Thursday 13 -- Holiday Edition

Whoa – the holiday season is upon us and while it is my most favorite time of year… it is very hectic.


I am a list maker.

In honor of the Thursday 13 list group, here is a list of what I hope to accomplish… this weekend soon.

1. Purchase Kahlua Keurig coffe for Dear Husband for Christmas. He’ll be so surprised. (Thanks MPC!)

2. Stop by Barnes and Noble to get the Star Wars Lego book that I put on hold for my nephew.

3. Get a birthday gift for the party that Lulu is going to this Saturday… and, most importantly, don’t forget to take her to the party (like I did the last time).

4. Go to see Planet 51 with the kids… Bro’s first time to go see a movie!

5. We are having visitors come over mid-day on Saturday. It is actually very important that I write this down because I could possibly forget… although I am still likely to be home since this is Bro’s naptime.

6. Buy 3 more red bows… we thought the one bow was gonna be for the mailbox… but I have other plans.

7. Purchase holiday books for the kids… remember the tradition???  Here is a list (and reviews) of 20 of the Best Kids Christmas Books by the Children's Book Review blog. 

8. Write holiday cards… not likely to get done this weekend.

9. Coerce Dear Husband into getting the Christmas tree and decorations from the old house so that we can set it up this weekend. THIS MUST happen this weekend!

10. Purchase gift for mom and dad… I know where it is but I have to go get it before they are all sold out.

11. Lulu’s school pictures came in the mail and I need to give a set to her dad.

12. My coworkers need holiday gifts. I was gonna get them these homemade peanut butter spreads that I heard about on the Food Network show Unwrapped… but then each container of spread is roughly… drum roll here… 8 tablespoons of spread.  Here is the link to the Seasonal Cinnamon Peanut Spread.  Yes, I am sure that it is very delicious and well worth the one-year wait to taste it, but I just cannot give 8 tablespoons of peanut butter to each coworker as a Christmas gift… no matter how delicious it is.  "Merry Christmas!  Here's enough peanut butter to make ONE sandwich."

13. Finish the book that I am reading, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. It is, perhaps, the best book that I have read in 5 years. I am thoroughly enjoying every-single-word of this book. I don’t want it to end.

Speaking of peanut butter... what is the most random gift you have ever received???

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Are You An Equal Opportunity Employer?

Now, I know that some of you are really NOT going to like this post… but in our family… this stuff is funny… NOT to be taken seriously… it’s all just a running joke… nothing more… nothing less… just some simple humor to get us through the day...


OMG – I hesitate to even write this ‘cause you are all going to think that I am the worst wife ever… but here goes…

Let’s go back a few years…

I grew up in a home where the chores were pretty much split up by gender. Mom did the “inside the house” stuff and dad did the “outside of the house” stuff.  I don't know why they did it that way... they just did.

So, mom (for the most part) did cooking, cleaning, and childcare while dad (for the most part) took out the trash, cut the grass, and made sure that the cars had fresh oil.

This seems to be a fairly simple way to divide up the chores, in my opinion. This works out great for me because I have absolutely NO desire to cut grass or change oil.

Currently, Dear Husband does all of the outside stuff and will not let me do it… wouldn’t let me go near the lawn mower, weed wacker, or any such device. He fixes the house. He fixes the cars… and so on.

As it just so happens, he also has a knack for cleaning and childcare… and cooking too.

Mostly, his only issue is the trash. I simply do… not… take… out… the… trash… 'cause (as I have been known to say) that’s the boy’s job... and there simply is NO logical reason why I don't take out the trash... I know. Sorry – sorry – I know that some of you are just cringing… there is a point to this…. and it is funny… so feel free to keep reading…

Sometime this past summer… Dear Husband had the car parked on the driveway and he was fixing stuff under the car. I was leaning out the 2nd story kitchen window asking him if he had picked up something from the grocery store… he rolled out from underneath the car on his little creeper and said {{with a smirk}}, “isn’t that a girl’s job?”

Ha ha ha ha… to which I replied… “nope THAT’S a boy’s job too.” {{evil witch laugh here}}

Dear Husband, thinking that he was going to beat me at my own game, asked, “What EXACTLY is part of the girl’s job?”

Not wanting to lock myself down to a certain j-o-b, I cleverly replied… after some thought… “breastfeeding – that’s it – breastfeeding is the girl’s job.” {{proud smile}}

That is, breastfeeding WAS the girl’s job until NOW…

Check out this page on Milkmen: Fathers Who Breastfeed. I never, ever, ever knew that it was possible.

Can you believe it????? I cannot wait to tell Dear Husband!!!!! He is going to strangle me when I tell him!!!!!! ;-) Breastfeeding doesn’t have to be the girl’s job anymore… "the boy can breastfeed too!" {{and you CAN quote me on that}} Fabulous!!!!!

Um... so... I like to try to end these posts with a question... you know... to promote responses from my Grandma readers.

Here goes...

Who does the breastfeeding in YOUR home???? 

ha ha ha ha I couldn't resist!

The best idea ever...

SPOILER:  This post is NOT kid-friendly... as we discuss some sensitive Santa issues here.

Yummy Mummy has done it again... do you know what caught my eye on this post????  Yep - click over to the post... scroll... scroll... scroll... yep... there it is... in all of its glory... she calls it a terrarium... I call it a magical, mystical best gift ever fairy world.  Don't you see it???

I have to have one, which means that I have to {{gulp}} make one... in all of my spare time... between now and Christmas.  I'm one of those moms who has these wild and crazy dreams of making and crafting so much cute stuff.  It never happens.  I am determined to make this happen though... 'cause this is going to be Santa's gift to Lulu this year.

Santa, you ask?  Yes, Santa.  You might remember last year when we tried to discuss Santa with Lulu.  She wasn't getting the, ahem, hints and we had to blatantly come out and tell her the truth.  At which point she totally looked right up at me and said that I was lieing and that Santa is real and that I don't know what I am talking about... and she followed it up with, "you do believe in Santa, don't you momma?"

Being the positively perfect good mom that I am, I replied, "Of course I do sweetheart!" and she gave me the biggest and most sincere bear hug that you could ever hope for.  I mean, this hug was so sweet... it could create world peace.

And that was it.  {{Dear Husband rolling his eyes over in the peanut gallery.}} Discussion over.  Until recently.

A few days ago we were discussing Christmas gifts, because everyone is asking what Lulu wants for Christmas even though she already sent them her list... hello??? 

She said to me... and I am not kidding here... "And mom, DO NOT put a gift under the tree and just write LOVE SANTA on the tag.  It has to be for REAL!"

Ok - well I'm glad that we are clear on the Santa gift procedure.

This year, each child is getting 1 (yep, ONE... let me slow that down for you... O-N-E) special gift from Santa.  That is going to be the new tradition... unless Ed McMahon and the prize patrol pay me a visit.  {{Note to self:  send an e-mail to Mr. McMahon letting him know about my new change of address.}}

So, I'm gonna make the aforementioned terrarium magical, mystical fairy world and I'm going to add these pieces (from the Enchanted Miniature Fairy Garden site)...

as well as some lady bugs, turtles, and rocks.  I can hardly resist the fairy garden door, but at 5.5 inches tall, I don't know that it will fit in my magical, mystical fairy world container.  {{sniffle, sniffle}}

Here are a few kid-friendly terrarium containers that should be readily available.  I'll also dream up some great and inspiring "may all of your wishes come true" letter to go with the gift.

Thoughts???  I am sooooo excited!  I hope that she loves it!

Did you ever give/receive a homemade gift from Santa?  What was it?

A Top 10 Thanks

We have moved!  Yep, I finally have internet at my new house and I have soooooooooo much to say and share.

Before we get to all of that... I'd like to share a few things that I am thankful for this year.

I am most thankful...

1.   for an awesome husband who is so much more awesome than I thought that he was... maybe earning him the blog name "super hero" for the next few months.
2. for a great supportive family who has supported me through the ups and downs  (more of the 'downs' than the 'ups') of this move.  Honestly, just "thanks" for putting up with me.
3. for freakin' phenomenol children who have embraced the new home and loved it and are just too wonderful for words.  Honestly, just "thanks" for putting up with me.
4.  for a steady job... seriously folks, I am grateful every-single-day for the opportunity to go to work and earn a paycheck.
5.  for health care...
6.  for a warm and safe place to call home.
7.  for awesome neighbors (the old ones - haven't really met the new ones) who have really been a shoulder to cry on (literally) over the past few days.
8.  that the holiday season is upon us... a season of giving thanks, reflecting, and visiting with friends and family.
9. for health... so many have lost loved ones over the course of the last year.  All of my loved ones are with me... and for that... I am most truly, truly blessed.
10....              


And now for the top 10 most recent things that I am thankful for...

1.  A basement that is dry (this time) despite the days of rain (I'll post more about this later... don't you worry).
2.  A dryer.
3.  A working toaster oven.. or just working appliances in general.
4.  That I finally have my deodorant back.
5.  That the leaky dish washer didn't ruin the floors.
6.  Access to my dishes.
7.  Taking a shower.
8.  Internet access.
9.  Internet acccess. (Did I mention that already???)
10.  Crockpot - I have a cherry cake cooking in it... as we speak!

 What is the silliest thing that you are thankful for this year?

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore"

JEOPARDY QUESTION:

Recently, on Jeopardy, the final Jeopardy category was "Musicals." 

The answer was: "The six-word title of the song that has the words: 'the house fell on her head and the coroner pronounced her dead'"

Do you know the question????  We did!




Last weekend the girls (Lulu, Fairy Grandmother, and I) went to dinner and a Girl's Night out to see the National Tour of the Wizard of Oz!!!!!


We had a blast!!!

My only regret is that we couldn't take pics inside the theater... even though I saw people doing it. :-(

Here are some pics from dinner!

First we took turns taking pictures of each other.

Then, our waitress took a group shot!!!!!

Check the You Tube video below for some short clips from the Wizard of Oz on Tour -- National Tour!

Check the Wizard of Oz National Tour website to see if they will be visiting a town near you.  If you have a little girl, dress her up as Dorothy.  It never occured to me to do it, but there were plenty of them at the show... don't forget the ruby slippers!!


We had such a good time and it was a welcome break from the day-in-and-day-out routines.  Seriously... going to the theater is such a great way for me to decompress.  I felt so much better after the show... and it was great to go with my two favorite ladies.  It was Chicken Soup for Napmom's Soul.  :-)

What is your favorite way to decompress?????

I plead my case to the jury.

In this post, I “plead my case” to the jury.

Friday night, the house was “clean.” Fairy Grandmother can attest to this.

Friday night, Dear Husband still took it upon himself to clean the whole house for the two “showings” that we had on Saturday.

Saturday, we were ALL out of the house from morning ‘til 9:00 p.m. So, the house was JUST as clean when we woke up Sunday morning as it had been since he last cleaned the already clean house on Friday night.

While I was at the grocery store Sunday morning, Dear Husband called to say that we had someone coming to see the house… and they booked a TWO hour window to come see the house… right during nap time… and they would be here in an hour.

Fine. So, I came home with the groceries and proceeded to put them away and figure out my day… away from the house… during naptime… with a toddler. I was not going to be cooking in my crock pot. I was not going to be packing up for the move. I was not going to get a nap myself… and I am a nap person… and I’m pregnant so give me some leeway here.

Keep in mind, also, that I have practically been a single mom for about 4 weeks now.

As I am grumbling and whining and putting away the groceries, Dear Husband is running through the house and cleaning… CLEANING WHAT????? And, then he proceeded to come into the kitchen and announce to me, “IF we even sell this house, it will be no thanks to y-o-u.”

{{insert picture of my hands wrapped around his neck}}

“Your Honor, the defense rests its case.”

Dear Husband still roams the Earth unharmed because he must have realized the error of his ways and he chose to spend the afternoon with Bro and me and then came h-o-m-e with us to do some work around the house.

He is still the best Dear Husband ever – and I love him to the moon and back again - nobody’s perfect.

Update: I think that we are moving this weekend. Yippee!!!!!

I've Been Replaced

Lulu has a very large family. She has my large family, her dad's regular-size family, and my husband's regular-size family.

Each year she compiles a Christmas wish list and I give ideas out to the family members. I have been telling Lulu that she needs to start working on this list.

Imagine my surprise when I got this text message on my cell phone on Sunday morning. Here it is, in its entirety, typos and all...

From: Lulu

ok every body here is my
christ mas list iwant the
ipod chromatic and a
game called mind flex
iwant barbies and barbie
clothes and any thing tink
or aero

Sun, Nov 8, 8:41 am

What have I done to be replaced? Have I mismanaged her "wishes" in the past? Hah! Well, I can mark that task off of my to-do list.

Bro's list is easy... he wants... anything that has to do with a mode of transportation... cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and so on.

What is the must-have item on your Christmas wish list???

Not A "Mommy of the Year" Moment

Today I cried.

I cried because I am busy.
I am busy because I have 1 husband a 1 set of parents who are working feverishly to turn our newly purchased house into a home for my family.
Thus, that leaves only me at home with the kids and the cooking... all the while making SURE to leave the house spotless 'cause a potential buyer might want to come see it at any moment.

Just yesterday, I had been out of the house for several hours while potential buyers were looking at the house. I finally got back home and put Bro to bed... when my husband called to say to get everyone out of the house... that potential buyers would be here in 15 MINUTES!!!!

Luckily, my mom told me that I could explain to the potential buyers that the baby was sleeping "yada -yada -yada" and ask if they could they open the door slowly/quietly. Turns out that I knew the agent with the potential buyers and this was their SECOND time looking at the house... so all of this went well.

AGAIN this morning - FIRE DRILL - more potential buyers coming to see the house - more scrambling to clothe, feed, play and so on... while keeping the house spotless... try it sometime - it sucks! (Sorry for the language.)

It gets worse...

let me set the scene...

Scrambling to get out of the house... going top the grocery store and then to the park to kill some time... standing in line at the grocery store... listening to Lulu on the phone tell her aunt, "... I'm going to a birthday party today."

F***!!!!! {{in my head}}

"The party -- Lulu -- I am so sorry -- I totally forgot about the party."

And then the realization that... this was a great party... to a place she had NEVER been before... it's new and cool... it started 15 minutes ago... it is somewhere I have never been... we don't have directions... we don't have the permission form... it's a rock climbing party... Lulu is currently dressed like a pop diva... we can't go home... the "potential buyers" might be there... we need to get the form... get directions... get dressed... {{my little mommy heart deflates}}... it just ain't gonna happen today. Worst of all... Lulu took it like a champ... she was so sweet... making me feel even worse... why is she so wonderful?????

So, I grabbed what we were having for lunch (cheese popcorn and Gatorade) and headed out to the car. On the way home, I called another mom to see if Lulu could go over to play.

I put Bro down for a nap.

And I cried.

I can't believe that I was so self-absorbed that I totally forgot about the party. I feel like crap.

I called the birthday girl's mom -- apologized profusely -- heard all of the fun in the background -- cried some more -- and the mom was really cool about it.

Soooo... I'm barely keeping it together today... how 'bout you?

Inaugural Dinner & a Heartfelt Gift

I told you that we bought the new house, right? And that we still own our current house, right? mkay - so now you are ALL up to speed.

How blessed am I? Dear Husband has been putting some finishing touches on the new house and asked if I wanted to pick up the kids from school and come over to the new house and visit and let the kids run and eat some pizza. When I arrived, I found Dear Husband AND Fairy Grandmother AND Luvs2Boat in their work gear and working to fix up the house... what a blessing! There isn't too much to be done... there is a faucet issue in the main bath, a leaky sink in the kitchen, some discolored laminate flooring in the kitchen, heinous light fixtures, gross grey front door, antique thermostat, oh... and a rats nest of electrical cords in the attic. Lovely, eh? And, we are missing a dryer. Oh, and "we" (hee hee hee) need to install a microwave over the stove.

Thanks to the hard work of Fairy Grandmother, Lulu will have the nicest room in the house. I'm not kidding. Her room is getting a fresh coat of paint (we'll call it "Pepto Bismol Pink" paint... if you know what I mean), a new rug, fresh curtains, an updated light fixture, and those little touches that grandma's come up with that make ya feel so special.

Oh, but the momentous part of this whole night was... as we all filed into the kitchen stuffing our faces with pizza... using napkins as plates and allowing Bro to sit in the only seat in the house... I realized... this was our first family meal in our new home... and I don't even have a picture to show you... but it happened... it really did. Pizza -- no drinks.

Later, I packed up the kids and headed on home for a night of homework, baths, and bedtime. When I pulled up in the driveway, I was surprised to see a large package outside the door... addressed to Napmom (No, it didn't really say "Napmom" but I'm not revealing my real name to the whole world -- mkay?)... and in a Target box. I mean, I do my fair share of online shopping but could NOT remember what I ordered from Target... in such a large box... and fairly heavy as well.

Guess what?

You aren't going to believe this?

I have a Fairy Grandmother too -- you know her as Grand Matriarch!!!!!

And.

She.

Sent me.

A housewarming gift.


It is.

My very own slowcooker!!!!!!!

A working slow cooker!!!!!!

You can read all the great reviews for the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 slow cooker here. There are 71 4* and 5* reviews. There are a handful of 1* reviews, but they are mostly from people who didn't get what they ordered. Some people order the white set and get the colors and then vice versa. I don't know what Grand Matriarch ordered for me... but I got the colored set... which is gorgeous and the one I would have preferred if given the choice. Yippee!!!!!

How to Host a Halloween Party in the Rain

Problem solved. Our neighbor, the family that also provides the party space along with us, insisted that the party be held outside and that it include a fire pit. Wonderful!!!

How to Host a Halloween Party in the Rain.

Add one large tarp.

Dump in some tables.

String some lights.

Secure the napkins.

Mix in 30 of your closest friends and family neighbors.

Stir in one "Beautiful Nightmare" (she made the costume herself).

Blend in a small pinch of "the world's laziest trick-or-treater" (a.k.a. the world's smartest trick-or-treater).

Top off with beer and fire for the dads.

Voila!

All photos courtesy of S.L. - a.k.a. the best babysitter a boy could ever ask for