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.