A Post About Me

January is almost over and this is my first post. Not a great way to start out the year, but it leaves lots of room for improvement.

Work has been crazy. Beyond crazy actually. It has never been this busy and hectic in the almost 11 years I’ve been there. There are a couple major reasons for the craziness, and unfortunately they both happened at the same time. My co-worker described it best yesterday when she said it feels like we are in a snow globe and someone keeps shaking it. I am going to use this as my excuse for not posting anything this month because by the time I get home from work the last thing I want to do is get back on the computer.

The other thing that has kept me busy this month is a little diet experiment. I have to say, I am not a good dieter. I have virtually no will power to stick to anything and I tend to get discouraged easily if I don’t see results quickly. I’m also not much of a fisherman for the same reason….

However, I had more motivation this time for two reasons. One, I was bad, bad, bad over the holidays and my clothes were all getting a tad too snug. But more importantly, I have to fit into a short, strapless bridesmaid dress in two months. The dress I’m not so worried about. It’s the other five bridesmaids, all but one of which are 10 years younger than me and half of them are not mothers. Big sigh. I don’t want the wedding guests asking, “Who is the old fat one on the end?”

So Dear Husband and I decided to try a diet that worked well for a few people we know. I thought about posting a daily diary of our progress, but then the entire world would know if I failed. By some miracle I succeeded and lost 13 lbs. so now I’m going to brag because I think I deserve it. DH did very well too, but he doesn’t like to brag. Now our mission is to maintain and continue our healthy habits. The more I think about it, this may be harder than the original diet. Wish me luck!

So Long 2010!

If you are reading in chronological order, you already know we had an exciting trip to Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas Eve. In addition to the moose we saw a flock of wild turkeys, two golden eagles, and the usual deer, antelope and geese.

We arrived in time for dinner. For dessert Great Grandma made Uncle S an angel food cake. Angel food cake is not my favorite so I don't make it for the girls. Flower thought it was pretty good. When we told her it was called angel food cake, she looked at Grandma and said, "Did you shoot an angel?".


Keilie dog was ready for bed on Christmas Eve…she didn’t want Santa to pass us by.

On our way home we saw a gorgeous sunset. I considered pulling over to take a photo, but we were on the interstate and there was quite a bit of traffic. Princess asked why I didn't want to pull over. I told her I didn't want anyone to stop to see if we needed help. (Note: Princess and I had a tire blow out on the way to school a couple weeks ago on the interstate.) Princess shrugged and said, "Why? No one stopped to help the last time." Good point.

We have spent the week hanging out at home playing with our new Christmas toys. The girls got a new dance game for the Wii which is a big hit with them and very entertaining for the rest of us as well. A big storm rolled in Wednesday and dumped a bunch of snow. A cold front followed it so today we are supposed to reach a balmy 5 below.

The girls and I didn't leave the house yesterday and might not today either. Dear Husband braved the cold and went skiing yesterday because he couldn't pass up the fresh powder. He is complaining about being old and sore today.

We might break out the fondue pot tonight. Princess likes fondue on New Year's Eve...that's how we ring in the New Year. For those of you with big plans for tonight, have fun, be safe, and Happy New Year!

Mooseltoe

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

We were headed north on the cut-a-cross
With snow in every direction, from Mother Nature’s toss;

When to our surprise, a moose did we see;
Feasting upon a cottonwood tree!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

Since I didn't have time to write anything this month, I thought I'd post a few photos of what we've been doing (Christmas programs, piano recital, decorating the tree, baking cookies...you get the idea). Merry Christmas!

December - Week 1

I remembered why the end of November always makes me grumpy. It is because the first week of December is always crazy. Here is how it goes.

December 1st - start of 3-day conference for work...now I'm behind at work.
December 2nd - Dear Husband's office holiday open house.
December 3rd - ice skating party.
December 4th - annual trek to cut down our Christmas tree.
December 5th - festival of trees and photos with Santa.

Between the above festivities I need to fit in laundry, cleaning, shopping, and decorating. I think I'm going to need a case of red bull.

Are You Ready?

Goodbye November. Hello December. Shoppers, start your engines.

I am terribly behind this year. I need motivation. The girls want Christmas lights. Lots and lots of Christmas lights. I want time to stop for about 3 days so I can get my shopping done, cut a tree, decorate said tree, hang copious amounts of white lights on the house, bake cookies, make popcorn balls, fudge and caramels, and drink lots of hot cocoa.

Tomorrow I vow to have a better attitude. I will update my list, mark off the few things I have done, and add the other 40 things to the list that are bouncing around in my head. Tonight I am going to grumble about all the things I have to do in the next 25 days. Ho, ho, ho....Merry Christmas!

José

Dear Husband was home for a brief visit last night between work in Idaho and hunting trips. We had an early dinner and sat down to watch TV for a few minutes. DH had the Thursday night football game on and a man with an awesome voice was singing the national anthem.

Princess sang along and then we went downstairs to practice our music lesson. While I was waiting for Princess to get her books out I started to play a few notes from the national anthem on the piano.

Princess put her books on the piano and I quit playing and moved over for her. She looked at me and said, “Mommy, play the José Song again!” I was confused for a moment and then it occurred to me what she was saying.

José, can you see, by the dawn's early light….