So, I haven't abandoned the blog completely. I have lots and lots of other things going on and the kids have been rather boring lately. Yeah. I said it. Boring with a capital B. They need to liven things up around here. Pull each other's hair out... pee on the wall... bake the cat... something. Anything.
Of course Caitlynn did describe hummus recently by saying "It looks like puke but it tastes great." And she told me my chili wasn't as good as her teacher's. Thanks, kiddo. You are well on your way to being teacher's pet.
And Miles has been up to his usual self by tearing apart everything we own. All over the house, I find little pieces of paper, projects, books, ornaments, decorations -- you name it, he's probably decided it needs to be taken apart. I'm glad he doesn't have access to screwdrivers or else we won't be able to watch TV, use the toaster, or go online. He better be a genius.
I plan to write more in the coming year, but the posts will probably only be once a week. I have a busy semester coming up for school and I write another blog that requires some face-time as well.
Every December you see year end top 10 lists recounting the happenings of the past 12 months. This year, I've decided to follow suit.
Top 10 Happenings in the lives of the kids for 2010 (in no particular order)
I had open heart surgery in January. That was the biggest happening of the year by far. Doing well, btw. Thanks for asking.
Went camping at Yellowstone in late May in freezing rain and snowing conditions. Tested our grit and our toughness. Good thing we only live 2 hours away.
Caitlynn and Miles sold lemonade in the neighborhood to make a little money. Miles told everyone it was $25/cup instead of 25¢/cup. Big difference.
Along those same lines, Caitlynn made potholders and sold them for a $1 to our neighbors. Suckers!
Both Caitlynn and Miles learned how to ride their bikes over the summer.
Miles started Kindergarten in the fall.
We traveled back east to visit our families. Stopped at Wall Drug in South Dakota on the way home. Don't understand what the fuss is all about.
Visited Stormy (and kids) in Colorado. It was our first time to Colorado (beautiful state) and we met baby Indie, too. Caitlynn loves babies.
Miles found out that Santa isn't real.
Went camping at Letchworth State Park in New York. Not really exciting except that we had raccoons outside our tent each and every night. They made purring sounds, tried to find our food stash, and sniffed our heads while we slept.
I'm not sure what 2011 has in store for us. I start graduate school and will be extremely busy at the start of the year, working and being a teaching assistant in a culinary class (exciting!!!). Joe is planning to finish up his PhD by this time next year. The kids will continue to eat all the food in the house and grow taller and taller. And of course, they will continue to drive us nuts.
Oh boy. Um. Well. I don't know how to tell you this but... Miles knows Santa isn't real. Y'all can go home now. Thanks for coming out this year to help keep up the charade. It meant a lot. Have a safe journey home.
Caitlynn has been telling Miles for the past year that I was the one who ate Santa's cookies last Christmas. She saw me put the presents under the tree and eat the cookies. However, no matter how many times she tells him this, he still isn't believing her. Mama couldn't possibly be Santa. Santa's a boy. Mama's a girl!
Then last week, Joe and Miles had "the talk."
No. Not that talk.
The Santa talk.
Joe explained who Santa really was -- a guy named St Nicolas who died a long time ago. So Miles prodded a little more and Joe explained the whole charade to Miles... It's all fake. It's all a ruse. Santa isn't real. It's just a story. That's all.
What did Miles takeaway from all this?
1. Santa is dead.
2. The Santa at the mall is fake and stole the real Santa's clothes after he died.
The other night Miles and I went to a Christmas party and I was curious about how this whole Santa business was going to play out. I told Miles that "Santa" was going to make an appearance that evening. When we got there, Miles kept asking when "fake Santa" was going to show up. When fake Santa finally came in, Miles waited patiently in line to sit on his lap. And he even told "santa" what he wanted for Christmas. Miles played along quite nicely.
I'm glad Miles played along with the whole charade. It would have been rather embarrassing if he had stormed the stage and pointed at Santa while yelling, "Impostor! You're not real! You're fake Santa! You make me sick!"
No, that would not have been embarrassing. That would have been flippin' hilarious.
Now, I wish that would have happened. Maybe I should have coached Miles more. Told him what to do or say to Santa. Pee on his lap! Tell him he's a phony! Pull on his beard. I bet it ain't real!
Yeah, I know. I'm such a great mother.
So, remember... Santa is dead and all the other Santa's are fakes who stole his clothes.
Ah, the Holidays. Time for sharing. Time for giving.
And time for really damn annoying Hallmark commercials.
My kids are annoying enough. I don't need chatty Cathy running around telling me how many hours until Christmas. Oh goodness no. When I first started the blog, I wrote about Joe wanting to use a Blow Dart gun on our own children. Yeah. Like we would ever do that. We dream of doing it but we don't have the guts ... or a blow dart gun.
So, when Joe and I were watching TV the other night and saw this commercial, he turned to me and said, "This commercial shows us when a blow dart gun would be an effective parenting tool."
I know Hallmark is trying to be cute but this commercial gives me reason not to buy this ornament. I don't want my children pestering me about Christmas any more than they already do. Caitlynn is already telling me every morning how many days until the big day. Miles is still clueless on the matter, however. He knows Christmas is coming but is unsure as to when. Could it be tomorrow? The day after? I can't wait! Oh the suspense for a 5 year boy who can't read a calendar.
But this annoying ornament reminds me of one we had when I was a kid. We had an ornament of a bird that chirped when you plugged it in. You are thinking... Ahhh... so cute! Sure was but every time we turn it on, our dog would go bonkers and start barking at the tree. So now you're thinking... Funneee! Yeah it was funny, until we annoyed Mom and Dad with all the chirping and barking. Not a good combo. Mysteriously one year that ornament ended up missing. Either the bird or the dog had to go...
So, I'm not going to buy any annoying ornaments for the tree. No birds chirping or Christmas countdown clocks.
