Last night was our annual children’s Christmas play at church and it was a big hit. This year marks Carter’s third year in the play and Kate’s first. In my humble opinion, they stole the show. They both participated in the preschool program which is for kids 3 years old through Kindergarten. Sadly, this was Carter’s last year in the preschoolers play, but he went out with a bang. Next year he moves up to play in the “big leagues”.
Carter sang the solo this year and he did a wonderful job. He sang a beautiful little song called “Behold that Star”, in which he sang of an angel all “hoofed” in white instead of the tradition angel which is “robed” in white. Who knew? Kate was a different story all together. She seemed fascinated with a piece of scenery on the stage. That scenery just happened to be a bale of hay. She stood on the stage and pulled straws out of the bale one at a time. Later that night as I was singing Carter’s praises, Kate spoke up and said “Well, mummy I wuz tuying to moove duh hay so I could zit dare and zing.” Makes perfect sense to me, don’t you think?
Only 3 more days until Christmas, and the kids are about to bust at the seams! I may require some type of medication before these two weeks are over. I have scheduled our annual toy purge for tomorrow afternoon 4:00pm sharp. The process is rather simple…
1. I make a pick up announcement
(All toys must be picked up and put up)
(Any toy left on the floor will be the first to go)
2. I get a large box and/or bag
3. Let the purge begin!
(This is when the screaming, crying and whaling usually begins. Then the kids start in a little later.)
The purge is necessary, but it does traumatize the kids. There is usually a lot of begging, pleading and promise breaking before it all gets done. Sooner or later the purge will be complete and Santa’s toys will have a place in the toy box. All is well that ends well!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Let Them Eat Cake
I woke up this morning feeling pretty good about myself. The kids were cooperative and we actually left on time. My hair had a little extra bounce and my jeans were not too tight. It was a great way to begin what is my 35th birthday. Soon however, I began to get the wind knocked out of my sails one blow at a time.
We were in the car on the way to school when Carter hit me with birthday blow #1. The conversation went a little something like this:
Carter: “Mom are we having cake?”
Me: “Cake?”
Carter: “ Birthday cake!”
Me: “ Well, Daddy has not mentioned it to me, so I would say no.”
Carter: “Mommy, I think that we need to have cake.”
Me: “Well, Carter we probably won’t be having cake.”
(By this time I am beginning to feel sorry for myself.)
Carter: “But mommy, EVERYONE should have a cake for there birthday.”
(Now I am really having a pity party!)
I dropped Carter off at school and I called Mark to tell him what Carter said. I will confess I might have possibly been seeking a little sympathy. I should have known I called the wrong person for that. Mark’s response was for me to go out and find myself a nice cake for my birthday and he would pick up the tab! So what did I do you might ask? Did I tell him to take his cake and shove it? No, I went and bought myself a birthday cake. (I know it’s a sad story.) That’s blow #2.
I must say that the 3rd blow came from a very unlikely source. I had to stop by my mother-in-law’s house to pick up something and she wished me a happy birthday. I thanked her and started to my car when Carter announced to her that I was 15 today and I responded with a laugh and told him he needed to add 20 years to that number. Suddenly, Mark’s mother looked at me like someone had just asked her the square root of 127 and she said “Well, Stefnee I didn’t know you were that old”. Ouch!
Today has been a good day so far even considering the earlier incidences. It is still hard to believe that I am 35 years old. It seems like only yesterday that I was 25. I am beginning to really believe the quote that says “Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what in the world happened.”
In honor of my birthday, I want to take a trip down memory lane.
I know I am a child of the 80’s because….
I know who shot J.R.
I know the meaning of wax on/wax off
I wore bright red Reebok hightops
I watched Star Search
I had an entire wardrobe of Esprit clothes
I know all the words to the Oscar Mayer theme song
My bangs were teased 8 inches above the rest of my hair (aka mall hair)
I used Aqua Net hairspray
I know all the words to School House Rock
I had multiple colors of leg warmers
I had the Dorothy Hammill haircut
I watched Magnum P.I.
I owed a Members Only jacket
I could wear five pair of socks at one time
I remember Michael Jackson when he was still black
I had a Swatch Watch and it had a guard on it
My room was covered in posters of Kirk Cameron
I remember exactly where I was when the space shuttle exploded
My Trapper Keeper kept me organized
I watched Mary Lou Retton win the gold metal
Happy Birthday to me!
We were in the car on the way to school when Carter hit me with birthday blow #1. The conversation went a little something like this:
Carter: “Mom are we having cake?”
Me: “Cake?”
Carter: “ Birthday cake!”
Me: “ Well, Daddy has not mentioned it to me, so I would say no.”
Carter: “Mommy, I think that we need to have cake.”
Me: “Well, Carter we probably won’t be having cake.”
(By this time I am beginning to feel sorry for myself.)
Carter: “But mommy, EVERYONE should have a cake for there birthday.”
(Now I am really having a pity party!)
I dropped Carter off at school and I called Mark to tell him what Carter said. I will confess I might have possibly been seeking a little sympathy. I should have known I called the wrong person for that. Mark’s response was for me to go out and find myself a nice cake for my birthday and he would pick up the tab! So what did I do you might ask? Did I tell him to take his cake and shove it? No, I went and bought myself a birthday cake. (I know it’s a sad story.) That’s blow #2.
I must say that the 3rd blow came from a very unlikely source. I had to stop by my mother-in-law’s house to pick up something and she wished me a happy birthday. I thanked her and started to my car when Carter announced to her that I was 15 today and I responded with a laugh and told him he needed to add 20 years to that number. Suddenly, Mark’s mother looked at me like someone had just asked her the square root of 127 and she said “Well, Stefnee I didn’t know you were that old”. Ouch!
Today has been a good day so far even considering the earlier incidences. It is still hard to believe that I am 35 years old. It seems like only yesterday that I was 25. I am beginning to really believe the quote that says “Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what in the world happened.”
In honor of my birthday, I want to take a trip down memory lane.
I know I am a child of the 80’s because….
I know who shot J.R.
I know the meaning of wax on/wax off
I wore bright red Reebok hightops
I watched Star Search
I had an entire wardrobe of Esprit clothes
I know all the words to the Oscar Mayer theme song
My bangs were teased 8 inches above the rest of my hair (aka mall hair)
I used Aqua Net hairspray
I know all the words to School House Rock
I had multiple colors of leg warmers
I had the Dorothy Hammill haircut
I watched Magnum P.I.
I owed a Members Only jacket
I could wear five pair of socks at one time
I remember Michael Jackson when he was still black
I had a Swatch Watch and it had a guard on it
My room was covered in posters of Kirk Cameron
I remember exactly where I was when the space shuttle exploded
My Trapper Keeper kept me organized
I watched Mary Lou Retton win the gold metal
Happy Birthday to me!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Singin' For My Supper
In my own humble opinion, I can be quite entertaining when I put forth a little effort. Whenever I read a book to the kids or sing a song I try to spice it up a little bit and just add a little FLARE. This morning I had to add some FLARE that I had not anticipated.
As usual I went to wake Kate up this morning with dread in my heart. I know that I have mentioned before that Kate is NOT a morning person. I went into the bedroom flipped the light on and began my rendition of “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory children of the Lord”. There was no movement. Next I tried a spicy version of “Feliz Navidad” Again, not a creature was stirring, not even Kate!
Alas, I knew that I was going to have to pull out the big guns or we were going to be late. So with my flannel pajamas still on and my hair still in full curling iron curls I came up with my best song yet. It went a little something like this:
Katie bell, Katie bell, Katie bell rock
Katie bells swing and Katie bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the Katie hop has begun.
Suddenly, I saw a ripple under the blanket….
Katie bell, Katie bell, Katie bell rock
Katie bells chime in Katie bell time
Dancing and prancing in Katie bell square
In the frosty air
Kate’s fuzzy blonde head popped out from under the cover and she peered at me with only one eye open….
Katie bell time is a swell time
To go riding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up Katie horse, pick up your feet
Katie around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling beat
That’s the Katie bell,
That’s the Katie bell,
That’s the Katie bell rock!
Suddenly, she began to clap for me and she actually smiled. Yes, it was only 7:15 in the morning and Kate smiled! I had begun to think highly of my ability to entertain while serving a purpose when I heard Kate say “Mummy you sooo funny!” I graciously thanked her and began to get her out of bed. She stopped me abruptly and said “Wait, wait you sing it again mummy, but wait, wait you need to sing it and shake you booty too mummy!”
All in a days work my dear readers, all in a days work!
As usual I went to wake Kate up this morning with dread in my heart. I know that I have mentioned before that Kate is NOT a morning person. I went into the bedroom flipped the light on and began my rendition of “Rise and shine and give God the glory, glory children of the Lord”. There was no movement. Next I tried a spicy version of “Feliz Navidad” Again, not a creature was stirring, not even Kate!
Alas, I knew that I was going to have to pull out the big guns or we were going to be late. So with my flannel pajamas still on and my hair still in full curling iron curls I came up with my best song yet. It went a little something like this:
Katie bell, Katie bell, Katie bell rock
Katie bells swing and Katie bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the Katie hop has begun.
Suddenly, I saw a ripple under the blanket….
Katie bell, Katie bell, Katie bell rock
Katie bells chime in Katie bell time
Dancing and prancing in Katie bell square
In the frosty air
Kate’s fuzzy blonde head popped out from under the cover and she peered at me with only one eye open….
Katie bell time is a swell time
To go riding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up Katie horse, pick up your feet
Katie around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling beat
That’s the Katie bell,
That’s the Katie bell,
That’s the Katie bell rock!
Suddenly, she began to clap for me and she actually smiled. Yes, it was only 7:15 in the morning and Kate smiled! I had begun to think highly of my ability to entertain while serving a purpose when I heard Kate say “Mummy you sooo funny!” I graciously thanked her and began to get her out of bed. She stopped me abruptly and said “Wait, wait you sing it again mummy, but wait, wait you need to sing it and shake you booty too mummy!”
All in a days work my dear readers, all in a days work!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
40 Is The New 30...I Think?
It is a landmark day for casa de crazy. Today is my husband’s 40th birthday. Oh yes, I said 40th birthday. Honestly, I’m not sure that he is taking it that well. Personally, I do not see what the big deal is really. I thought that 40 was the new 30. Of course that is easy for me to say, I am not turning 40 today. I have SEVERAL years until I hit the big 4-0 bump in the road or should I say “mid-life“ crisis. Did you hear that Mark…I have SEVERAL years to go! As far as I can tell, Mark turning 40 has turned me into some what of a “trophy wife”.
In honor of my dear husband’s big day, let’s take a trip down memory lane to 1968.….
In 1968:
Richard Nixon was elected president
Yearly inflation: 4.27%
Average Income per year: $7,850
Average price of a car: $2,450
Gas: $.34 per gallon
Movie ticket: $1.50
Gallon of milk: $1.21
Loaf of bread: $.22
Postage stamp: $.06
Average price of a home: $14,950
Popular T.V. shows: Laugh In and Bonanza
Record of the year: “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968
Robert Kennedy was assassinated
Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy got married
Boeing 747 made it maiden flight
NASA launched Apollo 7
Philadelphia Bank installs the first automated teller machine
The first Big Mac goes on sell for $.49
I love you Mark! Happy Birthday!
In honor of my dear husband’s big day, let’s take a trip down memory lane to 1968.….
In 1968:
Richard Nixon was elected president
Yearly inflation: 4.27%
Average Income per year: $7,850
Average price of a car: $2,450
Gas: $.34 per gallon
Movie ticket: $1.50
Gallon of milk: $1.21
Loaf of bread: $.22
Postage stamp: $.06
Average price of a home: $14,950
Popular T.V. shows: Laugh In and Bonanza
Record of the year: “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968
Robert Kennedy was assassinated
Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy got married
Boeing 747 made it maiden flight
NASA launched Apollo 7
Philadelphia Bank installs the first automated teller machine
The first Big Mac goes on sell for $.49
I love you Mark! Happy Birthday!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Scientific Method?
Do you remember having a science fair at school? You had to come up with a question, research it, form a hypothesis, test it, look at the results, and draw a conclusion. Oh, those were the days and it seems like so long ago, but wait, it was just this morning for Mark.
This morning, Mark finally completed a science project that he has been working for at least as long as we have been married (7 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks to be exact). I like to call Mark’s little experiment “No excuses for oversleeping”. For as long as we have been married, Mark has NEVER overslept. I am not exaggerating when I use the word NEVER.
I on the other hand am not so “perfect”. I do not subscribe to the modern day alarm system. I was one of those people who use to live 3 minutes from the office, but I was always 30 minutes late. Why? I over slept. This phenomenon is something that Mark just doesn’t understand. No wonder he does not understand, he gets up at 4:00am. I am more along the lines of a 7:30am gal (this was of course BEFORE I had children). Needless to say “oversleeping” is the topic that remains a thorn in our side, at least until today.
I was dreaming about the stress of cooking a turkey when I heard Mark’s voice, “6:30”, “no”, “is it?”, “Stef, is it 6:30?” (How should I know? I don’t even have a clock on my side of the bed. I work on God’s time…I let the sunrise wake me up.) Mark carried his search for the “real” time into the kitchen to check the clock there. Then I here, “NOOOO! It IS 6:30!” Then I heard the words I have waited to hear for years…wait for it… “I’ve OVERSLEPT!”
You are probably wondering what the big deal was, right? After all it was only 6:30am and he had plenty of time to get to work. Well, not exactly. Mark had a prayer breakfast to attend this morning at 6:45am with our Pastor and several other businessmen from church. As you probably figured out by now, Mark missed his prayer breakfast and his morning coffee.
All of this reminds me of the saying “don‘t throw stones if you live in a glass house.”
Mark, welcome to the glass house.
This morning, Mark finally completed a science project that he has been working for at least as long as we have been married (7 years, 11 months, and 2 weeks to be exact). I like to call Mark’s little experiment “No excuses for oversleeping”. For as long as we have been married, Mark has NEVER overslept. I am not exaggerating when I use the word NEVER.
I on the other hand am not so “perfect”. I do not subscribe to the modern day alarm system. I was one of those people who use to live 3 minutes from the office, but I was always 30 minutes late. Why? I over slept. This phenomenon is something that Mark just doesn’t understand. No wonder he does not understand, he gets up at 4:00am. I am more along the lines of a 7:30am gal (this was of course BEFORE I had children). Needless to say “oversleeping” is the topic that remains a thorn in our side, at least until today.
I was dreaming about the stress of cooking a turkey when I heard Mark’s voice, “6:30”, “no”, “is it?”, “Stef, is it 6:30?” (How should I know? I don’t even have a clock on my side of the bed. I work on God’s time…I let the sunrise wake me up.) Mark carried his search for the “real” time into the kitchen to check the clock there. Then I here, “NOOOO! It IS 6:30!” Then I heard the words I have waited to hear for years…wait for it… “I’ve OVERSLEPT!”
You are probably wondering what the big deal was, right? After all it was only 6:30am and he had plenty of time to get to work. Well, not exactly. Mark had a prayer breakfast to attend this morning at 6:45am with our Pastor and several other businessmen from church. As you probably figured out by now, Mark missed his prayer breakfast and his morning coffee.
All of this reminds me of the saying “don‘t throw stones if you live in a glass house.”
Mark, welcome to the glass house.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tis The Season
Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la. Yippee! I walked into Wal-Mart a few days ago and behold it has begun. The sound of dogs barking “Jingle Bells” was blasting through the store speakers, a giant tree stood front and center at the store entrance and the smell of cinnamon filled the air. I looked to my left and there were toys lining the wall. I looked to my right and there were bows, bags, and balls, oh my! It’s Christmas time again!
In case I have not made myself clear, I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I always have and always will. I believe that the Christmas spirit is contagious. You can just feel it in the air. Usually, I start making my Christmas list in September all in anticipation of the season. Not a list of what I want, but a list of gifts and things I can do for others. I love the challenge of trying to find just the right gift for someone. I think people know when you have put thought into a gift for them. A lot of people complain that retailers start the holiday too soon. NO WAY! The longer we can celebrate the better!
Speaking of shopping, I even love the mobs of people everywhere. Personally, that’s were I get my “fix”. LOL! It is a family “tradition” of sorts to go shopping on Christmas Eve, whether we have anything to buy or not. Every year my mom and I head out on Christmas Eve, just to get “in the mess”. Yes it is a mad house, yes people are rude and pushy, but I just smile at them and say “Merry Christmas to ya!”.
Bottom line is this; Christmas is not about presents, bows and angry shoppers. Christmas is about celebrating the gift of Christ’s birth. When you are out shopping or at your family dinners, ask yourself “what would Jesus want me to do and say”. I try to remember he wants me to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, and gentle and have some self-control. Please remember to smile a little more, help those in need, pray for one another and truly celebrate the greatest gift we have EVER been given.
Yes, I have started my shopping and yes, I am thinking about putting out my decorations two weeks before Thanksgiving. All because I believe that the “Christmas Spirit” that fills the air is placed there by God for all of us to catch.
Try to enjoy the madness, and remember why you are celebrating.
Maybe I’ll see you at the mall on Christmas Eve!
In case I have not made myself clear, I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I always have and always will. I believe that the Christmas spirit is contagious. You can just feel it in the air. Usually, I start making my Christmas list in September all in anticipation of the season. Not a list of what I want, but a list of gifts and things I can do for others. I love the challenge of trying to find just the right gift for someone. I think people know when you have put thought into a gift for them. A lot of people complain that retailers start the holiday too soon. NO WAY! The longer we can celebrate the better!
Speaking of shopping, I even love the mobs of people everywhere. Personally, that’s were I get my “fix”. LOL! It is a family “tradition” of sorts to go shopping on Christmas Eve, whether we have anything to buy or not. Every year my mom and I head out on Christmas Eve, just to get “in the mess”. Yes it is a mad house, yes people are rude and pushy, but I just smile at them and say “Merry Christmas to ya!”.
Bottom line is this; Christmas is not about presents, bows and angry shoppers. Christmas is about celebrating the gift of Christ’s birth. When you are out shopping or at your family dinners, ask yourself “what would Jesus want me to do and say”. I try to remember he wants me to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, and gentle and have some self-control. Please remember to smile a little more, help those in need, pray for one another and truly celebrate the greatest gift we have EVER been given.
Yes, I have started my shopping and yes, I am thinking about putting out my decorations two weeks before Thanksgiving. All because I believe that the “Christmas Spirit” that fills the air is placed there by God for all of us to catch.
Try to enjoy the madness, and remember why you are celebrating.
Maybe I’ll see you at the mall on Christmas Eve!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
My Job Description
There was a time in my life when I had a “real” job as some might call it, but I confess to people all the time that I work a lot harder now than I ever did at that “real” job. I love it when I have to fill out paper work for school or the pediatrician and they have a space for my “occupation”. When I look at the forms I realize that the entire thing could not hold my job description. I am a Chef, Personal Shopper, Maid, Psychologist, Nurse, Pharmacist, Communications Director, Stylist, Financial Analyst, and Event Planner to name a few. The one thing that I have never really thought myself as was a Travel Agent, well this weekend Mark proved me wrong.
Mark began his journey to Australia last Friday and I emphasize the term “journey”. He flew to San Francisco Saturday morning and like a good little wife I tracked his flight over the internet like a seasoned Air Traffic Controller (I should add that to the list). When I knew his plane had landed safely, I anxiously anticipated his phone call. It was about 15 minutes after his landing that my phone rang and I answered it with joy and eagerness. What I heard on the other line was not so joyful. It went a little something like this:
Me: Hello!
Mark: Hey, listen, I need your help.
Me: What’s wrong?
Mark: The airline people told me that I have to go get my luggage at baggage claim now, and check it back in at the terminal. They will not just send it through the normal transfer system.
Me: O.K…….Then go get your bag…
Mark: I’ll have to call you back…I’m going to ask one of these people over here.
(Click) He hung up
Me: Nice talking to you too!
15 Minutes later (the phone rings again)
Me: Hello….
Mark: Listen, I need your help.
Me: With what?
Mark: They have told me that I have to go get my luggage now, and I can not check it in until 8 hours before my flight tonight.
(Did I mention he had a 13 hour layover in San Francisco?)
Me: O.K. Well, just take your suitcase to the main terminal and get you something to eat.
Mark: This is crazy! I can’t believe this is happening to me! I’ll talk to you later. Love you…
Click (He hung up, again)
10 Minutes later (the phone rings again)
Me: Helloooo!
Mark: Hey, I have a problem; I can’t find anywhere to eat in this place.
Me: You’re joking me right? It’s the San Francisco International Airport, there has got to be somewhere to eat.
Mark: Can you find me somewhere?
Me: Huh?
Now, I traveled a lot of places back when I had a “real” job, but San Francisco was not one of them. I am good, but not that good. So you would think that I would have just rolled my eyes at Mark’s request and marked his craziness up to just being tired, but NOOOO. What did I do? I get out my trusty computer, found a map of the airport, and found him a place to eat. Did he take my directions and find the Subway Shop? NO, he did not. He sat in the main terminal with his luggage and ate his peanut butter crackers (that I packed in his suitcase) until time to check his bag.
Am I angry that he did not take my instructions…no, not really. Because even though he did not take my advice and find the Subway, I can now at least add Travel Agent extraordinaire to my occupation list.
And for those of you who are wondering…Mark arrived in the land down under safely and a little hungry. (I Love You, Mark!)
Mark began his journey to Australia last Friday and I emphasize the term “journey”. He flew to San Francisco Saturday morning and like a good little wife I tracked his flight over the internet like a seasoned Air Traffic Controller (I should add that to the list). When I knew his plane had landed safely, I anxiously anticipated his phone call. It was about 15 minutes after his landing that my phone rang and I answered it with joy and eagerness. What I heard on the other line was not so joyful. It went a little something like this:
Me: Hello!
Mark: Hey, listen, I need your help.
Me: What’s wrong?
Mark: The airline people told me that I have to go get my luggage at baggage claim now, and check it back in at the terminal. They will not just send it through the normal transfer system.
Me: O.K…….Then go get your bag…
Mark: I’ll have to call you back…I’m going to ask one of these people over here.
(Click) He hung up
Me: Nice talking to you too!
15 Minutes later (the phone rings again)
Me: Hello….
Mark: Listen, I need your help.
Me: With what?
Mark: They have told me that I have to go get my luggage now, and I can not check it in until 8 hours before my flight tonight.
(Did I mention he had a 13 hour layover in San Francisco?)
Me: O.K. Well, just take your suitcase to the main terminal and get you something to eat.
Mark: This is crazy! I can’t believe this is happening to me! I’ll talk to you later. Love you…
Click (He hung up, again)
10 Minutes later (the phone rings again)
Me: Helloooo!
Mark: Hey, I have a problem; I can’t find anywhere to eat in this place.
Me: You’re joking me right? It’s the San Francisco International Airport, there has got to be somewhere to eat.
Mark: Can you find me somewhere?
Me: Huh?
Now, I traveled a lot of places back when I had a “real” job, but San Francisco was not one of them. I am good, but not that good. So you would think that I would have just rolled my eyes at Mark’s request and marked his craziness up to just being tired, but NOOOO. What did I do? I get out my trusty computer, found a map of the airport, and found him a place to eat. Did he take my directions and find the Subway Shop? NO, he did not. He sat in the main terminal with his luggage and ate his peanut butter crackers (that I packed in his suitcase) until time to check his bag.
Am I angry that he did not take my instructions…no, not really. Because even though he did not take my advice and find the Subway, I can now at least add Travel Agent extraordinaire to my occupation list.
And for those of you who are wondering…Mark arrived in the land down under safely and a little hungry. (I Love You, Mark!)
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