C-man has a camera, and he knows how to use it

Dad in the middle of making Christmas breakfast

Harry's butt

Early Christmas morning Mom

Feet with some special effects thrown in

Artistic tree shot

Christmas Legos

The rocking horse named "Kyle"

"The shitter was full!" and other fun stuff

Today we're kind of living within a movie. Or maybe life does imitate art enough that we see the resemblance. But after 20 minutes of ripping open presents, and a couple hours of playing with them, and then going to mass, we decided to go out to lunch. And wouldn't you know it, the only thing open on Christmas day within a 15 mile radius is Chinese. We laughed and laughed. So after the tasty buffet lunch, we started to watch Christmas movies. We already watched the house favorite Cricket on the Hearth, moved on to Santa Clause, and right now we're on National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Ah, nothing says Christmas like, "The shitter was full!"

The real reason for it all...

Nothing says lovin' like a warm sugar cookie...

...Unless you're C-man. Then you take one bite, spit it on the floor, and declare it "the worst cookie you've ever eaten". Sigh... I just can't win this year.

Spirit of the Season

It's no secret that I'm not very festive this year. But the truth is, this time of year has never excited me. Because beyond the cold, snow, gray and sunless skies, it requires that people act like they're festive. And you hear the most annoying things. For example: "Do you have all your shopping done?" How has shopping for a ridiculous amount of crap become a contest? When people start asking for my family's "list" before Halloween, it's become obscene. Even more depressing is when someone has to ask for my list because s/he doesn't even know me well enough to get me something interesting or thoughtful that I'd enjoy. "Are you ready for Christmas?" What does this mean, really? Do I know what time mass is? Is my house decorated? I often want to respond, but don't because I'm being "festive", that December 25th is going to come and go every year no matter what I do. "What are you getting for Christmas?" A lot of bills. And before you go and accuse me of being a Scrooge, I have purchased/wrapped/sent and/or made gifts for 32 people. I've baked breads for the Christmas programs. I bought the outfit so I could take the photo, get it printed, and then mailed all the Christmas cards out. I packed the suitcases so we could/can travel to the holiday festivities. I even purchased and delivered the Hanukkah gifts. And I am so tired that none of it is enjoyable. Bah humbug.

By the hair of my chinny-chin-chin

I have a tiny little scar on the bottom of my chin. You can't even see it unless I lift my chin and point it out. Despite being almost miniscule in size, I have one single, solitary, lonely, horrifying goat hair that grows from it. I've tried everything: plucking, shaving, Nair-ing, swearing... and the little bastard just grows right back. It's only one tiny hair that would grow longer than Crystal Gayle's if I let it, but it's totally maddening. Because after I eliminate it, I wait and wait for it to come back. And the second I feel it prickling through, I go crazy all day long waiting to get home so I can pluck the little bugger out of there. So it occurred to me that maybe I'm looking at it all wrong. Maybe I should let it grow. I could get in the Guiness Book of World Records for longest single facial hair. I could grow it even longer, and turn it into a comb-over, thereby having straight hair for the first time in my life. Maybe I could sell it to Locks of Love... I think you only need 10 inches. But I'm pretty sure then that would gross everyone out around me. So in the meantime, I'm plucking away like I'm a post-menopausal woman, hoping no one notices it before I can get home and eliminate it until next month. ***************** And for those who continue to bash the Big 3 automakers while touting Toyota as king, maybe it's time to rethink your misguided opinion. If one of the major news reporters is finally showing them as weak, you know it's bad.

Making my kid perform some more

It would have been so much cooler my way

Beerman's birthday was this week. So a couple of weeks ago, I went to buy what he'd asked for, and what my Dad said he needed after the roofing project. I went to the big box warehouse store Dad told me to go to, because the right one was on sale. As I entered the store, I was obviously looking befuddled, because an Associate immediately asked me if he could help, and I proudly said, "I need an air compressor and pancake gun." He smiled at me and said, "How about a pancake compressor with the nail guns?" "Right!" As we were walking toward it, I could see his shoulders shaking a little bit, trying to supress laughter. So me being me, I said, "But you've got to admit, it would have been soooo much cooler my way." At which point the guy stops suppressing his laughter, pulls a couple of his fellow Associate buddies aside and tells them what I said. As they're all laughing hysterically, I proudly hoisted my new compressor/gun into the cart, and went off on my merry way. But really, a pancake gun hooked up to an air compressor? It would make Sunday mornings so much more efficient. You wouldn't even have to carry them to the dining room... ******************* And to our friends and neighbors - wishing you a happy Hanukkah. Enjoy your una candelika.

Marshmallow World in the Winter

I am obsessed with making marshmallows ever since I saw this recipe. C-man and I made it during yesterday's snow day. Now I'm transforming it and made a chocolate version. When I shared my obsessive behavior earlier today, my neighbor suggested making peppermint flavored ones. Look out people, 'cause I'm on a roll here.

Story of good news according to C-man

At lunch he told me he remembered the rest of the story and that he'll re-take the video later.

C-me

For those of you who are acquainted with the me-me (answer revealing questions about yourself and then forward them on to an untold number of recipients), here's the C-me: a me-me all about C-man. Favorite color: orange Favorite sport: baseball Favorite baseball player: JJ Hardy Best pet to own: kitty Best friend: Mommy Favorite food: cheese Favorite drink: chocolate milk Best movie ever: Cars Best toy to sleep with: puppy Packers or Jets: Jets Bob the Builder or Handy Manny: Bob, "because I just love Bob" Best music to listen to: something really loud with drums and guitars

Snow Day

12 Days of Christmas

So I've been doing the 12 days of Christmas with my staff. They've known it's me, but I refuse to admit to anything. Each day I've dropped something different on their desks. It all started because they called me Scrooge. Which is probably true, because I don't totally love this time of year like everyone else, but I sure showed them. Anyhow, today concludes the exhausting fun 12th day. This is what they got: 1. Partridge and a pear tree: Partridge and pear ornaments 2. Turtle doves: Two turtles and two Dove chocolates 3. French hens: Wolfgang Puck chicken soup with three bird ornaments 4. Calling birds: Hitachino Nest White Ale and a voice mail with a duck quacking 5. Golden rings: Pineapple rings and bagels 6. Geese a laying: Goose Island 7. Swans a swimming: Swanson chicken broth 8. Maids a milking: St. Pauli girl 9. Ladies dancing: Hey Mambo red wine 10. Lords a leaping: sLeepytime tea with 10 soldier chocolates 11. Pipers piping: Kid's recorder 12. Drummers drumming: Chocolates in a drum tin

All because 2 people fell in love...

I've been working on my family tree. I haven't gotten super far, aka not at all, on my mom's line. But now that I have loads of pictures from that line (who are yet unnamed - hint hint Mom!), I'm hoping to build that line up a bit. I also need to go up the James and Tillie line. I'm pretty excited about being in the 1620s with the one branch. Although it is a little bit suspicious with the same last names marrying each other over and over again. It might explain a few things about our family... If you have any known additions I'd appreciate them being input. I know I did a big part of this project in 5th grade, but I'm pretty sure my mom kept all that information so I've started over. And the link above starts with me, because well, you've gotta start somewhere, so it might as well be good!

The Birthday Trifecta

Happy Birthday Beerman! The first 2 gems are courtesy of his Aunt M. This one is when Beerman was about 6 months old. Look at those cheeks!

Beerman is on the left. His brother is on the right. A cousin is in the middle. All grown up:

Happy 39th to my youthful gorgeous sister!

Happy 14th Hunterman!

Post Pelot Christmas

*********************** Here's the link to the Frost Family pictures. I have no idea who these people are, but at least the photos are there. Maybe Mom can edit them so we know who/what they are?

Christmas Program Practice

C-man had his Christmas program practice this morning at preschool. I went, because he won't be able to be in the real one on Sunday. Now if only the kindergarten teacher would get out of the way with those flapping arms!

I'm off to pack to go to Winter for Fesitvus for the rest of us.

Thursday Thirteen things that make me really happy

Thirteen Things that make me really happy (in no particular order) 1. A warm chocolate croissant and fresh coffee with real cream 2. Complete silence with a brilliant snow falling on the ground 3. Hearing C-man say, "Mom, I love you more" 4. Listening to Beerman tell C-man bedtime stories about the bulls or squirrels 5. Watching Riley run outside 6. A brand new earring/necklace combo 7. Learning how to do something new (this week = snowblowing) 8. Fresh sheets on the bed 9. A night out at the Hollander with Beerman...mmmm...French fries w/mayo and Hitachino Nest White Ale 10. Watching James Bond 11. Traveling someplace special with Beerman 12. Listening to the Dixie Chicks (Don't ask why, singing along just always cheers me up) 13. Having my head massaged

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless "You're not getting my cookie" Wednesday

12 ways to get my kid to sleep

Inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas (which I'm kind of into this year) and C-man's ridiculously intricate nightly bedtime routine: 12: toys to arrange 11: pillows in his bed 10: minutes of storytime 9: "It's past your bedtime!" 8: sips of water 7: hugs and kisses 6: blankets 5: more minutes until bedtime, please Mom! 4: books read 3: times to heat up his hot pack 2: socks need to go on, no now off 1: sweet boy sleeping

Are my eyes always closed?

Why is it that I need 10 pictures taken of me to get one with my eyes open. Unfortunately, C-man has the same affliction. Here was our attempt last night to take a picture in front of a lit tree at my work event. Try #1, mine are half-open, his totally closed: Try #2: Now his are open, but mine totally closed:

Try #3: Guess third time isn't the charm

Finally! Maybe we need toothpicks to pry them open for photo ops.

How we all feel today

Participate in Camera Critters with your own blog!

Three Things I Learned Today

1. St. Nick does not come for me.
2. Spending too much money on Christmas presents does not magically put me in the Christmas spirit.
3. It does not matter if I am sick. The only way St. Nick's Day and Christmas are going to happen is if I do them.

Dry Toast

I've been not-good all week. As in, my personal trainer sent me home on Monday because I looked like crap and Beerman was holding my hair last night and I'm trying to stomach some dry toast this morning not-good. This always happens around the holidays. At least St. Nick comes tonight! Maybe he can bring me some ginger ale.

Thursday Thirteen things I want for Christmas

Thirteen Things I want for Christmas 1. Beautiful table linens 2. Cuisinart Food Processor 3. Warm, fuzzy socks 4. A weekend away somewhere quiet 5. Beautiful jewelry (no conflict diamonds) 6. Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume 7. Spa visit 8. A housecleaning service 9. Desk toys and gadgets 10. New winter coat 11. Blue cashmere sweater 12. Great books to read 13. Ipod touch

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

One-Word Wednesday: Peaceful

Vision of Sugar Plum Harry

Once upon a time, I was an exchange student. Having been gone almost a year, my mom sent me a few Christmas ornaments to hang on the tree. I've always loved getting the mail. And in those days pre-email, when I was 17, away from home, and ached in a way that wouldn't quite get me on a plane to leave that tropical bliss, but enough to make me a trifle sad at the holidays, it was fabulous to see that package arrive. The ornaments were bought at some craft fair type thing that my mother likes to go to. And they were made out of some clay, or dough, or claydough... Anyhow, I proudly hung them on the tree. And the next day... I came home after school to half-eaten ornaments. Apparently Ulla, the stinky house weimereiner enjoyed them as well. And I cried. A lot. So fast forward to today... I arrived home after taking Riley for his radiation treatment to find this: And while he's not talking, I'm pretty sure, it was an attack from this:

Advent

Last night we went to C-man's school to do some stuff to celebrate Advent. I'm pretty sure his favorite station was the cookie frosting one. He chose vanilla and chocolate. Maybe he is my kid after all...

How a 3 year old decorates the tree

This year, our look is "clumping" and for about 1/3 up the tree.

But at least he's been hell-bent on regularly "fixing" it with his stash of tools.

Holiday spirit is starting to creep in

I've been a total grinch this year. Some have called me Scrooge. (But that's totally wrong. If I were Scrooge, I'd actually have some money left. So Grinch it is.) I always have a hard time this time of year. Add in the constant low pressure on my body, Beerman's constant travel/stress, and the whole Riley sadness, and considering I don't start from the height of optimism anyway, I haven't been in the best of spirits. I told Beerman it was his job to start decorating the house while I worked. It wasn't until we started to examine what we had to put up that I realized all over again just how much we'd lost in the June floods. Even the angel for the top. So, off I went to Steins to stock up on ornaments and a new tree topper - a star, according to C-man's instructions. And in that hour of shopping and way too much spending and singing along with the bad Christmas music piped in overhead, I started to feel a little happier about the holidays.

Black Friday

For those of you who don't work in retail, happy day-off-after-Thanksgiving. For those of us who do, here's to those who are out shopping. Here's a recap from yesterday:

And because in my family, this one rings true:

Thankful

It's taken me a while to come up with a list of things I'm thankful for this year. Yeah, I know, that says a lot about this year. So this is my humble list:

• Happy, healthy, beautiful, sassy son, otherwise known around here as C-man
• A husband who has been by my side for almost 9 years now (7 1/2 of them married)
• 2 loveable, huggable, naughty dogs
• 2 solid jobs that compensate in above-average ways in an economic time that doesn't typically do that
• Riley's radiation treatments have given him some real pain relief
• While him having cancer is a bummer, knowing how precious our time is with the little furface makes every hug that much more special
• C-man goes to a school he really likes and is learning a lot while he's there
• Costco. God bless them for building a store by my house
• A freezer full of beef
• A new roof on the house
• That 2008 is almost done. Bring on 2009!

Half-day

Ah, the day before Thanksgiving, and it's a half-day. I'm, of course, working Black Friday. (retail close on Black Friday? Are you crazy?) Anyhow, I have a chiropractic appointment and need to make the cranberries for tomorrow. Beerman's on his way home. In other words, I'm free until 4 p.m. Mwah-ha-ha-ha! I'm feeling a Quantum of Solace coming on... ************** Speaking of movies, here is the Jen's rating system for this weekend's viewing on a 5-point scale:

• Bolt: 4 stars - please remember that I'm rating this from the perspective of a 3 1/2 year old
• Twilight: 4 stars - the only reason it doesn't get 5 is because I kept waiting for Cedric Diggory to win the tri-wizard cup. Totally wrong choice for Edward.
• Get Smart: 3 stars - entertaining, but drawn out
• Handy Manny: 5 stars - I mean, come on, talking tools!

To Santa or Not To Santa

This is our make or break it year. Do we play into the Santa game with C-man, or do we roll with our lives, continuing to be truthful to him? I remember vividly finding out about Santa Claus and being angry. It was never a fun game to me. A strange man climbing into my house, looking over me all the time, people constantly pestering me about what he was going to bring me, and then finding out I'd been lied to about it all. I remember knowing he wasn't real, but having to play along because it would somehow hurt the feelings of those around me. And it's happening already with C-man. We can't talk to someone without him/her saying, "What's Santa bringing you?" It's so frustrating! Why does everyone assume we're playing along with this charade? And if we don't play along, we have a whole host of other issues. Like, how do we teach a 3 1/2 year old what the rules are? Most parents lie to their kids about this strange fat man but we've chosen to not do that to you? I know I'm in the minority in the no-Santa thing, but it just doesn't sit right with me. And I know I'm going to have to decide soon. But until then, I wish people would just shut it about the whole Santa thing because I don't think it's their decision to make for us.

I win the "I have the naughtiest kid in the class" award

C-man had his Thanksgiving celebration at school today. He's been loving this song and singing it nonstop around the house:

And who doesn't love the fat turkey song:

And THIS is when he starts to get squirrley... Ironic, since they're singing about obedience.

Ramping up

At least he isn't the kid jumping up and down, but the teacher does have to physically put him where he needs to be:

Nothing says Thanksgiving like a song about pizza:

This is where he's mad at me because I'm leaving and not taking him with me. This is also the turkey he made on which his teacher commented, "I didn't have to look at the name on the back to know THOSE were C-man's."

I'm apalled, and it's not even 9 a.m.

This post will make use of the poignancy of my child, and one of his favorite phrases: Are you kidding me?! 1) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27877195/ A $20 billion bailout for Citigroup, and we're still talking about the auto execs and their private jets and waffling on whether it would be a good idea to float a $25 billion loan to the Big 3? Citigroup - the bank that just raised its banking fees AGAIN another 10% to consumers. Citigroup - the bank that is laying off 50,000 workers. Citigroup - a friggin' bank! If they can't make money, then maybe THEY should be eliminated by the free market. 2) And today, I woke up to this: Ugh... C-man has his Thanksgiving celebration at school today, so I'm hoping the day turns up from here.

Christmas Wishes

C-man: "I know what I want for Christmas, Mom!" Me: "Really? What?" C-man: "A kitty!" Yeah, um, no.