‘Twas the day before Disney and all thru the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a…well, we don’t talk about those things. The bags were brought down from the closet with care, but we were too busy with other stuff to see them there. And Mama with her stress-induced canker sores, and Dad…

and Peppermint Ice Cream!  That’s what’s cookin’ at our house today…mmmm, mmmm!  Derek really wanted a pie, so he made it himself (that’s my favorite kind of pie…the kind that he makes himself!).  And I really wanted to use my neat Cuisinart ice cream maker, so I smashed some candy canes and made peppermint ice…

Here’s my kids’ favorite new Christmas song.  It’s a real profound medley: Download christmas_alvin_and_the_chipmunks_hula_hoop_christmas_song.mp3 Caleb says this about it: "Mom, I just can’t stop laughing!" Well, son, if it gives you that much joy I’ll try my best to endure it for another 19 days.

The wicked mouse is dead.  Derek had a run-in with the mouse in the garage after I had gone to bed on Saturday night.  I don’t know any of the details…he won’t tell me.  That is probably best.

Yesterday, I had given the kids lunch and left the room.  But could still hear their very interesting conversation.  Jacob was telling Caleb that "mean" mommies and daddies have to go to jail.  (Where he learned this, I have no idea.  He says he saw it on the news…but when have I ever let him…

(disclaimer: Derek has been gone all day which may lead to the rather harsh tone of the following post…) 1.  Mer has a stomach bug of some sort. 2.  Jacob has strep throat for the 3rd time in 4 months. 3.  Caleb has a mouth that runs and runs and runs…leaving me and Jacob irritable…

I’m enjoying the "arts" this week…paintings, photography, music, etc.  Here’s some that have come my way lately: 1.  A gal at church is a painter, her name is Janette Church.  I think she’s very talented.  She mostly does abstract art, which normally isn’t my thing, but some of them are really cool.  She mainly sells…

of rodents.  Not just a fear…a completely horrific anxiety-ridden fear.  The thought of any rodent being in the same town as me makes my skin crawl and my heart jump.  I had a horrible experience as a child…with a rat…a big rat.  I stepped on a dead one when looking for my Easter basket in…

Now that we’re adults our Christmas lists no longer look like Toys R Us order forms.  Now they resemble to-do lists.  Does yours look a little like mine? Address, stamp, lick and send 80+ cards Eat York Peppermint Patties Pack for trip Plan the Kindergarten party, even though my Kindergartener won’t attend Buy gifts, wrap…

thanks·giv·ing  (thngks-gvng)n. An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God: a hymn of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day. I love that we have a day with this purpose in mind.  I love that giving thanks involves an "act" or an "expression"…it takes physical action, whether it be through prayer or telling someone we…