I've Lost That Christmas Feeling

And it's gone gone gone...whoa whoa.

I debated about taking down the tree today and decided the boys would be distraught to see the tree gone before they got back from the grandparents. Then again they probably wouldn't think twice about it. Boys can be that way.

Here's some Christmas leftovers for ya. If your house is like my house and Toys R Us threw up all over and the fridge is stuffed with pies that only me and one other person will eat; than you will take understanding to the carnage that is beneath the tree.
The poor tree even looks like it's begging to take it out of it's misery.
Wonderboy was beyond ecstatic that he got the number 1 thing he wanted. Nothing else really mattered. Thank goodness. Is it sad that hubs and I stayed up late last night playing Lego Batman and beat it?
I was really excited to give Gameboy a Eli Manning jersey. He didn't ask for it and the thought never crossed his mind. I just knew that it was the "thing to have" for boys his age to root for their team. At least back in day it was.
At first he wasn't overly thrilled about it. "A shirt, mom?" After it sunk in what it was, he put it on and has yet to have taken it off. He can't wait to wear it to school and he never wants to take it off ever again.
Bossyboy was pretty easy to please. He wanted a race track and a bunch of cars. The race track is halfway put together. I guess I needed a Masters degree in Engineering to put the blasted thing together, so I gave up.
Santa also got him Lego Star Wars for the Wii and he was stoked about that, thankfully that distracted him enough to forget about the race track.

Hubs and I are enjoying our shortened vacation while the boys are at the grandparents. I'll be leaving tomorrow for the funeral. We've played with most of their toys and drove to the big mall and could never find a parking spot so we gave up. We're going to try again tomorrow, right when they open, as most good God loving Texans should be in church. Something tells me it won't make much difference.

Death Comes In Threes

How's that for a post Christmas post?

Sadly this morning my aunt passed away. It was somewhat expected though not around Christmas. She was placed on Hospice Care mid November as there wasn't much the doctors could do.
My parents were literally just about to leave my house with my children loaded with them to take back when my mom got the call. This is the second or third time that my mother has been out of town/visiting us when someone in the family has passed. I'm not sure what that means.
We offered to pull taking the kids with them plug but she felt they would keep her busy. As soon as I get more information on when the funeral will be, I'll be taking a trip back up for another funeral. Sigh.

They always come in threes. My uncle passed in early September. I couldn't make his funeral as I was in the throws of major craziness at work plus preparing for a move.
Then there was the other tragic passing before Chrismtas and now my aunt the day after. My mom will make certain I make her funeral.

Anyways that's the lowdown on our Christmas. The boys are pleased with what they've got even if it wasn't a big shebang.
I guess I'm getting my walls painted for Christmas whether I like it or not. The guy came out today and gave us a quote and samples. Then he proceeded to give us more of a sample by painting squares on the wall. Talk about no turning back now.
The color he painted is very much a neutral tan color. It's not growing on me.
I've spent all afternoon looking at the Sherwin Williams website and going through color sample after color sample, on their template room. Hubs and I have settled on a very light gray. This color looks really nice and calming and coordinates with a color similar to our couches.

Sorry that I had to include wall paint with funerals. My minds been kind of random lately.
The boys are gone. One is off with one grandma and the other with the grandparents. This is the first time that the boys have been split apart to go with separate grandparents. I hope and think they will do ok. I think it will be good for them to learn that they are their own person and not one entity and can do other things with out needing to be together.
I'll probably be out of the blog pocket starting Monday or Tuesday. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and continue through the New Year!

Nothing Like The Last Minute

There's nothing like the last minute to get me jump started back into the Christmas spirit.
I had planned to get a bunch of stuff done all day and other plans came up.
Hubs work had a big Christmas party thing for the kids including Santa. So we were there most of the morning/afternoon. That was supposed to be my cleaning baking time. Looks like it's now or never.

I'm currently baking pumpkin pie and trying to think of some other pie to make that involves cream cheese, cocoa, and or Oreos. A chocolate pie sounds really good but I don't have any actual chips or squares. I also don't have cool-whip. Which really hinders me on a lot of chocolaty creamy things. To late for a store run now. I should be shot for not getting Cool-whip for pumpkin pie.

I also need another "starchy" side. I was going to do scalloped potatoes but I don't think two boxes is enough. (What? I totally cheat when I can.) I thought of doing Mac & Cheese in the crockpot. Found a recipe and everything but I'm afraid it will curdle with 2% milk. I thought of doing macaroni salad but were not big on macaroni salad. Mmm...

I still didn't really get a gift gift for my MIL. I do have a framed pic of the boys and made some banana bread but that just doesn't seem like enough.

Santa's stop is going to probably not be overly impressive like years past. I'm trying to tell myself that this is totally ok. Hopefully they'll understand the true reason for the reason. I don't think they'll complain..much. The grandma's have also scaled back this year.

I think all and all this is the first Christmas were I've felt pretty relaxed and not over stressed. Sure I've got some indecisive side dish and dessert issues for Christmas dinner, but I figure if that's all, than I must be doing pretty good and truly blessed.

Oh, btw... Merry Christmas To All And To All Of Good Night!

Oops...My Bad!

In a whirl wind weekend I'm back!

First I must get this out there. Remember when I mentioned the ikebays? Yeah, well there was a misunderstanding. You see, Santa actually didn't purchase the ikebays, he just looked at them. Now I don't know if I've gotten like my husband and only hear certain words I want to hear and the rest is BLAH BLAH BlAH but I totally thought he said he bought them when all he said was that he looked at them. Big difference!
Your probably wondering didn't you take a look at them? There wasn't time. I assumed they were in the 'burb all this time and that I'd get to gander at them eventually.
How did I finally find out there would be no ikebays under the tree? In Target this morning while we were purchasing some last minute gifts. The conversation finally came up. Dang, and I thought we were pretty much done. Did you know that it's virtually impossible to find bikes of various sizes for 3 boys? Oh and there's the other thing of sneaking them in the back of the rental car and have them not notice them. At least we didn't have to worry about that part, since we didn't find any bikes the correct size anyway. All to big.
It looks like we wont get another shop with no kids opportunity until after Christmas. My MIL who always comes down the week of Christmas may not make it down until Christmas day. Therefor no Pre-Christmas shopping spree. Oh well. We needed to keep things to minimal anyway.
Thankfully I did my Amazon shopping and also got the Didj. We picked up a few specific requested items the boys wanted (video games). They should be good in a scaled back way. Which is good.
We're pretty much done. I don't have anything for the hubs and I don't have anything for my MIL. I was thinking of making her some kind of de co pouge photo something or other but don't know. The hubs I say will be easy. He wants a bunch of new DVDs.

I'll be back later or Monday for more of a random weekend thoughts.

A Little Santa OCD Never Hurt Anybody

My NKOTB BFF ( If you don't know what that means, I forgive you.) Heather did a post on her Santa OCD tendencies. I promised her I would do mine, well I didn't promise but she at least assisted me on the idea of writing my own post on it. Something like that.

My mother didn't have many OCD tendencies about Christmas. God bless her hard working nurse heart, she didn't have time for fun and games at Christmas. She was lucky to get the shopping done and get the presents wrapped and under the tree before I peeked. You guys all know that plan never worked out to well for her.

Since I know how crazy I am about surprises and finding them, I knew this gene may pass on to one or all of my children. I will have no son of mine snooping around their presents. Not if I can help it.

The first rule of Santa OCD: Each child gets their own wrapping paper. It's so much easier to keep things separated under the tree and keeping identities straight without them knowing whos is whos. Heather had the great idea of revealing the kids wrapping paper identity in their stocking. I know there's people with the OCD tendency to have all matching paper for the presents. Those OCD people bug me. Sorry if it's one of ya'll.

The second rule of Santa OCD: The children will "work" for their big Santa present. Last year I left clues all over the house, starting with the stocking and then taking them to the tree, upstairs, and then finally behind the TV where Guitar Hero was waiting. I think they had just as much fun running through the house finding clues as getting the present itself.

The third rule of Santa OCD: To wrap or not wrap Santa gifts. I will say that the hubs and I have fought about Santa's presents. He wants them ALL wrapped. I was raised where Santa didn't wrap he/she didn't have time. It was also how we knew what Santa brought and what was from mom and dad. I agree for the most part with this philosophy. The big item things like say a ikebay should be put together proudly to be displayed or hidden (to be worked for) under the tree. Besides what kid wants to wait another hour while dear old dad puts the ikebay together? Though the smaller stuff can certainly be wrapped.

The fourth rule of Santa OCD: The stocking is always opened first. Normally because there's clues to be found and other fun stuff like socks and undies.

The fifth rule: It's not really a rule but tradition, one present is allowed to be opened on Christmas Eve picked by me. I love to see the excitement on their faces and then when opened, revealing the ever coveted clothing item or pajamas. Oh how the greedy shall fall. :) You would think that they would remember after 8 and 9 years but nope.

Sixth Rule: Because I do have a tendency to forget which wrapping is which, my back up is the number system. Last year I did actually tag the gift with the numbers. I never do the numbers chronologically by age as that's to easy to guess. This is what they thought last year and were oh so wrong. This year I just did their initials but the initial is hidden somewhere on the package like under the bows. They have no clue whos is whos under the tree right now. I know the unknown is killing them. I love them checking out the present and asking who's this one for? As if son. There are also some presents that all 3 will play with, so those have their own wrapping...of course.

Tell me what fun things you guys do as Santa. Also I am looking for great clue hints for the ikebays. I'm planing on putting them right outside the back door. Last year my clues had a little rhyme on each one (this year my brain cells aren't quite as crafty) One was, Mirror Mirror on the wall who are the best boys of all? Then it would give more of a hint of where to locate the item (on the bathroom mirror upstairs).

Oh Crafty Christmas Tree!

Tip Junkie is having a little Christmas Tree shindig that I just could not resist joining in.
I am by no means a hard core crafty person unless it's Christmas time and then I feel like I'm cranking out a new ornament every day. Maybe not that much but I love making ornaments for my tree. 90% of the ornaments on my tree I made. I knew that if I was going to fill up a tree that's been fairly bare over the years, that I was going to have make the ornaments myself.

Most of my crafty ornament ideas have came from other great crafty websites.
(I realize some the candy canes are a bit clumped together, my 4 year old doesn't know much about even spacing)
I don't really have a set theme other than most of it being handmade. I do like the color theme of reds and whites. My lights are red and white which you can't really tell in this picture.
Most of my ornaments were very simple to make and materials that I had around the house.
This is one of my scottie dogs that I made last year. I had some gingham material and cut out the pattern from AllSorts. I then just hand stitched it together and embellished with ribbon and a button for the eye. Since I didn't have any stuffing I used shredded paper. Look at me doing my part to save the planet. I made several last year and they sit so cute on the branches.

My gingerbread men were cut with a cookie cutter from felt and then embroidered with different colors.

The reindeer I made this year were from an old jigsaw puzzle that the boys never put together anymore. I hot glued the pieces with antlers and then an edge piece that had a rounded part for the face. I then just spray painted the pieces white for a base, you could also use acrylic paint. Several layers may have to be applied though. I would have done a light tan if I had it but white did well. I painted the antlers various colors such as red and green and this dark brown. I glued on google eyes and added little touches like freckles and red noses for the face. You could use a paper clip for the hook but I just hot glued some embroidery thread in a loop to the back and then used a ornament hook to put it on the tree. I had a lot of fun doing these and it was pretty easy. I plan on using my extras as gift toppers.
My candy canes were made from paper. I got the tutorial from SkipToMyLou Very easy to make and I think really helped add more texture and color to the tree.
One last little close up.

Other ornaments that I've made were snowmen from light bulbs and cinnamon dough gingerbread men.
My tree skirt which is shown a little bit on the first pic is actually a Christmas table cloth. I've also used a Christmas throw blanket. I figure presents are going to be hiding most of the skirt anyway.
Check out Tip Junkie for more great Christmas tree decorating ideas.

Santa Wears A Seat Belt

Yesterday Santa was to visit the town overs awesome library. Me being one not to miss a free opportunity with Santa and not having to head to the mall, took advantage.

I have never been a big fan of dragging young children to a crowded mall and wait in line forever to see the big guy and force my frightened children to sit on his lap for a picture. That to me would be hades on earth. It's actually been a couple of years since we've paid a visit. I wasn't sure how Bossyboy would react to the big guy, as he tends to shy away from new strange looking people that want to hug him and make him sit on their laps.

The older boys naturally bumrushed Santa almost to the ground. BB stayed back hesitantly and I wasn't going to force him. The big brothers wasted no time telling Santa what they wanted. BB took it all in but wasn't quite ready to make his requests. We left Santa to visit the library's digital bookmobile. They actually let you check out a digital book to download and after 2 weeks it deletes from your computer. I plan on reading Eclipse this way..it's actually already checked out imagine that.

We decided to wait around for the MP3 drawing which they were doing every hour. We didn't win (I think I'm on some kind of giveaway curse) so we left. As we were leaving BB told me he didn't get to tell Santa what he wanted. Ecstatic that he chose to see Santa on his own, we let him have his conversation with Santa. He was so cute and serious talking to Santa. I'm such a bad blogger that I didn't bring the camera.

Today during his journal he wanted to draw a picture of Santa. Again I was ecstatic that he actually wanted to draw something other than scribbling. He made the man in the red suit and the first thing he said he needed to draw was Santa's seat belt. Makes perfect sense to me.

The objects to the left and right of Santa are not his pack o plenty. That would be to obvious. No, those are just ghosts chasing Santa. Even Santa needs someone to watch over him and make sure he wears his seat belt.

I Came I Saw I Conqured

I may be a bit off as my brain is still throbbing due to a side effect of my "anti-anxiety medication". Here's the run down of last night anyway.

I made one mistake of having my haircut and styled. Not a mistake so much for the hair cut but 30 plus dollars more to style it, when I know I could have easily did what she did at home. Somehow I thought a trained professional would do something spectacular.

At 6:30 hubs was running late and I decided against wearing the dress. My sweater and pants combo was very dressy and I must say cute and the fact that I was feeling very over or under dressed (literally) may have had something to do with it.
Hubs got home and instantly over ruled my decision saying there will be lots o rich snooty people there and they will turn their noses up at you in an instant. Whatev! I put the dress on.

We get to the hotel and went through the valet. I'm feeling way to nervous getting out of the limo mom mobile. The valet is trying to take my hand to get out and I'm trying not to pull a Brittney by getting out of the car with out Mr. valet's help. Sorry dude, I'm just not used to being "helped" out of my mom mobile.

Im frantically searching the hotel for other party guests to see their attire. I brought the sweater and pants in case a quick change was in order. Which since we did valet, would have made a changeover a little more difficult since I left them in the car.

Am I rambling? Why yes I am. I blame the "meds."

At this point we're both getting a bit nervous.

I scan the crowd. I actually fit in just fine as far as dress goes. Then we find his little group. I'm introduced to the guys and their wives. Lovely ladies all wearing sweaters and slacks. Oh the irony. I stood out like a flaunting peacock. I actually think the hubs planned it that way..to show off his wife to the guys and then brag when he gets back to the office of how hot his wife was or something like that.

His little group was very easy going and pretty funny making jabs at each other. The wives were also very nice, though they probably think I'm some kind of trophy wife the way I was dressed. I'm not saying I'm a trophy wife by any means. I blame the dress, a dress I would never ever wear under any other circumstances and even then under threat by the hubs.

The food was nothing to write home about. I sometimes think companies think way to much about the food/catering and it's always mediocre. It's never warm/hot and it's always fancy fancy stuff that no one (I) really cares to eat. The open bar was not quite open. You got a ticket for 2 drinks after that you had to pay out the wazoo. Which I think is fine. I have no complaints since I was lucky to use both my ticket and hubs'. I had 2 and half drinks and felt mighty fine the whole evening.

The entertainment for the evening was a mini casino with black jack and roulette. The dealer gave you a bunch of chips and you played to your hearts desire and if you ran out they just gave you more. That's my kind of casino. To bad you couldn't cash it in for anything not even extra entries for the drawings. Which I think would have made it more fun. That's how my old office did it last year.
Anyways, we played black jack which was something I never play in Vegas. The dealer was really sweet and told us how to actually play. That the rule is with black jack your not aiming to get 21 but to bust the dealer. She would tell me when I should hit or stay depending on what the dealer had. It was fun but still not my game of choice when gambling.
Roulette I like, but if you don't have the money it's not for the cheap gambler. Since I had unlimited chips to spend we played the rest of the night. I always play the same numbers 1, 4, and 10 and then place my bet on red and even and sometimes add a few extra numbers for fun. Folks, that roulette wheel hit on 1 three times while I was playing. Sure I went through a few chips along the way and got more but it hit on one the second spin. Why does this kind of thing happen in a fake doesn't really matter casino and never at the real ones? That is the kind of luck I have.

I had a good time. It was fun to feel all hot trophy wife like by getting dressed up. I think hubs had an extra glimmer in his eye too.

Oh you want pics. You came only for the pics. I understand. You could care less about my rambling of the evening and you just came to see the dress. I see how you are.



I had one technicality, my hose. I would have swore that I got the specific kind of hose that you wear for strappy exposed toe sandals, instead I got the reinforced toe. This doesn't look very well with exposed toe sandals. Needless to say I had to go bare. I hate my knees and I haven't tanned in a few years. Blech. Atleast I was standing behind a table most of the night so no one could see my legs.
I actually did not freeze to death. I was quite comfy.

I'm so proud of myself for wearing my shoes through the week to break them in. I had no issues of walking or killer feet at all.

I will end the ramblings here. Your welcome.

I've Come To A Consensus.

I've come to the consensus that us girls cannot make up our minds. I of course am talking about the Christmas photo card. I think every single one of you started off by saying I like such and such...but I also like such and such.
I appreciate the help. I think. If anything it just made me that more indecisive.

I have decided to go ahead with the cowboys. I agree with you guys, that I think it brings out the most of their personality and they are overall "better quality" photos. I think it will look really cute in a darker background card that of which I've already picked out. The cowboys were actually my initial pick overall, I guess I just needed validation.
Because you guys are the best of the best of the Internets and helped me come to my conclusion; those who commented will get a real live in the mail Christmas card from me. That is if you want one. No pressure if you don't. Just shoot me an e-mail with your address.

Wordless Wednesday- Photo Christmas Card Decisions

You guys may recall that I pleaded for your help in deciding what photo(s) I should use for the Christmas card. Well it's time for the big reveal of my choices and it's up to you guys to decide. You helped me out last year and this year I've given you all a better selection. I'm such a giver.
Here are my selections in no particular order.
Set 1
This is the See No, Hear No, Speak No evil one. I thought this was a cute idea and am trying to think of a catchy title for the card. Guess Who's Been Naughty? Is kind of the lines I'm thinking.
Set 2

Item 2 was totally spontaneous on Gameboys part. I thought it was kind of cute.
Set 3

This one was the most "normal" one I could get. It's pretty cute.
I realize the sun completely washed this one out. Bummer
With the 3 separate pics I will do a card that has 3 pics. You guys probably figured that out since your smart like that.
I could not get Bossyboy to wear the hat. The pictures I had of him wearing the Santa hat were all of him frowning, even with threats and bribes. The negotiation didn't involve smiling only wearing the hat. He got me on that one. I'm thinking I'd might go with him wearing the hat at the computer, even though it doesn't show his face. Which the family would complain about.

I couldn't get the hat off of this kid. Good smile on him. He usually is all goofy faced.
You could call the above pics, set 4. Not including the over sunny one.

I hope you guys are still with me on this. I went a totally different direction on the next photos. These photos were taken in August and I love them. I blew them up and their hanging in my living room. Set 5

Since I only had 2 cowboys hats I didn't do a pic with all three together so these 2 are the best I've got. Since my previous laptop crashed and burned on me, these two are the only viable two that are photo card resolution sizable (if that made any sense).
Let me know if I'm over whelming you with choices. Do you now see why I need help? :)

This last one was totally unexpected and un posed-which always turn out the best in my opinion. If you can do a "shoot" where their having fun and not realizing it, you've got yourself a pic.
Set 6

Now get a cracking and tell me which I should choose. Christmas is 23 days away!

Something Tells Me He's Not Buying It

Bossyboy has always been the strong willed child. He's the first to ever question me or not be in the least bit intimidated by punishment of any kind. I'm so glad we're over the whole time out thing. Strong willed is an understatement and he is still very much the same way. I can't imagine where he gets it from. If he would have been my first, I probably would have stopped with the kid having thing right then.

Like every other parent this time of year, it's time to whip out the old ace up our sleeves with the Santa's watching you threat. Works like a charm for normal children. Not my youngest.
I used the ace today in the grocery store.

Me: "You better chill out, cause Santa's watching you."

BB: "How can he watch me mom? He's not watching me. Where is he? How can he see me?"

This is what I wanted to say: "Look kid don't question me on this kind of thing, your supposed to believe everything I say and worship the ground I walk on and do what I tell you to do."
Instead I say as I'm trying to not blow my cover and pull some lame magic reason out my butt: "He's watching you and I'm his helper, I let him know whats going on. Look over there, Santas right on that display case of baked goods watching you." A diversion is always best in these types of situations.

I'm thinking this kid is going to figure things out and be the one to tell all the other kids at school that Santas not real and neither is the Easter Bunny and then I'm going to get a phone call from little Johnny's helicopter mom telling me that my kid ruined little Johnny's Christmas and she's gonna sue..or something like that.
Sorry Johnny's mom, I will try to keep up the charade as long as I can. I'm thinking my youngest is going to blow Santa's cover before his 8 and 9 year old brothers do.

A Few Observations On The Past Week

First and for most I totally needed this week off of just attending to and enjoying my family. Normally I only take a few days off and not a full week, so this has been a treat. I'm sorta kinda ready to go back to work, yet at the same time I'm having a two year old temper tantrum screaming, I don't want to go back. I do however get New Years day off so technically I go back for a day and then get a day off. I think I can handle that.

Secondly no matter how extravagant or the amount of presents my children get; they still are somewhat disappointed that they didn't get EVERYTHING they asked for. Sheesh! On the other hand the totally random spur of the moment gift is always the big hit. No matter the grueling obstacles I went to get the coveted GH for Wii and the requested other video games. The big hit of the season was the Star Wars little figures from Kohls. Go figure.

Third, no matter how many times I tell my MIL that we will have a plethora of sides and desserts for Christmas dinner, she is still going to insist that we cook stuffing from the box, brownies and a cake, pies and a salad. Gotta have a salad or the chi of the earth will be off balance. She still hasn't understood that C. is not a side person and he is not a dessert person. The people who will be eating said pies and salad will be me and her.


Fourth and last, I need to come to the realization that just because I can take my mini sewing machine out of the box and read the manual and get it all set up, does not make me a sewer whatsoever. Did I mention Santa got me a sewing machine for Christmas? He knew just what I wanted. To bad it didn't come with lessons.

Twas The Day After Christmas...

Twas the day after Christmas
and strewn through out the house, gift bags, bows,
and teeny tiny Legos that cluttered the bed.
Guitar Hero 3 tucked gently away, while visions of future rock concerts
jammed in my head.


The leftovers all eaten with no morsel to spare,
I hope that take out will be for dinner, as it seems only fair.
I have cooked and baked til I can no longer care.

When up from the stairs there rose such a clatter,
A child upset over who knows, what does it matter?
Away to the stairs I flew in a slow dash,
Get along you guys, or heads will be bashed!

The rain this morning gave time for extra sleeping.
I giggled and laughed that others were working.
I pulled the covers up tight and gave out a sigh,
Children require breakfast and I in need of some blogging time.

My eyes all a twinkle as I opened my Mac,
giftcards in hand and online sales to attack.
Clothes for the boys and the dishes were mine.
I was ever so jolly on all of my finds,
I had 10 bucks left which made me most merry.
Maybe enough left for a jar of gourmet cherries.

The children are leaving with their grandma tomorrow.
I can't wait to shout at them and call them by name,
Now Gameboy, and Wonderboy, and Bossy boy too,
BE GOOD AT GRANDMAS AND PLEASE BEHAVE!!!

I Know...I've Been MIA

I've been a bit busy the last few days; shopping, baking and just hanging out with my MIL. I don't think I've baked this much in one day in my life. MIL took the kids last night and they have been staying with her at her "place" all day. This has given me all day to bake. P Dub's cinimmon rolls, a banana chocolate chip bread and my broc and cheese casserole for dinner on Tuesday. Whew! I'll start on the cookies tomorrow.
I will probably be MIA in the next few days as well. I've got wrapping, more cooking, and entertaining to do. C-ya after all the madness! I leave you with a crazy pic of two of the boys.

I'm not one to toot my horn ever...

I'm not one to toot my own horn ever especially to total strangers, but today something crazy came over me. This morning I made a mad dash to big box electronics store to get the coveted Sonic vs Mario Olymics for me the boys. I scoured looking for the coveted game and couldn't find it. :( This grandmotherly lady came through the Wii aisle asking the helpful clerk if they possibly got a shipment of Wii's in. I almost snorted out loud. Of course not lady this is the freakin Friday before Christmas there won't be a Wii in sight til Valenitne's. The clerk didn't say it that way but I'm sure she was thinking it, I know I was. I of course had to add salt to the wound by smirkingly mentioning that I got MINE in October. I think she really appreciated that I mentioned that. We both left the store empty handed as they didn't have my the boys game they wanted either.
I came home and mentioned to hubs about the poor desperate grandma trying to find a Wii and hub's being the one to spread the Christmas cheer mentioned that I should have told her I could have sold her mine the boys for $700. I said she probably would have paid a grand.
I can just imagine my kids waking up on Christmas morning and opening their coveted games only to find out mom and dad sold the Wii. Somehow I think a revolt of some kind would ensue. Their precious Wii is safe cause ain't nobody getting between me my boys and their Wii, not even..cough cough a cool grand.
My darling MIL is also on a quest to find a coveted item..Guitar Hero 3. We've tried several hundred times to explain to her that this particular game is not compatible with our console, yet somehow she hasn't gotten that through her head. Yet she's the type that will go above and beyond to find her grandsons this coveted item. Sigh! The things a person will do to ensure happiness and joy at Christmas. I keep asking myself I wouldn't go above and beyond to get my kid a coveted item at Christmas, at what point does one think I would do it for my grand children as well? I maybe eating crow on this last statement, it's not like it's documented or anything, it's only between me and the internets. ;)

I'm trying desperatley to think of something blog worthy

Uhm yeah so I or the boys really haven't done anything blog worthy at all. We didn't get to experience the pioneer life by roughing it for a few days with no power. We wouldn't be that lucky ( I really shouldn't say that as I wouldn't wish that for anything, even for blog fodder). I can only imagine the blog fodder I would have roughing it for a few days.

Right now I am just frantically trying to get everything on my list done or at least humanly possible. The world is not going to crumble to pieces if it's not done, but in my little part of the world I feel it is. I am going to say that I am terribly behind on helping Santa's elves with the toy thing. Santa and I are pretty close, so I'm sure it will all get done but I'm still freaking out about it. Time and money are against me I think.

I know my parents and MIL will not expect a 5 course dinner from little 'ol me. I'm this close to thinking of going off the beaten path of having turkey or ham and doing a lasagna or something crazy. I know sacrilegious, or god forbid I get one of those all ready dinners at the grocery store! I'm sure I'll figure out something eventually.

I admit I've been a little Scroogie...

The past couple of weeks my thought process has been all about me. Whether it was getting my tenured bonus and only wanting to spend it on me and trying to eliminate the guilt that it could have went to other things like I don't know, paying off the Kohls card instead. My mentality is as soon as I'd pay I'd just end up using it up again, and at least this way I'm not paying any interest.
I also have just been really cranky about the state of my house. I wont go into detail but reinforcement may be required, as the moment one battle has been defeated another attack has happened elsewhere in the house.
Hubs is wanting to help out a friend of ours by taking care of her parents dog(s) while they get some issues taken care of. I of course went ballistic as well I can't even handle the troops I have in house now much less another plus that which is the company that is coming! I also don't want to be a "B" and be the one that makes things more difficult for them when they're already having a difficult time as it is. So I'm kind of in a funk on this one.
I realize that there are thousands and thousands of people out there right now dealing with one kind of issue or another. Whether it be the flooding on the Pacific West, ice storms in the Midwest-thank goodness were just south enough to miss it all. My parents still have power for now but it's been touch and go. The satellite dish of course is out as it's frozen solid. Then there's people who are not even really going to have any kind of Christmas due to other reasons of difficulty. Here I have to sit and complain and belly ache about my stupid pointless rants.
Ok I think I've got it out of my system now. Please carry on with you're happy merry holidays, I'll just be huddled in the corner with my English chocolate blubbering something about, "that I am a good person, I really am." "Please ghost of Christmas future don't show me my dark and daunting grave!"