I totally feel like I could have written this book this year! I can't wait til Xmas is over!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Cookie Rules:
1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.
2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.
3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calorie free (see rule #1), yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone .
4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.
6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie four each letter. Make more red ones!
7. Cookies eaten while watching any classic Christmas shows on TV have no calories because they are part of the traditional entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.
9. Any cookies consumed from someone Else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to cling
! 10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!
Merry Christmas - enjoy your cookies!

Truer Words Have Never Been Written

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

I cannot explain just how profoundly true this is to my life right now!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sunday Stealing 2 days late

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? I'm from Buffalo, of course!
2. Favorite late night snack? something salty then something chocolatey
3. Do you own a gun? No
4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? ET Mocha from Taste in East Aurora Ny - or Hot Chocolate at home spiked with vanilla vodka
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? not really
6. What do you think of hot dogs? In February they remind me of summer! Heavy mustard, relish and onions with the roll toasted please!
7. Favorite Christmas song? Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby"
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea from Harney & Sons
9. Can you do push-ups? Yes, but why would I?
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My mother's ring.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading, watching movies.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Occasionally
13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? I'm not a very good listener.
14. The last disease you contracted? Kidney stones.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. Can kidney stones be contracted? Why am I taking the time to do this? Do I have to finish my oatmeal?
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, water and tea.
17. Current worry right now? my marriage
18. Current hate right now? liars
19. Favorite place to be? curled up on the couch with 2 boys, a dog,and my favorite blanket
20. How did you ring in the New Year?usually in bed half asleep
21. Like to travel? absolutely!
22. Name three people who will complete Sunday Stealing this week: can't think of one
23. Do you own slippers? several pairs
24. What color shirt are you wearing? blah pink
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? wouldn't know, never have.
26. Can you whistle? yes, but not well
27. Favorite singer/band? Michael Buble, Peggy Lee
28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor? why would I want to?
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? "Losing My Religion"
30. Favorite girl’s names? Natalie,Sophia,
31. Favorite boy’s name? Andrew, Lucas
32. What’s in your pocket right now? fuzz
33. Last thing that made you laugh? "Big Bang Theory" last night
34. Like your job? Which one? Yes to all 3.
36. Do you love where you live? Pretty much. Could do without the 6 months of snow.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? one
38. Who is your loudest friend? Teri Widley - but she would say I'm louder and she'd be right.
39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed? both, but more often speed.
40. Does someone have a crush on you? that would be the day!
41. What is your favorite book? Pride and Prejudice
42. What is your favorite candy? Sponge candy
43. Favorite Sports Team? don't honestly have one, but Go Sabres!
44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? sleeping
45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today?Yeah! It's only 5:15am, I don't have to get up yet!

Grateful

My buddy gingersnapspice posts on Sunday a week's worth of reasons to be grateful. This has been a very difficult week for me and I feel the need to copy her fine example.
1. Having friends I can call at all hours of the day and ask, "Am I stupid?" and have them reply without hesitation, "No!".
2. Having family who supports me during trouble without really knowing what the trouble is.
3. The unconditional love of my dog. (This may seem strange, but being welcomed home with a smile, even though I've just walked across the street to the mailbox, really brightens the day.)
4. That my children are healthy and happy, doing well in school and seem well on their way to being really great people in their own right.
5. Having movies and books to escape in.
6. Hope.
7. Forgiveness.

Secret Encourager

Our new pastor is so fantastic, I am almost beyond words to describe how wonderful she is! We have a large confirmation class for our little church this year, 9 kids! Pastor Alice borrowed an idea from her dad (also a pastor) to support the confirmands journey. It's called "Secret Encouragers". Each kid has an adult - they are not told who - who will pray for them, as well as leave them notes of encouragement in their special mailboxes. I signed up to be one of the adults, and have purchased a few cards to get started. What I am looking for is some ideas. Maybe a book or movie - oooh "Facing the Giants" is a good one! - to leave in her mailbox, that might be fun and supportive. She's a seventh grader, so things have to be cool, ya know. Anyone got a thought?

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Andrew came in 2nd place for "Most Creative Costume"!

We had a large group of neighbors 25 kids plus parents come for dinner then trick or treating! Loads of fun! Can't wait to do it again next year!

Crabby Mama!

Why is it that stepping on a Lego in every room of the house makes me fly into a rage?! I have banned TV, DS and Computer for at least the rest of today and possibly longer depending on how well the boys clean! I am the only person who cleans this house and I am no longer willing to be! I'm not the one who pees on the toilet! The Lego's aren't my toys! The new heater for the downstairs bathroom doesn't need to be left on my dining room sideboard! The weather is colder and sweatshirts and heavy coats are all over my kitchen! Laundry baskets are so full they reach the basement ceiling! I am about to go on strike, except that I have to finish cooking potatoes to take to our sister church whom we are serving dinner to today! I hate when I get in whiny crabby mama mode!

Bollywood

I have to admit to having an obsessive nature. Well, at least when it comes to movies and chocolate. Once I find something I like, I can't stop watching (eating) it! After going to see Pirates of the Caribbean (the first one), I became so obsessed with Johnny Depp that had to watch almost every movie he has made. It drove my husband crazy. My current obsession is Bollywood. The movie Jodhaa Akbar in particular. A lovely epic about an Indian Emperor in the 1550's who marries a princess to form an alliance, and they fall madly in love! The actress is one of my fav's, but the leading man was new to me. I, of course, am now going through all of his movies - which is quite a feat, considering Bollywood movies average 3 hours or more, and I am working 3 jobs (the housework is getting neglected!). I find myself waiting till everyone is out of the house so I can sit alone re- watching the same scenes, sighing and smiling. I even bought the CD, despite not being able to understand the lyrics! Sigh, wish I had someone to share this with.

Dreaming of NYC

I dreamt I was in NYC last night! I dreamt I was eating a piece of white pizza (even thought the price had gone up to $6 per slice!). Then I dreamt I was at the Cupcake Cafe slobbering all over the cupcake I was eating! I unfortunately woke before I made it to Chinatown to shop for purses! Sigh! I think I need a trip to the city!

Who Me?

Okay, so I've started my third part-time job. When I said I would take it, the lady who will be my boss did a happy dances Oh, how very nice (I guess that filing and paper shredding was really tedious!)! And according to one of the half a dozen people I met today, she is being doing more happy dances! Still very nice! I did some training today, I'm not feeling too overwhelmed yet. So far it's stuff I can understand. Did some work from home to make sure the connections were working right and such. Somehow my boss made the comment "That's because you're so calm." I laughed and said, "Who me?" "Yes, that's one of the reasons I like you, because you're so calm." I refrained from snorting in her ear and am still trying to digest someone could honestly refer to me that way! My husband's reaction to this story was "Who You?I guess you're getting calmer in your old age." Gee thanks honey!
Sometimes you're life is so full of blessings that it's all you can do not to skip everywhere while laughing gleefully!

Dilemma

Okay, so I have two jobs on top of being a mom and wife, and I have just been offered a third. Should be easy, and possibly short term. I'll have to dress nice (yeah!), go downtown Buffalo (fun!), and pay for parking (yuck). However, it means that I will have to stop taking my grandmother's best friend out, once every two weeks, to run her errands. But we're planning a trip to Disney in May, I have a credit card I'd like to pay off, and Xmas is coming (not to mention my pedicure addiction that can always use funding). Does it make me a bad person to think "WoHoo! This could be so fun! I finally feel like I could be an adult with a real job!(part-time temporarily)" Or should I feel guilty for leaving an 88 year old woman to her own defenses? Got any suggestions?

Sitting....at my computer trying to stay awake

Smelling... the toast ready for my fluffanutter sandwich

Drinking... ice cold water - soon chocolate milk

Reading... about to start "Too Close to the Falls"

Loving... the gorgeous fall colors out my window

Eagerly anticipating....the book I just ordered from the library, the movie from Netflix and another day to myself

Worrying.... about the state of the economy, and that my toast is now burnt because I'm still here typing

Wishing.... I had a maid who would make that sandwich for me, as well as clean the house, do the laundry and plan next weeks' meals

Praying... that the life I lead full of SOOO many blessings continues right along

Grateful...for healthy children, a loving marriage, the greatest parents, family, friends, a life full of more blessings than I have time to count

Sharing...my little thoughts with those who care to read them

Free Cookie

You can get a free cookie from Kashi.com!

Pampering

I had a rare day off yesterday. When my husband asked what I would be up to, on his way out the door, I replied, "I'm going to Walmart." He rolled his eyes, knowing the truth behind the statement. Yes, I actually went to Walmart, and I did buy a few groceries. However, the real reason I went, was for a well deserved mani-pedi! Yippee!!
While I was getting my toes done, my friend Teri (who I tried to call over the weekend to come with) called to change my hair appointment to yesterday night with my friend Bethie (who just moved to the area and was going to get her hair done with Teri for the first time). By 7pm yesterday I was one hot-looking, relaxed, smiling Mama! Bethie was just as glamorous! And we all have plans to have a day of shopping and pampering in Nov! It's those really important little things that get you through!

The Big 1-0!

Hard to believe, but my Andrew turns 10 on Saturday! No more single digits! No more elementary school! You never really believe those people that tell you "it goes by so fast!"! Until it happens. Where did the time go? I'm so proud of who he is going up to be inspite of me! I'm so lucky to have 2 gorgeous healthy kids!

Welcome to High Speed

Hello, it has very obviously been a LONG time since I blogged about anything. Due to dial-up, I really only used my computer when necessary. I finally got fed up and yesterday joined the world of High Speed! Hooray! Now, let's see if I can find the time to blog again!