The stressies are starting to take over a little bit. Tomorrow is my work's first holiday party, which isn't a lot to deal with but the setting up of chairs, making coffee etc. But tomorrow night is my knitting group's annual potluck and swap. On tap for tonight: cooking massive quantities of Mexican chicken and rice. (And hoping beyond hope that I REMEMBER to take it to work tomorrow for the party right after work!!!!) Oh, and finish my swap item. That's right, the day before. This is the first year I've let that go until the very last minute. But this is also the first year that my ideas for a good handmade swap item went to hell in a hand basket. Hopefully I won't be staying up supah-late, trying to finish it.
Then this weekend there's a birthday party that both boys are attending. And Christmas shopping. And whatever else running-around that goes with a regular weekend. I'm trying not to panic....I'm not going to let the anxiety win this year.
Then this morning, I got a little bit of peace. I put some toys for Hubby to bring to work for Toys for Tots on the kitchen table two days ago, but I don't think I told him why they were there. (There you go, Honey. I've told you.) Sean was playing with one of them yesterday, and of course wants to keep it. Then Will started with it today, and wants to keep it as well. It's a little toy car that plays music ("PUMP UP THE JAM, Pump it up, Pump it up!" Ugh.) Finally I explained that the car and animals were for kids that Santa couldn't get to, that had parents that even though they wanted to, couldn't afford presents for their kids.
Instant silence. Then Will put the toy down on the table and said, "That is the saddest thing, it makes me want to cry. Let's go out and buy a hundred more....I don't want anyone to not have a present on Christmas."
And that folks, is really what it is all about! Nevermind the list of errands, the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping, the STRESSING. Giving. And sharing and caring. That's what it is about.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Toddler's Thoughts
Latest "Sean-isms" from my two-year old:
Looking for his favorite blanket before bedtime. "I don't know where Wee-gee (aka, Luigi) went.....he just disappeared."
Upon telling the boys that friends of ours just had a baby boy. "I no like Blake. They shoulda named him Sparkledoggie."
Upon repeating something not-so-nice that Mommy uttered in traffic: "Sean you really shouldn't say "Oh Jesus, that's not nice coming out of a little boy's mouth. Sean: "You say it."
At dinner, talking about having an adventurous palate and needing to try new things. My husband is one of those "I'll try anything once" types when it comes to food. He was telling the boys some of the things that he ate while in the Navy. "Daddy's tried kangaroo, snake, shark, alligator and reindeer. Tried to get whale once in Norway, but it wasn't available." Sean: "I wouldn't eat a dolphin." Daddy, after serious consideration, "Yep. I wouldn't eat a dolphin either. "
And my favorite....Sean is a rough and tumble kid. He has very little fear and we have often found him about to jump off his bed or climb something that he shouldn't. He bangs his knees a lot, or bumps his head. With every little "injury" he comes running, looking for a Mommy kiss. He comes running last night, complaining that he "can't walk" because he bumped his leg and wants me to kiss it. Just as I'm thinking "Oh man, I've gone to far with the kissing the boo-boos all the time," right after I kiss it he says "Thank you Mama. That feels so much better!"
Looking for his favorite blanket before bedtime. "I don't know where Wee-gee (aka, Luigi) went.....he just disappeared."
Upon telling the boys that friends of ours just had a baby boy. "I no like Blake. They shoulda named him Sparkledoggie."
Upon repeating something not-so-nice that Mommy uttered in traffic: "Sean you really shouldn't say "Oh Jesus, that's not nice coming out of a little boy's mouth. Sean: "You say it."
At dinner, talking about having an adventurous palate and needing to try new things. My husband is one of those "I'll try anything once" types when it comes to food. He was telling the boys some of the things that he ate while in the Navy. "Daddy's tried kangaroo, snake, shark, alligator and reindeer. Tried to get whale once in Norway, but it wasn't available." Sean: "I wouldn't eat a dolphin." Daddy, after serious consideration, "Yep. I wouldn't eat a dolphin either. "
And my favorite....Sean is a rough and tumble kid. He has very little fear and we have often found him about to jump off his bed or climb something that he shouldn't. He bangs his knees a lot, or bumps his head. With every little "injury" he comes running, looking for a Mommy kiss. He comes running last night, complaining that he "can't walk" because he bumped his leg and wants me to kiss it. Just as I'm thinking "Oh man, I've gone to far with the kissing the boo-boos all the time," right after I kiss it he says "Thank you Mama. That feels so much better!"
Monday, December 3, 2012
Tree Traditions
Our Christmas Tree is up!
We have a few traditions with our Christmas tree. The first one is that every year, we try to find a new spot in the living room for the tree. We re-arrange the furniture, sit down on the couch and chair, and notice that the couch is too big to do it that way. We re-arrange, cursing mildly. Then we take one of the end tables out of the room. Eventually, all of the furniture gets put back and the tree goes the same place it does every year. Well, not this year. We made it a little smaller, and we put it in between the couch and the chair, so you can see it lit up in the side window from the driveway. Brian and I can't see each other if I'm sitting in the chair and he's on the couch, but hey, the tree is gorgeous!
The second tradition is that we always purchase Christmas ornaments as souvenirs when we travel. It's so much fun reminiscing about where we've been over the years as we decorate the tree. Sint Maarten, 2003: "Remember the horrible sunburn you got, Gin?" (Not that I could ever forget, it being my second dance with sun poisoning. I'm much better with the sun now.) Disney World 2005: Where we "got to be kids before having kids." Arizona 2001: Visiting my old school friend Jenni for the first time in six years after going to most of HS together. Wisconsin 2010: driving ALL THAT WAY with a preschooler and a six-month old baby, but spending a vacation with the fabulous Ratties. My first trip to NYC for our tenth wedding anniversary. (2010 as well) Outer Banks, NC ornament (2008) has Santa Claus on a surfboard. Another great trip. Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my family in 2006, when I was pregnant with Will. They're all there. It's fun to remember vacations this way, and I intend to continue this forever.
The third tradition is that we allow the kids to decorate a little tabletop Christmas tree for their bedroom. They love doing this, and having their own (unbreakable) ornaments. And this year for the first time, we let them decorate the tree with us. Yes, even the little one. And yes, even the breakable ornaments. How else are they going to learn how to be careful?
Here's to many years of traditions as a family.
We have a few traditions with our Christmas tree. The first one is that every year, we try to find a new spot in the living room for the tree. We re-arrange the furniture, sit down on the couch and chair, and notice that the couch is too big to do it that way. We re-arrange, cursing mildly. Then we take one of the end tables out of the room. Eventually, all of the furniture gets put back and the tree goes the same place it does every year. Well, not this year. We made it a little smaller, and we put it in between the couch and the chair, so you can see it lit up in the side window from the driveway. Brian and I can't see each other if I'm sitting in the chair and he's on the couch, but hey, the tree is gorgeous!
The second tradition is that we always purchase Christmas ornaments as souvenirs when we travel. It's so much fun reminiscing about where we've been over the years as we decorate the tree. Sint Maarten, 2003: "Remember the horrible sunburn you got, Gin?" (Not that I could ever forget, it being my second dance with sun poisoning. I'm much better with the sun now.) Disney World 2005: Where we "got to be kids before having kids." Arizona 2001: Visiting my old school friend Jenni for the first time in six years after going to most of HS together. Wisconsin 2010: driving ALL THAT WAY with a preschooler and a six-month old baby, but spending a vacation with the fabulous Ratties. My first trip to NYC for our tenth wedding anniversary. (2010 as well) Outer Banks, NC ornament (2008) has Santa Claus on a surfboard. Another great trip. Prince Edward Island, Canada, with my family in 2006, when I was pregnant with Will. They're all there. It's fun to remember vacations this way, and I intend to continue this forever.
The third tradition is that we allow the kids to decorate a little tabletop Christmas tree for their bedroom. They love doing this, and having their own (unbreakable) ornaments. And this year for the first time, we let them decorate the tree with us. Yes, even the little one. And yes, even the breakable ornaments. How else are they going to learn how to be careful?
Here's to many years of traditions as a family.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
How I Became A "Yes" Girl
I was at the grocery store late tonight (and horrors! on a Monday. That's what holiday travel does to ya) The cashier was ringing me up and lost in conversation with the bagger, a guy about her age with braces. As he's bagging my groceries, the manager yells over to him, "Hey are you working tomorrow?" When he says that he isn't, she says, "well, would you like to?" Awkward pause, as you see his brain shift into "deer in headlights" mode, he's stammering for an excuse as to why he can't and not finding one. The cashier bats her lashes at him and says quietly, "What is it, do you have plans after school or do you not want to work?" I can clearly see which it is....and the manager browbeats him into taking an afterschool shift.
Wow, this guy reminds me of my high school self. Flashback to the early nineties, where I worked at a fast food joint instead of a grocery store. (Which may have been my first mistake, but that's a story for another day.) I'd put in long weekend hours mostly working drive-thru, spending Saturdays getting up at 5am to prep for the 6AM opening. I'd work nights, sometimes into the early morning. And I never said no. Extra shifts? Yes. Stay past closing? Sure. Work at other stores because they were short-handed? Just tell me where it is and I'll figure it out.
Truth be told, I allowed myself to become a Yes Girl. In college, I worked retail for two semesters at a popular "cheapie" store. LOTS of nights and weekends where I should've said No once in a while. My senior year, I worked at a coffee shop AND at a nursing home while going to school full-time. My grades suffered, sure. But look at my strong work ethic! Yeah yeah, that's important too. But so is getting decent grades and decent sleep. Learn to say no.
I have only in the past few years learned to put up my hand and back away. Many years as the easy target, attending things that I didn't want to attend, baking for things I didn't want to bake for, etc etc etc. Finding myself chairing committiees and charity events that I didn't want to. And paying for the overcommittment. And silently hating myself for not speaking up.
So I say to this kid in the store (in my head, because I don't have a lot of guts to open my mouth and lay it down to a stranger.) Kid: a strong work ethic is important. And I know that your generation doesn't have a lot of that. But being young and getting out and doing your thing is important too. You have your whole life to work. You don't have to feel like you're disappointing your boss because you don't want to come in on your day off. Because if you start doing that, they're not going to remember that you did it, they're just going to call you in more often. So, even if you don't have any more plans than to sit on your couch afterschool, and catch up on the DVD or just plain stare into space, be honest. Grow a set and say "Sorry, I can't I've got plans." You'll be glad that you did in the long run. Because there's such a thing as a team player, and such as thing as a doormat.
The Yes Girl, she doesn't live here anymore. And I don't really miss her, and neither does my family.
Wow, this guy reminds me of my high school self. Flashback to the early nineties, where I worked at a fast food joint instead of a grocery store. (Which may have been my first mistake, but that's a story for another day.) I'd put in long weekend hours mostly working drive-thru, spending Saturdays getting up at 5am to prep for the 6AM opening. I'd work nights, sometimes into the early morning. And I never said no. Extra shifts? Yes. Stay past closing? Sure. Work at other stores because they were short-handed? Just tell me where it is and I'll figure it out.
Truth be told, I allowed myself to become a Yes Girl. In college, I worked retail for two semesters at a popular "cheapie" store. LOTS of nights and weekends where I should've said No once in a while. My senior year, I worked at a coffee shop AND at a nursing home while going to school full-time. My grades suffered, sure. But look at my strong work ethic! Yeah yeah, that's important too. But so is getting decent grades and decent sleep. Learn to say no.
I have only in the past few years learned to put up my hand and back away. Many years as the easy target, attending things that I didn't want to attend, baking for things I didn't want to bake for, etc etc etc. Finding myself chairing committiees and charity events that I didn't want to. And paying for the overcommittment. And silently hating myself for not speaking up.
So I say to this kid in the store (in my head, because I don't have a lot of guts to open my mouth and lay it down to a stranger.) Kid: a strong work ethic is important. And I know that your generation doesn't have a lot of that. But being young and getting out and doing your thing is important too. You have your whole life to work. You don't have to feel like you're disappointing your boss because you don't want to come in on your day off. Because if you start doing that, they're not going to remember that you did it, they're just going to call you in more often. So, even if you don't have any more plans than to sit on your couch afterschool, and catch up on the DVD or just plain stare into space, be honest. Grow a set and say "Sorry, I can't I've got plans." You'll be glad that you did in the long run. Because there's such a thing as a team player, and such as thing as a doormat.
The Yes Girl, she doesn't live here anymore. And I don't really miss her, and neither does my family.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Slice n Dice!
Last Thursday I took a knife skills workshop at Culinary Underground. so that I could cross it off my Day Zero List. When I say that this place is awesome....well, it is, but that isn't a strong enough description. I loved it and can't wait to do it again someday.
To read more, please visit my cooking and food blog, The Blue Plate Special.
To read more, please visit my cooking and food blog, The Blue Plate Special.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Stop the Holiday Insanity!
It happens every year.
No matter how prepared I am, no matter what I do to ward it off.
Knitter's Holiday Curse. There simply aren't enough hours in a day to finish chewing what we've bitten off in terms of "accomplishable" knitting goals before Zero Hour.
This year, I'm saying "screw it!" And not giving in to the clammy palms, heart racing "I just spent the day wrapping gifts and now I'm going to knit til 1:00 AM and STILL not finish" feeling.
Well, that last part was only true one year. And do you know what? I ran out of yarn towards the finish line of that scarf, and I never finished it. In fact, it is still on needles in a drawer. The world didn't stop, and nobody died. The intended recipient didn't throw down her gift after she unwrapped it and demand the handknits that she deserves.
I have most of the holiday knitting done, except for what I want to make my immediate family. So tonight, I crossed two gifts right out of the Ravelry queue. Because as the Yarn Harlot says, "A book makes a nice gift, too."
There. I'm feeling better and less overwhelmed already. :)
No matter how prepared I am, no matter what I do to ward it off.
Knitter's Holiday Curse. There simply aren't enough hours in a day to finish chewing what we've bitten off in terms of "accomplishable" knitting goals before Zero Hour.
This year, I'm saying "screw it!" And not giving in to the clammy palms, heart racing "I just spent the day wrapping gifts and now I'm going to knit til 1:00 AM and STILL not finish" feeling.
Well, that last part was only true one year. And do you know what? I ran out of yarn towards the finish line of that scarf, and I never finished it. In fact, it is still on needles in a drawer. The world didn't stop, and nobody died. The intended recipient didn't throw down her gift after she unwrapped it and demand the handknits that she deserves.
I have most of the holiday knitting done, except for what I want to make my immediate family. So tonight, I crossed two gifts right out of the Ravelry queue. Because as the Yarn Harlot says, "A book makes a nice gift, too."
There. I'm feeling better and less overwhelmed already. :)
Monday, November 12, 2012
Autumn Sunshine Days
Today it was just me and the kids, and it was as close to perfect as it could get. Almost seventy degrees, warranting a trip to the park. Then we stopped by the grocery store, where the Salvation Army bell ringer is ALREADY out. He let the two boys ring bells on our way in, and on our way out. Then it was naptime for the little kid, and time for baking cookies and assembling robots. Some of those cookies will go to one of our neighbors, and some we've already enjoyed. "Cept Sean, who didn't want any. ???
The best part? Day's not over yet. Soon Hubby will be home, and I'm going to take another crack at my day zero mac n cheese!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)