Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours...have a safe and happy holiday season. Its been a tough year, so here is to brighter days in 2010.

Now, we have been tracking Santa with the help of NORAD's website (www.noradsanta.org) for years, but I just learned the back story and its adorable...read this link from CNN today: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/24/cnet.norad.santa.tracker/index.html

Here are my favorites from Eskewold Christmas

The Eskelands are some of my very favorite people in the whole world and it did my heart good to see them after WAY too long of a time. Did my heart good to see some Griswolds, too. :) XOXO Love you all very much.

The tree is up

Based on the way the morning has been going since I took this picture, this might be the only Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men moment I get...but they are some awful cute, aren't they?

things Jack has said lately...

Thanksgiving: while decorating the paper table cover with Ave-(they were trying to use paints that Ave got for her birthday that they couldn't make work) Avery: "I guess I could read the directions" Jack: "Avery, directions are for cheaters"

Yesterday (Friday, Dec 4, 2009): Me: "Jack, would you like eggs for breakfast?" Jack: (with total disgust in his voice) "Mom, I only eat eggs on days that there is a parade, we don't have school and its sunny. Look outside...not so sunny, I have to go to school and there's no parade"

What the kids want for the holidays

A couple of you have asked, and last year it seemed to work well to post suggestions here, so here's a list...

Both kids are getting Nintendo DS game systems for Hanukkah (which hasn't happened yet, so dont' tell them) so games for that, or gift cards for Toys R Us so they can pick out their own would be good

Avery LOVES reading, so books from either the Magic Treehouse series or the Junie B Jones series would be good, or gift cards for Barnes and Noble. She also likes music, so ITunes gift cards work as well. She is a size 8 in shirts (usually a kids medium) and has recently gone through a growth spirt so is probably wearing a 8 in pants as well (much to our dismay since we just bought her a bunch of 7's). Fancy hair ties, earrings, etc. She also loves Webkins, much to my dismay, but you would be her favorite if you got her more.

Jack is a art project/drawing machine. Pens, markers, crayons, paints, colored pencils, paper, tape, glue...he still loves Star Wars too. He is also into books-Avery reads to him :) He is a 5T in pants-or sometimes a kids XS. Same for shirts.

Also, we have no board games for my place, so that could work. Hope this helps.

I had my 20 year high school reunion last weekend

I was really hesitant to go-wasn't sure who was going to be there, a little insecure, didn't know how my hair would look...you know, basic girl issues. But I am so glad I went. I saw people that I haven't seen in years that I really used to have a good time with. And now that I know that some of them might read my blog (Hi Sharif!) I will really try to keep up with it.

I have another reunion next month with another set of friends and now I am REALLY excited for it.

these pictures were taken on the day of Avery's "friend' birthday party. She is in her pjs because we had a pj party :)
(Not sure why that part is underlined)
She is 8 years old now and Jack is 5 1/2. I cannot believe how time flies.

To start the holiday season...

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/YKsD7jaMl40J9APHnSl2

Waste not, want not

This is what my life has become. Its actually sort of what I have wanted for awhile, but I didn't know how to get there. Being on my own and being responsible for me and the kids is a whole new ballgame but I am okay with it. I don't seem to want as much stuff-I don't need it. I had an extra paintbrush that I didn't use to paint the apartment so I returned it to Home Depot and bought curtain rods for the bedrooms. Before I probably would have just hung on to it-I mean who knows when I would repaint a room, right? Don't get me wrong, Jack didn't need the grey hightops I bought him today, but I wanted to buy them to make him happy-not me. I was originally feeling a little lame sitting here by myself on a Saturday night catching up on some of my shows while the world outside was trick or treating...but I am lucky. Its quiet, we had a victory with Jack trick or treating tonight, and both my kids told me they loved me. Life is good.

We have the flu

Well, Avery does. She got sick last Saturday night sort of randomly, but only threw up once and then seemed fine. Monday night it hit her. She stayed home Tuesday, today and we will be keeping her home the rest of the week. Nothing monumental...low grade fever, chills, aches, cough. Poor baby.

Here is a sign of the times. The school nurse called me today to ask how she was and what her symptoms were and then asked if when Ave returned to school, if I could bring her to the office so she could verify that her fever was in fact gone. Its new protocol that the school system is rolling out.

They haven't announced any incidence of H1N1, but I suspect they are trying to keep the mass hysterial under control.

I do not like cold

Admittedly, I don't like really hot either, but I really hate the cold. I am sitting in the apartment right now waiting to go to an appointment and its freezing. I refuse to turn the heat on at least until I get that plastic stuff up on the windows. I tried to do it yesterday but failed miserably. I also don't like not being able to do things for myself. Rats.

Here is my public service announcement for the day. If you are experiencing out of the ordinary symptoms that don't go away, get them checked out. It might be scary, the preparation for the test might be nasty but get things checked out before its too late. Note: I am just about to leave for my 3 year almost colon cancer checkup. 5 years ago I had symptoms that I ignored for awhile and had I waited any longer I would have been in a world of trouble. The test is disgusting (well, really you are asleep, so you don't realize how disgusting...its the prep the night before that is worse) but I promise you that you will live through it. Its also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Check your front and pat yourself on the back :)

Wow

Its quiet in this big old house with no kids here. I am actually distracted by the silence.

Here's an update on our little world

If you decided to come here to read this because you got an email from me then you know that Dan and I are splitting up. Hardest decision I have ever had to be a part of, but I know it will work out for the best in the end. I have moved into the second floor apartment of my sister Jackie's house in Springfield and am trying to figure out how to live on my own. Here are some things I have learned over the past few weeks:

1. The apartment was so dirty that it took my friend Jen 2 full days to just get the kitchen and bathroom clean. I owe her so very much for that-I don't think there are enough rounds of drinks in the world to repay her. She got sick after helping, and I will always think that it was the chemical fumes that she ingested while trying to clean the stove.

2. I have killed a hornet in the bathroom, cleaned up cat vomit and ventured into the scary basement (sorry, sis...it is scary) to do laundry. But I lived.

3. Paint and pretty paintings can do wonders for a tired apartment (and a tired me)

4. I have a sh*tload of books. All kinds of books. And what I have here has been weeded through twice in the past year. I guess buying books is better than buying crack, right?

5. Jackie put flowers on my dining room table last weekend and they were so beautiful that I am going to buy flowers for the apartment every week.

6. Kids can be really mean when they are hurting. But they can also be very brave.

More to come

Now that I have placated you

With pictures of my kids, here's an update:
Avery finished first grade with flying colors. Reading sometimes at a 3rd grade level. Spelling her heart out and writing the most wonderful stories you have ever heard. She illustrates them too. Yes, yes...I know she's a genius. :)

Jack graduated from preschool and is ready to head to kindergarten this fall. He is turning into quite an artist himself, and he is also a natural athlete. He wasn't allowed to play t-ball this spring because he wasn't old enough but I think the other parents wanted to keep him out because he's so good. :)

Jack and Avery will go to the same school next year, much to the dismay of Avery. She has agreed to be helpful and show him around but "only once, Mom". I am so very proud of them both, but am a little sad that they are so grown up.

This summer we skipped camp and are lucky enough to have 3 lovely people watching the kids for us. My sister Jackie, Dan's mom Shirley and our friend Ari. Ari has been a big help this year and we are not sure what we are going to do when he leaves for college in the fall.

That's it for now...the familiar cry of "Mom, I am hungry" is coming from the other room...better feed the beasts. I promise to be better about keeping up with this.

WOW! Have I been a bad blogger or what?

Here. Bet you will forgive me when you look at these beautiful pics (that I took, btw) of my kids.