Reflection Questions for 2011

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

Finally figuring out what I was good at (professionally) and deciding that I LOVE going to work. Love it, really do :)

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

Helping my kids and husband deal with my FIL's passing. That was hard. I miss him too :(

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

The work thing. I knew it was time to sort this stuff out but I really didn't think it would be this much fun. I look forward to going to work and when I'm there, it's just go go go. All of a sudden, it's time to go home.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Other than my FIL's passing, probably the effort it took to keep the weight off that I lost last year. That was harder than losing it, definitely. And to be completely honest, I don't think I was successful :(

5. Pick three words to describe 2011.

I will pick 6 words because 3 draws me to focus only on the hardships, and I don't want to do that.

Sad. Mourning. Tears. FIL's diagnosis and then his death happened within 3 months, such a whirlwind.

Happy. Love. Respect. FIL's passing also reinforced that I married a wonderful, caring man. I respect him more now than I ever did, for how he took charge of many situations and stepped up to be the rock his mother and children needed. I love that man.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

Fulfilled, pirates, zombies. He had a Neo Citron before he went to bed and that makes him loopy haha.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011 (again, without asking).

Sad, change, family. (I hope 2012 is good to him.)

8. What were the best books you read this year?

Why on earth would I read ?!? Honestly, I'd rather mend socks. I love mending socks.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

My Scotty, my kids and my mom.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

I went from being 'Susan the stay-at-home-mom' to 'Susan, the Medical Office Assistant'. That's cool...this was always the way it was supposed to be. The seasons of life :)

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

I have no idea what that question means. Next.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

We had a lot of spiritual discussions in our household over the last 6 months. I think we left the kids with more questions than answers, but that's a good thing (I think). If I knew all the answers to that stuff, then I could solve a lot of world problems. I'm trying to teach my kids that they will never know the answers to a lot of life's spiritual questions, and that's ok. It's good to have something to think about. Anyone who thinks they know it all doesn't know squat, really.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Well, my ass is still growing apparently...

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

My relationship with my husband. I thought after 19 years together, I would know him inside and out.  It was just really cool and very powerful to rediscover what a great guy he is.


15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

Contributing substantially to our monthly income. We always said, we would live off of what Scott brought into the home and then whatever I made would be gravy. Well, I have to tell you it's really awesome to have that gravy sitting there when you need it. Like, not swimming in gravy but just being able to say, "Hey, lookit that gravy sitting there". That reminds me, I made a turkey last week because it was so cheap and I made the tastiest gravy to go with it. From scratch and everything...mmm, gravy. I've never done that before so that was a great achievement, as far as sauce-making goes. Speaking of sauce, I'm out of sauce. I mean wine. So I guess I wasn't speaking of sauce, but of wine...am I sauced? It's only 11:00. Where's that other darn bottle of wine?

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?

Balancing chores with working 25 hours a week, as well as carting my mother all over creation...and driving the kids everywhere, making sure someone is available to pick up Jake from his after-school things, finding parking downtown 4x a week. And there is no way I'm paying for parking. Easing the big kids into helping more with laundry and cleaning...Scott taught Kylie how to do her own laundry last week. I have the cutest little laundry area, I swear it was the only place in the whole house that was just mine and now I have to share it haha.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

I can't decide, it's a 3-way tie: Facebook, Pinterest and Free Cell cards on the computer. Do people really watch tv episodes and movies from start to finish? I can't remember the last time I did that without being on the laptop at the same time. So I can tell you how an episode of Big Bang Theory starts, but I usually can't tell you how it ends. Or the other way around.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

I normally start work at noon (3 weekdays) so I can cram a lot of junk into the time period from 830am - 11am. Cleaning, meal planning, pre-cooking, etc. Sam likes to help me with all that stuff.    

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

That I am who I am, and if someone doesn't like it...then they can get bent. I am fine explaining my introverted personality to others without defending it, because I don't think I have to. And because I am fine with the way I am, that helps my introverted child to see that she is ok too. She doesn't have to be like everyone else to be happy.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.

That's stupid. I'm not doing that. Maybe in the morning when I sober up. Ha ha ha...

Happy New Year!!! Whoooo!!!

It's only 1030...not exactly New Year's just yet. As usual, we spent it at home. I can't imagine facing the crowds tonight, be it at a restaurant or at the movie theatre that we thought we may go to. Jacob was invited to a sleepover, Kylie is on the couch with her phone and her laptop, Scott is watching the non-stop 90s video marathon on Much and Sam is in bed. We counted down the New Year while watching Toronto's fireworks on TV at 10pm and then we all yelled, "Happy New Year!" followed by lots of kisses. That was fun...I remember doing that with Kylie when she was little. So cute to see a little one's first New Year's countdown. Then I stuffed her in bed so I could have a glass of wine :) .

This is the video we are watching right now:

...a minute ago, we watched "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and tried to explain to Kylie that it's the same guy from the movie "The Italian Job" but she didn't believe us. Ha ha...that was pretty funny. 

Scott is going to bed now, he's not feeling well. Poor guy, he always gets a sinus cold around New Year's...I don't know how he manages that.

Happy New Year's!! Best wishes for a great 2012, from our house to yours :) .

Tales from My Crypt

Jake got his hair cut, by his own choice and I *love* it. The old lady in the background was chatting away to herself and waving at us after I took this picture. I have no idea what she was saying lol.

Sammy Sunshine started at a brand new playschool today and I swear, she told me to get out when I dropped her off. Ok, well maybe she didn't go that far...I got a quick kiss on the cheek before she bolted for the new toys. Have I mentioned how hard it is to have a very outgoing, social child when you are anti-people? I don't understand this.

What else...I did some Christmas shopping online the other day, first time for that...it arrived yesterday and looks awesome. I will have to do that again. Online shopping=no people in checkout lines to irritate me. Score.

I think we may put the tree up this weekend, but just because Jake is asking to and since he is confined to the house I may as well let him do it (he is sick with a strep infection). We are trying a new thing this year: I bought silver and black ornaments in January of last year so we will see how that looks. First year without the macaroni or pirate ornaments...but I'm sure they'll be back next year. 

Scott should be home any minute, as it is his last day at his current job and he really just went today to clean out his desk. He has accepted another offer with a different company and will start on Monday. I don't even think his current manager said goodbye/good luck/kiss my arse/nothing. Jerk.

Well, I should go clean something before I have to pick up Sam. Work this afternoon...assisting with a biopsy for the first appointment. All that means is that I have everything ready for the doctor in the treatment room and then stand around in case he needs me to grab him something out of the cupboard. Then I get to look at the hunks of suspicious flesh as they swim around in the vials of preservative, before sending them off to the lab. I'm actually really looking forward to that haha. 

We had a tapeworm in a vial of preservative that sat on our desk by the phone for nearly a year at our old office. I don't know why it was there. Every time I answered the phone I would pick it up and shake it...watch it dance...put it back down. Just wanted to share that with you.

Later :) .

Wednesday.

It's Wednesday...supposed to be a day off, but I worked for 3 hours. I didn't want to, but the boss waved time-and-a-half under my nose and I was convinced. We are short-staffed and it stinks. Turns out you need common sense to work as a medical office assistant. Who knew that would be so hard to find? 

I am currently writing an email to the school principal regarding the tirade I witnessed at school the other day. A teacher exploded...screaming at about a dozen little kids. I'm sure I stood there with my mouth hanging open, it was so shocking.  She didn't even care that there was parents and student teachers around...just screamed and screamed because they were chatting and giggling while waiting for the daycare staff to pick them up. Sure, teachers are overworked and not respected, blah blah blah. But she's also an adult, capable of knowing what is appropriate behaviour while in the presence of children. Honestly, it was scary.

Guess who thinks he needs a haircut?? I can hardly believe it. Jacob has decided he wants to go SHORT short. It takes me weeks to talk him into trimming his bangs and now he wants to chop it all off.

Kylie's ears are haunted. She thinks she can hear me playing Minecraft. Um...no lol.

I'm tired, going to bed. Darnit, need to do laundry first or I will have to go to work in yoga pants tomorrow night. Not cool.

'Night.

Well, hello!

Hi there! How are you? I'm better now, thanks for asking. I've decided to let the angry, mean people steep in their own anger rather than let it affect  me. That is, for today. Maybe it's because I'm cozy in my tiny house with my family on a cold winter's day and I had a great day at work yesterday. No one yelled at me haha.

Our regular doctors are from Libya and have taken some time off to go home to celebrate Eid and to see their families. So to cover for them, we have some visiting doctors (or 'locums' as they are called in the industry). The one doctor we had the other day reminded me of Raj from Big Bang Theory...he just smiled a lot and didn't really talk. When he did ask for something, it was in this teen-tiny voice with a heavy accent. I wanted to hug him goodbye when he left at the end of the night, because he was just so cute but I guess that would be considered inappropriate :) .

It's getting cold here but no snow yet. I'm hoping it does snow soon, because my front yard always looks horrible in the fall. It's even worse this year because we took the trees down, so the entire world can see the craptacular view from the sidewalk. Snow will at least cover that mess.

Sam is playing Dance Dance Revolution with Kylie and her friend in the basement...Jacob is at my mom's and Scott and I are heading outside soon to take down the trampoline for the winter. Earlier, Sam and I went into the attic to look for some winter boots for her. Funny, a few years ago I was scared to climb that ladder and now I am following a four year old up there. It's no big deal now. I figured if she can do it, I should do it too.

Later, taters :)

Soaking in a tepid pool of my own anger...

I'm angry a lot lately.  I'm trying not to be...but as I get older, I get more patience for my kids and less patience for the world around me.

It seems I am constantly dealing with stupid people. Stupid is a really strong word, isn't it? Tomorrow I will be sorry that I said that, so I will take a second to think of a word that would be more appropriate:  hmm...let's go with selfish. Selfish people at work: people who are mean to me and mean to the doctors, the same doctors that stay after closing and don't go home to their families because they need to deal with these petty jerks. The same people I have to be nice to the next time they call to make an appointment. Selfish people who lie to me about my child's education when it's all about money and the educator's place in the system...the selfish people my husband deals with during the day and tells me about when he comes home at night. After he bends over backwards to help someone, the next claim he deals with is some asshole who thinks he won the insurance lottery when hail hit his house and will not take no for an answer. Because he didn't have coverage in the first place, but "that's what insurance is for!". And then when everyone has to pay more for next year's policies because of the multitude of these jerks in the world, my husband will  take the brunt of the anger.

How on earth am I supposed to raise thoughtful, respectful people when the world is filled with selfish people? It's like the zombie plague: if you're not careful, you'll get bit by one of them and turn into a selfish ass just like they are. Every night at the dinner table, the kids regale us with stories of their day, stories of how awful the kids in this world are to each other and I have to remind my kids to see the good points in these rotten brats. The next day, one of those rotten brats does something stupid and the conversations start all over again.

Is it just because I'm getting old? Is my ability to give a shit withering away over time? 

I wish I could stop thinking about it and just be as selfish as everyone else.

I'm going to go clean something...get my mind off this crap.

This is what Homeschooling would look like in our house.

This morning before school, Jacob asked me to help him study for his Social Studies test. Today's test is on Canada's physiological regions, which I remember as being one of those things that you learn in Grade 5 and then never touch on again for the rest of your life.

I tried to find a map to show you as an example, but Google found me over a million maps and no two were the same. Why would you force a child to memorize regions that even adults can't agree on what they should be named? How stupid. Anyway...for your enjoyment, a map that I edited to show what we were dealing with this morning:

Of course, the Arctic was no problem to identify. That's where penguins and inukshuks are, everyone knows that. We deduced that he needed to memorize the remaining regions: Cordillera, Interior Plains, Canadian Shield, Great Lakes, Atlantic...and then we came up with a plan. Take the first letter of each region in order and come up with a rhyme to help you remember.

Remember this?

(read: Jacob asking me to buy ice cream)

Yeah. Jake's rhyme is:

Can I cut Grover's Ass?

...I did what I thought I should do and asked him to think of another word on the way to school, but honestly: whatever works. I asked him just to please not say his chosen rhyme in front of his teachers. Or his friends.

But it works! I quizzed him as he walked out the door today and he got every region correct, in order.

Silly kid :)

Baking with the Boy

Today, Jake and I made brownies...not just any brownies, but Smartie brownies. He is taking them to school tomorrow to share with his class, because it's his birthday. My baby boy is turning 10 years old!! Where did the time go?

If there's one thing I've figured out about this boy in the last 10 years, it's that he hates anything that resembles school work. Reading/writing/math?? Forget it!

One thing he likes to do, though: baking. He just read a recipe, doubled fractions so that we could make a bigger pan-full, and wrote the recipe down in a binder because the printer was out of ink (or was it??).

But it's not school work, so it was fun. Silly boy.

Jake (age 2) and Kylie (age 5)

My 10 year old boy

Big party this weekend for the birthday boy. Wish me luck haha.

Tuesday.

I don't have any imagination lately...and I can't be bothered to come up with a great post title, to tell you the truth.

It's cold here! Well, it's not winter yet so I shouldn't be complaining but it's chilly enough. I think it's 12C today, and darnit, that's cold enough for me in this old house.

Took the 2 youngest kids to the doctor this morning, and even though we had an appointment for 10:30, we didn't get to see the doctor until after an hour past that. I told Jacob that he didn't have to go to school this afternoon because we would be really late and miss the bell, but can you believe that he begged me to take him to school?!? Weird kid. I don't think I'll ever understand him lol.

His birthday is coming up soon and he didn't want me to make invitations this year. But I absolutely will not call a stranger, and personally, I appreciate having a paper invitation to stick up on the calendar as a reminder. I promised him that the invitations would be as plain as they could get...and they are. How boring.

The front:

...and the inside:

I know white cardstock would have been better than the white paper that I used, but I didn't have any.

I haaaaate boy parties. Boys are noisy and messy and their parents never pick them up on time. Last year we had a kid sit here for over an hour before his mother finally phoned to say that she would be late. I told her, that's fine...I have to go to work right away, which is why we asked for a 4:00 pickup time (she called at 5).  "I'll just stick him on the doorstep and you can come for him whenever. I'm taking my kids to my mom's now". Funny, she was there 10 minutes later.

One more pic:

It's a dream catcher that Kylie made in her native art class and I just love it. I was particularly impressed by the weaving in the middle, it looks like a really cool spider web. I know the picture is sideways, Blogger is stupid and forever shall be.

Well, I'm off to make some fried rice. Kylie wants to make bannock when she comes home, and I think we will have that and some soup for supper on this chilly fall day. Scott is working late so I will have to try and save him some.

Things I Like (Today)

A Mother’s Prayer for Her Child by Tina Fey

-an excerpt from her book, Bossypants

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.”

-Tina Fey

Oh, and I like this too:

"My love is conditional: 

and the condition is, that you don't act like

an asshole"

-Anonymous

...because love and friendship=being a yes-man, apparently. Boy, you came to the wrong place, hey?!?

Bah ha ha...going to work. Later.

Sunday.

Today is the Santa's Anonymous Toy Run, and there are bikers tearing up the avenue here since 6 this morning! Assholes, quit complaining about the new bike noise bylaw. You brought it on yourself.

I am going to pick up my mom so that we can go to the mall and see the sea of bikes and toys...it honestly doesn't do any justice to post pictures, but I will still try to get a few pictures up later. Love seeing those big bikers with big teddy bears strapped to their bikes.

Ok, here's a FB album of last year's pics:
2010 Motorcyle Run for Santa's Anonymous

I really don't want to be the only wife following behind the pack in a car with my mom, but whatever. I want to see the bikes.

Kylie is riding with Scott today. It only took her half an hour to curl her hair and put on makeup...possibly because she thought Scott's friend was bringing his son...gone are the days where she doesn't give a crap how she looks I guess!

My alley sounds like a Mad Max movie right now. The neighbours have their Harleys out...pretty soon the bikers across the street will get their bikes out. That is, if they can haul their butts out of bed on this fine Sunday morning. 930 on a Sunday is way too early for the biker crowd.

Ooh, oh!! Here's a link to this year's pictures (blogger kicked me out after I wrote this so I couldn't publish until Monday):
Motorcycle Toy Run 2011

Later.

Pics!

What a gorgeous day! We spent the day at the zoo, but as usual, there was nothing to see. Our zoo stinks, seems like the animals are always so far away that you can't take their picture...or they're sleeping, all rolled up in a ball under a rock or something. Can you tell I'm not a fan of our zoo? 95% of the animals are brown so they blend into those rocks and dead grass pretty well. We have a prairie dog exhibit. Come on now.

The big kids started school last Thursday and so far are really happy with their teachers. Kylie's school is way, way under populated and on the verge of being shut down, I fear. Oh well, it was bound to happen. The school is falling apart anyway.


Kylie, first day of grade 8. Last year I couldn't get her to comb her hair when she got up in the morning. Now she has to get up early to trowel her makeup on.


Jacob, first day of grade 5. We freezer-paper stencilled the shirt with a tie that reads "epic", his favourite word. Things are either "awesomely epic" or "epic fail" in his books. Nothing in-between.

Sam starts preschool on the 13th. I don't think she needs it, per se...I don't think any kid 'needs' preschool, but she is incredibly social and it's driving my nuts. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be anti-social and introverted like myself when you have a kid who is the complete opposite?!? So she will go to preschool to fill that need she has to be with other kids. I can stay if I want, or I can use that time to shop or exercise or whatever. Two hours, two mornings a week.

I'm going to start working Mondays soon, a full day. The opportunity came up and I really like the work so I thought I should take it. Turns out the office is closing for two whole months this winter so I guess I should make some money while I can :( .

Later, taters.

Stuff I did...and stuff...

Wow, did I impress you with my language skills with that stellar title?? See, I've been gone from blogging for so long that I have no imagination when it comes to titles.


I originally thought I would scrapbook the 740 pictures that we took in Maui last year but I honestly can't stand scrapbooking. Too much farting around with little fiddly bits, so I bought this frame on a clearance rack for $12 and filled it with our favourite pictures. It hangs in our dining room. Did I already post this??




I know I've posted pictures before of the kids planting flowers from seed using those little window planters and peat pellets, but can you believe that this is the first year that it actually worked? Impatiens generally love the shade in my front yard, but the giant spruces are gone so we are now dealing with full sunshine. I'm surprised these lasted as long as they have. I rescued that watering can from the neighbour's trash ha ha.




I don't like cartoon scrubs for work, but I liked these fabrics: Moda sock monkeys from Etsy and some fabric we bought in Maui. The shirt is purchased from Wal Mart, I sew a new panel over the front and then cut the original front panel out. I'm far too lazy to fit a made-from-scratch shirt at this point. I can't actually wear the sock monkey one because it's too big now, but someday I'll get around to altering it.



Invader Zim drawstring backpack for Kylie. Tutorial here:
drawstring backpack and stencil here: Deviant Art . I used freezer paper to make the stencil...if you are unfamiliar with this, it's this: stencil tutorial .


Dress for Sam, made with a free pattern from Fiddlehead and fabric bought in Maui for $5 a metre.

Today I'm repainting the wrought iron railing on the front stairs...what an ordeal! I don't know whose bright idea it was to make those things with all those funky little curves and divots that I have to sand. But it's been here since the 50's so it's cool and I bet it will look awesome when it's done.

Later, taters.

It's Sunday!!

Ah, the start of a fresh new week. On this week's list:

-Taxes. Oh my God, can you believe we haven't done our taxes yet? Too many things happened at once, and our life got put on hold. Must do the taxes this week.

-Sewing: two drawstring backpacks using this tute . It's a good size for a teen, works well for a purse for Kiki.

-Gramma's apple tree fell down so we are going to chop it up tomorrow using Scott's reciprocating saw. A chainsaw would probably be a better idea, but alas, we don't have one. Must do with what we have.

-Everyone in this house thinks that I should be making sugar cookies?? I hate them, so I don't make them. Simple as that. Jacob wants me to teach him how to make them, so I guess I can do that.

-Yardwork. Blech.

-Animal hats are all the rage around here, so Kiki wants to make another hat like this one but maybe a kitty or this one .

-Working on some freezer paper stencil stuff, altering a hoodie for Kiki and mending. Always mending.

...it took me nearly an hour to log into this stupid blog! This Google account stuff is irritating me to no end.

Later, taters.

Rest in Peace, Papa.

See you again someday :) .

Yeah, well...

OK, so the move didn't work out so well. I am back.

Things around the house have been put on hold because someone very dear to us has become very, very sick :( . I will eventually get to all the things that Pearl's House needs, but for now my husband has to focus his spare time elsewhere. I will do what I can, which isn't much, to tell you the truth.

Later, taters.

*&%^!!

I am so over winter.

I have had enough.

It is cold outside. It is cold in my house. It is especially cold in the basement, where I need to be today (painting).

Sammy has a closet full of really cute dresses that she should be wearing but she can't. I have a pile of cute fabrics with skulls and pink Medusa heads and Kawaii characters that need to be made into more cute dresses. But I made myself promise that I wouldn't sew a thing until Jake's room renos were done and the snow was gone.

Winter sucks and I wish it would go away.

Why, hello :)

Hello. How are you? I'm fine...thanks for asking :) . A post for you, sprinkled with pictures for your enjoyment. Don't get used to it, because it probably won't be repeated anytime soon.

I can't keep up with this blog thing...it's either post about stuff I want to do or actually unglue my bum from the computer chair and get up and do something. The other day, Scott and I took our household binder and went room to room, writing down all the things we need to do. Oh my God...3 pages of jobs, big and small, and 2 rooms had only one word: "GUT". That's the kitchen and the main floor bathroom, they need HUGE work. So for the month of January, we will focus on Jake's room. Scott is building him a bed out of two old mate's beds, with built-in speakers and puck lights and it will be really cool. His room also needs paint and new carpet...ugh.

Christmas was wonderful, but I'm glad it's over and I have my house back.

I woke up this morning and my butt told me I need to eat more salads this week...what else? Jacob asked me to cut his hair because the substitute teacher he had on Monday thought he was a girl lol. Um...there's more, but I don't care to post it right now. Some pictures?

Sam and her silly grin, holding the car Santa brought for her.

Sam and another silly grin, visiting with Santa. Oh, and Kylie, too.

Zombie Christmas cards...oozing with festive greetings.

Scott and Jake have left to play volleyball and Kylie has barricaded herself in her room. Sam and I are going to play Pollies, I think...yeah, that sounds good.

Later, taters :)