It's not New Year's Eve around here...

What's a girl to do? She was born 12:04 pm, January 1st, 2000. We've dubbed the day "Happy Big Girl Eve!" Not the first baby in the hospital, but at that point I was just glad she was 'out' - all 8+ pounds and 14 1/2" head of her.


Did I tell you this year we decided to go shopping together for her birthday? She even picked out the wrapping paper. I told her I'd buy the things, but she had to let me wrap them and she couldn't open them until her birthday. I do have a couple tricks up my sleeve - a new 24" bike and a crocheted wrap that she's coveted for awhile now.


Also, before the new year starts, I have a couple Christmas pictures. Ok... More than a couple.

First off, The Boy got a snowboard. Not to leave her out, my parents got one for the Big Girl as well.

This is where I grew up. There's something strangely calm and satisifying about going to the sticks. My parents have lived in the same house for over thiry years. When they moved in, there were no trees on the place.



Dad likes planting trees. I can remember jumping over some of them. He did leave enough room for sledding and snowboarding.



As it were, the slope is just perfect for the beginning snowboarder. It's a good thing there's a weight limit on the board, or I just may have hopped on. The Toddler? She's more of an 'inside kid' in the winter. I played on this chalkboard desk as a child. The chalkboard hinges up for chalk storage. Nothing's changed - just more chalk.


Ok. So. This will probably let you know more about me than you want...

The Boy got a box from my parents. He's a very serious present opener.

What's this? A puppy? No. Is it moving? Not any more...

Grandpa getting into character. He explains how he put in on his back, crawled up the stairs, and growled at Grandma. If you knew my mom, this was not a good idea.

He laughs and laughs. I tell you what. It wasn't funny to my mom at the time, but I snicker when I think about my 60something Dad crawling up the stairs to get a rise out of my Mom. Not to be morbid, but when I look at the above picture, this is how I want to remember my dad.

Have you figured it out yet? It's a bear hide. My dad shot it with a bow and arrow last year. He got a bigger and 'better' one this year. He thought The Boy might get a kick out of it. After a little initial apprehension, he thinks it's pretty cool. So do I. For what it's worth, I've turned down offers of bear meat to take home for the freezer. No, I'm not kidding.

One more. One itty bitty little thing. My husband once again proved how hard I am to please.

Really difficult. All it takes is something sparkly and shiny. This is a pretty crappy picture - a really crappy picture. But I just had to share. Shallow, I know. So, so, so, shallow.

Rather than end on that, I'd like to give a shout out to my parents. Good lord are they patient.
Dad resurrected the unfinished doll house from the basement. They decided that it would be a fun project for the kids - here's some paint! The kids loved it. They worked on in for almost two hours.

And Mom? Remember The Turkey? This time she let them frost the spritz cookies.
Back to tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll have an 8 year old girl. How is this even possible? I'll spend tonight getting as many 7 year old hugs as I can.

Happy New Year!





...

Merry Christmas to all...

And to all a good night...

Hope your day was filled with wonder, reflection, family, good food, and peace.

Will be sporadic for a few days more. Taking time to eat too much, drink too much, squeeze my kids too much, squeeze my husband too much, and laugh too much.

Later, gator...


...

Finally Friday

It's friday, and I'm up much, much earlier than I like to be. Really, anything before ten is too early, but that's not much of an option these days.

Today is The Boy's Kindergarten Holiday Party. Somehow, I agreed to be 'in charge' of it. Well, as in charge as you can be in a room of 24 five year olds.

The activities are planned. The snack portion of the event involves them decorating their own sugar cookie. With frosting. And sprinkles. Oh. My.

Last night was spent wrapping. And wrapping. And wrapping. Three rolls of tape. Oh. My. Considering we're 'cutting back' this year, I hate to think how it would have ended up if we hadn't.

And for what will be my final crafty crap for 2007, at least that I post about...

I'm giving the teachers Target gift cards. Rather than shoving them in an envelope, I made small wallets - velcro closure on the flap. More etsy fodder, what can I say.

I know this post is kind of all over the place, but so's my brain right now. Somewhere between 4 pm and 5 pm, while riding down I-35, I will fall asleep. Given the late nights and early mornings of trying to make this holiday 'special' for the kids, I've really sacrificed some sleep.

Where am I going with this? I don't know...

Have a wonderful Christmas. Really. I hope it's twinkling lights, warm cookies, a glowing fire, and family and friends.

Stocking Update

Amazing how this...

Can become this:


Not perfect, but done. Plus, the kids like them. The first one took about 45 minutes, the second two took a mere 30 combined.

The edges aren't as pointy as they look in the picture - I just didn't take the time to press out the seams. They only need to last until I find the other ones... Which may very well be when the youngest graduates college.

I'm thinking these will make more etsy fodder for next year. Along with the wine gift bags and elf hats.

Ah well. Nearly done. I really do enjoy making all this stuff. It's been a shift from buy!, buy!, buy! - a very good one.

Until then, I have to make the final preparations for The Boy's kindergarten holiday extravaganza aka Holiday Party - tomorrow. Make my list and check it twice. Pinecone birdfeeders, cinnamon ornaments, and cookies - oh my!



.

Still no stockings.

Ugh.

Looks like I'll be making a trip 'in town.'

Otherwise, it's 4:57 pm and nearly dark - the Christmas lights have already clicked on .

The kids don't want to come in, they're too busy playing in the snow.

In other news, Big Girl let me know that she 'needs' a red shirt and pants (or green, Mom) to go with her elf hat.

Rather than that, I fashioned a green skirt out of the leftover felt.

Pretty cute if I do say so myself. I'll have a picture tomorrow.

I'm too tired right now.

UPDATE: I 'broke the news' to my oldest. She replied, "Can't you just make one?" Yes, if that means I can stay in my warm cozy nest at home. Yes, if that means you still like my homemade stuff. Yes, my child, I can "just make one." Well, three.

Crappity Crap

I'm in a snit right now.

I can't find the kids' Christmas stockings.

Every box, every bag... I've gone through them all...

Have you ever put something away, in an obvious place, so you won't lose it - and then you do?

And here I thought I had all my shopping done.

Crap.

All I want for Christmas...

This year, all I want for Christmas is to have all my projects finished up. I'd like to think I have a pretty good grasp of my limitation this year, but apparently not. I've spent nearly all morning on the sewing machine. Nothing too top secret, but I'm hoping for before and after pictures by the end of the day.

Otherwise, I found these:

"Eat Organic" with two cherries.

I'm so asking Santa for these next year.

Friday by the numbers

1- times I've been alone since Monday Noon.

2 - pounds to go to reach my "lose 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas" goal

2.5 - hours alone

3 - kids I'm done Christmas shopping for.

4 - gifts I have yet to make.

7 - packages I've mailed in the last five days.

8 - pounds I've lost since Thanksgiving

10 - days since I've run.

11 - days until I start training for my next marathon.

11 - days until Christmas.

25 - pounds to go.

435 - miles to train

It's been decided... OKC Marathon. April 27, 2008. My dad is running with me. Tree and Anne - can't wait.




...

Some days you're the windshield, some days you're the bug.

I woke up today planning on a great day - all three kids would be in school this morning and I could run the errands I didn't get to on Friday. I plan on these days. I've done my share of toting the kids on errands.

Rolling out of bed, I scratched my forehead and it burned. Then I looked in the mirror.

Last night, I put some of my higher-ranked alpha-hydroxy lotion on my face. Those itty-bitty wrinkles aren't so itty-bitty. Usually I can use it for about a week, and the finer lines go, then I forget to use it until I look back in the mirror.

Oh no. Not this time. For some strange reason, my whole forehead is red and itchy. Nice rash.

So now, I'm sitting in a tank top because the itch has stretched down my neck. Not the rash, just the itch. Kind of like something, oh say a spider, falls on your head and even after you've brushed it off you're sure it's laid eggs and baby spiders are hatching all over? Maybe that's just me.

I'm guessing it's a combination of cold weather, dry skin, and the cream. After trying not to scratch it all morning, I put some of my daughter's Elta cream on it. That's seemed to stave off most of the itching, and the redness has gone a little bit. If you have dry skin - this stuff is for you. It's what the burn doctor recommended for her hand to keep the skin soft after the bandages came off.


I did manage to get my errands run. Thankfully, because the next time I'll be alone is Wednesday, for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Tonight is planning the Kindergarten Holiday Party, and tomorrow night Girl Scouts. My husband has holiday stuff as well Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but at least he's not out of town like he's supposed to be.

On a side note, during our last computer dump, I lost our address file. The file I've carefully culled for four years is gone. So, if you would like a Christmas card from me, shoot me an email: swiperbootsdora@gmail.com.




...