'Twas the Day After Christmas

... and all through the house

every creature is stirring

and making me NUTS!!!

seriously... that jolly fat ass brought you a ton of shit and you are going to fight over a vidoe game that you've had for almost a year? how about you jump on the wii fit+ and burn off some of that sugar.

Come to think of it, this jolly fat ass should kick them both off of the wii and do some yoga... since there isn't an s-factor for the wii (yet).

So, you can expect a return to regular blogging now that Santa brought the kids a new Laptop. We stopped our internet service shortly after the old one pooped out, so I am "borrowing" an unsecured signal until we reinstate it. I am currently researching our option since we also got rid of the land line. I hate the cable company with a passion words cannot express, so we won't be spending a penny there. I'm open to other suggestions. It looks like AT&T now offers internet with no home phone service, but that would also require us to switch cell phone carriers - which may not be a bad idea. Anyway, there are options to weigh and plans to compare, so bear with me.

For now I try for 2 weekly posts - an weekly recap and TGIF. The TGIFs are really for me, but I hope you are all inspired by them to do the same. It is really quite powerful when you get down to it.

Christmas recap:

lots of Wii games, the netpal and Cars for Colin. Todd got a GPS, some DVDs and we both got new tires for the car (amazing what happens when you grow up, huh?). I got a couple movies and lots of bling for my Pandora bracelet. most of all, a healthy hubby and 3 happy kids. 2009 has been a pretty good year to me, but that'll be another post.

Lost and Found

When I dropped off the boys' disposable cameras I also dropped off an old roll of film. I had no idea what was on it - or even how old it was (though we've been digital for at least 5 years).


When I saw this on top of the stack, I nearly burst into tears!



That was Oreo laying in a box of Christmas Ornaments! She was just a wee kitten there and she's been gone now almost 3 years.


Turns out the film was from Christmas 1999 - our first Christmas as husband and wife (and kitten)!


Then there are some of my nephews in a much younger state. Owen (on the left) was 8mo and Jake was about a week shy of 1yo. They are 9 now...



And I wore GLASSES! geez... that's going back!

Christmas Chaos

Ryan got art supplies, puzzles, hot wheels, craft stuff and his favorite -his hockey equipment - and lessons

Doctor Andy got a lab coat, Dr kit (incl microscope and a human body model), hotwheel racetrack, remote control helicopter, puzzles, art supplies and- of course sparring gear!

I think Colin had more fun with the paper...

Todd got his Battlefront edition PSP. I got the Hoover Hard Floor Cleaner (aka kitchen zamboni), a bunch of DVDs, knitpicks Optiosn set, and 6 skeins of handspun alpaca.

No injuries. No trips to the Hospital.

Christmas Gifts

Last week, I had intended on this weeks blog entried consisting of pics of Andy's belt test and the boys' Christmas haul - and I will get to that. First I need to share a story about what happened to me on Christmas Eve.

I had to drag the afore mentioned boys with me to the grocery store. I normally shop without kids and I almost never take more than one with me. Between the lack of sleep and the stress that comes along with making Christmas "perfect" for the kids I was NOT equipt to bring them shopping. I was in NO mood to handle the "gimmies" when we had already extended our tight budget to buy them all the goodies on their lists (well, almost, Ryan wanted a mororcyle. we decided hockey was safer.) My shopping trip sounded like this:

Kid: I want this!
Mom: It's not on our list.
Kid: But I want it.
Mom: It's not on our list.
Other Kid: Buy me that!
Mom: Not. on. the. list.
Toddler: (grabs whatever he can reach off of shelves)
Mom: (growls)
Toddler: GRRRRRR!
Kid: I want red apples!
Other Kid: NO! I hate red apples! I want green grannies!
Kid: GROSS! Red ones are yummier!

Then an older* woman comes by, puts a $20 bill in my hand and says "I've been there. Merry Christmas!" and walks away. I was touched and moved beyond words. I bought the red and the green apples. Her kindness is a Christmas gift I will never forget. It really isn't about the money. None of us would have gone hungry or cold yesterday without that $20, but the empathy, kindness and generosity showed me that the world still does care about one another - something we dont do enough anymore. Christmas is a time to show the world we care about eachother and thank the Lord for his Son. It isnt' about The latest electronics or the best sales.

*older only means older than me - NOT "old". This particular woman appeared to be about 70ish.

O Christmas Tree

I thought the boys had a bad case of the "Christmas Crazies" after Ryan's birthday and breakfast with Santa. OH NO! It has gotten exponentiaily worse now that the tree-trimming has begun!


We finally got our tree on Saturday. We usually go to the tree farm between our parents' houses. This year, I think we started a new tradition. We went accross town to a Catholic school that was selling trees as a fund raiser. Short drive. Good cause.

Since we waited so long to get our tree, they were pretty well picked over. There were a couple "passable" trees. Colin grabbed on to one and would NOT let go- so we bought it. I thought it was nice and full, though a few lower branches were a bit scragly.

The nice volunteers gave our tree a nice fresh cut and then 4 of them attempted to run it through the bailer. It didn't fit. They tied it to the roof. We drove home.

Todd took it off the roof and left on his errands leaving me to get the tree up (Don't get mad at him- it is better for our marriage that he just get the hell out of my way!). I dragged it in the fron door- barely fit. To get it into the living room- I pulled and the boys pushed. Once in the stand, I stood it up in the center of the room. It took up the ENTIRE room. Some quick work with the pruners on the sad little branches and I was able to push it up against the wall- with a few branches poking through the stairs.


I am so Impressed with our lovely tree that I wanted to make sure I got some good pictures.


I backed up as far as I could without going through the window and yet I could not capture its full girth.


Notice the tree skirt? It is about 6ft in diameter. It is also one of my favorite things about Christmas. A tradition I started the year Todd and I got married. I made the skirt that year- blue felt with white sparkly felt snow drifts and embroidered stars. I add an element every year.

• 1999- I made the skirt
• 2000- I added the house- which looks like ours because we moved in that year.
• 2001- I added the train (and I still need to buy more buttons to finish the wheels!) to represent Andy and his love of Thomas the Tank Engine.
• 2002- Ryan was born Thanksgiving weekend. I photocopied a snowman from one of his outfits and made the pattern for the snowman.
• 2003- The Christmas tree was added to represent our family growing stronger.
• 2004- The year of "the fire". I added the angel that was watching over our family that night.
• 2005- Is noticably (to me) absent. It was our first Christmas home after a long battle with the insurance company. We had high hopes and great expectations for that Christmas, but it turned out to be one that Todd can't even remember and I just want to forget. Looking back now, I think I am going to add a "Tree of Life" because life does go on.
• 2006- Gifts were added under the tree to represent Colin- a true gift from God.
• 2007 - I haven't added anything yet, and I'm still not sure what it'll be- maybe a penguin?

Shown here with toddler* for scale.


*Said toddler had his 15m check up yesterday. He is now around the 50th %ile for both height and weight!

Holiday Fluff 'n Stuff

I am happy to pimp my friends' blogs. I will tell anyone who stands still long enough about a good deal or great service. Self-promotion isn't my strong suit. I'm just gonna put on my big-girl panties and suck it up because I have GOT to show you what I am stocking tomorrow (noon EST) for the Holiday season.

Christmas Kittens


Christmas Puppies


Rudolph


and Custom Holiday Embroidery