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‘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 with his bags (under the eyes that is)

both settled down for a long winter’s nap (in our dream’s).

When, what to our wondering eyes should appear,

But an expensive airplane and eight tiny Disney characters.

With a little old driver so lively and quick-y,  I knew in a moment it must be Mickey.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came (what is a courser any way?),

And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name,

"Now, Goofy!  Now, Minnie!  Now, Donald and Pluto!  On, Buzz!  On, Pooh Bear!  On, Ariel and Woody!"

"To the top of the castle!  To top of the ship!  Now dash away! Dash away!  Dash away, quick!"

And we all did exclaim as we flew out of sight, "Merry Disney to all and to all a great trip!"

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 cream…and boy is it good.

Nothing else happening…no wonderful pictures to share.  Just a beautiful sunny day and a husband who’s home today….aaahhhhhhh.

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 watch the news?)

Caleb:  "Will our mommy and daddy go to jail?"

Jacob:  "No, silly!  Our mommy and daddy are nice!"

Caleb:  "Oh?!"

It was as if Caleb was saying, "That’s news to me!  Are they being nice to you?!"

Kids are fun.

(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 and exhausted.

Boy is he cute!  And boy he’s usually very pleasant and fun to be around.  But the last few days he doesn’t seem to stop talking, whining, crying or telling jokes that don’t make sense.  Make him stoooopppp!  "mom, mom, the phone’s ringing, mom.  mom, where’s my shoes? mom, i gotta go potty.  mom, mom, did you know that caleb and cake…they rhyme together.  mom, knock, knock…mom, i need a napkin.  mom, i’ll help you cook.  mom, i’ll help you with your christmas cards, mom can i cut?  MOM…I DON’T LIKE BROCCOLI…mom, can i have some candy…MOM, MOm, Mom, mom, mom?!?"  And that’s just in the last 5 minutes.

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 on E-bay, but also does commissioned work…all from her home in Prosper.  My favorite is one that’s called "Sunset in Cali" (see Stand Alone Paintings, page 25).  Here’s her site:  www.the-peanut-gallery.org

2.  Kay showed us a photographer that does some really neat stuff.  His name is Zeny Cieslikowski (don’t ask me how to say it).  He’s a very nice man, too…bonus!  But here’s his website:  http://www.colorphotographs.com/  My favorites are of the Amalfi Coast in Italy…beautiful!

3.  My favorite NEW Christmas song (I still have all my old favorites) is by a Christian group called Mercy Me.  The song is called Joseph’s Lullaby.  Kind of interesting to hear what might have been the perspective of Joseph…wanting to have just a night to hold his baby and not worry about the weight of what was to come.  He’s one of those people I look forward to meeting.  I imagine Joseph to be stalwart, quiet, steady, simple, loving, and wise.  A guy that’s not afraid to stand in the shadows and observe.  Here’s the song:  Download 12_josephs_lullaby.wma

Enjoy!

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 rat-infested San Angelo, TX (I’m sure it’s a lovely place, but the rat’s were big).  In Middle School, I helped manage the after-school concession stand…saw one mouse eating another mouse (dead, of course) in the closet where we kept the candy.  I am forever traumatized by these disgusting, horrible experiences.

This morning I heard something in the wall between the study and the garage.  I can’t describe it, because I’ll break out in a cold sweat and maybe even cry.  I ran and told Derek about it…"uh-oh…I didn’t want to tell you but I saw droppings in the garage."  You what? 

I know the whole thing about my home being on the field where they used to live…so technically I stole their home…Yadda-yadda-yadda.

I’m devastated.  I told Derek that if I see one, we’ll have to move.  No kidding.  And that if he’s not around when I see one (heaven forbid), I’m calling the police.  It is considered an emergency in my book. "Please don’t do that," was his response. 

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 gifts, send gifts, re-gift the gifts (ha, ha, just kidding)

Fight traffic, wait in long lines, pay taxes, put on extra winter lbs.

Throw party for the new neighbors and their children (who’s idea was that?)

Oh…but then there are my favorites:

Bake cookies

Give gifts

Dance with kids to Christmas music

Read stories under the lights of the Christmas tree

Re-enact the nativity scene

Drive around slower than usual looking at lights

Eat York Peppermint Patties

Enjoy friends and families stamped, addressed and licked cards

It doesn’t get any better than this time of year, I think!  Especially when I watch my kids.  Jacob has all kinds of logistical Santa questions, that I’m doing my darndest to answer.  And Caleb sings like a choir member to the Polar Express CD.  My favorite thing about Christmas has always been turning all of the lights off and watching the twinkle of the tree before heading to bed. 

thanks·giv·ing  (thngks-gvng)
n.

1. An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God: a hymn of thanksgiving.
2. 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 love how thankful we are for them.  That’s the intent of this website really…"count your many blessings, name them one by one".  I hope I can spend more time and energy everyday being in a state of THANKSGIVING.