Partypolooza

Far too worn to blog.  Two hours.  Full house.  Kids everywhere.

One rockin' 4 year old birthday party.

Just popping in long enough to show this :

The above is photographic evidence of the birthday girl cheating at pin the nose on the dalmatian.  See her tilting her head to peek out the bottom?

tsk-tsk!

I can't believe you are four.  My baby?!  FOUR?!

I need to go lay down.

Peace.

Goodbye 2009...

... you were a good year.  A year that has brought me stability.  No extreme changes, just a year of gaining a firm-footing.  In motherhood, family, job, and life.

Now that I have restored my equilibrium and refilled my bucket, I look forward to 2010.  I predict good things.  For you, too!

So bring it on, 2010.  Oh - but first, one request?  Let's have an early spring.  Okay?  The older I get, the less and less tolerant I become of these winters.
Much obliged.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wishing you peace, happiness, and growth this coming year.

Post Holiday Bloat

Due to some vacation time that had to be either used or lost, neither Brad nor I have been among the working class since last Friday.  As in, the 18th.  No work.  For a week.

I don't know how I am going to cope once Monday comes around.

A small breakdown may be a'brewing.

Or possibly a temper tantrum.  Can 31 year olds have temper tantrums?

Let's not dwell.  Instead, let's focus on how fantastic the past week off has been.  In the past 7 days, we have (in no particular order) :

- Been sledding three times
- Out to eat with family and new friends
- Started a new fashion trend of tutus and swim goggles

- Consumed more cookies than one family of three safely should (Thank goodness no pictures of that, but if you would like to to post a picture of how large my rump has become over the last week, I'll consider.  I bow easily to peer pressure.)
- Survived 12 inches of what Brad has sacastically dubbed "Snowmagedon '09" (as a true Minnesotan, he scoffs at any weathercaster that he believes 'overreacts' to coming snow.  I, on the otherhand, hide in the corner and cry because the weatherman just told me to.)

- Taken our princess to see the new Disney princess movie.  I must admit, I let out a huge sigh when I saw Tiana's family was poor, worked for the rich white man, and lived in a shack, but you know what?  It was cute.  It was a cute movie, and Tes says she is the most beautiful princess there is.  Thats all a mom can ask for.  (Oh, and the music was great!)

- Went swimming

- Three holiday parties, consisting of lots of catching up, lots of laughing, and of course, lots of present opening.

I am sure there is more, but my brain is fried, and my husband just walked through the door with some mint ice cream in hand.  To not go dish a bowl would just be rude!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  Here is to the new year - and our many hopes and plans.


Peace.

All She Wants for Christmas...

Brad and Tes had a Daddy / Daughter date last Saturday while I spent a few scumptious hours out and about.  She they came home very excited, deciding they had found the perfect gift once Little One is cordinated and old enough...

She made a beeline right to it and jumped on all by herself.  Brad says she is a natural.  I'm not so convinced...

She has assured me she would 'wear her bike helmet'.

Don't get me wrong, I am estatic they had such a wonderful day, and am glad they spent time bonding under they thier love of motorcycles. 

But would you let this sweet baby out on a motorized vehicle?

Let us hope she takes a few years to rid herself of those training wheels on her regular old bicycle, so this mommy can not worry for just a little bit longer.

Peace.

Downward Slide into the Holidays.

Sorry for the mini-blogging-hiatus.  No, we didn't meet our demise huddled together, frozen little peoplesicles.  The furnace guy did make it by midnight, and being good Minnesotans we had two space heaters to keep our blood flowing until it was fixed.  Rather, I think the posting-break may have been due to everyday blogging in November.  Believe I was burnt out a bit.

You may have been too.

That, and preparing for the holidays is tough.  So much to do, yet so freakin' cold out that it makes you not want to get anything done.

I'd rather be snuggled under a warm blanket sipping a hot toddy chocolate.  Instead we've I've been doing this :

Holiday cards - Addressed.  (But not yet sent...)
Shopping - (mostly) Done.
Gift Wrapping - Finished.

Shutter : 1/30

Aperture : f/1.8

Focal Length : 35mm

ISO : 900

Tree Still Upright and Decorated No Thanks To the Kid or the Cat - Yes.  For now.

Shutter : 1/40

Aperture : f/1.8

Focal Length : 35mm

ISO : 200

Christmas Cookies - Well... I've decided which ones I will be baking this year.  And I'm adding truffles, 'cause apparently I like to punish myself.  (And because chocolate owns me.)  Some grocery shopping for the ingredients is in the near future. 
Though, that does mean I must leave the (now warm) confines of my humble abode, so perhaps not as near in the future as it should be.

Ready or not, here comes the holidays!


Peace.

Homemade

It appears I'm on a bit of a homemade gift rampage this year.  Or, at least for Tes, that is.

Some barretts I made with ribbon, super glue, and buttons I found at 50% off.

I can't wait until she opens these up!

Roar!

I've also handcrafted a little something for Brad (no, not barretts), and made the BIG mistake of showing Tes.  *sigh*  She wants to tell him so badly.  She did, actually, once, but I was yelling so loudly over the top of her that I don't think he heard.

Or, at least he is humoring me and pretending that he didn't hear. 

What a guy!

(P.S. - Crap!  I missed $5 for 5 for day #3.  Did you visit From HIV to Home today?)

Christmas Trees & Turkey Soup

The tree is up and decorated!  Below is Tes' interpretation of "stand in front of the tree for a quick picture, please."

Hmmm... we may have a class clown on our hands.

We ended the day with Brad's homemade turkey noodle soup.

I'd give you the receipe, but I doubt if there is one.  He tends to just make things up as he goes.

Or at least that is what he tells me.

Maybe he is just trying to impress me?

It worked.  I'm impressed.  And my tummy is full.

Only one more day of NaBloWhateverDoMo.  I'll have to think of something good as a finale.


Peace.

Thanksgiving

24 hours, two get-togethers, one hosted by us.  Lots of laughing, a whole lot of eating, and probably not enough giving thanks.

It is a hectic holiday, but this was probably the best Thanksgiving I've experienced in a long time.  I really worked on not worring about the how, but tried to focus on the why.

And I have much to be thankful for.

Hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Peace.

Sshhh! Present Sneek Peek

I'm a sucker for homemade gifts.

I am also the mother of a little girl who can recognize all of her capital letters.

*insert Mommy pride here*

Yet she knows none of her lower case.

Unfortunately for this young student, her mother is very frugal cheap.

Fortunately for her, she is however a tad on the crafty side.

Hey - I did say 'a tad'.  Not claiming masterpieces here.

Just homemade flash cards.

I still have v-z left, and they'll need to be laminated before I drop them in her Christmas stocking, but they are almost complete.

I have really enjoyed making them, and given her love of flashcards / pictures of things she likes / and learning letters (she is a bit obsessed with letters lately) - I think she'll enjoy them too.

I like win-win situations.

Peace.