Merry 6 Days After Christmas!!

(I started this post on the day after Christmas. I managed to finally finish it today - the 31st.)

I hope your holiday was as wonderful as ours was. Christmas is nothing short of chaos in our family. It starts early, and it doesn't end until close to New Year's. Ridiculous if you ask me, but that's the way it's been since we had kids. We break the holiday into rounds...

Round 1: Presents from Gram and Gramps in Florida start arriving the week before Christmas. I make the kids (and myself) wait until the last box arrives, and then Jon and I let the kids dig in. This year, they had to wait until Monday evening.

Round 2: Christmas Eve with Jon's family. Ummmm...insanity is the only word to describe the scene at his parent's house. The kids are allowed to ransack the place. And they do a great job. There is no rhyme or reason to the opening of gifts. Jon's Mom hands out the gifts, and the kids start ripping. I have no idea who gave them what. But they were so happy that I really don't care.

Round 3: Christmas morning with my Mom. We are much more organized here. The kids have to wait turns and show everyone what they got. They were so excited to see if Santa ate the cookies they left out. Everyone got lots of good loot, and the kids were so good that I wondered aloud if they were mine!

Round 4: Christmas afternoon with Zak and Trisha. The kids got to open their presents right before they went up for naps. When they came back downstairs, they were excited all over again to see that their presents were still here.

Round 5: Day after Christmas with Devin, Andrea, and their girls. The kids were once again enraptured by the amount of loot they received. Holy crap...we now have more Barbie, babies, and coloring stuff than any one family needs.

Round 6: Our Christmas at our house. Since we aren't home over Christmas, Santa stops twice - here (to leave the BIG things), and at my Mom's (to leave the semi-big things). All three kids were excited to see the piles of presents...again. Gabe and Elliott ripped open their stuff in record time...again. I think Janna was all presented-out. She wanted nothing to do with opening (at my Mom's she kept opening everyone else's gifts), and after the mess what cleared away she took a nap. The kids were awesomely good for the rest of the day. They played and played. I got a chance to rearrange their rooms to make all of their new stuff fit. I also got them to agree to giving some of their old toys away.

So, Christmas is finally over. And I'm grateful. While it was lots of fun, it was also nothing short of chaos. And chaos and I don't get along well.

I didn't post an actual "Weekly Weigh-In" for the week. Even with all of the cookies and pie that I ate, I didn't gain any weight over the holiday. I also didn't lose any, but I'm thrilled that I'm holding steady at 50.8 pounds lost!

We're Heading Out...

Or down, as the case may be. We're going "home" this afternoon, so if there aren't any posts for a few days, it's because I'm having way too much fun with my family. Or because I'm just lazy.

So, as promised, here is a lovely slideshow of lics from the last week or so. Enjoy! And Happy Holidays!!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: To be perfectly honest, I remember very little about the week. With the exception of snow. I hate snow, and there doesn't seem to be an end to the stuff. There's about 10 inches of it in my front yard, and every time I look outside, more is being added.

Elliott had her pre-school Christmas pageant, and it was wonderful. She had such a good time, and she looked so cute!! When I get a few extra minutes, I'll add pics. Gabriel also had a Holiday thing at his school on Thursday (Jon went), but since school was canceled on Friday I didn't get to see it. I wonder if it would be wrong to ask the teacher if they could reschedule it for January.

Because we have so much snow, all the kids want to do is play outside. Which is fine. If Jon's here. As I have mentioned before, I'm a lazy mom. I hate playing outside. Especially when it's cold. And there are three kids involved. Even Janna wants to play. Or rather, she wants to put on her coat, Elliott's hat, my gloves, Jon's slippers, and be carried around the yard. Or pulled on a blow-up sled. The older kids want to dig tunnels and look for bears. Again, when I get a second, I'll try to add some pictures. And now I must get back to my crafts. And my bottle of wine.

The Weight: I lost a pound this week, bringing the total to 50.8 pounds!!

Did They Smile?

Elliott and I spent the majority of the morning working on her Christmas gifts for her preschool teachers. She made them chocolate chip cookies in a jar. And they turned out better than I ever would have expected. She was so helpful and patient. And she was thrilled that she could do most of the work herself!!

Elliott ready to make cookies!

After we finished filling the jars, we made cards with the recipe in them. I am so amazed at Elliott's ability to write!! She wrote her teacher's names on the front of the cards, and she wrote her own name on the back. I knew she was able to kind of write her name, but she is awesome at it! She knows how to spell it without asking, and her writing is really clear. She was so proud of herself...and so was I!!

The finished product. Elliott loved making her gifts, and she wants to make more!

Questioning the title of this post? After I took her picture with the jars, I took a close-up picture of the jars . Elliott wanted to know if they smiled for the camera. It was so cute!

Birthday Weigh-In!!

Since we've already discussed how part of my week went (my frustration at the behavior of both Gabriel and his teacher at school), we'll just skip directly to the birthday festivities and weight check!!

I got to "sleep" in this morning!! I wasn't really sleeping. I could very plainly hear all three kids whining and Jon's stern voice telling them to be quiet, so I chose to stay in bed. And since I can't see the clock from my side of the bed (it's on the other side of the room and my glasses weren't anywhere near my bed), I just cozied myself in. It was awesome! When I came downstairs, the kids bombarded me with lovely drawings and birthday hugs and kisses. Jon gave me a hug and handed me a present. Running gloves and ear warmers!! YAY! I needed both, and I was thrilled that he actually bought me something.

Right now he's picking up a cake (I didn't want one, but the kids said it couldn't be a birthday party without cake). Miss Courtney will be here around 4:30 so Jon and I can go out on a real date!! I'm very excited. We're going to do some shopping and then we're going to the Olive Garden. I really don't like the OG, but we have a gift card that needs to be used, so that's where we're going. Again, I'm very excited to go out with no kids. I'm even going to wear heels!! Ok, semi-high-heeled boots - but at least they aren't sneakers or Crocs.

The Weight: My insides are starting to regulate themselves (a low fat diet and I just don't seem to get along well), and I managed to lose a little weight this week - 0.6 pounds - bringing the total to 49.8 pounds. I am not going to really pay attention to my WW points today, so I know I am going to gain weight today...and I just don't care. It's my birthday, and I am going to eat CAKE! And tiramisu. And I'm going to drink a bunch of wine!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Frustration

I spend a lot of my time frustrated. It's just the way it is. When you have no patience, just about everything is frustrating.

Currently, my largest frustration is Gabriel's behavior in school - and the way the teacher is dealing with it. Apparently my Boy just doesn't like to behave. Duh. At the end of October I was asked to stay after class to chat about Gabe's behavior - apparently he's excessively silly during Circle Time, and Mrs. E. was annoyed. Ok. He was starting to act up at home, too, so Jon and I started sitting down with him every night and morning to talk about the acceptable way to behave in school. Things were fine for a week. During the second week of November, I was pulled aside again. Since then, I have had to stay after school almost every day. His silliness and refusal to listen/sit still/pay attention are becoming a problem.

My frustration with the Boy: Every day Jon and I sit down with Gabriel and talk to him on his level - meaning we use our nice voices and we get face-to-face with him. We explain what kind of behavior is acceptable, what's not, and when silliness can be a good thing. We tell him that no matter what he does, we love him and always will. Everyone goes to bed or school/work happy. And then all hell breaks loose when Gabriel is in school. He just doesn't listen. His answer as to why he doesn't listen? He doesn't want to. Argh. I don't have to list my frustrations like I will below...Gabriel, in and of himself, is a frustration!!

My frustration with the teacher: Bear with me...I have a lot to say here.

1) There are 18 kids in Gabe's class - 18 4-year old kids. For the last week, I have been the only parent that has had to stay after. Did I mention that the class is made up of 18 4-year olds? From what I have learned, 4-year olds don't behave most of the time. So while it's possible that my son is the only child acting up, it's not likely.

2) The way I am asked to stay is downright embarrassing. There are at least 20 other parents standing in the hallway and I am asked, in front of everyone, to "please stay - Gabriel has had a bad day". She also calls me by my husband's name (I didn't change my name when we got married. So we don't have the same last name. She has been told that at least 3 times.).

3) Her frustration with Gabriel is appearing to turn into a dislike of the Boy. She doesn't greet him in the morning when I drop him off (she does greet most of the other kids) or tell him good-bye when he leaves. She never has anything positive to say about him at all. Everything is negative. And my kid thrives on negativity.

4) She mentions my son's inability to listen to other parents. I heard her talking about Gabe to another Mom, and I have noticed a change of attitude towards me...and Gabe. He isn't allowed to hold hands with 2 of his friends anymore. When they see us coming, parents pull their kids away from us. A few of the Moms and I had started talking about getting together for play-dates. That talk has ceased.

When I picked Gabe up on Wednesday, I was already annoyed (the Girls were being turds, and I had a feeling that I was probably going to be asked to stay after with Gabriel), so when Mrs. E. shook her head at me, I was ready to scream. Silliness ruled the day, and Gabriel had to be talked to more than once. He even had to go to time-out. I threw my hands up in the air and asked her what she thought I should do. I explained that he doesn't listen to me or to Jon, and it doesn't matter what we do. We punish, we talk, we take away toys...nothing works. "He's 4. What are ya gonna do?" And then I walked away.

I think Mrs. E. realized that I was at the end of my rope. When I picked him up on Thursday, she patted his head and actually spoke to him. She told me he was better - not great, "but he's getting there." Much more positive. When I dropped him off this morning, she greeted him with a smile and told him they were going to have a great day. He told her that he was going to tell his sillies to take a nap. I was thrilled! When I picked him up, she said he had a great day. Yay!

The week ended much better than I thought it was going to. For whatever reason, Gabriel and Mrs. E. just don't really get along. They rub each other the wrong way. And that's ok. As long as she, the adult teacher, realizes it and doesn't take it out on him, the 4-year old silly kid. I also think part of the reason Gabe had such a great day was because Mrs. E. actually spoke to him. Gabey thrives on negativity...he loves it. And he lives to bother people who seem to not like him. When he feels disliked, he acts out. Intentionally.

Here's my Special and Silly Sea-Star Helper. As frustrating as he is, I adore him. And I wouldn't change him. Much.

Gabe and all of his UPK books. He was so proud to show them to me, and he can't wait to show them to Daddy!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Was pretty much puke-filled. The only person who didn't puke (or poop themselves silly) was Gabriel. Jon and I are completely over whatever stomach ailment we had, and Elliott seems to be doing better, too. Janna is still exercising her right to very happily poop through at least 3 outfits a day.

Aside from cleaning up vomit and organizing my Vera stash, I also managed to decorate my house for Christmas. The stockings are hung by the staircase with care, and the advent calendars are out. I took a break from my house on Friday night go buy our tree. It was the fastest tree-picking-out I have ever done. It usually takes me at least a half hour to look through the trees, and then an additional 15 minutes to pick the one I like best. It took me maybe 10 minutes this year. The tree was sitting all alone, propped up against a fence. And it was perfect. It took Jon almost no time at all to get it in the stand. It's tall and skinny, and I think it looks beautiful!

Yesterday was spent preparing for my very first TupperWare party! I've hosted Pampered Chef and Pure Romance parties, but I thought TW would be a nice change of pace. The ladies at the party had a great time, and I won some seriously cool gifts. And I get a bunch of free stuff!!

Today's been kind of quiet - and cold. It's absolutely freezing out. Tomorrow isn't going to be much better, either. But, I'm going to spend the rest of my afternoon baking - casseroles, muffins, rolls, and maybe some cookies (though I highly doubt it).

The Weight: Another 1.8 pounds lost, bringing the total to 49.2 pounds!!

Addicted

As I was watching missed episodes of "The Office" this afternoon, I started thinking about what I want to crochet next. How drooling over John Krasinski manifested itself into a weird need to crochet is waaaaaaay beyond me. I'm finishing up an afghan (a Christmas gift) and I'm getting sick of it. So I want to make something for myself. Probably a scarf and cute hat. Patterns and colors started whirling through my little head, and that got me to thinking about what to match the scarf/hat to. Do I match it to my "new" coat? By "new" I mean better than new...my Dad bought me said coat 7 years ago for my birthday. And it was rather snug. Now? It's on the loose side!! And, and, and...it's 3+ sizes smaller than the coat I was wearing!! YAY! Or do I match it to a Vera Bradley purse - and if I choose Vera, what pattern do I match the yarn to? Do I match the hat and scarf to my favorite mittens (lavender GAP mittens complete with around-the-neck-string)? Decisions, decisions, decisions......

The quandary over what to match a scarf/hat to, combined with sheer boredom (no one's puking at the moment so there's no laundry to do or vomit to clean up), led to a pondering of my addictions - The Office especially John Krasinski, crochet, yarn, and Vera Bradley. That of course got me to thinking about my birthday and Christmas...because I asked for more Vera and craft items (I don't think Jon will buy me John K. as a gift). That then led to a need to organize my collection - of both yarn and bags. Which then led to this - the meticulous (kind of) sorting and separating of my bags (Who cares about yarn?? Which I did separate and sort, too.):

This is the downstairs bathroom door. These are the smaller bags that get used on a regular basis. Yes, I do realize that this set up does hinder the ability of the door to open and close.

These are my "official" MOMS Club Vera bags. They're a little too big for everyday use.

These are all of my totes. There are 6 hanging there. And Jon hates them all.

This is the back of our bedroom door. The door no longer opens or shuts well due to the weight of the bags. There are easily over 20 bags hanging. I hung the lighter bags that don't get used much here.

These are my too-small-for-everyday-use bags, wallets, and glasses cases.

My "Lindsey" collection (aside from the Handbag and Tote, the Lindsey is my favorite style of bag).

My collection of swing-style bags. And see the pretty blue silk with polka dots? That's a "Courtney" bag!

And here is the bag I switched over to while cleaning - a Handbag in the Holiday '95 pattern. Since the holidays are here, my bag needs to match the season!

Missing from the pictures are my diaper bags, my travel stuff, the Girls' bags, and the Girls' rugs. I know - rugs?? Yep. In the spring when we spruce up the girls' room, everything will be purchased/made to match the VB throw rugs (adorable braided rugs in the Katherine pattern) my Mom bought for their room.

Oh. My. God. The above ridiculousness has fed into one of my other addictions...being defensive. I know I have a gazillion bags that I will probably never use (or get rid of), but they were either purchased used on eBay (or, if new, at least 50% off), by someone other than myself, or some combination of the above. Defensive as I am about my love of bags, I do realize that I have a slight problem. I think I need some help!

So, I beseech you loyal internet (and real-life) friends...exactly what do I match the hat and scarf to?

Healthy...

...for now. The stomach bug made it's way through the house this week. I think it's finally gone, but I'm sure it will rear it's ugly head again before the cold/flu season is over. Since Gabriel and Janna had some sort of tummy ailment over Thanksgiving, Jon and I figured that we would all get it at some point this week. And we all did. Jon was sick Monday night and Tuesday. And since he was so miserable, we thought we would plan ahead - meaning that we would get out extra sheets, jammies, puke buckets, etc. so in the event that the kids got sick we were ready. Good thing we're so smart.

On Tuesday night, Jon and I did three loads of laundry...all from Elliott's bedroom. She was sick all night. She exhausted all of the mattress pads for her bed (and Janna's), her pillows, and 4 sets of jammies. Poor Girly. Janna faired a little better. She only threw up once, but the diaper blow outs were disgusting.

And then I got it, too. Tuesday night was miserable, and I slept all day on Wednesday. The only good thing about being sick is that Jon stays home from work and deals with the kids. Thank goodness I have an understanding husband.

Today everyone is feeling better. I think Janna is still a little under the weather...she's sleeping right now. But no one has a fever, or tummy aches, or snot. I hope it stays this way for a while!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Started off with a puking kid...and ended with a puking kid. Or two. We left for "home" (PA) on Wednesday, and we got home about 35 minutes ago. We had a great visit, and the kids were very good. We got to spend time with both sides of our family, and it was actually very relaxing (I didn't go with Jon to see his family. I opted to stay home with my Mommy and the sleeping girls.). Relaxing until yesterday. When Gabriel started puking. He was fine by the end of the day, but he's still wiped out. And Janna has decided to join in on the fun. She's so little...and pathetic...it breaks my heart. So, I'm going to cut this short and put my little girly to bed.

The Weight: I managed to lose 1.8 pounds this week (despite the fact that I gorged myself on spinach casserole, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, chex mix, wine, and Andrea's pumpkin roll - which I am going to figure out how to make low calorie and low fat). Total loss: 47.4 pounds.

Good Times.

So instead of going to PA today, we're staying home. With a puking Elliott. I love kids.

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Went by really fast. Aside from general misbehavior from all three kids, nothing terrible happened. The Big Hosers had a great week at school. Gabriel made some very festive Thanksgiving crafts and learned about Squanto. Elliott showed off her Daddy on Tuesday and helped to prepare a Thanksgiving feast on Thursday (turkey noodle soup, chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, popcorn, and apple pies). Janna had a good week toddling around and making messes everywhere she could. Friday was Elliott's birthday. She had a great time at her party...and so did everyone else. Yesterday was pretty quiet. While the kids "napped", Jon and I rearranged our bedroom. It looks huge now!! And I have a ton more space (for Vera Bradley stuff). Today we're going to PA to see Jon's grandmother and some other family. As soon as the Hosers are dressed, we're leaving.

The Weight: 2.8 pounds lost. Total loss: 45.6!!

3 Years Ago...

...I was sitting (or probably laying) in the hospital marvelling at the beauty of this:

My little (or not so little in this case - the girl weighed in at 9lbs, 2oz) Elliott Jane. My daughter. The sweetest, most precious baby girl in the world.

The first year went by quickly. Elliott grew and grew:

The second year flew by, too:

Where the last year has gone, I have no clue.

My Big Little Girl is three today. And I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?

Lovely!

I have used the above word many times this morning. Sometimes sarcastically, sometimes not.

Sarcastic Courtney: "Oh good. There is a bunch of friggin' snow on the ground. Lovely. And I have to go out in this mess. Lovely. Just f****ing lovely. Why does the Weather Channel have to lie? Bastards." If you haven't already guessed, I hate snow. It's a nuisance. While it's fun to see the kids' faces when they look out the door and see all the fluffy stuff, I don't actually enjoy the fluffy stuff itself. I'm a "lazy Mom" - I hate playing outside with the kids in winter, and that's all they want to do. And since I live in Upstate NY, I have 5 more months of the stuff.

My front yard this morning.

Sentimentally Serious Courtney: While I was driving Gabriel to school this morning, we were listening to "The Polar Express" soundtrack. With the snow clinging to the naked trees (the kids say the trees are naked so they can have a blanket of snow to keep them warm) and the sky a perfect shade of bluish-gray, all I kept thinking was, "Wow. This is lovely. It feels like Christmas. What a perfect morning." Listening to Gabriel sing along with Tom Hanks made my morning. He was so happy.

My handsome little man.

Elliott liked the snow, too, but she was far too busy prancing around declaring that she looked like a princess. Today is Daddy's helping-out day at preschool, and she was very excited to show him off!

Janna was content to plop herself on a bin full of blocks and snack on animal crackers and hot chocolate with Mommy.

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Was so-so. The early part of the week wasn't bad, but Friday was horrible. I won't go into detail, just know that it was miserable, and that I wanted to sell my kids. All three of them. But I lived - and so did they.

This weekend has been nice...aside from the weather. Yesterday was warm, but rainy. It's been snowing off and on today. And I hate snow. But it's November. I live in upstate NY. It's bound to snow sooner or later, though I would prefer later. Much later.

This week is going to be pretty busy. Tomorrow is Monday - and I hate Mondays. Almost as much as I hate snow and mayonnaise. We're doing nothing. Tuesday Jon is helping out at Elliott's pre-school (It's her birthday treat day. I refuse to make cupcakes because I want her to have something just a little more healthy. Couple that with the fact that she's had cupcakes almost every single days she's been in school - sorry, no cupcakes sweety!! So instead, she's getting rice krispy treats. While they aren't terribly healthy, they're much easier to make. And I won't eat all the leftovers!!), so Janna and I are going to hang out and do nothing. Friends of ours are coming over for dinner in the evening, and I can't wait!! Wednesday we have a MOMS Club event, Thursday is Elliott's Thanksgiving Feast Day at school, and Friday is her third birthday (she's having a smallish party with her friends, then Jon and I are going to take the hosers to Build-a-Bear in the later afternoon). She has already requested her favorite foods for her birthday meals - chocolate Pop-Tarts and pink yogurt for breakfast, nuggets and fries for lunch, and Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper and broccoli for dinner. Doesn't sound overly tasty to me, but it's not my third birthday.

The Weight: I lost another pound this week!! My total loss thus far is 42.8 pounds. I'm pretty shocked and excited about my progress. I have been doing Weight Watchers for 16 weeks, and so much weight has come off. My friend, Katie was here on Friday and she was amazed at how "narrow" I am. I don't really see it, but it's good to know that it's noticeable!! It's an actual possibility that by Christmas I will be 50 pounds lighter. That's pretty amazing to me!

Crafty Courtney

That's what I call myself. Well, not really - but I am pretty damned crafty. Family members and friends get some sort of handmade gift for their birthdays or Christmas. I love creating something different for everyone - though my skills are pretty much limited to cross-stitch and crochet. I honestly think that everyone appreciates my efforts, and the things that I make are "tailored" to the individual. I love seeing people's faces when they open something that I have spent a lot of time and energy making.

Most of my craftiness go to my Mom. She loves the stuff. Her house is decorated with a slightly eclectic taste, and my random stitchings and paintings and creations-gone-wrong fit right in. Most of the things I make are Christmasy in nature, but she leaves them out all year round anyway. When I'm not crafting for my Mom, I'm making things for the kids. Each kid has at least one afghan, and I cross-stitched each child's birth announcement (Gabriel's is Raggedy Andy, Elliott's is the bunny from "Guess How Much I Love You", and Janna's is a Care Bear). I also made each kid a plastic canvas wind chime, and I'm working on stockings for next year. Crafty Courtney. That's me.

All of my nieces and nephews have had blankets made for them, and last year everyone got scarves to match their winter coats. My Dad and brothers haven't received many handmade gifties from me, but that's only because I haven't got a clue what to make them. Last year I made my Dad and Beth a Christmasy striped granny square afghan (they loved it), and Devin got a huge granny-rectangle afghan in Penn State colors (also loved by the recipient). I haven't got a clue what to make for Zak, but I made his son, Connor, a blankie to match his diaper bag. Again...Crafty Girl!!

I've received a few handmade gifts here and there, mostly handmade Raggedy Ann dolls that my Mom has found in her travels. My friend, Jennifer made me an adorable purse last year, and Erin made me a cute little cross-stitch magnet - just because. The kids color me pictures and make drawings, but I haven't gotten anything actually handmade by them as a gift yet. Jon has, though. The kids make him all kinds of cute things for his birthday, Father's Day, and Christmas. They like to craft as much as I do, and the Big Hosers have already asked when they can start trying to "croo-chet" and make "plastic square things (plastic canvas)".

I have a few handmade gifts for this Christmas, but the three kids have been keeping me pretty busy. But if you're extra-special nice to me, maybe you'll get something handmade by me this year, too! Until then, enjoy the lovely slide below - it's comprised of my favorite gifts...mostly afghans.

This post is brought to you by the Parent Bloggers Network and Klutz.

Holiday Specialness

I love the holidays. Love them. I am overly excited for them this year for some unknown reason. Maybe because Janna might get something out of them. Maybe because the weather has been so nice. Maybe because the kids are getting awesome gifts this year. I'm not sure why I'm so excited, but I am!!

Debby's curiosity about holiday stuff is the reason for this post. Since I didn't want to hog up her entire comments section, I decided to post my responses here. So...here goes! (I hope Cousin Jim doesn't mind that I am totally copying from his blog!!)

When is it okay to start listening to Christmas music? Personally, I listen to it all year long. I love it. And so do the kids. They sing their own little bastardized versions of Rudolph and Jingle Bells all year round. My husband? Hates it. He thinks that you should only start playing it the day after Thanksgiving at the very earliest. If I have to actually pick a time to start listening, my date would be November 1.

What's your all-time favorite "it's not Christmas til I hear it" Christmas cd? For me it would be Harry Connick Jr.'s "When My Heart Finds Christmas". I also love any Christmas song by Doris Day and Johnny Mathis.

When is it okay to break out those Christmas specials and start watching them? We start in July. They get to pick one a week. Starting in November, they get to pick as many as they want. "Rudolph" is the family favorite!

What's your favorite Christmas movie AND Christmas special? "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is my all-time favorite Christmas anything. I love it. I can't get enough of it. It's always been my favorite. I let the kids watch the video, but seeing it on TV is just so much more special. I waited for it every year, and I still do. The other specials that make me giddy with holiday excitement are "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas". For me, Christmas isn't Christmas without those specials. An actual movie is a bit harder to choose. I'm not a big fan of most of them. Call me a Scrooge, but I don't like "It's a Wonderful Life". I think mine might just be the 1996 version of "Little Women". While not a traditional Christmas movie, it puts me in the Christmas spirit. I also adore "The Polar Express".

What is your favorite Christmas tradition from when you were younger that you try to do today? Advent calendars! I have over 50 of them. I hang, stand, stick, or sit them on any and every available surface in my house. My Mom always had them around the house when I was little, and I always liked them. Most of mine are over 50 years old. The kids have their own (from the 70s), and this year I also bought them the ones that have chocolate hiding behind each door. Bribing them into liking advent calendars is going to be great!! My other favorite tradition is Christmas pjs. We always got a new set on Christmas Eve, and now my hosers do, too.

What is your new favorite Christmas tradition? Something started AFTER you left home? I think the hanging of the pickle on the tree is my favorite new tradition. Jon's Mom always hung a pickle on their tree, and after we got married she shared the idea. So I bought a beautiful hand blown pickle, and it's the last ornament that gets hung. Each kid has their own mini-gherkin, too.

We also started a tradition of watching the 24-hour TBS showing of "A Christmas Story". For all 24 hours. The TV does not get turned off of TBS until the movie stops playing.

After I had kids, I started a Christmas book tradition. On December 1, the kids get a new book and a small Christmas gift.

What do you hope Santa brings this year? In a perfect world, a nice box of patience would be sitting under the tree for me on Christmas morning. But I suppose I'll settle for some new Vera Bradley. And while I have absolutely no qualms about admitting that I love presents, I am also very excited about giving them. I spent the morning sorting and organizing all the stuff I have for family and friends, and I am so excited!! The kids are going to be in heaven. And for me, that's what's most important. The look on their faces Christmas morning is what I look forward to most.

I'm passing the holiday torch. It's your turn to blog abour your holiday specialness.

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: All things considered, last week was a pretty good week. The kids were only mildly insane, and I got a bunch accomplished. Gabriel seems to be evening out a bit at school. He's 4. And as hard as it is, I need to remember that. Because he acts so much older than he is, I tend to forget that he's so young. He's my little freak of nature, and I need to work harder on embracing that about him. He had a great week - and he gets to be the "Sea Star Helper of the Day" on Monday! (I'll add pictures of him with the SS bag tomorrow!!)

Elliott is still being a giant pain in the ass. Every day gets a little worse. When she's by herself, she's fine. But if you add a sibling, all hell breaks loose. She's 2, and I know that's how 2-year-olds are. But it's getting old. I'm trying my hardest to be patient with her, but by the end of the day (5:30 is the end of our day - that's when Daddy gets home) I find myself completely frazzled. It's frustrating - for all of us. When she wasn't on her naughty rug, she was being the cutest and sweetest girl in the world. Which is also frustrating!! When she's good, she's awesome. When she's bad, she's horrible! She had a great week of school, though. And she's been extremely good this weekend. (Miss Thang has her 3 year check-up tomorrow. I have a number of issues to discuss with her pediatrician.)

Janna is becoming quite the PITA herself. She's fully mobile (she's almost running), and she refuses to stay still. Or off the stairs. We have gates or other blockades all around the house, but she manages to get around them. She likes to hang out on the steps, yell for me, and then when I come looking for her - she goes up the steps as fast as she can. Giggling the entire way. She's started throwing and hitting, too, which I can't stand. Jon has started making her stand in the corner when she's naughty. She hates it!! But we figure that she's not too young to start having to go to Time-Out for her behavior. Janna learned a bunch of new words/phrases this week. She now very clearly says up, down, baby, push, block, and throw. She's also discovered that trains are quite possibly the best thing in the world. She pushes them (or cars or empty cereal boxes) around the floor saying, "Choo choo!! Chugga chugga!!" She loves Thomas, too, though she can't say his name. She calls him "Nim-nim" - which is very similar to Elliott's 1-year-old version, "Numinah".

So, such is life in our household. The kids are a never-ending source of amusement and aggravation. But they're cute. So I guess we'll keep them!

The Weight: I had a little trouble at the beginning of the week regulating my WW points. I lost 2 last week, and I was finding it hard to get to my goal - I was either 2 above, or 2 below. I finally got my groove back, and I managed to lose another 2.6 pounds. That brings the total to 41.8!!

Zip-a-dee-do-dah...

...zip-a-dee-ay! Time to put our toys away! Plenty of fun is headed our way. Zip-a-dee-do-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!!

That? Is the song that Gabriel's UPK class sings when it's time to clean up for snack/going home. And it works. All the kids clean up, and all is calm in the land of pre-school. The song also works at home. Kind of. The kids will clean up...eventually. Usually with the offer of spankin' hands to go along with the song.

The reason I bring up cleaning is because I have been cleaning my ass off. Jon started the cleaning buzz (and I am grateful to him for helping out) a few weeks ago. And though his efforts have lessened, mine haven't. With birthdays and Christmas approaching, I need to create a calmer home. By calmer, I mean cleaner. And by cleaner, I mean less like a toy store. I live in a town house, and while it's not tiny (I have three full floors and stuff), it's also not large. I'm very happy here, and I actually like my home - with the exception of one fact. There are toys in every single room of this house. I honestly do try to keep some semblance of order - we have toy boxes, bins, shelves, baskets - all kinds of toy-holding items. Nothing seems to work. Except the purging of toys. Which I hate doing. I buy (or give hints to family/friends as to what I want purchased) most of the random crap that the kids have, and I hate knowing that I am wasting my money. Do I think about that when I buy the stuff? Yep. Does it stop me? Obviously not. When I do purge, I give the stuff to the Salvo, but it still seems wasteful.

This week the toy disorganization has been worse than usual. I think partly because it's been so nice out - the sun is shining in on the chaos that is my house. I decided last night that since I only had Janna this morning, I was going to get some purging/cleaning done. And I succeeded!! With the help of my pal Erin, I managed to get rid of 2+ garbage bags of stuff - lots of it garbage, the rest toys that we don't need. My living room is still full of toys, but they all have a home! The toy box actually shuts, the Little People are in a basket with a lid (thanks, Erin!!), and the bin system that I try to keep organized is actually that - organized! There isn't a single toy on the floor!!

I also "cleaned" off my desk. I hate that it is in the living room (I spend waaaaaaaay too much time internet-ing). I throw everything on top of it, and it looks like crap. I neatened a bunch of the random piles this morning, and I can actually use the desk as it is intended to be used. I cleared off our dining room table (also a holding place for junk), too. The bathrooms are also cleaned (ok, they've been tidied - bathroom cleaning is NOT my job), and the kids' rooms aren't bad, either. Our room is a gigantic disaster. But that's gonna have to wait until after Christmas (my closet happens to be this year's present hiding place)!

I was starting to feel like I was slipping into some sort of depressing funk due to the disorganization of my living quarters. But today's accomplishments have alleviated a lot of the sinking sensation. I'm able to enjoy being in my living room (for the time being) again!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Aside from the snow, the week wasn't terrible. Once again Gabriel had a few issues at school, but after thinking about it, I'm going to chalk all of it up to the fact that he's 4. The weather went nuts, the pre-school Halloween party was mentioned every 5 minutes, and crafts were the only thing that the kids completed all week - my son was bored. His cure to boredom? Back talk. Does it piss me off? Yes. But again, he's 4. Whatdya do? So aside from his mouthiness, The Boy had a good week. His writing is improving daily, and so are his manners. He's still not really napping, but I can live with that.

The Girls had a pretty good week, too. Elliott had a great week at pre-school, and she seems to be getting a little more involved with it as the weeks go by. She loves her teachers, and she's made some new friends. She's still testing my patience at every turn, but I am trying to spend a little more one-on-one time with her. Hopefully, that'll help!!

Janna had her 15 month check-up, and she's growing...kind of. She's kinda little: 21 pounds (fully dressed - coat, shoes, multiple layers of clothing) and 31.5 inches tall. Quite a bit smaller than Gabriel was at this age, but about the same size as Elliott was. She hated her shots, but she loved the attention of the nurses and doctor. She learned how to jump off the couch during the week...and Mommy wasn't happy. I don't like it when kids stand/walk/run/jump on my couch. Missy Toddle Pants just might get to enjoy my spankin' hands this week.

Halloween was great, but I'm glad it's over. I'm not a big fan of the "holiday", and I am sick of seeing really ugly/tacky yard clutter. However, with Halloween over, November is here. And it doesn't seem possible. Summer flew by, and Fall is doing the same. I can't believe Elliott's birthday and Thanksgiving are right around the corner.

The Weight: I'm down 3.2 pounds this week, bringing my total weight loss to 39.2 pounds. HOLY CRAP!

OMG - How Adorable!!

The above phrase was repeated a gazillion times this evening as this walked around our neighborhood:


Honestly, I didn't think anyone would care that I dressed Elliott up as Raggedy Ann. If anything, I thought someone would make fun of the outfit. Not the case. And while I realize that she's 2 (for 3 more weeks) and everyone who doesn't have a 2-year-old thinks they're adorable, Elliott really did look adorable. Partly because of the costume. But mostly because of her personality. She is very gregarious (when she wants to be), and she loves talking to adults. She asked everyone what their name was, what their pets' names were, and any other question she could think of at that moment. My favorite was/is "What you doin'?"

Elliott's cuteness was only slightly diminished when people saw this toddling towards them:

Janna's bow-legged toddley walk is so stinking cute in normal clothes. In a raggedy costume it's even cuter!! I am keeping these costumes forever simply because of how cute the kids looked tonight. No picture does them justice. Janna was so content to be out and about this evening. She said "Hi dere!" to everyone she saw!

When people were all done gushing over the cuteness of my girls, this stalked up to doors:

Roaring ferociously, of course. Gabriel loves this costume, and I love him in it. He looks so cute!! He wore it last year, and I think he might be disappointed that it's not going to fit him after tonight (he had a hell of a time keeping the bottoms up over his butt because his legs are so long, and his arms are too long for the sleeves). I think I am going to put it away for him to keep. I know that's kind of dumb, but he loves it. It was the first Halloween costume he picked out himself. If nothing else, it can go in the dress-up bin.

Halloween is over. We had a great time partying and crafting and trick-or-treating. Now I have to figure out what to do with all the damned candy. I'm not about to put any of the 39+ pounds that I have lost back on by eating all the chocolate!! Anyone want some??

Responses to Lisha!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:19am. The kids let us sleep in!!
2. Diamonds or pearls? I won't lie - I love both!! However, if I had to choose, I'd choose...BOTH!!
3. Last film you saw at the cinema? The Mummy Returns. Yeah, it was that long ago...2001.
4. What is your favorite TV show? It's a tie between The Office and LOST.
5. What do you have for breakfast? Coffee. That's usually all I have.
6. What is your middle name? Jane.
7. What food do you dislike? Pretty much anything with mayonnaise.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I haven't purchased a CD for years. I download music from the internet, and I like a little bit of everything. If you consulted my iPod it would say that the most played songs are by Maroon 5.
9. What kind of car do you drive? Dodge Grand Caravan.
10. Favorite sandwich? Right now I would have to say either a Veggie Delite sub from Subway or a buffalo "chicken" sandwich that I make at home (using a Morning Star Chik Patty).
11. What characteristic do you despise? Stupidity.
12. Favorite item of clothing? Jeans.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? I don't know. Somewhere warm. Possibly without my kids.
14. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't have one.
15. Where would you retire to? Dunno.
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My own, personal memorable birthday? Would be last year's. Because that was the last one I had. (And because my friends threw me a surprise party!!) Not my own, personal birthday? Janna's.
17. Favorite sport to watch? I don't watch sports. Ever.
18. Farthermost place you are sending this? I'm not sending it...
19. Person you expect to send it back first? Probably no one.
20. When is your birthday? December 14.
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Neither. I'm bitchy all day.
22. What is your shoe size? It depends on the shoe. Sneakers - 9.5, dress shoes - 10.
23. Pets? Kuzcotopia Jane - Crack Kitty.
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? It's almost bedtime!!! That's pretty exciting!!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? My Mom. And I'm there.
26. How are you today? Fine, just fine.
27. What is your favorite sweets? (Certainly not any sweet made with improper grammar!!) Anywho - I love sweets!! But I don't eat them now...much!! I love peanut butter cups (they MUST be Hershey's) and cookies. I also love apple and pumpkin pies!
28. What is your favorite flower? Lilacs.
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? November 21 - Elliott's 3rd birthday.
30. What is your full name? John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. Is this name your name, too?
31. What are you listening to right now? The shower - Jon's giving the kiddos their baths!!
32. What was the last thing you ate? A flatbread, crispy crust pizza with cheese, spinach, and black olives.
33. Do you wish on stars? Yep.
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Red. Cause I'm awesome like that.
35. How is the weather right now? Kind of shitty. It just got done thundering and lightninging.
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? My Mommy.
37. Favorite soft drink? Coca-Cola Classic. The best soda in the world!!
38. Favorite restaurant? I don't think I have one. I love Chili's, though!
39. Real hair color? Something close to what it is now. As I get older, it gets darker. So I lighten it.
40. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies.
41. Summer or winter? Fall??
42. Hugs or kisses? Both!!
43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Again, both!!!
44. Coffee or tea? Umm, both?! Coffee in the morning, tea later in the day.
45. Do you want your friends to email you back? I love it when my friends e-mail me.
46. When was the last time you cried? I don't remember.
47. What is under your bed? Dust bunnies, books, pictures, foot spa...probably some other random crap, too.
48. What did you do last night? Entertained Katie.
49. What are you afraid of? Snakes.
50. Salty or sweet? Sweet!!
51. How many keys on your key ring? Not many...maybe 3. The "real" question should be "How many key rings vs. keys are on your key ring?".
52. How many years at your current job? 8...I was a housewife before I had kids, and now I'm a housewife and a SAHM.
53. Favorite day of the week? Thursday. I get to ogle John Krasinski.
54. How many towns have you lived in? 4 towns in 2 states.
55. Do you make friends easily? Yep. I'm very boisterous.
56. How many people will you send this to? Didn't we already cover the fact that I'm not sending this to anyone??
57. How many will respond? Probably none - ya losers!!

I know that I've posted three times today...but I can't help myself. There's just so much useless stuff to blog about today!!

The Playlist...

...is on the side of the blog. Right under the "About Me" section. It's pink. I don't have it turned on to automatic play. Every time I opened this page, the music scared me (I forgot that I had the songs listed, and I wasn't expecting them to play.)!!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Not too shabby! I did a pretty great job of keeping my cool - literally and figuratively - all week. I am really trying my hardest not to yell as much (and if you know me at all, then you know that this is going to be very hard for me), and I think that I am doing well. I am always going to be a "yeller", and I embrace that. My parents were (and still are) yellers, so I come by it naturally. My kids are difficult at best, and I deal with them the best way I can. All three thrive on negative attention, so I am trying to be more positive. Wish me luck!!

We had some fun MOMS Club events this week. The horse farm was awesome (did you see my gorgeous girls???), and our Halloween party was the best kid party I have ever been to. It was so relaxed and the kids all had a blast. It was great!!

The weekend has been really quiet. And kind of dreary. It's getting ready to rain (and it rained almost all day yesterday). I love sunny Fall...but I hate rainy Fall. Yesterday was spent running errands...ALONE!! Jonny kept the kiddos, and I went all over getting groceries and a few Christmas presents for the kids (Yes, I am that Mom. I have the Girls done, and Gabriel's stuff has to be ordered.). My pal, Katie came over last night for dinner, and we got to giggle and laugh together. It was really nice.

Today has been spent the same way last Sunday was spent...cleaning. Again, don't get me wrong - I love that my husband has the motivation to clean...that he's willing to clean...that he does a great job cleaning. My complaint is that after his urge is gone, he does "nothing" for months. Yeah he does some dishes and laundry, and I am NOT complaining about the fact that he does something. But I do those things EVERY SINGLE DAY. I guess my whole problem with his cleaning bug is that I am expected to be impressed and grateful that he's done something so wonderful. No one is impressed and/or grateful that I clean every damned day. But I think that I am going to call it quits for the day. I don't know how much more scrubbing my poor hands can handle!

The Weight: Not bad. I stayed the same this week - still 36 pounds down.

I'm Not Much of a Photographer, Either...

Lisha added a really nice picture to her post for today, and claimed that she wasn't much of a photographer. Regardless, the picture was lovely, and she can take pictures of my stuff any day!!

My photography skills are very lacking, but I got this shot on a field trip this week. And I love it. My friend, Keelie pointed out that the sky looks awesome, and the fence stands out in contrast. I like it for those reasons, too. But I also like it because my Girls are in the same stance.

I'm not much of a singer either. And neither are my kids. But that isn't stopping them from belting out some Flobots songs. Loudly. And asking for an entire concert of the favorite songs. I've added a playlist for you listening pleasure. This is what my kids would prefer to listen to. Nasty Mommy that I am, I prefer them to listen to something a little less mature.

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse. We had a number of very awesome MOMS Club events this week (the fish hatchery was AWESOME!!), and Jon and I took the kiddos out and about all day yesterday. Honestly, I can't think of anything to complain about right now. Hmmmmm....it must be that all of the dust and cleaning product chemicals are getting to me. It's Sunday. The proverbial day of rest. Just not for me. For whatever reason, my hubby got a bug up his ass about cleaning. And when that happens, the entire house is turned upside down. He means well, and he does a lot of hard work. But it's annoying. I clean every day. Can't I please just sit on my ass for one afternoon? Please? Nope. At least I'm not doing all of the work alone. There are now 3 more garbage bags of stuff to go to Goodwill along with a pile of trash that is bigger than me. I really shouldn't complain. And my kids? All three are playing very happily TOGETHER in the cleaned out play-room. Now I need to figure out what to make for dinner...

The Weight: I was pretty sure I had gained weight this week - but I was wrong! I lost 3.2 pounds, bringing the total to 36 pounds even. Yay!!

The Week In Pictures

Since I have absolutely nothing of substance to write about, I thought I'd share some pictures. Enjoy!

Weekly Weigh-in!!

The Week: Ok, so I'm a day late. Deal!! Last week was pretty crappy. Mostly because Jon was out of town for most of it. I lived through it...and so did the kids. I won't go into detail, but they were less than pleasant. And as a result, I was less than less than pleasant. Good times!

Like I said, I made it through the week (with special help from Erin and her family - THANK YOU!!). On Friday we went "home" to see family. We got to see my Dad (who we see maybe thrice a year), which was nice. Jon got to see his Nana, too. The kids and I didn't go see her since we are all sick, but at least he got to spend a few hours with her. I think he's glad he did. We spent the rest of the weekend with my Mom. Saturday we went to a local pumpkin patch and had a great time! (I'll post pics if I feel like it. Most of them will be on my website. If you want to see them, let me know. It's ok if you don't want to.) We came home yesterday, and I am pretty wiped out. While it was a very nice weekend, it was also very tiring.

The Weight: As of 6:35am on Sunday morning, I am 32.8 pounds below my original starting weight. That's a 2.6 pound loss for the week!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, KEELIE!

This post is dedicated to you - my very best friend of over 25 years. I am such a horrible BF - I completely flaked on sending you a card...or an e-mail...or something stupid on Facebook. I didn't forget about your birthday. I just forgot to do something about it. Forgive me?

I honestly don't remember when we first met. I know it was in pre-school, and we just sort of became attached. Forever. Sure we've had some rough patches, but no matter what you have always been there for me. There really aren't enough words to express what you have meant to my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today without having had you as a constant for the past quarter century. I love you dearly. I am so proud of you - proud of you for being an awesome Mom, proud of you for going back to school, proud of you for just being you. And I'm overly proud and privileged to call you my friend.

So, Happy Belated "29th" Birthday! Hope you had a great day!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: As you might have read in my last post, we've been having some school and sleep issues around here. The school issues have been resolved - thank goodness. Both kids had a great week in school, and I am exceedingly proud of the strides they have made.

The sleep issues are another story. Right now, Elliott is laying in a pack 'n play whining. Notice I said pack 'n play. Not bed. Because she can't stay in her bed, she gets to sleep in a play pen. And she hates it. One would think that because she hates it so much, she would learn to stay in her bed. Not the case with Miss Thing. If anything, her loathing of the pack 'n play seems to make her more apt to leave her bed. I'm not exactly sure why that is. She just doesn't want to stay in her bed. She wants to wander/poke/play - or as I like to call it, "dick around". It makes me nuts. Not only is she keeping her siblings awake, but she's just not being safe. I am petrified that she will fall down the steps or something. We have tried putting a gate in her doorway, but she can climb those with no problem. Closing the door doesn't work either because it sticks - and if she needs to potty she can't get out. I'm just about out of ideas. Anyone have any suggestions?

Yesterday was my MOMS Club luncheon. It was so much fun! I got a chance to dress up! And I looked HOT!! My clothes were a little on the loose side, but they still looked cute. All of my Mommy pals looked cute, too!! I don't have a picture of Miss Erin to put up here, but here's Jennifer and I. Aren't we just too cute for words?? (Or do we look like lesbians??)

Today has been nice...quiet...sad. All of the above. Nice in that there was nothing that had to be done. Quiet because the kids were very well behaved. Sad because Jon's Nana is in the hospital. She's 95. We kind of feel like we're on hold right now. Every time the phone rings I worry that it's his Mom with bad news. We'll see what happens as the week goes on.

The Weight: I am 30.2 pounds lighter than I was 10 weeks ago!! How cool is that?

Good Times!

I'm back! Didja miss me? I spent the first part of the week in PA with Janna and my pal Jennifer. Jen had a conference at the hospital where my Mom works, so I went along for the ride. It was a nice, relaxing trip. Janna is so easy to travel with. She's so content (even without a decent nap or a good night's sleep).

We got back Tuesday night, and I was so excited to see my Big Hosers and husband. Aside from hospital stays, I have never left the kids for more than a few hours. They were glad to see me, too.

All that gladness and excitement? Pretty sure it wore off sometime on Wednesday morning. Jon informed me on Tuesday evening that the Big Kids were both having some issues at school. Apparently both of them are over-excited when they get there, and that leads to all kinds of obnoxiousness. I know, you're probably saying to yourself, "Courtney's kids? Obnoxious? Never." But yep. Obnoxious they are. Gabriel likes to blurt/yell out answers in class instead of waiting patiently with his hand raised. He also likes to be the center of attention. Elliott has the same problems - yelling, needing a ton of attention - but she has another issue. She likes to leave. She finishes her crafts, and then she tries to leave the classroom. So we've been talking about the need for patience and listening skills. I talked with both of their teachers, and the end of this week went well.

Sleep woes are also a huge part of the reason that the gladness/excitement has worn off. Janna didn't sleep well while we were in PA, and now she doesn't think she has to sleep at all. Her naps have gone from a daily total of over 4 hours (one hour in the a.m. and 3+ hours in the p.m.) to a piddly 1.5 hours. She doesn't fall asleep until 9:30 usually, and then she's up around 6. She's growing more miserable as the days go on. Elliott's lack of sleep leads to Janna's. E doesn't like to stay in her own bed. So she wanders and she picks. She usually gets a spank to the bottom, as well. Gabriel has also started having an issue with napping. His issue? He no longer does it. And it's killing me. I NEED nap-time. It's a necessity. And it hasn't gone well this week at all. Needless to say, I am annoyed. And I have a ginormous headache.

So...the lack of sleeping needs to change. So does the amount of sass/back-talk/attitude that the kids give. Elliott is the worst of all. She's so whiny, and she's manipulative to boot. She plays Jon and I against each other. While she almost never succeeds in getting what she wants, she totally succeeds in pissing us both off. Gabriel has gotten much better since school started, but he's still got quite the mouth on him. Even Janna has started with the nastiness. She says "No!" far too much for a Girly of her age, and she's taken to hitting.

Good times at my house this week. Good times. Jon's traveling again for part of next week, so I can only imagine what it will be like...

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: Have you ever really just wanted to ship one of your kids somewhere? Far, far, f.a.r. away? That's pretty much how I feel about Elliott. Yeah, she's cute and sweet and funny and such a great little girl. But she's also a gigantic pain in my ass. For the last 2-3 months she's been overly whiny and disagreeable. If she doesn't get her way, she's miserable. Which makes everyone around her miserable, too. Every morning this week I have been rousted from a sound sleep (at 6am) by a screaming, whining Elliott. She wants Gabriel's trains. He gives her some. But not enough. So she throws a fit. He gives her more trains as a "trade" for Barbies. No go. She throws a fit because he has the audacity to even think that he can play with her dolls. She then throws an even larger fit because we make her give back the trains because she can't share. Then it all starts again when we get downstairs. Good times. Don't get me wrong. I realize that two-year-olds are like this. And she's not always being a miserable little cuss. When she's happy, she's HAPPY. But she's a mini-me - she's got more attitude than one little girl needs. And she's got my nasty streak. When she and I are both pissy, stay away.

I also think she has a touch of the "middle-child-syndrome". I'm trying to spend quality one-on-one time with her (sans siblings), but it doesn't help. I get so frustrated with her, and that leads to meltdowns...for both of us. My little get-away with Jennifer is exactly what I need right now. Miss Jennifer has a conference at the hospital my Mommy works at, so we're going "home" for a few days. Janna's coming, too.

Gabriel and Janna have both had pretty great weeks! Gabriel is still in love with pre-school (and his little pal Kyra). He seems so big to me lately. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that he's in a "Big Boy School (that's what he calls the Elementary School)". It's also probably because his size 5 Slim pants are almost all too short for his legs. He's huge!!

My Sweet and Petite started walking this week! She woke up from a nap and took off. She also sprouted three new teeth. She's just growing and growing...and it doesn't seem possible that she's not really a baby anymore.

So the week wasn't great. But it wasn't terrible.

The Weight: I dropped 1.2 pounds this week bringing my total loss to 27.8 pounds. I need new shirts!! All of mine are all stretched out, and they look sloppy. I hate that. So while I'm visiting my Mommy, I'm going to drag her shopping with me. I may even make her go look at Vera Bradley bags, too.

Matchit Johnson

That's what I call people who don't match. Mismatching is one of my largest pet peeves. I hate it. It makes my skin crawl. I want to ask people if they own mirrors. How can you not notice that your clothing is just so...wrong???

While it bothers me when I see kids in various states of mismatch, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as when I see adults all mixed up. Kids are kids. Mine choose their favorite articles of clothing and throw them on. They don't care. Neither does my husband. He very often is the person responsible for laying out their morning running clothing, and I can't stand it. I realize that the kids will be strapped into a running stroller. And that no one is going to be paying attention to them at 6:15 in the morning. But it still makes me insane. Jon doesn't understand my need for matching clothing. He never has. When I met him, he was a huge Matchit Johnson. I was embarrassed to be seen in public with him at times. But, he's a dude. And sometimes dudes just don't get it. He's changed in his "old" age, and he actually comes to me to make sure he matches. It's nice! I just wish that he would accept my need to have the kids match.

My Mom is almost as bad. She dresses impeccably for work, and she always looks nice when we're going out to do something. However, he choice of clothing for hanging out in is questionable. Actually, it's more than questionable. It's downright hideous! She's a huge fan of "cozies" - sweats, pj bottoms, huge long sleeved tops - which is fine. But the outfits that she puts together from all of the mismatched and misshapen cozies is nasty. Thank goodness her teal sweatpants have met their demise. You don't want a picture - trust me. Again, I realize that when she's all shut up in her house it doesn't matter what she's wearing. But sometimes it hurts my eyes to look at her noxious get-up. I love you, Mom. But I hate your worn-out flannel jammie bottoms and your bright orange wooly coat thing.

Ok. Back to the mismatching of my kids. For the most part, they actually try to match. Gabriel doesn't like to wear stripes and patterns together. It bothers him. He's happiest in jeans and a long sleeved tee. And there's no matching there. Elliott doesn't care at all. As long as part of the outfit is pink, she's happy. However, she loves to dress her dolls in completely mismatched outfits. As horrible as it is, I think her dolls look homeless or something (yes, I know. I am totally un-PC.) . Her baby dolls and her Snap ' Style dolls aren't much better. Janna is still too little to care about her clothes.

When the Hosers do come down in something that I find less than appealing, I try to let them keep part of the outfit. If it's a busy top, then maybe we can find some plain bottoms. You like the camo or stripey bottoms? Then let's find a plain top. If nothing works (and we aren't dealing with any kind of time constraints), then I dig out the dress-up stuff. They can create their own "pretend" outfit. That usually always heals any hurts. As long as they can wear some of the jewelry out and about. Well, I hate it. But ok.

After some "good dress-up", the kids will pretty much let me change their clothing. The Mardi Gras shirt of The Boy? Hate.

So....why am I blogging about my loathing of mismatching? For a Parent Bloggers Blog Blast, of course. Together with the Polly Pocket Pop 'N Swap, PBN is endeavoring to hear all about the fashion mishaps of our kids. Do you have any pictures of your little Matchit Johnsons?

Walky-Walkerton

It's official. Janna is a bona fide toddling toddler. She's been taking steps here and there for weeks, but today she's full-on walking. By herself. Without holding onto furniture or hands. While I am so glad that she's doing this on her own, I'm still slightly saddened (and when I say "slightly", I mean very slightly.). She's not really a baby baby anymore. She's growing up. And right now she's also making a huge mess. See? Yep. I'm blogging while my kids are playing. Bad Mommy!!

This? Is my new bag. My congratulations-on-losing-20-pounds present to myself. Isn't she super-cute? She's also super-functional. I needed something that was super-easy to grab and super-comfortable to wear. It holds all of my crap and still lays super-nicely on my hip. I am super-pleased with her. Oh - just in case you were wondering...I do refer to all of my Vera bags as "her". They're ladies. I also added all of those "supers" in there just for you, Erin!!

Weekly Weigh-In!!

The Week: While I was very excited to have it end, it was much better than last week. I am still getting used to the kids' schedules, and having to be in more than one place at a time is definitely a struggle. But I am managing, and everyone seems to be adjusting well. Gabriel and Elliott love pre-school, and they are both exhausted when they get home. I was afraid that nap-time would end very quickly for The Boy, but he's still taking a 2.5 hour nap every afternoon. Elliott and Janna are still snoozing for 3+ hours, so I really can't complain at all about their sleeping. They will still go to bed fairly well most of the time, too. Though we've only had one day of quality alone time (which was spent grocery shopping), Janna seems to like the new routine, too.

Jon's going out of town this week, so I have a feeling that things will be a little more than tense around here for a few days. We'll see...

The Weight: I have no idea how I did it, but I lost 4.6 pounds this week! I ate (and drank) more than I should have, and I still managed to lose weight. I am very proud of myself! This week's loss brings the total up to 26.6 pounds!

Essential Necessities

Being a SAHM to three wild kids is tough. I don't get paid and I receive very few thanks. I come from a long line of SAHMs, so I knew it was going to be a rough road. But as tough as most days are, there are a bunch of modern conveniences available that make life just a little easier. I don't know how my Grandmothers (and my Mom) survived without little things like microwaves, disposable diapers (that have elastic sides and leg openings - I was notorious as a baby for leaving "droppings") , cordless phones, the internet, electric coffee makers with timers, coffee grinders, and garbage disposals. Those are just a few of the items that I wouldn't be able to live without on a daily basis. OK, so I could give up the garbage disposal, but then my house would reek due to all of the food that gets thrown away every day (2/3 of my kids are on a food strike right now. We waste a lot of food.). I could also probably live without the coffee grinder, but there are just times when it's so nice to have freshly ground coffee without having to drag three screaming kids into the nearest Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters.

Aside from the household appliances listed above, there are a number of things that I couldn't live without. A world without coffee (and fat-free French Vanilla creamer and a large coffee mug) , my "crack" - wintergreen Tic-Tacs (to slightly diminish the coffee breath from the aforementioned necessity). , Bath and Body Works Black Amethst body spray (it works really well to mask any smell that happens to befall my clothing - puke, sweat, poop, you get the idea), hair products, Vera Bradley bags, or men's white v-neck undershirts is a world in which I do not want to dwell. Of course I also require fresh air, food and water, and a roof over my head, but it's the little things that help make my days brighter. And brighter days for me mean brighter days for my kiddos.

If you asked them, I'm sure the Hosers would each be able to give you a list of the things they require to make it through the day. The lists would include various toys (trains for G, Barbies for E, and babies for J) , books of all kinds (Thomas books for G, Golden Books for E, and any book that J can get her hands and mouth on), and food. Aside from the obvious (PB&Js and chips), there are two foods that my kids can't live without. Sprinkle crackers (saltines) and yogurt. We go through a box of sprinkle crackers in 2 weeks, and we go through 2-six packs of yogurt each week. They love the stuff. I bring up their love of bacterially-charged dairy products for this week's Blog Blast from the Parent Bloggers Network and Yoplait Kids (our favorite brand of yogurt - yeah it's because the containers have Dora and Diego on them).

So. What stuff makes your life easier? What can't you live without?

# 100!!

This is my 100th post! It's such a privilege to be able to write such awesome crap - and actually have people (though they are few) read it. Thanks, loyal followers!!

Please bear with me while I add a small section of actual Thank You's here: TY to my Mommy - who has shared with me her love of bitching and her lack of patience. TY to Erin - the jealousy over your gorgeous blog drove me to create my own. TY kids, husband, and MOMS Club - without you I would have little or nothing to blog about.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I can focus on more important things. Like the changing of the seasons! Fall is just around the corner (the first official day is Monday, the 22nd), and I am excited. I love the sights, smells, and sounds of the season. I am also very excited for the numerous outings and events we have planned. I'm pretty much of the opinion that you can't pick too many apples or pumpkins!!

Know what else I love about Fall? School!! Today was Elliott's first day of pre-school, and she was in heaven! She has been bugging me to no end for the past few weeks, and finally I could tell her that, yes!! She was going to school today!

We both had a great morning. And to be perfectly honest, I am thrilled to be rid of her for a few hours a week. Bad Mommy? Maybe. But I really don't think so. Elliott will flourish under the tutelage of Mrs. A. and Mrs. O. She will get something from them that I can't give her. I do not feel guilty about the feelings of elation that I have knowing that she will be absent from my house on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Now that the weather is changing, I am already dreading what will follow. In about 8 weeks (or most likely less than 8) the first real signs of winter will be apparent. No, not the frosts. The first flakes of snow. I hate snow. And I have no idea why I am already worrying about it. Maybe because I hate driving in it, and I am now responsible for carting two kids to pre-school. Maybe because I have never driven my van in snow. Maybe because Jon is driving through the middle of the upstate NY snow belt every stinking day of the week. Maybe because I am already panicked at the thought of being stuck inside with the kids in the event of a major snow storm. Maybe because I hate being cold. Who knows. My point is that I am not looking forward to it. At all.

One of the other nice things about Fall, is the reemergence of some of my beloved television shows. I can't wait!! Wednesdays will once again be heavenly with the return of Pushing Daisies, Private Practice (Jon hates this show!!), and Dirty Sexy Money. (In the winter I will be glued to my seat with the anticipation of Lost's return.)

You will find me stuck to my couch on Thursday nights, too. The Office is returning (I love to start at John Krasinski), and so is Earl. So while I would also love to watch Grey's, I will have to make do with re-runs (or, if you really want to, you can ruin it for me. I promise I won't mind!!). And when I am totally bored with any of the above, I can always find some repeats of my standard faves: Dirty Jobs (Mike Rowe is just so hot. Dirty hot.), Mythbusters, and the Weather Channel (ok, so it's not an actual show, but I watch it constantly). I don't watch many other shows. I love the History Channel, but sometimes it's hit or miss. I hate reality tv, and I'm not too keen on home improvement shows. Show me a cartoon any day! Let's hear a rah, rah, rah for Rocket!! And for, Peep, too!!

Much to my Mom's chagrin, we do not watch any sports. None (the Olympics is the only exception). And I'm not upset about that fact at all. I do have moments of guilt (where else are my kids going to learn about them? Jon didn't play anything - he was a runner and a band geek. I most certainly didn't display my unsportswoman-like attitude [and total klutziness] on a field of any kind.), but they are far outnumbered by the happiness I exude when I can flip past baseball, football, basketball, tennis, or golf without having someone telling me to stop. Sorry Ma, I don't even stop for the Browns.

And I'm spent. I still have a few minutes of quiet-time before the kiddos get up from naps, so I'm going to have a 100-calorie pack of cookies, and veg on my couch.