The Finale.

This will be my final blog post of the year, because... well because tomorrow is a new year. :)  Fear not, I'm not going anywhere.  (I wish!)  I spent most of the last 24 hours trying to figure out some resolutions that I might actually keep.    It's funny.  I typically LOVE New Years.  (Maybe even more then Christmas) I love a new beginning, and for the last two years I have been writing post on this night about how the next year was "the year of change", the year things, finally took a turn for the better. I've been wrong. I think about June of last year I issued what I called, "a moratorium" on change.  Anything that changed in my life only got worse, and I decided enough was enough. :)  But THIS year is different.  Because all that change the I have been talking about is coming.  This year, things ARE going to change.  Jason works his last night at the bar tonight.  They close forever just after midnight.  I'm trying as hard as I can, not to think to hard about it.  It's terrifying, Charlie's has been the thing that saw us through, for years now.  Our security blanket, that pulled out "good weekends" just when we needed it the most.  It's all over in about seven hours, and counting.  In a few weeks we'll figure out if Jason's main job will even exist post the move to the new facility and the closing of his late next summer.  If he goes, it will be with a promotion and a raise.  If he doesn't -- well then I guess that's change too.   Change is coming, ready or not. 

Happy New Years everyone!  

Friday Night Leftovers (The how can break be over? Edition.)

*I have sucked at blogging this week.  It's relaxation central around here.  The kids toys are still everywhere.  The house is in shambles, I am averaging three hours a day NOT in my pjs.  So  much for being productive.  I've given up at this point.

* Jason works his last night at the bar tomorrow and then they are closed for good.  God help us money wise.

* I am working out a list of "resolutions" for 2012.  I'm sort of excited.

* I have discovered that I am physically incapable of walking past a Salvation Army bucket without putting money in.  Even when I walk towards thinking "don't do it, J is loosing his job, you are about to be broke"  I still throw my pocket change or a spare dollar in. 

* I LOVE to cook.  Discovery of the year.  I always knew I liked to cook, but not much gives me more pleasure.

* The microwave died last spring, and with the new popcorn kettle Santa left me I realize I don't even miss it anymore.  At all.

* I bought myself Friends with Benefits on dvd at Walmart today on a gift card.  Wanna know something funny?  I got CARDED!  For an R rated movie.  I was so confused when she asked for my ID.  Seriously?!  I don't look 17?  (proof that Walmart employees are all on crack.)

* Charlotte got this giant cow chair from her grandparents for Christmas.  She refuses to sit in it though, instead she piles the "Mama Cow Moo" up with all her other "Cow Babies".  So stinking cute.

* Luke has played so much Skylanders today he told his thumb was sore.  Score one for perfect parenting. ;)

* Because it might be my last chance to say it on here this year  -- my friends (and you know who you are) are amazing, inspirational, "awesome" people.  I love you all and wish you an "epic" new year.

Christmas Wrap Up -- the one where it's all bullets because my brain is mush edition.

* See those above?  Those are elf donuts we made to leave for Prep and Landing. (love you Pinterest!)  How cute are those? (They are Cheerios!)

* the empty plate - Santa's been here!

* He left a message!

The tree is so beautiful after "Santa" Christmas Eve, I want to sit up all night and stare at it.  Jason is always snoring by this point, he could literally not care less.

* Teague's best gift was this trumpet I picked up from Jason and I last minute.  He LOVES this thing.

* Because Santa is not NEARLY as interested in naughty and nice as he claims to be, and the universe conspires against me, Luke scored his heart's desire, Skylanders for Wii.

* Charlotte really got into unwrapping this year, and it was fun. 

* Once again, Samuel settled for a stuffed hippopotamus (that sings!) over the real deal.  In his words "There's always next year!"

* Between Molly's new camera, and Luke's digital video recorder let the ghost hunting commence.

(seriously, that is what they intend to do with this stuff!)

* Yes the Erector set was for Jason, err... Luke.

* Charlotte, the kid who has literally NEVER spent a night in her crib, really enjoys climbing into her doll play pen and "being baby"  Go figure.

* And three days later I am finally facing the mess, the piles of stuff to be put away, and life POST Christmas.  I am still pretending not to know about the finances part of things until after New Years.  It's still a "holiday" and my brain is in denial.   I even did a holiday DAY job to try and ward off some of this denial type stress, but alas, that did not go exactly as planned. 

* On the board for the rest of this holiday week?  See a movie, tear down the bulk of Christmas, and a few Pinterest ideas up  my sleeve for new years.  Jason's job at the bar ends in about 84 hours, and counting.  I am not thinking about it.

Wordless Weekend Post

Merry Christmas To All!

For those who are blog readers only, or for those who's card has not arrived yet (I was late and some of you are gonna get this next week. :) )  

Have a very merry and safe Christmas!  

(front)

editors note:  The kids were willing participants is this picture. lol.. They are only faking being held hostage. :) 

(It's the internet, you just never know! lol...)

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Friday Night Leftovers (The "Prep and Landing" edition.)

* It's officially a holiday here in about four hours (we celebrate Christmas eve.)  It wouldn't be Christmas Eve- eve if I planned to sleep tonight right?!

* The kids are obsessed with the new Christmas special "Prep and Landing" a story of Wayne and Lanny, the elves who's job it is to prep a house for Santa's arrival.   They have been "readying our house for arrival of Big Red" for two days now.  It's actually quite helpful, although the exclamations of things like " Roger that Cocoa, the milk has spoiled" and "Frostbite!  We've got a baby at ten o'clock." are getting a little grating.

* It looks like a yucky muddy brown Christmas.  And that frankly stinks.  If its gonna be cold and wet it had BETTER be snowing. 

* I have made four types of cookies and have one to go.  No word on whether I will be wearing my pajama pants to Christmas Eve tomorrow because they are the only ones that fit.  I suppose there is always the maternity pants, I knew those stretchy waists were good for more then just pregnancy.

*  I never cease to be amazed by my friends.  Awesome. Awesome. Awesome people.

* My hand mixer started smoking while in use last night, right before it stopped spinning.  

* Charlotte is beyond tired, the kids keep interrupting her nap schedule.

* I officially hit the point somewhere during the evening on Wednesday where I stopped paying attention to whether or not something was in the budget, or where the money was coming from.  If it still needed bought , I bought it and will deal with the fall out from that in January.  It was actually somewhat freeing.

* I had a mini meltdown attempting to pick out gifts for Luke in The Toy House this week, when asked if I needed help this mama may have told the employee "Yes!  It has suddenly occurred to me that I was never a ten year old boy."  LOL!  oops.

* We have been crafting galore this week too -- we made both these cupcake ornaments, and the snowball ornaments pictured below.  As well as some cool marble painted bulbs.  Take that Martha!

What They Said Wednesday (sort of); The Christmas Edition.

Since Tuesday was the last night before Christmas that Jason would be home, we decided to make our annual trek to the local "Nite Lights" display and Winter Wonderland a bit early.  (We traditionally drive through the lights on December 23rd and stand in line to see Santa afterwards.)  I gotta admit the weather is not doing anything for me this year, driving around in the 45 degree weather while it rains just doesn't add the same feeling that snow does.  Still the display was beautiful as usual.  

Teague:  (dictated) Dear Santa the Great, Will you bring me some games and puzzles for Christmas?  And a Frosty the snowman hat, and a sparkle pup, and snowball machine gun. I am being a good good goodest boy.  Love, T-E-A-G-U-E

Luke: Dear Santa, I would like skylanders for Wii starter pack and a skylanders legendary accessory pack and a iPod touch and a i pad touch and some candy for Christmas.  I will try to be good next year. Yours Luke." 

Samuel: "Dear SANTA, I would like a real hippopotomus for Christmas  I will take good care of it, and I know it can fit in the sleigh just tell prep and landing to clear a big spot afore you come.  I would want a ninja castle and some ninjango legos for Christmas this year.  I help people a lot.  I love you. love, SAMUEL JASON, P.S.  This is my house.  It's white, mommy said you need to come down the laundry chute."

Charlotte: "Santa!  Mama, mama!  Santa!  -- No, No sit Santa, Santa scary, he MEAN!"

Molly: " Dear Santa, I hope you are having a wondeful holiday season.  For Christmas I would like a real life ballet barre to practice my good posture.  I would also really enjoy harry potter legos and a massage chair from Kohls.  And an eyeshadow set. Thank you so so much. Love, Molly"

Christmas Craftiness - Day Two

Yesterday the little kids crafted to their hearts content.  From the grinch play doh, to the Christmas tree magnets pictured above.  Samuel, Teague, and Charlotte loved to paint the sticks and glue on the sequins.

   Even the neighbor boy got in on the action and took one home to his mama.  He was really impressed with my glue gun, in Teague's words "It's like a squirt gun for flaming hot glue!"

They made the little coffee filter angels pictured above as well.  I still have one made from a dolie that Molly made in preschool.  :)

Finally I did  a little crafting of my own and created these Harry Potter inspired golden snitch ornamanents.  The ribbons at the neck read: "I open at the close."  Molly said they were the coolest ornaments ever.

After dinner I put the finishing touches on our Christmas cards but those will not premiere here until Saturday , if you are getting one mailed to you today I want you to have the chance to see it in hand first. :)

Grinch Doh (Mom's gonna be so proud.)

Today' I decided to test run the idea that has been running through my head for Christmas gifts for a few of the neighbor kids, Christmas themed playdoh.  The pumpkin pie play doh I had found on Pinterest was a HUGE hit with the neighbor kids and I am hoping for the same sensation this go around.  

To start with I use the following "base" play doh recipe"

1 GENEROUS cup of flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

combined with :

1 cup water

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For today's experiment I added a GENEROUS splash of peppermint extract to the liquid portion, as well as several drops of green food coloring.  (I find it's easiser to combine all the dry ingredients and then all the liquid ingredients and THEN stir them together.)

This is not an exact science however, when you first combine all of this together its gonna be too "gooey" (for lack of a better word.  You'll need to add in more flour.  Mix and see how it looks - too dry, add more water.  Too wet, more flour, if the doh is an okay consistency but to sticky (mine often gets this way) then add a few more tablespoons vegetable oil and mash it all together and that should help.  Depending on how much you adjust the ingrediants you may need to add a few more drops of the peppermint extract.  It will smell very strong at first but as you mash the doh together it will absorb a good deal of it. 

In the end, I got something that looks like this:

a giant gob of Grinchy green, candy cane scented play doh.  The kids are rolling it out and cutting "grinch snacks" from it as we speak.    

I also attempted a cinnamon (red) version by switching out the peppermint extract for a splash of vanilla extract, and adding in about 1/2 cup (or more) of dry cinnamon to the dry ingrediants, and of course, red food coloring instead of the green.  This smells good, but had a few problems.  ONE - it's more of a brick red color because it takes a LOT of cinnamon to hold the smell.   I am gonna rework this in the next couple of days to see what (if anything) can be done to fix it. :)

Twas the Week Before Christmas

Twas the week before Christmas 

and all through the house, 

every creature was anxious

including quite possibly, a mouse.

The laundry's not done, and the kitchen's a wreck.

Forget lots of baking there's still cleaning on deck.

The gifts are not wrapped, they're not even bought.

And time to kill doing it, I seem to have naught.

Dance if finally on break, but swimming's still strong, 

Is it just me or is that just plain wrong?

The kids are excited, and crafting, and glueing, 

the threat of dear Santa ends all boo-hooing.

The time is quite near, in case you don't know,

In eight days it's all over so 

ON WITH THE SHOW!