Looky, looky

We're fondue-ing tonight, as per our New Year's Eve tradition. I don't know how it got started, but as we are anti-social types who rarely leave our house, it's a good tradition, don't you think? We're even got a collection of fondue pots so we can have a variety of yumminess- the traditional cheese, broth (for cooking meat and veggies) and chocolate. Since all of Jed's friends abandoned him (and he heard we had shrimp and Sparkling Grape Juice) he decided to come celebrate the new year with us. I know he's only using us for our food, but I'm okay with that.

Here's a couple of pictures from last New Year's Eve (2007). Jealous??? :P



Back to the REAL reason I'm posting. If you look over to the right-hand side of the screen, you'll see I've posted a poll!! YAY!! I'm actually asking for you opinions. What would you like to see here in the Tree Fort in 2009? If you'd like to make a different suggestion than the ones offered, just leave it in the comments in this post.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The Five Best Books of 2008

Hopefully you've enjoyed my "Best of" series, because I've had a lot of fun putting them together. I have a longer books post coming up later, but I wanted this to be seperate. These are the five best books I read in 2008.

1. Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli


I realize that I've already written one gushing post about this book, so I'll just say again it's really, really good.

2. Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin


Excellent book. Fascinating. Not your typical memoir. It's deep and insightful and witty, but not laugh-out-loud funny- it doesn't need to be. It really shows just what a craftsman Steve Martin is. And he is hella smart. It should be mandatory reading for every stand-up comedian, wanna be or otherwise. I've read a lot of book abouts comedy and about comedians, and this is the best of the best.

The only criticism I have is that there isn't a lot of reflection/behind-the-scenes action from SNL or his later movie career. But I also understand that *that* isn't what this book is about. This book is about what got him to that point.

3. Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run by Alton Brown


Let me get this out of the way first- I love Alton Brown. I find him strangely attractive. I like his spiky hair and his round, tortiseshell glasses. I adore his sense of humor and I love that he isn't afraid to be smart. AND HE COOKS! *sigh*

This is a companion book to the second Food Network series of the same name. If you watched the series (as I did), you won't necessarily learn anything new, although the book contains 40 recipes gathered from the road trip. The photography is beautiful, and Alton makes good use of his writing skills honed from years of working in television and films. (Did you know he writes all the scripts for his TV show Good Eats??) I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.

However, what makes this book so valubale to me is the index in the back of the book that lists the name, address, telephone number, website and GPS coordinate of every place they ate along the way! I can't tell you how many times I've watched a food/travel show on PBS or the Food Network, wanted to visit a featured place, and then could never remember exactly where it was. Alton also gives a list of suppliers for many of the specialty food and spices needed to make the local grub in your own home.

Now, if Alton would only come out with a companion book to the FIRST Feasting on Asphalt series...

4. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris


I've only included the first book of Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse series, but really this vote is for the series overall. These books are certainly not everyone's cup of tea (I still maintain I am not really a fan of vampire books!), but I'm surprised at how much fun these books are. Yeah, there's angst and strife, but there's also humor and fun. It took me about a week to get through the first eight books, and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of #9 in the fall.

5. U2: At the End of the World by Bill Flanagan


U2 is my most favorite musical group of all time. This is an excellent look at the world's biggest rock band. It's incredibly fascinating- the author travelled with U2 on their Zooropa Tour, which lasted two years. You don't get any closer than that. It's *almost* as good as going on tour yourself!

Honorable Mention
6. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling


It's J.K. Rowling, y'all. Of course it's going to be good!

The Five Best YA Books of 2008

I think, in general, that YA (Teen/Young Adult) books get a bad rap. There's a wealth of excellent books that fall into the YA genre that never get read simply because adults automatically assume that they won't be interesting, thought-provoking, etc. Not true! And don't assume that just because you are however many years past the target audience that you won't enjoy a book from this genre. Here are five of the best YA books I read this year.

1. The Dairy Queen



I liked this book a lot. I found myself really empathizing with the title character, a tomboy named DJ who does that lion's share of the work on her family's barely-making-it dairy farm after her father injures himself one day. The author managed to give DJ a unique voice that didn't feel contrived or convoluted- DJ felt real. The sequel wasn't as strong, but you'll definitely want to read it to know what happens after the events in The Dairy Queen. The author is planning a third book, and I have high hopes for it.

2. Coraline (Graphic Novel version



Neil Gaiman is an extremely popular author of many Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels aimed at adults. Coraline is aimed at the YA market. You can also find this book in regular novel format, but I read the graphic nvoel version, which means it's laid out like a comic book, with pictures in addition to the text.

I can't say I honestly *enjoyed* this book, but that's not because it isn't a great book, which it is. First of all, the graphic novel format isn't really my cup of tea, but it's gaining in popularity (as evidenced by the fact that Gaiman republished Coralin in that format after he had already published the novel.)

Second of all, this book is really creepy. Not scary, because I DO NOT do horror, but creepy. But creepy in a good way. The illustrations really add to the creepiness. Knowing my girls like I do, I know they would *love* this book. But I don't think they are quite ready for it yet, hence me putting in my YA review as opposed to my children's review.

I loved the heroine, a girl of ten or twelve. When Coraline gets trapped in another world with her "other" parents, she doesn't wait for someone to come and save her.
She figures out what she needs to do and does it, even if it isn't pleasant or pretty. This books has been amde into a movie, whcih is being released in February 2009. I haven't decided if I am going to see it yet, but I look forward to (at minimum) revisiting it in a few years when the girls are older.

3. Forever Rose



This is the final book in a series I first read a few years ago. While you don't have to read the first four books to understand what is happening in this book, you really shouldn't miss out on any of the craziness that surrounds the Casson Family who live in the Banana House.

4. Just Listen



The more Sarah Dessen books I read, the more I like her writing. This is the second book by this author that I've read. Some might say that her writing is a little too "After School Special", but she writes about issues in a way that doesn't come across as preachy, and I appreciate that. Her characters are very real, and so are their lives.

5. The Truth About Forever



My favorite Saran Dessen book. I really loved this book. I'm pretty sure I got teary-eyed a few times. The heroine, Macy Queen, is dealing with the aftermath of her father's sudden death. This book just felt so real, like I knew the characters. Just wonderful. My favorite YA book of the year.

Honorable Mention

Breaking Dawn



I had to think really hard if I wanted to include this book in a "Best of" series, but when it comes down to it, it does. The book is certainly not perfect, not by any means. It has its flaws, and there are a few plot choices that Stephenie Meyer made that I don't agree with. But when all is said and done, she is an incredible world builder, and this book is the culmination of a lot of hardwork put into action because of a once-in-a-lifetime (multi)million dollar idea. And it's easy for people (and other authors) to sit back and say "I could do that!" but the fact of the matter is that no one else did.

Another Christmas, Come and Gone

I think if you asked any of us how Christmas was this year we'd all say it was just perfect. (Okay, the girls might say that they wanted a few more gifts or to spend more time at Nana and Papa's house playing with their cousins, but who wouldn't??) We got to spend time with some of the people we love the most, we ate a lot of good food and laughed and laughed and laughed. Who could ask for more than that??

Unlike years past, I didn't take a lot of pictures of everything. Just trying to be more "in the moment", I guess. But here are a few I did take Christmas morning.






We spent Friday cleaning up all of the Christmas decorations and get the house cleaned from top tp bottom, and boy did it feel good! Usually we leave everything up until New Year's Day, but I think we were ready for some order back into our lives! We also re-oreganized the playroom to make a little more room for my overflowing preschool supplies. More shleving means more stuff up off of the floor, which means more room for playing, so the girls were happy to pitch in and help.

James had to go back to work today (although he'll have a half day on Wednesday and Thursday off). Bella invited her best friend over to play, so I've been listening to all three girls run around screaming in only the way that nine and ten year old girls can all after noon. After the crazy heat wave of last week, the weather cooled off a bit today, but it's supposed to get warm again later in the week.

All in all, we're trying to savor this week before school starts again on the 6th!! I know it will be here much too soon.

The Five Best Recipes of 2008

There was a time when I was all about trying out new recipes on a regular basis. Nowadays, when I get into the kitchen I just want to get it done as quickily as possible. Which is sad, really, if you think about it. I do enjoy cooking, but if one has to choose between surfing the net or puttering around the kitchen, these days I'd probably choose to surf the net.

However, here are five recipes I fully embraced during 2008, and you should too.

1. The Pioneer Woman's Asian Noodle Salad

OH.MY.GOODNESS.
This salad is PERFECTION ON A PLATE. I've probably made it twenty times since she put it up on her website back in March. It's that good. I took it to our family reunion (which is always heavy on delicious southern cuisine and not new-fangled furren food) and every single bite of it was eaten. It's that good. PW adapted it from a Jamie Oliver recipe, and I've made both versions, and I think I prefer PW's.

2. Black Bean Soup
I found this recipe in a USA Today Sunday paper insert. It's quick, it's easy and it's good for you.

2 cans Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 C Chicken or Veggie Broth
1 C Salsa Verde
1 garlic clove
1 bunch of Cilantro (washed)
1 tsp Cumin


Directions:
Throw all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth. (For a thicker soup, add more beans. For a thinner soup, add more broth.) Pour into a saucepan and heat it up. That's it! You can top with sour cream, but we usually don't.

3. Nigella's Porkchops

When I asked the girls what they wanted to eat for Christmas dinner, this is what they said they wanted to eat. Porkchop perfection.

4. Nigella's Instant Pancake Mix

This is now my go-to pancake mix. SUper simple, and they make the best pancakes I've ever tasted.

5. Ina's Green Beans

This is about the only way we'll eat green beans these days. It's not exactly low calorie, but who cares? You're eating your veggies! ;D

Honorable Mention
Nigella's Sesame Peanut Noodles.

I liked this recipe, but no one else really did. However, it's get honorable mention because it's the recipe that introduced us to Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, the world's most perfect condiment. It's a little sweet and a little spicy. I find I am adding it to so many different things! Sloppy Joes, Meatballs, meatloaf, fried rice, salad vinegarettes- you name it! James and I have started using it straight up as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets, shrimp, french fries, etc. The best thing is that it's super cheap and readily available. You can find it in the Asian section of the grocery store for abour $2 for a 64 oz bottle.

The Five Best Children's Books of 2008

The girls and I head to the library at least once a week, if not more. It's not unusual for my library bag to have at least ten or more children's books in it. Some of them are for preschool specifically, but more often than not they're in there just because I like reading children's books! ;) I make a point of seeking out the Newberry and Caldcott Medal winners every year, because most of the time they are gems waiting to be discovered.


1. The Penderwicks and The Penderwicks on Gardam Street





Let me tell you how much love I have for these books: You know how you get those "Desert Island" questions?? I would take these books to the desert island with me- that's how much I love this series. And yes, strictly speaking, this isn't just one book. But I read them both this year (the first book came out in 2005, and the second one was released this past May), and the author plans on releasing a total of five Penderwick books.

The four Penderwick sisters live with their widowed (widowered??) father and their dog, Hound. The first books take place over three weeks at Arundell, a summer cottage the family has rented. The second book takes place back at their home, over the course of a year. The books have a timeless feeling, even though they take place in the modern day. The four sisters all have very distinct personalities, and you can't help but wish you knew them in real life.

I read both of the books aloud to the girls, and we all cried when they were over. I don't know of a better recommendation than that.

2. Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art



I'm of the belief that every children's book doesn't need illustrations, but if it's going to have them, they better be DARN GOOD illustrations. This book is just what it says; 23 major illustrators talking to children about their art. They talk about their lives and their influences, and each illustrators included sketches and drawings from their "early" days. I was amazed to see how many of them didn;t have any formal training- just a burning desire to make beautiful artwork.

3. Scaredy Squirrel



I discovered this book when I was volunterring at the Book Fair at the girls' school. I laughed so hard that I almost fell out of my chair. Scaredy Squirrel tells us his story as a cautionary tale (he NEVER leaves his tree because he might encounter tarantulas, martians, germs or killer bees, and he ALWAYS has his First-Aid kit with him) but it's full of sly, subversive, tongue-in-cheek references that make it a delight for adults to read too.

4. King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Textbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution



Hands down, this is the best -and funniest!- book about the American Revolution I have ever read. It's aimed at kids, but it never talks down to them. You would be hard pressed to find an adult who doesn't learn something from this book. The writing is simple, clear and concise.

The author is a text book writer who got tired of having to leave all the funny and really interesting historical bits out of the text books, so he decided to write a book with all those bits left in!

I love the way this book is organized- key players and events are highlighted systematically (That sounds very dry, but trust me, it's not). There are quotes galore, from people you've definitely heard of, to people you never knew existed. He even has a section called "What ever happened to...?" at the end. And like any good text book writer, the source notes go on for pages.

5. Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon



This is book which reads like a documentary. That sounds terribly dry, but it's not. This books *excellent*. I love reading about this history of the space program, and this is a wonderful look at what went in to making the Apollo 11 Moon landing possible AND successful. The pictures are amazing, and there are interviews with people involved in every facet of the space progrma. From the astronauts themselves down to the people who decided what the austronauts would eat, everything you could possibly want to know it covered. And if the author *did* miss something, there is a huge reference section listing other books you could read.


Honorable Mention

Rapunzel's Revenge



This is a fresh take on the story of Rapunzel- from a wild west point of view. The author's made a bold choice to go with a graphic novel format, which will appeal to boys who might otherwise shy away from the traditional "girl" story.

Five Websites You Should Be Reading

I spend a lot of time online, and I make no apologies for it. It's how I get the news, stay in touch with my friends and family, discover the latest and greatest songs/books/movies/whatever. As a result, I have a nice little collection of bookmarked sites and blogs on a variety of topics. Here's five I think you should be reading.

1. The Pioneer Woman

To know the Pioneer Woman is to love her. I found Ree and her crew back in early 2007, not long after she had started her site. Since then it has grown and GROWN. Ree's husband is a thrid generation rancher, and she was raised in the big city. Her stories are hilarious, and her giveaways are legendary. (Just the other day she gave away FOUR Kitchen Aid stand mixers. Seriously.)

Even if you aren't interested in her main site (although why you wouldn't be in beyond me) her cooking and photography areas are worth the regular visit. The recipes she posts (complete with pictures, detailed instruction and witty commentary) are amazing. I don't think I've ever made anything of hers that wasn't a hit.

2. Pop Candy

Pop Candy is a pop culture blog written by USA Today's Whitney Matheson. The site is updated several times a day, although I love her "Morning Round-Up" posts. She covers everything- music, movies, TV, books, concerts, comic books, people- you name it. Whitney doesn't deal in celebrity gossip, though, which is what makes it so different and so much better than many of the pop culture blogs out there.

On Fridays she hosts a "Mailbag" section where people can email in there pop related questions. Want to know why "Designing Women" isn't out on DVD yet? Whitney will find out! Want to know what The Captain and Tenille are up to these days? Just ask Whitney. It's a cool site, and I'm always sad when Whitney goes on vacation and doesn't post.

3. By Common Consent

I came across BCC sometime last year, and I've been a daily reader ever since. It's a blog obvisouly aimed at members of the LDS Church, but there are plenty of non-members who post there, too. There's a good mix of serious, thought-provoking essays (like this one or this one) to the ridiculously sublime (like this one). I don't always agree with what they say, but they always make me think, which is a very good thing.

4. IKEA Hacker

It's a well-known fact that I worship at the alter of IKEA. (And really, who doesn't? IKEA is the second happiest place on Earth.) I love this website because it is full of creative ideas for customzing and/or personalizing all of that pressed particle board. Actually, it's an inspiring website for those of us trying to decorate our homes on a budget, get a little more organzined, make better use of the space we have, etc. Believe me, some of the post make me wail and gnash my teeth that I don't live closer to IKEA, because my house would just be SO COOL if I did! Right now, I am absolutely in love with this hack. How cool is that?? *sigh*

5. Ken Jennings

If you're going to read the blog/website of a (semi) well-known person, shouldn't you at least learn something AND be entertained?? Of course you should!

Honorable Mention:

Hulu
Do you know about Hulu.com yet? If not, you should! You can watch tens of thousands of TV clips/shows AND movies, all for free, with limited advertising and NO commercial interruption! And it's not just current shows- there are past favorites too. Definitely worth checking out.

Advice, please

Say you are a preschool teacher, or a former Georgia Child Care Provider of the Year and you have a large collection of children's books at home that you use in your curriculum. How do you organize these books?

By letter? (Books you would use during the week you study a certain letter, like Olivia during O week)

By theme? (Holidays definitely, but also stuff like Winter Weather, Spring, the ocean, etc)

By author? (Which is my natural OCD inclination. :P)

By series? (Like Arthur books, Olivia books, Pigeon boks, etc)

The books I have in my classroom that belong to the school are organized by letter, which works fairly well, but occasionally I find myself coming acoss a book that would have worked better for a previous letter or theme. So I'm kind of torn as how to organize at home.

Any thoughts???

Top Five Songs of 2008

I think most people use music as a touchpoint in their lives. It really can't be helped. These are the Best Songs I Heard in 2008. (Note: not all of them were released in 2008, they were just songs that I really, really liked this year.)

1. "Elevator Love Letter" - Stars

Oh, do I love this song! I love both of the singer's voices, but especially the female part. There's a longing in this song that just makes me say "GUH!".


2. "A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend

When I worked at Gymboree back in the day, we had a couple of children's videos that played on a TV in the back of the store. The first few times the songs were catchy and fun, but after listening to them on a continual loop for eight hours you felt slightly homicidal. James says that Vampire Weekend is 'Gymboree music'. I TOTALLY DISAGREE! How can you not love a pop song that has a flute and cello solo in the middle of it??!!?!? *AND* the lead singer's name is Ezra. EZRA. I rest my case.


3. Over and Over Again (Lost and Found) - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

I have a thing for synthesizer piano riffs. And I think the singer's voice is very unique. And they probably have the best band name since ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (except more cheerful-like).



4. "My Only Offer - Mates of State

The best married duo since The Captain and Tenille.


5. 1 2 3 4 - Feist

Okay, this song is definitely from 2007, but I just love it so much. It's got a banjo playing rhythm and and it has trombone and trumpet solos!!You should listen to this song when you're having a bad day. It'll make you feel better.


Honorable Mention:

Pork and Beans - Weezer

Weezer always manages to come up with the catchiest songs. And I love Rivers Cuomo. If I ever have a son his name will *definitely* be Rivers Cuomo Sauls. Look how he rocks the 'stache! This video is hilarious because it features so many YouTube "stars". It's very meta. Oh, Weezer! You're so clever.

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas morning, and I'm the only one awake! :P

The girls went to bed *quite* late, considering we didn't get back from Tifton until after 10pm, so I'm not surprised their still snoozing. And James, well, the poor man get up at 5am six days a week, so if he can sleep he does. As for me, I've been awake off and on since 5, so I finally gave up at 7. But the cinnamon rolls (James' request) are done, and the breakfast cassrole will be done in about 30 minutes. The house smells quite yummy if I say so myself!

We spent a wonderful Christmas Eve in Tifton yesterday. James and I went out for lunch, sans girlies, at the Japanese Steakhouse. I'm pretty sure you can't get anymore Christmassy than with Hibachi Steak and Fried Rice.

WAIT!! The girls are awake, so it's PRESENT TIME!!!

To be continued.....

James' contribution to the family Christmas party

Jim said he wanted more blog contribution from James...



God bless us, every one!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Oh, the things I have in store for YOU!!

I like yearly retrospectives, don't you?? I like the "Best of..." lists that every blog, website, newspaper, magazine and TV show feel the need to put out every year around this time. I always read them, even though I usually disagree with them.

With that thought in mnd, I've put together a few "Best of" posts that will go up before the end of the year. Just a few things I think you should know about, be aware of, try for yourself. I'm such a giver, aren't I?? So don't let the holiday gloom get you down! Look forward to reading my opinions!

And with that in mind, I'm off to finish making these divine cinnamon rolls. WIsh you were here to help us eat them! :P

Making a list, checking it twice

1. *sigh* Still haven't mailed out my Christmas cards. They've been sitting on the table, ready to go, since Monday night. They just need stamps. We don't have a conveniently located post office, so it's always an ordeal to get to one.

2. Bella has a birthday party this morning, but I still need to go buy a present for it. Methinks a quick trip into Target is in order before the party, because I don't have a card OR cash that I could just give instead.

3. One of the perks of being a preschool teacher?? Christmas gifts!! My class was *very* generous to me yesterday. I've got some new Christmas ornaments and decorations, some yummy gourmet food items, an adorable monogrammed change purse, and several gift cards burning a hole in my pocket!

4. I am done with my Christmas shopping, except for a present for Frodo. What do you get the kid who has everything? I'm not sure, but I'm hoping to find it today. Perhaps at the Goodwill store. ;)

5. Hey, Weather Man, can't you do something about these unseasonably warm days we've been having all week?? I'm not asking for snow and ice, but it would be nice to have a little nip in the air!

Ding Dong Merrily on High

YES!

Christmas vacation began 20 minutes ago and I AM THRILLED.

Sadly, no magical little elves have been around my house this week, so there are floors to be swept and grunge to be scrubbed out of bathtubs. I figure if I get it all done today, then I don't have to feel guilty about doing next to nothing over the next 2 1/2 weeks. ;)

Out of the mouth of babes

Conversation at preschool today:

A (who is four going on 40): "I like to watch old movies."

Me: "Really? Me too."

A: "Last night I watched an old movie with my mom. It was funny. It was called Sixteen Candles."


(PS- The mom in question assures me it was the editted-for-TV version. No worries, peeps.)

Preschool is good for your ego

I love teaching children under the age of six or so. After that age they start getting mouthy and who wants to deal with that?? Not I. So I stick to the Under Six crowd, where it's easy to impress them and they aren't afraid to tell you that they love you.

For the most part, I also love preschool parents. (For the most part! There's always a bad apple or two, right Kandice? ;D) They're generally grateful that for you and your efforts, spending the time to do the things they know they should be doing (reading, learning numbers and letters, fun crafts, correct 'school' behavior, etc) but don't have the time or patience to do themselves.

Today one of my preschool parents (actually it was a grandparent, but I digress) just made my day. As I was putting her grandson in the car, she told me I had the most beautiful hair. Say WHAT??!?!?!?

For the record, this is what my hair looked like today:


I haven't brushed it since 7AM, and the 15 mile an hour winds we were having during car pick up certainly didn't help the situation! ;) My hair and I have uneasy truce. I accept that in return for it being *VERY* thick and strong it will also be fairly unruly. My hair is too straight to be curly and too curly to be straight. I don't have the patience for high maintenance hair!

So when I get a compliment on my hair, it means a lot to me. This grandparent will now be my best friend FOREVER.

(Although, for every ego stroke I get at preschool I also get knocked down a peg or two. Like the darling child who walked by me a few weeks ago and asked me why my belly was so big. Ahhh...the innocence of youth!)

CHRISTMAS CARD ADDRESSES

I really do love sending out Christmas cards, but I don't have all the addresses I need. Some of you have moved, some of us have just met, and I've misplaced a few other addresses.

So if you'd like to receive a card from us, shoot me an email or a Facebook message. :)

Housekeeping

1. I finally bit the bullett and added one of those blog roll gadgets on my sidebar. I resisted for a long time because I hate it when my blog looks all crowded and junky. I like nice, clean lines. But with 27 blogs to keep up with, I was spending way too much time clicking on your links to see if you had updated! ;)

2. What's up with this crazy weather? Last week we had freeze warnings, this week I had to turn on the A/C, and the rain and wind have been out of control!

3. And YAY!!! Friday Night Lights will be airing on NBC on January 16th!! I am SO EXCITED for the return of this show. I've avoided most of the spoilers for the episodes that have already aired on DirectTV, but from what I've heard, this season is nothing short of amazing.

While you're waiting for January 16th, you should really check out the first two seasons. Here- let me tempt you with a few of my most favorite scenes from the first season!

Pride goeth...

You know how last week I was feeling all smug and sassy about all the things I had accomplished in spite of my busy, busy schedule??

That feeling has come and gone. :P

Actually, it's not all that bad. I've just had a minor epiphany, and it's helping me through the "Woe. Woe is me..." stage I'm at right now.

It's the second week of December, and as my preschool children reminded me today there are only 17 more day until Christmas. So far we have the tree up and decorated, but that's about it. I've bought a few presents, but I'm not really inclined to buy much more. (Think the girls would be happy with a card in their stockings saying something along the lines of "In lieu of presents, a substantial contribution has been made in your name to Dr. Dallas Margeson, Orthodontist. Merry Christmas!"??? Probably not.)

I don't even have any homemade projects in the works. All of my creative energy is going into preschool. Normally I'd be making some sort of something to give out to local friends. (Those of you who received the Mix CD of 2005 can verify its greatness, no?? ;D) I've got a Christmas newsletter written out, but no burning push to actually get the cards in the mail.

I'm not feeling Scrooge-y, not by any means. I think I'm just feeling more low-key. Right now, nothing is more important to me than free time, and spending that free time with my family. Everything else is just not as important to me this year. The things I used to do that made me happy just wouldn't make me happy this year. I'd feel even more tired and stressed than I already feel.

So I've decided to focus on the things that make the holidays meaningful for me: sending out cards, making some special foods, spending quality AND quantity time with people I love, and nourishing my spirit.

Being The Mom

I was a good mom today.

After I dropped the girls off at school this morning (which I do three mornings a week so we can spend a little more time together), I went by Target and picked up some Secret Santa gifts they needed for their Activity Night Christmas party tonight. Then I went to school and did my thing for four hours. After school I went to Publix and picked up assorted rolls, meats, cheeses and condiments I needed to make the finger sandwiches for 15 people the girls assured their leader I would be happy to make for the aforementioned Christmas party. I came home and made the sandwiches, made lunches for tomorrow, folded three loads of laundry and wrapped the Secret Santa gifts.

The girls couldn't have been more appreciative of my efforts (and I did put in a little extra effort, because I knew they would like it). It's nice to know that they were being completely sincere, because I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they discovering that flattery is a powerful weapon. ;)

I don't get women who beat themselves up over their parenting. Short of being a child abuser or worse, I tend to give most moms the benefit of the doubt and figure that they're doing the best they can on any given day. By that same token, why don't more moms give themsleves a pat on the back when they DO go that extra mile?? Lord knows that there have been many times when I've fallen short of my ideal. But there have been just as many times when I've reached my "Mommy Ideal" for the day and then some!! Is there any reason why I shouldn't find some satisfaction in that?

Nope.

So even though it might not matter to anyone else, I'm going to give myself a little pat on the back for going the extra mile today. It made me feel good to put in a little extra effort (rather than just doing the bare minimum) and it made my girls proud to have ME as their mother. And I'm going to do a better job at noticing the extra efforts put in by other moms out there, because we need all the love we can get.

Hey- Goodreads peeps!!

For those of you on Goodreads...Did you know they have regular giveaways?? I didn't either! (At least, not until today.) You can win copies of pre-release books. Looking over the list of past and current giveaways, it seems like there is a pretty good mix of books. (I saw David Sedaris' latest book was a giveaway back in the summer, so it's not like they're all from unknown authors.)