Later that same day. . . .

Everyone asks how the doggies are getting along, and as you can see, they are already buddies. First Lily gnawned on Sully's leg - then since she couldn't get a rise out of him, decided to use him as a pillow.

I'm not sure if it's easier because Sully makes a great Giant chew toy, or because of the crate - but this is going much easier than I remember! Of course, it's early yet, I may be eating those words soon.

Day ?? - Friday

Last barf - 8pm yesterday. The poor little things are still alittle food shy, I don't blame them. Snow day. Gonna make hot cocoa, christmas cookies that I never got around to before, and . . . Christmas goes back in the box.

OK, don't tell my husband, but, I'm secretly thrillled that he's going out of town for 2 weeks. I can scrapbook to my hearts content, and leave things out. I don't have to pack it all away every night. tee hee hee.

Day ? - Thursday -

Dad has been moved to the Heritage Club - for a week of rehab. I've stayed away so as not to infect him with the plague. Anita is coming over shortly to officially take over the newsletter billing - yippy!

So, yesterday I had all the kids. (Caitlin told her dad that I mostly slept the whole time. . . UNbelievable!) We went to goodtimes last night. I thought that since they'd been sick, maybe they would actually eat if it was fastfoodburgers. Normally we don't go in, but we did. We're there 2 seconds and Pony girl has massive attack of the Trots - I'm helping her in the bathroom, when Caitlin bolts in to throw up in the sink! Sound horrible? Nah, I'm just glad we weren't sitting in the car stuck in the drive through. And then they were happily munching away on french fries on the way home. Resiliant little buggers!

Sully just barfed all over the carpet - he gets hold of Lily's chew toys and . . . it must be like cigars, your not supposed to inhale Sully! So, I'm not "sick as a dog" but I'm still sick, and I've done nothing but clean up pee, poop, diareah and barf since Christmas Eve. Did I miss anything?

Girl Toys

Striking me funny is this:
From a distance, the girls seemed to be playing with these toys the same way that boys do. But, as the storyline evolved throughout the day, I realized that they might as well be playing with big ugly prehistoric barbie dolls! ( See, the big Red one is the teenage sister, and the green one is the little sister. They have to work together to beat the evil ones, and save the cavemen. Now if there's an injury, it doesn't seem to matter if it's an evil or good guy, they save them. Generally, after they are saved they join the good guy team for awhile. And there's dialog. Lots of dialog, in between mechanical roars. It's like a little soap opera.)

On another note, I am so ready to yank all of those decorations down and stuff them in a box. . .and I'm not meaning it in a grinchy way. I'm just done. Lets keep moving. Dad needs to recover from his surgery, the girls need to quit throwing up, I need to get that TO DO list done because winging it certainly has not been working, the puppy still needs to be potty trained, oh yes, and the newsletter still needs to be done! And, because I'm the well centered individual that I am, I'm going to go to bed now, realizing that tomorrow is another (hopefully better) day. But first, a little prayer for Iraq, and those who are really needing it. Look out, your chi might get all bound up!

OK - one more thing - Abi and Caitlin in the car yesterday. I stop to talk to a neighbor they have never met before. As I'm pulling away I hear them talking;
Caitlin - "were you scared? I was kind of scared by him, he was a stranger."
Abi - "yeah, I was alittle bit scared. But mostly, I just SO happy though." - That's my girls. good night

Christmas Eve 2006

Dad fell and broke his leg this morning, surgery went well and he's already recovering. Tonight we had a great time at the Zimmers. Last night I went single mom style to a family gathering at mom and dads and exchanged gifts with the cousins. I'm tired, and mid-hauling hidden stuff up from the storage room santa-style.

Final note for the evening: I may give Kevin crap about his "one right way to load the dishwasher" mind set, but, when he actually gets out there to do it, he can make a heck of a better snowman than me! Merry Christmas. . . did you hear something? Sounded like a clatter.;)


Mom assisted snowman:













Dad assisted snowman:

Day 6 - by dose is all tuffy

So much for my "I'm relaxed" montra! Apparently I'm a tightly wound spring of stress that's fallen to the latest virus. I'm gonna go read, blow off the newsletter another day and repeat my montra, this time with more vitamin c. Thankfully the girls are feeling crafty, and are busy making a million snowflakes for grandma and grandpa. Kevin is working today to make up for the snow days - that's just wrong. Santa dropped off the northpole issued wrapping paper last night, so I was able to get that done. . . Hot tea and a book. NO newsletter. I'm relaxed.

• Caitlin on the 13th of December, with 11 count down cookies left for santa. I guess she thinks he comes and scopes the place first.

Day 5 - What happened!

The Blizzard of 2006 happened, that's what! So all of my slick babysitting trade off planning amounted to a hill of beans - but we got to play in the snow, make cookies, drink hot cocoa ALOT! This year is just a wipe out - I've cancelled almost everything or had it cancelled for me. Ran out of Xmas cards, may just save the Dobson's side of the family presents to take out there with us because they are going to be late anyway - (I've had the presents for months) - Oh well, I'm happy with trying again next year and realizing my puppy priority fit in well with this particular holiday season.

day 3 -

Snowing like a banshy outside, I'm still peevish from hubs 'Just Kiddings"- , shoveled and now my back hurts. . . I'm gonna open mail, play a suduko puzzle and pray for nice enough weather to shop tomorrow. Ah, Christmas cards aren't out, newsletters not done, presents aren't bought or sent. . . . maybe I should have done that to-do list. Puppylove is blind, deaf and dumb=) Adjusting my attitude, bbl.

day 2 - go me

vet appointment for new puppy, coffee with co-moms (thanks Tracey), Beth over for a last minute playdate, picked up the house all day long, no chance for a project. As I'm making dinner for everyone else so that I can go work out, Kevin comes home and remarks several times about the messy state of the house. Then while I'm making cookie batter, to use later in my multi tasking way, he lets fly nobody can make a mess like you can. . . Needless to say I'm still fuming and living in a nookie-free zone. grrrr (JK, he says and gives me the geez why are you so touchy treatment. ) At least my workout was inspired.

Day 1 - go me!

Dr. appointment for me, trip to the bank, 2 hours at monkey business, 3 clean bathrooms, 1/2 the laundry done. Spot cleaned all the Lily area's, vision therapy for Caitlin. I'd call that a sucessful/productive day one.

Lily

Welcome to the family Lily, (short for Lilith? or Tiger Lily?) I don't know, but the girls both said YEAH! to Lily, and we didn't look at anyone else. . . We love her, and pet her, and hold her,

and play Doctor with her! If she can make it through anti-date night,

well, I'll know she's a very patient and kind little puppy.

Sorry Chloe.

hm

Poor middle aged Chloe is still at the shelter =( . Dogs don't move as fast as puppies. Of course, if I go to the shelter, I might come home with several poor Chloes.

Fill in the Blank blog challenge.

Easy - almost as good as a bubble test!
1. My current favorite song is: Change, Counting Crows
2. The last book I read was: Users Guide, whirlpool refridgerator? Big Birds Copycat Day? Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Spong - (not done yet, it's not a page turner.)
3. The last book I bought was: same, (I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my purse.)
4. The last cd I bought was: Christmas - Kidsbop
5. Another CD I wanted but didn't buy is: I've decided to try the $0.99 downloads - I just haven't done it yet, so I have a mile long list. But, I listen to KBCO alot.
6. Right now, I'm wearing: sweats
7. The last gift I bought was: sports stacking cups, 4 sets of them.
8. The last time I laughed heartily and loudly: last week, my kids had me crying at the dinner table from a laughing so hard you pee-your-pants laughing attack.
9. My favorite holiday ornament is: An angel tree topper made out of wicker that I can't seem to find. Hopefully it's safe somewhere having been momentarily replaced by the toilet paper roll and glitter star Caitlin made.
10. Mykouse smells like: Cinnamon, I just made a few dozen gingerbread men cinnamon/glue ornaments.
11. The first thing on my to-do list tomorrow is: yoga (or, turn off the alarm and go back to sleep for 45 minutes.)
12. If I could sit on Santa's lap and believe that he'd bring me whatever toy I wished for, I'd ask for: A Lear Jet, or maybe a yacht.
13. If I could holiday shop in ONE store, all expenses paid, I'd shop at: The Great Indoors, they do kitchens right?
14. If an angel alighted on my doorstep today and said, "I'm here to grant a Christmas wish," I'd wish for: Uncle Chuck to "fil bedr". A full and speedy recovery.
15. When I see a bell ringer while out shopping, I: think "you can't be making any money that way, why don't you try something else?"

ARM meeting

Alpha- Recovering Moms? What was it Martha? So, 9 kids, almost no injuries! I'd call that a fun playdate, or ARM meeting - Ah, it's friday. I power Christmas shopped at target today. I had a surprise afternoon off. I got alot done, and,1 more week until winter break. I need to make myself a priority list of things to do during my 5 weeks off. I might just go do that. (Sounds so constructive and all!) I also can't wait for the girls to go to bed so that I can wrap some presents, and make a list and check it twice.

5 Letters (in 5 minutes or less?)

OK, that last part was my addition, but 5 letters, here we go.

Dear Alpha Moms,
Ya know what, why don't you just go ahead and take the day off. My treat. Maybe tomorrow you can come back with a little better attitude.

Dear Socio-Path,
Go away. I've seen behind the curtain, and any attempt at friendship will leave us both sorely disappointed. Let's not waste the time.

Dear Santa,
Do you have any puppies?

OK, times up, that will have to do.

Santa Party

So, the big fella got the low down. Karoke machine for Caitlin, who remebers that she didn't get it last year even though she wrote Santa a letter asking specifically for one. And pony girl wants a pony. A live, bendy-knee pony. (She promised to take real good care of it.) Thanks Santa!

oh, I almost forgot, 7 more days!

De Ja Vue

I gather everyone has had dejavu at some point, but tonight I had it - to a disorienting degree!!! It was the weirdest thing. I'm "stampin' up", and just vision after vision, sentence after sentence, memory after memory, it kept coming at me. And then it stopped and started a couple of times. Seriously - close to a five minute period. It was weird. And, haha, I did of course think "oh my gosh, Return of the Socio-Path put a hex on me!"

Hey look, that little button is back!

Here's Kevin and Abi helping decorate the tree at the PV Annual Santa Visit. It was a good party!

I've lost my super powers

Hey! Were'd the picture uploading option go? I feel so, so helpless.

Who's the grown up here?

Here I am, up supper early, in the long shot hopes for a snow day! hahaha - Darn it, not so much as a late start. (13 more days until break.) :/

Blog Challenge - 5 priceless nuggests of wisdom

What are 5 nuggets of wisdom that have been imparted to you by people you've cherished? How do those nuggets show up in your daily life... or do they? Have the words of wisdom shaped you? Which nuggets have you passed on to people who cherish you?

1 )With out a doubt the peice of advice that has had the most positive impact on my life would be from the Flylady - "Anything worth doing is worth doing half assed." This change in perspective has kept me from a mountain of perfectionist depression; the inertia caused by being overwhelmed. It's OK not to be perfect.

2) "That which does not kill you makes you grow stronger" - Conan the Barbarian. haha - It's true, live and learn, get stronger. Even the most hideous events can be racked up as life lessons.

3) "Ralph Liggit" - This is a Gillis family quote. Suitable for all purposes. Say a family member is having a tough day, needing some sort of encouraging words. . . The directions are to pat them on the shoulder, and say "Ralph Liggit". Apparently Ralph was a very odd fellow known to the McCrery's (?) who would just disappear for seasons at a time and who knows what else. It means. . . I'm ok your ok? People are weird? Everyone marches to the beat of their own drum? At leasts you're not crazy? I'm not sure, but I've always found it oddly comforting.

OK - I don't have any cherished people connections in there because I think you just threw that in as a nod to sappy Christmas time. (But I'll think about it, and try to come up with a few.)

Best one yet!

Every year - they just keep getting better and better! Kevin is even into it this year. Caitlin too, and well, Abi, not so much!

Nana and Papa came over. We had dinner and speculated about the fact that they never did this kind of stuff with us when we were kids. I added that my kids probably won't do it with their kids. (A generational variation on the "the grass is always greener" syndrome.)

What are you thankful for. . . and don't be vague.

That's the blog challenge of the week, and Martha, I may have to skip it - use my free week coupon. Hm, maybe I'll try again tomorrow. Thankful for everything, is probably too vague. (Am I even thankful that I have hair to die orange? I suppose I am.) Good night, happy thanksgiving eve to all. It was a great day home with the kids, Kevin just got home, and of course they are what makes my world turn. And I am thankful.

And my hair is ORANGE!

The cards predicted it! (I just had a highlight / low light intensive 2 hour run in at the hair salon to finally fix my color - and it's still orange. now it's a really pretty, highlighted orange, but it's still orange to me. See, just like the moon!

Apparently I'm the Moon!

OK, being forever a pysch. student I took this test twice, with fairly different answers (according to how my different personalities would answer them) , and both times it says I'm the moon!

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

hahaha! If I have any past mental problems! and go easy on the mind altering drugs! Nice.

These are way more fun than horoscopes. I had a friend named. . . Medina - in college, and I was a Rover, and she was a night guard, and I would stop my Roving from dorm to dorm for her to practice her readings with me. Then the cards scared her, and she wouldn't do it anymore, because apparently she was not doing it according to the book, and the cards were getting angry with her. I love memory lane. (Usually.)

Good one Dad!

Cute pictures of the Nanna - GK's courtesy of Papa. I forget when this would have been taken.

Happy Saturday

And just one more thing about that last post, I would never have said anything that sappy "before"!

I don't think I've ever been so looking forward to a weekend - hopefully that means I won't be down in my cave much, but outside riding bikes in the cul de sac! Ciao.

Rites of Passage

This is where in City Slickers, the tall goofy guy- no, wait, the short mustachio-ed guy says to Billy Crystal, "and you can't do your kids, too easy!"

OK - blog challenge of the week - (I'm summarizing as usual) tell about one of your rite's of passage, and have fun remembering it - (NOW I'm summarizing AND paraphrasing, but it's my blog, so I can do whatever I want...)

There was a self defense class in college, called "Model Mugging" and it was, I believe, my first real Oprah "Aha!" moment in life. (I'm a late bloomer.) I was emersed in Women Studies, and it was very emotional, and there were several "survivors" in the class working through their horrific issues. It was a life changing, empowering, never want to do it again event.

Then there was flying. I think the first lesson, and then my first solos, rate right up there with the most fun, proudest moments of my life.

But hands down, the split my life in two rite of passage, would be motherhood. I've made the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" analogies before, but few people new me well both before and after. . . It's like I'm a completely different person now. It caught me completely off guard. Marriage wasn't that different, so next stop having kids, big deal. . . I never knew you could be this happy!

Hump Day

Well, It was a busy busy day full of ups and downs and happy tears and sad tears, and maybe I just need to get back on that hormone therapy! A very nice veteran by the name of John Rankin came all the way out to meet the girl scouts and tell them about the flag.


We also got to our first "Caticlism" (Caitlins word) Catichism class at St. Michaels, and I felt very good about going. I sat and started to read "Rescuing the Bible from the Fundamentalists" while waiting, and I can tell I'm going to like it. I also had a really bad day at work. And that's all I have to say about that. The best thing that happened ALL day was when a student, who on a good day ignores me, on a bad day yells his version of obsenities at me - stopped, looked me over, smiled and said, "black, white. . . COW!" - ( I thought I was looking quite spiffy in my black and white stripped sweater before that.) - I left feeling that at least I still have a sense of humor.

Apparently,

the wild things just needed alittle haircut

- and viola - underneath where to civilized, hair clip wearing girly girls! -
I missed the later picture where Abi has about 20 of them in her hair, because if one is pretty, 20 is super-dee-duper pretty. And maybe next year I can put something in their hair again.

TZ and MARTHA!

I'm being held captive by the new Beta version! It won't let me leave a message on your blog - but it assures me this feature is coming soon. I just didn't want you to think
I was
DING DONG DITCHING!!

haha!

Tuesdays Wedding

I went solo to a co-worker's wedding tonight, (even without my camera). I have been to, and been in, many many weddings. This one was out of necessity small and simple - but so very sweet. It was a great lift in my - winters coming, bah humbugs coming - kind of attitude I had before I went. Best wishes to Mike and Tuesday and their little family!

Charles Cozza Benefit Dinner

Les and Gary Clark taking donations. About 250 people came! Mike (graduating), Tony (running the family business) and Kim all talked about how well Chuck is doing, and how great it was to have so much support. 

Blog Challenge - what domestic task would you hire out.

Well, in a nut shell the question was if you could hire out just one thing, what would it be. House cleaner is very tempting. Errand boy. . .not as good as personal secratary. Laundry, hmm - Cooking. . .

Oh, really for me it's just a given. Cleaning. CLEANING CLEANING AND MORE CLEANING. It's all I ever do, and it would be my first middle and last choice to hire out!

Good enough to eat!

Isn't it beautiful? Almost good enough to eat. Unless your a barfer, or you only drink chocolate milk and don't eat. 

Troop 349 - makes it's first Brownie Ring

Yeah - and halloweens over - and Caitlin was sick today, and I hope I'm not tomorrow. You know, you have to tell kids those little details that you don't realize come with experience. (Like even though the sprite tastes really good right now, you'd better go slow. - Caitlin has that cemented in her brain now.) If you've ever tried to put a band-aid on C. you can probably guess that she's no picnic when throwing up. 

Brownie Ring

Oh, it's been a long week. A long 2 weeks. I've been battling the computer and I finally won this round. I need to start a brownie blog, or maybe a website. hmmm. Which would be better?  

"A time when you were scared . . . "

Well, I wasn't going to comment on this one as it immediately brought to mind ancient memories of being picked up and thrown across the room. . . an event too icky to share. Then Caitlin's sudden illness of 3 years ago. But, then Martha's mouse confession reminded me of a much more palatable recollection. CRICKETS!

Once upon a time, in a suburban neighborhood kind of like this, in a nice house, just like this, with a back yard just like this one. . . . I was a teen I believe, spraying the back concrete porch clean of leaves. And the water went down between the cracks and a cricket (you know, those black slimy looking things with the bendy angular sicky-legs) jumped out. It was trying to get out of the water stream, and so jumped TOWARD ME. (In a slow and hideous manner!) It kept coming and coming and I fought it off with the garden hose stream of water, but then! Another cricket climbed out. And another. AND ANOTHER! Wielding the garden hose like an automatic weapon I stood my ground. . . for awhile. Then I fled into the house. Ewh. Hate crickets to this day. (I didn't like them much before that, but the coup on the back porch was over the top!)

One Busy Day

Happy Birthday Darold
Why can't I type between my pictures like TZ and MC?!!!! hmm? Oh well, we carpooled with Caity's classmate Miles, brother Patrick and mom Martha -

and home just in time for anti date night. The quote of the evening has to be "Let's smell the dogs breath!"

It's been a good night, even for ANTI - date night. And it's only Saturday. (It was snow day, we need one of those every Thursday!) One more, OK, 2 more from fat city. . .

Chinese Fans from Spain! - Now matter how I tried, I don't think I every managed to convince the girls that there new favorite thing "the chinese fans", were actually Spanish fans. Doesn't matter, they just think it was nice of the Zimmers to get them Chinese fans while they were in Spain. - Good gift! They sleep with them.  

Snow Day!

Almost there, we're about to go have a blast, and I'm so proud of myself for bothering in the first place AND bringing my camera.. . . batteries died. This was my last picture, before we even climbed the hill.
Thankfully Tracey was a good wing-woman with her camera, and I think she got some good ones - if she caught the airborne moments, the feet up in the air-had to be there moments.

Nana and Abi

Nana and Abi - I should have thought to force the camera on Nana as they went off on a field trip together today! The Star K ranch, where Ranger Joy impressively handled the pre-schoolers with all sorts of information on local wild things. I ended up the evening doing girl scout type things, and am now organizing my GS notebook. (I like being a girlscout! - alittle more than Caitlin I think.)

Working out. So, according to Body for Life and most other fitness stuff I've read, if your going to loose weight, you have to work out alot. Kevin has offered to help anyway he can to which I replied "just help me get out of the house". This weekend I went once, and week nights are the only other option (since Kevin has the primo morning spot). I'm feeling great, if Kevin can hang in there - seems to be the question. Of course he'll probably have them swabbing the decks in no time.  

Fall Festival Flop

Well, when we said lets cancel about a week ago, we were really on to something, because no one came. Don't know why. The discussion is now may it bigger and better next year, or cancel it - I'm torn! -

Hide and Go Seek

Hide and Go Seek - I think I spent easily 1/2 my childhood playing this game. - But, that's because we had the cool corner with the light post-base. Hey!! Our house is the cool corner with the light post-base! Maybe when they're older, or maybe there's just too much traffic now a days. . . . back when I was a kid you could run across the street in the dark and not be worried about getting hit by a car. And your parents would let you do it. Or was I older? Alittle of both maybe.