I can make Christmas cookies with my kids, even as late as Christmas Eve night, to leave out for Santa. I can let my kids decide what time we wake up to open presents without worrying about how it affects anybody’s sleep but Eric’s and mine. I don’t have to worry about wrapping gifts before we leave. I don’t have to worry about TSA screening procedures if I’m not flying anywhere. We can serve whatever foods we want for Christmas dinner, and I won’t necessarily have to assemble a meal out of side dishes in order to avoid meat. We can go to the Christmas Eve service at our own church, singing Silent Night with the choir while holding the beautiful little candles that make the sanctuary look positively magical.

But…

I miss my family. I want my parents to see their grandkids open presents, and I want them to see them all dressed up in their Christmas sweaters. I want to have Christmas dinner with other people, sharing stories of the past year with folks who haven’t heard them, let alone lived them. I want to sing carols with my mom. I want to share coffee with my dad. I want to go running with my brother. I want to see in person how big my niece and nephew got over the past year.

My childhood home isn’t “home” anymore, either, of course. If we were in Maryland for the holidays, we’d be staying in a hotel room; if we were in Eric’s hometown, it would likely be in a guest bedroom. (His childhood house has been sold, in fact.) Eric and Sam have adjusted to Wisconsin enough to call it home at this point, and Gabe has never lived anywhere else. I’m the only one in the family who still feels like a foreigner here. I don’t know when I’ll ever feel at home again, though I’ll hit the seven-year point early next year, which I’ve heard is the average amount of time it takes (can’t find the reference for that right now).

I feel like I’ve lamented about this a million times. Looking back in my journal, it seems like I mostly do it around the holidays. That’s not surprising, I guess.

Anyway, for now, I’m going to focus on that first list of things. There are lots of advantages to not traveling at Christmas. When I was little, I got irritated at having to make the rounds on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, leaving my turf and new toys for only a few hours. Traveling to far-away places for weeks has got to be even harder on my kids when we do it. We’ll have a little Christmas for our immediate family, right here at our house, and we’ll have our own traditions and our own memories made. It’ll be okay. We’ve done this before.

Permalink | 8 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Pictures and movies, Polls.

When I say “a selection,” I’m being very generous. What they were was cheap, so I bought two and haven’t made up my mind yet. Oh, the shame:Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Forgive me for making you look at that. For the record, the “Sugar Baby” dress is slightly more flattering, but…well…and Eric will be wearing a latex mask of a Jack o’Lantern. Very creative; we’re sure pulling out all the stops this year.

Gabe is making up for it. He was given a scarecrow art project to do yesterday at MOPS; they were to color the scarecrow, cut it out and glue it to a paper plate, and decorate the plate like a field. I give you his results:

DO make sure to click it and read all the notes, just to get the full effect. I anticipate more than one trip to the school counselor’s office in his future. Possibly also a highly successful career in the arts, though; seems like most of the artists I’ve known head this way at some point.

Permalink | 5 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Familial things, Gabriel, Pictures and movies, Polls.

(Sorry, a little Westing Game reference.)

So I had a fridge slightly brimming with leftovers, and the groceries are being delivered this afternoon in preparation for a visit from my father-in-law. Clearly, something needed to be done. Of course, for most folks, cleaning up might have been higher on the list than, say, making a GIANT PURPLE MESS in the kitchen, but what can I say? I gotta be me.

What to do with a bag of leftover roasted beets? I didn’t feel like just eating them, though they’re quite tasty with honey or masala curry spices. I wanted something a little different – something (dare I say it?) that the children might actually be willing to eat. Pink pankcakes? Well, maybe, but they use so little puree and make so many that the diner winds up consuming about a quarter-serving of beets. Beet gnocchi? Tempting, tempting!

(...)
Read the rest of Purple waves… (82 words)

Permalink | 3 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Cooking, Pictures and movies, Polls.

So! What should I make for her?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Please feel free to elaborate (what kind of cookies/cake/muffins/bread/whatever?) in the comments!

We’re going to take the train into Chicago and walk around, just hanging out together.

Permalink | 8 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Cooking, Eric, Polls, Warm fuzzy.

A decision:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
Both are tested and comfortable, and at this point, I’ll probably be pairing either with a short-sleeved shirt and the lightweight wicking jacket I picked up at Goodwill for $4 (also tested and comfortable) that I won’t care about tossing to the side if I get too warm. I’m leaning toward the shorts, myself, but the skirt is cute.

Permalink | 3 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Gear, Polls.

We now enter a second solid week of Sam dressing to the nines for school. Today it was a black dress shirt and tie. This girl must be exceptional (though now he’s suggesting that there may be a second girl catching his attention, the little player). Of course, the alternative is that he’s enjoying the attention he gets from adults in the school for looking like this, or that he’s relishing the role of “boy interested in girl.” He tried to insinuate that I was proud of him because he “finally found a girl to like!” but I shut that down in a hurry. Good grief, Mister Seven Years Old. On Friday, he went with his dress shirt open at the neck, with a hematite cross pendant around his neck; he looked like a member of a church praise band. I’d take a picture, but I don’t know how much I care to encourage this. On the other hand, he did choose to dress like a complete slob all weekend long…

Eric has taken to heading to the gym on a regular basis! He’s going in the evenings, which works nicely with my morning running preference. He’s actually doing a walk-run thing on the treadmill, and he’s musing about possibly eventually working up to being able to do 5Ks. It’s a struggle, now, not to want to talk about running ALL THE TIME with him, which would be a complete turn-off for him…but, like I said, it’s hard not to. He does need new shoes, fitted properly, so that lines up nicely with my desire to get up to one of the big running stores soon and check out fuel and hydration systems for the marathon. My Crush Fuel Belt isn’t going to do it, I think I’ve decided. Just too much of a pain to get the bottle in and out; once, this past run, when I tried, I managed to accidentally rip the whole belt off my waist. Suggestions for an alternative, and one that hopefully carries more than a single packet of something besides the bottles? (I hate gels, so need to carry Beans, Blox, etc.)

Been running a smidge earlier in the morning than I have to, so that I have time to sit and eat breakfast with Eric in the morning before he heads to work. (Meaning that he, too, is rising before he had been, so he’s not rushing and eating a few bites while standing over the kitchen counter.) It’s nice – so much more satisfying than an extra 15-30 minutes of sleep time would be.

Permalink | 13 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Cooking, Eric, Fitness and Health, Polls, Samuel.

Actually, though, now it looks like they’ve switched things up yet again, as far as recommendations go. The CDC site is now telling me I need two cups of fruit and three cups of vegetables each day. I think that’s lower than it was. I can’t remember, though; my brain is still operating on the Four Food Groups standard.

Permalink | 5 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Food and drink, Polls.

  

Not sure how much is out there at this point, but it’s still falling pretty heavily. School was canceled, which Sam is sure is due to the fact that he slept with his pajamas on backwards and with a spoon under his pillow.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
It’s new to me, truthfully. Is it a new thing, or a northern/midwestern thing, or just something only you weirdos do?

And thus we prematurely segue into the Christmas vacation, and it’s not even 9:30, and we’ve already had our first major conflagration, predictably over a video game gone wrong. I warned both boys that if there was any hollering for any reason, the game was going off…and they lasted about ten minutes before Sam ticked off Gabe enough for the Howls of Outrage to begin. When the game was extinguished, Brother the Younger turned on Brother the Older, who turned on me with indignant mutterings. All was calmed eventually, but it’s looking to be a very, very, very, very long Christmas break.

Thoughts on time killers? Sam can be chucked outside allowed out to play with his friends for extended periods once the snow stops, but Gabe will probably last for much shorter stretches in snow past his waist…

Permalink | 5 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Familial things, Pictures and movies, Polls.

Okay, done? Now, tell me, especially those of you who have kids or spend a lot of time around them: what is that?
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Truthfully, I’d never even heard of a splash fountain before we moved here, but apparently they’re the perfect and popular solution for a community that doesn’t want to maintain and staff a public pool. No standing water means far less risk of drowning, so lifeguards aren’t needed. (EDIT: Apparently, this has changed (PDF file), and it’s now also part of the problem, though it wasn’t mentioned in the article above.) The first time we drove past our fountain in the summer and I saw hordes of kids cavorting in the spray, I was initially surprised (again, never having seen one before), but I quickly saw the appeal.

Apparently, though, the city somehow didn’t foresee it, and now they’re going to put a big chain-link fence around the thing to keep kids out. Now, won’t that be attractive? I get that it wasn’t designed to deal with treated water, but I don’t get how they didn’t anticipate the result of putting up something that is virtually indistinguishable from recreational splash pads around the country. It was obvious to children, at least, from the very beginning, when the son of Laurel Clark, for whom the fountain was named, dashed into the water at the dedication ceremony.

Perhaps it’s not feasible for the city to pay the cost to maintain the system as it deals with chemicals for which it wasn’t designed. It seems sort of gauche to have let it be used that way for five years, only to surround it with an ugly fence and tell the children, “Go pound pavement; no fun for you.” There are no public pools in town. We’ll be using the quarry a lot more in coming summers, but there’s a fee for that; other folks will use the lake or have nothing at all. Somehow, this doesn’t strike me as a great move toward keeping kids busy and out of trouble.

Boy, am I not looking forward to the whining when it gets hot again. I’m not just talking about my children, either.

Sam, at the fountain this summer

Permalink | 8 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Items of Interest, Pictures and movies, Polls.

Eric’s home! It was so very awesome to have him with me to watch the debate last night, not finding myself having to alternately yell at the TV (“Mom? Who are you talking to?”) or mutter into my drink. Now, if only he didn’t have to work late for a while, we’d be in heaven. Oh, but my MOPS group is offering a date night on Friday! Ostensibly, it’s so we can go watch Kirk Cameron in “Fireproof,” but I’m far more tempted by the idea of getting dolled up and going to the new seafood place that opened up, with the fancy, completely child-unfriendly menu. Woo! Of course, I can’t get Eric on the phone, as he’s probably in meetings, but that’s what I intend to suggest when he finally does call me back… (I know, Ange, I know. But I haven’t seen my husband in so long, and I want to be able to talk to him instead of sitting next to him in the dark! If I promise to rent the movie later, is that okay? )

Oh, and Alysia’s in the state! She’s on vacation, and they’re going to drive back through here this weekend! I’m happy dancing all over the place.

Permalink | 5 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Polls, Warm fuzzy.

I just had the best little mini-bagel. Normally I shy away from sweet-flavored bagels, but every year around breast cancer awareness month, I just get the urge for pink – pink shirts, pink accessories, pink foods. The strawberry mini-bagels called to me and I couldn’t resist. But I put peanut butter on them to cut back on the sweet factor, and they’re perfect.

Back in Ohio, we used to frequent, as I know I’ve mentioned before, a local bakery that wound up closing when the baker tried to burn down the whole strip mall and was later arrested for murdering his wife and a former prison acquaintance. (You’d think it’s a long story, but that pretty much sums it up.) Anyway, he made these fabulous tomato basil bagels, and I’ve never had anything as good since then. Makes me sort of wish that whatever prison he’s currently inhabiting (looks like Lebanon Correctional Institute in Ohio) has some sort of work program than involved baking. Err, or maybe not. Oh, but he also made some sort of chocolate bread…hey, he wasn’t a poisoner. Worth the risk? I’ll keep looking for a substitute.

(Main thought that always runs through my head whenever I have reason to recall all that: though he often mentioned his wife when we’d stop in the store, jovially talking about what new recipes she liked or whatever, I never had occasion to meet her. I’m sort of relieved about that; if I’d known them both by their faces, it would make it harder to comprehend. That I knew a guy who turned out to be a killer – surreal. Knowing both the killer and his victim – heartbreaking and gut-wrenching.)

Permalink | 6 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Food and drink, Polls.

I don’t care if it’s baby steps or marathons. Just curious!

Permalink | 6 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Polls.

Today, a nice and sunny day, Gabe saw one girl riding her bike and called to her before I could say anything. He invited her to play with him in the backyard, as she’d done many other occasions when Sam was home. In theory, I’m fine with her playing with Gabe, and she was happy to do so, too. Now there are two other big kids back there playing with him.

When Sam gets home, he will have homework. Knowing these kids are already in his backyard will make him very sad and anxious.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

This sucks.

EDIT: And then, to complicate things, fifteen minutes after Sam was out there, the whole gang of big kids decided to move the party elsewhere, abruptly leaving Gabe (whom I don’t want roaming the neighborhood) behind. So much for him feeling included.

Permalink | 3 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Polls, Rants and vents.

I’m a pinball wizard, apparently.

(...)
Read the rest of Forgiven, and then some (375 words)

Permalink | 26 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Polls, Warm fuzzy.

Permalink | 8 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Pictures and movies, Polls.

More for me!

Permalink | 13 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Food and drink, Polls.

A Flickr friend just got one of these for her daughter, who lost a tooth, as a way for the Tooth Fairy to more easily go back and forth on tooth nights. It mounts onto your baseboard. I actually squealed when I saw the picture of hers, and I really, really want a couple now (the sculptor is out of stock at the moment; this one has already sold).

But now Eric says that the concept is a little creepy. “Have you read English fairy mythology?” he says. “Fairies are not good.” Another online friend said it would have scared her when she was a child, too.

So I ask you!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Just curious. I still think they’re precious.

Permalink | 17 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Polls.

If you picked something like red meat or fish, go ahead and comment as to whether it’s the whole genre or only specific culprits that turn you off.

POSTSCRIPT: This is funny. Tonight’s dinner, for a treat, is “diner’s choice,” and all three of us (Eric being out for the evening) are grossed out by what the others are eating. (Well, not me, so much, but they wouldn’t have been my choices for dinner.) Gabe: Frozen chicken nuggets, pretzels, juice (V8 Fusion, with the “hidden” veggies). Sam: Instant oatmeal, juice. Me: Leftover bison meatloaf, done jelly-roll style with spinach and cheese, and water.

(The boys will be hungry again in a while, I predict, at which time I may try to cajole them into eating vegetable soup. )

Permalink | 15 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Cooking, Polls.

Darn it, what is up with race organizers scheduling races on Sundays? I mean, not, of course, that the world is Christian or should follow the church’s schedule or anything (heck, up here in Cheeseland, ministers will actually schedule the church around the Packers’ schedule sometimes). Still, I really, really wanted to do the Sampson Stomp, and Eric is all, “That’s a Sunday. We have choir. You made a commitment.” And he’s right! But that stinks! I may talk to the director and see what we’re singing; maybe she’d be okay with it…except that we’re a one-car family, so I’d need to take the car, and both Eric and I would have to be missing.

But doesn’t it look like fun? And maybe I could even drum up enthusiasm and get Sam and Gabe into one of the kiddie runs! Whee!

I know, it’s a sickness.

Permalink | 3 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Fitness and Health, Polls.

Sam would like to ask you guys:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

(Those will be made this evening, probably.)

Still need to wrap presents; maybe I can get Eric to take Sam out somewhere so I can wrap them while Gabe naps.

Coffee spiked with eggnog consumed: check (with more to come, I’m sure).

Permalink | One comment PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Completely random, Polls, Samuel.

And because the cupboards are pretty bare of things with which to make sweet baked goods, and because I’m too lazy to want to brave a grocery store, we’re going here. Geesh, look at that list! Which ones should we get?

Permalink | One comment PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Cooking, Polls.

Permalink | No comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Polls.

EDIT THE SECOND: I have a poll!

Permalink | No comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Meta, Polls.

Because I’m getting pretty darn tired of stepping all over my pants cuffs if I’m not wearing heels, but the proportions in petite-sized clothes are all wrong for me. But I’m wondering if it’s even me, because I started looking around at everybody’s cuffs a few days ago, and everybody is stepping on their cuffs! Are pants makers on crack, thinking we’re all giants? Is it the thing to do, have raggedy pants edges? With jeans, I’m not bothered, but I’m not wearing jeans most days now, and I don’t like wearing heels every day, either…

(Don’t like using another site for polls. Need a plug-in; be right back…)

Permalink | 10 comments PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO COMMENT! (Otherwise I might miss it entirely...)

Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under Polls, Rants and vents.