2009 in Review: Part 2

Scroll down for the first part of 2009.

Now seeing as I didn't blog the first half of 2009, there isn't much I remember.  But I have this great collection of stories from the second half of 2009.

In July, Mommy got it in the face.

In August we found an alligator in our toilet.

In September I confessed my son is an addict

In October, I wrote a letter to Soccer Moms

In November, Dear Hubby learned what happens when all is quiet

In December, I talked alot about Christmas, and had another toilet incident.

So much easier to remember what happened when I write it all down.  While 2009 was a decent year, I know that 2010 is going to be better!!! Happy New Year!

God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. ~J.M. Barrie, Courage, 1922

2009 in Review: Part 1

Is it really bad that I can't remember the first few months of 2009?  I wasn't blogging yet, so I didn't have daily or almost daily chronicles of my life and I can't remember what happened. 

I know that little man was just starting to talk - he took a long time to talk.  I know that the boys were in the first grade and played baseball in the spring.  But the details - I don't remember any details.  The details that I want to remember and keep a history of - those are the things you don't get to keep when you don't blog.  It's the whole reason I started blogging.  I had tried various ways of writing down things that happened in our lives, little things that the boys did or said, but I wasn't good at keeping up with it. 

Blogosphere has brought me a way of keeping the memories.  Of course I had no idea that it would bring me a whole community of friends and that I would be able to piece bake some of the memories of when the boys were younger.

So while I don't remember much of the beginning of 2009 I do have a few memories from the first six months and a few from before 2009 that I was able to capture and preserve.

T1 learned that mommy was scared of dead lizards.

We played a lot of baseball

and little man taught us all the Toddler's Creed!
I remembered about the Toothless Tooth Fairy

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Run while Mommy counts to 10, very slowly

Ever had that moment where you are not quite sure what you are going to do to your child, but know that they are lucky they are not within arm's length.

My adorable, sweet, precious child decided he should push Mommy to that limit while at a Boxing day party on Saturday.  The kids had decided to run and play on the stairs during this not so casual party. 

By play,  I mean slide down all of them on their butt.  By run I mean chase each other around the balcony area while squealing.

I walked halfway up the stairs and told my boys (who happened to be showing off for older kids) to calm down.  My stepmother was downstairs having a fit at all the noise from the children.   I hissed "quit running and sliding, when you do that it echoes through the house"

T1's response: "when you yell at me it echoes"

1...2...3.... breathe....4......5....6...7...8.9.10

Santa did it!

Mother Nature didn't agree with Santa this year, which made for a very interesting Christmas morning.  While the rest of the country was getting snow - we got a very cold rain.  That's right, we live too far north for warmth, but too far south for snow.  So we got rained on, all day, Christmas day.

Luckily that was about the worst of it.

Except Santa brought his big gift, which involved the twins going on a treasure hunt to find it, which involved going outside, in the rain.

They didn't care.  And in the end they rode their new present for about 5 minutes in the rain.  Yesterday I was able to watch them actally enjoy it for a few minutes before I crashed on the couch again.  What is it about Christmas that wears us out?  After all the prep - we are pooped afterwards.

So today I'm back at work and the kids and hubby are lounging around, or else doing this.

the day after, the day after

It's the day after, the day after Christmas and at my house, this is the day we all crash.  After a week of events and family we all look forward to a day of peace.  Or at least Mommy does.

On the one hand I'm ready for all the chaos to be over, on the other, I already miss all the preparations that were made.  Getting ready for the big day is almost as much fun as the big day itself.

And now here we are -the house needs cleaning, the kids need calming and Mommy isn't even ready to write about the big day yet.  We had a blast and the twins loved their big present from the big man, but that is a post for another day.  Today is a day of rest.

Hope you are all enjoying your day of rest - or shopping (if you're nuts) - or maybe you're family is still around.  Whatever it is - hope it is the best.

Twas the Night Before

In case you haven't noticed I like to take songs and twist them around a bit.  (don't believe me?  I did it for SITSmas and awards day )  My favorite poem to change is Twas the Night before Christmas.  I'm sending it to all my friends this year in new age style (via facebook, because I never got around to printing and mailing them). 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Every creature was stirring except for my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children had been nestled all snug in their beds,

But wouldn't sleep because visions of toys danced in their heads.

And while Daddy was enjoying his long winter's nap,

I was waiting for the twins to try and set a trap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

Hailey sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.

Away to the window she and Morgan flew like a flash,

Tore open the blinds and ripped up the sash.

The moon on the crest of the grass covered in frost

Gave the lustre of new to the toys once lost.

I quieted the dogs for there was nothing to fear,

It's not like there was a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the carpet

The sound in the night that always makes me fret.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the hallway little man came with a bound.

He was dressed all in paper, from his head to his feet,

And his clothes were all covered in ribbons so neat.

Carrying a bundle of toys he had opened with great care and tact,

And he looked like a peddler, just examining his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His drool on his little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the glimmer of his diaper was sagging like snow.

The stump of a candy cane he held tight in his teeth,

And the wrapper lay in a pile beneath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A blink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread.

The twins spoke not a word, but looked straight at his work,

All the empty stockings caused them to jerk.

All the toys lay spread on the floor in rows,

And giving a nod, they chased him like foes!

Little man sprang to the side of the couch,

He knew they wanted him to say ouch,

But I heard him exclaim, ‘as he ran into bed,

"Merry Christmas to all, that was quite a spread!"

Mom VS Santa

Last week I gave a hint that my favorite gift may be coming from Santa this year. 

It's official.  Santa wrote me a nice long note and told me what super duper big gift he was giving my boys.  Without Santa, my boys wouldn't have recieved such a gift because lets face it - it's way out of our price range.  And for those guessing a Wii (Desert Rose), it's not one of those, this actually costs more. 

I say it's for my boys, but really it is for the twins.  Although Dear Hubby will get just as much joy out of it.  Little Man will be very jealous, until he is older and can steal it from them.

I listened to all the comments on my favorite gift post and I asked Santa to make a treasure hunt to it.  I think it will be so much fun!  He is going to do 10 clues, and they will each be able to take turns figuring out where to go next. 

He has also promised that he will leave them a note with the first clue that says they have to follow Mommy and Daddy's rules on their new gift.  See Mommy likes rules, especially when it comes to toys for boys.

It all sounds so wonderful doesn't it?  It is great, and I am very excited for them.  This is my only problem.  Santa is bringing the big gift, but in order to use the big gift, you need a smaller gift.  This is a part of Mommy's rules.  So, while all my shopping was done last week, today I got to go out in the lovely traffic and go shopping again.  On my lunch break.  To multiple stores.  To find one of these. 

And by the way Santa, this thing cost $100.00 but they aren't getting your gift without it!

Now, the question is when to give them this - before or after the treasure hunt - or should I pretend it is from Santa?

Christmas to do list

My list is long and today it got a little wacky

1. wrap presents CHECK (except for the ones to be delivered Monday)
2. take day off to go to kids school Christmas parties CHECK
3. send hubby to store for mint that I forgot for cookies CHECK (although they had no mint)
4. wait for school to be cancelled for incliment weather to come CHECK
5. incliment weather come NO CHECK
6. bake Mint Oreo Cookies found on Jamie Cooks it Up minus the mint CHECK (and boy are they good!)
7. bake Charleston Chews CHECK
8. bake meringue cookies IN PROGRESS
9. bake butter cookies
10. clean kitchen for fifth time
11. figure out dinner
12. take kids to see the lights at Zootastic

I wonder what tomorrow's will look like. 
How's your Christmas List going?

In all my 30 years of Christmas...

Thirty years of Christmas presents is a lot of gifts, if you include my birthday and any other random gift I've gotten, well that is a WHOLE LOTTA GIFTS!
And Mama Kat wants me to describe a funny or favorite gift that you’ve gotten or have given.

So I was thinking - I talked about the pink jambox the other day in my questions post.

Did I tell you about the year (yes it was the 80's) that I got the black and white polka dot hammer pants I was dying for?  That was the one and only time my mother actually got me exactly what I wanted clothes wise.  And I was thrilled - they went great with my pink sweater.  I even have a picture of me modeling them that Christmas morning.

There was also the year that I got a bicycle!  I had to follow clues and hunt for it.  I was so excited - even if it was green. 

But my favorite, I think it is coming this year!  I am so excited about the gift for the boys.  It is a super duper suprise and it won't fit under the tree.  Hopefully it will all pan out according to plan, and if it does - the look on their faces will be great!!!  I can make them go on a treasure hunt around the house like I did, or maybe I'll just leave directions to go look on the back porch.

What should I do?

Christmas is sights, especially the sights of Christmas reflected in the eyes of a child.--William Saroyan

All I want for Christmas is a few prayers

I know this is not my typical post - it is way out of the norm for me. The norm for me is the chaos that having three boys has made in my life. The norm for me is also dealing with a son who was born with a heart defect. And the norm for me is praying each night, especially for children who need it.

During our hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, what are you wishing for?  A new sweater, that bagless vaccum, a new car, diamond earrings.  Maybe you are simpler and just want a job.  I don't have anything on my list this year.  My list consists of lists for others.  Even in these tight times, I'd like to make Christmas special for my boys, but that is not something I pray for each night.  At night I pray for something different.

When you pray at night who do you think of?  Do you think of just your family or do you pray from a list?  Do you remember each and everyone, or do you remember the faces? I admit when there are times I don't remember a name, but just a face or a request for a prayer.  I know that it is okay if I say a prayer for a face, God knows who we are talking about. This Christmas, I am asking you to say an extra prayer, a special prayer for these children, because for them, the norm is they are in need of all our prayers.






         

Remember

This December,

That love weighs more than gold!

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

I'm giving out Awards for Christmas!

It's Christmas time and Award time - how terrific is that.  Recently I have been awarded three awards by three fabulous ladies.  Luckily there weren't many rules with these ones so I am making this post a little more fun.  I am wishing a Merry Christmas to all my recipients and the present is your award! The best kind of regifting out there!

First up is the 5 Diamond award and who doesn't love getting diamonds for Christmas?  Speaking from the Crib gave me this award and even said I was a real gem - I feel like a million dollars already.  I am passing this award on to It's Twinsanity who is a real gem herself and deserves all the diamonds she can get!

Tiffany at My Journey in Motherhood gave me the Scribbler Award.  Some days I think all I do is scribble, but she actually said I have strength.  If she only knew how many days I'm just lucky to get by.  This award goes to I'm Living Proof that God has a sense of Humor whose writing I love to read and never want to miss - she is a super scribbler!

Last but so not least is the Circle of Friends award from Desert Rose Moments.  I love this gal and enjoy all of her posts.  This one came with the rule that I have to list 5 things I love to do.  Well in the spirit of Christmas: 1. I love wrapping gifts (i know i'm nuts)  2. I love egg nog 3. I love going to look at Christmas lights, they make me feel like a kid again.  4. I love waking up before everyone else Christmas morning and anticipating the delight on the kids faces.  5. I love to bake cookies to give to everyone.
This award is going to The Five Fish who deserves to be in the circle of friends like no one else!

Take your awards lately and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;

Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us some followers;

Oh, bring us some followers;

Oh, bring us some followers and a few good comments.

We won't go until we get some;

We won't go until we get some;

We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas;

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Questions you say?

Laugh until you Cry tagged me in a little Christmas Meme which is from the Top Christmas Blog.  So if you want to know all about Christmas at my house, read on my friends, read on.

1. Have you started your christmas shopping yet?
Well I bought a little bit, and won a couple of things.  So started yes, but anywhere near finished? NO!  Which is really bad for me.  I usually start mapping out a plan and shopping in October, but this year, well October just slipped right on by - and for that matter so did November.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.

If you read my post a couple of weeks ago - you know I am in need of some traditions. I've adopted one Helen gave me that the boys will open one present Christmas Eve (that I've always let them do) and it will be new PJ's.  I like the idea that I can at least make sure they have matching pjs on for all the pictures that are taken Christmas morning.  The only one we have is our annual trip to Mcadenville the city of Christmas lights.  The boys love it - we went last Sunday and even little man kept saying "lights, lights, lights"

3.When do you put up your tree?
The weekend after Thanksgiving.  I prefer one holiday at a time, but as much Christmas as I am able to squeeze in.

4. Are you a black friday shopper?
I wasn't.  Last year was the first time I ventured out and that was because a friend dragged my butt out of bed.  This year, dear hubby had to work, so I didn't make it.  But I feel like I missed some really good deals and a great time.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?
We don't travel far away - but we do go to the in-laws just down the road for brunch and dinner. 

6. What is one of your funniest Christmas memories?
My favorite -he he he- is from when my brother and I were little.  He really wanted a jambox for Christmas and our very cool aunt got him one with a cassette player and all - it was so great - and I was very jealous.  Until he opened the box and saw it was pink.  That gift went to me - with the promise that he would have another one, wonder if he ever got one???

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
There are so many great ones.  I am a big fan of Polar Express - have loved the book since I was a  little girl.  I also have to watch the Grinch every year and Charlie Brown.

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking? What is your favorite treat?
Yes I do my own baking!  I love to cook, good ol' southern food and desserts.  Last year the twins and I made batches and batches of cookies and peppermint brittle for them to package up and give to people as gifts.  My favorite thing to make is fudge, or cheesecake.  I make a mean cheesecake.

9. Fake or Real tree?
I like a real one - sprayed with anti-burn stuff.  But we bought a fake one the first year we were together and it has been that way ever since.  I just can't see spending the money on a real one when I have a fake one (make that 2, someone gave us their old one) right here.

10.  What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Panic - I've never felt any panic before.  Usually I have it all done in a timely fashion and try to enjoy every bit of it.  This year though - there might be a little panic if I don't get some shopping done soon.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope - I had that experience once in college when I came home and my step-mother hadn't wrapped anything yet.  And I may be caught wrapping gifts for my mother in law who saves them all for me to do, but all of my stuff is wrapped.  I enjoy wrapping and will take my time in the evenings doing it all.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
I'm probably the most excited person Christmas morning, I've always been the first one up and have even woken up my children out of sheer anticipation.  I love to see their faces when they get up and can be found with my cup of coffee in hand sitting near the tree waiting on them.  That is my favorite part - the joy and wonder of their faces first thing in the morning.

13. What Christmas craft do you like best?
I made really neat stockings one year.  But my favorite is making the Gingerbread house, I try to get better each year.

14. Christmas music?
Dear hubby isn't a big fan - although he enjoys the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I am not picky and love Christmas muic.  The Christmas station has been on in my car since the first day of December.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
Hopefully before the 20th. I do not want to be caught out the week of Christmas. One year I fogot the gift for my brother and had to go out  Christmas Eve, it was pouring a cold rain and the mall was packed.  It was the most miserable shopping ever. 

The original version of this meme says to tag 5 blog friends, so that is what I'll do. I'm going to tag:
Desert Rose Moments
Diaries of a Coach's Wife
I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor
Twinsomnia
Anti-Supermom

2 year old for sale

I'm now opening bids for one 2 1/2 year old.
He can climb bookcases
to throw the stuff off the top
He has silly faces
covered in green snot
He screams louder than a banshee
while hiding better than a turtle
He makes strong coffee
and eats crumbs off the floor.
He's not potty trained,
but will escape out the door.
Bids start at a dollar but I'll take much more.

DISCLAIMER:  This post is a meant to be funny -my son is not actually for sale - I just remember when my brother used to sing Shel Silverstein's poem about me and thought I could do the same about my son.  So knock it off all of you without a sense of humor!

For Sale

One sister for sale!

One sister for sale!

One crying and spying young sister for sale!

I’m really not kidding,

So who’ll start the bidding?

Do I hear the dollar?

A nickel?

A penny?

Oh, isn’t there, isn’t there, isn’t there any

One kid that will buy this old sister for sale,

This crying and spying young sister for sale?

~Shel Silverstein

It's beginning to look like SITSmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like SITSmas

Ev'rywhere you go;

Take a look in The Five Fish glistening once amiss

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like SITSmas

Blogs of every kind, 

But the prettiest sight to see is Leigh vs Laundry

On your own dashboard.

A pair of hopalong cooks and a new book

Is the wish of Deep South Dish;

Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk

Is the hope of Desert Rose;

And Anti-Supermom and Living Proof can hardly wait for school to start again.

It's beginning to look a lot like SITSmas

Ev'rywhere you go;

There's a tree at Three Times the Giggles, one at Laugh until you Cry as well,

The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.

It's beginning to look a lot like SITSmas;

Soon the bells will start,

And the thing that will make them ring is the COMMENTS that you leave

Right upon their sleeve.

HELP! How do I not blow Santa's cover???

Have you heard about the Elf on the Shelf? It is all the new rave.  Well, at least at the twins school.  Their teachers each have a Elf on the Shelf who watches the children and then goes back to Santa each night and tells whether they have been 'naughty or nice'.  Each day he comes back to a different spot in the room.

I think it is a great concept, the boys love it.  He comes with a special book and you can name him and 'register' online to get 'adoption' papers.  The boys have fallen in love with the elf, and all in the year I was afraid the magic of Christmas would start to disappear.  They are seven now.

T1 and T2 have been asking for an elf for about a week.  They told me which website I could go to and would ask everyday if I had been.  Well I went.  It's $29.99 for the whole set-up and we don't have an extra thirty bucks for an elf on a shelf.  I nicely told them we just couldn't afford it right now and it was a lot of money.

Last night, T1 politely informed me that I didn't have to worry about getting one anymore.

"Why?" I asked
"Because I wrote Santa a note and the Elf in our class took it to him.  Santa will send you a Elf on a Shelf."
"Wow!" I responded.  Dumbfounded because now I either get to make or break Christmas this year.

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~Erma Bombeck

the tale of a toilet

I have been holding out on this post for about a week.  The dear hubby doesn't want me to write it - but seeing how he is leaving me to go work today - here it is!

To start off you need a little background.  A: if you didn't know we have 3 boys and that makes life interesting to say the least.  B: we have had a few toilet incidents - including once finding an alligator in our toilet.  C: although Dear hubby works in construction - my idea of fixing things is to try anything, knowing it was already broke means I can't break it worse by trying.  D: I have no real experience in construction.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving T2 and Dear Hubby got in a water fight.  Yes it is cold here in NC in November, no they did not care.  T2 was armed with a small watergun, Dear Hubby armed with brute strength.  Dear Hubby warned T2 that if he shot him again, he would give T2 a swishy in the toilet.  T2 not to be scared off, shot him anyway.  Dear Hubby picked our son up and took him to the bathroom and hung him upside down by his ankles over the toilet.  T2 was laughing so hard he dropped the watergun in the toilet.  Then Dear Hubby attempted to make good on his threat by flushing the toilet (even though T2 wasn't actually in the toilet and didn't get wet).  Well there went the water gun, down the drain.  GREAT - a water gun stuck in the boys toilet.  Dear Hubby had the bright idea we would fix it later, as we were leaving for Thanksgiving the next day and the boys could use our toilet in the meantime.

Boys don't always listen, and continued to use and flush the toilet. We left for Thanksgiving and came home late Thursday night because Dear Hubby was working on a job Friday Sat and Sun.  After spending all day Friday with the twins using our toilet, or forgetting and using theirs, I made hubby take apart the toilet Friday night to retrieve the water gun.  Stuck was not the word.  That water gun was wedged so far in there we could barely touch it.  We greased T2's hand with shortening and tried to get him to pull it out.  He thought the shortening was great, but it didn't do the trick.  Dear Hubby was getting quite frustrated.  We had the toilet bowl in the bathtub, a hose through the window, a plunger, every kind of tool possible and s*** flying out the back but nothing was working.   Dear Hubby decided since it was plastic he could use a propane torch and melt the water gun allowing it to move.  I left the bathroom for that one.  Somehow the idea of fire and a toilet didn't seem like a good idea to me.  An hour later he gave up - and I had decided I would go to Lowe's the next day to buy a new toilet bowl.

Saturday morning I packed up all three boys and we made the trip to Lowe's.  We found a toilet bowl for $25.00 and I was thrilled.  We then made our way through the store looking at all the lights and neat Christmas decorations that cost no less than $80.00 if the kids want it.

We came home and I proceeded to install the new toilet.  It fit and I had it all set up, only when I went to flush one of the bolts from the tank to the toilet bowl leaked.  The other problem was that the toilet seat had rusted to the old toilet and was not coming off. My father in law came over and inspected my work.  He told me I did everything right but that the washers on the tank aren't really made to work for more than one time and I would need a new washer along with a new toilet seat.  He put some sealer on it to make it work in the meantime.  Saturday night dear hubby came home and I asked him to look at the toilet.  Everything was working except sometimes it would continue to run, which had always been a problem with the toilet.

Dear Hubby went in to take a look and proceeded to break the whole contraption in the back.  BREAK IT after I had JUST fixed the toilet.  GREAT!

After church on Sunday - I took all three boys back to Lowe's to get the parts to fix the toilet, again.  I found the whole set-up for $9.00 (individually the parts cost $2 and $3 bucks a piece and I wasn't taking any chances).  The only problem was their was a 8 inch one and 12 inch.  I really thought my toilet was a 10 inch toilet, but if that was all they had I must need the larger one.  I knew my toilet was bigger than 8 inches and even went to look at other toilets in the store to be sure.

We got the set up and a new lid and went home, I fixed lunch and then went in to tackle the toilet again.  As soon as I got in the bathroom I knew there was a problem.  I had been right.  Our toilet was 10 inches (even though it says USA Standard toilet on the inside).  Apparently our toilet is from the dark ages, and they don't even make 10" pieces anymore.  I loaded the kids back up and we went back to Lowe's.  (side note: we live in the sticks and Lowe's is 20 minutes away - one way)  I was not pleased and neither were they.  Lowe's for the third time in two days was enough.

Once back home, I attmpted to fix the toilet.  Little man took offense to the tools I was using and everytime I would put something down, he would take it away and say "No, Daddys!"  That really helped me move along.  So did the fact that the toilet tank really was meant for a 10" part and I had to continue to make do with what the store had.  An hour later I was done.  YIPEE.  I yelled for the boys and we all watched as T1 flushed it for the first time.  It was great, except that it leaked.  From the same stupid bolt that was leaking before and had been fixed by my father in law.  The same washer that I had not bought a new one of because I thought it had been fixed.  Dear Hubby came home and was impressed, even if we did have to use a towel to catch the leak and turn the water off after every use.

Monday I went to Lowe's on my way home from work.  I bought the bolts and washers for a "standard toilet"  being the only size they had.  I told Dear Hubby when I got home he was NOT ALLOWED to touch the toilet.  He had caused enough problems already.  I went into to change out the bolt (not messing with the one that wasn't leaking) and the new bolt wouldn't work.  Even though it was standard, it was too big.  Apparently my toilet tank was from the land of nonstandard toilets.  I'd had enough.  I used the old bolt new washer and the thing still leaked.  I gave up, I'd had enough.

Tuesday - AGAINST ALL ORDERS - dear hubby worked on the bolt and got it to stop leaking.  One week and four trips to Lowe's later the toilet was finally fixed.

My advice to all - A: don't flush a water gun down the toilet and B: just buy a whole new set up instead of buying it one part at a time if you do happen to get something stuck in the toilet.

What have you flushed down the toilet?

The trick to getting things done is to list things to do in doable order. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

lets TOAST or ROAST for my 100th post

I cannot believe I have been blogging for such a short time and have made so many wonderful bloggy friends.  When I first started, I didn't even know why I was writing and didn't tell anyone - even my hubby- for weeks.  (read my scary intro post here) Then I started poking around and found all these great groups like Multiples and More and SITS, then I found some ultra cool - could be my irish twin ladies (Mrs. Fish and Siloquiy Chick to name a couple). 
And low and behold I started wanting people to read what I write (just like Speaking from the Crib said I would). 
I wrote some funny stuff about dead lizards, some sad stuff about dying, and some screaming at the top of my lungs stuff.  Eventually I gathered a few followers and now, here I am, writing my 100th post.  YIPPEE. 

So here is a toast to the brave one, the sassy one, the learned it along the way one.
Here's to the one who has really just begun.

Here's to the wit and the charm from the spell
That made sure you never said farewell

To Me and my glass of... and to you and yours!

Now your choice - toast or roast

Wordless Wednesday - Who turned out the Lights?

For more Wordless Wednesday go see Extraordinary Mothers!

we need some Christmas Traditions

Everyone has their Christmas Traditions - right?  I'm not so sure we have any - or any good ones. 

We had a tradition where everyone had the same crocheted stocking with our names and year of birth on them.  My siblings and I have them, the twins got theirs, then the lady died and so did the tradition - little man has a plain green stocking.

We always let the boys open 1 gift the night before - but we get to choose.  It's not the same thing each year.

We go to the in-laws for breakfast - but I've been protesting that tradition for years.  I understand it's a special meal she only makes once a year, but I like the kids to be able to relax and open their presents without being rushed.

I've made a tradition of going to see the lights in Mcadenville NC.  The whole town decorates and people come from miles around to see it.  If you are in the area and have never been you are missing out.  I pack hot chocolate and cookies in the car and we drive thru at least twice.

But that is it.  All I have.  I am looking for some traditions to start.  Jolly Mom has some great ones and asked for ours, but I'm stumped.  What traditions do you have that I can steal?

Tradition: sit with husband in a room lit only by tree lights and remember that our blessings outnumber the lights. Happy Christmas to all. ~Betsy Cañas Garmon,