Last Work Day of the Year

Yay! Today is my final work day of the year. I've decided to take New Year's Eve off and get the house in order for the ringing in of the New Year!

Just a short post to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year, if I don't get online tomorrow.

Discussion - Worst Christmas Present EVER

As I was getting ready for work this morning, Hubby and I were watching the news. Their discussion topic today was What was the Worst Present You've Ever Received?

For me - it was easy to remember. Hubby and I were still dating, and we had Christmas at my mother's house. At the time, her boyfriend/roommate/whatever the hell he was had his daughter and her boyfriend, and their two kids over as well. Kim and I were friends when we were in high school, but never really close. You know those people you hang around with because fate threw you together? It's not necessarily because you would choose them as a friend, but there's really nothing wrong with them. Well, Kim was that kind of friend. Her dad was dating my mom, and we were close to the same age - so we kind of hung out. We're nothing alike in any facet of our lives. Basically - she was the pretty blond, and I was the smart brunette.

My mom - God love her. While growing up, she never made any secret that she wanted a blond haired blue eyed child. She even told me that if she'd had her wish - I'd look different because I'd have a different daddy. Nothing like giving your only child a HUGE complex about her looks, right?

Anyway - we're opening presents. It's all good. Kim gets her present from my mom. It was a beautiful, satiny emerald bathrobe. Mom just went on and on about how she saw this robe, and just fell in love with it. It was so pretty and sexy, and she thought the color would look great on Kim. Now, it's my turn to open my present from my mom. It was a robe, as well. A granny robe. Pink and white quilted material, floor length, and a tie in the middle. Mom's like, "I hope you like it!" I put on my best smile and thanked her, but I was absolutely SEETHING inside. Kim got the pretty, sexy robe because she's blond, and I got the granny robe, because I'm just the ugly dark kid.

Have you guys seen that commercial where the guy asks the two little girls if they want a pony, and he gives the dark haired girl a toy pony, and the pretty little blond girl the real pony? Yeah, it's like that.

Hubby still gets the giggles about it. He thought it was funny. However, he also made me feel better by telling me that I was much prettier than Kim (I'm not, but it made me feel much better). In fact, the picture of me in the robe on that Christmas evening hangs in our hallway. It makes me remember two things - 1) Always make your kids feel beautiful just the way they are; and 2) When getting similar gifts for the two girls, never make them so different that one feels slighted.

So - what was your worst Christmas gift ever?

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

We got into the Christmas thing a little late this year. What with furloughs and employment issues, we just always seemed to be running behind.

Well, we finally got our Christmas tree last week, and decorated it up on Thursday. One week before Christmas Eve is the latest we've done it EVER. Then it sat there for five days without presents. It looked so pathetic! It wasn't that we hadn't bought any - I just hand't gotten off my derriere to wrap anything.

All that changed yesterday. I stayed home and did nothing but wrap and bake ALL DAY LONG. Our tree is now full of presents, and we are sufficiently goodied up. Let me see - I made nutty gooey bars, apple filled oatmeal bars, caramel oatmeal chewies, and peppermint bark. Kidlet made "Pink Peppermint Cupcakes" (homemade frosting supplied by mom, natrually). And Munchkin had a blast with the wooden mallet beating the peppermint candies to dust for both the bark and the cupcakes. Then the family got together last night and made goody baskets for my coworkers and our neighbors. By this evening, all the goodies will be delivered.

Now, all we have to do is make sure we have some goodies set aside for the Big Man's arrival on Christmas Eve!

If I don't post again beforehand, I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas!!!

The Trials of Being a Teenager

. . . or, how Mom can totally ruin a good feeling.

This past week and a half, Kidlet has been working on a research paper for science. Now, Kidlet isn't the best student in the world, and directions always seem to hamper her creative streak.

This paper, due today, was to be on alternative energy sources. Kidlet chose solar energy. Now, when she started, I set the page up per the teacher's orders. It was to be in "book" format, with 8.5 X 5.5 page dimensions, 1200 words of original text (excluding quotes), 12-pt type, and no fewer than 16 pages of writing, excluding title page and bibliography.

Around 2:00 PM yesterday, Kidlet comes into my room where I'm busy folding all the clothes.

"I'm done! Could you proof read it for me?"

As I sit down in front of the screen, something seems a little off. I check out the number of pages - and she had just enough for the minimum. The teacher indicated he wanted 16 pages, and she had 17 or 18. All we had to do was add in the bibliography, and we should be home free. Right? As I start reading it, Kidlet makes an offhand comment about "14". I didn't hear exactly what she said, but I knew as soon as I heard that number. She used the wrong font.

So, I went in and re-sized everything. As we went through the paper, I could see her heart breaking. It was awful to watch. After I was done, she had 13 or 14 pages. She still had to write more. So, I gave her a few tips on how she could elaborate on a few of the chapters, and let her go at it again.

By the time we were done with the paper, it was almost 8:00 PM. But, it should be okay to hand in today. At this point in time, if she gets a "C", I'll be ecstatic.

I know it's difficult for her to be my daughter. I never had any problems with school. I could write papers that would bring down a forest of trees. I could write short stories and essays with little more than a sentence for inspiration. Most math and science classes were a breeze. Kidlet . . . not so much. She has to struggle for everything, and frankly - I have no clue how to help her. I sit on the sidelines, offering help, but failing to get the concepts through to her. I dread projects like this, because I know there will be yelling, screaming, and tears.

So - if any of you parents or teachers out there have ANY words of wisdom, I would be happy to hear them. Because this child

is too beautiful and sweet to go through life hating school.

My daughter, the Who

Marysville had it's annual Christmas parade on Saturday. Now that Munchkin is in Girl Scouts, she was allowed to officially join them in their float. (She was an unofficial girl scout last year, but they let her join them in the parade anyway. It's my opinion that they let her because she's just so damned CUTE!)

This year's theme was Christmas in Whoville. So all the girls made their hair up in true Who fashion. Here are a couple of pics of my Who-girl.

This Just In . . .

The weather gods have heard my complaining, and will be blessing us with possible SNOW FLURRIES tomorrow!!!!!!!

*dances with joy*

Now, mind you, we California valley dwellers don't have to deal with this on a yearly basis, as some of you other-worlders do. So this is really exciting for us. It's supposed to hit tomorrow morning, possibly impacting morning commutes. That ought to be interesting . . . people driving in snow who don't typically have to do it.

If it wasn't for end of month reports due this week, I'd call in sick tomorrow just to watch it.

Too bad the snow is supposed to only be around tomorrow morning. Wonder what the house would look like, all lit up with Christmas lights, and SNOW!!!!!!

Woot!!!!!

UPDATE: Well, it snowed everywhere else BUT here. Sacramento, Rocklin, Citrus Heights, Antelope, Galt, Newcastle - all got snow. The only thing we got was a little rain. Oh, well. At least it's cold, and it feels more Christmas-y!

Oh yeah - I have a blog . . . .

Sorry - long time, no post.

Not much happening. Work is work. Home is wonderful. Kids are healthy. Hubby is as good looking as ever.

Hope everyone here in the States had a good Thanksgiving. We had a nice, quiet day to ourselves. That's the good thing about living far away from relatives. Aparently, it's a pain in the ass to drive on holidays. Who'd have guessed?? *whistles innocently*

Well, now we're sliding into Christmas, and I'm out there joining all the crazy holiday shoppers - looking for the best deal on all the crazy stuff the kids just NEED to have.

You know what I hate most about living in California? I mean - aside from the insane governor, and the taxes that just about leave you penniless, and the laws that make it illegal to do anything fun. What I hate most AFTER all that is that it doesn't get cold enough before Christmas. I mean - we have winter. Sort of. It usually starts sometime in January, and runs till about early March. We'll get some wind, and some rain, and sometimes a little hail. But no snow. Shoot, sometimes we barely get any rain. It's all blue sky and sunny outside right now, and I'm sorry - but that's just not Christmas-y. I have a bunch of cute Christmas-type outfits, but I can't wear them. It's not cold enough. I refuse to run around in a red and gold spangly sweater with sweat stains on it. Just won't happen. But I WANT to wear that stuff. And how stupid would I look with my bright green sweatshirt with a snowman wearing a santa hat in February????

Okay - now that I have THAT off my chest - how's everyone else doing??