Yay Jim

Jim finally got his blog at 5504 running again. Click on his link to the right to check it out.

I'm not a grinch

Contrary to how the previous posts sound, we had an awesome Christmas. Merry Christmas, everyone.

REALLY damn the toy companies

Even worse than wrapping the toy boxes is actually getting the toys OUT. Ask me how much I hate those stupid coated wires twisted a million times holding every little piece imaginable to the cardboard. Ugh.

Damn those toy companies

While the toy merchandise boxes are great to see in the store (triangular-shaped, open on one side to see all the toy), they are a pain in the ass to wrap. Good thing the paper will be torn off in a Christmas morning frenzy so the wrapping job won't be critiqued.

Too Much TV?

Grace turned to me yesterday at breakfast and said very matter-of-factly "Mama, you only need a capful for the entire load."

And when I was turning off the TV the other day she said (in a slightly stricken voice) "Dave from the collection agency called her and she hasn't been paying her bills!"

Those two statements, combined with her being very specific about what she wanted for Christmas this year, have certainly made me see the difference of her shifting from watching PBS and Noggin (both commercial-free) to watching Nick Jr on Nickelodeon (NOT commercial-free). Really hits home how much of a little sponge I have here who soaks up just about ANYTHING she hears. And we've always thought that Grace had a freakishly good memory, which certainly adds to the equation.

Or maybe she just wants to follow in Mommy and Daddy's footsteps into the world of Advertising. Oh my Lord I hope not.

Should have used this for the Christmas card

Oh well. I'll show it here since we didn't use it on the card. And if anyone reading this that normally gets a Christmas card is wondering if they've been cut from the list, know that I just haven't sent the darn things out yet.

Also, check out my two new links over there on the right. Pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum.

Merry Hanukkwanzmas

The hoo hah lately over "Put the Christ back into Christmas" is driving me nuts. If you've been under a rock and don't know what I'm talking about, it's the religious right all up in arms and wanting to boycott retailers who focus on "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" in their advertising. Never mind that there are actually other religions out there celebrating during the same holiday season. And while it may be weird to have to purchase a "holiday tree", BIG DEAL! Just call it a Christmas tree (or Hanukkah shrub or Kwanzaa branch or Festivus pole) when you get it home.

There was a great letter to the editor in the Dallas Morning News this morning about this. It pointed out that the American Family Association shouldn't be worried about the very "essence of what is being celebrated" being taken out of the season by retailers pushing Happy Holidays on us. If anything, getting a great deal on your dvd player/Playstation2/iPod enabling you to buy more, more, more is about as far from the real essence of Christmas as you can get. So just lighten up and focus on some real problems out there.

Two Kids

I'm still navigating having two kids. No problem having enough love for both of them; as any parent can attest you have an unlimited supply of love to go around. There's just not enough of ME to go around. Specifically, if Grace comes and sits in my lap to cuddle, rest assured that the minute Alex sees her there he is motoring over as fast as his little knees/feet can move him to pull her hair and try to weasel his way in. And poor Gracie usually has to give up her place to keep the peace because Alex will start crying until he gets the seat of honor.

Don't worry - Grace gets quality Mom time every night when we read books before bed. And I'm hoping she doesn't remember too much of pre-Alex days when she was queen of the household. But it still must be tough to be the older kid.