Friday, November 28, 2008

Count Down til Christmas

Disclosure: I am completely stealing this idea from Anastasia at The Gift.

I know, I know. Its just Thanksgiving. But really - Christmas is only 27 days away. I LOVE Christmas. I like the shopping, the traditions, the lights, the music, the excitement, the Nutcracker, family and friends celebrating - really everything about it.

I have decided to put up some version of my Christmas Village this year - you know, those Department 56 ceramic houses that crazy old ladies decorate with. LOVE EM! I haven't put it out much in the last few years cuz I have these crazy kids who would break play with them. But this year I am going for it. We finally got our plasma tv hung on the wall (after about a year), so there is room to put some on the entertainment center. We just have to keep them out of the reach of Big Man (and probably B.)

We are putting up our tree on Sunday. I can't wait. I also promised the kids we could bring out blankets and sleep under it the first night too. Not exactly what I planned as a school night, but ah well...

I have a bunch of shopping done, but still more to do. But I love it. I know there are people who don't, but I do. I love picking out just the right thing for each person. I am even making a bunch of my gifts this year. I even love wrapping. And seeing all the gifts under the tree.

So bring it on - I love Christmas and am glad the season is here!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

In Thanks

wow..so much to be Thankful for. My amazing husband who deals with lots of crap and does his best to be an equal partner with the kids. My crazy kids who keep me insane and in love. My MIL without whose support and assistance we would be even more crazed. My Dad for his love and encouragement. My girl friends - who make my life fun and are the best friends anyone could ever have. For my job - and my DH's job which we are ever grateful to have. Our house, which we love and are also so grateful to have. For our health and that of our friends and family. So many things.

I hope you are with friends and/or family today and have much to be grateful for.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Grocery Shopping Fun

Grocery shopping with the kids almost always means "the cookie store" aka Harris Teeter. My kids will do anything for one of the free cookies they give away so we nearly always go there. But this week a Giant near our house got the "scan it" program. Has anyone else tried this? Its fun!

Basically when you go in the store you scan your "bonus card" and they give you a scanning gun. Then you scan your groceries as you put them directly in your grocery bags in your cart. Then we you checkout you just hand the scanner to the clerk - and don't even unload your groceries. You can then give coupons or whatever and you are done. So COOL! It was fun and efficient.

Apparently people will be randomly selected to check their individual grocery bags - but every once in a while that wouldn't be bad. I loved doing it, and I think it was faster.

I recommend you check it out!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

He Loves Me

So my son, age 2, has a SERIOUS Oedipus complex. According to Wikipedia (that font of all knowledge ;) ) this is supposed to peak between ages 3-5. If Daddy so dares to hug me or God forbid kiss me in front of Big Man, all heck breaks lose. He will start yelling "No Daddy!" "MY MOMMY" over and over and over. Even if we are in the car in the front seat and Big Man sees DH lean over and hold my hand - he goes crazy. I think it is cute and funny. DH - not so much. If we aren't even at the peak yet, this is going to be a long pahse. Anyone else had this? Any suggestions on how to deal with it?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Arghhhh...WINTERRRRRR

Winter has arrived. The weather report said it "may" hit 40-degrees today. I am so not ready for this. Just last week it was in the 70s (ok, so I was in Florida at the time, but still!). I can't beleive how cold it is. Time to pull out the hot chocolate, I guess!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Wouldn't It Be Nice

So I am driving to work with B. It is just the two of us in the car. As we get on the highway, right before the bridge, we hit our regular traffic.

B says "Mom, I wish God had created fastpasses for cars. Then we could just speed past all this traffic."

I say "me too, baby"

She proceeded to flesh it all out the whole way to work.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Disney in Pics






(exhale) That was FUN!

Wow. We had such a blast at Disney. It was totally exhausting but also totally fun. We only made it to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios - but it was GREAT! The girls were so into everything- they loved the rides, they loved meeting the characters, everything. Highlights:

1) Girls being called "PRINCESS" everywhere we went after having their Bippity Boppity Dos
2) B "screaming like a little girl" on Thunder Mountain - 5-6x
3) The girls faces when the met the Princesses
4) K's look of pure joy when she came off Space Mountain

It was such a great trip - and I will get into more detail (with pictures) soon. Thanks for all the great tips!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Disney Day One

So DH and the kids arrived today, and we met in the lobby of the Polynesian. Kids were ecstatic. Room wasn't ready (and I was still in a suit), so we grabbed some lunch. About 45 min later, we had our room, got our stuff, changed and headed towards the Magic Kingdom. Managed to give the girls their first ride on the Monorail in the front car - bad idea, now they expect it every time! Saw Pluto just as we got in, and the girls loved using their autograph books. Took the train around the park to Frontier land and just had time to ride Splash Mountain. K loved it - B was not happy with getting wet and the big 50-ft drop at the end. But later has said it was really fun. Then we went back to 1900 Park Fair for dinner with Cinderella and Friends. It was a HUGE hit. They loved the food - the characters - everything about it. HIGHLY recommend this one. I have to say, each of the characters took their time at our table - esp. Prince Charming. He looked through their autograph books at all the pictures - insisting on finding "his page" himself. It was very sweet and the girls loved it. They stayed up til 9pm (when we thought the fireworks were) and saw the Electric Light Parade, but still no fireworks. They went to sleep with the promise we would try and wake them at 10pm for fireworks.

Unfortunately I have to go all the way back to my meeting to work tomorrow (it was a $50 cab ride!) for about an hour, but that is life. Hopefully I make it back in time for our lunch at the Crystal Palace with Pooh.

Friday, November 7, 2008

One Day Til DISNEY

Woo hoo! Tomorrow dh and the girls come to Orlando for our Disney trip. I am already here for work. I cannot WAIT!!! We have all the character dining reservations, the Bippiti Boppiti Do reservations, and other plans. It is going to be great! Any last minute tips?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

NaBloPoMo

I really wanted to do NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) - where you do a post every single day for a month. But why is it in November?? November is a crazy month for me. I always have at least one work convention out of town - sometimes two. And there is Thanksgiving. November just isn't a good month for me. I am thinking of doing my own version of NaBloPoMo for myself in January or February. I think that would work more for me.

Props to all those who are doing it!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

wow


It is a new America. I couldn't be more proud of my country (and my state! Yay VA!)

Some of my neighbors had fireworks - real fireworks - last night. how cool. I have had very little sleep, but couldn't be more happy.

(ok, perhaps if Prop 8 had failed overwhelmingly in CA..still holding my breath on that one)

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

VOTE

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

i have nothing more to say today

Monday, November 3, 2008

Halloween Wrap-Up

So Halloween was great! First, last weekend our neighborhood had a little parade and party for the kids. They all loved it. Then on Friday, all the kids had parades at school. K has a school parade/walk for the homeless. I got to go on it with her and it was great. Her teacher was dressed as a tree - very cool. The younger two get to trick-or-treat in the office building where the daycare is. I didn't get to go, but DH did. Big Man was hysterical. On the way into school that morning, I had his Kung Fu Panda costume in a bag. He grabbed it and would not let go - "my panda". Then when trick-or-treating, his pumpkin got so full that his teacher said it nearly weighed as much as him. But nobody else could carry it for him - "my candy". Gotta love 2 year olds.

Then we all left work/school early to get the house and all set up for evening trick-or-treat. Nana came down so both DH and I could take the kids around. We had the fog machine and scary music running in the yard. It was great. The kids had a blast going out - Big Man even did his kung fu routine for a few folks. When we got home the kids LOVED being the ones to hand out candy at the door.

On Saturday we had a Halloween party. About 45 people - split evening kids/adults. A little crazy but really fun. We had lots of theme food - bat wings (chicken wings), jumbo candy corn (cheese pizza striped to look like candy corn), mummy dogs (pigs in blanket), bones (soft pretzels), and more. It was really fun. We invited people from work and school too so it made for a fun mix of people. The kids all had a blast playing together.

Yesterday we spent the whole day de-halloweening our house. Got the yard all cleaned up and everything inside put away as well. Normally we may have waited a week, but since we will be at Disney next weekend (YAAY!) we had to get it done asap. Then K and I went on the annual hunt for after-Halloween sales to get more stuff for next year. We scored some scary skeleton fence, some more serving platters, and a few more gravestones for the yard - all at 50% off. Gotta love it!