Parents have arrived

My parents our here..
I almost cried when they came through the door and then again when I read the birthday card my dad gave me about "heroes" and me being their's.
I so hope the boys are good
I hope my parents have a fun time and don't regret the long drive up here and want to head back sooner rather than later

not.good.combination

surly hormonal 10 year old+hormonal pms'ing mother= not good
Thankfully this is only in spurts at this time

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve

So here I sit typing on the computer on a Christmas Eve that is probably one of the most non-traditional ones I have ever had. This does not mean this is a bad thing, just for a very traditional Christmas "nazi" it is a little strange. Due to a "possible" blizzard, the in-laws did not make it so the usual cooking, cleaning, and preparing that we do went out the window. Today we went and did stocking stuffer shopping, bought some small cooking appliances, and worked out. The work out wreaked havoc on my body due to an embarrassing story. I hurt my neck/shoulder while over zealously playing WII boxing against Suree-after too many glasses of her homemade eggnog, and then lifted through the pain, which now has me stiff necked and sitting with a heating pad. I iam wavering between lots of mulled spiced wine or a muscle relaxer.
I am looking forward to the polar express later, we have been saving this xmas movie for tonight and then final Santa gifts WHICH both frys made a list TODAY and put it under the tree. Needless to say the last minute wishes will not be under the tree-thank goodness I gave the grandparents those great ideas:).
So here I sit blogging on Christmas Eve, hoping you all have a happy holiday, Carey-with her new house and uber sized family. Karen with Mel and his guest, and pajamas. Bobbi, who is waiting for the blizzard inside her colorful house with the shiny bright lights, and Chris who is back "home". Love and Joy to all of you!

from the mouths of children

This could be one for Carey's xmas letter. Big Fry and I are running errands, I tell him I am stopping at the wine store. With a roll of the eyes he says, "Great it takes you like a half an hour to pick the wine and about 5 minutes to drink it!" Hmm every seen yourself eat a chocolate bar there buddy!

cranberry crumb bars

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cranberry-Crumb-Bars/Detail.aspx

Zing

Definition of "Zing": dynamism: the activeness of an energetic personality

This would describe youngest son since I put presents under the tree-"Zinging" would be more like it. He says he will die if he can't open anything soon! On the other side of the coin, big fry is very relaxed-think NOT being in school agrees with him.

crossing fingers

Today I am going to try to make a chocolate torte-wish me luck, my back up plan will be cranberry cream cheese bars.

Who knew...

Who knew being a "leader" (not that I call it that) of 50 some people could be so exciting, fun, energizing and at the same time exhausting. Without going into gritty details my new job entails so much more than strictly talking to naughty kids. I am telling you my friends, that is the SMALLEST part of my whole day. Since Thanksgiving we have had numerous staff lose a family member from a father, sister (on Thanksgiving day), a brother in law, a grandma-who actually had not really passed away. I have listened to other personal stories I will not betray the confidences of here. I sometimes wonder if my real job is not that of a counselor-good thing that was my second choice as my master's and still may be someday-when I am old and bored. I have learned to listen to and show patience to levels I didn't know I possessed. I have had to dig down deep to not be sarcastic, to take the high road in for the sake of professionalism, and keep my mouth shut. I have gotten even better at letting things roll off my back-a pretty good strength I already had-and really NOT worry about it later, no really!
I have learned to hug a person, really hug a person and say "I love" you (again not an easy thing for me) to a person outside my comfort zone because it is what they needed at the moment in their grief.
Oh and here and there I talk to naughty kids about what really amounts to the small stuff... and I just want to say to them, enjoy this time young people because at some point and time there is REALLY big stuff, when you need to learn to listen and hug and know it is not all about you. That we all swim together in this big bowl of soup...

Oh and thinking of soup reminds me I did not make enough soup for the staff holiday lunch I planned-now that I did worry about!

Tree-the final version

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I am a little sad, small fry didn't ask to do Rainbow lights until I had the tree almost done (the first time that is-another story). I told him we would put them out on the deck. A little Christmas cheer from me to you.

The tree is up

The tree is up and not without a few tears. The wise young boy at the boys club says as he is cutting the bottom, "Are you sure your tree stand is big enough". In my tree buzz I barely glance and say "Of course". I bring the tree home and actually eyeball the trunk, hmmm pretty big. I get the metal ring to test it. Nope not big enough. I tell hubby, who is pretty unsympathetic after all these years to my tree angst. I drive around to 4 places with the last one being the jackpot. We put the tree in and...well it doesn't touch the bottom-to many branches. Hubby is even more unsympathetic and says, "this is it, next year a fake tree". He goes to get a tape measure, I mean while get a brick, small piece of wood and try to lift it myself. By this time really in tears. We get the blasted thing in the stand, the one thing I looked forward to doing all day, and now I just want it to go away.
Not as terrible as Karen's day, and a tree is definitely not worth crying about-just the straw that broke the camel's back as it was the second day since the start of my new job I have actually come home "crabby". Hate coming home "crabby" and now hubby is hiding in the basement.

You have to listen

I don't usually jump on bandwagons, especially reality TV. But if you haven't heard Susan Boyle's story or heard her sing you NEED to go to you tube and hear her sing Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones. AMAZING

Direct Quote

"Wow that bath really helped, I should take one every night" from big Fry after he cheerily said good morning

wise words from Sark...

Sark is way out there I admit but she does have tidbits that hit the spot.
from How to Really Love a Child
"Be there...if they are crabby, put them in water. If they are unloveable, love yourself. Realize how important it is to be a child"

I read this while going to the bathroom in the boys bathroom BECAUSE my hormonal big fry is as I type taking a hot bubble bath with my stress relief/peppermint/eucalyptus body wash. Yep, putting him in water definitely worked AND gave me some time to remember it is important to be a child and sometimes hard.

Save me

Save me from the hormonal swings-Big Fry's not mine
Save me from being too disappointed with my xmas cards-the picture on them is not what sending the cards are about
Save me from being annoyed with my hormonal big fry who has a quiz tomorrow and left his study guide at school
Save me from snacking all night long because of my annoyance...because I have been VERY good
All right enough whining, maybe if I go have some real wine that will help

Sweater II

I hate going places after work, hate it. I went shopping after work today, not for anything necessary of course but a sweater. A sweater for small fry, who when I asked if he was wearing his favorite snowflake sweater for the the xmas program (unlike big fry, small fry LOVES sweaters), he says no I would like a new one. A Christmasy one, one that says "Merry Christmas" on it. Hmmmm I think I will start calling him Clark-you know Christmas Vacation Clark. So we head to the mall to the Children's place-full of bright sweaters. He immediately finds a red and white striped one-"Candy Canes" he says. He tries it on, hands it to me to purchase. He then walks by another table of sweaters- baby blue argyle pattern-and is fascinated. He tries it one declares it the ONE. I am loathe to buy it-baby blue?? My sons have not worn baby blue in I don't know how long-and only when it was a gift.

Secretly I can't wait to see him wear it since we have to save his baby blue tie (he picked out) for the piano recital

sweater story 1

One long story short...
I bought a sweater for small fry and the upcoming Christmas program-apparently I have no idea what size my son is and bought it way too large (I blame it on black Friday frenzy). Anyway big fry was missing his coat and needed to go outside, I told him to try it on. He must have been desparate because he did , this child has not worn a sweater or shirt with a collar since I was able to wrestle him into one. It looked great and I told him so, I jokingly told him it would be great for his last xmas program. He looks up at me over his glasses and says "Do you want me to? I will if you really want me to, I would do it if it means alot to you". My heart melted, I sooo wanted to say yes, but said, "Is it something 5th graders would wear?" knowing it wasn't having seen what kids wear to the program. He told me no, no one wears them, I say, "Well then it is up to you, wear what makes you comfortable as long as it is a little bit nice." He walked away smiling and I am sure more than a little thankful that I didn't take him up on the offer.
I don't need him to WEAR the sweater, it is enough to know that he WOULD

where did the christmas nazi go?

I believe it was last year I shared my family'a frustration with my obsessive Christmas tendencies and traditions. Well here it is Dec. 5 and I finally got the Halloween decor packed away. I do have all my shopping done-thanks to the internet and yes getting up on Black Friday AND having a small extended family.

I haven't thought about xmas cards yet-still waiting to get them and find my address book-which was my old planner the one that I have a sinking feeling I discarded when I got a new one.

I am postponing the xmas tree so I can have it up a little bit later after Christmas for when my parents come-that also gives me a nagging feeling that all the "good" trees will be gone.

Today was to be my decorating day, but we spent time pulling together the basement, we are making a big push to get it done by the end of the month and all the little errands involved take time, time, time. I can't wait to unveil once it is done!

I did enjoy a small bit of Christmas spirit last night and probably the best-younger son and I pullled out the xmas DVD's you know the ORIGINAL Christmas shows we used to watch only once a year when they showed on CBS. The ones you couldn't wait for, with Berger Meister Meister Berger and Rudolph. Cuddled up, ate popcorn, drank wine (rootbeer for small fry) just the two of us. Now that is the way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Social butterfly

Report cards are out and one of my younger son's comments is about his not-so-good choices with talking. So we have the following conversation:
Me: So where is it that you are having the problem with talking to much?
Q: I don't know
Me: Is it at centers or at your desk?
Q: No, circle
Me: ahhh isn't the circle time when Mrs. J is giving directions and you really should be listening
Q: Mom, I sit by my friends at circle, I can't help if they ALWAYS want to talk to me
Me: Well I think you need to work on not talking and more listening
Q: MOMMMM, I HAVE 2 ears (he points to them) I can listen to her with THIS one and my friend with the OTHER one

Ahhh, at this time I have to walk away because 1) I was trying not to laugh at his dead pan seriousness and 2) School is sometimes a little too easy and he really can listen to her AND a friend at the same time and understand BOTH of them