Win an award! Answer these questions

The rules are modeled after the 2008 Christmas Spirit Award. Thus...

1. You must be a true lover of the New Year to receive this award . The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with the New Year.

2. List 5 things that you love about the New Year. If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space.

3. Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 50. It is up to you but, keep the New Year cheer going.

4. Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving a comment on their site. Also, link back to the person who gave you the award.

1. I love starting a new year, endless possibilities to improve my life!
2. 5 Things I love about a new year:
a) a fresh start to everything
b) counting down as the ball drops
c) remembering how certain people thought the world would end when 2000 hit, that was funny!
d) Top ten lists of things that are in and out!
e) Spring is coming!

tagging trueloveisamama, FFL, and the BomG family

Things I'd like to see go for good in the New Year

Ok, so I am always happy to start a new year fresh, continue with working out, eating healthy, blah blah. But there are some things that continue to stick around year after year and I just can't figure out why? Here is my short list of things that must go, in my humble opinion:

Beards- Not short, trimmed up beards, but full beards like some of my uncles have. I mean they cover up the face with coarse hair, ewww, I don't know how people with these things eat, either. It's like, " Hey, 200 B.C. called and they want their beards back".

Those gosh awful whiffle ball looking shoes, you know the ones...everyone says they are sooo comfy, etc. Now they are trying to entice us for the Winter by lining them with fur, or some type of fleecy fuzzy stuff. Not buying it.

Princess mania stuff-enough already! Why not send a better message to little girls by having the Princesses wear stethoscopes, carrying a law book, or having a teacher's pointer? What kind of message does it send to encourage young girls to wear flowy, see- thru pants, or ball gowns? This is not practical in modern day life. You should see my daugher, she has about ten weddings a day with these dolls!

That is my short, irrelevant list of things that must go! Please feel free to edit/add/argue with me/ etc. Just my own personal thoughts. :)

New Years Resolutions, naah...

This year I plan to maybe add some themes to my blog. Like, maybe have Freak Friday where every Fri. I share a random, bizarre story that happened to me in the past. Did I mention that I am a freak magnet? I am. This means that any weirdo within a 2 mile radius will find me, talk to me, or try to engage me in some form of communication. I seem to also have a knack for bringing this side out of total strangers or people I have just met. It's weird, but true. I stopped having New Years Resolutions when I realized that they all become New Years Resignations, so I have let go of that. Yay me! I did want to reflect on all that I can be thankful for, as it often gets lost in my haze of complaints. I am so happy to be healthy and that my whole family is healthy and happy as well. I know these things can be fleeting, so I am appreciative!
On different notes...did you know that the Polly Pocket boat set comes with cocktails for the girls? Even with little umbrellas in the drinks, seems a little weird for a toy meant for little kids.
I have to stop writing because my son just came up to me and said, "Mommy, I pee in your shoe."
Happy New Years! I will continue with my tales next time!

randoms tidbits from this Christmas morning

First, I thought I was going to take a break from blogging as it is Christmas, but...the kids are happy playing with their gifts, we already had lunch, and dear hubby is watching basketball, sooo...
Let's see, yesterday before we went out for a sushi lunch my dear hubby asked me if we had a sitter for the kids while we went out. Here is how it went:

Dear Hubby: "So, are the kids coming with us to sushi?" (Mind you it was Dec. 24th)
Me: "Umm, yeah, why would you think they wouldn't come with us?"
Him: "It's just easier when they are not there."
Me: "Yeah! My whole life is easier when they not there, so what it your point?"

He is so funny! Like I have a magic sitter fairy in my pocket just waiting to be called on anytime we want to do something without the kids! He is just so silly sometimes...on a different note, my two year old son has mastered chop sticks! I'm such a proud mama!

Later, this morning, I was making my Dear Daughter (5 yrs) hot chocolate, Christmas music was on, and she said, "Mom, today really is a glorious day, isn't it?" Yes it is!

So things have gone relatively smoothly except for a small Polly Pocket incident that involved an abduction, a physical altercation, followed by a rescue (all took place within a 20 sec time frame, but seemed way longer). Merry Christmas everyone who might read this today!

Possible web site ideas to fit my life, feel free to add!

www.iusedtobehot.com see link: So you're going to be a mommy!
www.kidsdrivingmenuts.org see link: Energy Vampires or sweet little cherubs?
www.onmynervesagain.com see link: Husbands, marriage, relationships
www.iliveattarget.com see link: How to live on a budget

Happy Holidays to everyone if I don't have time to write until after New Years!

Is it wrong to count the minutes until my kids go to bed?

I would like to preface this with the fact that I don't feel this way all the time, just most of the time. My mornings are pretty crazy, as I'm sure many of you can relate. I am always telling the kids that it's important that they behave and listen in the mornings as we don't have time for any setbacks. This morning started off to a good start but then it came time to get in the car. We go out to the garage and I am rushing them into the car as it is 35 degrees outside! I see them getting in, I turn to pick up my bag and when I turn back around they are not in the car! I hear a little commotion, a scuffle, and I go around and see that dear daughter and dear son are wrestling and rolling around on the icy, frozen, driveway with no coats on! OMG! WTH? I then realize that dear son has taken dear daughter's backpack and is claiming it as his own, and dear daughter was trying to get it back, sigh..
so I run over trying to pry them apart and not slip as I am doing this. Just then, my next door neighbor is pulling into her driveway with this look on her face that can best be described as confusion/concern combined. So, now I am embarrased as well! I know it was freezing, but I think by the time I got everyone settled and took off that I was sweating. How long until Springtime?

How do you survive the minutia of kids shows?

Ok, it has now been about three years of hearing Dora and Diego explain, in slow, excruciating detail, what they are doing, how they are doing it, and asking for my kids help in every step of their adventures. I can survive this diatribe the only way I know how, and that is to join in full heartedly! So this is how it goes, I first hear the jungle sounds to the beginning of "Go Diego, Go!" I then do a dance in front of the kids that I can only describe as a mix between Elaine from Seinfeld and a very exaggerated marching type dance. Then I sing the theme song at the top of my lungs, "...There goes DIEGO! GO DIEGO GO!" (more jungle sounds). This annoys my kids to no avail and they tell me they can't see the TV, they can't hear it, stop dancing, stop singing...etc. But really, I feel like it's either that or pull my eyelashes out, one...by...one... How do y'all handle this? Am I the only one who can't take Dora say one more time, "Hola! Soy DORA!!!"?

advice given to me by a spiritual person

"Always try to be forgiving, and thanksgiving.

So my daughter suffers from Parental Deafness

It's quite serious and it's symptoms are mostly maternal frustration. For example, tonight I found I had to repeat everything three times before dear daughter would listen to me. Example: "Let it go. Let it go! Let it go!!" Or, "Leave him alone. Leave him alone! Leave him alone!!" Before you say anything I know about Supernanny's one warning and then a timeout method, but....moving on. So finally I have had enough and I tell her that I am now forced to inform Santa about her insubordination. She immediately starts trying to say how she will listen from now on, she will try to be good, but it's just so hard, etc. So I tell her, "K., give me a break!" and dear son (2 yrs old) says, 'Yeah sister, give me a break, too."

When did I get old?

Where does the time go? You know you're getting older when you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and think, "Cripes! What happened to me last night?!" Only, it's happening every morning. Or like the time I woke up and my dear daughter told me, "You look like Amy Winehouse for real, mom, for real!" Yeah, that's not really the look I'm going for, but anyways! What else tells me? Oh yeah, I finally think MTV is dumb (I know! I'm like twenty years past when I should have thought it was dumb). The worst thing is when I have the overwhelming urge to tell my own kids, "You know, when I was a kid, blah blah blah.."

Tales from the kids

A few anecdotes: Last night me, my dear daughter (5 yrs) and dear son (2 yrs) were all sitting together all snuggly in the recliner watching, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" When all of a sudden I smelled a foul odor. Dear daughter says, "Eew, brother did you fart?" Dear son, without even turning away from the TV, says, "No, it was Charlie Brown." Poor Chuck, always getting blamed for everything! I can just see the name of that special, "You farted, Charlie Brown!" (Cue Peanuts gang shout). Second, dear son was not listening to me when I told him to get out of the car, he was just jumping around being silly when dear daughter says, "Mom, I will show you how to get him out." She then goes, "Brother! One...Two..." I guess someone is listening to my discipline techniques, although no one is following them!

Deep thoughts from a person with impulse control issues

I figured out that "Psychics" are just people with really poor boundaries. Think about it.

Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Both
Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?
He wraps them in secret wrapping paper that you hide from your kids.

Colored lights on tree or white?
Color!.

When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving. I like to get the most out of it as possible.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Sweet potato dish that my Aunt Ankie makes, it is truly devine!

Favorite holiday memory as a child:
Going to my aunt & uncle's house every Christmas Eve and playing with my cousins. We got to open one present and it was a secret exchange thing among the cousins, I loved it!! I ditto this, Yvonne

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was six and I found the secret wrapping paper in the hall closet, but really I thought, "I knew it!" all along.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Totally!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Simple, with a hodge podge of ornaments of all kinds, and then my hubs insists on putting up that cheap tinsel.

Snow! Love it or dread it?
I love to visit, but thankful that I live in the Valley. Yay, Cali!

Can you ice skate?
I have done, yes.

Do you remember your favorite gift?
Probably any doll, Oh yeah and my Big Wheel.

What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?

Being thankful for all that I have.

What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Not sure, I do love pumpkin pie.

What is your favorite tradition?
I love checking your stocking over the fire place in the morning! That never gets old...ditto that, too!

Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Both! I love to receive gifts year round!

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Oh holy night, and drummer boy, Rudolph is fun.

Candy canes! Yuck or yum?
Their alright, I am not big on minty stuff.

Ever recycled a Christmas present?
What? Me? NEVER ;)

Don't Be A Scrooge! Tag your friends to Deck the Halls...

Okay, so if you already got this, don't worry about, otherwise, it's your turn:

foreverfoldinglaundry, counselormommy, bernhartkids, babydreams

Worst Sunday (but not the worst ever)

Ok, so this weekend started out nicely but by Sunday everything went to H-- in a handbasket. We spent the day trying to do housework, entertain the kids, etc. But as the day went on the kids behavior just got worse and worse. At one point dear son, who is two, said "Really bad you!" and hit me in the leg. Then dear daughter, who is five was constantly doing what I call throwing her ninja stars. Which is the fact that she can walk by her brother appearing perfectly normal and well behaved and then, bam! He is crying because of something she did to him. She is so fast that my mere human eyes can't detect her movement. Anyways, after the maybe millionth time this happened I was soooo irritated, argh!!! I think I must have sighed heavily so many times I can't even count. So then... we made sugar cookies to decorate, sounds good, right? Dear son takes a bite out of one of the cookies and says, "That cookie is gwoss," and then spits it out. Dear daughter takes a bite and says, "Yeah mom, they are gross." OMG, who does not like sugar cookies??? SO, about two hours of labor, three decorated cookies, a big mess....priceless family memories! Let's hope next weekend is better!

I'm finally on!

Ok, so after two years of saying I'm going to start a blog, I finally did. Mostly because more and more people I know are doing this and I don't want to be left out of the loop! We are going out to get our Christmas tree today if I can get my dear perfect husband to stop watching football for a few minutes. Then we will play Christmas music, drink hot chocolate, decorate the tree while my husband dons a cable-kit turtle neck and smokes a pipe, praising us for the great job we've done! OK, it's all true until the turtle neck part.