Holiday pic

Holiday pic

Thursday, December 13, 2012

'Tis the Season...


Wow... less then 2 weeks and it's Christmas.  How in the world did that happen so fast??  

I gotta say, I'm not one of those 'Go all out' Christmas People.  I kinda fly by the seat of my pants and get things done at the last minute.  This year seems to be even more crazy busy then in the past.  And crazy stressful too.  I mean, who isn't stressed during this time of year??  You've got holiday parties, holiday concerts, dance (for us, it's Nutcracker time), shopping, yadda yadda yadda.  

My most stressful thing is shopping...and how am I going to get it all done as well as get everything I need for everyone on my list at a reasonable price... and than figure out how to get my own kids something.  Hubby usually gets the shaft in terms of presents b/c I just don't have it to give... I know, I know- planning is key, right??  But when I am on a week to week budget based on what my take-home pay is, these holiday extras can be a royal pain in the ass.  I know, it's also about what you give and not what you get.  I get that.  It just gets frustrating and challenging to try and explain to your kids why so and so at school got the IT gift of the year from Santa but they didn't.  Why would Santa not give the same to all the kids??  

Sidebar- which also brings me to the Freakin’ Toothfairy.  Shouldn’t there be some kind of guidelines for doling out cash for teeth??  We give out $5 for the first tooth and $1 for each additional tooth.  My kids come home telling me that someone in their class got $20 for a tooth (and it wasn’t the first one).  Limits, people, Limits!!  DJ doesn’t even bother leaving his teeth anymore b/c I also make them write a note to the Toothfairy and he doesn’t think a buck is enough to write a letter…

Now, back to Christmas Season… so, I’m stressed, tired and a little bit crazy.  Oh, ok, a lot crazy but you already knew that.  I just feel like there is NO time to get anything accomplished these days:(

Oh, and don't forget those Holiday Cards..you know, the ones you've been getting since December 1st??  How in the world do people get those cards made and in the mail so early??  Mine are usual sent the day before Christmas (if we're all lucky) and turn into Happy New Year cards:)  If you're lucky, that is..  maybe you'll get them sometime in January as a Just Because card??  Or maybe the picture will be taken, and the cards will be printed but they will never get stuffed and addressed and mailed??  We'll see how this year goes.. lol

And, yes, that other thing called 'Teacher Gifts'.  The mom handling this lovely thing at Max's preschool is asking for $20 from each parent... Are they serious??  I think I was the only one who had a problem with that amount...am I wrong here??  I never was one to go in on the 'group' gift b/c I liked to personalize it, you know??  20 bucks is just ridiculous!! Especially when you do have 2 other teachers to think about...what are they going to want when Franny makes it to pre-school??

Luckily... all of our Saturday rehearsals were cancelled so we can ALL go and get a tree!! Whoo Hoo...

I just can't wait to spend some time together as as family during their break from school (remind me I said this while I'm complaining that they are home...ok??) and perhaps reconnect with each other.

On a positive note, we do have Christmas lights on our house this year (we've been in this house for 8.5 years and this is a first for us).  On a negative note, one of the extension chords used in keeping them lit has broken off in the outlet:(  

Hope you can enjoy your holiday season a little less stressful then over here!!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Random things you may overhear (if you were a fly on our wall)

OK... took a break.. life got hectic and I kept passing out on the couch at night... so, here's to Not Passing Out tonight before Writing:)

And here are some random things you might here if you were a fly on our walls (and car doors..)

'Franny, get the pencil out of the orange slices..'

'Please put your clothes back on... Now... PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON'

'Go upstairs and get me all of your dirty clothes'   now, repeat this about 10 times and you might actually accumulate everything from the closet, under the bed, in the middle of the floor, under the desk, shoved behind the crib...

'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'   that eventually turns into 'Everyone STOP TALKING, Please, just STOP SPEAKING to each other!!'

'I will miss you when you go to work on Saturday'  (as said about 100x every day until Saturday and then it turns into 'I missed you so much while you were at work today'  until Sunday, when it changes back to the first statement)

'Max, stop crying/whining/screaming or you can sit in time out to do it'  (said several times a day... trying to ignore his crying/screaming/whining is really hard... he's really good at it)

'Please walk on your feet from the door to the table, with your backpack.  Do not fall over, do handstands, trip over non-existent things, stop drop and roll, etc while doing it.'

'oh, no, don't climb up there...'

'Get your hands out of your Butt'

'Ah, Franny...don't pee on the floor'  (I swear, I'm going to start putting newspaper down on the floor soon)

'Sit down'  (this is said to Franny who likes to stand on chairs and to DJ who can't seem to sit in a chair while eating dinner and/or do homework)

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO'

'mom... Mom.. MOm... MOM... '

'He's looking at me... she's touching me.. stop singing.. you're being annoying.. yadda yadda yadda'

'I didn't do it, Not me, I don't know'

What would we hear on your walls??  Care to share:)

Hope you're having a fabulous day!!

Monday, October 29, 2012

An Unexpected Birthday Present..

Today is my birthday.  Yeah Me!!  Another year gone by and I still don't feel or look a day over 29... Lol

About a week ago..on the eve of hubby going away for 9 days, he decides to give me a present.  Now, you should know we haven't exchanged gifts in more years than I can remember b/c we have 4 kids and the things they need are often more important.  Well, at least that's what I keep telling myself.  I mean, who doesn't like to get gifts, right?  Yes, I like gifts, ok?  Tis year he surprised me and got me something totally unexpected.  Totally thought it would be new camera equipment or some kind of new baking thing so he really caught me off guard.  I'm typing on my new gift right now and absolutely love it.. Yup, an IPad..  Totally awesome and am totally loving it..  I am finally the cool Mom with some cool thing for my kids to play on (that is if I actually let them touch it). Got my calendar set up..now gotta figure out which online calendar it will sync with the best..

On another note..in case you all were wondering what to get me (I did say I like gifts..lol).. Here are a few suggestions:

-Fondant.. Satin Ice in any color
-Sugar, flour, butter or vanilla.
-vanilla beans and vodka so I can make my own vanilla extract..lol.. Or do shots while scraping vanilla beans..
-Wine
-A chocolate cake from BJ's..  Totally chocolate and awesome and I don't have to bake it..lol
-Hard Cider.. Not picky..just love this shit..

I'm not a hard person to please..it's the simple things..lol..

And, let's hope this whole storm thing on my birthday isn't an ongoing trend.. Blizzard last year, hurricane this year.  I really don't want anything else!

Hope all my East Coast readers are staying safe, happy and sane tonight.