted at our place with mom and p & j. Quite a nice day. The kids were quite sad when everyone had to go home. Then xmas day we had fun with family presents and went to see a new movie that started that day. Did not have any idea that the theater would be as crowded as it was! It was so packed we could hardly belief our eyes! And here I thought I had a creative way to spend out xmas day together! = )

Since, Dahlia has started an ice skating class that she really seems to love. I am out there on the ice with her this time around, hoping she really gets the hang of things before I get too big to be out there on the ice! G'ma gave her the cutest white skates for xmas and she is eager to try them out! She has a week off of class this week, and then next week, Kaidin's karate starts up again. It will be a fun family Saturday of karate followed by ice skating. The kids (as well as Seringe!) are eager that daddy gets to come and watch them. This will be a special time for all.

Other... since it's between xmas and new year's it seems lot's of friends have traveled and classes not being held, so we are just hanging loose. Playing with our xmas goodies. Kids love their stash, and I as well. I received a new bread maker that is becoming a new thing for me. My first loaf yesterday, though did not rise as well as it should have, was still quite tasty and disappeared before the end of the day. Kaidin, I think, was the biggest fan of that first loaf. My second loaf today did not go as smoothly. I am certain there was just not enough liquid in the mixture to get the dough doughy enough to get going. At one point I just had to stop the cycle and toss it. It was lookin' pretty sad. Tomorrow I will try another, and with luck have a success. It's fun experimenting.

Also receive the magic bullet and the george foreman (serving for 4!!!). It's funny b/c I have a george that only holds 2 servings so often I would have half a dinner ready, getting cold, while I was trying to get the other half ready. Last night I was able to get all 4 turkey burgers on at one time! What a luxury!

So, trying to connect with friends that are around and in town, and working on CCAP as well as getting the carrier business going. I did not have luck with ebay in the last few weeks, so attempting to get myself together more (ie. an official carrier name, copyright and website up and running) before I start selling on ebay again. I'm eager to get that going and do hope that things take off soon.

Next week we have a second ultrasound.... OH! I guess I did not add that to my first list of what's been going on! But we had our 20 week ultrasound and that was so fun and exciting! Baby's spine was facing outward, so the dr's could not get the shots of the heart that they'd like to have at this point in time, so we need to go back in on Monday to get those pic's. Fortunately they did see a very strong heartbeat and 4 chambers, so nothing looks concering. Nonetheless they'd like to have some more shots to complete the full ultrasound screening. Soon after that, we will be trying out a new practice, of which I am very hopeful about. I am sure the switch just has to be worth it at this point in time! It's hard to believe we are more than half way through this pregnancy! Where does the time go?!

Study group is in our hands in the next week and half, and we are sort of lagging in getting things together. The kids have picked topics and seem quite happy with their decisions... Kaidin is doing cavemen and Dahlia the t-rex. We just need to get moving and out of the holiday/vacation fog that we've been pondering in and enjoying quite a bit!

Karate Kid

What a fun day... To start we woke to a beautiful winter wonderland this morning. There was a good 5-6 inches of the first snow fall on the ground and we took full advantage. Dug out the snow pants and boots and headed to the snow hill for some sledding! What a blast. The kids were flying down that hill on their own. Kaidin did such an awesome job of climbing up and down that hill himself and flinging himself down... screamin' all the way! It was so fun to see. This is definitly the first year he's enjoyed it that much! Dahlia is not quite at that full enjoyment period yet = ) ... She certainly enjoyed me flingin' her down the mountain on her sled... but at the bottom she'd yell for me to come down and get her sled. Whoa is about all I can say on that one. Belly is growing quite a bit, and baby is active, so up and down that mountain as much as I did today was quite a bit more exercise than I've had in a bit! But fun nonetheless. It was a really nice day till that wind picked up and it started to snow again!!!

We headed home for some lunch and later in the afternoon, Mr. K had his yellow-stripe belt test at karate today! He was just SO excited it's impossible to even describe. He was wonderful in class today and just beaming when they handed him that belt. He is very proud of his accomplishments, as are we all. One of those teary parent moments = )

Stress....

Maybe that's not the best word to describe things... but I am quite literally so busy I feel my head is currently swimming. It seems this way every year around Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day at mom's. U.P. and A.J. were able to join us this year and that was quite nice to see them, since we had not since Dahlia's birthday! We were eager and excited to break the big news to them, but it turned out that mom had already sprung a leak on the newest little one baking in the oven. A really beautiful spread, as usual. Mom usually goes way out for T-giving and we enjoy to the fullest!

And then it seems after that 'official' day, the time clock starts ticking. The pressure to the get the x-mas shopping done early (which never seems to be... I am always the one in the stores the day before x-mas)! And the holiday card/ornament we send out each year. Seems like earlier and earlier I need to get these things rolling each year. = )

Let's see, karate is coming to an end and Kaidin tests for his yellow strip belt this week. He is very very excited about that! With the end of this class comes the new registration of classes for both he and Dahlia. He would like to continue with karate and Dahlia would love to do ice skating and gymnastics. Another 'to do' on the list is registration!

This past week we had a baby-check and I have finally decided this is not the best provider for us. I am very torn at what to do at this point because it seems like I can not find my 'happy medium'. Home birth offers the family-ness that I crave for this huge event, and hospital provides the 'security' I need for my psychological during the process of labor. And of course, birthing centers are non-existent in Illinois, and that would be the perfect thing I need and long for this third baby process. So.... in the midst of searching for a new provider as we are half way through at this point! Time is ticking to find 'the one' and establish a nice relationship with them before due date.

I've been trying to pour myself into my creative arts business, and have tons of things happening there. I have batiks I'm trying to sell, and a handful of mei tais. I have a t-shirt/shirt design that I would like to hammer out and get going on as well. Of course, attempting to do this admist trying to be ready for the holiday! I do feel like I have put this off for longer than I can now. As CCAP is not feeling as secure of a position lately. I am really hoping I get at least one more year out of the position, but really feeling like there is no guarantee that will happen. In that venue there are a few things this month, to include two conference calls, and an orientation, which I have never had to attend to in December of all months. So that seems like a really busy work-schedule for this time of the year.

But of course we have tons of fun things coming up. We are going to a "mad science" party this week, and a holiday cookie exchange coming up. Then there is the 20 week ultrasound where we get to see the little bugger! I am VERY excited about that one. One of my most favorite mildstones of pregnancy. I remember clearly seeing Kaidin's profile for the first time and saying "a mini Seringe!!" I knew then it was a boy, eventhough we never officially found out. I felt the exact about Dahlia's too... She was identical to Kaidin's profile, but there was something about the petite-ness of her profile that just really threw my gut into girl-mode. So I am very excited to see this little one and see what he/she may look like... who he/she will resemble. Exciting times.

This afternoon I have the luxury of 'mama's tea' and so looking forward to an hour or two of veggin' with the mama's and sippin' on something warm. We've just been hit with our first cold snow/ice storm! A nice little afternoon planned with friends! Then back to the hectic = )

All is good, can't complain! What's life if not busy (but FUN!) !?