I hope everyone’s had a good week. I think it’s been a long one. It feels like Friday would never get here and I’m not a great lover of weekends but we are supposed to get another dumping of snow and I worry about everyone who’s out and about in it so this way, I won’t worry so much. I also get to have Trinity and Christopher for a while on Saturday morning while Toby and Sue go to Sue’s Christmas party at work. I’m not sure yet what we’ll do but we’ll see what Saturday morning is like. I’ve also DVR’d all the specials for kids that have been on all week and if nothing else, we can have goodies and watch those. There’s NOTHING like Rudolph 🙂
What have you all been up to all week? We’ve got most of our stuff outside up and our neighborhood looks wonderful. I’ve gotten most of the inside of the house done now too. I’m still working on decorating the tree but I move stuff around on there for weeks. Some things just keep needing tweaks. I love the glow of all the lights in the house.
What have you all been up to all week and what are your weekend plans?
Us Girls..Our Views 
Tomorrow I have to stop off and get an exchange gift for the game at my Christmas party and then I hope to make it home in one piece. I’m kidding! I’m ready for it to snow and since it’s cold it should be light and fluffy so no worries 😉 Saturday, like Joy said, is my work Christmas party at one of the doc’s house and we are having brunch. It is always soooooooo yummy! I don’t know what we’ll do Saturday night. Sunday is religion, 4-H Christmas party and basketball practice so it’ll be a day to run run run. We decorated the tree tonight (finally) and the kids had a ball. Christopher thought he was king Tut putting the ornaments on and kept saying, “wow, we have a nice tree!” He has his first loose tooth and I keep telling him to have grandma pull it out. He looks at me with wide eyes and says, “but I’m not ready to loose it yet!” Maybe grandma can get it Saturday!
Oh goody. If it’s lose enough to come out, I’ll get it. I have a lot of bribery stuff.
I’m a little sad that Bailey has zero interest in all the classic holiday specials. 😦 The cartoon ones anyway. A Christmas Story is still one he loves to watch, and I’m hoping to find some other good ones he will like. If anyone has any suggestions…give’em to me!!! I don’t know too may, I didn’t watch many of them myself.
I’ll be back in the morning! 🙂
“The Santa Clause” is my all-time favorite Christmas movie. Of course, it addresses the ‘Santa Issue’, so it’s not for those who are still into that, but Bailey’s probably past that by now, right? (don’t bother with the sequels. They suck coal. I mean, they’re really bad)
My other must-watch for Christmas is “Christmas Vacation”. Yes, it’s hokey, and a little (a lot?) off-color, but I love it, and it totally cracks me up (“He thinks that maybe next year, He’ll be guessing people’s weight or barking for the Yak woman.”).
And then there’s my nephew’s favorite when he was that age: Home Alone. He liked it so much (and enjoyed that he kinda looked like Macaulay Culkin) that we had to be careful when we went to visit, because for about three weeks straight, he’d booby-trap the house when he knew we were coming over!
Um… I can’t think of any others at the moment that might appeal. I mean, I love, love, love “It’s a Wonderful Life” but I don’t know if a 10-year-old kid would. And “Miracle on 34th Street”, too. (the old one, in B/W is good, and several years ago, they did a remake that stayed pretty true, but is more modern, and in color). Steve’s favorite is “White Christmas” – but that’s a really old one, with a lot of dancing. Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby.
Is Bailey a scoffer yet?
How about A Christmas Carol? Also, It’s a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th Street?
I don’t know what a scoffer is! LOL
Miracle on 34th!!! That’s a good one!
Well I was trying to be kid-friendly . .. in A Christmas Story, the narrator says, “Let’s face it, most of us were scoffers” (about The Big Guy). Er, folks who suspend belief pending evidence. KWIM?
Oops, I just read your message below, so never mind! Don’t feel bad, this has to happen sooner or later! I actually think it’s easier if it happens sooner, because you don’t have to dance around the issue as long.
Ohhh hahaha okay!!!! His days of believing I think are over…thanks to his teacher! I really think he was trying to hold on to the hope he was real. I still have not said that he isn’t.
VERY TRUE! But I will still track him with NORAD because I think it’s fun!
My parents never admitted either that there was no Santa. It is much more fun to pretend that there is. Even for kids who are wise to it.
By the way, I was wise to it by around age 7. I till pretended to believe.
I love White Christmas too. I’m not sure if that’s for a kid or not though. Home Alone was great. I know we watched that with the kids last December and I think all of them liked it. I saw Elf last year and thought that was cute. What about that train movie? Ummm…The Polar Express? That was good. The Grinch with Jim Carey?
My favorite all time fave is Rudolph. I hope Trin and Christopher want to watch it tomorrow.
My kids love Rudolph. I think they have seen it no fewer than 20 times in the past 2 years.
They will b/c they’ve watched it a lot already!
Hunter LOVES the Polar Express!! Actually so do I. It has such a great message to the meaning of Santa. If you haven’t seen it, I totally recommend that one!! 😀
Tom Hanks is excellent in it
Yes, that is a new tradition we’ve had since it came out. We bought it and watch it every year! Thanks for reminding me, we’ll watch that this weekend.
Speaking of believing…Bailey came home and said to me, “Well I kinda thought Santa was still real until today. My teacher told us we were helping the Kindergarteners write their letters to Santa, and we’d be writing back to them as Santa. Why would we do that if he was real?”
My heart broke instantly! 😦
I said, sometimes Santa needs a little help…he did not buy that!
ahh thats sad!! The teacher could’ve said the same answer that you gave. That Santa needs some help in responding to letters. Well maybe you could still do some reasurring with Bailey that Santa is real. hmmm thats a tough one! I still wish Santa was real! LOL
Crap. That teacher never should have done that.
A couple weeks ago, when I took my girls to give a donation for needy kids, the director gave a little talk to my kids about charity. She mentioned that some boys and girls don’t have parents to buy them nice Christmas presents, so they might not get any presents if we don’t help them. I thought to myself, “what about Santa,” but my kids didn’t seem to make the connection. I remember when I was a kid, and my parents would have us leave old toys out for Santa to give to the poor kids, since they otherwise wouldn’t have much for Christmas. I’m surprised that I wasn’t analytical enough to wonder, why would Santa make new toys for working-class kids, but need to take donations for poor kids? But I think that little kids want so badly to believe, they just don’t go there. Older kids start to realize that whatever they get for Christmas depends on what their parents are willing/able to provide, so belief in Santa gradually becomes just a fun game.
I wish he hadn’t done that either. And you’re right SKL, I really think they hold on to it as long as they can. Who doesn’t want to believe in something so magical. The words, “Santa isn’t real.” will never come out of my mouth. He can be 30 and to me, he is real…it’s the spirit of him. You have to keep that alive.
Do you guys have a Polar Express train ride out there? We have this thing where everyone gets on a train and they get hot chocolate and cookies and listen to the Polar Express story being read. Then the train stops at the “North Pole” (they have the next station all decorated up with elves and reindeer and all that – which the kids see through the train window). Then Santa gets on the train and gives everyone a bell, and on the way back, the kids sing Christmas songs. We went last year, and it was pretty fun.
Oh wow… it’s 7 (!!!) degrees with you right now!!! I’m so sorry!! As much as I miss the snow right now (all my friends are talking about it) I’m enjoying the 75 degree weather we had today!
I’m busy with work but am hoping to get some shopping in this weekend. I have to get a new pair of boots and warm clothes for when I go visit my family in a few weeks. I admire everyone whose already got their x-mas stuff out. Hopefully I can spend some time doing that this weekend too.
Enjoy your friday!
I feel a kindred spirt with Lucy!! It’s in the mid 40s here right now and THAT’S freezing on the SC coast. 🙂
Yup, mid 40’s is freezing 🙂
Pretty much got all the decorations outside situated, still waiting on one more to come via UPS and then we’ll see if thats it. lol Our neighborhood looks awesome!! I love driving by and seeing all the lights. Its so much fun and pretty.
Today Sean and I went to the Albertville Outlet Mall, It was pretty quiet there so didnt have to deal with lots of people, got a lot of shopping done.
Tonight my tree went up and I went as far as putting the lights on it and the rest i’ll finish this weekend and maybe some wrapping so i can figure out what everyone has gotten. This weekend Sean has to work so I wont be doing too much unless of course we get the snow they say we’re going to get then I will be out plowing snow.(Yuck!)
What are the new ones that change color? Boy, it looks so nice over your way. We’ll have to stop over. I still want to see your driveway.
She put a Santa on the light pole up by the windmill. It’s the same kind as the ones on the barn that changes color. If thats what you were asking about.
Yes, I can see something changing color and wondered. It’s so pretty over there.
Joy, Im still waiting on Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer 32in Animated 3D Fur Bumble , check him out here http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10153&catalogId=12605&partNumber=07177082000P He is not that big so he will have to go up in my front yard with a small tree by him..
I’m pretty sure I saw those in the Sears in St Cloud yesterday! Super cute. They have a mailbox I would LOVE to have!
Oh man Vicki, how adorable.
Those are really cute… I wonder… has anyone seen any Yukon Cornelius and his dogsled stuff?
I havent but that would be awesome. LOL
This week has been prrety hum-drum. Although at the beginning of the week I did manage to get a couple of truk loads of red oak firewood cut and dumped into the back yard.
I did have to pick up our first grader from school yesterday. He had stomach issues. When I picked him up he said, “Sorry you had to come all this way to get me dad.” Bless his little heart. We live only 7 houses from the school but I was working out on one of the islands. So I get to go back out there this morning to finish the work.
The kids are excited about tonight. I told them we could have a big bonfire in the back yard tonight and they could each invite a couple of friends.
I MAY get to go hunting this weekend. We’ll see, I usually come last on the totum pole. No biggie.
I am frozen to the bone this morning! Today is my deep cleaning day….I have put it off all week. Everything needs a good scrub down, and then I have to go into town for a few things. We’re supposed to get 3-6 inches starting this evening going by the last news report I saw. So ingredients for cheeseburger soup are on the list! And butter, because I want to make chocolate chips cookies. I was going to yesterday, realized I now had everything BUT butter. But it’s a good thing because Bailey said he wanted to help. So we’ll make them tomorrow. No plans this weekend other than laying low and staying warm!
Well. I’m a little bent. I’m looking at the RADAR right now, and it says that we should be getting snow already. But nooooOOOOOOoooooo. Nothing yet. Huff. I know why we’re not getting it, too: because I got the snow blower all ready at the beginning of the week. Got the salt out, the shovels, everything. It knows I’m ready for it.
I HAD planned, today, on cleaning the place and breaking out all the decorations and whatnot, but at 5:30 this morning, I was awakened by a yell: “MOM!! I THREW UP!!! I’VE GOT THE BARF!!” lovely. So The Boy is home from school today. I was thinking, at first, that he had made himself sick over the fact that he got in some trouble at school yesterday, and had an appointment to talk with the Principal today, but it seems like it’s real. He’s still sleeping, after being up for an hour or so.
So I think, instead, that I’ll curl up on the couch in the basement today, with “Santa Clause” and “Christmas Vacation” on the tube, and write my Christmas Cards out. Seems like a good day for it. Anything to put off cleaning, which would be loud and happening right outside Josh’s room – and he needs his sleep. darn.
Maybe yesterday’s school trouble was due to him not feeling well. I find that with my kids sometimes. I’m like “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU” and then a half day later, “oh, that’s what it was.” Maybe a quick call to the principal will leave you more carefree for the weekend.
Yeah, I thought of the sick=bad behavior thing, but apparently, he’s been ‘off’ all week. He has runs where he just “can’t” follow directions, and we have to come down on him. I suspect that’s what it was yesterday. And today, whatever it is that’s been running around the school landed at our house. THey say it’s a 24-hour bug. I hope that’s true, because we had plans for tomorrow!
That sucks when you have to deal with school behavior. Good luck!
It’s really a shame you can’t clean today. Man, I feel your pain.
Take care of The Boy.
I know. I’m TOTALLY crushed. Believe me.
It almost makes me want to come clean for you. BUT….not quite.
ANYTIME, my friend! The door is always open to you, and I have PLENTY of dust rags!!
I am not sure whether or not I’m glad it’s Friday. I’m feeling the pressure of having a lot of work to do and not enough time to do it. I always say that, but it seems worse now. Maybe I have less stamina or something. I don’t know, something is different. Could it be the fact that I need to turn on my light to work past 5pm? The only nice thing about the early nights is that we get to see more Christmas lights that way. But then by the time I start 2nd shift, I feel like it’s already time for bed.
We are getting some winter here. It’s nice, but I’m glad it came late this year. It gave us more chances to go out and do stuff comfortably this fall.
This week we made an attempt at Christmas cookies – one of our annual traditions. They didn’t bake up well so I may or may not try again in a couple weeks. (I did eat most of the sad cookies, so I need to schedule in some exercise pretty soon.) I also started the girls on their first advent calendars (using stickers) which their aunt gave them.
Yesterday my kid was also acting weird at school. Mellow and tired. She would not do anything in dance, so she was sent back to her room, and then she just sat or lay around the rest of the day. We went to the rec center and she sat on a lawn chair while Sis and I went into the pool. Today she is still off. But, no fever or vomiting, and she seems to be in a good mood, so I sent her to school. Hopefully she will fight off whatever is bugging her. Tonight we plan to go shopping.
Tomorrow the girls have a Christmas party with other kids adopted from their birth country. Then shopping. Sunday there is a community Christmas party, and my sister can take the kids there if she wants to, while I work. There is also another party / parade in a nearby city which we are considering, but I probably won’t go due to my workload.
Tuesday is my girls’ school Christmas program. They have a dance number and I’m bummed that my kid missed her last dance class prior to the program. She just loves dance and going up on stage. I hope she is OK because she told me she has no idea what they are going to do up there. Not much anyone can do about it now.
Well, not much else to report. I hope everyone has a festive weekend!