You can stop holding your breath...

I just thought it wouldn't be fair to leave you all hanging on the issue of whether or not my children's Christmas dreams are on their way to devastation or elation...it looks like they might make it after all.
Their brains and motivation have kicked into high gear, as has Clark's and my praise of a job and attitude well done.  We are going over the top with praise when we see something great because there has not been enough of it (that being good attitudes, actions and praise.)
Come on girls, we know you can do it.  Everyone is rooting for you.
This picture was taken yesterday (they're now at 65, 35 points to go...a day and a half left to get 'em.)

 Also, we went downtown to see the National Christmas Tree.  It was much smaller than I was expecting but it's something one has to do at least once while living in DC I suppose...also it was pretty awesome because 15 minutes after getting there we were all kicked out so that someone really important could come have the place to themselves.  We didn't care enough about who it was to stick around and find out.

 The trains were cool.

On to other things...

A good night's sleep goes a long way...at least for my morning.

I was dressed at the bus stop this morning.  Usually, if I am even just wearing jeans I get asked "wow, why are you all dressed up?  Where are you going?" Which is very sad for several reasons.  First of all, I end up getting dressed at least 5 out of the 7 days during the week, silly people.  And secondly. there is no secondly.  I just wanted to let y'all know that I DO eventually get dressed.  Besides, it's cold in the morning and if I have to chose between walking and waiting in 30 degree weather in jeans or sweats, I choose sweats.
But I got a good night sleep last night, which  means I only woke up once and it was to go to the bathroom.  I typically get one good night sleep for every two weeks or so.  It is coveted and much appreciated.  Much.  It means that I will have the ambition and drive to not only get dressed before 8 in the morning, but I will also have the energy to clean up breakfast and get a few things done by noon.
We have done a fun thing or two lately that I just haven't documented.  We have a new printer and thus I have no easy way to upload pictures anymore.  I used to be able to just stick my memory stick in there and upload.  Now I actually have to plug something in, which means finding the right cord. Having to plug the camera into the USB instead of just removing the memory card poses another inconvenience since I have to remove the athletic tape holding the little compartment door on....Santa, I know I said I didn't want anything for Christmas.  That was a lie, a big fat lie but I understand that there is nothing I really need.  However, a new camera would be nice, you know, before we have a baby and everything.  I know that as it is a fifth born I am not obligated to take any pictures or document anything at all.  But all the same, it would be nice.  Aren't you glad I went into that?

Lest you think that Clark and I are just horrible, mean parents, we aren't, in my opinion.  The girls have struggled, I mean struggled BIG time to be nice for a long time.  I just can't get a handle on why or what has caused such tumult (hormones? emotional spikes? a moody mother?...the possibilities are endless really.) In any case I realized, why do I feel obligated to give them Christmas presents if they have been so rotten?  They don't just deserve them because they exist and we celebrate Christmas.  I decided that lots needed to change but that is an entirely different post.  Right now we have settled on the fact that they have less than one week to earn 100 points to get their Christmas back.  6 days and I ain't playin' around.  It will break my heart to follow through but I am prepared.  It may be a Christmas they never forget...which would be unfortunate seeing as how my faith in them has caused me to actually have all of Christmas already purchased and ready to either be given, or hidden away until further notice.  The board looks so empty.  I suppose I could award them one or two points for this morning, since they were able to get ready for school and out the door without anyone getting hurt or grounded.  That's something.

In other news, December has been full and going by very fast.

 The girls like to go running with Clark.  This is fun, especially the part where I get to help Hazel who is crying and looking out the window because she wants to go too.  We usually console ourselves with something yummy to eat while they are gone.

 Something I forgot to include in the Christmas brag post is how ambitious Hazel is getting with her letter writing! Yeah! now if she could remember, for the billionth time in one week, that we write on paper.  Not the walls, not on books and not on our bodies.

 I took the girls to the DC Scandinavian Society's annual Lucia concert.  Regretfully we did not stay for dancing around the tree this year...I just wasn't quite up for that.  But the concert was beautiful and brought nostalgic tears to my eyes with an appreciation for my ancestry (and my parents who are missed dearly this time of year.)

 We did our own rendition of Lucia...the only part of the song they could remember was the chorus, which they sang over, and over, and over again.  I may be glad Lucia comes but once a year.   We have an entire 12 months to learn the rest of the words.  The real dresses and crowns were a gift from my Mom and Dad this year...such a treat!!!  Aren't they pretty?

 Hazel and I met Clark downtown for his work Christmas lunch.  We ate lots of meat which was perfect because I have been craving red meat for weeks.  We gorged ourselves silly and then took a walk down the street to see "the occupiers" and educate ourselves on their cause.  It turns out, they don't really have one except to sit there and do nothing about what they are fighting for.  Oops! Did I just get political?  Didn't mean to.

 Clark and I were just having a hard time remembering any instance in the history of our amazing country where something was accomplished from doing nothing, on purpose.

 In any case, we found their sense of humor refreshing and enjoyed watching some choice youth practice their rhythmic gymnastics outside their tents.

And now on to Christmas class parties and the to do list.  There aren't many things on there but I am gearing up.  One or two big things a week tend to put me into a pregnancy exhaustion coma for days so I am pacing myself and eating plenty of dark chocolate covered pomegranate.

Have a wonderful week leading up to Christmas and hopefully my next post will be full of a wonderful Christmas morning exhibiting happy children, and happy parents!!

Miracles that come in tiny packages.

Remember this?

I cannot read another one of my sisters' posts without taking a moment to share as well, that my sister Carrie had her baby last week!! And even though he was a surprising month early! (and her husband that may or may not have been in Singapore when her water broke and accidentally missed the birth because he was in the air hurrying as fast as he possibly could) it was a miracle.
Prayers are answered and miracles happen, even if it takes 10 years.
Welcome little OK Rhodes.  I cannot wait to meet you!

In lieu of the yearly Christmas letter, I give you, The Brag Post...

I am entitled, am I not?  Plus, we have grandparents that we don't live near.  That alone should justify.  I just sent out Christmas cards but just couldn't bring myself to include the letter.  I tried, I just couldn't.  But seeing as how I included our blog address on the card, I figure I might as well put something Christmas card worthy on the blog...after all, people might think that the link to my family blog means they are going to read all about what our family does and how amazing the kids all are...instead they are going to find snarky, sarcastic humor about real life.  Oops, enjoy, nonetheless.
For the first time in our little family life, we jumped into extracurricular activities with a flurry this fall.  I have avoided it for years because besides the cost and time spent running people around, I haven't felt overly compelled to involve us in a million different things.  My kids are pretty great on their own.  But we gave in and decided to give it a go...to see what life would be like if we let everyone try something they really wanted to do (except Hazel of course who is much to young to appreciate an activity that costs her parents money...she is content to support everyone else, I'm sure of it.  She is down to asking to do soccer only 38.3 times a week.)

HALEY

Haley has been taking piano for several years now.  She really has an ear for music.  She loves listening to anything with Clark and loves guessing who sings what.  She picked up piano quickly and we were amazed when she started violin last year how quickly she took to it as well.  She squeeks, don't get me wrong, but the girl gets it.  She came home from her first day in class, opened a music book we had at home and figured it all out.  In addition to piano and violin she started gymnastics.  The girl does 500 million handstands a day and it has been fun to see her improve over the last couple of cycles of classes.  Plus, to see her skinny legs that go on forever in a leotard is priceless.

ABBY

Abigail started piano this year too.  I love their teacher - we are sad to be taking a little break for their teacher to have twins but excited for them to resume next month because it means we all get to hold babies at least once a week.  Abby likes piano and is happy when she practices and gets a song down.  Her activity of choice this fall was tennis.  She is about to finish her second cycle and loves it.  It is hilarious to watch because even though she misses about 50% of the serves, she is grinning from ear to ear the entire time.  Abby's major talent is joy and enthusiasm.  She is a light.  And I have to say, her form in this video makes me think that maybe we should put her in golf.  Lovely, isn't it? (She is the one in the middle in black pants...and I apologize for the quality, it was taken on my phone.)

MIA

Mia was thrilled that we finally deemed her old enough to appreciate something.  She is taking a dance class with her best friend and they are adorable.  I hate that the door gets closed and we don't get to watch but last week was parent's week so we got to come gush for a bit.  I am excited for her recital in June.

HAZEL

Not to be left out, Hazel is cute.  But you already knew that because I gush about her all the time and how good and sweet she is.  She has gotten old enough to bicker and disobey quite to the extent that the older ones have perfected.  Plus, for the time being she is baby of the family so its just appropriate to talk about her more, right?

CLARK

You didn't think I was going to leave him out, did you?  The other night after our movie was over we got on the topic of "the worm".  I'm not really sure, but what happened after that was pure joy and entertainment.  The girls laid on the floor and tried to do the worm for a good ten minutes until incessant chanting finally got Clark himself on the floor to "show us how its done".  People, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face.  Not only was I crying, but I actually threw up a little.  I was laughing that hard.  (Remember?  pregnant stomach and constitution? It could've been worse than throw up, I assure you.)  Watching him try to figure out how to move to get it done was priceless.  When he actually figured it out, it was less funny, and more impressive.  Clark is not a tiny guy but he got his body across the room.  And even though he swears at the beginning of the video that it will never be shown to anyone but our own posterity, after seeing his moves with his own eyes, he gave the go ahead.  Oh my goodness, my husband doing the worm.
PS Don't you think things like people being able to do the worm should always be included in Christmas letters?  I do.

EMILY

And that leaves me.  I am growing a human being.  That counts for being talented, doesn't it?  I hope so because its about all I am doing right now.

And that's that.  The Scharman family Christmas brag.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

**I realize that two of the videos are not coming up.  I will have to try again later because its just not working right now.  Believe, me, be disappointed that you are not watching Clark do the worm right now.  Your day is much less more exciting because of that.