We're on TV!

My boys and I (and my mom and sister) went to visit the MOA Santa for the second year in a row. I love going here, as it's worth the drive for me for what you get. You can make an appointment and avoid standing in line, and then this special Santa really gives your kids some special 1 on 1 time.

We had made an appointment for a Monday and were one of the first appointments of the day, as I wanted it to be before lunch and naptime, and also to avoid a crazy mall. Double strollers take up enough room...

When we arrived, we were told that WCCO news station was there taping footage for a story and wondered if we were okay with our children being on TV. We of course said, "YES!" as how fun is that? They didn't know when the story would air, so fortunately some family and friends text messaged me and asked if that would have been our boys they just saw on TV.
Fortunately for the internet, we have been able to watch it ourselves and now I can share it on our blogsite.

Enjoy! It's a really great story about the Santa. Very sweet.

The Big Heart (And Hair) Of MOA’s Santa Claus « CBS Minnesota – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic, and the Best of Minnesota

The Big Heart (And Hair) Of MOA’s Santa Claus « CBS Minnesota – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic, and the Best of Minnesota

The Fox Boys, Christmas 2010

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Simply Exhausted!

It's only at the very end of my day, when my legs are wrapped up in a blanket, and the laptop is sitting on my lap, that I can actually smile and giggle at what kind of a whirlwind day I just experienced.

Today:

• I attempted to locate 2 of our 5 cordless phones. I found one in the diaper pail among the dirty diapers (just wet ones, the stinky ones go outside, but still). The other I found stuffed inside the couch cushions. On a part of the couch that we rarely sit on, so an adult did not place it there.
• In my search through the couch cushions, I found Landon's toothbrush that has been missing since Sunday (we went and bought 4 more on Monday), a smooshed banana crusted to the cushion, and Gage's "favorite" race car, or so he says.
• I found, and had to replace 2 of the register vents that the twins are currently obsessed with. I keep finding the vents off, and toys stuffed inside. Yesterday, I caught them sitting in my room, the vent out of the floor, and both had one leg sticking inside. Last weekend, I pulled roughly 20 Megablocks out of the vent, which curves down and becomes unreachable past a few inches. I have one heck of a scratch on my arm to prove I was digging.
• I found my hairbrush in my bathtub, next to two pantyliners (which were ruined because of the dripping faucet!)
  
• I picked up my pots and pans scattered throughout my kitchen not one, not two, but on three separate occasions.
• I only had to pick up my Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers once today. I think that's a record.

I can honestly say there is a whole lot more to add, but I'm afraid if I keep going, you may not believe me.

I never remember Gage being so "busy". Into everything. Constantly. I'm sure he was, and I'm sure it was just a whole lot easier since he was just one person, and he was my only. But holy crap.

It's a fun phase, and I'm trying my very best to enjoy it as I know it will pass much too quickly.

But I would be lying if I said I don't look forward to bedtime...just for a few hours to myself and some peace and quiet.

20 Questions Meme

Twenty Questions Meme

I haven't done one of these in forever...and I've also been bad at checking blogs on a regular basis. By the looks of the "number of visits" on my own blog, I'm thinking that I don't have quite the following as I used to have, either. I suppose that would be my own fault, as sometimes I go a good month or so in between posts. But, here goes...
and if I tag you-feel free to play along, or if not...that is fine, too!

I was tagged by Leah at "Day In The Life".

RULE #1 : People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

RULE #2 : Tag 4 people to do this quiz and they cannot refuse. These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. Continue this game by sending it to other people.
(Frankly, I don’t care if the tagged ones refuse to take part in this meme. Honestly, we don’t need bossy memes telling us what to do in our lives. I’m also cool if you want to only answer half as many questions. Twenty questions is a lot.)

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
100% members of the family. My husband and I have a hard time understanding why people get dogs and just leave them outside all of the time. I know many people do it, and I do not mean to offend, as I "know" dogs have fur coats and are meant to survive the elements. But I just know how much our animals appreciate our extra love and attention and they give so much back to us that I couldn't imagine them not being in our house and only outside.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
I have lots of the "typical" dreams....wonderful health for my family and self so that we can continuing enjoying life the way it is without any additional stress, maybe a vacation in the near future.

3. What is the one thing most hated by you?
Racism. Those who can actually say that they do not "like" or "accept" another for their race, sexuality, income level, etc. I just don't comprehend how anyone can judge another for the way God made them.

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Pay off all of ours, and our immediate families' debts.
Set up full college funds for our children.
Donate to charities that are important to us.

5. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
I tend to just need a little "me" time. I'll call a friend, or go alone to shop, have lunch/dinner, schedule or participate in a girls night out. That usually is all it takes for me to get out of a slump. Oh, and buying myself something usually helps, too!

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Both! I do feel that loving someone is much more painful sometimes. I love my kids and my family so much it hurts...especially when they hurt.

7. What is your bedtime routine?
Wash face, brush teeth, crawl into bed and sleep.
My kids are my alarm (twins at 6-630).

8. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
College.

9. If you could watch an creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
Seriously?
I'm blown away and impressed with ANYONE that has a creative bone in their body. I do find that I love to watch people make pottery on a spinning wheel, and when I've had the chance, I love to watch people blow glass. Very interesting the amount of concentration and skill involved in both. I also love to watch a skilled pianist play the piano.

10. What kinds of books do you buy?
I don't buy books. I rent. I have bought a few of my favorite reads though, in the hopes to either read them again in the future or share with my kids and friends someday.
I have the entire Harry Potter series, as well as "The Red Tent", and "The Kite Runner".

11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?
I hope to have a job, maybe even a career, outside of the home. I do not plan to be a stay-at-home mom until my kids graduate, that is for sure. I'm hoping once the twins are in kindergarten (5 years from now) I have something that I am doing that is important to me.

12. What’s your fear?
Serious illness and death of my loved ones.

13. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
Never. I am actually annoyed with NASA as we just keep spending billions of dollars to keep sending satellites to the same places to see the same things. Yes, we have a moon. And yes, there is Mars. Get over it and start spending money on things that could actually help the human race, such as cures for Cancer and AIDS.

14. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
I would live with my husband and kids in a cardboard box before EVER giving that up for a lot of money. Money is overrated and we've become too focused on what we think we need, rather than what we have.

15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Put on my glasses, roll out of bed and tell myself, "Today is going to be a good day?!?!"

16. If you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
Tim overreacts a lot, and even though we are 14 years into our relationship, I tend to allow myself to get sucked in too much. I just wish he could take a step back sometimes and breathe...it's NEVER as bad as he tries to paint it out to be in the beginning. But, this is why we balance one another out. (If you take the time to read this, hun, I Love ya.)

17. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be? First name is fine, but if you’re feeling imaginative, you can do the whole thing.
I never used to like my name, as I thought it was boring. I always wanted to be an Andrea, or Alyssa, or something I thought was more sophisticated sounding. However, I really cannot see myself as anything but Jill. And I love my last name. Couldn't have gotten luckier falling in love with a Fox!

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
As of right now, I say yes. I truly believe that anger and the inability to forgive will eat away at ones core, and destroy a person. I know that when I see someone on television that can say that they truly forgive the person that harmed or killed their loved one (especially a child), it is hard to believe one can do that, but I really think that is the only way to heal yourself.

19. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Pizza.

20. List 4 people to tag
Diana, Jaci, Sarah, and Jenny

I needed that.

I was in the process of my normal Monday morning routine at the gym, which consists of unloading 3 small children, a large double stroller and several bags, when an older gentleman in a large pickup pulled up and started to talk to me. Quite honestly, I expected to hear my "normal". "My, you have your hands full!" or "Wow, look at you! All that for a work out!" But instead I heard, in a most genuine and gentle voice,

"I just can't believe all that you mom's go through. You do such a wonderful job, and I just don't think many of us men realize what a great job you do. Keep it up, you are doing good things".

I gave him a very genuine smile, and I even fought back tears when I told him a heartfelt "Thank You" and that I really appreciated his kind words.

God has worked in very mysterious ways for me recently. On two mornings in the past month I have been shown that he really is watching out for me. One morning he sent someone to purchase my coffee through the espresso drive through (which is something I literally treat myself to once a month or less!) and then the kind man today. It always seems to happen when either I'm already having a rough morning getting everyone out the door...or like today, when the morning was fine, but the afternoon turned sour when Bronson vomited all over himself in his crib at naptime.

Love. That is all I have to say.