New Year's Resolutions

So I've been trying to think of a good resolution for 2011.  I usually resolve to lose weight but I've already been doing that one (although the holidays have been very difficult for me on Weight Watchers).  This year I'm going to try out a different resolution.  Here are a few of my top choices:

1.  Travel - I would love to take a vacation this year. 
2.  Learn something new - like how not to worry about every little thing my kids do or don't do.
3.  Be more green - maybe start making my own cleaning supplies or something as equally crunchy.
4.  Make more time for myself - a girl can dream can't she.
5.  Try a new hair style - like making time to straighten my hair (now I'm really dreaming).

Who knows what 2011 will bring for us?  This past year has been an adventure so maybe 2011 will be calm.  Maybe 2011 will bring us pleasant surprises (starting 2010 with a newborn baby was definitely a pleasant surprise that doesn't need to be repeated!).  Maybe this will be the year I go back to school or work.  Whatever comes our way I'm going to try to take it in stride, something that I'm terrible at. 

Post-Christmas



Enjoying our White Christmas

 No matter how much fun I have on Christmas, I'm always so happy for it to be over.  I love watching the kids open presents, especially this year because Leo was so into it.  Last year, Nora was two weeks old and I was still recovering from a C-section so I really don't remember much.  This year I tried to keep the Christmas spirit but by the time the week of Christmas comes around I'm just ready for it to be over with.  No matter how low key I try to make the holidays, there is still that rush of craziness the few days before Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being with family and the joy of Christmas morning but there is just such a good feeling knowing that life will be getting back to normal soon.  I really enjoyed the Christmas decorations but I'm ready to take them all down.  Is this normal?  Who has this overwhelming feeling to get rid of everything Christmas on December 26th?  Maybe because I feel like Christmas is two months too long.  Since November 1st, the stores have been packed the Christmas trees, music and decorations.  By December 1st, I'm over it. 

The one thing that does lift my Christmas spirit is the Christmas Eve service at church.  There is something magical about it.  It is my favorite part of Christmas by far.  Being at church at midnight as Christmas Day begins helps me forget about the rush for last minute gifts and the crowds at Walmat. 

This Christmas was great but I'm ready to start 2011!  Wonder what wild adventures it will bring!

QVC

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I'm addicted to QVC.  I can't help myself, I just love to watch it.  I rarely ever order anything, so I'm not completely crazy but if there is nothing on TV then QVC is my first stop.  This has to be one of the signs of losing my mind, right?  I have tried to rationalize why I love it so but honestly there is not rational involved.  I get caught up in the madness of "only 100 remain" "Today's Special Value" and "we have sold over 2,000 already."  Before I know it I'm glue to the screen thinking maybe I need the product.  If there is only 100 remaining them I need to order one too.  Insane, right!  I once contemplated ordering a corkscrew.  I even started looking for the phone when it hit me that I don't even drink wine much less need a corkscrew! 

My days of watching QVC started way back when QVC started.  My mother is a QVC addict too.  I have fond memories of watching it with my mother and being so excited when she actually ordered something.  It was like Christmas when the packages would arrive.  Fast forward about 15 years to 2005.  When I was pregnant with Leo I was placed on bed rest and was in and out of the hospital for the last 7 weeks of my pregnancy.  When you are in a hospital or confined to your own bed, the TV is your best friend.  I was flipping through the channels and there is was like a long lost friend, QVC.  I would watch for hours as the hosts would tell the audience why they needed a neck massager or a high tech bread machine.  They were so excited about the jewelry and kitchen gadgets that before long I too was excited.  I would think about all the things I could do with an electric knife or where I would wear that bracelet.  Suddenly, I didn't feel so isolated and frightened.  QVC kept my mind off my high risk pregnancy and on more important things like how did I ever cook without all these different pots and pans.  When Leo was born and never slept, QVC was my entertainment at 3am.  As Leo got older and I went back to work full-time, I didn't have time to watch TV much.  But like a good friend, QVC was there again when I was pregnant with Nora.  Now, I find myself looking forward to afternoon rest time when I can check out what's on or Sunday afternoons when my favorite kitchen show comes on. 

I'm sure that one day I'll be that old lady who does all her shopping on QVC, but untill that time I'll just enjoy watching and waiting for a great deal to come along!

Stress relief

My favorite way to relieve stress is to sing.  Well not just sing, I love to belt out musical numbers as if I'm on Broadway.  At night, when everyone is in the bed and I finally have a few minutes to myself, I like to search YouTube for musicals.  I know, dorky right.  I can't help myself, I just love to perform Broadway musicals in the comfort of my own bedroom.  The funny part is, I can't carry a tune in a bucket.  This has never stopped me from loving to sing.  Wicked, Les Mis, Rent - you name it, I love to sing along.  Of course, I watch Glee and have past this love of musicals onto Leo.  Every night I put on the Glee soundtrack as he falls to sleep.  If he sees something with the word Glee on it, he has to point it out to me.  He even started requesting to listen to Glee Christmas music.  Hopefully he has only inherited my passion for musicals and not my terrible singing voice. 

Leo on his way to becoming a star!  The cutest sheppard in the Christmas Pageant!

Little Miss Personality

Over the past few weeks, Nora has really developed a funny little personality.  It's like now that she is one, she has grown up overnight.  Nora's new favorite activity is to sit in her bouncy seat  (she sits in it like a big rocking chair) and talk on her toy phone.  She will climb up in her seat, starts rocking and talks forever.  Now every time the phone rings she tries to answer it by say "elo" like an old person.  She also loves stuffed animals or anything fuzzy for that matter.  I have a fuzzy robe that she loves.  If she sees in hanging in the closet, she points and cries for it.  Nora also loves to play with Leo's toys.  I should have saved my money and just let her play with Leo's stuff.  She prefers to be in his room throwing his Hotwheels.  Of course I think everything she does is super cute.  I can remember before I had kids, how silly I thought parents were talking about their children reaching developmental milestones like the kid just found a cure for cancer.  I would laugh and think I'll never be like that.  Well, here I am five years and two kids later, gushing over Nora talking or climbing up on stuff.  Something clicks in your brain the moment you see that goo covered baby that just came out of you.  You know longer can be objective about anything they do or don't do.  I truly believe that no other baby has ever looked so cute talking on a toy phone as Nora does.  I guess this total love of everything they do gets me through the hard times.  Honestly, Nora waking up at 4am this morning or refusing to drink out of a sippy cup is so not cute.  Whenever I get frustrated with her or so tired I think I could fall asleep while typing on the computer, I remember that sweet face holding the phone backwards to her ear. 

Christmas Break

No two words strike fear in the hearts of mamas like Christmas break.  Today was the day I have been dreading for weeks, the last day of school before Christmas break.  The last normal day for the next two weeks.  For some moms this may not be a big deal.  Heck, it may even been a fun time to spend the the kids.  Well, not for us.  My children are creatures of habit.  Neither one does well when their schedule are interrupted.  I blame myself for this, I don't do well with change either.  I like to do the same things, at the same time each week.  Now, for the next two weeks, I'm going to have to come up with a new schedule for us.  Christmas time is always crazy so this doesn't help.  Leo is so worked up about presents and Santa and all that jazz that I'm not sure he will be able to control himself until next Saturday.  Here's hoping that Santa has picked out some great toys that will keep the kids occupied.  Hmmm,  maybe this is the time for me to get all artsy, crafty and start make Christmas crafts and cookies with the kids.  Now I know I'm losing it because I'm so not crafty. Oh well here's to a fun filled Christmas break!

Nora waiting for Leo's Christmas party to begin



There is nothing better than party food, especially when the cupcakes turn your teeth green!



Nora was less than impressed with Santa



Leo and Santa!



Santa and other lies we tell

Christmas is the time for spending time with friends and family, for making cookies and for giving gifts.  Christmas is also the time when parents tell the most creative lies to their children.  Tonight, I found myself in the middle of a big one.  Earlier in the day, I got out my toolbox from the living room closet and forgot to close the door.  I got busy around the house and completely forgot about the closet.  So, I'm in the kitchen feeding Nora when Leo starts talking to me about something in the living room.  Honestly, I'm really only half listening, when it dawns on me what is talking about, our Santa presents are hidden in the closet that is wide open.  Thankfully, I have already wrapped them all.  I have no idea what I'm going to say to get out of this mess.  "Who are those presents for?" Leo asks.  I reply with the first thing that comes to mind, "they are for some other kids."  Needless to say this leads to more questions - "What other kids?, Why do you have them?, Can I have lots of presents like these?"  The questions are flying at me like bullets.  I respond again with the first thing that comes to mind "I'm helping out Santa."   Big mistake, why did I bring Santa into this.  We don't stress the Santa part of Christmas but Leo is really starting to pick up the idea from his friends.  He is totally into Santa and his helpers, the gnomes (for some reason Leo refuses to believe they are called elves, not gnomes like the one on the Travelocity commercial).  Now Leo is really concerned because I'm not a elf/gnome.  The lies are starting to grow.  I explain that he doesn't need to worry because he will have plenty of presents for Christmas.  I then suggest to Leo that we could call Santa later to check to make sure that Santa knows what he wants for Christmas, hoping I could put an end to this crazy conversation.  Leo informs me however that "Santa doesn't work like that and besides I don't have his number."  Great, now it's time to ignore him and hope he gets distracted quickly.  After thinking it over for a minute, Leo decides that my friend, Amy "probably has Santa's number."  How else can I respond to that one except, "lets give Amy a call and see."  Thankfully, this worked and Leo is no longer obsessing over the presents in the closet.  Mental note - Don't even think about opening that closet again until Christmas!