In Search of Myself

Awesome!

This morning we were getting ready to go to a mid-day food school session (we usually have that therapy at 5 p.m. on Fridays, but decided to do it at noon this week because us moms had the day off).  Jake really wanted, for some reason, to zip his litte yellow and blue sweatshirt jacket himself.  I let him try for a while -- we weren't in a hurry -- and when he finally gave up and asked for help, I showed him what to do.  I explained how he needed to hold the one part down next to the other, get the opposite side all the way in, THEN pull up the zip thing.  And I told him that most kids his age couldn't zip their own jacket and it was totally ok that he didn't understand how.

Then this afternoon I was dozing on the couch for a few minutes and he was just playing.  I had told him we'd go to Nana's later, and he decided to get himself ready.  So when he woke me up, he had already put his shoes on and said "I put on my jacket, let's go!"  He had gotten the jacket on, and done the zipper by himself! 

I know that's a very small thing, but I was dang proud.  And of course, I took him to Nana's -- after that, how could I not?

Quick update

Hey all --

who else is going crazy with pre-Christmas prep (and trying desperately to enjoy some time off?!)  I'm sitting at my computer trying desperately to get my e-mails caught up (losing battle) but I had to log in to Typepad anyway for digi stuff, so I thought I'd write about some stuff I'll need to write more about later.  heh

Saturday I went to visit the new baby cousin at the hospital.
Sunday I skipped church to finish up Lou's family's Christmas presents.
Monday I worked.  Exciting.
Tuesday morning I went to Jake's school (Mother's Day Out) for a Christmas program and it was SO CUTE.  Then I rushed to work a 1/2 day, then taught a piano lesson, then shopped a while, then went to a Sunday School Christmas party.  It rocked.  Mom watched Jake, which also rocked.
Wednesday my mom, sister Kathy, Jake, and I went to M'boro to eat at Panera, take lunch to the new baby parents and hold the baby a bit, then went to Target.  Then I taught some piano lessons, got us all some Fizouli's, and we watched a movie.  Oh, and stayed up until 2 a.m. reading a book.  Nice.
Today I slept in, hung out with Priscilla and now I'm working on the computer.  I have a VERY exciting life people!!!!!

No Christmas Cards

I just realized I hadn't mentioned that I didn't do Christmas cards this year (nor do I have plans to.)  And while I absolutely love GETTING them, I completely understand that after multiple years of not receiving one from me, people have bumped me from their list.  LOL.  But just in case you're wondering why you haven't gotten one from me . . . I made a deliberate decision that right now I just can't deal with it.  I helped my mom throw together a holiday newsletter, so Colstrip folks who are still on her list and random relatives should be getting that.  But otherwise?  Consider this your "hey, have a great Christmas" from me.  (Hey, you know I love you.)

I also made a decision to not do a Christmas piano recital this year, and I don't regret that one little bit.  It would have been too much stress on top of an already crazy month, and I've enjoyed just having my students sight-read Christmas music for fun. 

One thing I AM actually doing this year is going to a Christmas party (aside from Beverly's Open House, which we went to on the 9th.)  My Sunday School class is having a party tonight, so I'm going to make an appearance.  I don't know if I'll stay the whole time, but I'll at least show up.  Once again, Nana comes to the rescue and watches Jake.  I'll probably get to her house after 9 or 10 tonight, so we'll just spend the night there.

And starting tomorrow?  I have a whole freaking week off of work!  I don't have to go back until the 27th.  So there IS a reason to like Christmas after all.  (ha ha ha.)

Christmas Christmas Christmas

Obviously, Christmas is just about all that's on anyone's mind these days.  How sad is it that I'm just ready for it to be OVER?  I just want to get back to a normal life, I want to be able to drive around on a Saturday afternoon and not feel like I'm in New York (traffic), I want to get all that space back in my living room that our lovely tree takes up.  I want to not feel rushed and hectic.  I've enjoyed this Christmas season more than I have in the past, because Jake is so excited and everything is "beautiful" to him, but it's still not my favorite holiday.

Anyone else notice how when you're a kid, December was the slowest month EVER?  It was like it would never end.  And then you're an adult there is absolutely no time to get anything done, because the days and weeks fly by at warp speed and then you end up paying absurd amounts for postage because you didn't plan ahead well enough.

Right now our Christmas plans are Christmas Eve dinner and presents at my mom's house, 5 a.m. Christmas morning at our house before Lou goes to work for the day, 1 p.m. meal at Pa and Nannie's Christmas day with the family.  Possibly a get together around New Year's with those of Lou's family that couldn't come down for Christmas.  Starting this Wednesday I have a whole week off from work, but I'm going to be absurdly busy with stuff around the house and visiting people.

Someone at a digi-scrapping website, when talking about Christmas presents for the kids, commented: "many years ago my husband and i bonded together and took a new approach. 3 gifts - to represent what the wisemen brought to Jesus. One for the body, one for the spirit and one for the soul."  This is a freaking genius idea.  I wish I could do it.  But knowing me?  Would never work.  Priscilla was commenting the other day about how overboard I go with Christmas presents for Jake.  And there's so many reasons I do it.  The only child thing.  The really liking to play with some of Jake's toys myself thing.  The I want to buy it anyway and Christmas is a good excuse thing.   But mostly?  The making up for a childhood full of crappy Christmases thing. 

'Cause don't get me wrong, I had a good childhood -- we always had enough $$ for food, we had two parents and a house we owned and a decent yard, two cars, lived in a safe little town . . . functionally, we were fine.  But my parents never GOT the Christmas thing.  And that's ok, they weren't raised ever getting a good Christmas, either -- by their standards, our Christmases freaking rocked.  But when you're young, you don't see that or understand it.  All you see is that your friends got freaking awesome toys and presents and you go nothing that you wanted, and practically nothing worth talking about.  I always hated the day we went back to school and everyone was talking about what they got for Christmas.  I know now that all the stuff you get isn't what Christmas is about -- but damn.  When you're 8 and you have to sit and listen to all the freaking awesome stuff your classmates got and you're holding back tears?  That's hard on a kid.  And it stays with you.  (Obviously.)  So yes, I go overboard.  I am over-compensating.  I don't do it because I can't say no -- because, believe me, I tell the kid no ALL the time.  Getting the presents for him is more about filling a need in ME than it is getting him what he wants.  At least I recognize it and can admit it -- could be worse.  :)

Baby Michael is here!

Michael Joel was born Friday afternoon and weighed 9 pounds, 13 ounces (same as Jake did!!!)  I visited the new family today for about two hours and of course snapped some pictures.  They seem to be doing really well and Michael is a little cutie.  :)  So excited to have a new little cousin!  Jake wants to meet him asap, LOL.

That's close

Jake goes to a preschool at a Presbyterian church, and some of what they learn during the day is Bible stuff.  They've also been talking a lot about Christmas this month.

Well, my mom has been talking to Jake about Christmas, and has been trying to teach him about Jesus.  The other day, looking at a nativity scene, my mom said, "And who is in the manger, Jake?"

"BABY MOSES!" he replied.

Eh, that's close enough for now.  LOL.

Against the Grain

This summer, my Sunday School class read Ray Waddle's book Against the Grain: Unconvientional Wisdom from Ecclesiastes.  It's an AMAZING book.  Pretty short and easy to read -- 160 pages, the book size is 6"x9".  It's hard to explain what it's about, other than really taking a look at the book of Ecclesiastes (for those of you who don't know, is in the middle of the Old Testament), and about life.  It's definitely a book I'm going to read again.  (Actually, I just finished reading it for the second time.)  Read the summary from the publisher here, and here is the listing at Amazon.  He also has a book about Psalms, which I'm really hoping to read soon.

A new baby soon!

No, not for me, you goobers.  Geez, is that the first place your mind goes?

Remember the family wedding that Jake was in last year?  Lou's cousin Roger (who is Lou's mom's brother's son) married Bonny.  Well she is now 41 weeks pregnant (I know from personal experience how frustrating that is) and is being induced tomorrow morning.  So by the weekend Jake will have a new baby cousin!  :)

My parents rock

Yesterday after piano lessons (I don't get home until 6:30 on Wednesdays because of 3 lessons after work), my parents brought Jake to my house.  Lou was out of town with his grandpa, and I wanted my dad to put up my curtain rods.  Mom came, too, to help watch Jake while I helped dad.  My mom stopped by Wendy's first and got us some food, and then while dad and I were working she popped some instant cookies in the oven.  (Score!)  She amused Jake for me -- and had to play Hi-Ho Cherrio about 20 times.  Dad even had time to install my two new toilet seats -- and they look AWESOME.  He made a comment about all the boxes in my garage -- I'd had time to break a bunch down but not to take them to the dump -- and then said if I put them in his truck he'd take them.  (Double score!)  My mom stayed after dad left so she could watch Medium and Biggest Loser, and then it was past 9 anyway, so she took Jake home with her to spend the night!

Seriously, my parents rock.

And there's a lot about them that of course I know isn't perfect, and we all make mistakes when we're raising kids . . . but I think a big part of becoming an adult is choosing to see the good in your parents, to realize that they did the best they could, and to appreciate the every day things that they do for you.  And they do a LOT of every day things for me, and I know I am really blessed.

Pictures of the kids

Yesterday Priscilla came over with the goal of getting some good pictures of the girls.  She dressed them all up in ADORABLE little dresses, and we decided to put Jake in a suit and get some pictures of him, too.  Hee.  We took most of them with her new camera (which rocks), but took a couple with mine.  I will clean them up later -- like fix the red eye and make the black go all around the background, not just where the kids are sitting on the velvet.  (By the way, if anyone wants to buy me a picture perfect home studio?  that would solve a freaking LOT of my photo problems!  I'm just sayin'.)  Anyway, here are my two favorites.

Oh, AND:

-- Jake played REALLY well with Aowyn yesterday and we were very proud of them.  Usually he doesn't like her much and only wants to play with Elauna.

-- After they left, I told Jake we needed to get ready to go to bed.  He said "But I didn't PLAY today!"  He wanted to stay up and play with toys.  I said "What do you think you were doing when the girls were here?"  He replied "Just goofing off!"  Then he saw the smile on my face, and said "THAT'S why I still need to play," and turned and walked away, knowing he had won the argument.  Smart kid.