Bring on 2010!

On the last day of 2009...

We took down the Christmas decorations and neatly (key word) packed them away. Next year I won't dread pulling out the Christmas stuff and sorting through the mess. That is a good feeling. Reorganized the hallway closet. Bows, tissue paper, wrapping paper and gift bags will start the new year tamed. For me it seems a fitting way to end one year and begin another... with a sense of being ever so slightly better organized. I think Markas was happy to end 2009 with OU winning a bowl game and trying out Sam Adams Winter Lager. Evan enjoyed helping to break in our neighbor's new trampoline and sharing some of his Christmas toys.

**Happy New Year! Welcome 2010!**

Trooper Twins

Cousins Evan & Alon with their matching Captain Rex helmets. And Evan is shooting some bad guys with his trooper gun.

The boys totally absorbed in the Star Wars saga.

They enjoyed good cousin time at the grandparents the past several days.

at the lake

Evan & I are spending time at the lake with my parents and nephew. Will be home soon with lots of pictures of the boys to share.

Christmas part deux

'cuz once just wasn't enough ; )

...and because road conditions were better today

Holiday Cheer

(click on image to enlarge)

my snow angel

Christmas Morning 2009

Sadly the snow (about 4 inches) and ice on the roads prevented my parents from traveling to join us today, but it made for a magical morning for Evan. We will celebrate Christmas again with my parents when the conditions improve... it just makes Christmas last longer : )

our winter wonderland

Evan & Price checking out the backyard snow tonight.

'Twas the night before Christmas

(click image to enlarge)

This will be Evan's first white Christmas! Expecting 2 to 4 inches before morning.

Holiday Greetings (and a helpful flowchart)

chart from HolyTaco.com

Happy Holidays Free Stuff

holiday dove tags from Creature Comforts

The Creative Place paper lanterns

shortcut from Whisker Graphics (for paper lanterns)

paper toy Santa

a note from the teacher

Evan's class had an intern (aka student teacher) this semester. She gave each student a personalized card during her last week with the class. This is what Evan's card said.

Evan,

You really know how to make an entrance and how to describe the best stories, you are so smart! Thank you for the lovely picture!

Love,

Mrs. Johns

Using one of Evan's new favorite descriptive words, I thought this was really delightful. I am also delighted with Evan's overall first grade experience so far and that he has had not one but two wonderful teachers.

the shortest day

Happy Winter Solstice

**image and text from http://www.starofthebards.com/wintersolstice**

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn - the cycle and circle of Nature's year. In an age where most of us have lost touch with the life and rhythms of our mother, the Earth, the cycle of the year is a sure way back into the Center of Life. As we struggle to reclaim the lost heritage of our natural life rhythms, it is through the gateways of the Wheel of the Year that we come to understand once again the cycle of birth, growth, fulfillment, decline, and finally death, which turns to birth once more.
Winter Solstice is the birthday of the Sun and of the year. It is a time when we experience the greatest darkness, when the hours of darkness are so much greater than the hours of daylight. And yet, it is within this time of greatest darkness that the Light of the World is reborn, for now the hours of daylight will begin to grow and the hours of darkness will lessen.
In all cultures, the Winter Solstice is a time of rejoicing, a time of thanksgiving and a time of hope, when the beauty and truth of the Light is remembered and honored. We light fires and gather together with our loved ones, we give and receive presents, and we make wishes for the New Year. For this small space of time, we actually come close to living the ideal of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men" which the angels proclaimed in the skies over Bethlehem.
At each of the eight gateways of the year, we connect to the natural laws governing this world and the cosmos. Inner and outer become One, and Life's dramas are manifest. But it is at Winter Solstice that the truth of our Oneness is most evident, for the darkness that we face is our own darkness and aloneness, and the Light becomes most precious as we realize that it is through the Light that we come to love and appreciate each other.
***

check out Winter Solstice facts from National Geographic News

got religion?

My apprehension abounds. Evan is attending Awana tomorrow evening with his best buddy. I have so many misgivings about him going as well as about him not going. uugghh! just can't win with this one : /

a holiday tradition - 2009

(click on image to enlarge)

Holiday train ride and hot chocolate with friends - a fun tradition

not the best quality pictures... (camera phone pictures at night not ideal), but you get the idea

Weighty Issues

So I am now carrying 20 less pounds around with me everyday. I appreciate the lighter load. I told the 'J.C. (Jenny Craig) Ladies' yesterday that I should buy some of the fake fat that they have on display at their front counter and nail 20 pounds of it to my refrigerator as a blatant reminder to myself. Or keep a chunk handy to use as a stress ball i.e. oh those cookies look yummy... squeeze the fat... squeeze the fat. LOL!

My relationship with food has lost a lot of the love-hate quality. I need to food to sustain my body and provide energy for life. And yes I can still enjoy treating myself, but the "need" to treat myself with food has begun to soften it's all consuming grip. Here's to hoping it stays that way...

a few unsettling thoughts:

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**If you don't know, than I guess it doesn't matter...?**

My 2 closest Wally-Worlds do not carry a single scale of any kind. zip. zilch. zero. I wanted a digital scale to measure my progress during the week at home. I searched both stores and even asked associates. I was informed that they no longer carry any scales. What does that say about us and our 'Wal-Mart society'? I can buy 25 pound slabs of bacon, but no way to record what I weigh after I eat it? By the way, Target (the French version of Wal-Mart) had a decent selection of scales including an end cap display in one of the main isles. hmmmm

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**The existence of what I call relative health care.**

If I tell my doctor that I am concerned because my cholesterol has risen just above the normal range, I am almost guaranteed to be met with ambivalence because he/she says that they have patients with cholesterol levels around 1000! So see, if relative health care is practiced, than relatively speaking I am relatively less likely to kill over on the spot so why get relatively worked up over the deal? that makes perfectly relative sense, right?

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**eating at the troughs**

The all-you-can-eat craze is out of control. How many buffet-style eateries does one town need? I think per capita this area must rank pretty darn high. And don't think that I am immune to this American epidemic of piggy proportions. I have loaded up my share at say a Golden Corral and gone back for more. Seriously though, eating at a place named after a Corral? Even if it is called golden... it still evokes all things herd and trough related. I'm just saying...

I live in a land of little giants/Life is in the details

I had a house full of kids the other afternoon (nothing unusual). I sat back and just observed the chaos (because honestly it is futile to try to control it) and things started popping into my head. Later that night I wrote some of my random thoughts down to share.

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hand prints low on the door frames

a sprinkling of crumbs

shrunken chairs and shoes scattered everywhere

playtime protests and proclamations.

Details stuck to my life like a cosmic suction cup.

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used hand towels unable to return to their hook on the wall

trail of toys left as if a map home from a maze

armies of steps march in and out like a song's rhythm
doors rush open, crash shut again.

Mystical attachments between what is big and little.

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small bodies taking up so little space yet their presence completely fills any room

hushed voices and free flowing giggles planning the next move

how is it that the smallest people make the biggest noises?

Littering of happiness left in their wake.

3 more little things that make me happy for no apparent reason

1. spray paint (used for good and not evil) - it is currently one of my go-to art supplies

2. celebrating lesser known holidays/holiday traditions (Canada Day, anybody?)

3. planning trips I never take - I like the idea of traveling, but the actual traveling... not so much

art tells a story

Here's Evan's art.Here's the story (as told by the artist himself).

"This is Santa yelling 'No!' because I am taking presents and ripping them open. Even if it's not mine and it is something I want, I still take it. And Rudolph is looking back like 'What the...!'"

well, the boy isn't afraid to display stark honesty in his stories, that's for sure... LOL!

'Tis the season

Baby, it's cold outside

The cold weather finally found us. I feel less silly about putting up Christmas decorations now that it isn't 75 degrees all the time. We even have a 7 foot inflatable Santa in our front yard this year. Never thought I would own a blow-up decoration of any kind really ; ) Evan of coursed picked it out. And I of course get to inflate and deflate Santa every day. For a quick deflate there is a zipper to open and let the air out faster. Guess where the zipper is located... yep, on Santa's ass. It just seems wrong on so many levels! LOL

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All I want for Christmas...

As the classic song goes, 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth'. Well Evan looks to get half of that wish. He has been without his two front teeth since last December when they both fell out within a couple days of each other. Last week one of his front teeth finally started breaking through his gums. I have gotten so use to Evan without his top teeth that it will seem weird to see teeth there. Typically kids just don't look right with these two huge chompers overtaking their small mouths on their not-fully-grown heads. It usually isn't the most attractive stage of development. That makes me sound shallow and vain, doesn't it? ; ) I am just trying to prepare myself for the end of perfect cute little baby teeth.

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Hard to buy list

Every holiday season I found myself at a loss for what to get certain people in my life. Always the same people it seems. This year though I have a new hard-to-buy-for person on my shopping list. What does one get their imaginary friend? I would like to think I could get Lucy imaginary presents, but I don't think she will let me get off that easy. LOL! Any suggestions?

random quiz

"What does your birth date mean about you?" quiz

(June 1st)
You Are an Idealist
You are a natural born leader, even if those leadership talents haven't been developed yet.You have the power and self confidence to succeed in life, and your power grows daily.Besides power, you also have a great deal of creativity that enables you to innovate instead of fail.You are a visionary, seeing the big picture instead of all of the trivial little details.

Your strength: Your supreme genius

Your weakness: Your inappropriate sensitivity

Your power color: Gold

Your power symbol: Star

Your power month: January

blogthings.com

HOLLA @ YOUR BOY ; )

Is it wrong to express my sense of humor through my child's clothing? I don't think Evan really appreciates the true 'flavor' of this shirt. I find it amusing though and isn't that what it's all about?

Great Quote

I saw this quote on a church sign today.
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"What is done to children, they will do to society."
- Karl A. Menninger (I think)