Huh?

Some mornings I need more coffee than others.

Infected.

One infected ear.
Hoping it explains his miserable rotten behavior.
Hoping he feels better.
Hoping we all recover soon.

Fashion.

And now we have matching boots. She asked me to wear my tan furry boots so that we could match when we went to see the bear concert and visit Santa at the Richland Mall this afternoon. Thankfully she stopped at my footwear, I'm all for layers and skirts over pants but I don't know if I can pull off the dark knee socks over heart legging look yet.

hope.

"People in your surroundings will be more cooperative than usual."

--My fortune from M Cafe takeout last night. I hope it applies to a certain little boy in our household with terrible behavior outbursts that are pushing us to our limits.

The best morning ever.

1. Mario got the kids up, dressed them, fed them, and took them to school while I stayed snuggled under our huge down comforter asleep.
2. He left me with a pot of coffee.
3. Both kids are staying at school for lunch today.
4. I have no appointments.

Girl Traditions

We met up with Katherine Anne and Susan for our THIRD annual holiday date at the Maccaroni Grill. This year we did a luncheon rather than a dinner but had just as much fun. The girls colored, giggled, talked, and even ate some of our food!

I love the little traditions of this time of year. As the kids recognize and identify more and more of these as things that happen each year the calendar fills up quickly. Soon we will have to prioritize what things we want to make true tradtions and which can fall into the events category.

This girly gathering, peppermint mochas with Caroline, gingerbread decorating, looking at lights in the car, and new pajamas are all things that need to happen during our season. What are your holiday essentials?

Weekend Happy.

1. Baby Ben (and his folks too).
2. Singing Christmas carols at a local church.
3. Pimento cheese.
4. A trip to Trader Joe's.
5. Running into friends at Costco.
6. Watching Wesley eat 1/2 of Uncle Mike's turkey.
7. A clean house.
8. Afternoon 1/2 price $1.19lb Goodwill store fun.
9. Knitting.
10. Kinda sorta reading a book with Clare.

Day 9 and Day 10

Day 9: We made ornaments using a lot of glitter glue. So much glitter glue that they took days and days to dry. Wesley's ornaments are now officially ornaments of great texture.

Day 10: We had a lunch date with friends and brought our gingerbread people (dairy free and soy free to boot!) kit along. After not eating much the kids had a blast ingesting large amounts of sugar, laughing, and doing all things holiday together. Just overheard in the kitchen while I am blogging in the living room.

Mario: Why are you yelling at each other if you are brother and sister?

Maybe he's trying to stun them into silence this morning. Or maybe he hasn't had enough caffeine.

Time out.

They were very quiet.
Perhaps too quiet.

And yet they look so innocent.
In that Top Model way.

They lost their afternoon movie date.
They earned a hefty time out.

We learned that dry erase marker is evil.
We learned that Clare is quite the make up artist.

And they gave us some really great Christmas card photos.

Today.

Our new handmade wreath is hanging on the door.
I am wearing 2 sweaters, a tee and a scarf.
The oven is on to bake cookies just to make the kitchen warm.
Our library books are due.
Mario and I had a lunch date at DiPrato's alone.
Both kids stayed at school for lunch bunch and extended day.
We all ate candy canes per our advent instructions.
We got two Christmas cards.
I am stalking the UPS truck and FedEx.
I took a nap.
The children did not nap.
I am writing a letter to a friend far away.
Mario is ISO mint M and M's to satisfy my craving.
I have a tea mug in my hands at all times to keep warm.

Clare's view

Limbs

Before we even got to the tree the kids were excited about the extra branches I brought home to craft something TBD. Clare kept looking at them and wanting to know how we would know where they went...as in...guess who was there with us when we put together the fake tree in GA? Because for sure that's how one might put together a real Christmas tree right? Just put all of these cuttings in a post just like the fake one! Imagine her relief when I did put out the tiny but mighty tree.

This is the tree I got...

--after I loved on Wappoo and unexpectedly cried;
--after I enjoyed an annual Peppermint Mocha with Caroline;
--before I ate pizza and split a cupcake at Cupcake;
--while enjoying constant conversation with a dear friend;
--after spending 1.5 hours in the car alone in silence;
--after picking up two loaves of bread for Wesley at Whole Foods;
--before doing some super secret holiday shopping;
--after intense negotiations with a bewildered teenager on a tree lot for $13 in an add on deal to Caroline's gorgeous pine wreath that hopefully now hangs on her front door.

Tonight it stands in our living room with 100 twinkling colored lights, one gigantic circle ornament made out of paper, one tiny circle paper ornament and a huge Mary/Joseph/Baby Jesus Trio Ornament that pretty much span the base of the entire tree.

Shadows

Wesley, Baby Owl and I paused for a quick picture this morning before going inside school this morning. Sadly Baby Owl didn't emerge from school at pick up time so he will be spending the weekend in the classroom while our family wonders what to do without our missing family member.

Over the past few weeks (months) I drifted in and out of the shadows directed by these headaches. The shadows are deep but the light is brilliant when I can enjoy those moments. Some weeks are better than others and in general things are getting better because I am less afraid. I have an arsenal of helpers behind me and beside me to help battle insurance companies, pharmacies, receptionists, childcare quandaries, whining children, dinner dilemmas, and pain.

At times the shadows are comforting and comfortable because they are familiar. I know what they hold and even though it hurts it isn't as scary as letting go and handing over control to the unknown.

Cards

Mail is one of my favorite things about Christmas. Our first card arrived yesterday. For me that envelope officially launches the season.

Advent

Both kids asked about the string with the envelopes in September, October and November. Yesterday we began a new advent calendar consisting of 24 simple gift enclosure envelopes stamped and numbered by the kids. They are attached to a piece of twine by clothespins and it is strung between the dining room and the kitchen. Each morning before school the kids open an envelope with instructions or a description inside. Unknown to them, each of the envelopes (except for 1 and 2) are actually empty allowing Mario and myself the freedom and flexibility to plan advent according to our needs.

I asked the kids what they wanted to find inside the envelopes this year. Here's what they suggested:

W: Put up a Christmas tree at the yellow house.
W: Go to the dollar store with a dollar.
C: Draw pictures together.
W: Read fun books.
C: Go on boat rides.
W: Have night Christmas dinner. (translation anyone?)
C: Decorate the Christmas tree.

Their ideas are so much simpler than the stuff I had jotted down in my notebook. I think I may ask them if they have any more.

Here's what we did last year:
1: Make snowflakes.
2: Visit Aunt Mikie.
3: Forest Acres tree lighting.
4: Tiny snow globe gifts.
5: Nutcracker.
6: Decorate tree.
7: Make ornaments.
8: Eat candy canes.
9: Saluda Shoals (car light tour).
10: Star day.
11: Watch Christmas movie.
12: Receive mini trees.
13: Sing carols at local church.
14: Christmas craft.
15: Decorate cookies.
16: Dinner with a friend.
17: Gingerbread house.
18: Make a fire.
19: Christmas with Grampin'
20: Lights at the zoo.
21: Make smoothies.
22: Reindeer day.
23: Sibling Christmas shopping.
24: Christmas pj's, wrap gifts, church.
25: Fried Chicken!

Christmas with Grampin'