I See What You are Saying ~ Part "duh"

And by DUH I am referring to me :-p

Are you having fun yet?
I found it much easier to humiliate myself this time
than I did last time.

From the first installment of I See What You Are Saying
I learned three things:

1. Most bloggers do NOT like to see snakes wrapped around children.
2. Watching yourself in a cheesy clip is not as easy as it may seem.
3. Do more singing because Linda loves musicals.

Here are the words...

A Housewife's Song

Sung to the tune of I Can See Clearly Now

I can see dust now the blinds are drawn.
I can see little hand prints everywhere.
Gone are the clean panes, the stains have come.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.

I can see pet hair all over the floor.
I'd use the vacuum but it don't work no more.
Cobwebs are hanging from everywhere.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.

Look all around there's nothing but clothes to fold.
Look under the bed there's dust bunnies to scold.....

The sink is full again and I have no soap.
The cupboards empty and there is no hope,
Cuz there's sticky kids runnin' everywhere.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.
Its gonna be a long (long), hard (hard) working day.

Three things I learned from this installment
of I See What You Are Saying:

1. I waddle.
2. No wonder my house is such a mess... Cleaning wasn't in the script.
3. This must be my 'before' video.

Thank you Linda at 2nd cup for putting this all together... You ARE the WOO-to-the-hoo!!!

Thank you My Love for the great job filming my humiliation.

Thank you to my loverly children for... being themselves. ;-)

AND Thank you to all of you... and, my apologies, LOL!

To view more
superfabtabulous videos
just click on the
gingerbread man above.


I am Booger, and I approved this post.

Yes, Virginia...

...there is an eggnog gum... at least there used to be.

My mom would order it from Avon

and I believe it was related to these gums in one way or another
but I couldn't find eggnog gum anywhere.
Not on the internet anyway.

We used to get teaberry and eggnog gum in our stockings for Christmas. The teaberry lives on... but apparently the poor eggnog fell to the wayside. :-(

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How was your Christmas?

We went to an awesome Christmas Eve service at our church, Crossway Fellowship. I took tons of pics and some video but you will have to wait for those. :-p The weather was not favorable (just rain though, Praise the Lord) and there was still a lot of snow on the ground so we skipped our usual Christmas Eve, after service, drive through town to see lights and Santa.

Christmas morning was fun and relaxing. The kids were up late so they actually slept in. After a quick bite and a reading of Santa's letter*, we took turns opening presants so we could all see what every one else recieved. The kids were a little spoiled, but most of the toys were from thrift stores and garage sales so I don't feel too guilty.

I got a few nesecities for My Love like a new flashlight and a hoodieless hoodie...does that make sense? AND YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT MY LOVE GOT FOR ME!!! No, not a DS... no, not a foot massager. No, not an ugly Christmas sweater. He got me these...



Thats right! The bird house curtains that I had pined for so long ago but never got around to purchasing. Now they are mine and as soon as I get all the holiday decor put away I will show you how lovely they look adorning my kitchen window.

I also received $40 worth of Starbucks gift cards between my mom and My Love. Hmmm... I may go there a little too much. ;-)

* Santa's letter

(an idea I borrowed from my friend Melissa at mom2nej)

Dear Kiah, James, Eden, and Marli,

Ho Ho Ho! Thank you so much for the cookies and milk and the carrots for my reindeer. It was a perfect snack for a long night of hard work delivering presants. Gifts are a wonderful blessing to recieve so let us not forget the greatest gift ever given, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In fact, part of what I do is deliver the gospel message to boys and girls in all parts of the world who may not hear it otherwise. Some children even ask for bibles for Christmas because they don't have one.

Kiah, James, Eden, and Marli, you are blessed to have a mommy and daddy who love you very much and are teaching you to love the Lord. Make sure you remember what they told you about the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time when we celebrate Jesus' birthday and we praise God for sending His son to die as payment for our sins. That is the gospel, and we must believe it to be a Christian and go to Heaven.

Now, I know that you have been trying to be good and to honor and obey your parents, so I filled your stockings with a few things and put them under the tree. You are all beautiful children and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.

Santa

Merry Christmas!

To all my Blogger friends...

And here I thought that I would have all this free time over Christmas to post all the pics and videos and ideas that came to mind. After all, My Love is on vacation and so I should have extra help which, perhaps in a parallel universe, should equate to extra time. However, in this universe it equates to not even having five minutes to sit down let alone read or type.

*sigh*

I do fear that I will not be able to catch up with all your posts... but I will do my best. I hope to be less busy soon... don't give up on me. I'll be around ... I See What You Are Saying is coming up. Plus, I have so many pictures, thoughts and events to share. It will be like my family newsletter, I'll get to it in January. ;-)

1 - 25

Has it really been that long since I posted? A whole week? I remember going through a few days of an incredible lack of motivation, then there were all these bright shiny decorations laying around distracting me. Of course there is the small matter of having four kids six and under needing my constant attention, a head cold, a snow storm, a power outage aaaaaaand ... that about sums it up.

I hope no one really missed me but at the same time I hope I was missed by someone... besides myself. Many of you have done this cute little 25 things Christmas survey so because I like to fit in here we go :-D

25 Things about ME for Christmas
(Because that is what Christmas is all about, right?)*

1.Hot apple cider or hot chocolate?

I like either one or, even better, both.

2.If you could have anything from ONE of the “Twelve days of Christmas”, what would it be?

I would take the FIIIIiiiiiive. GOOOooold. RIIIIIIIIIIIINGS! And send them into that cash for gold dot com and get me some Christmas $. Hmmm... that sounds awful doesn't it. OK, let me change that to the eight maids a'milkin'. I'd tell them to leave those cows alone and help me deep clean the house and watch the kids so I could go back to bed. There... that sounds much less self serving.

3.Colored or clear lights on tree/house?

I switch back and forth on this one. I like clear but the kids and My Love like colored. This year its a mix of both. Clear on the garlands and colored on the tree.

4.Name one person (famous or not if you dare) you’d like to find under the mistletoe.

IF I DARE!!! I will spill the name of a man who is famous world wide (my world anyway). My Love, of course. Now, if he was not available for some reason... and I happen to be under the mistletoe... and the only other man hangin' around was Spiderman... well then, :-0

(NOT TOBY!!!)

5.When do you put your decorations up?

Ideally the day after Thanksgiving. This year, if I get them up by the time I am supposed to start taking them down, I'll be happy.

6.What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

On Christmas day my mom and I put together a buffet of finger foods and dips. Its simple and we just nibble at it all evening. It takes the pressure off of having to prepare a huge meal and clean up is simple. I guess I didn't really answer the question... oopsie, I wandered :-p

7.What’s your favorite holiday memory as a child?

Looking back I'd have to say that one of my favorite holiday memories was finding out that Santa was my dad. But before you start shaking your head in confusion, let me expound.

When I was 6 or 7 I wanted to try and catch Santa in the act so like any child of the 80s I left my tape recorder out on the hearth and instructed my parents to push record when they went to bed. The next morning I went straight for the tape player... forget the presents... I wanted to hear Santa! I pushed play and what I heard was my dad doing the absolute worst impression of a Santa I have ever heard to this day. It was so painfully obvious it was him and every year we recall the entire incident and have a huge laugh.

8.When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What truth, that he's my dad?

9.Snow: love it or hate it?

Love it when I am snuggled up in a quiet house watching it fall outside while I'm sipping sissy coffee and watching a Christmas movie.

Hate it when it impedes my plans or causes my Christmas dinner party to become a New Years party and even more frustrating when it then must become a Valentine's Day party >:-[

10.Do you prefer ice skating, sledding or snow skiing?

Sledding, Its easier for me to just start in a lying down position at the top of the hill since that is always how I end up at the bottom.

11.Wrapping paper or gift bags?

If I have the time I wrap... In a hurry, I bag.

12.Real tree or Artificial?

Our trees have been artificial the last few years. The wood stove dries the real ones out too fast and it makes me nervous. One of these days we will have the propane tank filled the same day we get a real tree for Christmas and just run the furnace the whole time its up.

13.When do you take the tree down?

Used to be by January first but this year that might be the date I actually finish decorating for Christmas, so I'll have to say I'll have it down by February.

14.Do you like eggnog?

YES! And eggnog shakes, and eggnog coffee, and eggnog gum...

15.Favorite gift received as a child?

I don't remember a specific moment, but it had to be something Care Bears. Bedtime and Grumpy were my favorites.

16.Hardest person to buy for?

My Love.

17.Easiest person to buy for?

My mom.

18.Do you have a nativity scene? With wise men or without?

Why? Is there some big debate going on about the wise men? This year our Nativity is made up from a stable I found at a thrift store, a Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus from a foam craft kit, various fisher price Little People farm animals, and an angel made from a flower pot which I purchased from my nephew at a craft fair. Wise men? I have a picture of them that Kiah colored hanging on the wall behind the nativity scene.

19.Christmas cards: Mail, email, or just don’t bother?

I send them out in January, seriously.

20.Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Stinky soaps, lotions, creams, and bath salts. Call me weird but I am just not that type. I don't like to smell more than necessary and my tastes are too simple for all that stuff.

21.If you could be one character from any Christmas movie, whom would you choose?

I feel like the mom in Christmas Story but I would choose to be...

22.Favorite Christmas song?

Carol of the Bells and O, Holy Night.

23.What is your tree topper?

A light up star that I purchased at the dollar store.

24.Do you open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

One or two Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning, and the afternoon, and the evening. I like to drag it out.

25.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

All those cutsie 25 question surveys that you don't want to spend the time to answer but can't rest until you do and in the end you are glad you did.

YES! I did it!

I have tons of topics and pics to share but my time is at a minimum. I hope you come back to visit when you can, I love all the thoughts and comments you leave. I feel the love, I hope you do too.

AND...

...In case you are as swamped as I feel,
Merry Christmas
and Happy, Blessed New Year!

*...for EVERY season.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

Squeaking In

Caution:
Some things mentioned in this post
are not for the faint of heart.

I'll give you a hint.

So the other night I bought some mice as food for our snakes. I got six HUGE, fat, adult, white mice. Candy (our largest snake) was not feeling well as she was preparing to shed. I guess for them its kind of like PMS... except they end up shedding their skin. LOL... ok, I'll stop.

Anyway, Only two of the mice were consumed by the other two snakes so we, for now, have four mice in residence. Last night I heard some squeaking and rustling from the cage where they are currently residing. I looked in only to find them all fighting over one dog biscuit. THERE WERE FOUR OTHER BISCUITS IN THE CAGE!!! Enough for all but they all had to fight over that one.

It reminded me of my kids. I bet all those mice are brothers and sisters. If one kid has it the rest want it. This is a common battle in our home since I refuse to buy everything in fours. Besides I think it is important for each child to have there OWN individual things. I wish they felt the same way.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Everything is fine, just preoccupied and not in the mood to write. I must be getting ready to shed. :-p

Starting Traditions

The day after Thanksgiving My Love sent the kids on a treasure hunt. He printed out simple maps for the kids that lead from one clue to the next.

Off they go to find the next clue...

I love this pic and how they were all lined up so perfectly
and in birth order even.

X marks the spot and so they started to dig...

...and dig.

The booty was a tin full of chocolate coins. At first the kids thought the were real gold coins but after I told them to smell them the yelled, "CANDY!!! YAY, CHOCOLATE!!!" and dug in.

Now each evening the kids put there tins on their place mats at the table. Each morning they find a small prize. AN M&M (that's right, just one), a quarter for their penny banks, or a mini tub of playdoh (leftover birthday favors), or a couple sticks of chalk to decorate the patio.

I also put a star into one of the tins. Whoever gets it wins the privilege of opening the door of the advent calendar.

Watch Me Wednesday

So you can't tell me that high fructose corn syrup has no effect on the behavior of children...



...that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :-p


Please adjust the volume of your computer to a lower volume before you play the video... you will thank me later ;-)

Maybe it was all the conversation about Christmas and the fact that we were listening to some rockin' Christmas music. Do your kids get this way this time of year?

Oh No!

Kid + Christmas = hyper activity

Kid + High Fructose Corn Syrup = hyper activity

Christmas = High Fructose Corn Syrup

Perhaps my "new math" (meaning math I just made up) doesn't add up right unless you include:


































P.S. That was James' quiet voice. :-0