When did you change?

 January 30th, 2006

I can hardly believe that this little bundle of joy is celebrating her 5th Birthday today.  I don't know where the time went but I am sad to see it go.  It could be the lack of meds that has me watery-eyed but I'm sad that I can barely carry you and that you no longer need me as you used to.  However, I am happy to see you growing and becoming your own person.  You definitely do not stand in your big sister shadow and you make your own path wherever you go.  Everyone who knows you, knows that you're a ball of energy with a big attitude.  And we all love you very much.

I'm sorry I've been such an emotional yo-yo during this holiday season, and just to hear you ask, "Mommy why are you crying?" has gotten me horribly upset and turned me even more into a nutcase.  I may be having some internal chemical issues but I still love you dearly and you're the best little person a mommy could ask for.  And this mommy hopes that within the week things will turn around into better days. I hate to admit but I really got knocked off my feet in December and what started as a little hand full of snow has turned into an all out blizzard.  It's like living in a nightmare, but I don't want to miss any of these amazing memories and I will do my best to remember all the good things even if I cannot enjoy them to the fullest at the moment.

 It took Two Walmarts but we FINALLY found 'the' bike!

 Hey they are both smiling!

(No my kitchen is not florescent yellow, and those cupcakes got banged around in the back of the car, oops!)

 A little blurry but I had to add this one..  she's like a little monkey :)

Happy Birthday!

ahh.. the smell of Christmas

So I haven't been a total stick in the mud, we did take a rainy afternoon and hunt down the perfect Christmas tree.  All boots and umbrellas but a good time was had by all.  We went to the usual spot of Thortons, which we've been going to for years and years.  It's not a bad lot, but it sure was busy the day we went and it was all I could do to find parking!  The girls had fun looking at all the "baby" trees and Mr. J was glad it didn't take us all day to pick one (he actually insisted on getting the first one we saw, as I like to wonder for atleast another hour and then come back to the first one..  he's starting to know me too well!)

 And Alexa had a special day at school, she got to do some special holiday activities and came home with a gingerbread house, un-decorated and falling apart..  After two mental breakdowns because the roof would not stay on and the candies weren't sticking the way she wanted, I caved in and decided to help (isn't that the motherly thing to do!)  So I globbed on the frosting, and put some in a ziploc so we could get those candies to stick on properly.  After placing EVERY candy on the tiny house, this is what she came up with.

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Not bad, and she seemed to have a really good time decorating it.  Sometimes I have to remember that she's only 6.. and she really does need help.

It's that time again..

You know that time, the time when the holidays roll around and everything seems rushed.  I just want to sit around and read a book, relax, and do nothing..  but there are parties, and commitments and playdates.  There are decorations, baking, cleaning, and laundry (always laundry).  It can be so overwhelming, and I am totally feeling it.  I'm not trying to complain, although I probably will be by the time I am done writing this, it just seems that I cannot catch a break.

Luckily I did all of my holiday shopping (right after Thanksgiving) because I knew I would be stressing out when the big day got closer.  And I've decided to limit our decorations this year because it's just too much to put it up and take it back down again..  But now that I am on break I see my list of things I WANT to get done is really crazy long.  I have really set the bar too high and it's overwhelming.

One child got to see Santa yesterday, but the other is yet to go..  I need to work that into the mix.  And we have a gingerbread house that needs to be made, and some Christmas gifts that need to be made.. oh and the Christmas cards that need to be written.  And I have work to do.  I keep telling myself that I can do all of that in one day if I just do it and get it done with...  but maybe that is even too much for a day.

Oh, well.  I guess I just have to let go of my controlling OCD ways, and just do what I can and try to enjoy it in the process..  Time to find my inner zen.

If you give a kid a rubber band...

I wouldn't say my kiddos are super creative, yea they like to paint and draw... but in general they only do those types of things if I am encouraging them.  But I see that one of them, no doubt while I was ignoring them trying to do homework, has found a new creative outlet..

I guess my kids can make some pretty unique creations :)  Needless to say, I hope I am not the one who needs something out of those drawers...  Let it be J who has to un-tangle all those!

My hubby's got a new wife..

One morning I came into the office and found this:

Apparently Mr. J has a new 'wife' that I am unaware of, because this blond haired, blue eyed beauty is definitely NOT me!  Or perhaps it is a plea by the kiddos that they would like a new mom?  Either way, I couldn't help but crack up, and ask J, "So you've got a wife on the side.."

Swedish Fish..

The other day while waiting for child #2 to finish running around so we could actually Leave her preschool, I saw another small child grab some snacks from her lunch bag and head to the snack table (I pick Adrianne up after their afternoon snack, at which point a snack is offered but if the kids have something left over from lunch they are welcome to eat it then)..  So after said child goes to the snack table I see the teacher coming towards me and putting the childs snack back in her lunchbox..  And the teacher looks at me and says, "No candy at preschool.."  and I tell her, "that's not candy, that is Swedish Fish, those are just like Fruit Snacks."  To which she gets out the package and shows me the wording where it says, "Gummy Candy"...

This lead me to wonder just what we label "candy" and what we do not label as candy.  It's a very gray area between what some would say is a candy item, and what others would call a 'snack'.  I agree kids probably don't need to be eating those gummy candies, but I also think that fruit snacks are just the same thing with a different name.

Let's think about it another way..  At Micky Dee's they have a Big Mac, which I'm sure is not the healthiest choice on the menu however it is one of the "meal" options (and my favorite choice!)..  however they also have a Big Mac 'Snack' Wrap..  does that mean it's a healthy alternative to the Big Mac?  Does getting rid of the bun and replacing it with a tortilla make it a 'snack' food?

This whole topic comes to mind because lately my children have been asking for 'snacks' and then when I give them some choices which I think are on the decent side (cheese stick, crackers with PB, banana, or crackers with cheese) they look at me and say, "Those arn't SNACKS!"  to which I reply, "Yes-siree they sure are!"  A snack in and of itself does not mean a small portion of dessert, it means; "snack [snæk]n

1. (Cookery) a light quick meal eaten between or in place of main meals." (thefreedictionary.com)

When did sugary items start being snacks and stop being dessert?  I'm hating the consumerism that is making my children think they should eat a sugary 'snack' with every meal.  Lets just call it candy and be done with it.