Pebbles

Poor little M!!! Today Mom decided it was time to start doing her hair. I don't want to cut bangs and she was looking a little too much like a ragamuffin boy, so up the hair went. And there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. But she is cuter (and she looks less like a boy!) Once the updo was upon us, Dad couldn't help noticing the resemblance. So, I decided to brave the wild world and actually download a picture from the web. Crazy!

A Few Christmas Pictures

We spent the holidays with the family in Vegas. E and M had a great time. Mom enjoyed the extra sleeping the girls did in the small-windowed room. (No Target lights invading those darkened walls!) Here's a few pictures of the fun we had.

M investigating the manger. Later she spent some time unwrapping Baby Jesus. She loves any sort of doll right now. Especially if she can poke its eyes out.

E looking... angelic....

The angel and the shepherd. Okay, so the binky is in the way, but her her smile is much cuter in this picture than in the one without a binky.

M's new riding toy. She can go backwards and likes to lift her leg on and off.

A and E checking out Grandma Paula's new car. E was not the greatest driver ever. Flower beds beware!!!

Christmas Card

So, it just occurred (this is one of those words that I will never be able to spell - occurred or occured??? I honestly don't know....) to me that I did not post this post. I got behind on my Christmas cards this year. Or maybe I got too ahead. I made it in October. Then, I didn't do anything for millenia. Then, I went to dredge up addresses and gave up. Slacker! So, I thought I should still post the card. I will put it above this post on the top of the blog. Once, it said "Merry Christmas" on it. I'm not sure where that went.

I did send really cute cards to the grandparents for those of you out there keeping points. Or at least I made them. I'm still working on delivery. Never fear, if you are a grandparent you will get one eventually. And if not, you can look on the blog!

Merry Christmas!!!! From our house to yours!

As you all know, Justin is in the midst of his first year of MBA school. One more year of MBA and five more years of PhD to go. We're nearing the home stretch!!! At least for the first lap. That is, if halfway through can be counted as "nearing." Anyway....

Jamie is teaching extra this year (no work for Justin!) which means less writing time. I think I work on one chapter every two or so weeks. Hmmmm. That's the spirit. It will be like "Gone With the Wind". I think that one took ten years. I'm also working on other sundry projects that I'm sure you'd find to be very interesting if I chose to share them with you. They include trying to cook at least three times a week, and learning to clean the shower. What excitement!

Elise is loving learning. She enjoys preschool, ballet, and creating her own songs at any possible moment. She is excited today is Christmas Eve, but disappointed to learn that doesn't mean she's opening any presents.

Meg is walking around and learning to make animal sounds. Right now all the animals make the same sound, but it is very distinct from a human sound. She has also taken on an alternate dog trait now that she does not crawl. She likes to beg. Yes, if you are eating food than Meg wants to eat it too. So watch out tonight, my friends!!!

We hope you are well and enjoying the season!!!

It's Not Over... Until It's Over...

I bet none of you knew this, but our family went to Disneyland this last Friday. Don't worry, I'm not going to overload you on pictures you don't really want to see just because I have an inner need to chronicle my obsession. (At least, I'll try). But I thought I should upload a few... I know, prepare yourself.


Meeting Mickey at Club 33. Because of an in-the-know brother-in-law, we got the rich man's treatment at poor-man's rates. A good meal, although E hit her "too much fun" climax here and ended up licking the windows. Hmmmm, do rich people's kids do that? She got back on track after dessert though with a classic E statement: "I'm done with my dessert. My tummy says it's had enough sugar."

I think E's favorite "ride" was walking in Sleeping Beauty's castle. She was glad to hear that Malificent was pretend.


E's favorite princess.....

The top three moments of Disneyland would have to be:

1. E pulling down her pants and underwear just outside of Toon Town because she had to go to the bathroom. I really hope she wasn't actually planning on going.

2. M offering her half-masticated (for those of you who are going to make fun of me - "half-chewed" bread) - see above picture - to Belle. Don't you want a bite, don't you?

3. E announcing after the fireworks that she wanted to go home because she was tired. Hey, at least she's honest. I think Dad shouted Hurray at that one, and we went home.

We all had a great time. Now we'll have to think of something else to obsess over.

Caught by the Boogaliechoo

I am a mother.

This means that sometimes I yell at my children.

Actually, I'm not too much of a yeller, I'm more of a stern disapproving guilt-tripper. I think that's worse.

Sometimes I do unwarranted stern-disapproving guilt-tripping. I know, oh the horror.

On a plus note.... I do try to say I am sorry, or admit that I have been grumpy when times like this occur. I appreciated this as a child, and figure that it's something. I am not saying I always succeed in saying this, or that sometimes I don't have the same issues my children have (i.e. knowing I'm going to have to say sorry mid-guilt-trip, and still doing it... once again... oh the horror).

Anyway, this past week E has had a huge cough. Which means we are often awake in the middle of the night. Which means I am often grumpy the next day.

(Yes - I am a sleep-a-holic - but we'll save that for another post.)

So, I have been grumpy, and consequently apologizing, a lot lately. Today (not really a grumpy day after all) the following conversation occurred:

Mom: You may not roll backward off the couch onto your sister's head. (A reasonable request, I think.)

E: Humph. (And off in a huff to the kitchen she goes).

Mom: I love you, E.

E: I love you too, Mom. And I'm sorry that you're grumpy today.

Well, then.

Pretend

Today we were caught up in a never-ending game of pretend. Here are the cast members:

Dad: Joseph
E: Mary
Mom: The Angel
M: A Shepherd

I know, I know... you thought Meg would be the little bitty baby lying in the manger.

But no, the prized role went to E's favorite stuffed unicorn.

Don't wake him up. He's sleeping.

By the way...

... my background is ugly.

An Ode to Savings Bonds

...sung to the tune of "Oh, Christmas Tree" (that is, if I remember the tune right...)

Oh Savings Bonds... Oh Savings Bonds...
I really do quite love you.
They said that you were so worthless,
not worth the paper printed on.
But now that the stock market has crashed
I laugh maniacally and say, "I told you so."
Oh Savings Bonds, Oh Savings Bonds,
your very worthlessness makes you worth-ful!

Okay, so I think I left out a few lines of music there, but I never really said I was a musician. And I know that none of it even rhymes, but I never said I was a poet either. I never even liked poetry. Sorry folks. It all seemed a little dull, if you ask me.

Anyway....

I was driving home from work the other day thinking how much I love savings bonds, and I thought I would share all this love with you. Especially - ahem - those who mocked my savings bond collection in their previous lives.

Yes, I have a savings bond collection. My mother bought them for me while I was growing up because there was a program at her work where they matched your contribution and it was her way of saving for college. Luckily, I got a scholarship and my savings bond collection was allowed to mildew and gather dust. Just the way I like 'em!!!

Throughout the years I would pull out my pretty savings bonds and look at them. Then I would count them. Then I would arrange them according to year, and count them again. Then I would put them back in their envelope and imagine sweet futures for them. It was quite enjoyable.

Until someone told me - gasp - that my savings bonds were worthless!

Worthless! Could it really be true?

And then they set to convincing me. (I think we can blame this on the economist in the household.) They told me it would take years for my savings bonds to reach value. They told me my money would be much better invested in the stock market (can you hear the creepy foreshadowing music playing?).

And, somehow, I came to believe them.

I traded in most of my savings bonds and bought useless first-year marriage purchases like dogs and bikes. I may have even paid rent with them. Oh the sorrow, oh the broken dreams. But luckily some of my savings bonds were not eligible for exchange, and so I kept them.

In their uselessness and worthlessness these little savings bonds were not budgeted and appropriated for our exciting two years of unemployment. No, they were ignored and relegated to early retirement in the tin box. (Hey - at least I planned on saving them from fire.)

And then, suddenly, I gained a secret obsession. Or not so secret. You see, I wanted to take E to Disneyland. Let's not mention the fact that on close questioning J will tell you that his favorite ride at Disneyland is the ride home. Let's not mention the fact that the last time I went to the lovely D-land, I mostly wandered around and said waiting in lines wasn't worth it. Oh, let's not say that. Instead, we'll relate a wonderful conversation with E.

Mom: E, what would you think if went to Disneyland and met Princess Ariel.
E: ....giggling.... That's funny, Mom.
Mom: Don't you believe me?
E: Mom, princesses are just in movies!

Wouldn't you want to prove her wrong too!!! Wouldn't you!!! Wouldn't you!!!

But what about that two-year unemployment budget? (We won't even mention the five years after that....) How does Disneyland intersect with such a thing?

Insert song:

Oh Savings Bonds... Oh Savings Bonds...
I really do quite love you.
They said that you were so worthless,
not worth the paper printed on.
But now that the stock market has crashed
I laugh maniacally and say, "I told you so."
Oh Savings Bonds, Oh Savings Bonds,
your very worthlessness makes you worth-ful!

That's right, my friends. The unappropriated, unbudgeted, "worthless" bonds that belong - he he he - only to me are taking us Disneyland this Christmas season. What a grand moment for savings bonds! Look at their pride:

Commentator: You just remembered you had a stash full of savings bond, un-impacted (is that a word) by the recent stock market crash. What will you do next?

Me: I'm going to Disneyland!!!

If only everyone had an investment savvy mother like mine. You should invest in them too!