Merry Crapmas

Millions of presents to wrap and assemble (who bought all this?)
Every inch of my house is trashed
Rush from party to party
Rush from bed to toilet (to puke)
Yes, cherub 1 and I both had the flu

Crap, I am dying of the flu and the presents aren't all wrapped
Help from sisters and hubby in the wrapping dept b/c so sick (Santa must come)
Rats, miss church and can't host Xmas Eve cuz so sick..see a trend here?
I HATE twisty things that EVERY toy is wrapped in
Sweet memories of Xmas (yes there are some)...stay tuned...had to get all this out first
Toy robot breaks in first millisecond, cherub 2 breaks down
Mom, is that it? She got more, cherub 2 cried!
As always kids overjoyed, parents overtired
So glad it is over (I have NEVER said that about Christmas before)

NME

Check out the new Weigh In area of the blog. Down 4 pounds, even with the holidays! Truth be told, I had the flu for a great deal of the holiday. Hey, whatever works...

A Woman of Many Talents (Not Me)

Ok, I am working in front of PBS (cherub 1 home sick, remember?). She is watching Between the Lions and on the screen pops Dr. Ruth Wordheimer. Wha? You remember the famous Dr. Ruth. She was like the sex doctor, right? Well now she is on PBS teaching kids how to sound out words like intelligent. She said 'now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and sound it out'. She used to say things like 'now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and bleep (insert adult advice)'. She uses the same technique for both teaching kids how to read and teaching adults how to...be adults. Hmmm...

In A Remote Hideaway

For months we have not been able to find our bedroom remote control. With one sick in the bedroom (pretty much at all times around here lately) not having that remote has been torture. I have had to run in with the toy room remote to switch channels at each patients whimsy. Hubby has been all over me about that missing remote, as if I hid it amongst my junk on purpose. Today, I randomly opened hubby's night table drawer. Guess what I found? Yup, you guessed it. The very same table he 'looked' in before, was the vacation spot for our remote. Welcome back, we missed you.

Father in law & I have a running joke with hubby. He pretty much needs GPS on all his stuff. The remote sorta proves that. We have an underutilized key rack RIGHT next to the door in the kitchen. Every morning he asks, where are my keys (my wallet, my head, etc- note that he NEVER loses his blackberry)? This morning at barely 6am there was a quiet knock on my door. I raced toward the knock thinking someone was dying if they were visiting that early. Nope, just Dad looking for some keys. Hubby had helped Dad last night b/c he was sick. (Which was so nice...credit given where credit due.) He cleaned off their cars and snowblowed their driveway. However, he took Dad's and Baby Sis's keys home with him. I found their keys, mine and his in his jacket. Yup, he would have gone to work with all four sets! Then who would have been looking for their keys?

5 Yr Old Version of the Nutcracker

Cherub 2 just played school and told all his students the entire Nutcracker story. It had all the characters and most of the story with some added features like school buses. It was adorable! I love sweet moments like that. I actually got that one on video tape (don't faint).

NME

I am way overtired- 2am bedtime isn't cutting it for sleep. I want bad food today. Must resist.

Men and Shopping

Brother in law is typically a man that let's older sister do everything when it comes to the Xmas shopping. He is generally just as surprised on Christmas when someone opens a gift from them because it is the first time he is seeing it too (sounds like many men). You need to know this to understand the story, he also never answers older sister's emails or calls during the day...too wrapped up in work. Today he calls her stalking her at the grocery store on her cell, she probably thought someone died. He wanted to know if she got the postman a Christmas present. Wha? Not, did you get mom, dad, the kids, or anyone else presents. The postman? Not to say the postman isn't important, we always give ours a little treat. His dad was a postman for 400 yrs before retiring, so that is what was in his brain. Yup, Christmas can happen b/c the postman is all set.

Hubby was mad at me yesterday b/c I didn't give him a Xmas list (of things I wanted). Ok, you have been married to me for 10 yrs, known me for like 4,000 yrs, can't you wing it? He was all frustrated with me b/c he couldn't get anything overnted now b/c it was so late. Ummm, ya, why do you wait so long and why is that my fault?? Isn't he the one that waited until 4 days before Xmas again? Actually he is early this year, usually it is the 23rd that he is panicking. Whatever. BTW, he only shops for two, me and the dog. I can see how stressful that can be.

North to South

Cherub 1's flu bug has traveled, down south. I feel like we are plagued. I feel so bad for her because she is missing her play today. :o(

Sleep is so over-rated...

The thing about wrapping is that you have to draaaaaag everything out, wrap for hours, then hide it all away again. At least that is how it is with little kids. If I stuck all the presents under the tree (the ones for our relatives and friends) they would open them in the morning. I know this from first hand experience. That's right, one year I had to re-wrap some gifts. Fun. I have absolutely NO idea how anyone with kids gets any sleep during the holiday season. It is 1:33am and I am almost done cleaning up. I love to give, just not to wrap. I am going to wrap myself up in my cozy blanket and snooze now (for at least 4-5 hours). See ya at the workshop tomorrow night.

Don't yell fire if there is no fire!

This is too funny and far too embarrassing. I work in one town and my kids go to school in another. I received an automated message from the superintendent's office today saying that they 'originally had a delay for school but decided to cancel based on the forecast and the non-working plows'. I was soooo sad b/c my kids are finally healthy and REALLY need to be at school today. The elf in me has ALOT to do.

So I called a good friend of mine who is a teacher in the town my kids go to school in (the one we live it). She didn't know that school was canceled. She didn't get the message. Wha? So, after 4 calls and lots of embarrassment, I realized it was the super. from the town I work in not the town I live in that called. My cherubs had answered that phone call and I didn't catch the beginning of it (the name of the caller) just the message. That would have been important information for me to hear.

I am a schuck, I had people calling all around in a panick. (Yes, we were all panicked b/c we thought our kids weren't going to leave us for the day! Bad mothers.)

Typical me.

Daily NME

"Such a Joiner"
There have been some people that have expressed interest in the NME lifestyle. I welcome the company! A good friend (In the Trenches of Mommyhood) cornered the phrase, 'I am such a joiner'! Anyone else want to be a joiner? I hope it ok, we are borrowing your phrase. :o)

Here are their weights to start them off. I will post their progress weekly with mine.

Drama Girl = 171.4
A.D.D. Boy= 180.0

Daily Thoughts-
9:15am: I am doing great morning 2 but I am REALLY hungry. I am trying to adjust back to eating normally. I am off for a jog on the treadmill. (I wouldn't quite call it a run yet.)

Shopping with Sparky

Cuz the kids were still under the weather tonight my 5pm dinner and shopping girls night with college roomie got canceled. :o(

When baby sister (aka sparky-yes I blew your cover) stopped by at cherub's bedtime and told me she was going to the nearby Joanne Fabrics I couldn't ask hubby fast enough if I could escape. Remember, I have been trapped in the flu house for days!

At Joanne's 3 weeks ago, I purchased 4 sets of fleece to make blankets at the cost of $140. Tonight, everything was FIFTY percent off and I got 5 sets for $77. What the? I am happy about tonight but can you say I got screwed 3 weeks ago! Then woman who was cutting our fleece told us that we weren't buying enough fleece for each blanket (even though I told her I've made them before, not a novice) and that we weren't picking colors that match. Someone needs to tell her that I have graduated from the 80's when I used to buy everything in different shades of one color. We are hip now and we can match. Even if I was buying BUT UGLY fleece that DIDN'T match...isn't that my business? Isn't the customer ALWAYS right? I asked nicely how much an item was b/c there were no tags. Her answer was, 'there are price scanners all over the store'. Ummm, aren't you at a REGISTER? Wow.

Moving on to Kohl's we got some great deals. Sparky was making fun of me b/c I was so slap happy at the end she said it was like 'Oh, I met a Sally once, I'll buy her a present. Oh, I met a Joe once, we'll get him one too.' We were DYING laughing all the way home, even when we were semi stuck in the snow b/c we were so slap happy and tired! Funny.

Of course when I came home with bags, hubby said, 'I thought you were done?' In other words...thanks for spending more $. Sigh.

Stock Market Tips

Cherub's 1 and 3 are puking now...

So, if anyone is interested, I have been buying soooooo much Gatorade per doctor's instructions for my little flu victims that their stock must be doing well. After I head out to the store to get some more of this miracle beverage, I am calling my investment guy to realign my portfolio.

The vote this morning is that the new favorite colors are blue and red. Before November, if I was asking their favorite color it would pertain to a fruit or vegetable. Now, I am solely referring to what color Gatorade their little bellies can handle. Sooooo sad.

NME

For weeks I have cried every week watching The Biggest Loser. I am 36 yrs old and have spent the past 11 years of my life overweight, with the past 9 in the obese category (umm, yup, obese...not lying). I used to have no trouble with my weight. The combination of not eating much, exercising 1-2 times per day helped. In addition, in my younger days I used to shop to ease my pains in life. Upon running myself into debt (prior to getting married), I watched my hubby and dad cut up my credit cards and started anew. However, without realizing it, instead of accessorizing the pain, I was coating it over with chocolate and soda.

No more excuses. Each day going forward, I will continue to blog about my crazy life but will add a new category NME (no more excuses...for those that didn't get it). I am going to rely on the support of all of my skinny minny friends and family members out there (you know who you are) and of course my hubby who has lost and kept off alot of weight this year (way to go honey).

I am not going on The Biggest Loser and telling the whole world my weight but I am telling 'My World' my weight. It is the only way to keep me honest. Yup, probably more than most of my friends hubbies. I trust that they will keep their fat jokes to themselves if they really love me.

Tune in for the weigh in...each Wed morning.

Today = 187 lbs

1:23pm- Did really well all morning. I didn't realize how much I snacked to combat feelings of boredom. Sometimes the kids play on their own or catch a show (especially when they are sick like today). I have all this nervous energy. Ughhh. No snack. No snack. Sorry, I don't care what anyone says...laundry is not titillating!

Don't Cry Wolf

Cherub 1 told me this morning that her belly hurt. Of course since she had danced all morning to her High School Musical game, ate waffles and got ready for school with no problem, I stuck her on the bus with the old line 'call me later if you don't feel better'. See, at our house, someone is always telling me they have a belly ache. It is their way out of everything. It makes it hard to tell when it is real.

Of course when the school nurse called telling me she was puking at school, I felt like a loser. The cards have been stacked against us in the flu dept. And the mother of year award goes to...

Do You Take Debit?

Trying to run one silly errand today in a neighboring city, my loser cruiser (minivan) started sliding towards the car in front of me who was stopped at a stop sign. Since my breaks were on vacation due to ice, the l.c. was going full speed ahead toward that person. I weighed the options 1)hit car in front of me 2)hit snow bank. I chose the snow bank. Of course that made cherub 3 & I officially stuck (but thankfully unharmed) in a snow bank.

A seemingly nice gentlemen that was walking down the sidewalk with his wife stopped to help push me out of the snow bank. After succeeding he came up to my window, before I could even gush my thankyou's out, he asked me for money for coffee for him and his wife. Shocked, I looked into his eyes and saw they were glazed over. Since he was well clean and neatly dressed, my assumption is that he actually wanted to put a little bailey's into that coffee. Since I live off my debit card, and did not have a dollar on me, I dug out every last bit of change my wallet and car had to offer and apologized it wasn't more. He moved on to the car behind me that had slid into the snow bank avoiding my car (yup, a little chain reaction there). In my rear view mirror, I could see she had dollars in hand ready, obviously witnessing our exchange. I headed to the nearest cop to ask him for help for her. No good deed goes without payment of some sort I suppose.

Hubby Gone Girl, House Gone Wild

Hubby Gone Girl:
I didn't know I was married Martha. Hubby stayed home from our annual friend's (fabulous) Christmas party last night cuz cherub 3 still had the flu. I came home and hubby told me he made me something. A wreath! He made a real wreath out of fresh greens from our xmas tree and then made a bow! The real kind of bows that florist make (which I still haven't mastered). I couldn't believe it! It is really pretty. I asked him if he bought it (cuz I still wasn't sure he could make it) and he told me to check out the back. The wires were held together by duck tape. Yup, he made it. :o) I was touched by the thought.

House Gone Wild:
Traveling to our xmas party last night I pointed out a house to cherub's 1 & 2 that had gone nuts with xmas lights and (annoying) blow up things on their lawn. Cherub 2 exclaimed, 'It is a house gone wild!' I laughed, and had flash forwards to his college days when he might change the word 'house' to 'girls' like the video. Keep them young!

Firsts, Flus and Flakes

First penance, first basketball game. A day of firsts for cherub 1. She is growing up and adorable! She insisted that daddy be the one at her first game today (only one of us could go b/c cherub 3 is sick). I will try not to be offended! Who butters your bread everyday baby?

Cherub 2 is hanging, chomping at the bit to play in the snow, again. He is waiting patiently for daddy, since we are in the house because cherub 3 has the flu, again! Poor child. He was sooooo sick last night.

I went back to penance today, first time in I think 20+ years. Full of sin this one, it had been so long since I had gone it was like being a penance virgin again. Yeah, that is a sacrilegious statement if I ever said one. Left absolved, pure as a baby, yet with a mixture of feelings. You see, as an adult, going to penance makes you first ADMIT your sins, say them out loud, then try to forgive yourself for them. At least God forgave me, even if I am still working on it. It has always been way easier for me to forgive others before forgiving myself.

At first I felt guilty b/c when hubby asked if he could take her to penance I was snippy and said no. I made fun of the situation and told him that the guy who explains God as 'the man behind the curtain in the clouds' (??? what is this, wizard of oz???) could not represent cherub 1 on her first penance day. I know, that was nasty of me. I spoke before I had coffee. Anyway, when we got home he asked her, 'How was the sin thing?' WHAT? The SIN thing? You mean first penance or confession? Uhhhgggg. That is why I took her, maybe my first instinct was right. It doesn't mean he isn't faithful or prayerful, but 'the sin thing? What a flake.

What's Cool?

You know what would be cool, cherub 3 asked me? To be a grownup and be a Bruins hockey player. Yeah, that would be wicked cool! Here's my future hockey guy!

Not lost in space...lost without it!

I just want to say I have NO idea how my mother accomplished everything at Christmas time without online shopping! I do about 1/2 and 1/2 but I can't even imagine if I had to go to stores to do everything. Thank you to whoever invented the internet! I am not lost in space, I would be lost without CYBERspace.

Joining the Big Kids

Today is the one bless-ed day that cherub 3's preschool has extended day. The kids stay for lunch and games for 2 hours so the parents can scramble for the holidays. Cherub 3 was soooo excited, that after packing his lunch he walked around with his Dash lunchbox for an hour before we left for school. He would not put it down. So proud he was a big kid now! Too cute! Ahhh, almost time for my 2 free hours to wrap!

Lobster and Licks

Since I came in from cleaning up the snow, I started thinking about the summer and how much I miss it. One of my favorite summer memories was from the week we were staying at the beach with my parents and sister. We ventured out for a lobster dinner one night. Cherub 3 became quite attached to daddy's lobster and refused to leave it at the restaurant. Near tears, we let him take it home. On the way home we took the kids for an icecream. Here is a picture of Cherub 2, cherub 3 and Sally the lobster. We parted ways with Sally after cherub 3 fell asleep that night. :o)

Fire and Ice

Hubby is stuck on his business trip because of the snowstorms for another night. I was so proud of myself when I built my very own fire today in our fireplace. I even managed not to burn down the house! It reminded me of our camping trip this summer when we taught the kids how to build a campfire. Every time they built one, they would hold up a stick with a tiny flame on it (I know it sounds dangerous but it was well controlled) and yell out 'ME MAKE FIRE!' and proceed to giggle forever. Well tonight, I turned to cherub 3 and yelled, 'Me make fire!'. He burst into tears and said 'IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHEN DADDY DOES IT. IT IS TOO SMALL'! My pride shrank a little but it was still there. It was a darn good fire.

Later tonight, while hubby is no doubt eating a 3 course meal in his comfy hotel, renting a movie and getting ready to sleep in his king size, really comfy hotel bed, I learned how to use the snow blower for the first time...since we have 6 or so inches of snow. The first few minutes was fun and empowering but now I am just sweaty, smelling like gas and my hands are still shaking from the vibrations. Could care less about being proud now, I just miss hubby.

SNOW Sprinkles

Happy Snow Day to you,
Happy Snow Day to you,
Sled, smile and eat caaaaake,
Happy Snow Day to you!

We had never just made a cake for no reason. Today, the kids came home from school early b/c we are having a big snowstorm. We celebrated by making a yummy chocolate cake. We wrote the word SNOW in big letters on the cake with jimmies. How fun! We had a blast sledding down Nana & Pop's hill and it was really neat to come in to a warm house and enjoy a tiny piece! The kids were thrilled to eat cake for no reason! It is the little things in life!

No Batteries Needed

In Yahoo news: SKoreans clone cats that glow in the dark.

Here is a different spin on the controversal issue of cloning. Who needs a battery operated flashlight? Just clone your cat!

Putting your Foot in your Mouth

I am up really late making Christmas presents. That's right, the Martha in me is kicking in and I have taken on 6 homemade projects this year. I guess you could say I like a good challenge. So I am watching Everyone Loves Raymond reruns and I just heard the funniest line. Next time you put your foot in your mouth (I do it quite often) you can say 'It is like your mouth is falling down the stairs'. It sounds prettier and it is just as meaningful as 'diarrhea of the mouth'.

Almost in 3rd Grade

• PIMPLES- I start work full time in a month. I am starting to get really anxious. It is pretty obvious because my face resembles that of a 16 year old, no not pure and smooth, full of pimples. It is Dec 12th, 13 more days till Xmas, and 32 days until my expected start date. Yup, nothing like a little stress to make a girl look purty.
• FALLOUT EFFECTS- I am extremely excited to start my new teaching career and jittery about the fallout effects it will have on my family. I am realistic. I am going to rely on my trusty crockpot, grocery delivery service, wonderful daycare lady, my night-owl capabilities, and good old fashioned faith to keep me sane (and some luck).
• GUSHES OF GUILT- I have finally conceded that nothing will really help with the gushes of guilt I have been feeling over the last few weeks knowing that my extra time with my little ones is limited. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have second guessed my decision to start teaching this year when I still have 2 kids in 1/2 day school. 'Getting out' a little will make me a better mother, wife, and if hubby is lucky, a better housekeeper (who am I kidding). Plus, the money doesn't hurt.
• The cherub's are sleeping now. Time to clean up, do laundry, exfoliate, and sleep.

How many sips does it take?

My new love is Starbucks coffee. Although it takes 2 years to learn how to order your coffee with all their fancy words, I still love it. I have graduated to a Venti, hot brewed, house coffee (I know, I am not really that fancy-but the people in line order all the strange things). I looked up the word Venti, part because I am a dork and part because I assumed it meant extra large. The dictionary says it means 20? So, I am having 20 sips towards a better day.

First Day Don'ts

When hubby travels for business I have a list of first day don'ts.
The first day he is away:
I don't do dishes (I know, groas). I make a nice, neat pile in the sink.
I don't do laundry.
I don't pick up the toys at the end of the night.
I don't make a 'real' meal.

Hubby would probably argue that these are my everyday don'ts but that is not true. I swear. So sad, self indulgence is not doing chores. What happened to a good pedicure?

No shirt, No shoes, No shop

This is what it is like to shop with 3 kids at 5pm on a schoolnight. Cherub 1 is trying on a (much needed) winter coat, I am begging her to stop asking me to buy her sparkly shoes, earmuffs and other things that she can't live without. Cherub 2 (boy) is trying on girl jellies (member the 80's shoes made of plastic that are bendy). The jellies are clipped together with one of those plastic things so you don't steal them, so he is hopping around, falling all over the place and laughing hysterically. I don't care how much of a scene he is causing because he is happy, not whining or hiding under the racks. Cherub 3 is in a shopping cart stripping because he is mad that he is in a shopping cart. He is in a cart because if he isn't, he runs away and hides. Of course, we are attracting unwanted attention. Some random old lady, while giving me the evil eye because I can't control my kids, tells cherub 3 that Santa is watching and he better stop taking off his clothes. She was trying to teach him the no shirt, no shoes, no shop rule. I wanted to teach her the not your business, not your life, not your place rule and remind her that Santa is watching her meddle in my life. I resisted because I know Santa is watching me too. Wicked good time.

Sassy Lawyer

What happened to the good ol' days when kids did NOT talk back. Sassy little daughter that I have is going to be a lawyer b/c she can wear me down on ALMOST any point. No sorry, little lady, you are NOT wearing short sleeves today. It is 12 degrees out. NO, I don't care that best friend wore a short sleeve shirt yesterday. Best friend isn't my daughter. Great, it is only 8am and I am quoting my mother.

Here, There, Everywhere

One thing I have learned quickly is that there isn't many places I can go without seeing one of my students, student's parents, former students or friends of my students parents (did you catch that one?). Yup, everyone knows everyone and it doesn't matter where, grocery store, dance studio, bball game, you name it, they are there. This means a couple things: one, must shower or at least be sure to look like I did and two, always know who you are talking to. Different town, different state, 'they' are everywhere.

It never fails either, when cherub 2 or 3 is acting either psycho or spoiled in public one is sure to pop up and check out the whole hairy situation. Today at cherub 1's dance class, cherub 3 was acting like a lunatic and there I was trying to have a somewhat normal conversation (who am I kidding!) with one of my new student's moms. Embarrassed by the chaos, I gave the half hearted joke of how I can run a classroom like a well oiled ship but my own house and kids are crazy! She giggled (but really thought to herself 'oh crap, who is this teaching my son'.

Sigh. I guess I will wait another 3 or so years to go in public with my boys.

Intervention

Hubby's sis is sleeping over tonight and we have had many giggles. Hubby helped fold laundry tonight (don't faint). He makes pilez. That's right, lots and lots of pilezzz. So you can picture it, he makes like 5 piles per person (underwear, shirts, pants, sweatshirts, pjs-each with their own pile). Work it out, that is 15 piles for the kids alone. He needs a map to find the pilez and starts new ones when he can't reach the old ones.

So sis decides to have an intervention. When all the laundry is folded and he is surrounded by approximately 20 piles, she points to them and says "This is your brain, it is like piles of crap. Don't get me wrong, you work really hard and I think you do a great job but you need help with your organization". She admits that he can have an opposite intervention because she is over the top when it comes to being organized and making plans. Member how Vavo has curtain day? Well, sis has her week planned too. She knows exactly when she will grocery shop and clean her car each week and has been known to turn down plans to meet hubby and cherubs to do these scheduled tasks. She will check to see if the stove is turned off 3 times before bed even though she doesn't cook.

Hubby, polar opposite of sis can't organize or make a plan to save his life. He refuses to makes plans more than 2 hours in advance (is he afraid he is going to miss something?), can't find his keys, wallet or kids at any given moment and is completely spontaneous. We determined that I am somewhere in the middle. Middle child, even in marriage.

Gift Mountain

What an amazing sight to see, presents stacked taller than us down in our church hall. Each year we participate in the Giving Tree service project. We pick a tag off the tree of our church and make someone's Christmas wishes come true. It was a wonderful way to share the spirit of giving with the cherub's. We wrapped up puppets and dress up clothes for a 9 year girl who hopefully will smile on Christmas morning even though her everyday life may not be so fun and easy. I feel extra thankful today for my cherub's, hubby, family, friends, food on our table and roof over our heads.

Twirl the Night Away

The Nutcracker

Cherub 1 and I joined her Brownie troop tonight to see The Nutcracker. I haven't stopped smiling. Cherub 1's favorite part was watching Clara dance and mine was the Snowflake Dance. Pure magic. I had always wanted to go to the ballet with my kids. I am so glad we could share this night together. I looked over at one point and cherub 1 looked mesmorized by the dancing and music. I will never forget tonight and I hope she holds it close to her heart too!

The Perfect Afternoon

Yes, it does happen! The perfect 1/2 day of school yesterday. Picked up the cherubs, headed to lunch with cousins and friends. Ok, I think I spent half my lunch in the bathroom taking shifts with the kids but they had fun chatting with alll the kids. Why is going out to eat fun with kids, remind me?

After, we had a magical train ride (in the mall but the kids LOVED it) and enjoyed a precious moment of Christmas magic when my 3 cherubs and my 3 nephews all sat with Santa for an AWESOME picture. SIX kids, all smiling, that is a Christmas miracle and oh what a memory! No matter what anyone says, that tingly feeling of anticipation you feel after you whisper your wish to Santa is magic. Sweet memory.

Afterwards, my cherubs had some friends over and they sledded down Nana & Pop's hill for a loooong time and giggled the entire time. All 3 cherub's fell into bed happy and healthy.

Pondering

Does anyone want the real answer when they ask how was your day or how are you? Even if it is your loved ones, isn't it easier to tell them the good news? That is how it seems to me. To my loved ones and best friends, I always want to hear the truth, not just the niceties. Maybe I am a dinosaur. Again, why was Lynette crying alone at the ball field on Desperate Housewives? If she had told anyone her real feelings, even if someone was listening, would they have 'heard' her? Here's a question for us all, are we all out in left field when it comes to friendships and relationships or is anyone really hitting a home run?

Nighty Night

I sub'd yesterday for my class that I will be taking over in Jan. It was awesome and challenging. I really love teaching. I officially was just like the 3rd graders I taught though, I was SOOOOO tired at the end of the day that I was in bed at 8:15pm! People don't realize how exhausting it is to teach. You are 'on' the whole time. Ahhh, superb night sleep though. I feel fantastic today! I can't wait to start full time in January (except for the guilt over my kids...we'll talk about that later).

Shock Waves

During breakfast yesterday, cherub 1 asked me if I thought Santa is real (in front of her two little brothers). After picking myself up from a dead faint, I responded back that 'absolutely, of course I think he is real'. She explained that 3 of her little friends (that are boys) in her class told her otherwise. I suggested she hang out with the girls during recess and expressed my disbelief how they could say such a thing about Santa. The spirit of Christmas must persevere!

Compartments

Hubby can not do two things at once. He can't check his email and listen to anything in the house at once. Not necessarily his fault, his brain is set up into compartments (that is my theory). The listening one, the email one, the football game is on one, etc. You get the drift. He is currently 5 ft away from me checking his email on his blackberry. I asked him a quick question and he ummm'd and said hang on. The whole two things at once, it trips him up. My solution, I sent him an email. At least I know he will get my question. Talking is overrated.

I'm a Super

Did you know I wear a cape? In any given hour I can accomplish a mega list of jobs while balancing kids activities, whining kids, and the unexpected. We are having a national tradegy today b/c I have misplaced my cape and no matter what I try to accomplish, it is not getting completed. It is like I have developed adult ADD (or my hubby's disease- unfinished projects). :o) I am a Super, just like the Incredibles, I am super insane mom!

I Want Daddy Too!

Cherub 3 is in a phase where if he doesn't get what he wants he starts screaming, mouth wide open, "I want DAAADDDYYY!" Me, too, kid. Me, too.

Legwarmers and Lights

We are resurrecting the 70's. During our festive day yesterday, we brought up all the Xmas boxes from the basement to start decorating the trees. Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Slam on the breaks, stop right there. Are those BIG lights for the tree? I haven't seen those since 1975 and I wasn't sad about that. My hubby was (rudely) insistent that we were hanging them on the tree, even mil had a scared look on her face when hubby was flippin on me when I tried to say they may look better outside (like in the back yard on the pool fence?). Realizing after that cherub 1 had picked them out (why didn't he just say that in the beginning) I gave in and cheerfully tried to keep them on. Hubby threw a tantrum taking them all off, which put cherub 1 in tears and us in a fight (all in front of the inlaws. :o) I firmly said (while he was taking them off) "no we are leaving them on, using both and we are going to have FUN!". So far, not so much. Mil laughed and repeated 'we are going to have fun' (yup, that was me, demanding fun). So breakout your legwarmers and gouchos b/c we have brought the 70's back and we are having FUN!

Picture: Cherub 3 hanging the angel on top of the tree. It was really hard to get him to the top with a vertically challenged dad, really tall tree and lots of laughing. We thought we were going to lose them both into the tree. After, he successfully hung the angel he exclaimed, "Can you believe I got it way up there?" So cute!!!

Tree Tops and Traditions

Each year our little family enjoys going to a tree farm and cutting down a beautiful Xmas tree. This year, mil and fil joined us and we had a ball. Boys running through the acres of the farm, especially cherub 2 in his Santa hat enjoyed running up and down the hills. Cherub 1 picked out the perfect tree and all three took turns sawing it down. Somehow, it is magical each year to experience this. Wonderful memories with Grammy and Grampy!

Funny: When (vertically challenged) hubby found a tree and asked me if it was tall enough (our family room ceiling is really high). I politely mentioned that he could reach the top. He laughed and said good point!

The Woodsmen

Ar, ar, ar, my hubby felt like a man, swinging an ax yesterday chopping wood for our new fireplace. Chop, chop, chop. Bonding with the boys, teaching them to use the ax.

Zoom, zoom, zoom, fil enjoys bonding with the boys, teaching them to use the electric wood splitter. Cherub 3 especially loved helping Grampy, both are true outdoorsmen at heart.

Wishing we captured this on film, mil and I giggle as we watch the two men, each having fun, each chopping wood, next to their 'pile'. Hubby so proud, with each pound of the ax, he added to his pile of shavings, while fil's pile grows leaps and bounds of chopped wood. Ar, ar, ar, verse zoom, zoom, zoom.

What are you worth?

There has got to be an easier way to clean the grout on a tile floor. Yup, down on my hands and knees de-crudding it. Simply groas. If anyone out there is looking to invent something that will clean grout with no hassle or pain, I would pay ALOT for it. Sadly, no one here is jumping on my bandwagon to hire a cleaning lady. Bummer.

I once saw an Everyone Loves Raymond episode where after Ray (the hubby) insinuated he was worth more b/c he brought home a paycheck, Deborah (the wife) made an itemized list of her jobs around the house and how much she was worth. Cleaning lady $90 a week, chef, laundry service, homework tutor, childcare, etc. She was worth more. Trust me, I am worth alot around here. Let's just say, I'd be rakin in the cash if I was getting paid. :o) Breaks over people, back to the grout.