A Christmas Song

Kate is big into Christmas music. She runs around singing all the songs (butchering the words). I'm not sure what we're going to do when Christmas is over and the music stops.

Spent the morning running all over. Poor Kate was stuck in her seat far longer than a 3 year old should be. She took it in stride though.

Kate - "Mama, I have a Christmas wish for you."
Me - "Oh really what is it?"
Kate - "I wish for you to kiss Santa."
Me- "You do?"
Kate - "Yeah, like in the song."
Me - "Oh, well I don't think I'll be able to kiss Santa this year honey."
Kate - "Ok, Santa kiss Daddy then."

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Giddy Up

I'm back in the saddle kids. Are you ready?
No crazy, sicko, pervs are going to keep this girl down.

It's full on holiday go time in this house.
A little tree trimming tonight. Our pour tree had about 60percent of the ornaments squished in a tiny 2'x1' section on the bottom. I bet you can guess who was responsible for that.
Kate loved all the ornaments and Scott and I enjoyed telling her some of the stories behind them.

You know it's holiday time in this house when National Lampoons Christmas Vacation has been viewed. Thanks to Mark and Jay'me for coming over and sharing in the fun.
That movie has some of the best lines of all time in it. It's my go-to movie to watch while I wrap presents. That and Home Alone.
Kate has been watching Home Alone with me. We laugh and laugh. It reminds me so much of watching the movie with my Grandpa Jake. It was his favorite. Having someone to laugh at it with again makes my heart swell. And well it makes the tears flood my eyes too.

For as long as Scott can remember the Simpson family has hosted (or co-hosted) a charity holiday party. Good food, good people and an abundance of donations for the needy and homeless. While getting to the event this year in a blizzard posed a few.. um... shall we say difficulties, it was totally worth it.
Kate and I happily shopped together. Picking out perfect gifts to fill stockings for two homeless people. It gave me a great opportunity to start teaching her about what this season really represents. Sharing with those less fortunate and spending time with family.

No family holiday preparations would be complete without some bowling.

Gather the family around.

Wear shoes that have had approximately 10,000 other feet in them.

Throw a little ball down a lane and smash things up.

It's almost as good as seeing the big man in red.

Almost...

Nothing is really better than watching your kid walk right up to Santa and understand for the first time what she's supposed to be doing.

No tears, no drama just wonderment and hope.

Kate loved sharing Santa with her friend Brandon.

She just took under her wing and showed him the ropes.

Because at 3, she's a pro.

More shopping, holiday baking, gingerbread house building and present wrapping in store. Scott is feeling better and I'm just hoping that things stay that way.

Put on the hot apple cider, light the candles, turn up the Bing Crosby. This girl is getting ready.

Oh and in case you all want to get me something for Christmas. I put my wish in a post on the other blog. Go big. That's always my motto.

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Remember

Do you all remember the post about Kate asking for a dog to chase her in the snow? Here's the link http://werewitty.blogspot.com/2010/12/good-heavens-help-me.html. Well, you'll notice if you go there now that I made some adjustments.
You see most blogs, this one included, have stats on them. Meaning I can log in and see who all is looking at the website. I can tell where someone is located, what time and date they logged in, what they looked at etc.
I can also tell, with a further search, what people type into search engines (google, yahoo etc.) to find us. In the last two days I have had some disturbing google search hits on the above referenced post. One google search from England for a "beutiful little girl" (spelling left as found) and a search for "beautiful little girl with mouth open" from the Netherlands. Both of these hits proceeded to download that particular picture of Kate.

I've known from the beginning that I would find my photos on the internet. I've known that there are lots of creepy, disgusting people in the world that would probably think about or do creepy disgusting things while looking at this blog (Hey the world is full of weirdos). I guess I am just having a hard time posting new photos right now.

I accept this as part of what can happen when you put your life out on the internet. Just like I accept that people will download my photos and try to pass them off as their own. It's just part of having things out for the world to read.
In general I love how our little blog has grown. We've got regular readers from all over the world that we've never met. People that have stumbled upon our little spot on the interwebs and found something interesting enough to stay. I think that's pretty cool. I'm just having a hard time with that particular post being so "targeted". I'll get over it and move on.

Pictures soon, I promise.

And um hey guys.... It's 10 days until Christmas and I'm so dreadfully behind I think I might barf. Does anyone know what panic attacks are like? I'm pretty sure I'm having one (or 20).

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I'm working on it

I've got a post almost ready. But it's just not feeling right tonight. I'm not able to say the things I want to say, in the way I want to say them.

A terrific, warm, wonderful, holiday filled weekend. Be patient and I'll show you.

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Lucky

"Do not look at me with pity. For it is I that should pity you."

I know what my life is. I know how to treasure the little moments. I take a breath at the beginning and end of every day. It's not the typical exasperated sigh of most. The sigh of too much laundry, too many bills, too many burdens.
It is a breath. A long, slow, satisfying, feed your soul, breath. Letting in all the good moments from the day and expelling a hopeful breath for the moments ahead.

Each day is a gift. One should not squander it. It should be cherished, embraced and loved.

I am the lucky one. The one that knows just how valuable life is. The one that appreciates a loud, ruckus dinner with family. The one that feels in her soul the love of her far away family that travels in the snow because they heard we had a tough week. The one that sees every second as a gift.
In the blink of an eye it can all get wiped away. I'm lucky that I understand that and don't take a thousand tomorrows for granted.

I'm living in the moment, even when the moments aren't exactly what I want them to be. Are you?

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Dear Santa,

Quick update....
Spoke with the doctor today about Scott. We decided to give Scott today to work on the fever situation (he woke up fever free) before doing more testing. When I spoke with BigDan tonight at 5:30 I was cautiously optimistic that we would make it through day. By 6pm Scott was running a fever.
Why oh why did I open my mouth? Someone smack me.

Oh wait, I can't count on you guys. Nothing but calls, texts, emails, and comments all telling me to buy Kate a dog. You're not helping me people.

Kate did give me reprieve today though.

She asked the big guy for an Ariel doll and not a puppy. Phew!

Lots of pictures from our play date with Nicole and Brandon at the mall. Those will have to wait, the snow blowing outside is warning me of an early morning date with my snow blower.

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Good heavens! Help me!

You see this beautiful little girl?

There used to be a picture of my daughter here. In this very space. But now it's been removed because there are skeevy disgusting people in the world that google things like "beautiful little girl" and "beautiful girl with mouth open" and then proceed to download pictures of my kid.
To the people making these inquiries... You disgust me. I realize you are probably sick in the head but seriously. My daughter is 3. Get a hooker. Look at legal woman and stop looking a photos of my daughter.

She is bringing her A game this Christmas.
The only thing she has repeatedly requested from Santa is a puppy. Specifically, a cute, cuddly, white puppy that she will name "Princess. Well really Princess Ariel but we just call her Princess."

So the other day while driving she and I have the following exchange.

Kate - "Mom, can we um... can we run in the snow? Like and not get in trouble or anything?"
Me - "Sure K, running in the snow is fun! It's harder to run in the snow than on the grass. I'll take you out and show you."
Kate - "Ok."

2 minute pause

Kate - "Mom, when Santa bring me my cuddly puppy that I name Princess. Um member, she white and cuddly and her snuggle me and lick me. When Santa bring her to me can we um.. pease, can I... may I um... Pease I go outside wif Princess and I run in the snow and Princess her chase me in the snow. Then she catch me and nibble my feets but not hard just playin'. Den we come inside and her snuggle wif me and we have hot chocolate. Dat ok Mom? Can we do dat pease?"

Took all my strength to not find the closest pet shop and buy her a dog.

If you all could form some kind of group and take turns emailing me, texting me and calling me with all the reasons we do NOT need a dog in the house I would really appreciate it. Just from now until Christmas and one reminder every couple hours should be effective. I would really appreciate it.


Scott started off rough, had a good day while I was gone (Mom and Dad stayed with Scott and Kate) and now is running a really high fever again and feeling horrible. Hmmm... me thinks I should be gone more.
Guess it's time to call the doctor again.

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