The Year of the Rat!

Happy New Year! Ahhhh -- the year of the rat --not a fan of rodents really, but happy new year to all! We attended a local Vietnamese Tet celebration last Friday evening as we were unable to attend the Chinese New Year celebration. Maddy and Mei enjoyed the Lion Dance and had a few snacks and then asked to go to their favorite hangout -- McDonalds -- where they played on the indoor playground to their heart's content! Mei's mom and I sat around and chatted, so even though it wasn't our first pick of places to eat, it turned out ok.

Another week of nasty weather around here. OY!! I slipped and fell on the ice on Monday morning going to get the car out of the garage - ouch -- that really really hurt! Tuesday, we got about 5-6 inches of snow so had a snow day today -- which was really nice. Maddy and I got to sleep late and had a day together making some valentine teddy bear bead thingys, doing laundry and dinking around.

Tomorrow, she is taking little Chinese stuffed bears to her classmates to celebrate the New Year. She LOVES her stuffed animals and picked the little bears to share with her kindergarten friends.

They had a little Chinese New Year celebration at school on Tuesday and the photo is from that. Sister Theresa had Maddy and some friends help her with passing out goodies. Maddy thought it was fun, but said the costume was hot!

Jumping into February

Whew -- nearly time to jump into February -- YAY -- I could not be more ready for a new month! Last weekend it was up to 50 and even 60 one day. Then the polar plunge happened . . . AGAIN . . . and we're back to single digits. Brrrr! Come on groundhog -- give me some good news!

What a difficult week it's been. One of my good friends from work was laid off in a reduction in force. Oh my -- that makes me so sad. I will really miss her, but I know we will keep in touch, so that softens the blow a teeny bit. Then Maddy had to deal with some mean remarks at daycare -- break my heart -- she's only 6 years old! Got that taken care of and hoping it doesn't happen again --nobody messes with my girl!! AND -- my big toe has a nasty infection--I know, TMI right (!)-- got into the doc yesterday, so it should be improving in a day or two. So, I figure this week can only get better and it's finally Thursday, so that's a step in the right direction!

Maddy starts gymnastics Saturday -- that should be fun. I think she's part monkey anyway and she really wants to learn how to do handstands and cartwheels and there is no way I could ever teach her those skills -- I can barely do a somersault!

Yikes -- just realized that it is only 4 months until my son's wedding! The diet and exercise are going well for me. But what will I wear? What will I do with my hair??? Note to self -- get busy!!

Is is over yet?

Can January please be over . . . soon??? I always hate this month -- it's way too long, too cold and such a let-down after the holidays. I thought this month might be better this year since I'm doing great on my diet and exercise plan -- which is/was going well -- never mind about for all those little Reece peanut butters cups I've eaten this weekend! More and longer exercise called for next week.

Started out the month with a dental appt for little M -- who had to get 2 baby teeth pulled. They just weren't coming out fast enough for the permanent teeth coming in fast. She was such a good girl about the whole thing. It helped that others in kindergarten have lost teeth and she was so anxious to lose one and have the tooth fairy visit. She also had to get a new earmold for her hearing aid. Great new pink glitter mold which is just her style, though it seems she is a bit anxious to take the hearing aid out every evening due to it being "too hot." OY -- how can it be hot when its so so cold here? Anyway, we're working on her wearing it more and longer.

And the cold -- ugh -- bitterly cold has led to frozen pipes in the half bath on the main floor. Luckily, Dr. Google helped us to figure out what to do the other night and now we have a space heater going whenever we are home to keep the pipes from freezing up again. This artic cold spell cannot end soon enough in my book. And more snow forecast two or three days this week -- somebody help me.

Hmmm -- we did get a flyer from Disney World suggesting a quick long weekend trip. Oooh the warm temps are oh so tempting!!! Last year at this time, she and I were at Disney and then on a Disney cruise with my sister and her daughter. It was such a great time -- wishing we signed up to go again!

Resolutions and stuff . . .

Oy -- time for New Year's resolutions and only a day or two or week late -- pretty much right on schedule for me! Isn't it funny how you (well not you, me actually) always think of clever things to write at night when you're supposed to be sleeping?? Too bad I don't remember what it was that was so clever when I actually sit down and post. Anyway, I'm sure I was thinking of my new year's goals . . . or maybe some new furniture that I need, oh well, let's go with goals and resolutions, etc.


1. First, I must confess -- I love even-numbered years -- they just feel better to me somehow, so am delighted that we are now in 2008! Here's a resolution and goal I've been working on for a while already (besides getting to an even-numbered year!) and have had some success, so am going to keep at it. First resolution/goal -- exercise at least 4 times per week and try that power pump or toning class again (even though it almost killed me).


2. Continue my "better eating" routine on at least 5 out of 7 days a week. Yes, chocolate is part of that routine, but not such a BIG part of it as it has been in the past.


3. De-clutter and throw out junk! I need to do that A LOT, but I tend to get overwhelmed easily. I just need to start tossing without even looking at it or thinking about it.


4. Have more fun -- always a great goal, I would say! See more movies, read more books, spend more time playing with Maddy.


5. Go to the movies with the hub at least once a month. He has loved the chick flicks I've dragged him to in the past, so here's fair warning -- there will be more movies in 2008. Now, if only I could resist that buttered popcorn!

6. Get ready for my son's wedding in May! So exciting -- I can hardly wait! I must start thinking about a dress and what to do with my hair -- yikes -- help -- a makeover is needed asap.

I'm sure there are more, many more things I need to work on, but that's it for now or I'll never get this posted.

Christmas Recap

Wow -- hard to believe Christmas is behind us and New Year's quickly approaching! We had a great holiday! The weather did not cooperate for shopping as it snowed or iced up every single weekend in December. On Christmas Eve, Philip and Catherine took Maddy to Alvin and the Chipmunks and I stayed home and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped! Maddy was super sweet. As youngest, it was her job to hand out gifts on Christmas Day and she was a pro at it and so sweet -- what a perfect day! I think everyone was happy with what Santa brought to them this year! I figured that I was going to receive a couple of questionable gifts (anti-wrinkle cream and hair de-frizzer--not kidding!!!), so I put the ixnay on those and told the hub to save those for some other time. I didn't want to open them in front of everyone. And I tried the hair de-frizzer and it didn't work any better than anything else anyway! I guess it was the thought that counts and he was thinking of helping me with my hair, etc., but really, those type of products should not count as Christmas gifts, should they???

We spent part of Christmas Day at my parents and that was fun. Their little dog was so hyper at first, but he calmed down and Maddy declared that she wanted a dog too -- not gonna happen -- sorry sweetie!

Maddy went roller skating with a group from the YMCA this week, so we tried it again today! She was a good little skater and it was fun to spend some time at the local roller rink this morning. Pretty quiet too and not too crowded -- perfect for novices.

Looking forward to a quiet New Years -- as truthfully, we are pretty boring, but that's ok with us. Can't wait til 08!!

It was . . .

FABULOUS!! Had a fun and fabulous birthday party on Saturday for Miss M who turns 6 on Dec. 20! She and 14 of her closest kindergarten and neighbor girl friends got together at a local bead store to try their handiwork at making bead necklaces. Oh my -- those girls were focused!! And they put together some beautiful one-of-a-kind necklaces --so pretty!! Since the day began with 4 more inches of snow, we weren't totally sure that everyone would make the party . . . but most did. It was a lot of fun. Thankfully, two Moms stayed to assist, so along with my neighbor high-school sitter, there was enough adult help. I don't know what I would have done without them! Most of the girls chose the larger beads for their necklaces, so those went together fairly quickly. There were a couple girls who decided to use the itty-bitty beads and it took a whole lot more beads and more work to get those necklaces finished! Thanks to my coworker, Jodee, we had the famous cupcake tower adorned with lovely cupcakes I baked the evening before. M decided she didn't like frosting, so we had a number of very plain cupcakes. No matter -- all that bead work made for some hungry little girls and they gobbled up the cupcakes accompanied by, you guessed it -- apple juice. Little M was just glowing with happiness throughout the party and the entire day. Whew -- a succesful b-day party -- what a relief!

Holiday stuff

Sing along now -- it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go . . . The tree has been decorated and lights and wreaths are hanging on the house. We've had some some and ice and while it looks quite lovely, it's been a bit of a mess. The great thing about the snow/ice storm of the other day was that it resulted in a day off school for M, which meant her daycare was closed and that she and I got to stay home! YAY -- an unplanned day at home for us. Mentally made a list that morning of everything I would get done, all the cleaning I would do, all the putting stuff away and throwing junk out that would be accomplished -- ha! Yeah, ha! Didn't happen.

But, M and I made a gingerbread house. Note to self: read directions ahead of time. We spent quite a bit of time waiting for the sides of the house to dry after frosting/gluing them together and then waiting again for the roofs to dry. So, a lot of waiting and adding water to the frosting/glue and then, finally, the frosting and decorating began in earnest! Suffice it to say that every single piece of candy provided, well except for a few that she ate, ended up on the house! As I'm sure you might guess -- it's a masterpiece.

Took this picture of M doing a sweet little dance with some beads while decorating the tree. When I saw the picture, I immediately remembered another picture from her first Christmas with us where beads were her fashion accessory of choice. She was almost 2 years old. It was the year of Dora!! Oh man -- she loved her some Dora. She got two Dora dolls and was in heaven. We all learned some Spanish that year!

Coming soon -- her 6th birthday and birthday party this weekend at a bead shop making bead necklaces with her kindergarten friends!