Go Ahead And Jump!

This was Lael yesterday morning jumping off of a snow hill hubby shoveled.

************************

We don't get much snow her in DC.

I mean it snows but not snow.

I remember when I was in '96 we had a Blizzard.  It was all of 16-17 inches.  To some states I know that is nothing but to those of us here it is.

For the last few years we've gotten and inch here and there but nothing to hoop and hollar about.

So Friday when everyone had their panties in a bunch about the apparent "snow storm" that was going to come through and sweep us away I shook my head and giggled.

When I went grocery shopping after work and had to stand in lines all the way down the aisle, I cursed under my breath.

But it came.  A storm like we haven't seen in years.

It started about 8pm Friday night and didn't stop until around the same time Saturday night.

Hubby shoveled and a few hours later it would look like he had done nothing.

Everything shut down.  I big plans for Saturday.  None of that happened.

I had HUGE plans for Sunday (Radio City Tickets).  Didn't happen either.

I had plans to go to work today and have my work Christmas Party.  Guess what? I'm home.

Why?

Because they closed the Federal Govt today. 

I'll be finishing up my shopping and wrapping gifts because Lael will be with her grandmother today.

Happy Monday yall!

Judging A Book

I got Lael this little Christmas Tree from Target last year.  It's a bit puny looking bu it' pink.  And it's Disney Princess.  And it's pink.  So naturally she had to have it.

It only cost me about $5.  I thought I got a good deal and stuck it on her shelf in her closet.

I forgot about this tree until it was time to put up decorations.

I pulled the box down and and quickly realized why it had been on clearance.  There was no tree stand.  Well how the hell was I supposed to put up her little tree with no tree stand.

I aplogized to Lael and told her that we weren't going to be able to put the tree up in her room.

She didn't take no for an answer.

She disappeared in the kitchen and came back with a green raindeer cup.  I asked her what I was supposed to do with the cup and she said to sit the tree in the cup.

Of course the tree fit in but it fell over. 

She then climbed on her step stool and grabbed some socks.

She then proceeded to stuff the cup with her little socks until the tree stood upright.

She has not let me forget to light that tree up one night. 

Like clockwork she gives me hugs and kisses before bed and reminds me to plug up her tree.

Children have such a spirit that it is hard to explain.

Lael and that tree have a lot in common.

From the outside they are small and underestimated.

But if you give them a chance they can surprise you and literally light up your life.

Good Things Do Come In Small Packages

Look at this cutie pie.

Can you believe how little it is.

4 oz of goodness that comes with a spoon under the top.

I found this at my base commissary (grocery store) the other day.

I haven't had many cravings but at times I just have to have something sweet.

It's nice because I'm not eating out a a gallon container feeling like a fat slob.

It's just enough. Ben and Jerry's also makes them this small and some flavors are like only a little over 100 calories for the whole thing. I kid you not!

Yummy! Guilt Free!

The Little Things

Today wasn't a particular good day.

Messy things at work and messy things at home.

It was one of those days you pray to the gods to be over.

I got home from work and it was finally almost over.

I just had to get through helping Lael with her homework without strangling her and ignore my husband to refrain from to dispose of his remains.

It had been a while since Lael had lost a tooth and we had pretty much gotten past the tooth excitement.

What I had forgot was that this one pesky tooth has been lose for MONTHS.  It was kind of hiding behind her newly grown in "big girl" teeth and I had forgot all about it.

Until she came home yesterday saying that it was bleeding.  I wiggled it a little and could tell it only had a few days left at the most.

Well Lael showed it to me when she finished her homework and I just reached in and gave a gentle tug and out it popped.

She looks at me and said "Well, that was easy."

True.

For many things.

It was that simple.  It turned my night around.  That easily.

Isn't she precious.  Big buck teeth and all.  Well except for that scarf, let's just pretend you didn't see that. 

USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) takes care of the military.

Whether it's free tickets to the Radio City (Rockettes) Concert ((which I may or may not have stood in line for 3 hrs on Sunday to get only to miss out by just a few people)) or calling cards to those that are deployed, they are there.

I haven't been on the up and up the past few years but that's what I have military friends for right?

My girlfriend called me up Saturday and swung by my house to pick me and Lael up for some USO Kids Christmas Event.

I wasn't sure what to expect but the USO never hardly disappoints. 

We go there and they were giving aways tickets for door prizes which included kids bikes and more.

There was free dinner, popcorn, cotton candy, treats, face painting, and even a Gingerbread House for the kids to climb through (yeah, it was that big).

But of course no Christmas event is complete without a Santa.  Even though he looked like he was maybe 25, the kids loved him.

Thanks USO for a fun filled night.  Especially because it was free, free, free.

Go! Go! Go!

I'm 5 months now.  Seriously.

It seems like time has flown but at the same time is dragging along.

I can't wait to hold my little bundle in my arms.

I had an appt Friday and was supposed to have my Sonagram to determine the sex but of course nothing goes as planned.

Apparently some things didn't work out and my appt was scheduled correctly.  I did get checked and got to hear the little heartbeat so things are perfectly normal.

However I have to find out until Jan 8th to find out the sex.  I am a little relieved so now I can focus on the holidays and deal with buying the baby things later.

So, there you have it.  5 months and counting.  Go baby go! Keep on growin'!

Christmas Party #1

Take a good look.

It's me and my mother-in-law at my work Christmas Party last night.

Take another good look.

I believe my body is officially gone.  Because of that, from now on you will only see my face or just my belly.  No more whole body shots. M'kay?
Not until after the baby and many, many rounds of the 30 Day Shred. LOL!

We had a blast though.  Good food, good drinks (for everyone but me), dancing and lots of pictures.

Just what I need to give me that EXTRA Christmas Spirit. ;o)

Christmas Spirit

I've been a bit of a slacker since Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I did get up my Christmas tree.

But everything else....not so much.

Lael has been on my ass everyday about putting the rest of our lights up in the window and outside.

Yesterday was her last string.  I told her that we would see and she then paused and said to me calmly, "Mommy, the lights are going up, and they are going up tonight."

So naturally I did what any mother would do to her sassy child. 

I put the damn lights up.

Funny thing is she helped me for about 5 seconds before she got distracted.

So I said.  "It's funny that somone made a HUGE deal about putting up these lights but yet I don't have any helpers right now."

She then says "Mom, I'm busy, I'm making something.  Don't you have any Christmas Spirit."

Here is what she was doing as I huffed and puffed and strung the lights up.

Stocking.  Made out of construction paper.  Taped to my kitchen counters.

I don't have the heart to take them down.

Here's the one she made for D.

And of course she made her own.

I have lots of Christmas Spirit. 

But if she doesn't make me a damn stocking too, the lights are coming down.

Just kidding.

No, really. :o)

The Nutcracker

Last week I chaperoned Lael’s field trip.  We were lucky enough to see the Washington Ballet perform The Nutcracker.

This was Lael’s second time seeing this performance.   She and her fellow 1st graders sat silently through the entire play in silence.

Too bad I couldn’t say the same for the 4th graders.

They were gorgeous, graceful and elegant.  She wants to see it again next year.

It’s funny how traditions accidentally happen.

Not that I mind at all.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

ICE!

Last Saturday my MIL took me and the girls to the DC National Harbor.  There they had an ICE Exhibit.  Ice sculptures that were GORGEOUS!

See that red carpet?  It covered ice.  Yes, we were almost literally walking on ice.  It was mmmmm….9 degrees in there.  I dressed the girls in tights, fleece sweat pants, 2 pairs of socks, winter boots, undershirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, coat, hat, gloves and scarf and then on top of that they give you parka ohen you get there.  Oh, and best believe you NEED that extra parka.

We took pictures on an ice sculpted sleigh and the tour was even complete with slide made out of ice.
Check out Lael’s expression as she came off the slide for the first time. 

Awesome! Cold….but awesome!

What Joy Looks Like

We got our first snow of the season on Saturday. It filled us with so much joy!

Life has been so different for me lately. I have so much to say but can't manage to get it out.

I've missed you bloggy friends. And I've still been silently stalking you all, just haven't commented like I usually do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pregnancy has been going wonderfully! I have my next appt on Friday. I'm hoping they take a peek to see the sex but my hopes are not up.

Can you all believe I will be 5 months in 4 days?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been so disconnected from my camera lately and had almost forgotten how much I love to take pictures. My goal will be to post a picture everyday from now until the New Year. Wish me luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today was Parent/Teacher Conf day. You all know how nervous I was, especially after getting her report card. The good thing was that I've chaperoned the last 2 field trips and have gotten a lot of 1-on-1 time with her teacher. Because of that, she had already expressed some of her concerns with me. I have been focusing alot of my time working with my baby and keeping her from having to repeat the 1st grade.

So today was kind of a big day. Well, all my hard work has paid off. She said that she didn't know what I was doing but she has noticed a drastic change in Lael. She is participating, her handwriting has improved, her reading is at 60% and she is only required to be at 30% right now. She does still need work with her math but that is normal. I was so relieved! She's such a smart kid and now it's showing.

My point is, not everything is perfect right now but if this may be as close to it as I will get for now. And because of that, I am joyful.

Christmas With A Blended Family

Christmas.

It's a wonderful time of year.  It's actually my favorite time of year.  It's sad that people are usually only nice during these next few months and not so much the rest of the year.

That being said, as excited as I am to have this season upon us I am also stressed.

The stress comes from being a part of a blended family.

I love D with all my heart.  I love being a step-mom.  But during the holiday's it's a challeging time.

Some may know but right now my hubby still stays at home so there is only my income.  We have adjusted our lifestyles to this but not everyone keeps that in mind.

We get D every other holiday.  Last year we had her for Thanksgiving and for her birthday (Dec 31st).

This year we get her for Christmas.

I know I should be excited about this, and believe me I am.  But some anxiety comes with that as well.

The thing is.  She gets 2 Christmases and Lael gets 1.

What I mean by this, is that I have to find a way to not let Lael's plethera of gifts trump D's few items.

How do I do this?

It has been a challenge EVERY other year.

We pay child support and her mother has spend about 2-3 hundred on her but we are expected to spend the same.

I don't agree.

I don't agree that she should get 2 full Christmases.  I can not afford to spend 3 hundred on each of the girls.  I think it's ridiculous.

A few weeks ago I had D's mom send me her Christmas list.  There were some pretty pricey items on there.

For her 6th birthday hubby bought her a Nintendo DS.  I thought it was a big gift for a little girl but he got it anyway.

She took pretty good care of it for a while untill she left it in her bike at her moms and some girl took it when she wasn't home and dropped it.  Since then it won't work unless it is plugged up.

So guess what my husband does?

He tells her he will buy her a new one.  But not a regular DS but a DSi the ones that cost about $170.

For fucking real? That was my first thought.

Then when I spoke with her mom about other gifts she mentioned a Barbie Townhouse.  Guess how much that is?

$145.  NOWAYINHELL.

Not gonna happen. 

I explained that it was impossible for me to afford that.  While she is only spending on D we have to spend for both girls. 

Somethings gotta give.

It's not that she doesn't understand it's getting D to understand.

She doesn't understand child support and that we can't send her mom $500 a month and also spend 3 on her for Christmas and still be able to provide for our other child.

All she will see is her 3 or 4 gift and Lael's 10-15 gifts.  Numbers matter not price.

Lael now saw the DSi on TV and asked for it.  How do you think she gonna feel when her sister get the new one with a camera built in and she still has her old crusty one?

Hmph.

What to do.  Get them both DSi's and then a few cheap gifts?

Sell my blood for Christmas money?

I would pimp myself out but something tells me my fat belly would repulse some.

I love Christmas time but making everyone happy can make it suck sometimes.

Through Her Eyes

She is awaken at 6:20. Way too early for a little person.

She has to be dressed because she is still half asleep.

She gets walked down the street to get picked up by a bus full of kids bigger and louder than she.

30 minutes later she drags herself to a cafeteria full of noise and tries to eat breakfast.

A day full of sit here. Don’t touch that. Listen carefully. Keep your voices low.

Story time. Art time. Music time. Chinese lessons. Lunch. Recess. Math time. Journal time.

Finally snack time.

Back on the bus for another 30 minute adventure.

Back home. Time to play. But only for a few. Homework time.

Chores.

Bath.

Bed.

Repeat.

The life of a 1st grader.

***************************************************

Last Wednesday I spent the day with Lael. I went to her school. Chaperoned a field trip. And watched everything. Indoor recess. Snack time. Journal time. Chinese lesson. I have a better understanding of what type of student she is. It has helped me figure out what areas I can help her improve in.

It also gave me an understanding of how HARD life can be for such a little person. Because of this I have more patience. I got home that day and could barely keep my eyes open.

If I was exhausted I can only imagine how she feels everyday.

Remember that. School days can be tough on your little ones. Now when she has a meltdown I look down on her and smile. Not because it’s ok but because I understand.