friday miscellany

We had to dig ourselves out earlier this week. Crazy to think I heard so much about a holiday storm a week ago that turned out to be a complete dud while this storm raged on and I was none the wiser. Why do we let the media play with our emotions so? I remember the whole swine flu incident--how they stressed me out. While I would never say there wasn't some cause for concern, they could of told us all the facts, like how people die of the regular flu everyday. Hmm, why do I suddenly not feel any better by that. Ha!

Christmas shopping is still ago. Why was I thinking I could be done the week after Thanksgiving by the latest? It seems each and every time I think I'm close I remember someone else I'm missing.

Creative Wednesdays. Yes, I am still doing them though, this week I actually did a bit from my bed Tuesday instead of Wednesday. At any rate, I can't share my projects because they're gifts, but I will after the holidays. Funny, it's sounds like the gifts are something new and excited. While I assure you that's not the case, I've definitely enjoyed making them and hope they'll be received the same.


Our advent calendar is fully underway here counting down to Christmas. It's one of my kids very favorite traditions. It's the first thing they talk to me about in the morning and I haven't yet figured out if it's because I let them eat candy in the morning or because they're seeing the days peel away one by one til Christmas comes. I for one am happy with all the days leading up. Anticipation is key.

I stated playing racquetball while in St. George last weekend. Sounds like a stretch to say "played", more like I "tried". Adam was quite easy on me so I was please to walk out of there 0-4---never reaching over 3 or 4 points a game. There was even a game he gave me two points for every one point & I still lost. Really fun though. I'm thinking I need to find someone more at my level. Any takers? It actually is more of a workout than you'd realize. I was sore in places I never knew I had muscles.

After using NyQuil the day I was sick to help me sleep & Tess getting a clearer understanding of why i took it she said, "I wish they made stuff like that for kids". Little does she know there are a lot of parents who are wondering the same thing.

We received our first Christmas card in the mail yesterday, thanks Dani it is fabulous, and it's got me thinking, for the first time this season, that I need to do Christmas cards. What? How on earth have I not thought of this before now? I'm usually so on top of our Christmas card and excited to do it. Weird.

snippets from this morning in my bed

One minute I was lying in bed in the quiet trying to not wake up and then next I had three little girls next to me. These are the pieces I heard...



"What if this was the only bed in the house? That would be really squishy for dad." -megan

"Megan you smell like Marigold." -tess (Marigold is our friends dog)

"Don't bite me." -tess
"Than get your fingers away from my mouth." -megan

"I see a bunny rabbit on the ceiling...sorry that was random." -bella (she was referring to the texture on the ceiling.)

"What are you doing?" -me
"Enjoying your bed." -megan

"It's all your fault!" -tess

"Mommy, I'm stuck on you." -megan

"Stop! I'm trying to lay in peace." -bella

"Come on Tess let's do our jobs. I'm doing the dishwasher." -bella

"I'd rather play than work." -tess

"I'm so tired I feel like I can't even get up." -megan

"Sorry I didn't know." -tess
"Ya yuh did." -megan

"UGH!" - tess

"I want my own grapefruit." -megan

"What are we doing today?" -megan

made me smile

[click here for original note]

Dear Daddy,
I love you Daddy because when I hug and kiss you I feel happy about me.

I found this note from Tess to her Dad while cleaning out a stack of papers. I don't know how old it is, though her handwriting makes it look like it was written at least a year ago. It made me smile when I read it, in fact, I got a little chocked up.

You can never really underestimate the power of being loved.

I hope and pray she will always feel this way and know, no matter what's going on in her life we are always waiting in the wings ready to give her hugs and kisses.

she said

M: "Tess, you need to go get ready for dance."

T: "I feel too tired to go."

M: "You really should go because you're not going to be there next week, plus you're always tired after school."

T: "Mom, I know. Wherever I am I'm tired {pause} except in bed."

she said

conversation had over bagels this morning



me: "So what were you guys watching this morning?" (the kids didn't bother us until 9am)

Bella: "We watched Giada and a Nova."

Adam: "What was the Nova about?"

Bella: "Parallel worlds."

me: "Really?"

Bella: "Yea, it was so interesting. I love Nova."


conversation had while waiting for Bella in dance class



me: "What do you want for Christmas?"

Tess: "I want a camera and I think maybe a DS."

me: "Hmm, well you need to choose, we can't get both."

Tess: after a moment pause, "Ok I'll get a camera from you and then ask Santa for the DS and that way I can get both."

me: speechless

my favorite q&a

Tess drew this picture for me of us together and answered some questions about me on the back. I just love these Q&As. It's funny to hear what she thinks, though I felt she was pretty dead on on most of them.
Her answers are in bold.



She is 105 years old.

She is 59 inches tall.

She weighs 68 pounds.

Her favorite food is potatoes stew.

She likes to wear her jeans.

While I'm at school, she is on the computer.

She likes to read.

She doesn't like to clean up the messes we make.

This is what's going on in my house

and I'm not quite sure how to handle it. I need your help.

So today I walked down the hall leading to Megan's room where Bella and Tess had been playing to let them know lunch was ready. As I started to approach I could tell Bella was all too eager to get out and go eat lunch. So I probed a bit. Bella tried hard to say it, but couldn't get it out. Finally she said, "will you be mad?" I said "no just tell me". Then tess pop's up and said, "Megan did it!" Well I knew immediate that was not true because Megan had been with me, but before I could say anything Bella said to tess, "No! We did it" The offense was actually no big deal they twisted up a phone cord, but I was quite upset with Tess for lying. I looked at tess and said, "who did it"...she eventually said they both did.

And then again...The other day she lied about drawing all over one of my mats. It was quite obvious it was her, but she blamed it on Megan. I ask her to go to her room and think about who did it and when she was ready to be honest she could come out and tell me. So a while later she came to me and said, "Megan did it." I was shocked. I didn't even know what to do or say. I didn't yell or get mad I just stood them dumb struck that my plan didn't work. That she still came to me and lied to my face.

She has been doing this a lot lately. I am not sure how I should handle it. I do believe it is a stage, but stage or not lying is not accptable to Adam or I. SO what should I do? How should I handle it so she knows this kind of behavior is not allowed or so she knows not to do it again? I am lost. I try to tell her she will not get in trouble by telling me the truth. Apparently that has not worked.

HELP!

Something I don't want to forget.

My sweet 3 year old daughter Tess, who is quite the daddy's girl and at times I wonder how she feels about me, told me during a converation "i love you both the same". Referring to her daddy and me. It was so adorable. It's moments/random thoughts like these I will miss the most when they get older.

Thank you Tess for making me smile.

"...because i'm 3"

anytime anyone says anything about the number 3, she always throws her three fingers high in the air and says, "ya, becuase i'm three!"

for example...
i will tell her she can have 3 pieces of candy, "ya, becuase i'm three!"
i will ask her how many carrots she wants, "three, because i'm three"

she is so adorable. i will certainly miss her way.