Why did my husband think it would be a good idea to put real candy canes on the tree 27 days before Christmas?
I have lost count of how many Ali snuck today...
(The fact that we bought a fake tree this year, and it is already up is another post all together. Let's just say it has put me in a very unmerry mood.)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Nice
I asked Ali this morning if I could sit with her on the couch while I drank my coffee.
Her response
"Only if you don't talk."
That one is going to cause me a lot of trouble I think!
Her response
"Only if you don't talk."
That one is going to cause me a lot of trouble I think!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Picture Perfect???
Last year I didn't send out Christmas cards. I didn't know what to say and couldn't get a good picture of the girls. This year I still don't know what to say, but I am working on the picture part. I consider myself to be very relaxed about a lot of things. I don't know if I have found the wisdom of letting things go and focusing on what is truly important or if my kids have worn me down to the point where I just don't care anymore. I frequently find myself saying, or thinking, "Who cares, it's no big deal!" But, I am OBSESSIVE about their Christmas pictures! I will make myself (and them) crazy trying to get the perfect shot!
This morning I gave the girls their holiday jammies. It is a tradition! Every year, after Thanksgiving, they get a new pair of winter/Christmas/holiday jammies. This year, I got the same jammies for their cousins and decided to extend the tradition to them. I thought it might make us all feel closer to know all the cousins were matching and sharing the same experience, even though we are all miles apart. The girls put their jammies on tonight, and wanted to take a picture to share with their cousins. Oh, oh, oh! I thought I could get a picture for the Christmas card. Think again, Momma!
Do you know how hard it is to get one good picture of all three girls?
Great shot of Emmalena!
Great shots of Bella!
Good poses gone bad...
I guess I should have given Ali her inhaler before we started - do you like all the pictures of her coughing? My favorite is the one of her gum about to fly out of her mouth! I guess I shoud be grateful she coughs into her arm.
It is hard! One or two at a time worked
(We don't have a new addition - just a house guest for a few days. The girls love him!)
But this is as close as I got to a good picture of all three girls.
If it shows up in your mail box, you know it made the cut, but I will keep trying!
This morning I gave the girls their holiday jammies. It is a tradition! Every year, after Thanksgiving, they get a new pair of winter/Christmas/holiday jammies. This year, I got the same jammies for their cousins and decided to extend the tradition to them. I thought it might make us all feel closer to know all the cousins were matching and sharing the same experience, even though we are all miles apart. The girls put their jammies on tonight, and wanted to take a picture to share with their cousins. Oh, oh, oh! I thought I could get a picture for the Christmas card. Think again, Momma!
Do you know how hard it is to get one good picture of all three girls?
Great shot of Emmalena!
Great shots of Bella!
Good poses gone bad...
I guess I should have given Ali her inhaler before we started - do you like all the pictures of her coughing? My favorite is the one of her gum about to fly out of her mouth! I guess I shoud be grateful she coughs into her arm.
It is hard! One or two at a time worked
(We don't have a new addition - just a house guest for a few days. The girls love him!)
But this is as close as I got to a good picture of all three girls.
If it shows up in your mail box, you know it made the cut, but I will keep trying!
Nothin' beats it
There is nothing better than cuddling with a sleeping little one!
And, if you look closely, Ali now has bangs! And a See's lollipop goatee, but don't look that closely.
More Tday
Cutting vegetables is a learned skill!
Isabella placed this note on the dining table as she was setting it for dinner. It reads "Enjoy your dinner." That kid is cute sometimes!
The girls (one who was cranky) working on the chocolate pie.
Making stuffing...
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Not so traditional...
So, this is what I just said to my family
"I thought we were watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie, not having a discusion about gender confusion! Just be quiet and watch the dang movie!"
I would like to thank Peppermint Patty and the new janitor at the girls' school for leading us down this path.
(I mean this as kindly and non judgementally as possible, because I do believe God created each and every one of us, but it is hard even for me to tell the new janitor's gender. And, it is very confusing to the kids. So, when Peppermint Patty came on screen, the girls started talking about the janitor, we got into a discussion of feminity and masculinity, I yelled the above and here we are!)
"I thought we were watching the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie, not having a discusion about gender confusion! Just be quiet and watch the dang movie!"
I would like to thank Peppermint Patty and the new janitor at the girls' school for leading us down this path.
(I mean this as kindly and non judgementally as possible, because I do believe God created each and every one of us, but it is hard even for me to tell the new janitor's gender. And, it is very confusing to the kids. So, when Peppermint Patty came on screen, the girls started talking about the janitor, we got into a discussion of feminity and masculinity, I yelled the above and here we are!)
Finish Then Feast
Today, our family ran their very first 5k, turkey trot!
The girls were very excited last night, choosing what they would wear, and figuring out what time they needed to get up so they would be ready to go on time. We were all up and ready and out the door and to the race a few minutes before they 9AM start time. That in itself is a major accomplishment for us! We planned to run as a group, but that idea fell apart about 10 feet past the start line. Jimmy ran with the girls and I pushed Ali in the jog stroller. We had planned the opposite. Running is hard enough for me as it is, so pushing the stroller was NOT my idea of a nice, easy run, but it was still enjoyable. The girls and Jimmy were off and out of sight! They finished in 40 minutes, and would have shaved a few minutes off their time, but each of the girls, at different times, took a tumble during the run, and Emmalena had to stop and tie her shoes. Those girls can run! They get that from Jimmy. Ali and I showed up a few minutes after the girls. Jimmy and I really wanted a family picture when we were all done with the race, but I guess the girls were tired out and had low blood sugar or something, because the girls totally TURDED out and refused to cooperate. So, these are all the pictures we got of our momentous day.
Lesson learned? Bring our own juice or power bars to give the girls so they aren't totally wiped out when the run is over.
No reason you can't look good when you run!
Like Ali's backside?
Not feeling so glamourous now. Ouch!
Maybe she will be nice if we put some food in her...
The girls were very excited last night, choosing what they would wear, and figuring out what time they needed to get up so they would be ready to go on time. We were all up and ready and out the door and to the race a few minutes before they 9AM start time. That in itself is a major accomplishment for us! We planned to run as a group, but that idea fell apart about 10 feet past the start line. Jimmy ran with the girls and I pushed Ali in the jog stroller. We had planned the opposite. Running is hard enough for me as it is, so pushing the stroller was NOT my idea of a nice, easy run, but it was still enjoyable. The girls and Jimmy were off and out of sight! They finished in 40 minutes, and would have shaved a few minutes off their time, but each of the girls, at different times, took a tumble during the run, and Emmalena had to stop and tie her shoes. Those girls can run! They get that from Jimmy. Ali and I showed up a few minutes after the girls. Jimmy and I really wanted a family picture when we were all done with the race, but I guess the girls were tired out and had low blood sugar or something, because the girls totally TURDED out and refused to cooperate. So, these are all the pictures we got of our momentous day.
Lesson learned? Bring our own juice or power bars to give the girls so they aren't totally wiped out when the run is over.
No reason you can't look good when you run!
Like Ali's backside?
Not feeling so glamourous now. Ouch!
Maybe she will be nice if we put some food in her...
Friday, November 20, 2009
Why God Invented Preschool
Preschool isn't for play, socialization or early learning. It is so moms can try to run a few precious errands in three hours without little ones complicating their purpose. I don't care if Ali learns anything at preschool. (I really don't. I want her to be happy and safe, but learning is just a bonus.)
Preschool is so moms like me can go to the market to by popsicles for a sick kid, without a little one banging on the self scan machine so many times, it quits working. So moms like me don't get dirty looks from old ladies who probably have nowhere to be or go, and seem to have forgotten what it means to have to take small children with us EVERYWHERE we go. Even the bathroom. So moms like me don't stand there with my keys falling out of my pocket, my money falling out of my wallet and my kids being so spastic I have to use my debit card for my $3.48 purchase because using cash is just way too complicated.
Please, God, just let my kids be healthy so I can have my two - three hour mornings, with all the kids in school, so I can get my stuff done without losing my mind.
And, Lord, please help me make it through all the school holidays. You know I won't be getting much done then!
Preschool is so moms like me can go to the market to by popsicles for a sick kid, without a little one banging on the self scan machine so many times, it quits working. So moms like me don't get dirty looks from old ladies who probably have nowhere to be or go, and seem to have forgotten what it means to have to take small children with us EVERYWHERE we go. Even the bathroom. So moms like me don't stand there with my keys falling out of my pocket, my money falling out of my wallet and my kids being so spastic I have to use my debit card for my $3.48 purchase because using cash is just way too complicated.
Please, God, just let my kids be healthy so I can have my two - three hour mornings, with all the kids in school, so I can get my stuff done without losing my mind.
And, Lord, please help me make it through all the school holidays. You know I won't be getting much done then!
Why??
We have the worst garbage men in the world. They screw with the schedule every time there is any kind of holiday and they NEVER pick up before 4PM. Jimmy, who rarely gets worked up over anything, gets ticked off at them weekly and threatens to change service (too much trouble, we haven't YET.)
So, why is it that today, the day I get myself motivated and organized to clean out my freezer, so I can throw the food in the trash on trash day - the GD garbage men come early?!!!!
Now I have to put all the food back in the freezer and try to remember to toss it all next week. Which, Friday being the day after Thanksgiving, the garbage men may or may not show up.
Nice.
So, why is it that today, the day I get myself motivated and organized to clean out my freezer, so I can throw the food in the trash on trash day - the GD garbage men come early?!!!!
Now I have to put all the food back in the freezer and try to remember to toss it all next week. Which, Friday being the day after Thanksgiving, the garbage men may or may not show up.
Nice.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Stinky Fun
Why must Play-doh be so odoriferous?
It really just stinks to me. But, Ali loves to play with it. I usually make my own, but I was desperate today and bought some when I was Christmas shopping at Walmart. (That's right, all my nieces and nephews are done!) I need Ali to entertain herself so I can accomplish something, ANYTHING. She has a cold, and just wants Mom, Mom, Mom.
So, I threw some in the cart and now she is playing on her own, but, jeez, my house stinks!
It really just stinks to me. But, Ali loves to play with it. I usually make my own, but I was desperate today and bought some when I was Christmas shopping at Walmart. (That's right, all my nieces and nephews are done!) I need Ali to entertain herself so I can accomplish something, ANYTHING. She has a cold, and just wants Mom, Mom, Mom.
So, I threw some in the cart and now she is playing on her own, but, jeez, my house stinks!
Sunday, November 08, 2009
The Boo Crew
Starring Emmalena as an 80's pop singer
Isabella as a spy
Ali as a ladybug
and me as a Cat
(The boys in the pictures are our very good friends and neighbors. Ali used to be in love with the nerd, but now is in love with the hippy.)
While the kids were running around gathering candy, I made these (as if we weren't going to have enough sugar - insulin injections here we come!)
And tried to consume this, but all the little trick or treaters kept interrupting me, and I didn't want to look like a lush with candy in one hand and booze in the other.
The big trade the next morning.
Isabella as a spy
Ali as a ladybug
and me as a Cat
(The boys in the pictures are our very good friends and neighbors. Ali used to be in love with the nerd, but now is in love with the hippy.)
While the kids were running around gathering candy, I made these (as if we weren't going to have enough sugar - insulin injections here we come!)
And tried to consume this, but all the little trick or treaters kept interrupting me, and I didn't want to look like a lush with candy in one hand and booze in the other.
The big trade the next morning.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Life is Good
My aunt once said that Jimmy is one of those people who has good luck and that I should marry him so that good luck would rub off on me, or at least I could share his good fortunes. I wondered if his luck would run out, or if it would disappear if he married me.
Well, his luck has not changed over the last 13 years. Jimmy is a smart and hard worker and many good things have happened for him as a result. It just seems that if Jimmy sets his mind to something, it happens.
The latest happening is that he has been selected to attend grad school to earn a PhD in philosophy with a concentration in leadership studies. This is huge! And, he received his acceptance letter from the University of San Diego on Friday. He will attend school full time for three years, while the Air Force pays the tab, and his salary. When he is done, he will be able to return to the Academy to teach until he retires. It still seems too good to be true!
Well, his luck has not changed over the last 13 years. Jimmy is a smart and hard worker and many good things have happened for him as a result. It just seems that if Jimmy sets his mind to something, it happens.
The latest happening is that he has been selected to attend grad school to earn a PhD in philosophy with a concentration in leadership studies. This is huge! And, he received his acceptance letter from the University of San Diego on Friday. He will attend school full time for three years, while the Air Force pays the tab, and his salary. When he is done, he will be able to return to the Academy to teach until he retires. It still seems too good to be true!
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