Christmas Cards

Where do I begin to explain that they just aren't happening this year? First, I try to get a decent picture of the kids every year and I just never got around to it this fall. And, to be frank, the kids never cooperate and let it be an easy task, so "never getting around to it" can probably be equated to "avoided it". Then, I decided to just send out cards... with no picture. I actually purchased them at WalMart when I was there about two weeks ago. Cute little cards, recycled even - my sister would be proud of me. But, then I needed stamps. Proud of myself in that regard too. Went to the post office last week and stood in line like a good little soldier to purchase them. But....now it's the Monday of the week of Christmas, and unless I get out my address book TODAY and write out all the cards and address them and get them in the mailbox before the mailman comes, my chances of friends and family receiving them on time for Christmas are diminishing rapidly. So, my dilemma is now this... do I waste the cards and stamps (well, I guess those would get used eventually - like 3 years since we pay everything online now!) and just forgo this tradition and let everyone think they pissed me off and got crossed off our list this year, or do I stress about it and get it done? Another Darden Dilemma....

Bravery, or Insanity?

Christopher's birthday was last Thursday and when we asked what type of party he wanted to have, he shouted without hesitation, "A SLEEPOVER PARTY!" So, with an agreement from Mike that I could leave once all guests arrived, we sent out the invitations. We sent out 12, thinking about 1/2 would RSVP yes. Well, as you can see from the picture, sleepover parties are a hit. Come to think of it, I would take advantage of my child being gone for the night too!

So of course the day of the party it decided to snow in Houston. I mean really - what's the chance of this???? So, kids came already pumped up after an early dismissal day from school due to "inclement weather" and some even brought toys and tools to build snowmen and have snowball fights!

So, all kids arrived and chaos ensued! Pizza, popcorn, pretzels found the way into every nook and cranny of our floors (and you know how Mike is about our floors!). The Nerf guns should have been hidden before anyone arrived!!! And, Mike shouldn't have put on that 3rd movie!!!!! Nevertheless, a great time was had by all (all under the age of 10) and Christopher had the time of his life!

PS - Mike told me if I left that I better take a bag and leave my house key b/c I wasn't welcome back home :-)

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last blog! I've thought about it a lot, but never seem to have the time to do sit down at the computer and write when I'm thinking about it....

Christopher's birthday was yesterday and he/we had a great day. He is starting to make that transition (albeit very slowly) from little boy to ... well, I'm not quite sure to what yet. He is having a sleepover party tonight, and since it's SNOWING in Houston and the kids are getting out of school early and will be all fired up, this ought to make for a wonderful party :-)

I'm really not ready for the holidays! The decorations are only half up...sorta like my attitude! Amelia wants a Zhu Zhu pet and I can't seem to find one anywhere! I was standing in line at CVS talking with another mom this morning about those darn creatures and she was telling me about her quest to locate one for her daughter and I was thinking, "Really....I'm not driving all over town like you. I'll just order mine on-line. You've lost your marbles, lady!" Well, ha ha, jokes on me....they are nowhere to be found on-line! Guess she has the right idea after all, and I'm the one with the loose marbles.

My Ghosts & Goblins

Could the weather have been more perfect for Halloween and Trick-or-Treating? My Ghost, Witch, and Optimus Prime were excited and boy, did they haul in the loot! We have enough candy to last until next Halloween, and I can only say thank you to the family who gave out sample sizes of toothpaste to combat all the tooth decay that will result from this one night of extravagance. My 2-year old nephew came out to celebrate with us and he learned quickly to disregard the decorations and run for the doorbell! Ah well, another year come and gone, and a few more costumes to add to the dress-up box. Happy Fall!

The Hunt...so far

Well, I think it's official.... I am behind in my harvesting this year at the ranch. One of my sisters has taken 2; my other sister 1. My mom has taken a nice trophy buck scoring in the high 180s (B&C); my dad took his trophy this past weekend weighing in at B&C 190 3/8! I have sat in the rain, the chill, and through the mosquitoes feasting on every exposed limb I have only to see whitetails worthy of shooting with my camera and not my .270. Soccer games, birthday parties, Halloween...why must all these things get in the way?

Birthday Bliss

Well, after turning 30 for the 11th time I'm feeling good. The kids greeted me in my undergarments singing Happy Birthday (thanks to Daddy calling and reminding them!). I enjoyed lunch with my friend Shelly (thank you for lunch, the gift, and your friendship most of all!) to celebrate the day before. On my birthday, Amelia and I ate at Chick-Fil-A with my sister and my nephew (thanks for all the chocolate - there's still some left!!!) Piano lessons for Amelia, then off to Ceramics by Tess to paint a pumpkin with one of Amelia's new friends. A nice visit with my parents in the afternoon (their new dog Niki gifted me by peeing in my kitchen - thanks, Niki). Luckily, Michael didn't have soccer practice so we actually went out to eat - Chicken Fried Steak at Willie's Ice House...yummy! Then, my favorite night of TV. Birthday Bliss!

"Nibbles"

A week and half ago, our cat Sweet Pea brought a baby squirrel into the garage and we caught her "playing" with it. Luckily, it was unharmed and seemed good to go back up the tree to mama. However, the next day Sweet Pea brought it back. Guess she thought we needed another animal to add to our zoo!

Nibbles enjoys substitute milk, unsalted peanuts, multi-grain bread, bananas, and especially grapes. She's learning to climb around the (bird) cage she is currently calling home in our garage. She first curled up in Michael's fleece-lined croc, but now snuggles up to a discarded stuffed animal of Amelia's. Amelia is the "squirrel whisperer" of the house - Nibbles calms right down anytime that Amelia is holding him. Here he is eating a grape and enjoying being whispered to.

Felt so "Out of Touch"

When you really look at how long "wireless internet" has been a part of my everyday life we're not talking that long, yet when it goes out, it sends me into a panic mode. No internet, no e-mail, no Facebook? That would mean I would have to do laundry, or clean toilets, or something else I avoid when I have my computer in my lap.

It took me over two hours of plugging and un-plugging cords, then cleaning out behind the desk (since I had pulled it out anyway), sorting through all those darn cords behind the desk figuring out what connected to what that I realized....I need to call AT&T because this problem seems to be beyond my scope of my repair capabilities. Picked up the phone to call, and no dialtone. Ah-ha!

I remembered that I had listened to the sound of the neighbor having his gas-line connected all day yesterday and my mind magically jumped to the conclusion that they did it. So, picked up the cell and called AT&T.

First thing off the bat, "Press 1 to continue in English...." WHAT? I live in the United States where we speak English, right? Have the English speakers become such the minority that I now have to press a certain number to continue in my native language? Then, the computer system couldn't recognize my voice commands. Probably because I was screaming at the phone I was so insulted, and using a few expletives because talking to anyone in person these days is impossible. So, the robot said, "I'm having trouble understanding you, let's try this another way. Press 1 to continue in English...." Seriously?!?!?!?

I Love My Neighborhood

Last night was National Night Out and it was a great success! We had 7 families out on our street corner, hanging out and running interference with all our kids. Our wonderful constables came by, passing out stickers and candy to grown ups and kids alike. Yes, my kiddos got to bed a little late, but it was well worth it. I love our little neck of the woods.

Can't believe it's only Wednesday - I'm just plain ole' tired. Mike is hunting with my dad and brothers-in-law and this single-mom thing gets old quickly. Plus, working on the yearbook for the boys school has geared up and has me busy for a few hours each week. I enjoy it, and would much rather work on that than laundry, but I'm not sure how the socks are going to get clean if I don't get off my duff and wash them.

I'm looking for some motivation -- have checked at Walmart, Target, and the grocery story without any luck. I have so many boxes sitting in my garage that have been there since the day I walked away from teaching that I still need to go through. Plus, our "spare bedroom" that Mike let me turn into my "craft room" (aka "crap room") is a disaster. But, until I find some motivation, those boxes and crap room are just going to sit there. I strive to be the super-organized, neat, have it all together woman, but it just isn't happening.

First Blog

Well....thought I would give this a try. Some of my friends "blog" and I thought, "why the hell not?" If nothing else, it will be a great place to vent! It's Tuesday, but feels like Friday already. Mike left this morning to go on a 3-day hunt with my father and two brothers-in-law. For those of you who know Mike and I well, this is a role reversal for sure! He's off for the comraderie, and wants to try a little bird hunting. We will see what he comes home with, especially since he didn't take a cooler :-) I hope one of them took a camera. I didn't think to send one with Mike, and even if I did, I doubt he would have remembered to use it. I always look forward to this time of year - fall. But, just where is this cooler weather? Heat index is supposed to be over 105 today....that's just not right! Hard to get motivated to get in the attic and pull out the Halloween and fall decorations when you are sweating and cursing the heat. Maybe this weekend, when the weather is supposed to be cooler....