I snore!! I didn't know that I did (well, when I'm really tired and sleeping on my back, I do.) Apparently, I do more than that (and when I'm on my side) and even woke the baby up. Maybe that explains his frequent wakings in the middle of the night?!? So, I bought some breathe-right strips and tried them (last night was the second night) and we actually slept late - he only woke up about 3 times! Perhaps that was the problem all along, and it wasn't the baby after all! Ugh!! I've lost so many hours of sleep not knowing that I was the cause of his wakings?!? I am keeping my fingers crossed that his brain forgets to wake up at all hours of the night and goes with his tummy and sleeps deeper (and hopefully he'll transition to not waking at all!!) This is such a revelation!

Batman lives with me now! He wears his Batman costume all day long (and today, he even went with the baby and I to Target, my mother-in-law's doctor appointment and the grocery store.) He helped open doors, waved at his fans and enjoyed his popularity. Right now, he is wearing his pajamas (along with his Batman gloves and belt...only because I said he couldn't sleep in it all.) It's great to be 4!!

I got into a cleaning mood today! Ok, so it was because my baby found 'something' on the carpet and decided to chew on it. I have great carpet that hides everything so I didn't even see wherever it came from or how he got it. So, I began vacuuming the carpet, then took the hose and went around every little corner of each piece of furniture and baseboard. My mom used to always say, 'a job worth doing is worth doing well.' Today's chore would have made her proud. It definitely made myself proud!!! Now, on to another room tomorrow. I'm not ready for any kind of 'flylady' habit, but this is a tiny little start.

Sometimes I just get caught up in researching ancestry. My mother did a paper in college about her relatives (names and anecdotes)but no dates or places. She called the only relative left to have accurate information and wrote everything down and drew a family tree. That was 20 years ago.

Shortly thereafter, before my dad died, I asked him the same kind of questions. My dad has always been terrible about dates, times and names. He couldn't even remember his kids' birthdays. Not that he didn't care, but he just wasn't great at that kind of information. I got as much information as I could. Basically, I know his dad's name and a probable grandfather's name. That's it. Since he was born in 1911, the information isn't as readily available. That just may be a short branch.

Regarding my mom's family, I found a whole patch of relatives from St. Johns Newfoundland (and spots to find records there.) It's just so time-consuming. Just when I think I find something, it doesn't match up. Then I realize, my kitchen really needs cleaning and then I stop. While I really enjoy researching and imagining life then, I have to organize my time better. The best time is when everyone is asleep at night (I don't have to fight over computer time or stop to get someone a drink) but then, by that time, I'm tired and sometimes just want to do nothing.

But, it's something new and exciting...something that makes me happy this week.

I sometimes forget about doing things. I gave my preschooler a banana for a snack. He came back and let me know that he didn't know how to open it. I had just given him the banana without peeling it first. I showed him how to open it by using my fingernail to break it open so that it could be peeled. He quickly downed it and then later asked for another. I gave him another and again showed him how to open the peeling. He told me, "Wow, you're a good banana peeler!" You know, that was the best compliment I've had in a long time! He was so sincere too... :)

I like to read...it's just time consuming. I know it's supposed to be...but once I get started, I like to finish in a matter of a few days or I begin to forget important details. I used to go walking for exercise and listen to books on tape (when they were still audiotapes.) I loved doing that (and will eventually get back to that when I get some time each day with someone else watching my little one(s).) I started a book years ago and somehow never finished listening to it. I still wonder how it ended and will need to buy the book (or CD) to that I know how it ends. It reminds me of the commercial with the camera (with pictures inside just waiting to get printed.) After spending some of my Target giftcard on two more books last week, I need to get back into the habit of reading (or these books will also sit on the shelf with the other unread books.) I haven't taken the opportunity in years to just sit and read. Maybe when the kids are in school, gone all day, I'll then read...while I wish they were home again.

My Christmas present to myself was a Garmin GPS. I used to like to get lost when I was younger. I'd drive in a neighborhood and find my way out, and then into bigger cities and finding alternate routes. It used to be exciting and different! Now that I'm older, I don't enjoy getting lost. With the invention of mapquest, I am a printing queen! I will print directions just in case. What sealed my choice this season on a guiltless gift I can splurge on, was trying to get from point A to point B (and mapquest didn't help.) I read over those directions and couldn't find my way out of a subdivision to a wedding (and didn't want to be late.) I had to eventually follow someone to the location. On the way back to the subdivision, I followed a car (whose occupants lived far away) and their gps took them directly where they needed to be. What a lifesaver!!

I have been without an electric can opener for years (I don't use many cans and it didn't seem to be a priority.) Last week, I cooked three recipes that required at least two or three cans (of stuff) each. Well, I definitely found the time and made it a priority to buy one. I was glad it was under $10 and figured I should have gotten one a long time ago. Aaaww!

I love gadgets that make my life easier!!

Crack! Pop! It seems that I feel like the tin man sometimes (from the Wizard of Oz!) Maybe I need a little oil, lol! My knees, elbows and ankles pop when I get up from somewhere or move positions. I guess it's just part of getting older. I would rather my bones not pop while I'm sneaking out of a room (after putting my kid to sleep though.)

"Thanks for being a Mom." That's what was said to me at the end of a conversation I was dreading. An incident occurred this past weekend with my daughter and her friend. My daughter drives and her friend used that to her advantage. Her friend left and got into another guy's car while having my daughter wait for her to return. As it turned out, the girl took a long time and ignored her phone calls and texts, wanting to spend more time with her 'friend.' They were at a nearby dark park... My daughter ended up leaving her and the friend's parents came and got her. I became concerned when my daughter hadn't called to let me know they arrived at their destination so I called her. She was upset and said she was coming home. She said she didn't know what to do (when it was happening.) The girl's stuff was still in the car too. I told my daughter that she knows what she needs to do...(hoping her moral compass would let her know what to do.) I don't really think she wanted to know what to do...she just wanted her friend to be nice to her and do that anymore (without having to say 'no' to her.)

I wasn't sure what story was told to the friend's parents but I needed to let them know what really happened. I knew the friend's address and used that info to get their last name and then their phone number (I love the internet that way.) I explained what had happened (as I knew it from what my daughter had said.) Fortunately, her parents were already alerted by cues from the friend beforehand and were already thinking she was planning something. We exchanged lots of phone numbers and vowed to call each other in the event they spend the night with each other in the future. The friend will, of course, not allowed to hang out with her friends like my daughter for a while, and has already had her cellphone taken away.

Ahh..teenagers. This is what keeps me young, lol!

My 'lil Santa!

I had a very merry Christmas and ate way too much! I should finally get some sleep after staying up late for days leading up to the much anticipated holiday! Now, the clean-up begins....tomorrow.

Today is my favorite day of the year! It's Christmas Eve...I make wassail, play Christmas music, watch Christmas shows on tv, leave the Christmas lights on all day, read Christmas stories to the kids, finish up wrapping presents, and bake cookies...lots and lots of Christmas cookies!

I found a local radio station that plays Christmas songs all day every day. I think it has been doing that for several years but I had forgotten. I find myself turning it on each day now...and this afternoon, finally realized why. While driving around returning from an errand with my boys in the car, I found myself singing out loud and loving it! I think I love Christmas songs because I know most of the words! And what words I don't know, I make them up, lol! I tried explaining that drummer boy song to my preschooler today...and making the sound, pppprrrumpapumpum! It brings me back to the cartoon that came on at night when I was a kid...I looked forward to it and the other ones that came on every year at night (when there was no such thing as cable!)

Everybody's sick around here! I've been fighting off the 'gunk' for over a week. My youngest daughter has missed most of school this week. Now, the little boys are sick. Actually, they've been having symptoms of a cold for a week or two but yesterday, my preschooler's cough took a turn for the worse and his ear started hurting. And the baby seems to always have a runny nose (probably due to teething, but not necessarily because of his wheezing.) Nevertheless, all three kids went in to to two different doctors today and were seen. I'm not feeling bad enough to go see a doctor but just enough to feel tired and under the weather all day long, ugh!

This afternoon, my preschooler said, "Mom, can you stand up and carry me while you walk around?" ....so I did.

I was SO excited when our city got a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream store (after not having one for over 7 years!) I am a huge fan of their ice cream and blame it on my childhood. LOL! I loved going to our local store and sitting on pink chairs while spending time with my family. Later, I'd drive through the drive-through and the worker knew immediately upon seeing me what I was going to order. After a long and hard day cleaning out our huge shed and organizing the entire inventory (that took over 9 hours of hard work), I ended it by sending my daughter to get some ice cream for me. Unfortunately, when she returned, she handed it to me while I was holding my youngest son who had a taste of it and REALLY liked it!!! I guess I had better write this in his baby book that this was his first food. I had to fight to a bite as he'd dunk his whole face in the cup. I guess he's gonna love ice cream as much as I do.

I am thankful for...

My preschooler answered that in his class. He had three answers: mom and dad; playing tractors; and snacks, food and milk.

Here are a few things I am thankful for. First and foremost, I am thankful for my loving and considerate family, my health, and my hubby's job that allows us to live comfortably. In the last year, I have redone the house I grew up in, moved into it, had a baby, had a trip to California and now am getting ready for the holidays. I am very blessed that nothing really bad has happened. My family and I are in great health and I move into this Thanksgiving holiday looking forward to spending it with my immediate and extended family (along with a few friends.) I am thankful for my husband's family with whom I have been close to for many years. His sisters are incredibly nice and thoughtful. I love his mother too and am thankful she's nearing 86 years old. She has been very loving to my children and very nice to us. I am thankful for my bf Janet who stays awake with me when I drive long distances via phone. I don't know what I would do without her and her friendship. She's been a shoulder for me and I hope vice versa in good times and bad. I am thankful for my other friends that I would like to spend more time with and think about often like Cathy and other friends from high school. Now that we both have kids, there is so much more to talk about. I am thankful for my friend Pam with whom I have shared many stories about my kids with her whose kids are near the same age over the last 20 years or so. I am thankful for my online 'sweet potato' friends with whom I have made lasting friendships over the last four years and hope to continue them. I have learned so much from them. I am thankful for my brother Mike who calls just to check on me (and he lives across the street.) We have become very close in the last decade and it's a nice feeling. I'm very blessed.

Tonight, my preschooler said...

Mom, I really like you.

This is during our quiet settling down time before going to bed. We were just laying on his bed talking about what he'll be doing tomorrow (and how he should already be asleep.) It was completely unexpected...and sweet.

He then added, I really like Curious George too.

He acquired a stuffed Curious George at Kohls yesterday and they've been inseparable ever since.

Monsters! Last night, my preschooler tip-toed into my room and I immediately woke up. He rarely leaves his room but last night was an exception. Apparently, 'a monster made out of scooby snacks' came into his room and scared him. He was actually shaking. I suggested he have scooby eat it! He wanted to 'stand guard' in the living room and I said, sure. As you've probably guessed, he watched a lot of Scooby Doo. It was too cute...although, not at 5am.

It's amazing how much someone can change in five years. It seems like just yesterday... Five years ago, I was working as a dedicated employee in a career I loved (in the public sector), had two teenagers and a large (and messy) home. Fast forward five years and I now have four children, am a stay-at-home mom and a smaller home that I keep cleaner (notice, I didn't say 'clean.') I made huge life-changing decisions that have hugely impacted my life (to the better) and have spent more time with my family (and extended family.) If someone were to have told me (five years ago) that I'd be in this position I am right now, I'd would have laughed at them. I really loved my career and those coworkers with whom I had worked with for...12 plus years. Sure, I'm a lot poorer than I was at that time, but I have learned that money isn't everything. It's amazing that with the addition of my last two children, I have gained many more friends and I continue to learn so much from them. I'm truly happy at this stage in my life.

My Sister-in-law has breast cancer again. She had it in one breast years ago (maybe eight years ago?) She's one of two sisters-in-law who have had it so far. Now, it's in the other breast. She's scared. She's gonna just have a mastectomy this week and remove the whole thing so it won't return. I wasn't in the picture a lot when she went through radiation previously...perhaps I didn't want to accept that it was happening, or that it was so serious. I plan on doing more this time. I will be there to listen, will offer to come clean/cook/help out around the house while her husband is at work and/or do whatever she requests of me. I feel very blessed to be healthy and have a wonderful family and great friends. I don't know what I'd do in that kind of situation and would rather not even think about it. For now, I'll send some extra positive thoughts to Judy on Thursday.

I just got back from San Diego. It's incredible how different that city is from the one I live in right now. San Diego has at least a million more people. My city is flat, not along the ocean, and has lots of mosquitoes. I was in awe when we flew directly into downtown. I'm used to airports being further away from those kinds of areas. I don't fly often. In the suburb where I stayed, there were houses all up and down the hills and sometimes the streets stopped in the middle of the hill...makes me glad that my rent car was not standard! I love going to new places and seeing wonderful different views...and then I especially love returning home. While driving, here are a couple of picture I snapped along the way.

Leaving the airport, I was glued to the Pacific Ocean and all the splendor.





And, of course, there was a lot of traffic.



Here's a sign showing how close it was to the border.