Christmas Pictures

The Children (ok, and us) in the Candy House are spoiled, and I promised pictures, so here is what our Christmas Marathon looked like:

We had a total of 6 Christmas parties: Ours, starting on Christmas Eve morning, then an extended family's followed by my dh's family. Christmas day consists of going to my mother's for christmas breakfast, and our house with my father in the afternoon/evening (they've been divorced since I was 9). Then we have a day off, and end the marathon at my grandma's on Sunday. Whew! it was a workout ;) But the kids are very blessed, and border-line spoiled

Here are my favorites:
Lollipop playing in his new "ball tent"


My dh received a Xbox360 for Christmas for 'good behavior.' He was positive he knew which present it was, and when he opened the box, he found stacks of bibles, with a sock. This is the beautiful picture of him finding his prized possession, underneath all the unmatched socks in our room :)


The beloved skate... he found it, and HAD TO HAVE IT! look at the look of joy on his face though, so worth it!


great-grandparents are pretty awesome, so Lollipop said when he got this cool police motorcycle.


Lollipop and I played Santa this year, and handed out presents



Well, that is, until he opened his first present, became a police officer, and started handing out tickets instead....


I became a popular baby-wearer :)


Sweet Girl and Lollipop


Those are the favs!! It was a great year!

Toxic People

I've been feeling the need lately to shut myself inside a bubble. I feel like I should protect myself and my family. I've been learning alot about the relationships I have, and which ones are good, and which ones are not. I just recently heard the term that fits. Toxic. Do you have any toxic relationships?
Let me explain further... After a "date" with this person, do you come home emotionally drained, tired, dragged down, and just generally in a bad mood? Are your needs and wants taken into consideration when you spend time with this person? Does this person care about your future goals and plans, and encourages you to take steps towards these aspirations?
If your first answer is yes, and the others no, you are probably in a toxic relationship.
Its not cool. I am realizing how many of these relationships I am in lately. Is there something wrong with me? Why do I attract these personalities? I feel like my husband and children are my best friends, I tell my Sweet Girl my greatest secrets. Pretty sad that I know I can confide in my 4 month old, alone.

Homeschooling has opened new windows for me, I have gleaned a lot from different people's blogs, which is why I decided to make one for myself. I hope to one-day inspire someone else! But, its not really a relationship. I don't know anyone personally, and the information I learn is always based upon the context of the group or conversation. Its pretty artificial. I hope to solve this problem quite soon, at the least get over these feelings, and acknowledge that this may be where I am for awhile. Sometimes just writing about it makes it a little bit better.