December Already!

As you may have guessed from my long absence, things have been busy around here. I hadn't realized quite how busy until yesterday morning. As I grabbed a few minutes of peace and quiet in the shower, Diva yelled through the door - It's December 1 - hurray - I wonder what I got today?

There went my relaxing moment, replace by an "aw h*1l - forgot the advent calendar!" You may recall the masterpiece Kilowatt made from this post - our tradition has been that each day of December, Diva gets some small gift from 'Santa' in the calendar. Of course, that requires 'Santa' to remember to buy those little items, and then to remember that the calendar needs filling each night! (Note to new parents and parents to be: make your holiday traditions lower maintenance than this, you'll thank me.)

I hopped out of the shower, and quickly threw on a robe, wondering how to deal with this. Diva comes running up the stairs and proudly shows me her December 1 treasure - an LED votive (she's been begging for one, really). Whew - looks like Kilowatt wins the parental memory contest. Unfortunately, the only thing we had to put in for today (12/2) was another LED votive. Diva says this morning - "these come in 24 packs - am I going to get one of these every day?" And she wasn't happy about it.

So dutifully off to Target I go... stay tuned for info on the treasures I found!

It promises to be a busy month - we have a band concert, ice skating exhibition, dance holiday show, final exams, company coming, Kilowatt's birthday - ahh, December.

Is my tree up - no, are you kidding?

So until I get around to posting about those advent calendar treasures - here's a photo from last years' dance holiday show. As the tallest girl in her class, Diva often ends up center stage!

I Can't Watch!

Today is a beautiful fall day in NH - so I decided to go out into my yard and snap a couple of pictures of things that you can only see for a few weeks each year.

First, the tree in my front yard (I have no idea what kind of tree it is) has these red things growing on it.

Next, we have lots and lots of these

Anyone who wants to come help with the raking is always welcome!

Then I rounded the corner of my house, and was immediately reminded why I needed to stay inside today:

Yikes! Yes, our garage needed a new roof, and after pricing just the shingles and other materials Kilowatt decided he was the man for the job. But it sure is a long way down, and on two sides the ground is asphalt and concrete.

When Kilowatt (KW) caught me snapping pictures, he said "wait a minute, and I'll climb down and lay on the ground and you can take a picture." Ha Ha, funny.

I remember back when Diva was about 3, KW cut down some trees. Like now, I hid in my office and occasionally looked out to make sure no emergency services were needed. Suddenly there was a 'boom' and the house shook, as the gutter ripped off. Diva yelled "Mommy, is Daddy flat now?" Or something like that.... After determining that the only thing crushed was our gutter, I could breathe again.

So for now, I'm holding my breath, saying an occasional prayer, and trying not to watch.

Oh, and in case you were wondering about that odd shaped garage - no, it will not accomodate either of our vehicles.

Flu Season and Daytime TV

Yes, it's that time of year.  You know, when one kid at school gets sick, and then the rest of them take turns getting sick.  Finally, your number is up and its your kid who is sick.  

Until this year Diva has been the model of health, but she woke up yesterday with a mysterious fever, which just isn't going away.  Today was day 2 of home from school, and she was begging to go back to school.  Seems there isn't enough entertainment here at home.  She gets a bit clingy when she's ill, so I sat with her for a couple of hours this afternoon and we watched a few programs on TV.  I rarely watch TV, so I'd like to share a few observations:

~ the prime choice today was Travel Channel's "Extreme Retail Locations"  Did you know that there is a store that sells yodeling pickles?  And the world's largest underwear at a rate of 2000 pairs/year?  And all kinds of bacon themed items (like gummy bacon and bacon band-aids) for your vegetarian friends?  How did I live 40 something years without shopping here? 

~ Just when you think a program is safe to watch with the kids, they show the extreme Las Vegas store that sells books on learning to pole dance.  Remember Diva loves to dance - so guess what book she wants?  How does one explain pole dancing to a ten year old?  

~ This summer I'm heading for Sharon, PA.  Don't know exactly where it is, but they have the world's largest candy store, and that's enough for me.  While there, I'll explore the world's largest outlet store, because I'll need some bigger clothes after my visit to the candy store.

Any good shopping in your neighborhood?

   

Fun Monday - Veteran's Day

I'm really late joining Fun Monday this week, but I think the topic is so worthy that I had to contribute.  Our host this week is Janis.  Her very timely assignment:

Since Next Tuesday is Veterans Day, I thought it would be nice to salute our Veterans and show our appreciation. Photo requirement of something patriotic.

My stepfather passed away two years ago.  He was a WWII veteran, an Army Laboratory Technician.     

Occasionally, when I was young, he would talk about the war.  I don't remember the specific stories, just the overall lesson that being in a war was a very tough way of life.  I know the war made an indelible impression on his life.   Maybe if I had listened closer to those stories, I would have understood him better.  

Veteran's Day is a tribute to him and all the others who have served our country.  Let us never forget the sacrifices made by so many, and do what we can to honor those.  Even those lucky enough to come home bring memories of the horrors of war with them that we can scarcely imagine.  Let us pause in our daily routines to say a special prayer of thanks for their sacrifice, and to remember those who are no longer with us.  

The Greatest Mother's Day Ever

I'll admit it - I take shameless advantage of Mother's Day.  Anything I buy in the four weeks preceding Mom's big day is a "Mother's Day Gift."  I usually manage to score a couple of dinners out as gifts.  And girlfriend time too!

This year we are still reeling from the price of heating oil.  Plus the 'maintenance monster' has struck, over and over again.  So holidays this year will be a bit more subdued than usual.  And let's be honest, I really don't NEED anything.  

Diva's art class did some really neat drawings, and a company makes them into more practical items.  The Grandmother's got pot holders.  I ordered myself a set of coasters:

Sunday morning, Diva keeps telling me to stay in bed.  Kilowatt asks what I'd

 like for breakfast.  Ahhhhh... Mother's Day.  Diva eventually comes up to get me.  She has made a lovely card all by herself - not bad for a ten year old, huh?  A little bling too:)

I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and the chance to read the entire Sunday paper.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day here in NH, so Kilowatt washed and cleaned my car (now that's a present I NEEDED!)  He even shampooed my floor mats!

Diva locked me in my office to prepare her big surprise for me.  When I was led out (eyes closed Mom), imagine my surprise to see the lovely day spa she had set up in our living room.  She had brought out a bottle of wine and a wineglass (there's probably a law against that, but don't worry, she doesn't know how to work a corkscrew so it was safely closed!)  And set up a lovely 'massage couch' for me.  

After a lovely hand and foot massage, and spa snacks, I was greeted by the "complimentary cat" that goes with the spa.  As I relaxed and enjoyed the moment, I heard the sound of cutting coming from the kitchen.  I was torn between the desire to run in and supervise (no trips to the ER were in my plans) and the desire to let my little girl prove she could do it alone.  Knowing Diva is a practical kid, I decided to take my chances.  

In came the combination eye treatment & snack - sliced cucumbers.   Lucky these can be cut with a butter knife!  

Gourmet breakfast, a luxury spa day, and a complete detailing of the limo -- who could ask for anything more?

Time

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is time - or, more precisely, my lack of this precious commodity.  My entire reason for leaving my corporate job was so I would have more time with my family.  

Here I am, almost four years later, wondering if I've accomplished that objective, or failed miserably.  As a work-at-home Mom, I absolutely have more time during which my family and I are physically under the same roof.  But if you are considering a change, and are thinking that working from home will solve all of your time related issues -- think again!  

On the positive side, I don't run into childcare issues when school is cancelled, or delayed, or released early.  That has been a big benefit this year with our record snows.  

Another positive is the ability to work when I want, and to take off when I want.  Midday teacher's meetings and doctor's appointments are no problem!  However, this can also be a negative, as if the to do list isn't shrinking fast enough, working hours may begin and end on different calendar days.  Things like sleep and showering get cut down to shorter and shorter duration.   And people just don't understand how someone who is home 'all the time' could have so much to do.   

I'm a big fan of lists as a way to manage my time, so I thought I'd put out a list of things I'd like to accomplish sometime this century:

~ Complete that 2003 scrapbook I've been working on since 2004.

~ Start a 2008 scrapbook.  I'll fill in 2004-07 some day.

~ Blog at least three times a week so my family & friends know I'm still alive.

~ Clean my office.  This may require a shovel and wheelbarrow, or maybe a match.

~ Clean my house.  Sell stuff that I've owned two years or more and never used yet on E-bay.

~ Take the coats off the treadmill, and use it for its intended purpose.

~ Develop my own website.

~ Write a book.  

~ Learn another language.

~ And of course, spend more time with my family.

Diva is growing up fast, and already shows signs of starting to think Mom isn't as cool as she used to be.  I try to remind myself to take advantage of any time she wants to spend with me now.   And isn't the clock she made (pictured above) lovely?  I just wish I had thought to write the year on it when she made it.  

So, what's on your long term to do list?