My kids have been taken hostage for the day! My husband's friend and his girlfriend came and took them for the day. They are doing Christmas in the Park indowntown San Jose, a carnival, and ice skating, how fun does that sound?

I am sitting here all by my lonesome. I really should be cleaning up since they aren't here to mess it up but of course I am not...yet! I will eventually though, I promise. But right now I am doing these fun quizzes on this website I found.

73%Living to 100 Years Old

And I'm not sure it will be brief.

Last night, I took the older boys to Target to spend their gift cards. I had one to spend too from my brother. Instead of Kyle getting silly toys that would get lost or broken... I let the child get a pre-paid cellphone. And it wasn't even his idea!

I mainly did this in hopes of instilling a little responsibility in him.. or rather allowing him to have a little freedom in hopes that he'd take things a little more seriously. Otherwise he gets it taken away. I really don't think children need cellphones, however I also need to know where he is and be able to reach him.

Right now.. I have the phone. I have not activated it yet and I am not going until his attitude improves. So far this morning he has not shown me that he deserves it... and yes I am regretting it already. It's kinda like a bad hangover lol.

And you should see my house.

Which was clean (ish) before we left the house, and Im sure it was until we all got home. I went home with my mom because we wanted to watch a movie and Dan wanted me to relax before he had to go back to work. So, my mom brought me home around 11 and ALL the gifts were on the kitchen table.. I was entirely too tired to put anything away, not to mention there's really no where to put it so I just went to bed.

This morning before breakfast nearly every single package was torn to bits and toys everywhere. UGH. Right now the kids are quietly playing with some of their loot. So quiet that I am afraid of what they are really doing lol.

We got some fun pictures of the kids yesterday.. this one is one of my favorites. I took this one over at my mom's house. I love the look on Greyson's face... and Liam's little innocent devil grin is too cute.

Her new 12 day old sister, Makayla.

Our 6 yr old, Braeden.

Hope you all had a fab day.

As I type this it is 11:59 pm.. one minute until midnight. My children are all tucked away in their beds... at Grandma's house! Hehe.. We went over to my mom's tonight to start watching the 3rd season of LOST because neither she or hubby got to watch any of the last season and the new season is a month away! So, we decided to leave them there since we have to go over for breakfast and presents anyway.

This year we are doing things a little differently. My mom recently moved to town so she is a 5 minute drive away. So, we took all the gifts over there and we will have Christmas breakfast and then open gifts. Much easier for us, we don't have to get a tree that we don't have room for, we don't have to worry about the kids getting into and opening their gifts early, and best of all I don't have to stress out over getting everyone dressed and out of hte house in an orderly fashion!

All their clothes are over there and waiting for them to get into them and Dan is going to cook breakfast for us all. Then it is gift time!

After that we are all traveling down to my Grandmother's for gifts and Christmas dinner. My brother and his wife will be joining us with the girls and my youngest brother will be there too.

We won't be heading down to visit with the inlaws this year; too much driving but I am sure we will see them for New Years or something.

Anyway, I better get to bed.. gotta get up at a decent hour to get outta the house. Have a great holiday!

I don't want to say miracle because it's really more materialistic than what a true miracle is supposed to be but I really need Santa to grace us with his presensce in the form of the UPS man. My kids gifts are still in transit and I am so afraid they won't have anything to open tomorrow.. from us anyway. Things were so tight this year that we could only afford to get them one item.. and DH and I are not exchanging gifts. I really wanted to be able to get them something fun and exciting that it is quite depressing.

So, please Mr. UPS man.. make this momma happy by being able to make her kids happy for Xmas this year.

**UPDATE** I can relax! Everything's arrived safe n sound! Thank you Mr. UPS man!!