Happy Holidays!

It's Sunday and I am in one of the best moods I have been in in a long time. I'm usually pretty happy go lucky anyway, but today I am just oozing with Holiday spirit and excitement.

Reason #1: I'm sure it has a lot to do with Big George coming to visit and Alex making his way back to D-land this coming week. Oh, and my birthday on Wednesday...I keep forgetting, a usual occurrence every year. It's gonna be bittersweet for all of us to be back together again...and I am going to try my best to make it a "fun" time for everyone :o)

Reason #2: Last night was JD's #1 fan night at Beauty and the Beast. He had so many people there to cheer him on, thanks to all that came out! I have a separate post with video that I am gonna write after I splice the movie. He did FANTASTIC!! And I cried like a baby...his entrance and the first song always gets me.

Reason #3: I am thisclose to being done with my shopping...which is always a nice feeling. I have a few loose ends to tie up, but overall...I am done!

Soooo, the point of this post is to say HAPPY HOLIDAYS! If you're not in the mood, or feeling mad about the long lines and crazy traffic, or if you are buried under 8 feet of snow...remember, it's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Now, tell me that doesn't make you smile :o)

and well, if that doesn't maybe this will....

Be Merry!!!

Two Teenagers and a Microphone

Well, as Run DMC and JMJ put it...

My kids are creeping up the growth chart quick-like! I am now in between two teenagers and a preschooler (ya'll got to pray for me).

JD is 13!!!

Our first December birthday has come and gone and my J-dle Deedle has officially crossed into teen mode. I was super excited to see him embrace this age and he has done so without a hitch. I can't kiss on him anymore, or talk to him about when he used to watch teletubbies, or even ask him if he's growing hair in certain places...hmmm, I guess being a teenager is super standard across the board. We celebrated on Friday (his actual day) by making his favorite food next to cheeseburgers...pizza. Then we followed him to Beauty and the Beast rehearsals (I was kinda bummed he had to "work" on his b-day, but he didn't seem to mind and besides, opening night was a week away, YIKES). The whole cast and crew sang to him at the end though, so it was nice for him :o) He also opened up his presents from us and from G-Pa. You can never go wrong with a DVD, books, and Legos...G-Pa amped it up with a nice young man's watch.

I also did my new ritual of birthday wishes in lights by posting a shout-out on the base marquee! He was shocked and it stayed up all weekend long!! (and NO, I did not purposely make my name all caps...just sayin')

The next day, George took him and a couple friends to go see the new Harry Potter movie as his birthday outing. I don't really DO Harry Potter, so I stayed back and got everything ready for the cake and Singstar after party.

There were two cakes and one said Happy Birthday and the other said 13 JD, hee hee! A party just isn't a party unless JD whoops some a$$ in Singstar...which his father graciously accepted in defeat.




Once that was out of the way, the presents and cake made their way into the party and things started to get interesting :o)







He got money and a gift card from our friends Amee & Theresa and their fams which was awesome because he loves to buy his own stuff. Thanks so much guys...





And then Aunt Rhea gave him something I'm sure he had been wanting for a long time...

OH WAIT...YOU JUST RICK ROLL'D ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!

OMG....so if you had any idea how hilarious this was, you would be totally crying. A few weeks ago, Rhea and I had been at the thrift store and stumbled upon some classic pop cassette tapes that I swear I owned all of at one point in my life...to include Rick Astley. Little did I know that she was planning on rick-rolling JD on his birthday!! The look on his face was priceless...the look on everyone else's face was exactly the same!! Rhea and I were cracking up...practically on the floor...and meanwhile, JD says "Why do I need this tape recorder?" (insert the tears) It was like me 25 years ago with 8-track tapes...TOO MUCH!







But, he sat there and semi-smiled with his Rick Astley cassette and said thank you for his gift...(insert proud mommy). Right after the pic, Rhea handed him his real gift (Megamind on Wii) and he just giggled. What a trooper!



Thanks so much to everyone that helped make JD's birthday a success and sent their wishes across the miles...we love ya!!




I think he had a great time this year and it blows my mind that I now have TWO teenagers...where do all those years go?? Before I know it, Teage will be in kindergarten next year and Saige will be visiting college campuses. Gosh, I feel so old! Speaking of...I better go and rest my ailing foot and joints.

Thanks for looking...

Closing out November...with the Quickness!

Is it me or did November just slip me a roofie?

The last thing I remember is buying a bunch of candy and then ripping down my Halloween decor. Next thing I know it's three days ago and I'm waking up to a pile of recipes and turkey feathers flying out of my mouth...AND that frickin' holiday music blaring on every store speaker ever made. Nobody appreciates being date raped by November...just sayin'.

Needless to say, Thanksgiving came and shook me up by reminding me that I have pretty much ZERO time until Christmas! Insert snow!!! Our first snow came on Thanksgiving day....and I am pretty sure we are going to have a crazy winter. Pretty early to be snowing here...but the first snow is absolutely beautiful in its own right. Check out my snowy commentating...

The holiday was nice this year...all the fixins, Family, guests, shopping, and a game night. As everyone knows, I had the major feat of cooking a full on meal. George doesn't cook anything except fried eggs and spaghetti (both of which I commend and eagerly pass on to him any chance I get)...Saige will help with some cooking, if it fits in to her social schedule....so that pretty much leaves it up to me, which I have gotten used to after 15 years I guess :o) Geo invited some single Soldiers over, but only one ended up showing up. The only thing is he showed up 15 minutes early. Normally I would be ok with that...had I not had 15 large rollers in my hair and no make-up on...sigh. Not to mention George left him downstairs for me and the boys to entertain while he showered...double sigh. Real is what you get with this familia...love it or leave it, LOL. Teage, however, was dressed to the nines and really got into it this year. What a STUD!!!

The food was phenomenal....the best being the homemade rolls and homemade gravy, of course. Check out the spread...

The next day (Black Friday), I had to work my subcontracting job while G took the kids "shopping". All I know is I got a call about 2pm FYI-ing me that he was doing some serious spending...hmmmm. All of which I wasn't allowed any intel on. *GRIN*

We spent the rest of the weekend with the Jefferson's, who came up for some nestor time. We always have so much fun and this weekend was no exception. It was TJ's birthday so we did some wine/Park bonding before heading out to the club on base for a bit. The next day we headed out to the Exchange and then the Frohes Fest (Christmas market) downtown for the first time this season. Besides the frost bitten toes and ears, it was just what I needed to cap off the Holiday. The hot chocolate and gluhwein (warm spiced wine) flowed and the smell of roasted candied nuts filled the air. I am now fully armed to tackle December and all its wrath. Can't wait to venture to the neighboring markets during the next month...

Mini Chocolate Cameras?? Oprah needs to put this on her favorite things...

We hope everyone had a great Holiday weekend like we did! Missing all my Family and peeps across the miles...but I am THANKFUL our love extends all around the globe to so many people.

Thank you for being a part of our lives...and as always, thanks for looking :o)

Love ya,

Wednesday Without Words

Dear Santa...

So, I was reminded today that there are only 39 days until Christmas Day!! Santa, this is entirely too short of a time for me to finish my online shopping!! You KNOW I have limited resources locally, so here's what I propose...As soon as you are done harassing the elves and reindeer into doing all your tasks, can you stop by my casa and light a fire under my hubby's a$$ and remind him that he is just as capable in shopping for gifts, mailing out gifts, and wrapping up gifts!!

Either that or you can just send some of your unappreciated elves my way...just sayin'!!

Doing your job without the elves,

Top Ten

Top Ten things I have said/want to say to my son's Child Development Center:

10. Why did that kid just lob a red marker at my head and nobody react?

9. Talk about throwing kids under the bus! If two kids get into an altercation, this Center has no discretion when it comes to disclosing the other child's name who is involved.

8. Being that you have no discretion during an incident...does that mean you talk about all the kids to whomever you choose?

7. When a child needs to be involved in an activity or lesson in order to NOT feel bored....making him do tasks like filling up your water table or holding your sign-in board does not suffice as such.

6. I definitely do not need an attitude from the b!#ch at the front desk...just sayin'.

5. Courtesy calls are your way of trying to tell on my kid. Who is in control there??...STOP BEING A TATTLETALE!!

4. When you roll your eyes because the kids are already getting on your nerves at 8:30am...you showed me (and your students) yet again that they are working YOU and not the other way around.

3. Four different teachers in four months is UNFAIR to not only my child, but my whole parenting routine.

2. How come nobody saw my kid get punched in the face which caused his nose to bleed heavily and ultimately begin this regressing behavior in this now unsafe preschool setting?

1. Word of the day: Accountability...who has it and does it exist in your administration??

Having Teage in the CDC here has been a roller coaster of peaks and valleys!! No child is perfect, but things have been really hard for us as he has transitioned multiple times in such a short time there....all of which the snobby women who run that joint don't have any regard for. Time to dust off my big girl panties and take this shiz on...again!

Thanks for listening,

First Step...Admit the Problem!

I don't know if I am PMS-ing or pre-menopausal at 35, but today people are irking me.

Back in my early to mid twenties I had a real problem with getting snappy with people the minute they did something that pissed me off. I mean I would cuss someone out or bow up to someone in a heartbeat and wouldn't care where I was or who was watching. It is a quality others admired and I even enjoyed about myself for a while. FYI, I still believe that standing up for yourself and voicing your opinion are characteristics we should all possess. I did realize over time that my delivery was just a little abrasive :o) I had kids that were watching me nut-up in the grocery store or in the car, my emotions were creeping into my personal relationships and causing me to engage in mini tantrums with the people I loved, and most of all it was aging me...I actually think my health was suffering. So, I made the choice to change. I tried really hard to implement a calming way to go about things. I read some books (small ones, because you know I can't make it through extensive books, especially books filled with facts about feelings), watched some relate-able TV, incorporated some breathing exercises into my daily routine, and pretty much made a conscious decision to grow up!! This is where my "nice" mantra stems from and why it is so important to me.

Sooo, what do you do when things get sketchy (like for me today) and your old spaz impulses start to rear their ugly head onto your new peaceful zen attitude?? I find that FB (and my blog) work on occasion for me. I get to vent about what has ticked me off, hit "Share", and go on my way. The only problem with that is...sometimes people (usually the ones who are pissing your off) start calling and emailing, "Why did you write that?" or "Who peed in your Wheaties this morning?" All of which I don't have the energy to explain nor the patience it would take to tell you without verbally abusing you.

Another alternative...SHOP. I find that solo shopping (not to be confused with holding a grocery list) can be extremely therapeutic when you need an escape. My favorite is to hop in my car....head downtown or to some random shop off base and assume the solitude and anonymity. I can take as long as I want, scout items I would never look at with others, eat a pretzel in between, and think about how lucky I am rather than how annoyed I am...all in one afternoon.

These and other positive outlets help me to appreciate and THINK through some of the little pet peeves I hold dear to me. And that is the point I am trying to make...it is ok to get annoyed!! I will still continue to live by the nice rule, but I am who I am. There is a line with me and if you find that I am looking beyond you, well then you probably crossed it. Once that happens, I don't waste my time on the delivery. You are just cut out...

What sparked this whole blog topic you say? I was about to write this on my FB status today...YES I have been feeling this way and NO I don't want to talk about it, like I said it could just be my pre-menopause LOL:

"I have no time for people who are users. I am not here for YOUR benefit people...sometimes you've got to give to receive!!"

Just sayin'...