These were taken when we put our tree up, so you can ignore the outfits. Or actually, ignore Lilah's--obviously she's moved on to appropriate Christmas attire.  G, however, wore this exact outfit today....the coldest day of the year.  Brace yourselves--I've told him that Winter starts Dec. 21 and you are not allowed to wear shorts after that day--until Spring.  Should be a fun transition:).

Snow Day

Woohoo! I love snow...at least for the month of December:). It's so festive! And you know what makes it even better? When your husband and 4 year old are out playing in it and the other one is napping.

Christmas music + Christmas candle+ Quiet  =   Jolly Momma

Friends

Between her wheel chair and her iPad, Lilah is the most popular 2 year old on the block these days:).

Fo Real

I have a confession to make:  I like Facebook.  I wish I didn't because it's all cyber-y and a little to hip for me, but I do.  I think it's because, when my life is all "mommy, mommy, mommy", I have some sort of connection to the outside world--albeit fake and superficial.  I wish I could visit with all the people I keep up with via Facebook in real life....well, almost all.  I de-'friend' some people on occasion, mostly because they post too much about things that are TMI for me or about how many eggs their chickens laid on Farmville.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then Welcome to the 90s (much better ring than '10s', don't you think?).  Get yourself a Facebook account. Unless you are going to use it for evil instead of good:).

Any-who, my most recent de-'friend' was today and I'm kind of sad about it because now I feel like I'm going to miss said 'friend's' complete psychotic snap.  Obviously, she's not a real friend, just a 'friend', and I'd never root for someone's close encounter with a straight jacket--but, this girl has got it coming.  She's  Pollyanna is totally asking for it.....let me tell you why.  Her life is all unicorns and rainbows and air kisses and crap.  A bunch of crap.   It drives me Crazy.  Her husband is perfect.  Her children are perfect.  And her status updates read something like this:  "My husband just surprised me with a Dooney and Burke handbag.  He is the most romantic man in the world."   "Sarah made honor roll--again."  "I love my children."  "I have all my christmas presents bought and wrapped and homemade bread in the oven."  (a week before thanksgiving).  "I love my life".  "I don't understand why some people can't be nice.  I pray for those people."   Seriously, not one post about how she burned the rolls or screamed at her kids or locked her family out of the house.  Ever.  It's just not right.  And I'm not buying it.

Now, don't get me wrong....I'm all about some happy attitudes and choosing joy.  But I think that anyone that claims their life to be a fairy tale is either living in their own mind, totally disconnected from reality, or has some serious stuff to hide.  Because--news flash--no one's life is perfect.  And, I'll choose real and honest friends any day over the ones that spend all that energy trying to convince themselves and others of Wonderland.  So, in an effort to keep it real, here are some 'real' tales of my week:

--you already know about the party mix up
--I sent Garrett to school without breakfast
--I totally forgot about an OB appointment
--I screwed up my phone in a way that I did not see or receive any messages for a week....and then proceeded to call and leave messages with offices and people about why they hadn't gotten back to me...when, in fact, they had.
--I fed Garrett rotten sour cream--twice.  Even though he complained about how his food tasted.  I chalked it up to pickiness.  Awesome.
--Garrett has already found 2 of his christmas presents that I failed to hide well enough.
--I lost 2 pages of addresses.


Feel free to laugh at me.  I'm a total mess.  But at least I'll admit it:)

HoHoHo

This is my latest find....and it's simulatneously obnoxious and beautiful (because it keeps her entertained for 2.2 seconds).  Push Santa's hand and he sings--over, and over, and over. :)

I'd like to bake Christmas cookies...

but this is what my pantry looks like.  And I can't find the chocolate chips.  I wish Martha would come to my house and organize and label with color coded somethings.

Oops I Did It Again

I will start this story by saying that I've had a very sick little girl at home this week and my extra brain power (which is scant) has been focused on keeping her out of the hospital--not social engagements.  Clearly.

Garrett received 2 birthday party invitations in the mail a couple of weeks ago and, while the thought of a kids birthday party usually makes me run for the hills, there was no way we were missing these.  Jumpity Jump and Gymnastics parties....a 4 yr. old boys' dream.  Both at 2:30, one Saturday and one Sunday.  Check.

It's Saturday, Lewis's Jumpity Jump party, and I had to wake him up from a nap (it figures, right?) so we started out about 20 minutes late.  He is so excited! This is the Superbowl for him--the kid lives for bounce houses.  We pull up to the place, get out of the car, run into the place, and he starts stripping off his clothes.  (He had negotiated his customary shorts and t-shirt underneath long pants and shirt).  I sign the waver, tell the 12 year old working the desk that we are there for Lewis's party and she says "We don't have anyone by that name today.  Are you sure it's here at Pump It Up?".  Right.  Crap.  Wrong place.  That's when it would have been helpful to have carefully re-read the invitation...had I had it with me.

Back in the car.  Racing to Jumpity Jump.  30 minutes late.  Holiday traffic.  40 minutes late.  We get there, run inside.  Garrett is literally hopping with anticipation.  I sign the waver, tell her sorry we are late, where is lewis's party?.  12 year old worker looks confused and says, "We don't have a Lewis party here.  Actually, I think that party is tomorrow."  Crap x 100! I am a totally loser.  It's like having your child at the gates of Disney and saying, "oh, you can't go though".

Sweet Garrett buried his head in my thigh and sobbed.  Sad, crocodile tears against which I am powerless.  It's terrible to disappoint your child and, I know I'll have to get used to it, but I wasn't really wanting for either of us to have to learn that lesson yesterday.  I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but it's a part of the story---at this point I was crying too.  Dumb, I know....I'm totally blaming pregnancy hormones.   I would say I swallowed my pride, but since I had none left, after going to the wrong place, for the wrong party, on the wrong day, 40 minutes late....pride was a non-factor when I asked,  Is there anyway in the whole wide world that my little boy could jump?  For just 10 minutes? I will do anything!!!???  Please!!!!!!


I'm not sure if it was fear or mercy, but someone went and asked another birthday party mom if Garrett could jump at her party.  And she said "yes":) .  Garrett marched on back, dried his tears, and had to be hauled off an hour later as the birthday girl, that we did not know from Adam, was cutting cake.  I was not able to laugh about this at all yesterday (unlike me, I know), but today it seems really funny that Garrett and I spend an hour at a birthday party full of strangers, bouncing under a sign that read, "Happy Birthday Jenna".  And that he kept saying, but I don't see Lewis, the whole time.  And that now there is the possibility that two people could be having a conversation that goes something like this:

Stranger #1:  "Last week a random mom and her little boy crashed a birthday party that we were at."
Stranger #2:  "That's so funny because that exact thing happened at a baby shower I was attending a
 couple of months ago.  Wonder if it was the same person? Hahahaha"


And then they will put two and two together and I will be known all around town as The Girl who Goes to the Wrong Parties.  I guess there are worse things to be known for.