Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Here's how each morning has started in the McNally household this month: 1. How many days till Christmas mommy. 2. How many days till Nana and Backa (grandpa) come mommy? 3. How many days till Uncle Josh and Auntie Shell and cousins come mommy? 4. How many days till Auntie Calin, Uncle Steven, and Adian come mommy? 5. How many days till Grandpa John and Grandma Sherry come mommy? Can we have our chocalate candy from the advent calender.
This has now been going on for 20days. I am very exctied to say the first event is coming in three days and I bet by then the kids will forget to count the rest down.
Last night I sat down after having a very fun evening with some friends and made my to do list for the next three days. Let me tell you the list is full, leave it to me to try and conquere the world in three days. So far the only accomplishment I have had is to do half a Walmart trip this afternoon before I had to leave with my screaming son. As everyone is staring at me I took complet responsibility like any good mom and said, "It's my fault I know better it's nap time." Of course inside I want to kill my son.
Well here's to makeing it through the next three days and remembering the words I used a few posts back that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Have a Merry Christmas.
God Bless you and your families.

Good Days

Alright, I am the first to admit I am extremely emotional. I am the person who cries about everything bad, or good. So the day before yesterday I shared my bad day. Well, I know it is really hard to believe but the very next day became my best day ever. See, what did I tell you I am one huge emotional rollercoaster. My day started by my mother in law buying me coffee. This was so sweet of her. Then I went to a MOPS meeting and felt very rejuvenated after discussing our bible study. Karen is such a good leader and makes me feel so good about myself. I really enjoyed my time with them. After this my day went on as normal. Then, I got a phone call that my husband had called my mother in law and we were going out. This sounded like the best news ever (again my emotional self). We were going to go to the grocery store!!!!!!!! This may sound like a really dumb date to you, but to me it meant we could eat again. I am not very good at keeping my kitchen supplied with food and lets just say we were down to nothing. The final straw was yesterday when we ran out of coffee. This can not happen in my household. We dropped the kids off at Grandma's house and we were off for out date. We had to make a little detour to McMinnamin's (sp?) We have not been there before. We loved it!!!!! We spent a couple hours there just enjoying each other and our food and maybe a couple of drinks. After that we went over to Winco. We were in and out in 30 minutes. That is a world record for me. Usually with the kids I am doing good if I am out in 2 hours. So, that was my best day ever!!!!!!!
Thank you all for riding this emotional rollercoaster of life with me.

Bad Days

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel everthing is all wrong? Where every corner you turn the world seems like it is going to come to an end right then and there? That was one of those days I had yesterday. It's not very often that I have those days. I feel like I try and put things in perspective, but yesterday enough was enough. It's so funny how we can be so focused on ourselves and our problems that we forget there are people out there who have REAL problems. God is so gracious to let me wallow in my issues, but sometimes He shows me the light smack in my face. Yesterday that happened. I realized that my problems are so not that big and life will go on today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Enjoy the day and all that it brings. Look at life as the day God has given to you and it is our choice how we handle it.

The Christmas Program

Last night was the night for our fist Christmas program. The McNally household was very excited to go and see the must anticiapted program of the year. We started getting ready at 3:00 for a 6:00 departure time. This sounds a little over kill, but you have never delt with my daughters thick hair. We have to wash it, dry it then curl it. The process can take hours. Morgan looked beautiful in her Christmas dress and beautiful hair. We arrived at the school and realized we weren't the only excited family to see their child perform. I had no idea how many people were going to be at this thing. The performance went awesome. We had only one little problem, I was not able to get a picture with the camera nor get a good shot with the video camera. We had one huge problem Morgan decieded to step back behind the kids which made her unable to see. After the show Morgan was all smiles. I was so proud of her. I think my smile was just as big as hers.

God's Plan

I feel really touched today. Today in MOPS one of my good friends shared her testimony of how God has a plan. This was such a good reminder for me. I am reminded at this time of year how God sent his Son to be born for us. God wants us to share His love to others. This is such a valuable lesson to make sure my kids for sure understand the true meaning of Christmas. My prayer this Christmas is that I can deminstrate in my home to Ryan, Morgan and Brandan that the whole reason we are celebrating Christmas is for the LORD.

Christmas Lights

Tonight was the night. We set out in the car to look at all the beautiful lights of West Salem. Wow, what a sight. Ryan and I have decieded that the people up here are trying to compete with each other. Each neighbor was trying to outdo the next. That was ok with us because we were able to enjoy their competition. The kids loved the sight of all the lights. My perfect evening of the kids and Ryan singing Christmas songs and looking at Christmas lights. I want to remember this night forever.

Christmas Shopping

This is the first year in my 31 years that I can say I am done shopping. This sounds great, except I know myself, I will probably find many more things to buy. I have not decieded if it is a good thing I am done or not. I think I have been a little overzelous this year because of my family coming out for Christmas. I feel like I need to go over and beyond my usually crazy self. Not present wise, just the decorating and the planning and I'm sure the presents fit in there too.
I am trying to remember the reason for Christmas and the joy we have from Christ's birthday.
I am commiting right now to slowing down on all my craziness and focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.
By the way Brandan is doing awesome on the potty training.

Potty Training

My two least favorite words of bringing up a child are the words "POTTY TRAINING." These words are almost swear words in my book.
My son has decieded that he no longer wants to wear diapers and that he wants to only use the potty. Great news some of you would say. I would say not so great!!
Bless the guys little heart.
As long as we are home all day this potty training thing works, but as I found out today the second we leave everything goes "down the toilet". (HA, HA)
OK this was the plan we only had to be out of the house this afternoon for about a half an hour. I told Brandan it was time to leave and we needed to put on his diaper. Well, this did not go over well and he said he was just fine without it. Of course what did I do? I believed the two year old. Before we left I made sure we went to the bathroom and we were all clear to leave. I get the two of us in the car and start to back down the drive way and what do you think comes out of his mouth, "I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM". Great!!!!! Morgan's school is only 7 minutes away so I told him you hold it and we will be at school in just a minute. I had it perfectly timed out we parked and ran to the bathroom. WE MADE IT!! We finished our business and we were good. We got Morgan from class and we were packed back in the car and ready to head home for lunch. Not one word came out of my little man's mouth as we drove home. We got out of the car and what do you think happend? YES, he had an acciedent. He was so obliviosu to the accident that all I could do was laugh. After cleaning him he was good to go.
I guess I really can't turn back now. There is only one road ahead of me now.
Well, you know where you will find me every 30 minutes today.

Snow

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!! Most of you are use to this snow, but to the McNally family we feel like we are living in a winter wonderland. Snow is all new to us. It was so awesome to wake up this morning to a white lawn. It was so magical.
The first thing I did this morning was call the school to make sure that school was canceled. No one in there right mind would dare to drive in the two inches of snow that we received. Of course the secretary at the school laughed at me and said of course we had school. I could just hear her as she put down the phone and said to the other school secretary "Those stupid Californians." So, unfortunately the day had to continue with life as normal.
As for this evening you will find the little McNally family with a fire burning, hot coco in hand and four faces staring outside at the beautiful snow.

thankful

I Survived the Turkey!!!!!!! Dinner turned out great if I may so say myself. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family. It was so good to have my parents here to share in the day with us.
On Friday we went to cut the Christmas tree. That was a huge adventure with the two year old who thinks mud is "real fun". We came home as dirty as you can be, but with huge smiles. We spent all day Friday and Saturday decorating the McNally house. My parents are such troopers!!
At church today the pastor talked about how thankful we need to be during this time of year. I have heard those words a million times, but I think the older I am getting those words are finally sinking in.
I am so grateful for my life and all that is in it. God continues to bless me daily.
My prayer for these next few weeks before Christmas is that I can continue to keep this thankful heart and keep the LORD at the center of this holiday time.

Thanksgiving

OK, I am off to begin my holiday baking. NO, I have not in my life cooked a turkey, NO, I have not in my life cooked a pumpkin pie, stuffing, homemade rolls. Do I need to go on? Actually I am really excited to begin this new adventure. I guess it is alot like my new blogging thing, it's all new. It is going to be a great weekend filled with new traditions for the McNally family. God Bless you all during this holiday weekend. Enjoy lots of food and relaxing.

ONE MORE THING I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN OR

OK,
Let me just start by saying I absolutely hate writing. If there is a word stronger than hate that is the word I feel toward writing!!!!! Writing and me are not friends. So, one of the main reasons I have resisted blogging is you have to write. I feel I have grown alot in Oregon and I feel as though I really need to step out of my box and just give this writing thing a try. So, here it goes!!
Wish me luck.
Kristan