holiday mayhem

I have been trying to get to my blog all weekend and this is the best I can do for now.

We went all day long on Saturday with the kids. Chris and I were both off - that never happens...
We went to Gatti's and to see Alvin and the Chipmunks.
We also finished up our Christmas shopping. So far, I have been able to keep my personal goal of not overspending. I was worried that I would begin to feel like a cheapo schmuck, but to the contrary, it's been liberating!!
I don't feel like I'm jeopardizing my kids' college education.
My credit card has seen the light a few times though. TSK!TSK!

Other than that, I am about to embark on a legendary week. If there is light at the end of the tunnel, I cannot see it.
Overwhelmed does not begin to describe...
Two separate Christmas programs - for which I am solely responsible...
You're thinking - hmmm... well, that's something to stress about, but not heart-attack worthy.
Now I'll remind you that I have 3, 4, and 5-year olds singing 45 minutes worth of music - add in instruments, choreography, a live manger scene, a foreign language (Spanish), and sign language.
Now there's your heart-attack.

We are doing our family Christmas this week on Wednesday and Thursday.
My dad will be having his knee replaced on Friday and we wanted to be able to get the holiday festivities out of the way beforehand.

Friday, we will be released from school!! YAY!
I would love to try to get a playdate together sometime during our Winter Break.
Get back to me on when is best for you, if you are interested.
We will be returning to school on January 7, 2008.
2008? Yeah.
Weird huh?

Ummmm.... So I didn't go.

All things/plans with small children are subject to change.
That is one thing I have learned as a mom.
We did not end up going to church tonight.
Large Marge won out, I'm afraid.
Or maybe she lost...

I made the impossibly stupid mistake of compulsive gambling with my children.
Their poker face has proven to be so much more determined than mine.
I said to them, "If you don't... then you won't be going to church tonight."
It was foolproof.
Chris was getting off work at 6pm.
Either way, I was going to get to go to church.
Except that they did not do what I asked them to do, and Chris did NOT get off at 6pm.
It's 8:20 and he's still not home...

I hate having to follow through with those unpleasant things.
So here I sit, wishing I had not been a compulsive gambler - missing my friends.
WAHHHH!!!!


Seph - I am going to get that cd to you, come hell or highwater.

Who's in Control here?

Enter Large Marge in Charge:
So I have come to the realization that the devil himself decided to condone Wednesday night church beginning at 7PM, instead of 6PM.
Who in the working world, who also parents young children, can make this impossible scenario work with their day? Let alone their week...
My kids' bedtime is 7:30PM. If church starts at 7, I am sunk.
It sets us up for disaster on Thursday if we are up til 9PM on Wednesday night.

Enter Soft-hearted Momma:
My kids absolutely LOVE Wednesday night church, and not for the ornery reasons you might think, such as getting to stay up past their usual bedtime - they love learning about God and Jesus and the Bible. They sop it up like sponges!
Everytime we leave church on Wednesday night, I can tell that they not only had a great time, but also that they learned something.
I don't want to take that away from them...

Enter Dilemma:
How do Large Marge in Charge and Soft-Hearted Momma live together in one body?

Enter Solution:
We, Large Marge and Softy, make our kids take a nap on Wednesday afternoon.
They go to their rooms and 'sleep'. (CRASH!)
Right now they are fast asleep in their beds. (WHISPER, WHISPER, Giggle)
I just know that after this restful afternoon - (BANG, "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR TO THE RESCUE>>>")
They will behave perfectly at Rainbows tonight and all day tomorrow.
All because of the genius of compromise. (BOOM!)

Enter Reality:
What's a mom to do?
I mean, it's win/win.
I, after all, am here blogging and they are ASLEEP...

See ya tonight!

Never say never.

I remember a particular moment in history around the holidays when I was a teenager.
My mom had a friend who was fashionably unacceptable in my opinion.
One could easily characterize her by her out of control shoes which were often metallic in color and bedazzled beyond belief.
One afternoon after school, my mom was unloading her holiday shop fest finds before my sister and me.
She had found various great deals. She was looking to buy herself a pair of holiday shoes.
Holiday shoes she found. And my were they festive!!
They were so gaudy. They were very similar to some that her friend, the bedazzled shoe lady, would own.
I made fun of them relentlessly.
So much fun was made at the expense of my mom and her holiday shoes that I don't really remember her wearing them with much gusto.
I don't remember her ever wearing them at all.
Sorry Mom.

Here lies the confession of a girl who has grown up to be way too much like her momma.
And if that is any indication of the way I've turned out, I'll take it! My mom is fantasticness defined. I could not be more proud when people compare me to her, because what's not to love? She's wonderful through and through.
I often find myself saying things just the way I remember her saying them. And in the next moment, I remember swearing to myself that I would never (enter scenario here...) And there I go, without even a thought, I have become her!
I AM my mother's daughter, and as of yesterday, I bought the gaudy holiday shoes to prove it!
Yes, momma, you have unlimited right to make fun of me in my glamorous holiday shoes!
I love you!

Kiss Me!

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crys.

Happy Birthday!!
You are one of my newest friends - but somehow you have already 'wormed' your way right into my heart!!
I love you and I hope your day was "restful..."

meems.

Yes, that was a wonderful playdate!
Yes, I am so glad we came!!
Your espresso rivals Starbucks any day.
You are one of my most favoritest people! I was actually laughing on the way home because you are so energetic naturally that I feel like I need espresso to keep up with you!!
I love you!
Thanks for having us over.
(Sorry about the chocolate milk spill and whatever other awful thing my 'perfect' kids did that I don't know about...)

Funny girl.

Every once in a while one of the kids will say something that just tickles me.
Tonight we were driving home and A. said, "Momma, are you driving me?"
I said, "Well yes, babe, I am."
Then she said, "Are monsters pushing us?"

Big shot.

Little A. had her 3-year checkup yesterday.
She got 2 shots and didn't even cry.
She did fret a bit - but no tears.
So brave.
I am so proud of her. She is everything a momma could ask for in a daughter.
What a sweet, sweet girl!!

Jupiter.

I have to write this stuff down for posterity.
My 4 year old son read his first word by himself phonetically yesterday.
It was "Jupiter."
Don't ask me how.
He's a child genius!!