That is NOT the potty ...

I was going to bed on Friday night, just finished brushing my teeth, when I heard the moan of Big J coming from his room. He had gone to bed quite late and pretty much passed out when his head hit the pillow. I thought maybe he had to pee so I ran down the hall.
In the silhouette of the nightlight, I saw him standing in the middle of the room, naked from the waist down, holding his little "package" and wailing. I flipped on the light, thinking he wet the bed.
Nope, no such luck. Instead, in his stooper, he must have had to pee, thought he ran to the bathroom, and proceeded to pee all over the front of his dresser.
There was pee everywhere .... spalshed on the wall, on his Crayola glow board, pictures of Mommy and Big J, and a long trail on the carpet. Lovely.
I asked him what he did ... no response. He was still sound asleep.
I cleaned him up, cleaned the pee off of the picture frames, dresser drawers, books and toys and put Big J back into bed, where he didn't even flinch.
Seriously ... girls don't do this shit. What is up with that?!?!??!?!

It's beginning to feel like Christmas

As I sit here drinking a glass of port, listening to Johnny Mathis sing "Silver Bells," and wrap the umpteenth present of the evening ... I thought, "it is actually starting to feel like Christmas."

Was it the port? No, I am sure it helped ... a lot, but it wasn't that. Was it the wrapping and bows and ribbons? Nope. Definitely "Christmasy," but it wasn't the topper. It was Johnny's way of singing about the bells ringing and children playing and blah, blah, blah, that suddenly made it all about Christmas.

There are something that I cannot do without at Christmas .. some new, and some old.

It is not Christmas until I hear the Salsoul Orchestra Christmas album (OK, did I totally just age myself by saying "album?"), never heard of it? OMG! Total classic, and it makes me think of my Mom cleaning the house every time I listen to it (as does Neil Diamond, but I digress). Other "musts" in the music department include, Johnny Mathis, Harry Simeone Chorale, Manheim Steamroller, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (this is our family mainstay, the boys love it and I am taking Big J to their concert on the 26th).

It isn't Christmas until I watch Charlie Brown (now, I must watch it on DVD, as TV destroys it every year by adding more and more commercials and cutting parts of the beloved show), White Christmas (sing it with me now, "snow, snow, snow!), A Christmas Carol with Alastir Sim (my fave), It's a Wonderful Life (another I have to have on DVD ... no commercials; and it makes me cry every time, still), A Pocketful of Miracles (another must see if you haven't, Glen Ford and Bette Davis, a small spin on My Fair Lady. It was one of my Dad's favorites and now I am addicted), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thank God I have children now!) and A Holiday Affair.

It isn't Christmas until I eat a cut-out sugar cookie slathered with homemade frosting and dingo dots (that is what we call 'em and I am sticking to it!), my Mom's cherry cheesecake, spice drops - red and green, egg nog (not the real stuff, but the lite version you buy in the refrigerated section at the store), and my latest favorite, from Starbucks, a venti non-fat peppermint white chocolate mocha (OMG - so effing good!).

It isn't Christmas until I sit on my couch with quiet Christmas music playing, the lights are out and all I see are the lights from the Christmas tree. I am 35 years old and the magic never wears away from that.

Now that I am Mommy, it isn't Christmas until I have wrapped the last present and remembered the "last little something" to throw in their stockings.

And truly, it isn't Christmas until I go to Mass ... it doesn't have to be Midnight or daybreak, just Mass on Christmas ... it is one of the most beautiful things a person can experience. Really ... try it.

What makes your Christmas? Anything I missed?

Merry Christmas!

From me to you .... stamped and addressed with care (LOL!)!!!

A Christmas Faux Pas ...

OK, so there are things you do and things you don't do.

You may take a chip from a bowl, dip it in salsa and eat the said chip.

You may not take a chip from a bowl, dip it in salsa, eat said chip and then dip said chip in salsa again.

Christmas gives us rules to follow as well.

You may, upon having a conversation with someone, let that someone know what you might want for Christmas.

You may drop hints to other pople, let family spread the word for you, or, what most people do, just be surprised when you see what you get from a sender.

You may not send you cousin's wife a random post on Facebook, when you have never posted on her Facebook before, stating "hey lisa, i saw that j has my name for christmas, and if you havent gotten anything yet, i would liek the movie the hangover, if not that totally fine. And also if for saturday you could bring some kind of dip, my mom says thank you!"

WTF? Are you serious? Really? Do we have any class?

Honestly people, I wanted to reach thru the cable lines, find the spoiled little brat and tell her, "Look, sweetie, you don't do that. You just don't do something so ridiculously crass and rude. Haven't you ever heard of the reason for giving gifts at Christmas? And, even though I am a very loving person, if I had not already bought your gift (which I had, by the way) the last thing I would get you would be the stinkin movie you asked for."

I am all about buying a gift that someone wants, likes, loves or obsesses over. That is my main intent when shopping. But, I am not about having someone tell me where to go, how much to spend, and what color to wrap it in.

I am not even involved in this gift exchane. Why, might you ask?

About 6 or 7 years ago, I was participating. An aunt of E's sent me an email that went something like this, "You have my name. I want a Hamilton Beach mixer. It costs $14.99 at Walmart. You can give me the rest of the gift in cash."

She did not get the mixer from me that year ... she a got a personalized scrapbook basket (since I knew she was an avid scrapbooker) AND a mixer from someone else. Her name was drawn twice. Do you know who got NOTHING that year, as the rest of the family opened presents? You guessed it! ME!

After, she promised she would take the mixer back and send me the cash so I could get a gift ... I am still waiting!!!!!!!!

So, bah humbug to these spoiled people at this time of year. You can call me, email me, do what ever you want, but I will buy what I want to buy and that will be good enough for you.

Look in the encyclopedia under "real spirit of Christmas" and see if you find "spoiled rotten wishes" in the explanation.

Go ahead, I dare you!

Remember when ...

... You counted down the days till Christmas break with your friends, exchanged little Secret Santa gifts with them, and vacation seemed to be endless?

... Bills were guys in your class, not envelopes in your mailbox?

... The gifts under the tree seemed to triple every day, and most had your name on them?

... Christmas cards showed up in bulk at your house with a small note of well-wishes?

... you could look forward to a Saturday becuase you could sleep in, or a day all to yourself, all dressed in PJ's and watching Christmas movies?

... You could eat whatever you wanted at a Christmas party without the fear that for three days after you wouldn't be able to button your pants?

... People said Merry Christmas, and smiled during the holiday season, even though they were busy or broke?

... You could stay up til 2:00 chatting it up on the phone, get up at 5:30 for school, drink a Diet Coke for breakfast and last until that night?

... Grown-ups actually acted like grown-ups?

My wish list

The question today, that I saw on this blog:



What do you really want for Christmas?

That is a great question. I could tell you the superficial stuff: Wii Fit, Michael Kors perfume, a UCF hoodie, fun jewelry, a Blackberry or Smartphone, new pots and pans, picture frames and art for our walls, etc, etc, etc ...

But, what do I really want for Christmas? Well, I want friendship. Yes, I have friends. Old friends and new friends. Good friends, and yes, even some bad friends. But, I have noticed a shift, a paradigm of some sorts.

I notice this happen every few years. The natural ebb and flow of human relationships. I have seen many of my close friendships strengthen and I have also watched many close friends move throughout the country (or stay behind when I was the one moving).

This year has brought some exciting relationships to the table .... my blogger friends, Facebook friends that I have reconnected with, and some friends that I have made on Facebook that never really were friends, but suddenly, like pen pals, they have become important in so many ways.

I think this is what saddens me the most. These friends that I feel this deep connection with, a sense that if we were in the same vicinity, we would really be close.

Of the friends that I have near to me (physically, that is), I don't have any friends that are like me. You know, working moms, with kids that drive them nuts, husbands that they want to kick in the ass, a strong penchant for wine, cheese and crackers .... and an amazing ability to laugh until they cry.

Am I asking too much? Do you think Santa could throw this in his sack and put it under my tree this year? I have been a good girl ... for the most part ... ;)

So, on my wish list ... I want friends. Some relationships that will grow to bigger and better things over time!

Hello .... remember me? Pay attention to ME!

I have LOTS to blog about ... but only so much time. Lots to catch up with ... but, for now ...

I love my husband, really, I DO love him.

But, I am not in awe of everything he does, and I don't think he is the most wonderful man that has ever stepped onto this earth. He is a great guy, really! I just don't view him the way some girls view their husbands. Why is this bothering me right now? It seems like everywhere I go, people are writing about or talking about how WONDERFUL and PERFECT their husbands are.

Backrubs, little gifts, helping them in every way .... honestly, I do not get these things.

(Yes, some of this may be put on ... I mean, seriously, after being married for 10 years with 3 kids, can a couple TRULY NEVER FIGHT!?!??!?!?!?)

Over the years my husband as dealt with a lot of issues. Rather than dealing with these issues head on, he would rather spend his time blaming me for his problems. This game ebbs and flows. My counselor has told me that it will probably stay like this forever ... it is who he is.

Most days, I can handle it. He has his sweet moments ... and those are awesome. But, sometimes he has his nasty moments and those are the days I question EVERYTHING about us, our lives and my involvent in the whole thing.

When I read about these grteat husbands, there are times, honestly, I get jealous. I wish I had a husband that rubbed my feet when I was pregnant and exhausted. I wish I had a husband who stopped on the way home from work and picked me up my favorite ice cream, just because. I wish I had a husband that ranted and raved about how great I am on Facebook for all to see.

I don't.

I have a husband who says thank you for dinners I cook, and a husband who takes care of the house and our boys. But, for the most part, his "awe" of me is unspoken. I have a husband who lives his life around one person, himself.

I have learned to compensate for this in small ways ... I have learned to just not yearn for things too often. But, its times like the holidays when everyone's lives get all cutesy and cheesy that I do really long for attention; full-on, devoted attention.

Maybe someday, by some God-sent miracle, I will have that. Until then, I will try and please me, myself and I when I am not getting it from my significant other.