It's a THAT FAMILY CHRISTmas!!

"MERRY CHRISTmas?? I thought you said, SCARY CHRISTmas, Mama!"

That Dog taking cover under the CHRISTmas tree

Throwing food for the Reindeer

A big handful from That Kid

Opening his CHRISTmas jammies

"I love these jammies! I will give them a big hug!"

Leaving cookies for Santa...we also left the Reindeer some dog treats. They like those better than carrots!

SANTA CAME!

Walking down the hall to see what Santa brought

"AWWWWWWW YEAH! It's a Zippity!"

"Green paper? For meeeeeeeee? Thank you!"

That Kid got a bike from That Gramma and That Pappy (aka That Mother-in-Law and That Step-Father-in-Law).

Dressed and ready to go to That Gramma and That Pappy's house

A simple request of standing in front of the door for a picture results in That Kid posing

"I'm too cool for this, Mama!"

Unwrapping more presents at home, wearing his new bike helmet. He's special.

The next day, we played in the snow!!!!!

That Dad pulling That Kid's sled back up the hill

That Kid is done with the sled, and wanted to make snow bricks

Rosy cheeks from the cold

"I just want to lay here, Mama. A snow nap sounds nice!"

My real resolution

OK...I had a lot of fun with yesterday's post. I really did learn that only 5% of all resolutions set at the beginning of the year are kept and still going at the end of the year, and while I would love to start smoking, drinking more and spending more time on the internet, my real resolution is to prepare healthy meals for my family, and to eat them as a family.

I got the Deceptively Delicious cookbook for Christmas, and have a plan. On Sundays, I'm going to plan our menu. On Monday, I'm going to buy the food we need for the week while That Kid is at school, and on Wednesdays, prepare my pureed vegetables. I will make sure that I have enough pureed veggies on hand for Monday and Tuesday's meals.

Now, the trick will be having That Dad WANT to sit down and eat with us. He likes to eat late-ish. Around 8:30 or 9:00. That obviously doesn't work for a family with a 3 year old to sit down together and have a family meal. So, That Kid usually eats around 6:30 or so, and we eat later. We prepare two meals. If you could call it that. That Kid usually has lunch meat, fruit, and cheese for dinner. And lunch. And breakfast, if I'd let him. Sometimes he throws in a yogurt.

We'll see if this works. I really hope it does, because I'd like for That Kid to eat more than "butter jelly saniches", lunch meat, and cheese!

New Year Resolutions...

That Mama's Resolutions

Start smoking
Drink more
Spend more time on the internet

That Kid's Resolutions

Bite more kids at school
Make bigger messes with toys
Make Mama go completely gray by 2011

Bring on 2010!!! We're not setting our goals high...we don't want to disappoint ourselves. We learned today in church that only 5% of resolutions set are still in place at the end of the year. I can say that I am confidant I will succeed in keeping my resolutions! ;)

CHRISTmas traditions

This year, I'm making sure we start traditions. Sure, we've had a couple in the past. New PJs opened on CHRISTmas Eve, leaving cookies for Santa and dog treats for the reindeer, a letter to That Kid from Santa, opening our CHRISTmas gifts from each other CHRISTmas evening. But this year, I want to start a couple new ones.

We're hosting CHRISTmas Eve dinner at our house. I'm super excited!! I'm planning for That Kid and That Kid's cousin to sit down and listen to me read T'was the Night Before CHRISTmas after we eat dinner. I'm hoping that every year we host CHRISTmas Eve dinner I can do this. Also, at CHRISTmas breakfast, I'm going to read the CHRISTmas story. I can't decide if I want to read it from the Bible, or just from a storybook we have. This year, That Kid would probably enjoy the storybook more.

Also, That Mother-in-Law and That Step-Father-in-Law are coming over for CHRISTmas breakfast. Biscuits and gravy (using That Papa's gravy recipe...I chickend out and bought frozen biscuits this year), fresh OJ made from our Jack LaLanne juicer, and Scrammies with cheese. And coffee, of course! Then, That Brother-in-Law and That Sister-in-Law will come to open gifts here, and we'll go to That Mother-in-Law's house for an Open House where we'll get to see people we (for the most part) don't know. That Dad will be chasing That Kid through the townhouse, and I'll be sitting there trying to make polite conversation with strangers. Doesn't that just sound like kick-you-in-the-teeth fun??!!?? Did I mention there's no CHRISTmas dinner? Just appetizers. Whoopie! I offered to make something in the crock pot for CHRISTmas dinner, and That Dad said, "We never have anything to eat on CHRISTmas night!" and I told him, "We always have a big dinner in the afternoon!" Oh well...we'll make sammies or something...start another tradition with that, too!

If someone offers you a free bird...

don't take it. That Freaking Bird...That stupid freaking bird...it's so high maintenance! I mentioned before that every THREE WEEKS I have to take him and have his beak trimmed. Thankfully, That Mother-in-Law pays for that. At the last appointment, I asked about giving him vitamins since he doesn't eat very well. Dr. Birdman told me that I should give That Freaking Bird "Sea Water". What's Sea Water??!!?? Here's how you make it.

1/4 tsp of Iodine
1 quart of water

The end.

Except, that's not the end. I have to give That Freaking Bird fresh water every day. With 1 tsp of Sea Water mix in it. This quart of Sea Water, which That Dad had to purchase a $5 bottle of iodine in order for us to have, is going to last us until That Freaking Bird dies.

I also need to give That Freaking Bird a jalapeno every three days. Cut it in half, expose the seeds, and clip it in the cage. Did I mention this bird was FREE??!!??

Having a happy CHRISTmas

This time of year is always hard. You want your kids to have a perfect CHRISTmas; you want your family to be happy. However, what's the price of a perfect CHRISTmas?

I was speaking to a mother today who told me her husband lost his job 2 weeks ago. My mind started spinning. What did I have at home that I could anonymously put on their porch so they could have a happy CHRISTmas? Then she dropped the bomb. "I will go into debt for my kids to have a good CHRISTmas!"

Why? Why go into debt? Presents will come and go. Pieces will be lost. Toys will get broken. This year's big present will probably be sold at a yard sale in the spring. Is it really worth it? The look on your child's face when s/he sees what Santa left them is priceless...but it doesn't pay the bills. Sadly, you can't send pictures of your child as payment for your electric bill (though I wish you could! That Kid is so cute we wouldn't have to pay ever again!).

Oh...and the shortbread came out tasty and delicious. :) Dipped it in chocolate, sprinkled it with sea salt, and we're good to go. That Dad, upon seeing my shortbread said, "Oh! Shortbread!" I thought he was saying it in a "Hey, I love shortbread" way. But a'las...it was "WTF?!? I hate shortbread!" Maybe he should have been a bigger part of the cookie selection process. And next year when I say, "What cookies do you want me to make?" he can say, "I don't wany any shortbread!"

CHRISTmas treats

I have been baking since noon today. That Mother-in-Law came over, and we made her snowball cookies, and her candy cane cookies; and I made dough for snickerdoodles, shortbread, chocolate mint cookies, and jeweled cookies. I have baked the snickerdoodles, and mint cookies, have the shortbread in the oven right now, and will be saving the jeweled cookies for tomorrow. Did I mention it's now 8pm??!!?? My feet hurt. That Kid is on a sugar high that he probably won't come down from until CHRISTmas morning. I just want to crawl in bed and sleep.

Other CHRISTmas treats made this week include, Oreo truffles; Chocolate truffles with Sea Salt (thanks to Ree over at thepioneerwoman.com); fudge (just made that in the microwave...) and sugar cookies (pre bought dough) frosted green (store bought frosting) and decorated with sprinkles and red licorice for That Kid to take to his teachers today.

I love this time of year, but think I'm an overacheiver. Two kinds of cookies would have probably been enough. But I will mention that I cut my list waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. I was going to make 14 different things. I got smart.

OK...the shortbread is going off. I'm gonna go check this out and hope it turned out well. Otherwise, you'll hear about it tomorrow.

Edward he's not...

About three weeks ago, That Kid started biting. Of course he'd bitten before; earlier in the year he left a real nice bruise on my leg where the little vampire bit me. However, now he's biting other kids.

He has bitten two kids at church, and two kids at school, and tried to bite two more kids at school. I just don't know what to do.

I don't mind being That Mama when it comes to sweets, and tantrums, and over-buying at CHRISTmas...but I'm not going to be That Mama who's kid bites. Who has parents run in the other direction when That Kid walks towards their pwecious kids. Thankfully, That Kid's school has a policy about biting...they won't tell me who That Kid bit, and they won't tell the other mother who bit their child. I wish our church had the same policy. It would make my life so much easier!

No picture with the Fat Man this year!!

Here is last year's picture.

This year's picture had the makings of something quite, quite similar. That Kid was so excited to see Santa, he waved and yelled, "HI SANTA!! HI SANTA!!!!!!" when Santa waved to him, and I said, "Do you want to go see Santa?" "Yes Mama! Yes, see Santa!"

So, That Dad, That Kid, and I all ventured into Santa's wonderland. And guess what? I picked That Kid up out of his stroller, and took him over towards Santa...and he started sobbing. Wouldn't sit on his lap, wouldn't talk to him. He did blow him kisses, though. At least he didn't do like my friend C's little boy does...when people ask him what Santa is bringing him he says, "Santa isn't coming to my house!! He's a robber!"

Maybe next year I'll get another cute picture like I did that first year!

It may just be a sign That Kid watches too much television!

This morning after school, I took That Kid grocery shopping. And he was perfect. Just sat playing with my Nintendo DS. He got a new car for being so good. :)

When we were going in the store, he saw the Subway sign across the parking lot. He yelled, "Eat fresh, Mama! Eat fresh!" Then he saw the sign for Papa Murphy's and said, "HEY! Pizza, Mama!"

He can also sing the jingle for one of the casinos here, along with the Empire Carpet jingle (800-588-2300.......Empire!!!!!!!!!!). Clearly, he watches too much television. The boy can't say his name clearly, but he can sing jingles and knows that Subway's catch phrase is Eat fresh. Fabulous.

Not Me Monday

Last week was not very painful for me. Emotionally, and physically.

Wednesday was not the EDD of my first angel baby Ramen. He would have been six, had he lived. We did not put our CHRISTmas tree up on Wednesday, putting Ramen's ornament on last. That Kid did not kiss Ramen's ornament and say, "I love you, Brother!" and I did not cry. That Onna (formally That Grandma) did not say, "That Kid is going to think his brother is a CHRISTmas ornament!"

Also on Wednesday, I was not helping That Dad by measuring the front porch to determin how many strings of CHRISTmas lights we needed to buy. I was not talking to That Onna on the phone at the same time. And I most definately did not let my grip go on the tape measure. The tape did not fly back in the tape measure at an alarmingly high rate of speed, and did not cut the tip of my finger. I did not lose 4 layers of skin. There is not a huge hole in my left index finger now.

To wrap my week up, on Thursday I was not going to Costco with That Mother-in-Law; That Step-Father-in-Law; That Dad and That Kid. That Kid was not asleep, and when I was not carrying him down two itty bitty stairs into the garage I did not fall. I did not keep a hold on That Kid, and he did not stay asleep. I also did not injur myself. My foot is not injured, and I did not cut my wrist on the cabinets in the garage. And, I did not tell That Dad I wanted to go to Costco anyway! We did not go get several things for CHRISTmas, including That Kid's CHRISTmas pajamas...which are really not a CHRISTmas print but still very, very cute and a great deal. And I did not get a set of CHRISTmas DVDs I have wanted for years. They were not on a very, very good sale. And I did not chose the DVDs over a book for That Kid.

Finally, for you watchers of Desperate Housewives, last night's episode did not traumatize That Kid. He ususally doesn't get to watch Desperate Housewives with me. But, he was asleep when I started it. How was I supposed to know he was going to wake up right before a plane crashed into Santa's Workshop?!? He did not start yelling, "OH NO! OH NO WATCH OUT!" and then when the plane crashed he did not start sobbing. And he most certainly did not, every few minutes after that say, "Plane! Plane crash in house!" and start crying all over again. I did not feel awful. Guess I will not have to be more careful what I'm watching when I think That Kid is asleep and out for the night!

What's your name little boy, what's your name?

We've been working with That Kid, trying to get him to say his full name in case he's ever lost. We say, "Can you say C_______ J________ N_________?" and he says, "Tintin Mehs Gergerber." Not even close. The initials aren't even the same!

That Dad says we'll be watching the news one of these nights when our favorite news anchor will say, "We have breaking news! Tintin Mehs Gergerber has been found. Anyone with information about Tintin, please call the police department so they can reunite this oddly named child with his parents!"

Return of the Ghost

That Kid hasn't talked about his ghost for a while. All of the sudden, he's talking about it (him?) again. He will creep down the hall whispering, "Come on, Mama! Come see ghost!" and will peek around the bedroom door to see the ghost.

Last night, he was walking down the hall looking for the ghost. He went into my bedroom and got up on the bed, then started talking to the ghost. He was saying, "Gramma? Gramma??!!??" not in a "Hey, it's my Gramma" way (which would be extra creepy since Gramma is still alive), but in a "Why are you talking about my Gramma?" way.

Needless to say, That Dad was freaked out. I really need to take pictures and see if something comes out on the camera like my ghost hunting friend from across the pond suggested.