Decking the Halls

Last week ended up being so busy, that we didn't get a chance to decorate inside the house until Saturday evening. I realize that the 6th of December isn't super late, but it kind of felt like it.


We were all excited to have the house decorated, but I ended up being kind of tired and irritable by the time we started...not good. I had to check the calendar to see if perhaps this was PMS-related, and sure enough it was.


This is our 5th Christmas in this house so we've got our system pretty much down, but the process was still a messy one.


We bought a prelit tree last year so that made the set up really easy this year, except for the section of lights that wasn't working! Randy is the light untangler at our house, so he took care of adding another string to that section (I have NO PATIENCE for tangled lights).

The kids took the arranging of the Nativity quite seriously.

Landon and Randy both broke into song while we decorated, they think they're pretty funny.


I had already several presents already wrapped, so it was quite satisfying to have the finished look on the first night.

"Dear Santa, this year I would like a Nintendo DS light.
I would really appreciate it if possible.
By the way, how's everybody doing up there?
Well please write back.
--Landon Stuart"

Landon wrote this letter to Santa yesterday morning before school, I think it's pretty cute. Whitney wrote hers weeks ago but sealed the envelope before I could see it. I need the info though.

**Have you decorated yet?
How many Christmases have you spent in your place?
Do you have patience for untangling lights?

Creative Friday--Kid Chaos Edition

Since yesterday was the last day of school that meant we had a house full of kids joining us for Creative Friday. When the kids were little we had them with us all the time and were used to it, but now that we've been spoiled these past year with only Eva joining us yesterday ended up being a tad chaotic and a bit of an adjustment for us. We're really hoping it was just a transitional day and not the norm for the rest of the summer.


It's not even that they were particularly difficult, they just seemed to be very close by. The combination of our music playing (which is something we love), the kids talking and playing games in the next room, Max on the computer next to us, Eva whining, and Jack (the dog) running all over just made our heads spin.

{Michelle finds my frustration amusing and took this photo.}

I was feeling especially vulnerable because PMS hit me really hard. I felt like I needed an iced bra if that gives you an idea of what I was dealing with. Aargh.

{We had a good lunch though!}

Max & Lucas ended up leaving at 3:00 for a sleepover with their grandparents, so I had Randy (because he's oh so available) come pick up Landon and Whitney too. Eva was sleeping at that time, but even after all the kids left Michelle and I were shaking our heads and whimpering a bit. We even turned off the music (we never do that)!

We weren't fully committed to our projects for the day (she was tearing layout ideas out of magazines and I wrote 5 cards) so we ended up sitting in the family room and talking for the rest of the time.


This was nice, but isn't the norm for us at all. It was good to commiserate about life and to laugh together, but we really felt like we'd been worked over by the kids.


As we headed outside to take our self-portrait for the day we cracked ourselves up with our talk of circles under our eyes and age spots. What's happening?? We're not that old...

Happy Birthday Amy S.!!!

**Does kid chaos ever make you crazy?
Are you prepared for summer with them?
Do you ever need a bra of ice?
Why must aging be so cruel?**

Blindsided

I'm 36 years old, which means I've been a "woman" for approximately 24 years now. That's a long time to be battling PMS and yet I do so each month like a reluctant warrior bracing myself for a battle I rarely ever win.

I was thinking last week that it was almost time to put on my emotional armor so that I wouldn't be taken by surprise this time, but PMS is a crafty foe who kicks my butt even when I think I'm prepared.

All day today I felt very aware of my gut region and actually wondered (ala Amy M.) if perhaps I was filled with colon cancer and only had weeks to live. I actually pictured my funeral and wondered who would show up for it (what with the hassle of the holidays and all). Then I thought I was being silly and should just eat some shredded wheat or something as a peace offering to my intestines (I ate a banana instead).


It wasn't until Whitney and I dropped Landon and the neighbor kid off at scouts and headed to the post office that I realized what an irrational state of mind I was in. This is MY post office, what were all of these people doing there!! I drove through the parking lot, muttered some choice words under my breath and headed for Target instead.


Target wasn't much better except that the lines weren't as long and there was a ton of stuff to catch my eye. My main purpose for going there was to replenish my Suave Sweet Pea Shower Gel. Why did I need to do that today? I have no idea except that I am totally out of it and really wanted some more. Of course, I ended up buying 4 packages of razors (they were on sale), which reminded me that I've also been shaving for 24 years ($%#@) and am moving laser hair removal to the top of my Christmas wish list.

But I digress. Usually Target acts as a haven to me. It's aesthetically pleasing, full of great deals, has an excellent stationery aisle, and never disappoints me. But the combo of wicked PMS and after-school Christmas shoppers was more than I could handle. It was a jungle in there (in a Walmartesque kind of way) full of crying kids, employees restocking shelves to the detriment of the customers, and Whitney campaigning for every stupid toy known to man (a fabric dinosaur with spikey hair for real?).


It reminded me that the reason kids act up in stores is because they're trying to convey the message to their very dense parents that they don't want to be there. So why do we insist on bringing them? All stores should be open 24 hours so that we can shop without kids! I rarely have my kids with me in a store, but even this short outing with Whitney made me crazy. She wasn't particularly obnoxious, it's just that my defenses were out of whack and my tolerance for her requests and enthusiasm was low. Not good.

We fled Target ($95 later) and went back to the post office. The parking lot was considerably less full so we went in...big mistake. I took one look at the line inside (12 people deep) and the automated machine line (4 people deep) and turned around. Whitney cheered. Aargh!

We had 15 minutes to fill before picking Landon and the neighbor kid up from scouts so I thought a quick trip to Robert's (the craft store) was in order. They have a 50% off coupon today and I wanted to scope out their holiday home decor and replenish my white cardstock inventory. We pulled into the parking lot only to drive through it and leave again (what was I thinking going there?) it was too crazy to subject myself to today. Whitney was elated.

{I look as bad as I feel.}

I opted to drive thru Taco Time (which I NEVER do) to get a cream-filled churro. What a random stop for me, but I felt the need for a treat immediately and saw the sign. Four dollars and 16 cents later I had a cream-filled churro in hand, plus 2 regular churros for the kids. This treat along with 2 Midols and some time outside putting up Christmas decorations and I'm feeling so much better.

I even toyed around with the notion of going to get our Christmas tree tonight, but in a rare moment of clarity reminded myself that I don't feel well and most likely would let that influence our evening. Baby steps people, baby steps.

P.S. It's so therapeutic to be able to write about this, even if no one reads it. I love blogging.

**How goes your battle?
Do you ever opt out of a store because
the parking lot is too full?
Do you take Midol?
Have you ever posed with a churro before?
Are you sick to death of shaving?**

Biorhythm Blues

I think the cold nights are doing a number on Randy and I because we both overslept this morning (I had an alarm clock malfunction) and were awakened at 8:40 by Landon! Whitney had just gotten up as well. My theory is that with the cold nights we're all sleeping super snugly and soundly and aren't stirring the way we normally do. (Also my spastic alarm-clock setting skills aren't helping matters.)

It was 64 degrees in the house when we woke up! That's cold even for me, so I finally caved and turned on the heat to at least get it up to 68 degrees. I also took a scorchingly hot shower (I couldn't see well because of the steam) and am now feeling like a functioning human. No doubt, I'll end up turning off the heat and possibly opening the windows later, but for now I had to warm this place up. Oh happy medium...where are you?

Whitney had her 2nd gymnastics class yesterday which was most chaotic (there are several classes going on at the same time) and loud (my favorites, not). I watched and was feeling a little frustrated with her class because I'm not sure what they're learning. But then I had to talk myself down and remind myself that they're learning fundamentals and to not expect results right away. Fortunately they got to spend time on these bars so Whitney loved it and I felt like they were doing something that she couldn't do on our living room floor. I'm a little iffy on these classes, but am willing to give them a try for a little while longer.


Last night Randy had to work on the computer so I set up my little pop-up (the legs are like ironing board legs) table that Michelle gave me for my birthday a couple years ago, so I could write and make some cards while watching some design shows. It's not the most comfortable set-up because I sit on the couch and can't lean back all the way, but it gets the job done. I even had some tasty Ben & Jerry's Heath Bar Crunch to go with it. Though this was very dangerous and far more time consuming than I'd planned.

Today I find myself fighting the urge to slack. I don't know if it's PMS, the chilly weather, or some random biorhythm in my body but I'm feeling somewhat neutral and unmotivated about life. I must fight through this because there's no reason (that I'm aware of anyway) for it and I hate feeling this way. I will have to force myself to leave the house and run some errands, though I really, really, really don't want to go.


This afternoon I have Activity Days at my house and then football practice (that sounds funny doesn't it?). I had no idea flag football was going to be so time consuming, but the season is condensed into 4 weeks because of the weather so we have 2 games a week plus a practice...sheesh! I'm not sure the coach loves having me for his assistant or not, but I'm doing it. Tomorrow night is Landon's first game, so I should have photos by then.


I got this cute thank you card from Kelly yesterday for the birthday gift I sent her. Thanks Kelly!

I just remembered it's Self-Portrait Tuesday and that I still don't have any idea for the assignment. I'll have to work on that today and post again later.

**Do you get inexplicably unmotivated?
Do you get bugged by classes that seem like nonclasses?
What's your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor?**