Monday, December 26, 2005

Visions of Sugar Plums

Well Christmas is over, but wasn't it fun? Yesterday was the longest day ever, but that's not a bad thing. It was a lot of work, but it was priceless seeing the kids so happy. I had so much fun, I couldn't sleep lastnight. I just kept replaying the day's events in my mind.

We have lots and lots of pictures, but we need to download the new program that comes with our camera, so until we do that, I won't be able to download the pictures.

We got up at 7 a.m., took our showers, ate some breakfast, then got the kids up at 8 a.m. We took them straight to their presents. The first present they opened (all together!) was the two-set Elmo - Check-up Elmo and Potty Elmo. The second gift they opened was this thing called "Learn Through Music." It has a moving screen with Elmo singing about some scavenger hunt. Once the boys saw that, they were done. AR opened the rest of the presents herself. And she got the hang of it pretty quick!! She dug right in! We got her a Cabbage Patch baby that looks just like her, and she's been unable to part with it from the moment they met. :)

Then RD and I opened our gifts from the kids. The kids got him tickets to see George Strait in February and they got me a CD/Stereo to be mounted under our kitchen cabinets. Yeahhh! Win-wins for all!

We made hash brown casserole, then headed to his mom's around 10:30 a.m. for brunch. We ate, then once again dug into presents. Between our presents and the kids', RD and I were opening gifts for close to an hour. I can't complain...we got a lot of neat things!

We headed home around 12:45 p.m., put the kids down for a nap (yea right, they had other plans) and got the house, food, etc. ready for my family to come over at 3:30 p.m. It was my first turn at hosting and it was a lot of fun. Everyone always complained in year's past about how much work it is, but I didn't think it was so bad. Other than not a single person in my family helped me clean up after we ate...but that's a different story. Thank God I have such a wonderful MIL. She's the best!

The last guest left around 7:30 p.m. RD and I did a fast clean-up around the house, then plopped ourselves down on the couch by 8:30 p.m. to veg out in front of the t.v., then were in bed by 9:30 p.m. It was a great day.

I expected the kids to be bloody awful today. We had been running, running for two days straight, and they were allowed to go wild (within reason :)) and eat their weight in cookies during this time, so I thought today we would pay the price - but they've been pretty good. I've been assembling their new toys ALL DAY, so they've had plenty to keep them occupied.

Now it's time to go play. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! I'll post some pictures soon!

Friday, December 23, 2005

Almost There

Can you believe it's only two days until Christmas? Given the 60-degree weather around here, I sure can't! This weather is amazing. Once I hit the streets to get my groceries for Sunday, the time of year couldn't be denied. The traffic was horrendous! But I got most everything I needed. I forgot only one thing, which really is a good thing. I always forget something. ALWAYS. This time it was the rye bread for the rye bread pizzas. And actually, I didn't forget it, I just bought the wrong thing. It looked like the little rye bread loaf, but it was honey wheat or something. So it looks like I'll be braving the crowds again before the day's over.

SA gave me quite a start to the day. I walk in the boys' room and nearly gagged at the heavy stench of poo. Not out of the ordinary. But what was a surprise was to look at SA, totally naked, standing in a pile of poo. Poo smeared all over his face, his mouth (which yes, means I think he was having a good ole' nasty time eating it), and hands. I was planning on letting RD sleep in this morning since he has to work tonight, but I quickly dragged him out of bed since I had to take SA straight to the bath. How nasty. Ugh. I can't wait to share this story with him someday. "Let me tell you about the day you ate your own poo." Just lovely.

And to top it off, the kids have been acting like wild animals. Why is it after kids are sick they feel the need to act like maniacs once they're well? Are they making up for lost time? Please tell me my sweet babies will be back for Christmas!!

I don't know that I'll have time to get on-line until after Christmas, so Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful time enjoying your family and friends. I can't wait to hear how you spent your holiday!

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

STAY WELL STAY WELL STAY WELL

We've recovered. Now the goal is to stay well until Christmas. December 26, if the bugs must come, so be it, but please, please keep us well until then.

Tonight was Bunco night and a couple of the ladies were saying they could feel something coming on, so (since we're all handling the same dice of course) I would wash my hands each time before I went to the food table. Yes, I'm that paranoid. It's not just that I love Christmas THAT MUCH. I do, but since we're hosting, it's added pressure.

I've been eating like crazy, as I do every holiday season; and as much fun as it has been, I'm ready to get back to some healthy eating. It sounds strange to have this thought come out, but I'm sick of all this wonderful gooey butter cake, cookies, and ordering out left and right. There's always a little bit more of me to love each Christmas. The treadmill is waiting for me, but why rush? My birthday is two days after Christmas, so I'll start being good December 28. Sounds like a good plan to me!

The kids...as crazy and destructive as they have been, they are so much fun right now. The new words never stop. And they're so sweet and loving to each other. They hug each other. Kiss each other. Hold hands. It's the sweetest thing. If one of them is getting into something, all I have to say is, "Mommy needs a kiss," and they come running over. My babies. So precious!

Well, speaking of gooey butter cake, I think I better go have a piece. Yes, right before bed. Sometimes it's good to be bad...

Friday, December 16, 2005

Serves me right I suppose

Be careful what you wish for. Here I was bitching on here about how busy I am...and whattayaknow? Two of the kids and I get sick, so I cancel the sitter and RD goes to his work party alone.

He's only been at this job since July, so I was looking forward to meeting all his co-workers. There's always next year, right? *smirk* Hopefully I'll be feeling better tomorrow so I can go to A's party. RD said if I'm okay, he'd stay home with the kids if they're still not feeling well. I might do that anyway - I would feel awful getting someone else's kid(s) sick right before Christmas. I can be careful to wash my hands and not touch any of their things...but my kids? Well...try telling them hands off. I don't think so.

The Parents as Teachers lady came this morning. She did the Denver Screening with AR. She did above average on everything but the fine-motor skills. This was very frustrating to me because the kid stacks everything - her carrots, her Bologna, her crackers...EVERYTHING. But when she's getting "scored" for her actions, forget it. Oh well. No biggie. I know my girl rocks. :) She'll do one of the boys next month, then the other the next.

Other fun news, we bought a new camera! Our old camera finally went kapoot, so it was time to get a new one before the picture-taking frenzy starts next weekend. It's scheduled to arrive Tuesday. So be ready for a bunch of pictures of anything and everything!

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Mini Vent

You're about to get a taste of just how crabby I am right now, so feel free to skip this post.

For the record, dear family and friends, I do not like e-cards...I do not like links to sites that show horses singing the twelve days of Christmas...I do not like PowerPoint presentations with kittens and puppies telling me how much I need to smile. I DON'T LIKE THEM! I usually just hit delete or skip, but every time they sucker me in, they boot me out of my e-mail or off the computer all together. For the love of God, just stop!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Wrap it up

Things are slowing down a bit...sort of. Well...maybe not. I got all our Christmas cards out last week. All our Christmas presents (w/the exception of one that RD is picking up tomorrow) are bought, wrapped, and under the tree. It's so nice not to have that last-minute rush of wrapping the days before Christmas. We're going to have so much going on from now until Christmas, I wanted to be sure to get as much done as I can.

The painter is coming over tomorrow to help us figure out what the next step is for our bathroom from hell, and we have a fence guy coming to give us an estimate on a fence. RD's going to some trivia-night thing tomorrow night, so again, he won't be home (he's been working all evenings/nights lately). Friday morning we have the Parents as Teachers lady coming to visit with us and the kids, then another fence guy in the afternoon, and RD's work Christmas party that night. Saturday morning my mom is coming over to watch the kids while I run RD's mom's gift to her house (coffee table/storage unit we want her to have before Christmas, since she's hosting), then we're going to A's Christmas party that evening. Sunday...ugh...Sunday. Now...I know we have something to do on Sunday, but I don't have my planner in front of me, so for the life of me I can't remember. Monday, another fence guy. And, again, I know we have something almost every day next week, but my brain's so fried, I'm drawing a blank. To make things crazier, my neighbor behind me called today and I told her I'd bring the kids over one day next week for a playdate. It adds to the craziness a bit, but at least it's something fun - something to look forward to.

I won't even get started on the day of and days surrounding Christmas. Besides...I know I'm preaching to the choir. Who isn't busy right now? So let's all take a deep breath and remind ourselves to enjoy this busy, crazy, stress-filled time of year. It's Christmas!

Monday, December 12, 2005

Blah Blah Blah

I'm just feeling blah. Down about my weight. Stressed over the bathroom. Tired.

How do you like the new look? I'm happy with it. I loved the other one, and I think this one will take some getting used to, but I was ready for a change.

I really need to finish up our Christmas shopping. RD doesn't go in until late tomorrow night, so he mentioned us going out to get the kids' stuff tomorrow. We'd have to take them with us, but they'll be clueless. We could probably get away with not getting them anything (they're young enough not to know, and they'll get lots of presents from family), but we didn't get them anything last year, so I'm really wanting to get them gifts this year. We need to do a complete overhaul in here anyway. They have so many "baby" toys - we need to clean a lot of this out and bring the new stuff in. Like last year, I think I'll be more excited over their new toys than they are. Even if they're not sick of these same 'ole toys, I am.

One of my neighbors brought her girls over to play today. E is four years old and M is 20 months old. The kids had a lot of fun playing with each other and I had a lot of fun chatting with someone my own age. I really like her a lot. I'm excited at the thought of having maybe met someone in the neighborhood I could be good friends with. There are a lot of friendly women in the neighborhood, but we seemed to really click. The next step is seeing if the husbands get along just as well. ha!

I know I've said this before, but damn I love Grey's Anatomy. I really enjoy that show. Unrealistic, sure, but it's pretty entertaining. RD and were both laughing out loud lastnight, and if he's laughing out loud at something, you know it's good. I love the Dr. Shephard (a.k.a Dr. McDreamy)/Addison/Meredith love triangle. As much as I wanted him to pick Meredith, going back to his wife was the right thing to do (a-hem...FOR NOW), because it sure adds to the drama watching the dynamics between the three. I couldn't stand Addison in the beginning, but I've found myself really feeling sorry for her, watching her in pain vying for Derek's love and forgiveness. Enough of my obsession with this show. But I just had to say again...love it!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Sample Unseen

Yet another lesson learned during this whole faux-finishing/painting ordeal. Number one priority...get a sample before letting the painter start, because what you have in mind and what he has in mind might be two different things.

One word.

UGLY

I'm talking hideously ugly. Nasty. Looks like you wiped your ass on the wall ugly. We were shooting for the plaster look...textured-sort-of-Tuscan look. What we got was a bunch of slop on the wall. Nasty stuff. So...now the painter is going to just paint over the whole mess. It is impossible to get our walls back to their original condition - they'll never be the same. Nothing we can do about that now. Ugh. Crap. I wish I could just hit rewind.

On a brighter note, my new template's ready. Mia said she's going to install it sometime tomorrow.

I'm off to mope now.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Christmas Party

The Christmas party was a lot of fun. We don't get together with our friends enough, so it's always a treat when we all get together. The last guest left around 12:30 a.m., then there was clean-up, so of course Sunday RD and I were both walking zombies. We spent the majority of the day lying on the floor with the kids crawling all over us, begging them to stop bouncing on us.

Here comes the "back in the day" speech...

I remember years ago I would go out until the bars closed, then be at work at 8 a.m. I was tired, but knew my bed would be waiting for me at the end of the day for my much-needed nap. I just can't handle missing out on sleep anymore. Ahhh...those were the days. But it was all worth it. It was great seeing everyone.

It's going to be a fun month. We've got a party to go to next Friday, then Friday and Saturday of the next weekend. Watch out, we're party animals! Then we'll need the whole month of January to recover. I joke...but there's a lot of truth in that statement!

It looks like the final changes have been made, so Mia will probably be installing the new template in the next day or two...I hope. Can't wait!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Foyer's Done!

Dave finished the foyer and it looks GREAT! I'm really happy with how it turned out. And other good news, as far as I can tell, it doesn't smell.

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He said he'll be back Tuesday to do the bathroom and touch up the door trim in the foyer. Just as he was walking out the door, AR stuck her hand right on the wall, leaving an imprint - so I yelled out to him and he came back to fix it. I can still sort of see it, but in a way I like it. It's not something that would be noticeable to anyone but me, and I can just picture myself looking at that small outline of her hand years from now and smiling. Memories. They're everywhere.

Since I downloaded pictures off my camera, I thought I'd go ahead and show a few just for fun.

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Our New Chair


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Our New Kitchen Curtains

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Down to the Wire

I will be so happy when this painting is all done. Good news is the base coat is finished, so we no longer have to deal with mullet man (mullet man being the man with the one-liners), but we still have to deal with the main guy, Dave the painter. He does the faux finishing. This has been going on forever. We signed the contract back in September sometime saying we'd like it to be done by December 2 (the day before our Christmas party). Now it's December 1 and he hasn't even started on the faux finishing yet. He was supposed to start this morning, but called and said he'll get started this afternoon and finish tomorrow. Talk about cutting it close.

I'm so frustrated because one, I don't want it stinking of paint in here for our party, and two, I want them done and out of here so I can get the house cleaned up. I hate all the last-minute scrambling to get everything ready the day of a party, so I was wanting to get as much done tomorrow as I can. It'll all come together, it always does, but why can't anything go as planned?

Lesson learned...don't give them a date and expect them to be done ahead of schedule just because you give them 2 or 3 month's notice, expect it to be done by THAT DATE. I guess I can't ask for much more. Lesson learned. My fault.

Some exciting news...Rick Springfield has returned to General Hospital! Okay...I don't watch General Hospital anymore, haven't since 8th grade, when I gave it up for Days of Our Lives, but back in his day, DAMN he was sexy. Remember that movie, "Hard to Hold"? I sat in that theatre seat, butterflies in my stomach, gazing at the screen, wishing he would jump off the screen and...and...you know...reach back in time and remember those teen-year fantasies you had about your favorite rocker. I wanted to do it all and more. This was the 80's folks, my fantasies consisted of some heavy necking and maybe a feel-up over the blouse. Do they still use the term necking? Do they still say petting? Ew. Anyway, I still won't be watching, but I'm excited he's back.

I'm waiting on some changes from Mia for the new look. Hopefully soon!