Christmas Cheer . . . sort of.

First off, let me assure you all that I am alive. Having your tonsils out sucks. It hurts a lot. You feel like crap. I don't like it. But I'm alive. Anyway.
Today as I teetered on a rickety ladder in my dansko clogs (praying that I wouldn't fall) hanging garland around my front door I heard wailing emanating from my living room. Jake's wailing to be precise. You see we got our Christmas tree and as we decorated it we also set up the train we got at Disney World to go around the tree. Jake has been asking about this train since we got home from our trip and today was the day of its debut. Well, when I climbed down from my precarious position to find out what Jake was yelling about I found my three boys in the living room. Ryan was consoling Jake while Reid did what little brothers do best . . . mess stuff up. See, my inclination would have been to scold Jake for having such a fit but that's probably because I was never the bigger sibling. Ryan was. I don't know what its like for a little brother (or sister) to mess up my stuff. Ryan does. So Jake had the right parent in there with him when Reid messed with his newest most prized possession. On a side note: I DO know what its like to have someone twice your size sit on your face and fart on it (or toot, as I'm trying to get my kids to say so people won't think I'm a horrible Christian mother - ha!).
So our festivities hit a bit of a bump today with the whole Reid messing with the train debacle but other than that it was a good day. I love this time of year. My house has never looked more festive. I even got a fresh white pine garland for my banister - LOVE it! And of course doing the whole tree thing WITH Ryan this year was so great.
Sweet mercy I just sneezed and now I'm going to cry. OK, I think its time for another round of Codeine. G'night!

Tis the Season

How is it that the Christmas season hasn't even technically started yet and already I feel a bit frazzled and overwhelmed by it all? On one hand I feel very on top of things but then I remember I'm working on a shorter time frame than usual and I start to panic.

In case you've been living in a cave the past few weeks and somehow managed to avoid the news that I'm having my tonsils out tomorrow, let me fill you in.

I AM HAVING MY TONSILS OUT TOMORROW.

And from what I hear its going to hurt. BAD. So that is going to take a chunk of time out of my festivity preperations. And then Ryan and I are supposed to be (wonderfully, gloriously) taking a trip to Tampa for a conference. I don't really know (or care) what the conference is about just that its far away. And I won't have to cook. (Thank you, thank you in advance Honey and Ozzie). And two days after we arrive home from the respite we need to be packed and ready to head to Columbus for a OUR FAMILY Christmas. So in essence I only have until December 14th to get myself ready for the holidays.

But wait, there is more. While I'm happy at the chunk of Christmas shopping I've already managed and that I've gotten my Christmas cards ordered there is still SO much to do. Like plan my 30th birthday party. That's right. You heard me, I'm throwing myself a 30th birthday party. Its on December 12th. And YOU should come. And my dear Troy is having a baby and I haven't done nearly enough for her yet. But I shall. And I need to start thinking on Ainsley's 3rd birthday. Oh, and I'm hosting a cookie exchange here for my fellow MOMS.

So, I need to get off my rump and get busy. But I'll leave you with a smile from my Christmas card photo reject pile:

A Magical World

Well, we are back from our Disney vacation and I can't really find the words to express what a wonderful week it was. I'm trying to figure out if they actually put something in the water that just makes everything seem better at Disney or if its just the fabulous service, wonderful accomodations and friendly people . . . not to mention the true magic of seeing the wonderment and delight of Disney World through the eyes of children.

Anyway, the trip could not have been better. The car trip was totally tolerable thanks to the incredible hospitality of my dear, dear Redonna. I really need to take a lesson from her on how to be a wonderful hostess. She had tents set up in her 2nd guest room for the kids - a CARS one for Jake and Disney Princess for Ainsley. The were so thrilled and slept like logs. She had a pack and play for Reid ready to go complete with appropriate white noise mechanisms for each kid. The next morning the apple juice was ready and then she spoiled us with a breakfast of waffles and bacon which she KNOWS my kids love. We then set out to see my dear Grandma who is an amazing lady at 90 years of age! I know the craziness of my kids probably took years off her life but since I know she seems to have an unlimited supply she'll forgive us ;) We also were spoiled at her house with one of my favorites of all time - Sonny's Barbecue for dinner. YUMMO!

But I digress.

I won't go into too many details here and bore you all to tears but I will say that Jake had a better time and was better behaved than I could have imagined. Ainsley was in love with every charachter we met and was voted "most likely to run away with the circus" by the adults, and Reid was dreamy as always and did so great for a baby who was on the bataan death march for babies (i.e. - no naps, feedings in weird places, forced rides on odd contraptions).

If you have kids and you've not yet been to Disney all I can say is GO! I don't care what you have to do to get there just go. Start skipping meals, stop using diapers, turn off the heat and bundle up - whatever it takes to save those dollars. Its so worth it.

I'm going to post all my pics on Snapfish and just put a couple here. If you want to see them all let me know and I'll send you the link.

More Fall

Holy moley I am still loving the fall around here. The other day I was inspired to stick my camera in the car and shoot some of the trees that surround us here in Clarksville. These are just a few of the beautiful sites I see while driving the kids to preschool or going out for a job.

Tomorrow we are heading out for a wonderful week at Disney World . . . stay tuned for stories of our adventures when I return!

Sheesh

When I am nowhere near a computer there is no end to the blog ideas I can come up with. As I'm out on a run or driving in the car I come up with some great stuff. Then a couple minutes come for me to sit down at the computer and its like "chirp chirp, chirp chirp" . . . nada. So that brings me to my title of Sheesh!
Anyway, last week I read an article in our local paper about how lifestyle choices are costing the U.S. big dollars in that health care costs comprise $2 trillion of our national debt. Most of these costs are spent on preventable conditions such as Diabetes. This $2 trillion works out to $7000 per capita and the writer of the article (side note here- her name is Diane Welker and I had the privilege of meeting her at a baby shower for a mutual friend and she is really lovely and very knowledgeable about nutrition) says "If you are shoveling microwave and fast food dinners into your children's mouths, you owe me $7,000."
Now, I make a pretty concerted effort to make well-rounded, healthful meals that we sit down to eat as a family. But I always feel like there is more I could be doing. I know that promoting healthy eating now will stay with my kids through their whole lives. So, I want to just put it out there for all you moms who read to share just one idea of tip that you use to help your family eat more healthfully. Please - do share!
One more thing - I had a request from my friend Tricia to share my whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes recipe - and I'm delighted to do so.

1 large egg
1 cup whole wheat flour (or 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1/2 cup all-purpose)
3/4 cup milk
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
2 Tbsps vegetable oil
3 tsps baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (this is totally a guess - I just dump in until I'm satisfied)
Note: I also add flax seed and wheat germ to give these an extra healthy boost - the more of this stuff I add the more chocolate chips I feel entitled to dump in@

DIRECTIONS - Note: I use my KitchenAid mixer to make these - SO fluffy!
Beat egg in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in milk and oil.
In a separate bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add all at once to mixer and mix at low speed until combined. Add chocolate chips.
Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375 degrees. For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter hot griddle.
Cook pancake until puffed and dry around edges.
Turn and cook other side until golden brown.