Oh and yes....

This is my third post for the day. I have a feeling that as crazy as November and December was in the workplace (which is usually a calm time) that January through March will be unimagineable. So here is another post, in case you don't hear from me until April.

Here is my new obsession, almost like hair magazines. I have weird obsessions. I have weird taste in TV shows. Luckily my hubby shares this. Here is our new show:

It is on AMC, a post civil war drama. I do love history. Here is the lead character...

Did I mention I like history. I really do watch it for the story line...

Oh there he is again.

I don't even like cowboys.

I wonder what hubby would look like with long flowing hair and a duster?

Toddlers and Tweeners

When I had TODDLER children and my older and wiser friend Sara had TWEENER/TEENS she would tell me how similiar they were in brain functioning. I laughed at the comparison. Really? Who could reason with a 2 year old-no one. But I was sure a 12 year old could be reasoned with. A parent expected a 2 year old to do weird zany things. All the books said so.

NOW I am wiser and older and I see the connection.
Artifact A: New Years's Eve-12 year old is with us at a friends house. He and best friend come down laughing hysterically, almost peeing their pants to show us duct tape. Duct tape with hair stuck to it. Self waxing with duct tape-the few armpit hairs they actually had. Kind of reminds one of two year olds with hair and scissors.

Artifact B: Post New Year's Eve, first born has been at sleepover with duct tape friend. As he comes home at 11 he informs us they were up until 2:18. We cautiously mention "nap". We get a big fat no and "I'm not tired, I won't be grumpy". Well grumpies, surliness, over tired sets in. I use my toddler experience and promptly bribe him to ride in the car-I mean go on errands-in the car. And just like it was 10 years ago, MAGIC! I have one sleeping child in the car and quiet.

Now if I could just lay him down with a sippy cup, because of course the car nap wasn't enough.

Yummy

I don't usually post food or meals. Who can compete with Karen and Bobbi in that department? I am pretty proud of this version of pheasant stew with dumplings. As hubby and big fry try to to become mighty hunters, emphasis on try, I try to find recipes that I will like. Being from a non-hunting childhood, cooking and eating wild game is not a strength.

I would have to say this one is a winner!

Peace and Joy

As much I am a tree/Christmas Nazi, I am equally a scrooge when it comes to New Year's resoloutions. Not sure what it is. The fear of failure? The goals we set for ourselves at the start of the year that are meant to motivate but are usually very lofty in nature, and end up discouraging. And what is it with this beginning of the year thing? Do we really need a "date" to change-can't we do that on a daily or even minute by minute basis? Is it a stubborn streak in me that says "Darn it" I am good enough (most of the time) just the way I am? Is it the perfectionist in me who shudders at he HUGE list of resolutions I could make if I wanted to be perfect at everything-which I have worked hard over the years NOT to do? I think the last one is the answer, if I actually sat down an analyzed it, as maybe we all could, the list would be indefinite and each resolution could have a counter one (ying/yang thing going on):

Eat better but worry about weight less

Exercise more, but be happy with the 41 year old body I have, its not that bad

Give my fry's better feedback, and yet lecture them less

Limit technology time, but try to communicate more with people I love

Swear less-ok there is no yang for that one

Praise my children more, but be more consistent-higher expectations

Clean my house better, but don't let it consume our free time

And the list goes on...

So here it is the list that won't be happening...for whatever reason. Not that I can't choose do some of those things when and where I want, I will.

What I do know is I wish you all a new year of peace and joy. They are a little ying and yangish. Peace from whatever it is that weighs on you, bothers you, makes you sad, annoys you, frustrates you and on and on. And then there is joy. Joy in what excites you, motivates you and makes you laugh. While you are clearing your mind clear it for the joyful things that your brain should be full of. Maybe having one peace or joy will give you the other. I think it will.

Christmas Spirit

I like, many other teen/tweener moms, waffle between loving my tween son and at other times wondering why the heck I ever bore this child. Well here is why.
Big Fry, who at the age of 5 or so wanted to make a talking cane for a blind man at the grocery store
Who at a little older age, cried and asked me to bring home the homeless man he saw while riding home on the bus
At the present age charms everyone BUT us...and I wonder if he will ever get back a charitable bone again...
Is participating in a counselor-in -training program at the local Yand had the opportunity to spend the afternoon making huge gift baskets for adopted families and delivered them last weekend. Upon being picked up, I carefully asked "How was it?"-this is usually the question that is met with a "Fine".
I was met with, "Great, it was a really cool thing, this one lady almost cried when we dropped off the stuff. I made me feel really good."
There it is, the kind heart I love ,showing just a little bit.It was hidden again a few hours later, but for now its enough to know its there.

The apple and the tree

It is good to know the apple does not fall far from the tree, or at this time of year should I say pine cone. I have to admit I have done a little lamenting this Christmas time. As I planned and wrapped and planned again and tried to relish in the spirit, I noticed my elder son had little. The usual Christmas events that the boys loved when they were younger have gone a little to the way side, especially the older child. So who would have thought that my younger son, who has very little of my dna, would come shining through.

Small fry was bound and determined that we needed to have a Santa Tree, downstairs and it had to be cut, from the woods. I hate to admit when this last Sunday rolled around, and I felt frenzied, I came close to offering a round of video games if we could save time and run to the Boys Club to buy one. One look at his face when I started to open my mouth and he says, "can I pick it out all by myself", caused me to shut up very quickly.

We drove, and drove, and drove some more. I promised everyone in the truck I JUST knew this place had the right trees, not the pine, but the spruce. He was adamant about the spruce. And, just as we got discouraged there it was, the perfect little valley. That still had snow (I am like Carey-I really love a white Christmas), and oodles of spruce, and we walked from tree to tree to find just the right one he liked.

He cut it, dragged it, and tagged it. We decorated it together. I don't have after pictures just yet, it goes against my artistic nature, but it is the perfect small fry tree. But good to know I am not the only Tree Nazi in the house.

Funny thing, Big Fry asked if he could get a tag...

Alone Time

Here it is, honest and selfish me. Alone time, I am having some RIGHT NOW. When I say I never get alone time I am really not exaggerating (even though I am good at that). I have been alone since 6:00 AM this morning and will be for the next two nights. There is no homework to follow up on, music practice, dog to walk or remind others to walk and feed. No feeling bad about being late at work or on the computer for work. Or guilt about not being AT work.
Dont' get me wrong, I LOVE my family, I LOVE my job. But sometimes this busy, crazy life I have made for myself deserves just a little break.

I drove in the car with Christmas music no one wants to hear when they ride with me. I saw a beautiful sunrise, which I am sure was just for me. Texted a friend some morning love. Texted lots of people when I shouldn't have been. Til the deer raced across the front of my 80 mph car. But you know what no one knew but ME!

So yes I will be selfish these next two nights, feel a little alone and guilty by tomorrow night, be racing home on Friday for, Christmas music program, Christmas tree decorating, instrument practice for recitals, indoor soccer, boot camp, evaluations to type, work that will need to be caught up on (without going TO work, I vowed not to step one foot into work on any weekend in December), travel cancellations and phone calls, and clothes shopping. For. Boys.

See with all this crazy life I happened to look at my children as they went to school in ripped pants, too short pants, too short sleeves and big fry wearing the same 4 long sleeve shirts week after week and realized my kids look like ragamuffins. I knew it was bad when I casually mentioned, "Looks like you need some new clothes and they both, said "WE KNOW, you need to take us."

I can't wait, because you know the next best thing to being alone is shopping! Ok well in my selfish little world right now that is!