Wow that felt good. I don't know how many times I can listen to little Ray sing to his beloved Evangeline before I get sick of it? So far I cannot keep myself from hitting replay over and over. Last night I took Miss Bit's cd player from her room and brought it into my bathroom so I could shower and sing. My hubby may kill me, but this morning I heard him rockin' out to the soundtrack during his shower. That is until Miss Bit went in and turned the cd off because she doesn't want it to wear out! Now that being said...I am looking forward to listening to the India Arie and Mary J. Blige cds my hubby burned for me yesterday as a Saturday surprise. He found them on my Amazon wish list.
It's been a great weekend so far and today is promising too. I already have dinner (pot roast) in the crockpot and I'm ready to make a pot of turkey noodle soup for tomorrow. The sun's out, but it's cold outside so comfort food is on the menu.
No P90X today. Sunday is a day of rest, and I'll take it. I'm officially through my first week and I am going to stick it out. Only 83 more days to go. I can feel myself getting stronger and more flexible by the day. I have to confess that I cannot do one single pull up. Never could. Probably never will. I love, L-O-V-E, the Kenpo workout that I did yesterday. Next week I'm putting boxing gloves on so I really feel like I'm sparring. It's a lot more fun than I remember kick boxing being at the gym.
We had a great time at the W.'s last night. I just hope we didn't over stay our welcome. Miss O. was asking to go to bed and Miss Bit almost fell asleep during the mile drive home. It was 11:00 and she had been at her friend G.'s for the better part of the day. Miss O. loved her Cooking Mama game, and T. Bone wants to go to Best Buy to use the gift card they gave him to buy himself one. A Cooking Mama game that is. Can it be that they actually agree on something!?!? S. and I talked our way through a bottle of Bordeaux and a bottle of Malbec. I made these gooey marshmallow brownies that we all agreed didn't look like much, but they sure were good. I may have to make another pan today because they are gone. I'll try to remember to post the recipe.
When we got home last night, we discovered that the kitchen floor was covered in Dorito crumbs. I guess that's what happens when you leave a bowl of chips on the table. It made me laugh remembering my Dad's cat, Brigit, who was a fiend for taco chips. She'd come running whenever she heard the crinkle of a plastic bag and go body in head first. We were able to figure out which cat was the cuprit because Peanut had a bad case of the toots! The boys were laying next to each other on the couch last night, and every once in awhile Tigger would lift his head and look at his brother as if to say, "Dude you reak!"
The kids are due home from Sunday school soon. Miss Bit will then be whisked off to a birthday party and T. Bone has his first basketball game of the season this afternoon. Both my boys aren't pleased that hoops is during today's Packer game. Good thing we have Tivo. My brother and sil are in Napa so they'll be no family Sunday night dinner. I have a feeling that next weekend they'll be bringing the wine though.
I think it's going to be a good, good week.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Grateful Friday
Today I give thanks…
For a week of normalcy and routine. It feels good to be back to “business.”
That I am about to complete my first complete week of P90X. During my yoga workout yesterday, I used muscles I didn’t know I have in poses I didn’t know were possible. I am not a huge fan of yoga probably because flexibility isn’t one of my strengths, but I am eager to work at it. There is only room for improvement.
More energy. This intense workout regimen is actually taxing, but invigorating.
That my hubby is still on break from school. His LAST graduate class starts at the end of the month, and I am excited for all of us for this accomplishment to be achieved and behind us…but mostly I’m excited for him.
Last night Miss Bit read several sentences and many words during story time. The nightly selection was The Cat in the Hat, which is heavy in word families and repetition, but it’s a book we’ve never read together so it was quite a step.
For my hubby’s new snow blower. We were dumped on in the last 24 hours. It snowed throughout the night. If he had to shovel us out this morning, it more than likely wouldn’t have happened, but he got up early just to use his new toy!
The winter wonderland that is our yard. I do love snow!
That although the tree is still up, the rest of the Christmas decorations are put away until next year and I’ve been going through closets and shelves and drawers decluttering and simplifying.
That we are the proud owners of The Princess and the Frog cd, and I may be more excited than Miss Bit. I picked up one to send to my frister too because I knew it would put a smile on her face.
For random acts of kindness.
For the Barbie Dream House. I never thought I would ever say such a thing, but Miss Bit is so smitten with it that I’m starting to love it too. I do not; however, like or understand why none of Barbie’s clothes even fit properly. And when did they become so scandalous!? It’s a good thing I still have many of the nice girl, conservative, albeit outdated numbers that my Barbie’s wore 30 years ago.
T. Bone had such a blast with his cousin T. for the few days he spent with us last week. They enjoy all of the same things including one another. I was laughing with my bil last weekend when we saw them sitting side by side on the couch literally touching despite the fact that there was plenty of room for them to spread out.
Dinner with friends tomorrow night and all I have to bring is dessert and Miss O.’s birthday gift, which I think she will really love.
I didn’t do laundry this week, and nobody complained!
My hubby for washing the kitchen floor the other night.
The perfect New Year’s Day. Hubby made delicious omelets with the leftover fondue fixings for breakfast, the whole gang played Apples to Apples and then headed off to Grandma and Grandpa’s for a sleepover. Jess and I stayed behind in our pjs, ordered up The Hangover on pay per view and finished the bottle of champagne we opened the night before. Cheers!
Dutch cocoa…it makes a decadent chocolate fondue.
Zora Neale Hurston and her sentiment: There are years that ask questions and years that answer. I decorated my mortar board with this powerful, yet simple quote. I’m not sure what kind of year 2010 will be yet. It has potential to be a year of realization and a year of inquiry.
For a week of normalcy and routine. It feels good to be back to “business.”
That I am about to complete my first complete week of P90X. During my yoga workout yesterday, I used muscles I didn’t know I have in poses I didn’t know were possible. I am not a huge fan of yoga probably because flexibility isn’t one of my strengths, but I am eager to work at it. There is only room for improvement.
More energy. This intense workout regimen is actually taxing, but invigorating.
That my hubby is still on break from school. His LAST graduate class starts at the end of the month, and I am excited for all of us for this accomplishment to be achieved and behind us…but mostly I’m excited for him.
Last night Miss Bit read several sentences and many words during story time. The nightly selection was The Cat in the Hat, which is heavy in word families and repetition, but it’s a book we’ve never read together so it was quite a step.
For my hubby’s new snow blower. We were dumped on in the last 24 hours. It snowed throughout the night. If he had to shovel us out this morning, it more than likely wouldn’t have happened, but he got up early just to use his new toy!
The winter wonderland that is our yard. I do love snow!
That although the tree is still up, the rest of the Christmas decorations are put away until next year and I’ve been going through closets and shelves and drawers decluttering and simplifying.
That we are the proud owners of The Princess and the Frog cd, and I may be more excited than Miss Bit. I picked up one to send to my frister too because I knew it would put a smile on her face.
For random acts of kindness.
For the Barbie Dream House. I never thought I would ever say such a thing, but Miss Bit is so smitten with it that I’m starting to love it too. I do not; however, like or understand why none of Barbie’s clothes even fit properly. And when did they become so scandalous!? It’s a good thing I still have many of the nice girl, conservative, albeit outdated numbers that my Barbie’s wore 30 years ago.
T. Bone had such a blast with his cousin T. for the few days he spent with us last week. They enjoy all of the same things including one another. I was laughing with my bil last weekend when we saw them sitting side by side on the couch literally touching despite the fact that there was plenty of room for them to spread out.
Dinner with friends tomorrow night and all I have to bring is dessert and Miss O.’s birthday gift, which I think she will really love.
I didn’t do laundry this week, and nobody complained!
My hubby for washing the kitchen floor the other night.
The perfect New Year’s Day. Hubby made delicious omelets with the leftover fondue fixings for breakfast, the whole gang played Apples to Apples and then headed off to Grandma and Grandpa’s for a sleepover. Jess and I stayed behind in our pjs, ordered up The Hangover on pay per view and finished the bottle of champagne we opened the night before. Cheers!
Dutch cocoa…it makes a decadent chocolate fondue.
Zora Neale Hurston and her sentiment: There are years that ask questions and years that answer. I decorated my mortar board with this powerful, yet simple quote. I’m not sure what kind of year 2010 will be yet. It has potential to be a year of realization and a year of inquiry.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A Productive Nonproductive Day
After I signed off here yesterday, I curled up under the cozy new afghan we got as a Christmas gift (so coveted in this house that hubby and I went out and bought the last 2 in the store last weekend). I turned on the last 15 minutes of Monday night's Bachelor. Yes, I fell asleep during the rose ceremony! Jake is growing on me, and all I can say is that I really hope some of his girly choices do too. I think he let some of the better, brighter ladies go, but was secretly pleased that he kept the psycho chic for my personal entertainment value.
After my tawdry TV fix, I finished all of my Christmas cards just in time. I heard the hum of the mail truck making its way up my street. I went bounding down the driveway without a single second to spare in my pjs to hand my mail to Mr. Wayne personally. He looked at the thick stack of red envelopes and just shook his head. He only thought he'd seen his last Christmas card. Luckily Mr. Wayne is very nice and he likes the sweet treats I ply him with from time to time. I cannot blame my delay on my lengthy Christmas letter because I don't participate in that bold braggary. Frankly, I'm shocked at how many people do. Do you not know that you are the butt of many jokes? That your boasting words get passed around the office for people who do not even know you to laugh at your arrogant expense? I received two letters this year with glaring typos and that really chawed me. Really, you don't even care enough about your family's 12 month blessed itinerary to proofread that which you expect everyone else to oooo and ahhh over?! People if you feel compelled to say more than "Merry Christmas," get out your pen and take the time to handwrite your note.
I think that task fueled my fire. I had an intense Cardio X workout. I gave it my all and was really beat at the end of the session. I pushed my limits without a doubt, and yet I could have done it again if that makes any sense?
It was time for a break. A lunch break. My hubby has been telling me how hungry this program makes you. I felt that yesterday. I tuned into an episode of Adoption Stories while I ate and before long I was sobbing into my bean burrito. That says a lot about where I am at in my life. I never used to miss a tearjerking episode of A Baby Story and now I don't even know when, or if, it's on. It's been a dream of mine to adopt a child, but I'm really feeling the blissfull chi of where we are as a family right now so I'm not sure it even makes sense. And truth be told, I cannot imagine bringing a new child into our family without my Mom by my side.
So I dried my tears and I started cleaning out the game cabinets in our house. There were games in there I didn't even know we had. We could play a different game every day in January and still not get to them all, and that my friends, is no exaggeration. I was then compelled to attack the many bookshelves in our house. I have a huge problem with getting rid of books. I was very proud that I was able to fill a huge shopping bag for charity and, yes AND, another for the school. It was a milestone event for me to let go of all of those titles. I love children's books as much as, if not more than, any others. There are many I will keep for my own library long after they are no longer read by my kids. I won't even have to rationalize that they are for my grandkids...no, they are for me. (But I do hope to have grandkids to enjoy them with someday.)
The rest of my evening consisted of putting the pesky decals on the Barbie cruise ship (it's surprisingly therapeutic), playing Barbie's, making dinner and then crashing on the couch. I'm off now for another productive nonproductive day, and that's just fine by me!
After my tawdry TV fix, I finished all of my Christmas cards just in time. I heard the hum of the mail truck making its way up my street. I went bounding down the driveway without a single second to spare in my pjs to hand my mail to Mr. Wayne personally. He looked at the thick stack of red envelopes and just shook his head. He only thought he'd seen his last Christmas card. Luckily Mr. Wayne is very nice and he likes the sweet treats I ply him with from time to time. I cannot blame my delay on my lengthy Christmas letter because I don't participate in that bold braggary. Frankly, I'm shocked at how many people do. Do you not know that you are the butt of many jokes? That your boasting words get passed around the office for people who do not even know you to laugh at your arrogant expense? I received two letters this year with glaring typos and that really chawed me. Really, you don't even care enough about your family's 12 month blessed itinerary to proofread that which you expect everyone else to oooo and ahhh over?! People if you feel compelled to say more than "Merry Christmas," get out your pen and take the time to handwrite your note.
I think that task fueled my fire. I had an intense Cardio X workout. I gave it my all and was really beat at the end of the session. I pushed my limits without a doubt, and yet I could have done it again if that makes any sense?
It was time for a break. A lunch break. My hubby has been telling me how hungry this program makes you. I felt that yesterday. I tuned into an episode of Adoption Stories while I ate and before long I was sobbing into my bean burrito. That says a lot about where I am at in my life. I never used to miss a tearjerking episode of A Baby Story and now I don't even know when, or if, it's on. It's been a dream of mine to adopt a child, but I'm really feeling the blissfull chi of where we are as a family right now so I'm not sure it even makes sense. And truth be told, I cannot imagine bringing a new child into our family without my Mom by my side.
So I dried my tears and I started cleaning out the game cabinets in our house. There were games in there I didn't even know we had. We could play a different game every day in January and still not get to them all, and that my friends, is no exaggeration. I was then compelled to attack the many bookshelves in our house. I have a huge problem with getting rid of books. I was very proud that I was able to fill a huge shopping bag for charity and, yes AND, another for the school. It was a milestone event for me to let go of all of those titles. I love children's books as much as, if not more than, any others. There are many I will keep for my own library long after they are no longer read by my kids. I won't even have to rationalize that they are for my grandkids...no, they are for me. (But I do hope to have grandkids to enjoy them with someday.)
The rest of my evening consisted of putting the pesky decals on the Barbie cruise ship (it's surprisingly therapeutic), playing Barbie's, making dinner and then crashing on the couch. I'm off now for another productive nonproductive day, and that's just fine by me!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Today's Thoughts
I just got the kids on the bus a little while ago. I found myself choking back the tears as I waved goodbye. Miss Bit's eyes were locked on me until I faded from view. I always wave twice and blow two kisses, and that's the comfort she needs to start her day. T. Bone heads to the back of the bus and is already too busy cracking jokes and telling tales to notice that I'm still there. I wonder if she will lovingly remember this routine? I wonder when she will grow up to be too independant and cool to catch kisses from her mama?
This little moment of my morning gets to the very heart of why it is I write. To preserve precious memories so they are right here in black and white when they...when I (heaven forbid)...no longer remember them so vividly. We all say a picture's worth a thousand words, but I'd take a hundred words over a picture any day. I just would.
They grow up so fast. I have that same fear as any other mother of them growing up too fast. Just this morning we left T. Bone in charge of the house and his still sleeping sister while we dropped the car off down the road for service. As we pulled back into the driveway 15 minutes later, my hubby questioned aloud what we were both asking ourselves quietly, "Do you think he's still in bed?" No. I figured that he would be up and on the computer, but he was up, head gear off, teeth brushed, hair combed and dressed, and then on the computer. That's my boy...that's our little man. I thought pretty soon he'll be the one jokeying cars with my hubby.
So I'm stranded today unless I decide to bundle up and walk to get the car. Truth be told...I rather like the idea of being shut in so I just may wait for my hubby to give me a ride. It's a beautiful thing - a day with nothing pressing to do.
This little moment of my morning gets to the very heart of why it is I write. To preserve precious memories so they are right here in black and white when they...when I (heaven forbid)...no longer remember them so vividly. We all say a picture's worth a thousand words, but I'd take a hundred words over a picture any day. I just would.
They grow up so fast. I have that same fear as any other mother of them growing up too fast. Just this morning we left T. Bone in charge of the house and his still sleeping sister while we dropped the car off down the road for service. As we pulled back into the driveway 15 minutes later, my hubby questioned aloud what we were both asking ourselves quietly, "Do you think he's still in bed?" No. I figured that he would be up and on the computer, but he was up, head gear off, teeth brushed, hair combed and dressed, and then on the computer. That's my boy...that's our little man. I thought pretty soon he'll be the one jokeying cars with my hubby.
So I'm stranded today unless I decide to bundle up and walk to get the car. Truth be told...I rather like the idea of being shut in so I just may wait for my hubby to give me a ride. It's a beautiful thing - a day with nothing pressing to do.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Monday Morning Blues
The kids were a little less than eager to get out of bed this morning. I must admit it seemed darker and colder than it's been yet this winter, and I had a tough time too. The first day back is always hard despite the excitement of catching up with friends.
They did relatively well all things considered. I really liked the new breakfast routine we implemented this morning. The days I work cereal and fruit are all that's on the abbreviated menu. My kids are spoiled beyond belief by the way I act like a short order cook each and every morning, but I'm hanging up my chef's hat at least 3 days a week. They looked at me incredulously when I told them I only got eggs or (not and) pancakes on Sundays. They ate their Kix happily...my girl with milk and my boy without (he's never been into soggy cereal). OK, I confess that I already broke the rule by baking them banana bread to go with their boring cereal. Hmmm...perhaps I'm the problem.
Miss O. arrived talking and was still chatting on her way down the driveway to the bus. We didn't see her at all on break so apparently there was some catching up to do. T. Bone was already out of sorts with the ending of his 10 day bacchanal, but her incessant conversation and the 5 too many questions she directed at him put him over the edge. He barked, "What's with all the questions. I have a headache and all you girls are doing is making noise!" That didn't stop her. In fact, she carried on and actually asked him what Santa brought him for the second time which put his frustration level on overdrive. He headed out the door to wait in the single digit temps and peace and quiet. Tonight at dinner he declared that he hates the number 23. That just happens to be Miss O's birthday. Hmmm. The two of them have always had a love/hate relationship going on. They'll probably get married someday. I'll never tell him that, of course.
T. Bone was humored by the fact that almost every one of his classmates got a DS from Santa for Christmas. What can I say? I think the word is coincidence. Dinnertime conversation confirms that they are already back in the swing of things, and thankfully all of Miss Bit's friends recognized her. While looking in the mirror this morning, she worried that she had changed (gotten even more beautiful I suspect) so much as to not look like herself.
I would like to take the tree down tomorrow before my cats do, but it's not the true end of the Christmas season until the Epiphany so it strikes me as a tad premature. My house desperatley needs scouring, but that is futile until I deChristmas. I should finish my Christmas cards and write thank yous. And then again I could just curl up with a good book for a little lost time.
They did relatively well all things considered. I really liked the new breakfast routine we implemented this morning. The days I work cereal and fruit are all that's on the abbreviated menu. My kids are spoiled beyond belief by the way I act like a short order cook each and every morning, but I'm hanging up my chef's hat at least 3 days a week. They looked at me incredulously when I told them I only got eggs or (not and) pancakes on Sundays. They ate their Kix happily...my girl with milk and my boy without (he's never been into soggy cereal). OK, I confess that I already broke the rule by baking them banana bread to go with their boring cereal. Hmmm...perhaps I'm the problem.
Miss O. arrived talking and was still chatting on her way down the driveway to the bus. We didn't see her at all on break so apparently there was some catching up to do. T. Bone was already out of sorts with the ending of his 10 day bacchanal, but her incessant conversation and the 5 too many questions she directed at him put him over the edge. He barked, "What's with all the questions. I have a headache and all you girls are doing is making noise!" That didn't stop her. In fact, she carried on and actually asked him what Santa brought him for the second time which put his frustration level on overdrive. He headed out the door to wait in the single digit temps and peace and quiet. Tonight at dinner he declared that he hates the number 23. That just happens to be Miss O's birthday. Hmmm. The two of them have always had a love/hate relationship going on. They'll probably get married someday. I'll never tell him that, of course.
T. Bone was humored by the fact that almost every one of his classmates got a DS from Santa for Christmas. What can I say? I think the word is coincidence. Dinnertime conversation confirms that they are already back in the swing of things, and thankfully all of Miss Bit's friends recognized her. While looking in the mirror this morning, she worried that she had changed (gotten even more beautiful I suspect) so much as to not look like herself.
I would like to take the tree down tomorrow before my cats do, but it's not the true end of the Christmas season until the Epiphany so it strikes me as a tad premature. My house desperatley needs scouring, but that is futile until I deChristmas. I should finish my Christmas cards and write thank yous. And then again I could just curl up with a good book for a little lost time.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy Birthday T. Bone
"Don't mess with me...I'm THE CHAMP!"
Boys (and men) being boys!
Best of buddies...a boy and his uncle.
Jab, cross, hook, upper cut!
"Come on...go get him! You cannot be taken out by a 9 year old."
"Oh yea...you want a piece me!?!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a decision."
T. Bone has learned that good things come in both small and large packages.
A birthday squeeze from his sis.
The sugar has kicked in!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9...a pinch to grow an inch and a sock to grow a block!T. Bone's birthday falls just two days after Christmas so we are often celebrated out by the time it rolls around, but we always do our best to give our special guy a special day. I can say with certainty that his ninth birthday did not disappoint. We enjoyed a leisurely morning at home eating pancakes and playing with our new toys. It was the longest stretch of time we had spent at home in days except for the hours we spent sleeping. Grandma and Grandpa joined us for an early afternoon outing to see The Squeakuel. I was most impressed that my boy opted for a family friendly movie we could all share despite the fact that I knew he was itching to see both The Blind Side and Avatar. It was important to him that we sit in the dark sharing popcorn and sour patch kids as a family. I was also most impressed that my Dad agreed to attend a movie about talking chipmunks cuz' he's sort of a cinema snob. It was important to him to please his grandson. All good!
After we had our fun fill of the always cute Alvin, Simon and Theodore (if you ask my hubby he'll tell you that I enjoyed the movie more than the kids), we headed home for a little pizza party. T. Bone thought long and hard (say 5 seconds) and then decided that he wanted Rocky Rococo's pizza for HIS birthday dinner. Uncle B. and Aunt A. joined us for the feast. After dinner, the boys turned the family room into a boxing ring, and the rest of us morphed into referees, announcers or spectators. Uncle B. and Tigger are enjoying T.'s Christmas gift as much as he is. What can I say...my cat gets his groove on by genuine leather. And my conservative brother is all like, "T. Bone needs to learn how to defend himself." He was asking for ibuprofen on his way out the door! Grandma J. obliged our last minute request to bring a cake - vanilla with vanilla icing. He usually orders up homemade lemon cake with my secret special buttercream frosting, but I was baked out this year after 20 plus batches of cookies, and he was understanding. T. Bone demonstrated that indeed his vocabulary is expanding when he referred to the rainbow cake as "gay." Ok then. Luckily Grandma didn't hear that comment.
It was a sportsman's birthday. He was excited for the airplane ticket to Colorado we bought him to join us in February. He cannot wait to see cousin Knox, snowboard and miss two more days of school. Grandma and Grandpa followed suit by giving him snowboard lessons at an area ski resort. Nice! Uncle B. and Aunt A. came through with that green stuff that will come in handy for his trip. Snowboarding is expensive you know!
So yes...it's true, my baby is 9. I look at him and am amazed that I ever felt fulfilled before he came into my life one snowy morning. He is such an incredible person in every way, and to know him is to love him...everyone who knows him knows that!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Christmas Squared
Snuggles with Aunt Dee.
Grandpa's Girl.
Grandma's Girl.
T-W-I-N-S!
We were invited for a day after Christmas brunch at my in laws so we dressed up (and geared up) for round 3. We have our "official" Christmas celebration with that side of the family today. The kids both big and small couldn't wait a week to open their presents so we didn't. Miss Bit was most excited about her new camera. She spent the rest of the day taking pictures of everyone and everything, and I think she may have a new hobby! T. Bone was very psyched about his backyard skateboard ramps and baseball gloves. In fact, this week he put on his new gloves and he and his cousin tried to use the ramps as snowboard jumps. Tried is the operative word here, but we won't be skateboarding in this neck of the woods for months, or playing baseball for that matter. It was a very relaxed, enjoyable day.I 'm quite sure today will be too, but I am very excited that this is our last Christmas celebration for obvious reasons. I stayed in my pjs all day yesterday playing games and watching movies and I would be happy to have another day just like that. There's always tomorrow though.
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