Will blog for cookies

If I play my cards right, I might just get through December without blogging.  (This one doesn't count 'cause I put 'This one doesn't count' in parenthensis.  ...parenthesis.  no n!)  Not that I have a problem with blogging mind you, I just feel much more evolved considering a year ago I would be having a tizzy over such gaps in my journal.  Today I'm like, Hey blog, I don't need you to feel good about myself.  I have crocheting and Netflix now.  Have you met them?  Yeahhhh... they don't correct my spelling. 

Netflix is a proper noun!  This little squiggly red line is making us all look silly.

I have never experienced drunkenness.  (Nor do I plan to.)  I have, however, had a dangerous amount of cookies and milk in the last 20 minutes.  There are no other adults here currently to say 'All right buddy, you need to take it easy.  Is there someone you can call?'.   After spending over 30 minutes acting and reenacting the scene where the kids buy a ticket to the north pole for Frosty in Frosty the Snowman, I needed to blow off some steam.

Brenda had the kitchen set up like a train station and she fed me every line.  I got to play the ticket master a couple times.  "No money?!  NO TICKET!"

Dang, she's adorable.


Can I just say- last week sucked.  It SUCKED.  The shooting at the Clackamas mall, then Friday in Connecticut.  I even heard there was another shooting somewhere in a church...

Another cookie?  Don't mind if I do...

The other day, in defiance of my helpless frustration I spent my day, filled with everyday errands and chores, getting outside of myself.  I sparked up friendly banter in the checkout line.  I was a patient, generous driver.   I helped a stranger carry a heavy box.  I looked people in the eyes and smiled.  I complimented peoples babies, hair, Christmas-head pieces...  I made a conscious effort to not be so reserved and do something good, as small as it may be. 

Maybe I scared a few people...

But, I don't know, it seems all I can do.  Drown out the bad with good.  

Well now!  Did I just get profound???

That deserves another cookie.

Mario, ignoring Suzie with a camera.

Merry Christmas everybody.  Let's all hug and smooch the people we care about.  -specially Garret, 'cause he's got Nutella on his face...  

(Blogger is letting me know that it does not recognize 'Nutella' as a word.  I say, in the spirit of goodness, THANK YOU BLOGGER!  You're always watching out for me...)

I've ROOWINNED Karate Kid

A few minutes ago I found myself staring at the tv watching He-Man, alone.  ...How long has Garret been out of the room? 

No more excuses.  I'm doing a journal entry.

I'll avoid all the details of the last month because I'm already yawning and wondering what's on tv besides He-Man.  (I typed Heman, HeMan and He Man and nothing looked right.  So I googled it in absolute desperation.) 

.

I'm not the same person I was a month ago.  -If you think that sounds dramatic you should have heard Brenda screaming "You ROOWINNED Christmas!" today when Suzie kissed an ornament...   

No really, I can hardly call myself a runner (it's temporary), I am no longer the Young Women President at church (kill me now ...or not 'cause good grief Lindsay, life goes on), I relearned how to crochet and bought a pair of reading glasses (do I stop dying my gray hair now or wait until this afghan is done?), and I let my finger nails grow long (they're real pretty and I'm tapping everything).  So I don't even recognize myself anymore.  Did I mention I cut myself some bangs?  I know, wild stuff.  

But things are keepin' on here nevertheless. 

Suzie is demanding more and more independence.  It's cool when she wants to get herself out of her car seat, into her dress, or make a sandwich.  It's not so cool when you intrude on her as she's applying mascara to her face, her hair, the cat...

Brenda has become a con artist.  Yesterday she approached me with my phone and said "Call my daddy".  I dialed Mike to see what would happen (Mike was just in the kitchen) and Brenda ran to her room as he answered.

Mike: Hello?  (We hovered over his phone on speaker curious what Brenda was up to)

Brenda: HO HO HO!  Merry Christmas!

M:  Is this Santa Clause?

B: HO HO HO!  ...Yes.

M:  What can I do for you Santa?:

B: HO HO HO!  You get a Christmas tree tomorrow!

M:  Tomorrow?

B: HO HO HO!  ...Yes.

M:  Hey Santa, what is Brenda going to get for Christmas?

B:  HO HO HO!   a snowball making machine and a dog!

M:  I don't know about the dog, Santa.  Maybe the elves can make something else?

B: HO HO HO!  ...OK.

M:  OK thanks Santa.

B: HO HO HO!  bye.

She came out of her room, set my phone on the table and casually went back to her activities without a word.  ...On another note, guess what we bought today!

Garret's been melting my heart lately.  I've made rolls (one of his favorites) almost every other day lately just to see him bounce around the kitchen. I even got a roll-breath nuzzle-kiss.  Yup.  Oh, and he's been sleeping better lately which makes for exciting mornings as he sprints and giggles to the bus ...with me chasing after holding his shoe and backpack.

Mike's been keeping us warm with fires in the pellet stove, and keeping us fed with warm, yummy dinners.  I'm going to go kiss the cook as soon as this is posted...

So who knows when my next journal entry will be.  I've become rebellious with this blog and I'm hand making multiple Christmas presents.  (Hey Monica- death by doily.  teehee)  And really, I need to spend some more time working on my Karate Kid impression-

We'll call this the before picture and I'll practice bunches...

vicarious-ness-ly-ish

I was about 19 when I admitted to my mom that Christmas just wasn't as thrilling as it used to be.  I hadn't meant to complain, just feeling a bit sad that the holiday magic had mellowed.  Mom smiled and said, Just wait til you have kids.  It'll come back. 

I've figured out that applies to Halloween too.

I did NOT take all her candy.  She has PLENTY.

FAMILY FACE-OFF!!

dadadeedoodadee...

dadumdeedoo...

Yeah so?

It's Saturday night...

What are YOU doing?

spooks are SO last week

It feels like we've been doing Halloween for months!  Our little paper creations are still scattered around the house and the fake (or are they??) spider webs keep getting wound up in Garret's clothes.  I've starting humming Christmas music and crafting pinterest-Christmas do-dads, so the fact that we're just getting to the real pumpkins feels "off".

This is all probably because we had a Halloween themed birthday party, complete with fabulous costumes, for Garret and Brenda a couple weeks ago.  I was deliciously rebellious and didn't take one picture.  Not one.  But the candy, decor and goulish games have apparently filled my Halloween cup and I'm ready for Christmas movies!  (The only time of year I can handle corny, sappy, roll-your-eyes syrup coming from the tv.)

So Suzie hummed Jingle Bells while giving her pumpkin a face...

I'll get through this.  Brenda won't let me cheat her out of her favorite holiday!   

Now for some eggnog...

reaching across the aisle

If you know me on facebook you are probably aware that I did, indeed, watch the presidential debates.  I hope you enjoyed my rants.  ...You're welcome.  If you don't know me on facebook then you're missing a bunch of this:

accompanied by wise and witty comments of a political nature.  

(All you facebook friends HUSH.)

And I work so hard SO HARD to be open minded.  I listen and reason and hum and haw.  I don't listen to petty, conservative talk show hosts who think name calling is a productive approach.  I watch my perspective- If a republican did that, would I think it so terrible?.  I've even graciously tuned into liberal radio shows, all the while keeping a straight face that looks like I'm thoughtfully considering their argument.  Big E for effort!  And while I'm sure I carry a bias that creeps into my thoughts and conversations, I believe I've developed a balance that keeps me ...reasonable.

And after all this, when people continue to wave that liberal flag, I can take a breath, keep my calm, open my mouth and respectfully ask-

Really people.  CRUSHING debt and we get "free" phones?

...score?