Another year of memories

Since I most likely won't have time to sit and compose this tomorrow, I will think it through tonight.

The year 2006 has left many memories behind that I have filed in my mind, baby books, scrap books, and picture albums.  Some are happy, some are sad.  Some memories just are.  They don't bring a smile to my lips nor a laugh to my belly.  No tears to my cheeks, nor frown upon my mouth.  Just because they are not happy nor sad doesn't mean they weren't created. 

I honestly don't remember much of January.  I remember my second baby boy turning three.  It was a happy day that we spent with my Grandma, my Aunt, and my Uncle in the nursing home.  They had gotten Grandma into her wheel chair and wheeled her to the front sitting room so we could enjoy cake and ice cream and visiting with Grandma.  Other than that...I really can't place anything in my mind that stands out.

February and March brought sickness for my Grandma.  Her health went up and down.  Finally, in the early weeks of March, the unthinkable happened.  Grandma got really sick with the flu and stopped breathing.  Her wishes were "Do Not Resuscitate," but due to honest error, she was given CPR which prolonged her days here on earth for another week.  She was only physically aware one or two of those days, in which she said her goodbyes and re-expressed her wishes.  She quietly moved on to the next world in the early hours of St. Patrick's Day.  She was not alone...there were several people holding her hands as she went. 

April was kind of sad for me.  I constantly tried to pick reality from a dream.  Don't we all do that at times?  I still do. 

May/June brought the end of school!  Hip hip Hooray, Jacob had graduated Kindergarten!  Alexia was registered for Kindergarten in the next year.  And our summer travels began.  First Alexia went to spend a couple of weeks with Grandma and Grandpa.  Then we went and picked her up and left Jacob for a couple of weeks with Grandma and Grandpa.  Through July and August we did a lot of traveling.  The finale was traveling to see a different Grandpa.  We took in some sites and touristy things and met some friends.  There were some bumps in the road in our travels, but all in all it was a good summer.  Alan's Granddad turned 80.  There was a large party and I was able to meet more of his family.  It was a fun time.  We knew it would be Granddad's last birthday, for his health was failing quickly. 

I must not forget!  In June my youngest turned one and in July my second born turned five.  They were both nice days spent with friends and family.

September was another sad month.  Granddad passed onto the next world.  Like my Grandma, he was ready to go.  It is always bittersweet for those left behind.  He had also suffered for much of the year.  We traveled once more and spent more time with that side of the family.

By October, we were pretty settled into the school routine.  So October and November went by very quickly.  Jacob turned 7 in November.  Now I know why they call it the "Sands of time."  Time slips through your hands just like sands.  I wonder why it took me 34 years to figure that out?  Denial would be my best guess.  The gray hairs on my head speak of time...why can't those slip through my fingertips and fall away, also? 

December has been a whirl wind.  Cleaning and preparing for Christmas with family.  It's almost anti-climatic now that I sit here a mere six days after the big dinner.  It's quiet, and my house is once again restored to it's usual order:  chaos.

Farewell, 2006.  You have been good to my family and I.  Even with the sad events, we are happy, healthy, and together. 

                         ~I have more memories tucked into my mind, but those are mine to hold forever.

The chatterings of a seven year old

So I took my oldest to run errands with me; along with the baby.  My oldest chattered my ear off the entire time.  Finally, we were on our way out to my vehicle to go home and he said to me "If I can't figure something out when I go to work tomorrow, I will just ask the seller behind me.  And if she doesn't know, I'll call my lawyer." 

::lifts eye brow::  He has a job AND he has a lawyer?  Man, I need to pay more attention to what my kids are doing! 

A healthy concern

This time of year usually brings every bug I can ever imagine into the house.  This year the kids have all had Strep so far.  And a couple of stomach bugs.  While the kids had Strep, Alan and I had Bronchitis.  Then we were healthy for a while, then just after Christmas we got a stomach virus.  And now on the heals of that, I have the start of an ear infection that is quite literally knocking me on my booty.  One word - Vertigo.  Extreme vertigo.  I woke up in the middle of the night last night sweating and the world wouldn't stop spinning.  I rolled over this morning hoping it was all a nightmare.   Alas, it was real.  My bedroom was spinning at 30 MPH at least.  Yikes.  So now this evening I have my little bag of goodies to help me function.  I heart my doctor.  He has kids, he knows how it is when you don't feel well yourself! 

I'm mostly just annoyed at being sick.  I have stuff to accomplish, I don't have time to sit with my head perfectly still to keep the house from taking off in flight from spinning so fast.  The kids have been really great today.  Hopefully this Anti-vertigo stuff (not the technical term, lol) will help me get some rest without having to sit up with my head in one position all night. 

Update on the vehicle

It started again...kind of creepy.  Alan drove it to the dealers and they couldn't find anything...they tightened a cable.  It runs fine now.  Murphy's law...I'm crossing my fingers that Murphy is busy for a while.

Good thing we are staying home for Christmas

Alan decided he wasn't traveling this Christmas.  So we are having Christmas dinner here tomorrow.  I am finished with all of my running around and ready to stay home and cook and do last minute general cleaning.  It's a very, very good thing we are staying home this year.  I just got in my vehicle to take back the rug doctor, and it's dead.  No electricity.  We just had her in the dealers last week for a "check-up," and they said Bessy was fine!  (Bessy is my vehicle).  Exactly a week ago today, in fact. 

How frustrating, but at least we aren't stranded somewhere. 

There is always a silver lining.

Do you know what rocks?

Rug Doctor!  Oh goodness, bow down to the King of Carpet Cleaners!  I have rented other steamers, but frankly - they stunk!  I have heard over the years how great Rug Doctor is, so I rented one today.  I have only managed to do my living room...it looks awesome!  My carpet was so nasty; I was so embarrassed to think that family would see it on Christmas Eve when they come to dinner.  I am actually looking forward to cleaning the carpets upstairs tomorrow before I take it back.  I must be a nutcase!  I'm looking forward to steam cleaning my carpets.  Someone get the straight jacket.

So here I am

I am the properly stressed out person a mere six days before Christmas.  I started going yesterday and I didn't quit until midnight.  It was quite exhausting.  Mostly running errands here and there.  The kitty and a kid have ear infections.  Imagine that.  The kitty is sharing or the kids are sharing.  Aidan's Pajama Party was a huge hit.  So much so that he insisted on wearing his jammies while I finished my errands.  I didn't particularly care...as long as they are covered and decent!  Some people get alarmed when kids wear their jammies in public, but I don't see the harm in it.  He did wear them to school, after all.  So they can't be that bad. 

Today will be another fun day.  I have so much to do, but the problem is that I am overwhelmed and don't know where to begin.  Does that ever happen for you? 

I'm off to tackle things, one thing at a time.  Da-da-da-daaaaaaaa!  Super Mommy!  Ok, maybe not so Super, but IAMDAMAMA!

The little things

My three-year-old is so excited.  He has a Pajama Party at school on Monday.  All day today he kept pulling on my shirt and smiling up at me "After tomorrow is my 'jama party at school, right?"  His little face just beams when he talks about it.  And to just send him into hog heaven, we found Thomas the Train jammies yesterday that he will get to wear to his party.  He was going to have to wear his big brother's jammies that were two sizes too big, so I surprised him. 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Mom Style

Twas The Night Before Christmas....Mom Style

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode
Only one creature was stirring, & she was cleaning the
commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Hot Wheels & Barbie, flipped through their
heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, & saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuc! kled, "So, I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"
"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."
Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,
Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & The Restless."
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"
"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.
"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared & I'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."

The clone changed the small one & hummed her tune,
as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.
"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."
The clone smiled & sighed, "And I love you, too."

The mom frowned & said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."
That's my child's love she is trying to steal."
Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,
Only one loving mother is needed here."

The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed.
"Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.
I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,
when they'll be too old for my cradle & song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."
With the clone by his side Santa said "Goodnight.
Merry Christmas, dear Mom, You will be all right."

Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.
Especially at times during the Holiday season, when all we seem to do
is clean and bake and shop and .... you get the picture.  So stop for a
moment and hug that little one that is so special, whether he/she is 2
or 22,  child or grandchild, or perhaps even someone who is in a different category.  They all are gifts that God put us your life ... and su! ch a gift should
always be treasured.

So, why not send this on to the all the Mom's you know, for
they will no doubt need this at this time of year.

Oh my!

I went out to run errands today and the roads and stores were madhouses!  I said to Aidan..."You would think this were the last weekend before Christmas!" 

Guess what...it IS!

Oh my...

Are you ready?

I'm not.

Cute

Aidan and Daddy are getting ready to go to the Hardware store.  I told Alexia and Aidan where they were going and Alexia says to Aidan "You are going to the Hardwork store with Daddy!"

Sounds about right, if all goes well.  ::Grins::  Now off to the "Hardwork" store with you, Daddy!

Remembering

Last night I was sad at Cheerleading.  A tear even slid down my cheek before I angrily swiped it away.  Three generations were everywhere.  The little girl, her Mom, and her Mom's Mom were present and accounted for.  I was sitting next to a Mommy who spent the entire time telling her own Mother about her day.  Everywhere Grandma's were enjoying watching their Granddaughter's practice their cheers. 

~Sometimes the unfairness of it all just slaps me in the face.  I just have to remind myself that I am one of the lucky ones.  My Mom may be watching from Heaven, but I still have health, happiness, and family.

My daughter the Cheer-Guru

So there she was...my little Cheerleader.  All the parents/grandparents/etc. were gathered around to watch the girls show us the cheer they learned tonight.  They were taking turns one at a time.  The last line for each girl was something like "I'll step back so you can meet my friend" and the girl steps back and points to the girl next to her.  They were zipping along really fast.  Girl to girl to girl.  Then the girl next to my daughter points to her...and my beautiful little girl was standing with her hand on her hip, her pony-tail in her mouth, and her eyes glazed over as she stared into space behind her.  So everything came to a dead stop.  Every eye was on my little girl.  Everyone laughed, we couldn't help it.  It is probably one of those "You had to be there" moments, but she turned around with a blank look on her face clue-less as to what was going on.  So the coach urged her along so finally she is like "My name is Heather!"  Oye.  What a ride this will be!

Turn your back on a preschooler for ten seconds...

...and you will get a square disk shoved into the DVD player on your computer.

...and he will grab candy and sneak up to his sister's room to hide behind her door and eat the candy.

...and he will give his Cookie Monster "Just a little trim, Mommy."  Blue hair will find it's way into everything for at least a month.

...and he will try to go to school wearing his underwear on his head and his socks on his hands.

...and he might make you a picture with a heart around it and tell you he loves you.

The danger of junkmail and children

When we get junk mail, I usually toss it to the kids and they get all excited to "have mail!"  Well, lately, we have been getting plain white envelopes that reek of junk mail.  The first few times, I caught it.  For whatever reason, we keep getting adds and catalogues for "adult toys," if you get my drift.  I have no idea why we are getting these.  So for a while after the first one came, I was on my guard.  I had given it to Alexia then decided I should look at it first since I didn't know what it was.  Glad I did!  So now, months later, my guard was down and I tossed junk mail to Aidan last week and guess what?  ::groans::  Thankfully, he is young enough he really didn't make any connections or ask any questions.  I just explained to him that that was meant for Mommy and Daddy and I needed it back.

I think it is sad that I have to screen my junk mail for this kind of stuff.  Of course, Alan thinks it is deliriously funny that I keep accidentally giving the kids adds for "toys."  I wish I knew how to stop these adds from coming.

Christmas is in the Air

And it is smothering me with the "To-Do" list that always seems to come with it.  So I am sitting back and trying to just take Christmas in.  With slow deep breaths, without suffocating from the realization that I need to wrap gifts, steam clean carpets, clean out bedrooms, scrub floors, etc.  I just want to stand back and watch my kids enjoy the blinking lights, let the cookies settle onto my hips, and then worry about running it off later.  Who am I kidding, I'm not running anywhere. 

    ... I will just eat lots of Celery in January.  :-)

PS My Internet is finally back up.  Yay!  It was annoying not having it for the better part of last week.

Just the usual stuff

My Internet has been flaky lately, so sometimes I can get on, sometimes I can't.  And sometimes the connection is so slow I can't load any web sites, so being on is worthless, lol. 

Last night found me trying to get Robby to sleep while Alexia screamed that her ear hurt.  So I put the baby down and went to my daughter to try to ease the pain until morning.  Finally got her settled then I had to resettle the baby.  Sometimes I just wish I had 8 hands...two for each child.  Then I could do for them all at once!  Alexia did go to the doctor today and she has an ear infection.  The meds will make her good as new and she should sleep better tonight. 

Then there was the Christmas that almost wasn't.  While I was out doing my grocery shopping something got into my closet and tore through the gifts.  Many were unwrapped, and two things of chocolate were eaten.  Thankfully, the gifts were fine.  I just need to rewrap them.  Nothing a little time and effort can't fix.  I am not bothering to replace the chocolate...we didn't need it anyway!  Divine intervention for my backside and hips.  Hallelujah!  I'm now behind instead of ahead with Christmas, but those are the breaks.  Not a big deal. 

Other than that, things are moving along.  Jacob is really enjoying Soccer.  He has already stated that he wants to sign up for Soccer again in the spring.  Alexia starts cheerleading soon.  So then I will be able to say if she likes it or not.  Alan is looking forward to going back to sea duty, I think.  Guess he needs a break from our chaotic days here at home. 

Until next time, Happy Holidays.

A thought of ours

DH and I think they should have blockades around here to stop you and give you a driving test.  If you fail, they immediately take your license and your car gets towed to impound until you pass the drivers test.  Seriously.  People here can't drive worth a darn.  We were coming home on the highway today and everyone started breaking.  I was in the left lane of an entrance ramp that goes from one highway to another.  The two left lanes go South and the right lane goes North.  Well, the dude in the head of my line was stopping because he was exiting right from the far left lane.  @@   I mean come on now!  He ended up going across the stripey part where the water barrels are and cut off a lot of people.  At that same interchange, I have seen someone stop in the middle lane of the one highway.  I do mean completely stop.  Then make a straight exit from that lane all the way right.  It's bizarre.  And Red Lights mean nothing around here.  "Oh look, the light is red, that means gun it so I can be on the guy in front of me's tail and get through the intersection so I don't have to wait." 

Driving Test Blockades.  The new wave of the future.  Shel for Police Commissioner!