Is it seriously only 9 days until Christmas? Wasn't it Thanksgiving, heck, the summer just a short time ago? Time really seems to be flying here.
It's nice to be able, though, to sit down after a long day and just relax on the sofa. In a few minutes I'm going to pop in that treat of holiday treats: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I'd be eating some Christmas goodies if the mac-n-cheese I made Livers and me hadn't ruined my plans.
Speaking of Livers...
I thought I'd regale (or nauseate) you with a delightful story of epic proportions, circa last Sunday night. For as long as I can remember Livers has had an unfortunate fascination for toilets. And by unfortunate fascinations I mean if it's open she's gonna shove her hand in and give it a swish. Usually having the lid down is deterrent enough.
Sunday, however, I had taken Livers with me to turn on some Christmas lights outside and I set her upstairs with J so I could plug in a strand that had come unplugged. He was in the restroom washing up, so I yelled up to ask if the toilet lid was shut. He said that it was, so I put her over the gate, assuming that she'd be fine. Well, you know the old saying about assuming, right? As I turn to go back outside I hear J yell, "no, no, No, NOOOOO!!!" followed by a, "Oh my God, that is disgusting!" I figured she'd just shoved her hand in the toilet, but oh no....
The toilet had not been flushed yet AND there was toilet paper in it.....
which she proceeded to take OUT of the toilet and....
eat.
I didn't know what to do first, wash her hands or wash her mouth out. What do you seriously do in this situation??? I went with choice #1, which J apparently thought was the wrong one and scolded me, so I snapped back that I couldn't do both at once.
What is it with toddlers' fascination with the toilet, anyway? And when does it end???? Please tell me.
In other frustrating news we are going to need to break the rocking-to-sleep-at-naptime habit something serious. Luckily it IS only a naptime thing, as Livers easily goes to bed on her own at night, but it makes it no less frustrating. A lot of the times I can easily get her from my arms to the crib without incident, but lately we've been having a problem where as soon as her head hits the bed she wakes up WAILING and will not be comforted. There's no rocking her back to sleep or lying next to her on the floor or trying to get her to sleep with you in your bed. Generally once this happens the jig is up and she won't sleep anymore, which means we'll have a child who's gone 12 hours straight without a nap on her hands by the time dinner rolls around. Good times, people, good times. Unfortunately cranky child makes for cranky parents, and that atmosphere just ain't cool.
Yesterday when this happened she cried for an hour. Straight. And never napped. Today when I made the conscious decision to start breaking the cycle she cried for 20 minutes straight before finally sleeping for an hour. Hopefully we'll be able to reduce the crying by even more tomorrow and maybe even get some more sleep in her. I should've done something about this a long time ago (when she was more pliable), but I loved holding her when she was peaceful and I wasn't ready to fight the battle. Since she'll be two in a mere two and a half weeks I figure it's time, and it'll make it easier if she stays over with any grandparents.
Things aren't all bad, though. I've been getting really tickled watching Livers get into the Christmas spirit. We love to go out in the evenings to see houses decorated with Christmas lights. As a consolation prize for not going to Wally World we drove around looking at lights, and she just had a blast. When driving by one house she spotted another with some lights and exclaimed, "Wow, looky dose Chrit-mas lights!" Every time before I put her down at night I have to open her blinds to look out at our lights in the front yard, and the smiles on her face just melt your heart.
She loves her Christmas songs, too. It amazes me how quickly she picks up on the words to them. She and I love to watch Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (or rein-a-deer, as she calls them), and if you leave out words she'll fill in the blanks for you. The same goes for "Frosty the Snowman", which she certainly SHOULD know by now since she plays her Frosty doll all.the.time, and also "Silent Night".
She's also gotten huge into dancing. Her version of dancing is hilarious, but it exhausts me to watch. Here's why:
How the poor thing doesn't have shin splints is beyond me. :)
Well, I'm off to relax. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Music to My Ears - Photostory Friday
My Livers is quite the little songbird. She absolutely LOVES to sing and to listen to music, and she does both all.the.time. Whenever we get in the car and she hears music the first thing she'll usually say is, "Turn it up!". Whenever we go to stores she always looks for the speakers, and when she finds them she'll say, "Music comesa right there!"
What's great is that she really isn't a kids music kind of girl. (And by great, I mean great for me. There should be a legal limit to how many times a parent should be subjected to "Wheels on a Bus".) She has more "mature" musical tastes, evidenced by an iPod playlist consisting of the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, the Beatles (LOTS of Beatles), Weezer, and Rihanna (she just loves that "Umbrella" song). If you ask her what her favorite Beatles song is she'll automatically say, "Hey Jude".
One thing that I find cute about Livers is that you actually can understand what she is singing. It amazes me that such a little girl can sing such big songs. To that end, here is some of Livers' musical prowress :)
Singing the Mamas and the Papas "Make Your Own Kind of Music":
It wouldn't be the Christmas season without a Christmas song:
One of her favorite Beatles' songs, "All My Loving":
* * * *
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
What's great is that she really isn't a kids music kind of girl. (And by great, I mean great for me. There should be a legal limit to how many times a parent should be subjected to "Wheels on a Bus".) She has more "mature" musical tastes, evidenced by an iPod playlist consisting of the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, the Beatles (LOTS of Beatles), Weezer, and Rihanna (she just loves that "Umbrella" song). If you ask her what her favorite Beatles song is she'll automatically say, "Hey Jude".
One thing that I find cute about Livers is that you actually can understand what she is singing. It amazes me that such a little girl can sing such big songs. To that end, here is some of Livers' musical prowress :)
Singing the Mamas and the Papas "Make Your Own Kind of Music":
It wouldn't be the Christmas season without a Christmas song:
One of her favorite Beatles' songs, "All My Loving":
* * * *
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Mother of the Year
Do you ever have one of those days where you'd just like to catch the next train out of town and take a LOOOONG vacation? You know, the kind with a one-way ticket to warm sunshine, free drinks, and cabana boys named Marco.
Today was one of those days.
Livers has me so frustrated that I don't have enough tears to cry. I will say she is a wonderful little girl. She's got loads of personality, is smart as a whip, loves to sing, and is getting to that stage where she likes to throw out the affection like candy at a parade. I love the girl to pieces, so much that it hurts sometimes.
However, her seeming inability to listen to a SINGLE word I have to say angers me to no end. She will not stay out of the Christmas tree and its ornaments. I can't tell you how many times I've told her TODAY to leave the Velcro baby gate at the top of the stairs alone and stop trying to go to Daddy's man cave. (Velcro baby gates, you say? Yeah, someone was stupid enough to manufacture them and someone else was stupid enough to buy them.) I swear I spend 90% of my conversational time with her saying, "No!", "Stop!", "That's dangerous!", "Get out of the Christmas tree!", "That's a no-no!", "We're not going downstairs!", and numerous expletives (in my head only).
Even worse....
Yesterday she learned how to climb out of her crib.
I think I can tolerate the not listening, but the not listening on top of being an escapee is just too much. SO FAR she has not gotten out at night, but I felt dern near suicidal at naptime today. It was one of those times when she would fall asleep in my arms while I was rocking her but as soon as her head hits the crib she wakes up. (What is she, three weeks old??? Seriously...) Whenever we have those kinds of naps I know the jig is up. I tried for over an hour and a half to get her to take a nap with no success. I tried to let her just cry it out, but she broke out of her crib TWICE and came to look for me.
I'm the type of person that has to have a nap. Some people enjoy them when they get them and others can do without, but I have to have a battery recharge in the middle of the day or I'm as cranky as a two-year-old (named Livers) without it.
Because of the lack of nap, prison breaking, and general pattern of ignorance on Livers' part, I was very short tempered this afternoon and tonight. I'm a loud person and a bit of a yeller by nature, but today was just awful. I truly feel like THE WORST mother in the world. I was seeing red much of the evening, and it was like an out of body experience that I wish I could've jerked myself away from. I could see myself losing my temper with her and yelling and setting ever so the bad example, but my exhaustion and extreme frustration got out of control. I feel so horrible I've literally been in tears tonight.
I need all the prayers that you can send this way to help me, because I do not want to be one of those mothers without patience. I want to be kind and loving (which I am, I promise) and someone that Livers can look up to. I do not want her to see me as a hateful beast. I understand that being stern is part of being a parent, and I know that there are very few parents in the world who can honestly say that they've never lost their temper with a disobedient child, but I do not want this to become the norm.
So how do you deal with the frustration of a child barrelling towards the terrible twos (or threes, fours, teenage years)? Am I a horrible parent or does this happen to you, too?
Today was one of those days.
Livers has me so frustrated that I don't have enough tears to cry. I will say she is a wonderful little girl. She's got loads of personality, is smart as a whip, loves to sing, and is getting to that stage where she likes to throw out the affection like candy at a parade. I love the girl to pieces, so much that it hurts sometimes.
However, her seeming inability to listen to a SINGLE word I have to say angers me to no end. She will not stay out of the Christmas tree and its ornaments. I can't tell you how many times I've told her TODAY to leave the Velcro baby gate at the top of the stairs alone and stop trying to go to Daddy's man cave. (Velcro baby gates, you say? Yeah, someone was stupid enough to manufacture them and someone else was stupid enough to buy them.) I swear I spend 90% of my conversational time with her saying, "No!", "Stop!", "That's dangerous!", "Get out of the Christmas tree!", "That's a no-no!", "We're not going downstairs!", and numerous expletives (in my head only).
Even worse....
Yesterday she learned how to climb out of her crib.
I think I can tolerate the not listening, but the not listening on top of being an escapee is just too much. SO FAR she has not gotten out at night, but I felt dern near suicidal at naptime today. It was one of those times when she would fall asleep in my arms while I was rocking her but as soon as her head hits the crib she wakes up. (What is she, three weeks old??? Seriously...) Whenever we have those kinds of naps I know the jig is up. I tried for over an hour and a half to get her to take a nap with no success. I tried to let her just cry it out, but she broke out of her crib TWICE and came to look for me.
I'm the type of person that has to have a nap. Some people enjoy them when they get them and others can do without, but I have to have a battery recharge in the middle of the day or I'm as cranky as a two-year-old (named Livers) without it.
Because of the lack of nap, prison breaking, and general pattern of ignorance on Livers' part, I was very short tempered this afternoon and tonight. I'm a loud person and a bit of a yeller by nature, but today was just awful. I truly feel like THE WORST mother in the world. I was seeing red much of the evening, and it was like an out of body experience that I wish I could've jerked myself away from. I could see myself losing my temper with her and yelling and setting ever so the bad example, but my exhaustion and extreme frustration got out of control. I feel so horrible I've literally been in tears tonight.
I need all the prayers that you can send this way to help me, because I do not want to be one of those mothers without patience. I want to be kind and loving (which I am, I promise) and someone that Livers can look up to. I do not want her to see me as a hateful beast. I understand that being stern is part of being a parent, and I know that there are very few parents in the world who can honestly say that they've never lost their temper with a disobedient child, but I do not want this to become the norm.
So how do you deal with the frustration of a child barrelling towards the terrible twos (or threes, fours, teenage years)? Am I a horrible parent or does this happen to you, too?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Some Celebrity Musings to Entertain You
I feel I must commentate on a few things celebrity....
First and foremost (and the reason I started this post):
WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH HEIDI MONTAG'S WEDDING DRESS????
Seriously, I didn't think anyone would manage to make frumpy look slutty, but the Biggest Bimbo of the West most certainly pulled it off. I've never watched The Hills. I can safely say that I intend never to watch The Hills. I am, however, pseudo-forced to watch the shenanigans since I love to read celebrity rags, and every time I see hers and Spencer's face, I just want to punch them. I really do. I'm not a violent or spiteful person by any means, but the celebru-tastrophe that is the Montag-Pratt union makes me want to hurl.
Back to the dress. I'm all about comfort on a wedding day, but that's crossing the line. And out the window went a little class when she showed approximately 90% of her surgically enhanced cleavage in her dress. US Weekly decided to title one of the pics "White Wedding". I'm not so sure that's so accurate, especially with a dress like that.
Next!
I must say, Bravo!, Ms. Spears, Bravo! I much prefer reading about a pulled together you than a shaven-headed, umbrella-toting, almost-skinny dipping, psych-ward check-inning you. You have pulled yourself together and then some, and I applaud you for pointing out to the world that it took WORK. In all ways. I hope to see you even more pulled together in the future, because I don't want to see anyone fall the way that you did last year. Keep up the good work!
Let's see, any other celebru-comments...
In a nutshell:
I'm sick of the rags interviewing super-rich new mom celebrities and chronicling how they lost their baby weight in a week and a half just watching their child breastfeed and how they burned 4000 calories a day walking up the stairs to get their iPod. THESE PEOPLE ARE RICH. They have their food delivered, personal trainers on retainer, and nannies to watch their babies while they work out for four hours a day to get back into their size 00 jeans. I didn't have a super-difficult time with losing the baby weight, but it really irritates me that they put so much pressure on normal moms out there who really do have a hard time but lack the luxuries that these women have to get their figures back. Losing the baby weight isn't the thing they should be interviewing these moms about. It's time to get real, people.
US Weekly annoys the crap out of me.
So does Katherine Heigl, but not nearly as much as Heidi Montag.
I might be adding Hugh Jackman to My Laminated List (honorable mentions) after watching him in Australia. I was in loooove watching him and hearing that beautiful down unda' accent for a blissful 2 hours and 45 minutes. BTW, the fastest long movie I've ever watched. I liked it that much.
The countdown to January 21 has begun. I am seriously giddy with anticipation.
I think this is enough. Enjoy the rants and randomness!
First and foremost (and the reason I started this post):
WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH HEIDI MONTAG'S WEDDING DRESS????
Seriously, I didn't think anyone would manage to make frumpy look slutty, but the Biggest Bimbo of the West most certainly pulled it off. I've never watched The Hills. I can safely say that I intend never to watch The Hills. I am, however, pseudo-forced to watch the shenanigans since I love to read celebrity rags, and every time I see hers and Spencer's face, I just want to punch them. I really do. I'm not a violent or spiteful person by any means, but the celebru-tastrophe that is the Montag-Pratt union makes me want to hurl.
Back to the dress. I'm all about comfort on a wedding day, but that's crossing the line. And out the window went a little class when she showed approximately 90% of her surgically enhanced cleavage in her dress. US Weekly decided to title one of the pics "White Wedding". I'm not so sure that's so accurate, especially with a dress like that.
Next!
I must say, Bravo!, Ms. Spears, Bravo! I much prefer reading about a pulled together you than a shaven-headed, umbrella-toting, almost-skinny dipping, psych-ward check-inning you. You have pulled yourself together and then some, and I applaud you for pointing out to the world that it took WORK. In all ways. I hope to see you even more pulled together in the future, because I don't want to see anyone fall the way that you did last year. Keep up the good work!
Let's see, any other celebru-comments...
In a nutshell:
I'm sick of the rags interviewing super-rich new mom celebrities and chronicling how they lost their baby weight in a week and a half just watching their child breastfeed and how they burned 4000 calories a day walking up the stairs to get their iPod. THESE PEOPLE ARE RICH. They have their food delivered, personal trainers on retainer, and nannies to watch their babies while they work out for four hours a day to get back into their size 00 jeans. I didn't have a super-difficult time with losing the baby weight, but it really irritates me that they put so much pressure on normal moms out there who really do have a hard time but lack the luxuries that these women have to get their figures back. Losing the baby weight isn't the thing they should be interviewing these moms about. It's time to get real, people.
US Weekly annoys the crap out of me.
So does Katherine Heigl, but not nearly as much as Heidi Montag.
I might be adding Hugh Jackman to My Laminated List (honorable mentions) after watching him in Australia. I was in loooove watching him and hearing that beautiful down unda' accent for a blissful 2 hours and 45 minutes. BTW, the fastest long movie I've ever watched. I liked it that much.
The countdown to January 21 has begun. I am seriously giddy with anticipation.
I think this is enough. Enjoy the rants and randomness!
I Never...
I think I'd like to play this with Kate and Sawyer. :) It's a little more PG than theirs, though. That's probably a good thing. I'm batting about 0.333 (give or take) for this list. The ones I've done are in bold. Thanks for the steal, Tiaras and Tantrums! Make sure to stop by her blog and check her list out, too!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - WORLD
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke (whoops, forgot about my bachelorette party)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Seen the Lincoln Memorial in person
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post (hence this post) :):)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - WORLD
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke (whoops, forgot about my bachelorette party)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Seen the Lincoln Memorial in person
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post (hence this post) :):)
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things - The "G" Edition
In need of a post idea, I saw this over at One Crafty Mama. (Hi, Michelle!) You are supposed to list ten of your favorite things, but they must start with a specific and assigned letter of the alphabet. I must say, she gave me a very difficult letter, and I apologize in advance for the gratuitous usage of adjectives. :)
Here we go, my 10 of my favorite things, brought to you by the letter "G"!
So, you like the idea or are in need of something to kick start your brain (like me)? If so, feel free to play along! I'll be more than happy to give you a letter so you can start off your favorite things list, too!
* * * *
On a different note, Project Griswold is officially going to be declared complete, even though I'd love to put up some more lights outside. It's all fun and games until a circuit breaks from five hundred too many lights.
Here we go, my 10 of my favorite things, brought to you by the letter "G"!
- God. I'm glad that I got to put that one in there. I would definitely say that I'm not a vocally religious person (in that I am not one to go out and evangelize or try to force people to hear my beliefs), but God plays a very important part in my life. I've learned through experience that over-vocalization of ones' beliefs anger more than help people, so I try as best I can to live a life that God would be proud of in hopes that I can help people in this way. I would not be anywhere in life without Him, and I can see how He has blessed me every day simply by looking at my husband, daughter, and the beauty of His creation.
- Gorgeous rainbows. I really do love me some rainbows.
- Great Britain's actors. Especially scruffy ones :) I'm in particular thinking of Clive Owen, James McAvoy, and Hugh Laurie.
- Gerber daisies. I especially adore the red ones. When my mom had her hysterectomy back in May, I got her some to make her feel better and to spread some cheer. I almost got some for myself, because they were so beautiful.
- Good Eats. I'm referring to the show on the Food Network, though I love some good eats, too. I could watch Alton Brown and his zany and informative Bill Nye style of food coverage any day of the week.
- Golden Globes and the like. I'm really more of an Oscar gal, but I needed something to start with a G. :) Seriously, the awards season is my Super Bowl, my World Series, my March Madness. I look forward to it with anticipation every year, and I love to see what the actresses are going to wear.
- Grande Chai Latte with Whipped Cream. Here I go with the adjectives again. I love it. Not too big, not too small. Perfectly flavored and delectably spiced.
- Grapes. I love how sweet they are. I love that you can get them year round. I love the crunch they make when you slowly crush them between your molars. This is a shared love between me and Livers.
- Gallantry. Chivalry ain't dead, people. At least it shouldn't be. I'm as strong-willed and independent as the next 21st century woman, but I still like the feeling of being shown respect and of being protected.
- Great big bear hugs. Especially from my husband and Livers. After being together for seven years daily affection can sometimes become routine, so I love it when I'm caught off guard by a great big bear hug from J or when I'm upset and he wraps his arms around me in comfort. Livers has also started to get very affectionate as of late, and one of my absolute favorite things is when she runs, literally runs, into my arms and wraps herself around me. Makes all the temper tantrums and harpy shrieks I've heard during the day just disappear.
So, you like the idea or are in need of something to kick start your brain (like me)? If so, feel free to play along! I'll be more than happy to give you a letter so you can start off your favorite things list, too!
* * * *
On a different note, Project Griswold is officially going to be declared complete, even though I'd love to put up some more lights outside. It's all fun and games until a circuit breaks from five hundred too many lights.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree!
Right now I'm enjoying one of my favorite activities of the entire year: sitting in my den, which is lit only by the light of 750 tiny (and not so tiny) Christmas lights. I seriously anticipate the moment all year round when the final light strand is wrapped and the last ornament is hung and I can sit in the soft red glow of the lights and just relax. I used to love to do it when I was pregnant with Livers. I'd come home from work, turn on the tree lights, and doze on the sofa until J got home.
I had hoped to get the tree up this weekend, but the weather was very uncooperative and it rained the entire time. I'm not going to complain, because we're so in drought that every spare inch buys us a little more drinking water around here, but I still would've liked a few extra days of twinkling bliss.
It was different this year putting up the tree, because Livers was a more active participant in the process. She thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it, from dragging the tree into the house and getting Fraser fir needles everywhere to this morning when we put the ornaments on the tree "together". I love that she enjoys looking at the tree and its decorations. For all of the frustration that goes into trimming the tree, it is all worth it to see the looks of utter amazement on my daughter's face as she gazes at the lights and carefully chooses which ornament she'd like to scale the baby gate to steal.
As much as I enjoy Christmas trees, I do get very tired of putting up the lights. I'm not a simpleton when it comes to lights. I'm Clark Griswold, and I'm happy to say that Project Griswold 2008 is almost complete. I spent much of Thanksgiving weekend getting the remainder of the lights out in my front yard. I had set the goal of turning the vast majority of them on the day after Thanksgiving, and I worked furiously to get it accomplished. Let me tell you, it is no easy feat trying to open a box of icicle lights on your roof at 5:45 at night with only your neighbor's flood lights as a guide.
I did get it done, and I am very pleased with myself. J thinks I do it for the attention of the neighbors, and yes, it is nice, but I do a lot of it for myself and for my family. I love love LOVE Christmas lights, and I enjoy being able to look out of my kitchen window (like in the pictures below) and see my own little Winter Wonderland. And the look on Livers' face when I lit the outside lights for the first time was reason enough to spend 12 hours next year on it as well. She just adores looking at the lights, and it is the last thing she asks to see before bed every night.
* * * *
Visit 7 Clown Circus for more WordFUL Wednesdays!
I had hoped to get the tree up this weekend, but the weather was very uncooperative and it rained the entire time. I'm not going to complain, because we're so in drought that every spare inch buys us a little more drinking water around here, but I still would've liked a few extra days of twinkling bliss.
It was different this year putting up the tree, because Livers was a more active participant in the process. She thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it, from dragging the tree into the house and getting Fraser fir needles everywhere to this morning when we put the ornaments on the tree "together". I love that she enjoys looking at the tree and its decorations. For all of the frustration that goes into trimming the tree, it is all worth it to see the looks of utter amazement on my daughter's face as she gazes at the lights and carefully chooses which ornament she'd like to scale the baby gate to steal.
As much as I enjoy Christmas trees, I do get very tired of putting up the lights. I'm not a simpleton when it comes to lights. I'm Clark Griswold, and I'm happy to say that Project Griswold 2008 is almost complete. I spent much of Thanksgiving weekend getting the remainder of the lights out in my front yard. I had set the goal of turning the vast majority of them on the day after Thanksgiving, and I worked furiously to get it accomplished. Let me tell you, it is no easy feat trying to open a box of icicle lights on your roof at 5:45 at night with only your neighbor's flood lights as a guide.
I did get it done, and I am very pleased with myself. J thinks I do it for the attention of the neighbors, and yes, it is nice, but I do a lot of it for myself and for my family. I love love LOVE Christmas lights, and I enjoy being able to look out of my kitchen window (like in the pictures below) and see my own little Winter Wonderland. And the look on Livers' face when I lit the outside lights for the first time was reason enough to spend 12 hours next year on it as well. She just adores looking at the lights, and it is the last thing she asks to see before bed every night.
* * * *
Visit 7 Clown Circus for more WordFUL Wednesdays!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
