Just had to post

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Not that there isn't anything exciting to post, but when you don't post for days it seems that your mind goes BLANK!! What do I post about? My mind is on vacation at the moment, but I do have some fun things to post that our kids have said. No. They never stop talking, so truly there IS always something to post.

McKenna was opening presents from her grandparents (mind you, they were visiting us and watching them open up gifts). She'd already opened some fun games and then opened up a beach towel that was embroidered with her name. As she took it out of the box, held it up, and looked at it, she said, "It's just a TOWEL?" Sadly, we all laughed. And she was thrilled two seconds later when she found out it had her NAME on it...and then carted it around the entire next day and used it as a blanket. Oh, the gratefulness is oozing from her.

Last night we as we sat down to eat dinner, Laurianna had been singing the praises of that evening's dinner - a pork and mashed potato casserole. After she took her first bite, she got a funny look on her face, scrunched it up, looked at me and asked, "Is this horse meat?" Yes. We're out of beef and pork, so we used the next best thing. Sigh.

I'm sure I'll be posting more soon. I'm missing all of my bloggy friends, but enjoying the time with the kids.

Holiday Eating Tips

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A friend of mine emailed this to me and it was too fun not to post! :)

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy . Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Would you like fries with that?

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Yesterday I let Zachary take food to bed. The plastic variety, that is. :) He had a basket of play food with him and had a grand time playing before he took his nap.

Last night I woke up around 3 am to hear Zachary using the bathroom. As I began to fully wake up, I realized that I was holding something in my hand. A plastic, crinkle-cut french fry. I dropped it over the side of the bed, got up, helped Zachary and climbed back into bed. Rick was awake at this point and mumbled, "I woke up and was holding this in my hand." He proceeded to hand me an ear of corn. French fries and corn. Only in our bed. :)

A Blur of Motion

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Christin and her girls came over yesterday to join our absolute household mayhem (it all seems to kick up a notch when you are PMSing). The kids were running wild (my kids, that is!) and the girls came over with ballet dresses in hand and a great video to "practice" with our kiddos. Since we all know Zachary loves ballet, he was quickly on hand too! Thank goodness for the $4 leggings from Target. :)

Many of the pictures I took are literally a blur of activity. Either the kids were moving THAT fast, or I just need to put the flash on. :) Christin was lovely enough to intervene in my girl's dress war as to "who gets to wear what leotard" and placed Laurianna in the 'teacher' role - and the teacher needs to wear the black leotard. That's it. Appeal to her firstborn, leader-of-the-pack, must be "in-charge" gene.

So, here are our kiddos intent on becoming the next world-renowned ballet dancers. And why, when he is the most active, is Zachary the LEAST blurry?

I won! I won!!

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I visit Bloggy Giveaways (when I remember!!) and recently left a comment and won this great book from DK - Alive.

Yes, I realize the cover looks a little...ummm....creepy, but it is an AMAZING book. I emailed DK yesterday and they FedEx'd the book and I received it today. It has pop-ups all over the place, sounds like there is a heart beating on one page, has tons of flaps to explore. Definitely a book my kids will love - and that will be out of reach for exploring little hands unless Mommy or Daddy are nearby.

Sadly, I can't enter any more contests for 30 days on her site....so I can't try to win this lovely amethyst and diamond pendant. You don't need to stay on my site - quick - go register to win it. I'm sure it would look lovely around your neck! ;)

A Swaying Tree

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A friend emailed me this morning to say she was driving by our house last night and saw our tree swaying. I assumed she meant the half-dead, about-to-fall-over, insect-bored birch tree in our front yard that broke branches during our recent ice storm.

After a few more emails, I discovered it was our Christmas tree she saw swaying. As I thought about it I remembered last evening and my attempt to read a story to the kids.

Sit on couch. Tell Zachary to sit on the couch, not the arm of the couch.

Discipline Zachary.

Start reading. Tell Zachary to stop touching the tree. STOP touching the tree and pulling the ornaments.

Discipline Zachary.

Start reading after figuring out where I left off. Pull Zachary off the arm of the couch while he is pulling at the ornaments.

Discipline Zachary.

Try to read a touching and significant Christmas story to the other kids. Attempt to pull Zachary off the arm of the couch AGAIN and this time succeed in his near tree-tipping over experience as he half falls into the tree.

Somehow we finished the story. But I guess the neighborhood was all witness to the saga.