Sewing for Cherubs

Ten for Tuesday

Well, what's on my mind today?...

1.) Due to budget cuts, our local school system elected to lengthen the school day and take longer summer/winter breaks this year. The end result is my kids are still off from school and not going back until next week. I am surprisingly OK with this; it has been nice to have them home, and they haven't started driving each other crazy or fighting like cats and dogs yet. I'm expecting that to commence any minute now.

2.) Because of this extra-long winter break, we decided to take a family vacation to Disneyworld! It was our kids' first time there, and yes, it was indeed magical.

3.) Not so magical: The flights there and back. Can you say turbulence? On the last leg of our flight home in a ridiculously small plane with 20 mph winds, even the flight attendant looked nervous.

4.) Interestingly, my kids were not the least bit scared by all that turbulence. In fact, they conversed LOUDLY and with glee about how much it felt like Space Mountain. I am not entirely certain that the surrounding adult passengers enjoyed that conversation. I guess kids' minds don't go where adult's minds do.

5.) Despite all that, I will fly again. It is still my preferred mode of travel and I don't think we should make decisions based on fear. Besides, the world looks pretty darn amazing from 30,000 feet.

6.) My kids brought home Mickey sweatshirts, Mickey ears, and new toys from Disneyworld. I brought home a nasty head cold. I think there should be a law that Mommies are not allowed to get sick. It hardly seems fair. Even if I feel awful, there are still meals to be prepared and bottoms to wipe. Hopefully not at the same time.

7.) I'm not sure I should have typed that little joke about preparing meals and wiping bottoms. I promise I don't do both at the same time.

8.) Back home today, it is cold and dreary outside with a dusting of snow (not enough to play in). It's definitely a soup-in-the-crockpot kind of day. Too bad my kids won't eat the soup; I'll have to make them sandwiches or some other alternative. At least my house will smell great and feel cozy, and The Bossman and I will enjoy a warm, soothing dinner. How do you get kids to eat soup? I guess it's something about all that stuff being mixed together that freaks them out. I have no room to talk though, I didn't eat soup until I was in college.

9.) Speaking of fighting like cats and dogs (see #1), my father related a very funny story yesterday. He and my mother were driving the kids somewhere, and all three of them were packed into the backseat. Not surprisingly, these close quarters inspired some sparring. As The Princess punched Radar, Superman joined in and began throwing punches too. My father sternly lectured all three kids, and told The Princess, "You are being a bad influence on Superman." Superman did not agree with my father's assessment and responded matter-of-factly, "I was born punching!"

10.) My sewing room has been calling me. I think I feel some creativity coming on... just as soon as I can get these kids back in school.

 

Ten for Tuesday

Well, here goes again... a stream of consciousness of ten random things, let's see what happens.

1.) Of course the big event of this week has been Christmas. The Bossman and I were a little worried that the kids would complain about things they didn't get (even though there was PLENTY under the tree), or that they would compare the relative sizes of their loot piles. Thankfully, neither of these scenarios came to pass. The kids were so excited and remarkably well-behaved all day. Whew!

2.) Disregarding the obvious problem of excessive consumerism, I sort of wish Christmas could happen every week. My kids have been so happily occupied every day since Christmas with their new toys. I've had lots of time to do things, like write Ten for Tuesday posts.

3.) The definite highlight of Christmas morning was seeing Superman's reaction. At age 4, the magic of Santa is still very exciting for him. With almost every present he opened, he exclaimed: "COOL!" or "AWESOME!". I got some video of these moments because I do NOT want to forget what it sounded like.

4.) I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. I suppose I'm going to try the "Get the house organized" one again. I've tried it (unsuccessfully) every year since I've had children, why stop now? Hope springs eternal.

5.) Maybe while I'm organizing the house I should organize my blog. I noticed that my blogroll over there on the right sidebar is hopelessly out of date. But Typepad went and changed their interface, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to edit my content modules. I may just have to delete the blogroll and make a new one. In the meantime, I apologize to anyone who has followed a link to a blog that doesn't exist anymore!

6.) Speaking of New Year's Resolutions, I keep hearing about people who are trying a "52 week challenge". For example, prepare 52 new recipes, one per week, in 2011. Other possibilities would include reading 52 books or completing 52 sewing projects. I am trying to pick one. Suggestions?

7.) I went running in the cold again this morning. It was 22 degrees outside. I do not know what has possessed me to make me want to do this to myself. I do feel really great now though.

8.) As I write this blog post, Superman and The Princess are both sitting at the kitchen table adjacent to my desk working on their new Lego sets. Radar is playing a game in the family room next to us. It's a very cozy feeling. As an added bonus, no one is fighting. So yeah, I'm good.

9.) On these chilly days, I am thankful for our gas fireplace. For the first couple of years we lived here, I was afraid of it. But once I finally realized we were NOT going to explode, I have come to really appreciate the peaceful feeling of relaxation it provides. After the kids go to bed, my favorite thing to do is curl up on the couch by the fire and read a book.

10.) Speaking of books, I am currently reading two. On my new iPad, I am reading The Help. On my nightstand, in actual book form, I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They are both great reads, although The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is not for the faint of heart. I'm not sure I'm going to continue with that series. Read any good books lately?

Ten for Tuesday

I thought it would be fun to try something I've seen on a few other blogs. On Tuesdays, I will write about ten random things that are on my mind that day. Should be interesting! So, without further ado, here is this week's installment of "Ten for Tuesday".

1.) Hey! ONLY FOUR MORE SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

2.) I am eating an apple while writing this post. I am thirty-eight years old, and I still feel the need to cut an apple into little slices before I eat it. At least I don't peel it.

3.) I have three children in three different schools. I am going a little crazy from holiday parties, concerts, and luncheons. Which leads me to #4:

4.) I love Christmas, but I must say I am also looking forward to December 26th, when I can breathe a sigh of relief. I think December 26th should be declared a national holiday (With apologies to my friends in Canada). On this holiday all Moms would be required to spend the whole day doing nothing productive.

5.) Superman has become quite a Lego expert. At the risk of sounding like a bragging Mom, he can take a set intended for 7-year-olds (he's four) and use the instructions to assemble it all by himself. He also likes to create his own designs, which are as he says, "from my 'magination."

6.) I am seriously thinking about putting out a jar and collecting money from my children each time they say "It's not fair." Last night I told them about my plans, and The Princess looked aghast and immediately said, "It's not..." and quickly realized her mistake and clammed up. We had a really good laugh about that!

7.) I am trying to understand the point of a one-hour delay for the schools. At 8 a.m. yesterday, our driveway was icy and it was very cold and windy outside. At 9 a.m., our driveway was icy and it was very cold and windy outside.

8.) It's hard thinking of ten things to write about, especially when you are in a hurry (see #3).

9.) I am really bad at the whole "Elf on the Shelf" thing. Our elf has forgotten to go back to the North Pole quite a few times this year. He must be a little lazy.

10.) We went caroling with our youth group this week, and a sweet little old lady told us: "Thank you so much for brightening my day. I was starting to feel a little down and this really helped." That's what it's all about, isn't it?