Brilliant

We have a small house. We have growing children. We have toys, lots and lots of toys. We have a breezeway. We will eventually knock down the breezeway to build a bedroom up and a larger family room down. But not today and I don't know when. So it dawned on me today that I am not using the breezeway to the fullest extent.


I have tomorrow off and will show the before and after pictures as I set about reworking the space for the kids and their stuff.



I bought a cotton stripped rug in neutral colors, as the breezeway has hideous faux wood panelling and a drop ceiling, I know it is truly hideous. And I got these curtains:






There are two windows and two doors that lead outside. Cafe curtains for the doors and window panels for the windows. It will really brighten up the ill used space. I bought two sets of four cork tiles that are self adhesive and perfect for the kids art. We will move the chalkboard from the kitchen.


BRILLIANT!

I didn't think I would

I have not read for pleasure in months. In fact really the last time I read consistently for pleasure was when I rode the commuter rail daily, oh about 4 years ago. Take into consideration I am the mother of three, work full time and my commute is approximately 7 minutes by car I haven't read anything thicker that O in months.

I received a very generous Border's gift card from my brother for Christmas, so I went out on Friday to peruse and secure long awaited books. I did some research and compiled a list. I am not one to wander aimlessly. My friend at work had mentioned that she just finished a very popular young adult book. She went on to say that she stayed up half the night to finish it and this type of book is generally not her cup of tea. I had this title in mind when I made my way to Border's. Sheepishly I picked it up, now knowing the story, I then made my way over to the literature section and made a few more selections before heading to the check out.

We went to Maine on Friday to celebrate Hanukkah with KD's family, so I knew it was going to be 2 + hours of solid reading time. Within the first 50 pages I was hooked. I replaced one of the bulbs in the car so I could read on the way home. I stayed up too late and read. Yesterday we went to Plymouth, another solid hour of reading. I finished about 12:45 a.m.

I didn't think I would. But I have been converted to a loyal follower of the Twilight Series.

Merry Christmas

It has begun

We were presented with homemade ornaments for the tree. Be still my heart. I remember all the ornaments that adorned my mom's tree specifically those created by little ones. Middle made a "bell" with a tiny flower pot, Oldest made a reindeer, with clothes pins, a candy cane out of beads and a sparkly star out of Popsicle sticks.

We will have them for our lifetime.

In spite of having frozen pipes in our laundry room, I have assembled the children's outfits for church today. KD is home and either at the laundromat or the pipes have melted enough for laundry to be done. We will prepare the roast to cook while we are at church and spend the evening with family. Once we put the kids in their beds we will wrap all of their gifts. I will take a picture of the living room and then upload it to Capture the Magic, furthering the belief in Santa.

What it means to me

Christmas means much more to me than listening to carols beginning the day after Thanksgiving. And it means much more than the decorations that are hung at the malls the day after Halloween. It is sad that the Lords of Marketing are in charge of how and when Christmas begins and ends. On December 26th carols no longer play in the malls or on the radio, decorations are removed, all because the Lords of Marketing say it is so. Those who revel in the Christmas season know better, Christmas starts on December 25th and ends on January 6th, the Twelve Days of Christmas.

I constantly remind myself of why it is that I give presents to my loved ones on Christmas. I give gifts, to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, whose purpose was greater than any born before or after. I want to buy and present gifts to commemorate, not to engage in the Lords of Marketing skewed view of this magical season, but rather to perpetuate the magic of the season. To teach my children, who celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, that each celebrate miracles. The miracle of the oil lasting eight days, when it was thought only to be enough for one day and the miracle of baby Jesus. Miracles. True miracles.

It is a miraculous time and sadly it is overshadowed by the numbers of gifts under the tree. In a time when companies are reporting larger than ever losses, people are losing their jobs, well respected investors are swindling billions of dollars and U. S. auto makers are looking for bail out, isn't it time to rethink it all?

The chorus to O Holy Night sums it all up for me, and never ever ceases to give me goose bumps or make me cry.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

40 and the ice storm

We spent Thursday night at the lovely lounge twinkling with firelight. We enjoyed spirits and time alone. KD surprised me with a beautiful tanzinite ring, the newest December birthstone.

I awoke in the middle of the night and headed to the bathroom. No lights. Hmmm. We called down in the morning to see if there was any breakfast being served. They had one stove working and were on the generator. While at breakfast we called home to check in on Auntie B. She too was without power. I called my sister in law to inquire if she had power. She called Auntie B and it was decided that they would go to Plymouth where it was warm. Since the hotel was without power and power being restored was in the hands of the power company we decided we would check out. I was so very disappointed, so much for a special birthday weekend. We went to the house to check on the cat and we were still without power. So we headed down to Plymouth. We have been here ever since.

Yesterday, our good friend went by the house to see what the status was and we do have power. We will be heading back there tonight after spending a lovely weekend with my family. The kids have had so much fun with their cousins and my brother and his family have been and continue to be warm and welcoming. They are preparing me my most favorite dinner. Seafood casserole with a hint of sherry.

Auntie B planned this weekend and despite the ice storm it was one of the best presents I have ever received. The whole family had planned to meet us back at our house today as a surprise party with cake and champagne. I was a beautifully planned 40th birthday. Truly. I feel so very special.

Sadness and Joy

The vet knew it was only a matter of time. She was kind to me and to her. In the end it was a liver disease. The inside of her ears were tinged with yellow. It was right and merciful to let her go. It does not lessen the pain. We had her for such a short time. The kids said good bye to her this morning and gave her gentle hugs, pats and kisses.

In spite of the sadness we take comfort in knowing we were a good family for her.

On a more joyous note, we are going away for the weekend for my 40th birthday. I am trying to get everything organized for when we are away. I have booked a pedicure and a glycolic facial for tomorrow. We are staying at the Wentworth by the Sea. We leave this afternoon and return on Sunday, the acutal day of birth. My co-workers, who were wonderfully kind to me this morning, presented me with a lovely plant, card and a cake.

I have wanted Uggs since last Christmas. It was on my list again this year and it was the only thing on my list. On Monday I sent an email to KD saying just that. Last night? I received a beautiful pair of chocolate brown Uggs from my parents in law. Without knowing they called KD and asked if they would be something I would like. YES! My feet are toasty! Thank you M and R! They are great!

Lily

She has been sick for a while. Things seem to be stable and perhaps even a little better. There was poop in the litter box and food had been eaten. Good signs. Purring and playful.

I called KD on my way home from a social event last night, the news was not good. She had been throwing up all night, who knows what she had been doing when we weren't home. But there was something new. She was trying to poop. She would assume the position, no matter where she was, including on me, and push. Nothing. She did this consistently every 5 minutes or so, all night long.

There is nothing left to do and she is really sick. I had selfishly hoped that she would go off and pass on her own, thereby taking this painful decision out of my hands. I am devestated.

Argh!!

Christmas pictures for the Christmas card, ARGH!

Opinions please

This year I am only buying three things for each of the kids, last year I did five. In addition to all the things they received from grandparents, aunts, uncles and throw Hanukkah in there, it is a LOT of stuff. So I am being very selective on the gifts. I saw this today and I wondered if any of you, Dear Readers, have any experience with it and if you do could you please enlighten me.

It is Disney Clickables. It looks neat and I think Oldest would be into it, but I am not so sure.

Thanks Friends!

Secondly, Middle has an ever so slight peanut allergy. I realize that out in the world of school it doesn't matter how slight the allergy, the staff at pre-school must take all precautions. We have expressed to him that he should never take food that is offered to him from another child, while at school. When we are with him it is fine. He cannot eat peanuts or peanut butter. He can eat anything that was prepared with peanut oil and has no reaction to anything prepared in a manufacturing plant that also prepares peanuts. You get the idea.

So, the school has provided the entire pre-school class with a list of peanut free snacks. This list is from a parochial school somewhere and it is full of brand name snacks, that we generally do not buy, for one reason or another. I am certainly not an exclusively organic person, nor is my family, however, I do try to limit their intake of crap.

But here is my question. If I am reading labels of the snacks that I buy at Trader Joe's, or wherever, and they do not contain peanuts and were not manufactured in a plant that handles peanuts, isn't it peanut safe? And if my kid is the only kid in the class with this issue, would it stand to reason that his snacks are safe?

I understand that the school must take all precautions and that Middle is only 4 and may now and then take a snack from a friend that he should not. It sort of bother's me that the parents of all the other kids have to deal with this too. Again, I understand the issues of safety. But still.

I can only hope he grows out of this ever so slight allergy. Otherwise it is going to a bummer when he is there full day and has to eat at the peanut free table.

We are warm

We had the inspection yesterday. And we passed!

And I made matzo ball soup, for the first time, we have a BIG fan.

In less than two weeks

I will be 40.