Three Years Ago...

Happy Birthday To You!




Happy Birthday To You!





Happy Birthday, Dear Andrew....



Happy Birthday To You!


I know, I know. I can't believe it either.

Holiday Overload

Does this happen every year? No, not Christmas. I'm almost positive Christmas is an annual event.

I'm speaking about the insanity surrounding Christmas. I know I get wound up and start worrying about the gifts I'm giving people. I stress and fret because I want each gift to be the perfect one, and I fall short so, so often. It's funny, really, because I want each gift to be a symbol of how close we are, but not knowing what to get probably signifies that we simply aren't close at all. But in that case I want the gift to symbolize my intent to bridge the gap.

Anyway, on top of the gift search for my family, I do Holiday Cards. I know they are falling out of favor. I've read articles about how social networking sites have made them obsolete. Thanks to Facebook I not only can look at my haven't-seen-you-since-high-school's family vacation photos, I can hear about what my cousin is having for lunch. In this context, a Holiday Card with a posed photograph seems expensive and almost wasteful. But I like getting them, and so I send them, as a gesture to people I don't see very often that we have been thinking of them.

We put up decorations in the house. Modest ones, really. Just electric candles in the windows. A tree. And inexplicably a light up Winnie-The-Pooh on a sled the kids really love. As soon as the decorations go up, the kids start to crack. It's too much - the shopping, the boxes arriving in the mail that I refuse to open in front of them, the music everywhere...

And the schools are no help. They drill the holidays into the kids even worse than I do. There are parties and Holiday Concerts, all on different days from each other and different for each child. There are gift swaps, each requiring specific items at different times for different age ranges - Andy needs a wrapped book by Monday and Nate needs a wrapped puzzle by Friday, Nick needs a small gift on Friday, Nate's concert Friday, Andy's Party Monday, Nate's Party Wednesday, Nick needs a bigger gift Thursday, and his party is on that day...

And then I need teacher gifts, which I'll post about later, but involves baking. And the items can go stale, so I can't just make all fifteen of them at once... fifteen because each child has two teachers, but then I added up all piano teachers, gymnastics, karate, etc.

I'm nervous because I'm afraid I'm going to forget someone or not do something and then someone will feel bad. Someone will think I won't love them. Or don't care about something. And I do. I really do. Even though a more logical part of me, a part trying to make itself heard, keeps shouting that my in-laws will have a good time Christmas Eve even if I don't wash the kitchen floor.

The boys must be picking up on my stress. And added to the excitement of Christmas, the music, the decorations, the practicing Good King Wenceslas every single night... is it any wonder that Nathan can't look me in the eye because he can't keep still? And that I have to tell the boys six times to pick out pyjamas only to have Nick try and put Nate in a Time Out for touching his toys?

I wish I could turn Christmas off for a day. I wish there were a way to not do or see or expose my children to it, just for one day...

La la la

It's Christmas Season and I'm busy. Too busy to think of anything to say. What am I doing, you ask?

Well.... surfing, of course.

Christmas Tree Festival

We've been going to this Christmas tree festival for the past few years. More and more of these are popping up. Try as I might, I can never quite explain it to people.

Lucky for me, Lillian took some pictures this year. Here are some of the best shots:


First of all, there are just so many trees.
There is a raffle for each tree, and everything that is on or under it. These trees range from the conservative,
to the absurd.

They do not need to be real trees.
And a few can be really fantastic.
The Wicked Tree

The Bonsai Tree:


Here's a tree grilling:


This guy is stealing a tree:


And look at this! What could land this little guy in the deertention center?


Oh, I see. Poor Gramma!

Christmas Here On The Farm

Never gets old... not really...

Credit Where Credit Is Due

I like to post about things my friends and family do. If I have a friend with a blog, I'll post about it, and add a link. So if anyone I know is in a show, puts out an album, writes a book... well, I usually post about it. As long as I know about it, and the friend or family member responsible has not asked me not to.

My brother has a podcast.

Why haven't I mentioned this before, you ask? Especially when I was Soooooo excited when my cousin's singing went online, and when other people do shows, sing songs, read.... you know. Well... I'll tell you. Just give me a moment...

See... until a few days ago, I hadn't listened to it.

I was nervous. Talk radio makes me nervous. I either find it so boring I fall into a coma as I'm driving the car, or I find it so offensive my head explodes. See, I am a liberal. At least I consider myself a liberal. And many talk radio programs are not liberal. They are decidedly the opposite. And these programs, the ones find the most offensive and irritating and life threatening, these are the programs my brother listens to. And agrees with. Against what I find is common sense and in many cases common decency. Although I do admit, everyone has the right to his or her own opinion, no matter how incorrect or self-serving, which explains most people who live in The Middle, I guess.

Anyway... I hate politics. Which is why I have avoided my own brother's program. Until recently, because, after all, he is My Brother! And even if I don't agree with everything he says, I am so proud of everything he does. So... I listened. Because I love him.

What I'm trying to say is this: you should give this podcast a listen, if you haven't already. Listen to The Specialists - available on iTunes. It's entertaining! I am a convert. Not politically, no... but to this program. These guys are funny and entertaining and this wasn't at all the kind of show I thought I was trying to avoid. I feel almost ridiculous for having put it off. Give it a try, I tell you. What have you got to loose? Go, people, Go!

Just Tired

I can't seem to stay asleep. I'm tired. I kind of lost my voice over Thanksgiving, and it hasn't ever really come back. I thought it was the dry heat, but the humidifier isn't helping. Also, I can fall asleep just fine, but near dawn I wake up in the pitch black, worried and stressed about Holiday things.

It isn't fair, really. I'm spending a lot of time and energy thinking about pumpkin bread instead of enjoying the season. Why can't I relax?

Crazy Bus

This is just an example of how juggling multiple projects from multiple people can make you crazy. Read all the way through, please.

Nick's school lunch program has an online system. This easily happens when schools turn to third party catering companies, those that specialize in schools and nursing homes, for their food needs. We get a printed calendar with the months food choices, so we can decide if we are buying or bringing lunch. And Nick can purchase a milk each day, which he does, for 40 cents.

I can easily go online and put money into an account instead of sending cash with Nick. This is good because neither Nick nor his teacher need be bothered with dealing with the money. But it does have a drawback. First of all, I get charged 30 cents for every ten dollars we put into the account, and then get charged interest by the credit card company because I need to use a credit card.

But there are more drawbacks. This morning I got around to looking through the papers Nick brought home from school yesterday and found a letter saying he owed 50 cents for his school lunches, and then adding a paragraph stating that there is an online system this year, oh negligent parent, and you can actually go online and keep an eye on what he's eating and how much is still in the account!

Only I can't. Because to actually get THIS privilege I would need to pay $10 a year, and I refuse, especially when I'm paying processing fees. I would leave an angry comment about this somewhere, but I can't, because there is no one to leave this to. The website is feedback free.

Anyway, today is waffle day, and Nick was looking forward to it, so I rushed to my laptop to quickly put some money into the account so he could eat lunch. My laptop was charging on the floor in my bedroom, not an ideal location, but I need my humidifier when the heat is on, so the usual outlet is taken.

So while I'm on the floor, trying to type in my credit card number, Nate and Andy come running in, half dressed, to bother me about toys for show and tell (Nate's letter of the week is K, why can't he bring his Krocodile Kite?). Also, Andy's eyes are red for no good reason, and he does not want to go to school. But they see a big cardboard box which used to hold something from Santa, but the contents of which has already been assembled and hidden away. It's empty but for a small load of styrofoam peanuts, which I was saving so that Nick could build the snowman he has to make for homework, but is late turning in to school.

The boys see this box of white stuff, and immediately start shaking it. I am not looking at them, I'm looking at my laptop and my credit card, crouched on the floor. And suddenly the cardboard box with the styrofoam peanuts knocks into my huge oversized coffee mug and coffee flies onto the rug, my running shoes, and my laptop.

I start screaming, thinking about how my laptop is ruined (it's fine), how I need to clean up the spill, how I need to start all over entering the information for Nick's school lunch, and how we should already be putting coats on because Nick is going to miss the bus.

The boys are terrified. Nate still needs a show and tell item that begins with K and is not a kite. Andy still has no shoes on, and steam is coming out of my ears. My morning coffee is seeping into my rug.

That's how MY day is going. Yours?

More R & R

OK, so you know the last post I blogged? Or Blog post I posted? Or.... I dunno, I've been doing this for years, but I still don't know the right terminology... Anyway.... MY LAST POST...

I posted Rachel and The Reindeerz singing Child of Winter. For those of you who didn't recognize her or have never met her, Rachel is my cousin, Rachel. And she obviously rocks.

AND, you can now actually PURCHASE Rachel and The Reindeerz on iTunes! How exciting is that? For me, I mean. And obviously also for Rachel, too.

My point is, everyone should go download this right now. It's less than a dollar, and the song is really good. It's a pop Christmas song, nostalgic and happy and you haven't heard it a billion times yet. But you can, if you buy it RIGHT NOW! So what are you waiting for?

Also, I should probably drink less coffee.

Reindeerz

If you are a member of my family and have not yet watched this video, then do it. The beautiful young lady singing should be very familiar to you.

Coming Clean

I know, I haven't been posting anything "real" or worth a darn over the last few days. I'm sorry. See, the truth is, I'm running around all hectic.

First of all, I'm trying to finish my holiday shopping. And it's difficult. Some people I have covered, but others, you are just difficult people. And you'll know who you are. The same people every year get the same old silly socks and t-shirts and mugs with kitties on them.

I picked up mittens off the giving tree at the library, thinking I could buy a few things for people who needed them. I mean, these are everyday items. Like "Socks" or "Pants" and I feel a little awful because these are items that I might put off buying, but not because I can't afford them. So I figure I'll get them for people who need them, right? Only no, not really, because every single mitten seems to have contradictory information. Like it's for a 7-year old girl who wears a size 14 pant. Maybe she'll grow into them? Or a 13 year old girl who would like a size 9 pant. As though this exists, because I only ever find even sizes, so what do I do then?

And on top of all that, my home is sprinkled with toys. The boys pull everything out, put nothing back, and then act surprised and cry and scream when I insist on them cleaning things up. "Time to clean up!" I say. "Not Fair!" "It was ANDY!" "CLEAN UP, NATHAN!" "WHAAAAAAAA!" I have good reason to just throw it all away and start from scratch. My throat hurts from screaming back.

Anyway, here's another link for Hanukkah. It made me laugh. Enjoy!

Candlelight - The Maccabeats @ Yahoo! Video

Noel

Today we are visiting some pre-decorated Christmas trees.

Then I shall take Nathan to a birthday party.

Then we will begin decorating our little gingerbread houses.

My goal is to keep the humor and the wonder in the month of December. Without eating too many cookies.

8 crazy Nights

Last year I made a big deal of Christmas on this blog. At least I think I did. I remember posting links to songs, books, all sorts of things.

But this year I'm behind on everything. My shopping isn't even half done. I haven't started my holiday cards. And beyond the annual letter to Santa and the holiday-ish background, this blog has been Holiday free.

Did you know Adam Sandler grew up in a city not too far from where I live? Happy Hanukka!

Holiday Panic

Yesterday was the first Library Story Hour of this session. When signing up, I changed our time from Thursday mornings to Wednesday afternoons because I wanted a free morning and over-scheduled Wednesday afternoons. So I was not as familiar with the group of mothers clustered around the children's room tables.

The conversation hovered around holiday shopping. a couple of the women spoke about what they did on Black Friday. They talked about being there in the middle of the night, standing in long lines to get ipods, shopping, finding better prices elsewhere, and returning items to save a few bucks. During the conversation, one woman was doing internet research and finding flyers they could price check and price match with.

I felt like an anthropologist observing a foreign culture. It's not that I am not for saving a few dollars. In fact, Steve thinks I'm downright cheap because I refuse to buy things that I don't think are absolutely necessary. Like new pants. But I don't think twice about spending on organic foods or trips to Disney World, so I know he's wrong. I'll meet you in Orlando. I'll be the one in the burlap sack.

Seriously, though, the conversation made me uncomfortable. I like to think it's because I think Christmas is about more than just things, and that I have risen to a higher state of spritual holiday-ness, but I may be giving myself too much credit. More likely it's because I don't buy the things that these ladies are buying. Our boys are lucky enough to have a lot of relatives and usually get more gifts than is healthy anyway, so the pressure is off. One toy per boy is good. And we are also lucky enough to be able to afford these things without much stress.

But also, I would gladly pay and extra five bucks for an item if it means I will not have to stand in a long line or stay up late for it. Or squeeze in past or with fellow holiday shoppers who are grabby and as stressed as I am.

And then I had last night's dream.

I was driving to the store, and it was early, just when the store opened. It wasn't too crowded, but the shelves were almost empty. There was nothing left! I was too late. And on top of it all, the one thing I was going to get Andy turned out to be the size of our kitchen. It was huge.

So instead of running, I'm going shopping this morning. Running to the store. To buy stuff.

Holiday Words

Nick brought home a class assignment this afternoon that had me rolling on the floor. The title was "Top Ten Holiday Words" and there were lines underneath to write the words on.

Now, quickly, without reading ahead, what are your top ten holiday words?

I'll bet you had something like "lights" or "gifts" or "tree" or "music." Maybe something along those lines? Because, you know, it's the holidays, and these things are floating all around to the point that we need to wave them away to see our own faces.

Well, here's what Nick wrote, along with some sort of translation. Try and picture it with each line of text reaching the edge of the page and the letters trailing downwards and running into each other.

CANDL (Candle - I'm good with this.)
MARE KOREMIS (Merry Christmas)
HAPPE VAENTNSDAY (Happy Valentine's Day)
HAPPE HOUWEN (Happy Halloween)
HAPPE KLUMBES DAY (Happy Columbus Day)
HAPPE LEPRCONS DAY (Happy Leprechaun's Day - The New St. Patrick's Day)
HAPPE THAGKGIVIG

I hope you understand why I think this is funny. It's not the spelling. It's the actual words he chose. In combination with the spelling. Also, Klumbes day beat out Thagkgivig

Thanksgiving Parade

So we went to New York for Thanksgiving.

One of the many perks is that the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade now goes right by the apartment. So we got to watch it from indoors.

This is what you would see if you walked into the room:



And this is what they are looking at:



But there are a few thing you don't even have to look down for:

A Dog And His Boy

Feed Me

Puck is always ready for supper.

Nap

I have officially stopped trying to get Nick to nap, ever. Unless he is ill or woke up at 4am.

Because Nick refuses to sleep, and he manages to keep his brothers awake, so if I do, on occasion, get the idea to try and get him to rest, no one will sleep at all.

Nathan is also growing out of his nap. More often than not I will send him to play, sometimes making him wait until Andy has fallen asleep, and sometimes not even waiting for that.

Andy will sleep. But he is very aware that he doesn't HAVE to. He wants to be up playing, like his brothers. He wants to be outdoors before it gets too dark. So he fights it.

He does not get out of the bed. No. Instead he wriggles and waves his arms and talks and turns around.

Sometimes, in an effort to model behavior and lead by example, I will put down my book, close my eyes, and stay very still. But the problem is I will fall asleep. I can hear the boys whispering and talking to themselves, but I am falling asleep.

Now, I do not want to be asleep. The days of midnight feedings are long gone. I get enough sleep at night. I have things I need to do during the day, important things such as folding laundry or emptying the dishwasher or taking those presents I purchased for Christmas out of the car while the kids are not looking. I can't fritter my time away relaxing and waiting for small boys to sleep, let alone dream the day away myself. But I am the one falling asleep, and the boys are the ones in perpetual motion to avoid unconsciousness.

If I give up and leave the bed, Andy does not sleep. If he does not sleep, Andy is fine until about 4pm, when he begins to cry. The littlest thing sets him off - the wrong cup at dinner, his brother playing with a toy that Andy wants to play with, someone else choosing the TV show to watch.... it doesn't matter. Andy can tantrum with the best of them, and there is no talking him out of it. He can't be reasoned with and refuses comfort. Because he is so tired. So, so very tired.

Putting him to bed seems the only alternative, but it's usually a good 2 hours before his bedtime. And I do not enjoy 4am.

I'm going on this way so you will understand: I am now scheduling a nap for myself each day. No. I fall asleep by accident while trying to avoid chaos.

Let Us Give Thanks

It is Thanksgiving.

This is the day I thank the universe for all that I have. I am grateful for my family, for my boys and for my husband. I am thankful for our home and the warmth it gives. I am thankful for our furnace.
I am thankful for the food we eat. I am thankful for farmers, especially those who promote natural and organic farming, and those who do not use antibiotics in their feed.
I am thankful for my church and the people in it, for our library and the librarians who are so good to my boys, and to the schools my children go to. I am thankful that the boys love going to all three of these places.
I am thankful that my boys are being given the opportunity to learn. I am thankful for the internet. I am thankful for Glee. I am thankful for good books and inexpensive red wine and music that takes me by surprise.
I am thankful for our car, that we can afford to buy gas, and that we have places to go if a huge storm hits.
I am thankful we have not had a huge storm, an earthquake, a zombie infestation, or been hit my a meteor.
I am thankful for so many things I do not have time to list them all. Be thankful for little boy naps - that's the only reason this post exists in the first place.

Happy Thanksgiving, All!