Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday - News of the Weird

I think I'm going to start making Tuesday's News of the Weird days. This was in one of my baby/parent center types of e-mails/blogs that I receive weekly. Let me just say it's one of those things that makes you say "Huh?" http://blogs.parentcenter.babycenter.com/momformation/2008/12/18/happy-birthday-adolph-hitler/

Santa's List

A blogging/WAHM friend of mine, Nell, over at Casual Friday Everyday, posted a blog about one of her son's list to Santa. It got me thinking about my son's list to Santa. We both have the same concerns - we don't want our children disappointed Christmas morning. Bug's list to Santa this year included a quad - real, gas powered one - and a $300 RC truck kit. Even if this had been a good year financially, I don't think Santa still would have bought those items.
Every year it's the same thing - how to teach Bug that Christmas is not about the presents he gets, but rather what we can give to others and being together with family. This year I've had him actively participate with me in donating what we could to others. For instance, the grocery store does a "giving tree" for the local boys & girls club. I had him pick the child's name this year. And then there was a local family last weekend that had all their presents stolen out of their car. When Bug and I were discussing it, he said "Well, what are we going to give them?". I must admit I was trying to steer our conversation that way, but he got the idea. He thought that one was pretty cool because Mom got interviewed on the news, and Bug kept popping his head around the corner and got in a couple of shots.
This I'm sure of - Bug is definitely understanding the real meaning of Christmas. Sure - I know he'll be a bit disappointed Christmas morning, but it won't last long, and I'll remind him of the real meaning of Christmas.

New Look!

What do you think of my new look? I stumbled across some free backgrounds for Blogger.

As for tagging 4 people - I'm sorry to say I don't know 4 people that consistently read my blog enough for me to tag. So I'm going to do what Tishia did, and just ask 4 people to take on the Fun Blog Picture Meme. Remember to link back to my blog so I can check out your pictures as well.

It's snowing (again!) here in Connecticut. Friday's storm gave us about 10"; today's storm is expected to give us another 6" - 9". It was snowing at 7:00 a.m. this morning when Bug woke us up. I've got to work on that - waking Mom and Dad up at 7:00 a.m. on a Sunday. It's 11:55 a.m. now and still snowing. Good thing I swung by the library and video store yesterday. I got some Christmas movies - like there aren't enough playing on TV anyway - and Momma Mia, which I didn't get out to see in the theater. And then I got some easy read books for myself - Debbie Macomber and Donna VanLierre; some sappy Christmas/holiday themed stories. I think today is going to be a doing laundry/wrapping presents/baking cookies/watching movies kind of day. Actually I think the next few days will be like that. . . time to go snow blow the driveway for the 1st time today. I think on Friday we did it 3 or 4 times.

Fun Picture

Okay so here's the deal. One of my blogging friends did this on her site - Tishia - and so she asked 4 people to do the same. Since I'm pretty much game for anything - I said "pretty much"; I do have my limits - here goes.


These are the Rules:
Open the 4th picture folder on your computer.
Open the 4th picture and post it on your blog.
Explain the picture.
Tag 4 people to do the same!

Here’s My Picture that was the 4th one in the 4th album:

This is a picture of my Bug from March 2006; he was just around 4 years old. This was taken either during or right after a blizzard we had. He loved and still loves to paint, draw, create. So we pulled out the easel, which was Husband's when he was a kid, put on an old t-shirt, and Bug got to painting. I probably still have the painting somewhere in a big portfolio. I miss is cute little boy haircut; he has a cowlick that would always, always poke up. Where in for another storm tomorrow, maybe I'll pull the easle out for him in the morning?

Okay - now I have to tag 4 other people:

A Thought For Thursday

Where do you find your Christmas spirit?

I've heard so many people this year - from family, friends, and on-line friends - say they're just not in the Christmas spirit. So my thought for this Thursday is "Where do you find the Christmas spirit?"

Bug came home from school earlier this week and asked me, "Mom, does Baby Jesus get two presents on Christmas?" I guess I looked at him kind of funny. He said, "You know, two presents - one for His birthday, and one for Christmas." DUH. Ding, ding, ding, We have a winner!

I know for me when I don't feel like I'm in the Christmas spirit I turn off all the specials on TV, stop wrapping presents, and just sit and listen to some traditional Christmas music - Hark the Herald Angels, Away In A Manager, What Child is This, Silent Night. For me remembering that Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus, our Savior, helps me stay in / get back into the Christmas spirit. It's not about the presents under the tree, the decorations around the house, the cookies/pies/meals you've made, but the birth of one special Child.

Return of Wordless Wednesday

I know it's been a while but check out this mug. . .

So Much Going On

I can't believe how quickly the last few weeks have flown by. Between the chaufering, cooking, cleaning, working, cuddling, kissing boo boos, applying ice packs, driving to Indiana, visiting with family, shopping, baking, working, exercising . . . I know I've left something out, the weeks seem to fly by.


We had a wonderful trip out to the mid-West to visit my family, and a quick jaunt to Las Vegas for a belated anniversary trip - 10 years!!!! The kiddos really enjoyed spending time alone with their Poppie and Grandma too. And they were awesome on the car rides - we drove straight through both going and coming.

But it seems like every year is the same. I really do start out with the best intentions - getting all the Christmas shopping, dinner planning, house decorating, family picture taking, cookie baking done so that I can actually enjoy the weeks leading up to the holiday and so I'm not in a frantic rush. But here I am again - mailed out packages to Iraq a few days late (I hope the good, old USPS can get them there in time); still shopping for gifts to send out to my family; still shopping for some presents for friends and family here. Oh, well, maybe next year!

I think a new tradition was born this year though - and I'm kind of feeling bitter sweet about it. I've been hustling and bustling so much that when we got the tree last week, and Hubby resolved the leaking tree stand issue - I got the lights on it, but then I let my 6 year old Bug decorate it. He did a decent job of it, and I resisted the urge to re-arrange every single ornament. Okay - I did move a few but the branches were so weighed down I was afraid the entire tree would tip over. Bug did a lovely job and I'm very proud of how mature he's gotten just over the last few months. He's really becoming a big helper. Maybe I can actually sit back, relax and really enjoy the season and remember what's important this holiday season.