You know, I think one of my sons (not saying that I don't have two sons who are this way) who is musically oriented.  It's just amazing watching them discover the wonderful and unique talents that God gave each of them.  It's like seeing gifts opened at Christmas!  Jon has done quite well on the Clarinet.  He had a concert a couple of weeks ago and told me before-hand that he didn't want everyone to hear him squeak his clarinet.  I reminded him of his own insightful words to me just a few days before...  he had told me that he had woken up and told himself it would be a great day... and it was!  I told him to just tell himself he isn't going to squeak, and he won't.  He smiled, knowingly, and after the concert, he was all smiles and told me it had worked again!  He didn't squeak - not even once!  The following week his school put on another concert.  This time he was singing.  While I couldn't hear him, I could occasionally see him.  I was surprised at how well the kids that age sang.  I expected it to sound more like younger kids, I guess.  I heard some real singing, on-key and on-beat!  I'll try to add the photos soon.  But there was another surprise!  Jon never let on that there was a bell choir!  He did a song with other kids on the hand-bells!  How beautiful it sounded!  I was so proud tears welled up in my eyes! 

Please tell me I have another week until Christmas!  It was only last week we had Thanksgiving, right?  Every day has been a whirlwind in trying to shop and in helping the kids get that last whirlwind of schoolwork done before they got out for the winter holiday.  I haven't had time to work!  OK, I haven't gotten more than a couple of days' work but I don't see how I could have taken any more and still gotten even what I did get done, done.  Yikes!

...so last week, Bruce found out that he could take all of Christmas week off.  What a pleasant surprise, considering he has only been on the job for a couple of weeks.  Before that, we had planned to spend the whole of the kids' winter break in Texas working and helping his dad fix some damage caused by Hurricane Ike.  That went out the window when he got the job, but now, suddenly, before I had Christmas "under wraps" we cound out we could get one week to go.  With one whole week and both weekends off, we could at least make the drive, drop the boys off to see their dad, and have a little visit.  The kids' last day of school was Friday.  It's just under 20 hours' drive so we had planned to leave Friday night, drive all night, and arrive Saturday evening. 

Well, guess what?  Just after dinner Friday night, I began throwing up and got very ill...  a few more hours and we would have been packed and on the road.  Thank the good Lord that didn't happen.  I had had a stomach ache all day but knew it would go away.  So I was up with the ugly bugly flu all night and I was down all of Saturday.  My sweet, loving family was very good about not being able to leave.  I could see their anxiety, but I never felt hurried.  I was able to drag myself up enough Saturday night enough to pack myself.  I had the boys pack themselves and take care of Maui cat and we were finally able to leave just before midnight on Saturday night.  I wonder just how many things we overlooked? 

There is something wonderful about driving all night with young kids - they sleep and wake up with only a short drive left.  Well, Jon did at least.  Chris valliantly attempted to stay up all night and, outside of a couple hour or two naps, he did.  He chatted with Bruce until 4:30, then with me for a while.  I feel sorry for Rick the rest of the day after they arrived.  I haven't spoken with him yet to know how that worked out!  I know he was as tired as a spawning salmon that night! 

So, we dropped the kiddos off and continued on.  We were both dog-tired and desparately wanting the last four hours to go fast.  I know Bruce was even more tired than I because he took the first drive leg and went until 4:30 while I slept.  He had been saying that he didn't feel so good. Staying up most of the night will do that to you.  I was only driving a couple of hours before I got sleepy and he took over.  We did a lot of the trip that way, in +/- 2-hour shifts. 

Guess what?  Well, we got most of the way there before he began to get seriously ill, just as I had.  By the time we made it the rest of the way, he, too, was throwing up.  Driving all night wasn't the only issue he was having.

He's been down all day but at least he got to have a bathroom and a warm bed to sleep in while the worst washed over him rather than having to deal with travelling, too.  Yikes.  He'll be a new man tomorrow and the vacation can start.  I just hope and pray that the Junior Executives didn't contract this ugly bugly.  What a bummer to spend Christmas sick! 

I'm looking forward to meeting some new family and to seeing the beach, even though it's cold here, it's not like it hasn't been cold in Colorado. 

Going back to the music and concerts, the boys wanted an electric guitar and an electronic keyboard for Christmas.  Bruce and I were able to get those and an electronic drum set because we found some steal-of-a-deals.  Entry level "real" instruments.  We got all three and gave them to the whole family, setting them up in the extra bedroom.  We told the kids that if they were to learn any of those instruments, that it would become theirs.  If both did,then we would talk about buying another, better instrument.   They wanted  to have their own, of course, but in the end, I think everyone will be happy because we can play as a family and no one will be fighting.  It will also encourage them to actually learn the instruments.  Jon wants to learn many instruments.  Go, Jon!  Chris wants to master the electric guitar.  Go Chris!  I hope they do!  I'll sing for them!  Unless they want me to sing rap.  Then, well, do they even have guitars in rap music???

Well, friends and family out there reading this, have a warm and wonderful Christmas.  I love each and every one of you!  Don't get that ugly bugly flu.  Get those presents wrapped!  I didn't.  I feel like a heel, but I got sick before I got it done and then we left town.  OK, I sound like I'm making excuses.  I am...  yep.  Well, I guess I had better go take care of that sick man in the bedroom.  Poor guy.