Tuesday....and the gang was all there...

I know that I am indeed one lucky lady.  I sent out an email, suggesting you bring yourself, your kids and a board game and we all meet for coffee talk at the local coffee shop.  And look, the entire gang showed up!

Thanks ladies...it was fun to catch up with everyone and see how big all the kids are growing!  

From the "we should have done this years ago" file..

Santa had cable installed in Thing Two's room.  

It's 7:30 a.m. and I've  enjoyed two cups of coffee and read emails/blogs/message boards in total silence.  Not a creature has stirred, not even my morning Thing!  (whose usual internal alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. rain/shine/track on/track off/weekday/weekend).  

Don't you love the honeymoon phase that comes after something new?

*disclaimer:  yes, I know a tv in a kid's room is wrong and we'll end up regretting this action at some point.  But for now:  did I mention how much I love my quiet and alone time in the morning?  

And off they go...

with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.....

sweet dreams little ones....

'Twas the day before Christmas...

and my neighbors reminded me what a wonderful community I live in!  

A week or so ago, I learned of a family in our neighborhood that has really fallen on some hard times.  I thought how can we help out this family?   So, I sent out a quick email and before I knew it...well, you can see the response.  Inside the one gift bag is all sorts of gift cards to local groceries and retail stores.  

You'd have to know our neighborhood to fully appreciate what a special place this is.  It's not as upscale as many of the communities that surround us.  We're a mixed community:  again, not necessarily ethnically diverse, but certainly economically diverse compared to many of the surrounding subdivisions.  

So, this morning I dragged my family out in the cold (actually, no dragging was required, they were all willing participants.  Thanks family!) to deliver these treats.

As we were heading home, Thing One remarked "Mom, that felt good!  I'm so happy we could help them!"  That alone brought a big smile to my face...because one thing about Thing One is, he doesn't necessarily appreciate the art of schmooze, so if he says it, chances are good he really does mean it.  

So, on this Christmas Eve...I hope you too were able to find a way to spread Holiday Cheer with those around you...and be reminded yet again of the truth that it really is better to give than to receive!  

Sometimes I forget...

what a beautiful state I live in. I get so used to my life out here in the 'burbs. Surrounded by homes that look just like mine. Whenever I get away from this brownish blur of the SE side of town, I tell myself "I need to do this more often!".

Yesterday, we did just that. Another mom friend and I took our crazed children over to the foothills. In search of some winter fun, we figured they had more snow as this community is a good 1200 feet higher in elevation than we are. Not a lot of luck on the "more snow" part but we struck gold in terms of having fun enjoying the fresh mountain air. We all slept like babies.

Thing One had his first experience walking on water, and as you can see, he's not too much of a fan...especially when he heard the loud crack that comes with the ice settling. 8 inches of frozen lake water wasn't enough of a comforting thought for him as he went scurrying to the shore and watched from afar while the rest of the gang checked out the ice fishing.

Thing Two proved me right. I've hesitated to introduce him to skiing/snow boarding because I know that he'll like it more than my wallet can handle. Today, he borrowed his friend's toy board and went straight to the steepest part of the hill and said "watch me Mom". Yep, I fear there is no turning back.

Of course, with all this fun and frolic, I'm further behind in the preparations for Christmas. But you know what, it really doesn't matter...because days like yesterday are what really matters when it comes to celebrating this season of Joy!

More questions...

Overheard just now..

Thing Two to his visiting friend, A:  "How do you know if you've been good?"

Friend:  "Well, if your sister doesn't yell A. get out of my room NOW, it's probably safe to assume you've been good"

Thing One:  "Yeah, and if you don't make mom and dad yell"

Thing Two:  "But that is like impossible...Mom always yells when she's driving".

Oh my...they are all on a roll today....

Sunday Funnies...

Besides this cartoon...the Things had me laughing this morning as they talked about the usual assortment of topics while we were out and about.

First, Thing One asked where babies come from and he wasn't buying my response of "ask your dad" so his younger brother chimes in with the "well, some people get them from China!"

The conversation quickly drifted over to what were they...Thing One proudly says "I'm all American" and Thing Two said "well, I'm a Chinese Viking!".  The truth?  They are both right...

Yep...laughter is indeed some of the best medicine out there!  

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Apparently Thing One did.

Today, he received his million word shirt at the quarterly awards ceremony.

Yeah Thing One!

Boo Mr. Assistant Principal who blocked my shot by taking center stage as he announced the winners.....

Oh well... 'tis OK...Thing One was having a very-thing like hair day...(next week's priority to dos:  get hair cuts!)

Wordless Wednesday: Got Tissues?

I confess, this is wordless only because they aren't my words, but without a doubt, my thoughts. It's a long video but grab a cup of something and sit back and listen...you won't be sorry you watched this one!

Got Global Warming?

We don't. At least for the next few days. Last night we set a new record: -15 degrees at the airport.

But 'tis ok: our furnace works fine, we've all got flannel lined jeans (gotta love LL Bean) and the outer gear to keep us warm. And let's just say...it's good weather to snuggle up next to the ones you love!

Got wishful thinking?

Thing One asked tonight "Mom, what would you like for Christmas from me: High School Musical 1, High School Musical 2 or all three?"

Gee, I don't know son...which one do you like?

Got Sudafed?

I'm all stuffed up....and I took the last of the good stuff (you know, the real stuff that you get only after you swear to the pharmacist you aren't using it for your meth lab) this morning. My throat is scratchy, my brain is foggy (hey Hubby, no comment if you know what's good for you!) and I just want to take a nap.

Lucky for me, we've got a Walgreens and a Rite Aide on every corner (as do you I"m sure) so hopefully once the little red pill kicks in, I'll find some joy (and relief) of my winter cold symptoms!

Wordless Wednesday: Got sleds?

Apparently, snow is optional with these new sleds.

Got cookies?

We do...or I might have to say we did. They turned out so yummy that very few remain.

Yesterday, Thing Two and I played around with the spritz cookie gun. The dough was a little too soft and they weren't turning out very good. So, I put him in charge of adding the colored sugar and told him "don't worry, I"ll let you play with the cookie gun once we finish". When we were all done I said, "Come here, son" and proceeded to shoot the leftover dough directly into his mouth.

While he was smiling and giggling and saying "yummy" with a mouth full of cookie dough, Hubby stated the obvious "He is SO your son!".

*photos? No, we were too busy laughing to think to take any pictures. Choosing joy over frustration right there in the kitchen...

Got snow?

We do and the view out my window is simply beautiful. Yeah, I know...it's beautiful because the calendar also shows we've got no where to go and all day to get there so I'm not outside driving in this mess.

Now for the less happy news. I'm sorry to report that we've had an ornament casualty here this year. Minnie has fallen to pieces.

As I look at her, I remember when I got her and all the joy that came with that California vacation back in '90. Laura, do you remember our trip?

I love that about my ornament collection: each one holds some story. And while I can't seem to remember what I had for dinner last night, I love how my memory just opens up when I look at my collection of ornaments.

Should I piece her back together or just remember who I was when I bought her? A 20 something Army LT. I had just graduated nurse practitioner school in Ft. Ord (yeah, back when it was a Fort and had a hospital) and was getting ready to drive across country by myself (I don't even like to drive downtown these days, did I really make it from CA to KY all by myself? I find that hard to believe). My sister flew out to spend some time with me. Many of my friends were spending their Christmas in Saudia Arabia, waiting for a war to start. I missed being deployed because I was in school. Sounds like a good thing, right? Not really...you want to be with your friends, doing what you were trained to do. There is a fair amount of guilt that comes with being the ones that stay behind. I was a solidly single...determined that marriage and family just wasn't part of who I wanted to be...

We can't go back...nor do I really want to...so instead, I think I'll find a new ornament to replace her with...something that reflects the Martha I am today...some 18 yrs later...happily married, mother of two, living in the 'burbs, sipping her coffee, watching the snow fall with a heart filled with joy! CHOOSE JOY!

*this month's blog challenge from Sherri is to choose joy. Throughout the month, I"ll ramble a bit about the joy I have in my life.

Wordless Wednesday: Come on over, I'll put a fresh pot on..