Holiday Meme

Janet over at Dancing Through is a new site I've found. Her blog really appeals to me because she is a mom with a toddler, and refers everything back to dancing. I haven't actually found yet if she is a former dancer, but I like to think so.

She found a Holiday Meme and I decided to jump on the bandwagon!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? For now, Presents are wrapped and go under the tree as soon as they are ready. Grandma and Grandpa take care of the surprise gifts. I can't wait to see how this changes for us over the next few years though.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like White for me, I love to see color on other peoples houses. I CAN'T STAND IT when people mix the two. Sue me, I'm crazy like that.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope, The only person worth kissing doesn't believe in mistletoe so why bother.

5. When do you put your decorations up? I would like to do them the day after Thanksgiving but if you know me... you know I'm just not that organized even if I were home that day.

6.. What is your favorite holiday dish? I love anything chocolate... or the green bean casserole... and of course the mashed potatoes.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Making cookies or candies to give to our teachers and neighbors. We always snuck just enough candy to keep from being sick, but way to many to want dinner.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I wish I remembered... I hope it's a very long time before my children do!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We open one gift each from my mom aka Grandma Julie. She always buys us pajamas to wear for Christmas morning. Lately the PJs have coordinated with the kids and I just adore the little family pictures of all of us wearing them!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? The lights are already on the tree... one less fight! We have all memory ornaments from my childhood or from our marriage. I love the family look, no matchy matchy for me!

11. Snow! Love it OR DREAD IT ?? Love the first snow fall... until I have to drive in it, or when it gets all muddy or footprinty.

12. Can you ice skate? A little, we did take lessons as kids but Jamie was much more interested than me.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really, each year there was a favorite... topped by another favorite the next year. If I had to pick one, it was the year my parents agreed to pay for my airfare to S. Carolina so I could attend a wedding for one of Adam's best friends. This was a big step for my parents who firmly believe that sex is for marriage and that traveling with a boyfriend is "dangerous".

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Cozy times at home as a family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? The little peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate that my mom makes.

16. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving, but receiving is fun too!

17. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Silent Night, it reminds me of the reason for the season and has a comforting melody.

18. Candy canes? Only the fruit flavored ones.

frustration

I really don't have time to post now... because I've spent every chance I had, times I wanted to be posting, fighting with Google and Blogger Beta to find the right log in combination. I think I have it now but don't have actual time to write actual interesting information.

I should never have switched to Beta!

The Circus!

We had such a great time at the circus a couple weekends ago. I didn't actually take any pictures of circus stuff because, well, I don't really care about those people, I care about these people:
Brianna and Grant hugging during intermission in Pop Pop's lap. (see Daddy trying to get out of the frame?)



Brianna was a little afraid when we first arrived but quickly fell in love with the circus. Here is Brianna and Grandma oohing over something.


Grant and his favorite part of the night, clapping! He actually was close to sleeping after intermission. It was really cute... he would be super cuddly and have just closed his eyes, then something big would happen and everyone would clap. He would pop up and clap with everyone, then try and settle into sleep as soon as it was done.

Where does the time go?

It is an old question, and one that I seem to ask myself a lot.

Grant, my baby, is a toddler. He is trying to walk. He only drinks from a sippy cup, and that cup, holds real milk instead of formula (well, soy milk due to his alergy). He eats table food. We are donating all our remaining jars of baby food to a food pantry this holiday season. (I overstocked just a little!) He likes all bread products and bread like products, meatballs, chicken nuggets, soy/veggie cheese, bananas, and applesauce. We can't get him to eat veggies but we keep trying and I'm going to start slipping baby vitamins into his milk once a day. I don't know how he manages it all with only 2 teeth, but he's amazing.

Daily, I look at my kids and wonder where the time went. I am especially hard hit when I have to put away the outfits they outgrow after wearing once, or not wearing at all. I save all those... just in case.

This is a dangerous phase for me. I don't have a baby anymore, and my little one is not yet toddler enough to be difficult. It's this phase that I think about another one. And Adam checks my pills daily! (just kidding, but he might consider it!) I'm not ready for another baby now, but I want one, someday. But that, is another story for another YEAR!

Congratulations, It's about Dang time!

Britney has filed for a divorce from Kevin.

Congratulations Brit. I am proud of you and know you will do better with out him. Next time, think about your children when you pick a husband. You should have known he was a dog when he wasn't faithful to Char or his children with her. Why did you think you would be different?

Way to go!

My baby is a teenager in disguise

It has been an interesting start to the week with Ms. Brianna. Did you know that she is 3 now? What no one tells you is that 3 is WAY worse than 2! It might be terrible 2 but it's dreadfully, very bad, appalling 3. She knows what is wrong, and that is why she does things. She chooses to intentionally do the things she knows are wrong. Sorry readers of children who are not yet 3... this is typical and it will happen to you too!

Monday, I picked the kids up from school at normal time in the normal way. She put on her coat, she waved goodbye to her friends, we started driving. Somewhere in the first five minutes, we argued because I told her she couldn't take off her shoes and socks. Sometime not long after that, we argued because she wanted to take off her seatbelt. And then because she couldn't take off her coat. And then she started yelling at me.

I calmly and quietly told her that if she didn't stop yelling, she would be in Time out when we got home. She stopped yelling, for a minute or so.

And then it happened, loudly but not yelling, she said "I don't want to go home, I don't want to go to time out, I want to stay at school." She said it again.... and again... and like 25 times after that. Always in the same angry loud but not yelling voice. I wish you could hear it! BUT... that's not the topper... when she finally realized I was not going to respond, she repeated it one more time with a little addition tacked on the end...
"I don't want to go home, I don't want to go to time out, I want to stay at school. Those are your choices mommy!"

I swear I thought I would pee my pants from holding in the laughter! I barely was able to drive the car with the tears in my eyes. I giggle even now, days later.

Tuesday was a completely different little girl. She had her first Gymnastics class with out a parent in the room! We have been doing parent-tot gymnastics for over a year but this was her first class where mommy watched from the observation room instead of helping out with the class. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional. The start was a little rough. We'd been talking about this for over a week but she clung to me and wouldn't participate. After 15 minutes, she waved at me and blew kisses but still wouldn't do most of what they asked. Finally at 30 min. through the 45 min. class she was back to her old self. I really hope next week goes better. I think I'll make daddy go!

I am just a little sick

I am a planner!

Today I was having a discussion with some friends about divorce rates. We figured that out of the 4 of us, at least one of us would be getting divorced at some time... probably 2 of us if averages hold.

I revealed the fact that while I've never thought about divorcing Adam, at least not seriously, I have seriously made plans in case he dies. I know that this is a stupid thing to do. Adam is a safe driver, doesn't fly much, and is relatively healthy despite recent events.

Still...
If Adam dies, I will:
1. Ask for help from my parents and his to pay off my house. I don't like the thought of groveling but I could never afford the house alone.
2. Apply for assistant principal positions immediately. Right now, I only take home about $1000 a month after you subtract daycare from my take home pay! Can't raise 2 kids on that.
3. I would marry again. Not right away of course but eventually. I am not good at being alone.

Is this sick?

I think it's especially sick that my children might someday read this...
But I am who I am!

Life in the twilight zone

Today:

-I worked at work, most of the day anyway.
-Both kids were awake before we had to wake them up.
-One of the two kids woke up happy and was actually smiling when we walked in her room AND was willing to potty and get herself dressed without argument!
-I didn't spend too much money on lunch/food.
-I got done all the things I set out to do.

I think the life Karma is waiting to really hit me where it hurts....
Waiting.....