Today......

For the first time in a couple of weeks, I had a day to just catch up on life! I steam-cleaned my carpet, organized several problem areas in my house, worked on our Christmas family newsletter, took a walk with Hazel, watched a few shows on my DVR, ate a lot of the sugar cookies we made last night, talked to my mom on the phone, took a good long nap.....

It's been great. There is nothing fantastic to report, no funny stories to tell, but it's just been one of those days where I got to set my own pace and I just don't feel like I get very many of those anymore.

To top it all off, I got to talk to my good friend Dani on the phone tonight. It required a little parental neglect on my part (the kids had an hour long bath), but it was so nice to vent and complain and laugh with her. And oh how her sweet accent made me miss Georgia. I love you, Dani.

And now I am going to post a picture of myself, because I am rarely on my own blog. 30 is getting nearer and I look at my face in the mirror and think "Hey! That's neat. I have a wrinkle for each year!" And you know what? I'm ok with that.

Tidbits

Maybe I just missed Hazel a lot today, and therefore thought everything she said during our car ride home from the babysitter's (aka Aunt Erin) was extra precious. Either way.....thought I would share some tidbits.

"Mom...when we get home can I play on the computer?"
"I don't know, Hazel.....we'll see."
"What does 'we'll see' mean?"
"It means that I won't say yes or no until we get home"
pause.........
"When we get home, can you please say yes?"

Then a few minutes later I could hear her unwrapping a cough drop and I said,
"Hazel, please don't open another cough drop."
(H) "When I was at Aunt Erin's house I ate my whole cough drop."
(Me) "That's not what I heard! I heard that you spit it out."
(H) in a shocked voice "Did Aunt Erin tell you that?!?!"
(Me) "Yep"
(H) "That was supposed to be a secret!"


Later, while listening to the Lion King soundtrack she said
"Is this the part where grown-up Simba sings with Timone and Pumba?"
(me) "Yes"
(hazel) "I wish I could be in their world."

You be the judge

Which does Hazel like more....

GRAPES...

OR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES?

O Tannenbaum

Our Christmas is destined to be spent amidst piles of boxes and paper. And I don't mean because we have a lot of presents. In fact, we have yet to purchase a single thing! I mean because we pulled out all our decorations and just can't seem to get around to putting them out. We have all been sick and Nathan and I have both been working every day. I don't think I have ever in my life lived in such squalor....and not done a thing about it!

However, we did finally decorate the tree this week. Is anyone else finding it difficult to get into the holiday spirit?

Here's Hazel's section of the tree. So typical...I know. But still precious.

Picture Day

I love my kiddos. They were such good sports for these pics. It only required one good screaming fit from me and we were good to go!

Gross.....

I know I just posted some randomness today, but I forgot this funny story. Okay....I don't know if funny is the appropriate word. You be the judge.

Some of you are already aware of our cat puke situation. So- the cat pretty much always stays outside now.

Anyway- I got up early today and got the kids ready so Nathan could sleep in on his day off. Then I shooed them outside to play until I was ready to leave. After about 30 minutes of them being outside, we jumped in the car to take Owen to school, and I threw them some bagels to eat on the way.

Halfway to school, Owen turned to Hazel and said "Hey, Hazel.....remember how there was that big pile of puke outside from Carly and you put your fingers in it?"

Yep- those we be the same fingers with which she was eating her bagel.

Randomness.....

That's what you get for needing a place to sit.

Asleep in the "nest" in Mom and Dad's room. Looks like she had a rough day!

Owen lost another tooth.

Just a two second video of Nathan making TJ laugh. Would be longer but my camera battery died as soon as I started.