I Should Be Folding Laundry

Happy New Year!

You know, over a week ago, when I said I probably wouldn't blog until 2008, I didn't realize two things.  First, just how long a little over a week without blogging feels like.  I feel like I haven't blogged in about three months.  It's a very strange feeling, as if I am neglecting something.  Which in a way, I guess I am.

The other thing I didn't realize was how right I was about not having time to blog.  Every second seems to be taken up in this house.  Maybe it's because there are over 25 of us and finding a quiet spot is nearly impossible. or maybe it's because I'm either talking or shopping or eating, with very little sleep, thanks to the late poker nights.  Whatever it is - we have been so busy and it's been a great time.

Yesterday was a fun treat for Brian and I and my siblings and their spouses.  My parents gave us each money to spend on Christmas for ourselves.  This was the first time my parents have ever done anything like this, typically they spend every second in December shopping and wrapping for all seventy bajillion of us, but this year they gave the adult children money and also allotted a day for us to shop and have lunch together.  And they would watch our children.

I wept when I opened the card.  Not because of the money.  But because we could go shopping without children.

So yesterday, we piled into cars, dined at a fine Mexican restaurant, complete with refried beans and margaritas and shopped for a long, long time.  It was a super, duper, wonderful, much appreciated treat!  (which included a stop at Starbucks, of course.)

I must go now, my early morning blogging retreat that I thought would take twenty minutes before breakfast has turned into a two hour long blogging fiasco.  Therefore, I must go.

I will leave you with a few pictures.

Because there is plenty of picture taking going on.

And tongue contests going on.

You are viewing the smallest and largest tongue of the family.  They're so lucky.

And group pictures going on at Mexican restaurants.

Okay, there is only one of those.

And poker pictures, too.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's blustery cold outside, the winds are whipping around like I have never seen, so today we are going to stay indoors, wrap gifts, make tons of cookies and eat most of them.  And for the first time since summer, my goal is to go the entire day without putting any makeup on.  I aim high, people.

I'm pretty sure I won't be back to blogging until 2008.  I'll have plenty to blog about as we will be packing our bags on the 26th and staying in a giant house with my five brothers and sisters, their spouses, all of their kids and my parents.  Over 25 people = mucho blog fodder and tons of laughter.   We can't wait.

I'll be thinking of you all and wishing each and everyone of you a very merry holiday season filled with wonderful memories and of course, lots of laughter.

See you in 2008...what an exciting year it's going to be!  I just know it!

Merry Weekend Before Christmas!

As you may or may not have noticed, I'm struggling a little bit in the blog department.  And what makes it a little bit worse is that I haven't been worried about it, which is why I have barely blogged.  The holiday season, thus far, has actually proven to be the most relaxing one, yet.  I could have stressed over the fact that I went five days without blogging, but I'm all about themes and really liked the relaxing theme that I seem to have picked out this year.  Relaxation coupled with the fact that nothing is going on in these parts equals a pretty dead blog.

As you probably noticed.  Or not, because you are busy with this holiday season.

We did take the kids to see Santa the other night and it was a delightful experience.  The line was swift, Santa's beard was real, the children weren't scared and best of all...they (the little elves) let me take all the pictures I wanted with MY camera for free.

It was the bomb diggity.

And to make the experience even better, Santa talked to them about good behavior, and listening to their parents and going right to sleep every single night.  I slipped a twenty in his big belt and gave him a nod and a wink.

The hardest part of the visit was when Santa asked Racecar what he wanted for Christmas.

And then my heart shattered a bit because he's not getting boxing gloves.  I did what most of you said and trusted my gut and my gut says "maybe next year."  I think he's just little bit too young to understand boxing gloves and that not everyone always wants to box.  I think. His birthday is in January, maybe I'll change my mind then.  I did consider getting him one of those punching blow up thingys that you punch and it falls down and comes back up, but Racecar is a fast boxer, he's a fan of the old "one - two punch" and I think he would get frustrated with having to wait for the thing to come back up after each individual punch.

I can tell Santa agreed with me.

Luckily, Ariel broke the uncomfortable silence.

We are all very excited for Christmas.  I think this weekend could be my most relaxing one all year, I am determined to go and get a manicure and a pedicure, I'm all about saying Merry Christmas to me! 

I hope you all have a great weekend.

As Seen on TV

Call me particular, but perhaps NBC should consider using spellcheck, no?  (this particular strolling advertisment showed up numerous times during Clash of the Choirs.)  Not that I watched Clash of the Choirs and thoroughly enjoyed it or anything.  Okay, so I did.  The only thing that would have made it better would be if Nick Lachey had removed that pesky shirt and tie of his.  Again, call me particular.

A post

Hi everyone,

If you are interested in a reading a blog post by me, I have written one here.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll put down the wrapping paper and cookies and sit down long enough to write something on this here blog.  Wouldn't that be something?

Wordless Wednesday

Rockin' around the Christmas tree.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, visit 5 Minutes for Mom or go here!

My Halls are Decked

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my home.  Unfortunately, this year, it's not as Christmas-y as I would have liked, but that's okay, because that's less to take down after the holidays! 

Let's hop to it.

Here is a shot of the front of my house. 

It's lovely, isn't it?  All that snow!  I sure hope it melts soon!

This is one of my favorite holiday items, I just love this wreath.  I've taken two pictures for you, one with flash, one without.

Here is our wall o' stockings.  It's very exciting.

And this is our Nativity Set, which is also one of my favorite things to unpack each year.

This little tree, is my Christmas Card Tree.  Thanks to BooMama for this delicious idea.  Speaking of delicious, did you happen to bring some cookies with you?  I love cookies.

Here's a bookshelf.

There are no pictures of my kitchen, because it's a mess.  Just picture a Christmas cookie jar, a few candles and green beans and cheerios stuck to the floor. 

Seriously, you didn't bring cookies?

And here is our tree.  It's a nine footer and a little too big for my liking.  I don't think I'll be "hosting" this tree for too many years.  It's just too large.  Please note the special placement of the candy canes.  The children were in charge of those.  Typically, with my personality type, I would have changed how they placed them and put them on the tree very methodically and equally spaced.  This year, I left them, as is. 

Well, there you have it.  I hope you enjoyed the tour.  I leave you with a very special picture of the children taking their Christmas card picture.  It was a ton of fun...for them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

To visit more homes on the BooMama's Tour of Homes, click here for a full list of participants!

Good News. And Bad News.

Remember a few weeks back when I wrote about Racecar being so difficult to buy for?  About how easy it was for me to shop for Ariel?  And how when I asked Racecar what he wanted he responded with "a red racecar and a tree?"  Remember that?

I have GOOD NEWS!  He has finally added to his list.  Something he thought of all my himself and he talks about it all the time.  In fact, he thinks it's such a great idea that he thinks Santa should bring the same thing for his sister!

The bad news?

He wants a pair of boxing gloves.

And he wants them badly.

It's interesting that this child would want a pair of boxing gloves because we don't watch boxing, we do not encourage any type of fighting, organized or not, and we don't even talk about boxing.

Except we have The Wii to blame.  Which has boxing.  Which we do not let him play.  He has only experienced boxing while watching Daddy box or Crooked Eyebrow.  And that's it. And it's not often.

There are a lot of sports on Wii: baseball, tennis, golf, bowling.  Couldn't he have asked for a bowling ball?  A lovely little tennis racket?  A golf club?

Another interesting thing about his infatuation with boxing is that whenever he asks to play boxing, we tell him he can play when he is sixteen.

So, everyday, starts out with "am I sixteen today?" 

Which makes for a long, long day.

Last night, while Brian and I were shopping we did see things like this:

But I just could not, would not, get something that teaches my kid to become a better fighter.

I'm a little sad that dear old Santa will not be bringing Racecar his one big Christmas wish, but dear old Santa will not be bringing Racer his one big Christmas wish.

Tell me, am I being too sensitive?  Not only did I have one of these punching things when I was little, I also had daily fist fights with my siblings and look at me, I turned out just perfect fine okay, a little on the slow side.

Is my "soon to be" four year old too young for clown violence?

Tell me, please.  Help a sister out.

Hi kids

I'm over here today.  If you feel like reading, go read.  And have fun.

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesdays, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.