Odds and Ends

The Weight Watchers meeting was cancelled last night, due to some crummy weather. I got some things done at home instead. Seth and I purchased the last "substantial" gift for the kids (only the stockings left to finish), and I'll probably wrap it this afternoon.

The second big "Viking/Packer" game was a bit of a disappointment, even if the Packers did win. I even won another bet against my "Gamblers Annonymous" co-worker. (Just kidding!) Neither team could keep their hands on the ball! It was, however a tight game that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

I'm soo glad it's Friday! I'm looking at the front-end of a 4-day weekend!! Oh, to be able to sleep in!

My mom's youngest brother and his family are expected to arrive at my folks' tomorrow night. It will be fun to spend the weekend with them. My uncle offered to make Green Mill pizza for us Sunday afternoon, which will push our festive Christmas Feast back a meal...But for Green Mill pizza, I think I'll live.

Did I tell you that my brother Paul is engaged?! He and Amy had their "Christmas" last Wednesday, and he Popped the Question! Amy is a sweet girl and will make a nice addition to our family!

Our church choir is scheduled to sing for this Sunday morning service...even if we are short 12 members! Pray that we can still pull off The Hallelujah Chorus!

Well, if I don't see or talk to you before, have a Merry Christmas!

Fortunes, Forecasts, Lucky Charms

I don't buy any of it. I don't read horoscopes; I don't believe in being able to predict one's future by the lines on one's palm; I just don't buy it.

I do, however, enjoy Chinese food and the funny little cookies you get to savor for dessert.

Yesterday, my mom took my kids shopping and out for lunch afterward in a Chinese food court in the mall. They each got a fortune cookie to follow their meals, and they each had a "fortune" that was mysteriously accurate:

Madison's fortune told her that "A cheerful letter or message is on it's way to you." Which is an easy one, considering Christmas cards are arriving every day ;)

Malachi's warned him to "Keep you plans secret for now." (An aside: you can tell these were written by the Chinese, but I digress.) And if you've seen this post, you'd know that this is hilariously dead on for him!

So whether or not you, like me, are skeptical of the whole "medium" culture, we all can all appreciate a little humor from time to time.

Oink, Snort, Squeal

I've had a baaaad week. I have pigged out. Not a good idea for someone who only has a 4.5 pound buffer zone until she's kicked out of the "lifetime" qualification at her local Weight Watchers meeting. But so far, so good on my bathroom scale...haven't lost, but haven't gained either.

*knock on wood*

But for tomorrow's weigh-in, I may have to use my "Get out of Jail Free" card. (Or "No Weigh In", as is the "technical" name for it.) Because if I don't, this scene may play out at the meeting tomorrow.

My Elfin' Self

HA! Betcha didn't think I could sing and dance at the same time, didja?! Well you have Jeannie to thank for this one!

Check out my elfin' self:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=deb698fa3fcd929be554eccG06121812

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Little Shop, A Little Slumber

This morning my friend Jeannie and headed out bright and early to hit the stores to finish our Christmas shopping. It was great for "just us girls" to get out and just be together as two female adults! I had a blast! (And most of my Christmas shopping is done to boot!)

When I got home, Seth was upstairs putting clothes away. He took me downstairs so he could "tell me something". (The kids were already napping.)

He said that when he put the kids to bed for their naps, Malachi must have been really tired. But in order for him to stay asleep once he fell asleep, Seth decided to rub some VapoRub on his chest to keep him from coughing. (It's become a pattern in our household lately, unfortunately.) So as Daddy is massaging the serum into our son's chest, he's falling asleep. But Madison is in her bed, not quite feeling closure from Daddy that all of the "good-nights" and "I love yous" have been said. So she's yelling: "Good night!"....."Good Night!"....."GOOD NIGHT!"....."GOOD NIGHT!!" Seth doesn't want to respond since he's so close to a nearly sleeping little boy. But after a few of these frustrated little pleadings for a response, he finally shouts: "Good Night!" To which Malachi startles awake and mumbles "good night", thinking that daddy is saying it to him. Then, Madison wants yet another response from Daddy: "I love you!"....."I Love You!"..... To which Malachi, not quite back to his sleep, keeps responding, "I love you too!" Seth said that it was so precious, he could hardly keep from laughing out loud!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children - on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

My Mild-Mannered Little Man

This is Malachi. He has a manner about him that I will probably never understand. But it will forever endear me to him. Nothing phases this kid.

Yesterday, I picked up my children from my mom's (who, by the way, lives right across the street). I rounded them up, got them dressed for the 8 degree weather, and we headed for home. We got most of the way across the street, when I looked down and noticed that my son was shoeless! He was toddling down the way in the freezing cold with nothing but socks on his little feet! I had neglected to adequately clothe my son! I asked him, "Malachi, where are your shoes?" He looked down at his feet and said, "Oh, we forgot them!"

We got a big laugh out of that one! (Those are M&Ms he's puting in his ears, by the way.)

Momma So Proud

This weekend we set up our Christmas trees. In the past, it's just been Seth and I doing the decorating; But this year, Madison wanted to help:

Take another look at that tree...I'm not kidding, Madison decorated it! I told her that she should consider where bows and ornaments were and space them out, she decided where she wanted the decorations, and I moved the desk so she had something to stand on. I am thoroughly impressed at her sense of style and design. *tear* Momma So Proud.

On a sidenote: check out how old she looks in this picture:

My Baby's growing up!!

In other family news:

Madison turned 4 on Nov. 19. She wanted a "Princess" party. Here are some pictures:

Brotherly Love?

r: "You shot your deer?"
s: "Yea, it's an 11 point buck! I wounded it and Michael finished it."
r: "Great!"

I listened as Seth explained in detail how he was about to call it a night when he heard the rustling in the brush. I could hear the excitement in his voice as he romped through the slew (sp?) toward his brother and their latest victim. Our conversation ended soon after, for Seth wanted to get the deer gutted before the sun set.

My phone rang again:
s: "It makes me sooo mad! Michael's not even admitting that the deer is mine! The one who gets first blood gets the deer, right?"
r: "I honestly don't know, but he doesn't think you hit it?"
s: "NO! And it practically laid itself down in front of him. It was obviously wounded!"
r: "Huh."
s: "Well, can you meet me at Chris and Syna's? We're going to skin the deer there. And bring the camera..."
r: "Sure."

I arrived at our friends' house a few minutes earlier than the brothers and explained the situation to everyone (Aaron and Jeannie were also there, as well as Paul H.) and how Seth felt about it. Everyone just laughed at the sibling rivalry.

Finally, the guys arrived. As Syna (the wonderful hostess that she is ;)) bustled about the kitchen, serving drinks and chili to the hungry hunters, the men shared their story of "Divide? and Conquer".

After they had finished eating, the guys (and the photographer) headed outside to skin and "butcher" the poor animal laying dead in the back of Michael's truck. Aaron asked me to move my van so they could get the truck in to unload the deer. I got in the van and backed right into a tree!! (That's a whole 'nother post!)

As the bros were hanging and skinning the deer, Seth says, "Michael, I don't know if I even shot this deer at all! I can't find any wounds that I would've made." To which Michael replies, "Oh, I know you shot it. There's no way it would've just lay down in front of me without you shooting it first." *I drop my arms and roll my eyes.*

OH BROTHER!!

Another Project Bites the Dust

We have finally finished our front porch (you want the truth? It's been finished for a couple of weeks now, but due to the stone-aged camera we have, we just got the pictures back yesterday!)

It was a long and grueling process, nevertheless. So here are the before and after pictures for your enjoyment: