new day, new attitude

Fresh perspective on life today. Thanks for your sweet concern, Stephanie and Jessica. The tea and cookie frosting sort of helped - not really, though. What DID help was watching my boys at their wrestling class (they love it so and always look over for my reaction when they do a good move - makes me feel so good that they still want mama-love) and then going to my Bunko group. Actually, on the way to Bunko I was thinking, "I'm not really into this tonight. Maybe I'll scoot out early with an excuse of a headache or something." And then I had a glass on wine. And, then one more. And, ahhhhhhh... Some good laughs and all was better in my world.

Then, after Bunko, I drove past your house, Jessica, and that made me happy too. Because, at 11 pm, your lights were on and it looked very warm and cozy and ALIVE in there. I smiled at the thought of you and David, up late together, enjoying some wine and watching a good show together.

Today will be a fun day for me -- which also helps the attitude. My old, old friend whom I have the most fun with in the world is having her annual holiday luncheon. This party has been many sizes and types, but lately (and this year), it's my favorite size. 8 of us, eating way too much, drinking even more, getting very silly in the middle of the day. This is certainly one of my favorite days in the year. Bob will come home early, and I'll head over around noon. I promised to bring a little appy, so I'm off to the kitchen to create!

Here's to a happy day for us all!

wow (and not in a good way)

Ever had one of those moments when just the littlest thing put you over the edge? Out of the blue all of these emotions come flying out of nowhere? And all of a sudden, you are down in the laundry room, hiding from the children, crying and cursing the world?

I am trying to collect myself so I can go back to frosting christmas cookies. I have NPR on and am going to brew up a cup of tea. It's really not a big deal - REALLY it's not - but I just want to go upstairs and hide under my covers.

boring, and loving it

• Finn recently asked me who the first person was in the world. I totally dig discussions like this -- not because I am even close to having an answer, much less an answer to satisfy a 6 year old, but because it's fun to explore such huge topics with my kids and hear what their thinking is. Anyway, I did a little creationism vs. evolutionism bit, and, in the process, while discussing God, I called her a she. Because, it's always bothered me that, if we are to assign a gender to God, why do we give maleness to her? When I made this shift personally a few years ago, I felt like I could wrap my mind around God a lot more. I'm sort of more into disorganized religion than organized religion -- hey! I just made that up, but it kind of works! But, back to the story at hand, when Finn was later talking about it all, he very matter-of-factly referred to God as a she. This may be offensive to some, but I loved it.
• We have been baking cookies for christmas. I have some safely tucked away in the freezer, but I decided to live life on the edge last night and allow the family to eat some of the cut-out cookies we made last night.
• During last week's snowstorm, in between shoveling and baking cookies, I made a double batch of praline syrup and canned it. This syrup is yummy on ice cream. I'm thinking about giving it to the kids' teachers as a present -- maybe that and a bar of homemade soap.
• We've been watching a lot of movies lately. Tis the season to "get cozy" under blankets and watch movies together! The kids have thoroughly enjoyed Home Alone and Home Alone 2 - both thanks to the library. On Netflix, Bob and I watched Donnie Brasco. Nothing like a NYC mobster flick to bring a couple together. I also watched Funny People the other night after Bob fell asleep. It's not the best movie I've ever seen, that's for sure, but something about it has hung with me. I like that feeling.
• I started knitting. I knitted a scarf for Enzo this past weekend. It's full of mistakes and it's probably too bulky for him to ever wear comfortably, but I'm pleased with it. I'm working on a scarf for Finn now. Alex's scarf is next. Wow, we're a big scarf family, you are probably thinking. Nope, not at all, but I'm really enjoying the process. Perhaps I'll post pictures soon.
• And, in reviewing this post, I'm reminded at how completely boring and normal my life is. Baking. Knitting. Canning. Kids' movies. I am so lucky and blessed to have such banality.

recent haps, yo

We've been good-busy.

making mad faces...

going to our friends' farm....
to cut down our christmas tree...
losing a front tooth...
playing in the snow...
(did I mention snow? only a whopper of a snowstorm!)...
and then frigid cold temps, which made a beautiful picture on a crisp morning (see the moon in between the branches?).
I love our front deck, even snow covered. Those chairs remind me that leisurely summer days aren't too far away (are they????).

oops

So, I posted this ridiculously over-the-top gushy post about how much I loved my kids and my husband and my life, and then, shortly after posting it, it ALL fell apart over here and I came back down to earth. You know - it's all ok, just the normal kind of falling apart, but it made me reconsider all of earlier gushiness. Note to self -- don't post when on some Friday-afternoon-early-holiday-cozy-and-warm-possibly-also-hormonal high, because the high pops and then I just feel silly.

So there.

A couple of random thoughts:

I'm looking forward to the snowstorm this week. I got a great recipe from my bookclub friend last night. It's the perfect food for a cold, blustery winter night. Meatball Oven Stew. If I were smarter, I'd figure out how to post the recipe, but y'all will just have to wonder. Unless you ask. And then I can just type it out.

I went to my December bookclub mtg last night. Love my bookclub. We are starting our 17th year together! We just read Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. The voice of the book is a dog, named Enzo! It was a sweet story, and I recommend it.

Off to Trader Joe's!

out of the closet

I came out to a dear friend today. This friend is one of my oldest, certainly one of my best-est friends. I have known her since we were kids, and we were in each others' weddings a million years ago, but I have really fallen in love with her wonderfulness since becoming a mom. I talk with her most days. She knows, next to Bob, I suppose, the most about my daily life. From the little to the big moments, I look forward to sharing them with this friend. And so, it has felt a little weird keeping this blog from her. But, I'm a little shy about it, and I was a little shy to tell her. I took the risk and she received it well (of course she would!). So, welcome friend. I hope you enjoy reading about what I most certainly have already told you about on the phone or in person. :)

One more comment about this friend -- we are normally pregnant when we get all maudlin and carry on about how important we are to each other. I'm not pregnant, nor is she (ARE YOU? kidding!), but I do want to officially state, in this blog post, how important you are to me. I so appreciate your perspective, your sense of humor, your opinions - even (especially?) when they don't agree with mine. I love your family, and I wish your sisters were mine (I have none). Your mom is fabulous. Your children are so sweet and lovely and kind and good.

Everyone should have a friend like this.

OK, enough of that. Here are some photos of the week...

I made ANOTHER batch of soap, and I'm getting more and more pleased with how these are turning out. This one is honey-oatmeal-goat's milk. No strong scent (no essential oils), but I think it will produce a nice soothing lather. (that's enzo's paw in there)

Here is that super cute bingo card, gratis from Stephanie over at built to last. Alex is rather bothered that the free space doesn't have a bingo chip on it, but I think it's perfect as is. It lives on my fridge and I love it.
And here is my newly painted little first floor bathroom (formerly a closet). After many mis-steps with paint color, we finally settled on chocolate brown, and I love it. It looks rather handsome, n'est-ce pas?
And finally, I realize that I was TOTALLY remiss in not mentioning another friend who was at the Craftacular last weekend. Jessica, at www.chasingbeagles.blogspot.com, was selling sweet little frenchie-type objets d'art. Her table was adorable. Almost as adorable as she is. I was lucky enough to chat with her for a moment and then run into her husband and 4 kiddos. I hope the Craftacular will have space for her daughter Zola's stuff next year -- she is a budding artist too!