Merry Christmas!

What.  A.  Year!  Wow!  Christmas is of course my favorite holiday.  I love everything about it.  I love who Christmas celebrates, I love the excitement in the air, the decorations, the gatherings, the music and just about anything else that Christmas brings.  I especially like the cooler weather that usually starts to kick in around now...but I guess this year Mother Nature is changing things up a bit.  I am NOT pleased about this but other than hopping on a plane and flying north I'm not sure what to do about that other than accept it (with a bit of grumbling I will admit).

One of my favorite things to do at Christmastime is give gifts.  I love buying that PERFECT gift that makes someone feel special.  I love surprising others with gifts they aren't expecting.  This year my children were surprised and it was so much fun planning and perfecting the delivery of these gifts.  They each receive 3 gifts from Santa.  After opening their gifts, our elf Jangle, prepares a huge box of "stocking stuffers."  They each take a turn blindly reaching into the box and drawing out an unwrapped gift.  They have to decide who it belongs too.  They really enjoy this part of Christmas morning--maybe even more than opening their 3 gifts!

For nearly 3 years, Avery has been begging to go to New York.  She wants to see Broadway shows and I've been dying to take her.  I have never been to New York City and I'm super excited she and I will be leaving in two weeks to finally make her dream come true!  I cried when I watched her open box after box until finally opening a puzzle she had to put together to read about her surprise.  I think she might have even cried a little too. ;)

Ivy, aka Ivy Mendes, received a ukulele she was not expecting but her biggest "surprise" was a framed 24x36 poster of she and Shawn Mendes.  She flipped out!  Highlight of my morning!

Jackson is so hard to surprise!  He didn't really give us a lot of options so he probably knew what he was getting but I know he had a few surprises in the "stocking box."  I'm not sure how long Santa will be delivering presents to the boy who will be 20 next Christmas!

The funniest part of our morning, although not very funny to Ivy, was watching her reaction to Jadon's HUGE teddy bear.  The kids fill out a Christmas wish list and Jadon had this bear at the top of his list.  He talked about it for months before Christmas.  I told him it was very expensive so Santa probably would not be able to deliver.  When Jadon was talking about it a couple of weeks ago, Ivy said, "I asked for that too!"  I kindly reminded her that if she wanted a giant teddy bear she may want to update her list because it was not on her list for this year.  Nothing else was said.  Here is her reaction, which, I'm still in shock about...

So I'm not going to lie...HUGE disappointment.  I know she regrets having this reaction.  She recovered quickly but my first thought was...OMG I've raised a selfish BRAT!  How could this have happened?  My baby girl who earned money to spend every last dime of it on gifts for others just had a tantrum over a stuffed bear.  She is very remorseful and is completely thrilled with her Christmas gifts so please don't think she is totally ungrateful.  She had a moment of weakness (you know, those that we ALL have) ...and now we all can laugh about it (well...she's not quite there yet).  I did, however, learn a lesson that no matter how much I love gifting, I need to help my children find joy in gifting AND rejoicing with others when they receive a gift ---even if they wanted that same gift.  Maybe this year I was a little too involved in finding those perfect gifts that I didn't spend enough time allowing my kids to be part of it.  Lesson learned!  And please know Ivy is an absolute sweetheart and she really does love others ---even Jadon!

At the end of the day, I am hugely blessed.  I am sitting in my bed relaxing, listening to my children "play" with their stuff, reminiscing of days when they were little and thanking God I still have them in my life.  This year has been so wonderful...and so terrible at the same time.  Lots of heartache and lots of celebrating too.  I guess that is just how life is.  I'm just glad I have my family and we have managed to make it through another year together.  They are my rock ---even when I want to choke them and when they want to choke me--- I know we all love each other and are in it for the long haul.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  We did not do Christmas Cards this year ---the first time EVER!  And you know what?  It's really o.k.  We hope you all have a fabulous 2016!  

  

Graduation, Graduation, Birthday and New School Year!

So I have taken time away from Facebook.  I chose to do this for several reasons.  First, I get notifications about all sorts of stuff that I can't seem to make stop...it's really annoying and too time consuming to deal with.  Second, Facebook has turned into a lot of shared videos and reposted articles and such...  that is not what I wanted Facebook for.  Last, it became a place where nosey, evil doers who have nothing better to do than conjure up ways to create drama...I don't do drama.  So I rarely even go on Facebook much less post anything about our busy lives.  I have to say, I have truly enjoyed it although I do feel a bit disconnected from everyone.  I think thats OK!  I have had PLENTY to do to keep me busy...and to be honest...I've appreciated those who have chosen to connect with me via other means.  YOU are the ones who truly want to be a part of my life...and I am grateful for you! (you know who you are!)  I did not post HUGE events although it was tempting.  Instead, I chose to cherish them and celebrate with an intimate group.  I think we should get back to those groups...you know, those that think of you and actually call, those that you run into and who are truly interested about what's going on, not those that are snooping so they can start rumors or keep up with our life from behind the scenes...Not good folks...not good.

Left: Christmas   Right: July 2015

First off.. Jackson Moody graduated high school!  I'm so super proud of him!  He is headed off to college in just 6 days and I couldn't be more excited for him as he starts this new journey.  Secondly, my kid is just amazing.  He has lost almost 50 pounds and he looks and hopefully feels fabulous.

Avery is a senior.  I dropped her off for her LAST first day of school.  She is working and making her own money.  I'm so proud my kids have chosen to do this.  I think it prepares them for their rapidly approaching adult life.

Ivy started 7th grade today.  She has grown SO much and added 4 inches to her height in the last 3 months....  NOT KIDDING!  She is the same height as Avery.

Jadon celebrated his 11th birthday yesterday AND started his first year of middle school today!  This blows my mind.  I cannot believe my kids have grown up so quickly...so cliche I know...but they just did.  I held each of them in my arms yesterday!

I just graduated from Vanderbilt!  I'm so glad it's done!  So now off to new things and can't wait to get started!  I am so blessed with a wonderful family.  I have so much to be thankful for.  The last year has been a whirlwind and although it was very stressful at times, I'm so glad I did it!  I could not have done this without their sacrifices, understanding and support.

6 Months of Life in the Fast Lane

Wow!  So I haven't posted anything in 6 months.  How did THAT happen!?  Well I can tell you it happened because my priorities fell somewhere in between work, sleep, eat, study, Nashville, kids, house, health and holidays.  It has been a crazy ride but I am so glad to say that I am HALF WAY DONE with grad school.  It is going very well despite the way I feel my world is crashing down on top of me sometimes.  Right now I am focusing on getting my clinicals done.  I am learning a ton and still have so much more to learn before taking boards.

Jackson, Jadon and I did get to take a short little ski trip to Winter Park, CO.  It was beautiful and the trip was fabulous.  We had a fantastic time and I still want to move there! :P

Jackson, my first baby graduates in 2 months!  How did it come so quickly?  Lots of college decisions will be made soon.  I'm so proud of him!  Being a teenager is tough and being a parent of a teenager is so exhausting.  It's totally worth it though. :)

Avery cut all of her hair off.  I was so sad...but there are worse things she could have done.  Of course she is still totally gorgeous...she could shave it off and still be beautiful!  She will be having foot surgery to correct a painful bunion on April 2nd.  She will be on crutches, non-weight bearing, for at least 6 weeks.  She is hoping to take up track in the fall if this does the trick and eliminates the pain.  Please be in prayer for her because this will be a rather challenging time for her (and me and Jack!).

Ivy just started softball and is so excited.  She absolutely loves it.  For this season (of life...not ball) I am again, only a cheerleader during games.  Jack will have to handle practices and such because of my commitment to school and work taking so much of my time.

Jadon isn't doing anything right now.  He wants to play football this fall :|.  Jack and I are against that idea because he is so small.  He loves playing sports with his friends.  He just wants to fit in and feels left out.  I wish he could find something he loves that was a good fit for him.  He loves anything active. Any ideas?  This is what happens when he gets ahold of my phone...

Jack is my super hero.  He takes such good care of our family.  I have had to make tough decisions about my job that have brought me down in so many ways.  He is my anchor and the anchor of this family.  He cooks, grocery shops, cleans, does laundry, pays the bills, carts the kids everywhere they need to go and packs me a lunch each day that I work.  With me being gone once a month for school he is a single parent and takes care of everything.  In the midst of this craziness he has managed to build me a covered porch around my new hot tub he bought me for Christmas! He is also finishing the rest of the basement.  God has blessed me so much by giving me such a loving husband who loves me enough to do all that!

Well I know this was just an update and it's nothing earth shattering or too interesting.  I have been on spring break and finally had a chance to breathe and thought I would leave a note for those who cared.  Hope you all know that I haven't left the earth or anything and although I'm not on Facebook much, I do exist and our little "Moody Mansion" hasn't disappeared!