Super Noob:
Christmas

Warning: Blog operator's brain on fritz...so don't expect much. This post is a bunch of odds and ends, hence the title.

First and foremost, I am excited to share the fact that I do have a few after pictures to share. Remember this post where I bared my deepest and dirtiest? If you didn't read it, you may want to now. Guaranteed to make you feel better about yourself in five seconds flat however long it takes you to read the post (but read this one first, because it has some cool stuff). So here are the pictures.

My bedroom floor after and before. Big exhale.

Nightstand after and before. Better light in the after!

Here's one that wasn't in the last post because I had already shown so much, that I thought enough was enough. Anyway, this was/is one of my dressers. My room now is one place that no longer causes me extra tension.

Moving on...in doing my cleaning, I came across some books that I have either, never used or used gently. I no longer have a need for them, and would like to know if any of you are interested in any or all of them. If so, please leave me a comment of which book you'd like. I will let them go on a first come, first served basis. ***This is not a giveaway*** Just wanted to see if anyone here wants them before I take them to the used book store. All I ask of those that are interested is that you kindly pay for shipping, you may have the book(s) for free. They are:

The Everything Pregnancy Book, and Dr. Sears Fussy Baby Book.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Baby Wise, and Jenny McCarthy's Belly Laughs.

This one is Kids Create. Its arts and crafts for 3-9 year olds. We have never used it, and sadly I am just not that crafty. But there looks to be some fun things for kiddos to make with moms and dads.

Last thing I have is a wedding scrapbook. Never used at all. I had already started a different one when I received this as a gift.

Okay, there is one more thing I want to show you all. I mentioned a while back that one of my favorite gifts for Christmas was a fantastic necklace from Lisa Leonard. It is really awesome. It has all three of my kiddos names on it, it's silver (and I'm a silver kinda gal), and it goes with cute dresses or jeans! So awesome.

I may or may not be hosting a giveaway really soon. It may or may not have to do with Lisa Leonard! So stay tuned.

That about wraps it all up.

Contest Update:
It's not too late to win a blog makeover... read about it here. Heidi from 3 to 5 has five points! Mindi of Part of Me has two points, and Elizabeth of Our Journey Through Life has two points. The contest ends January 1st. I can't wait for one of you lucky ones to be able to work with Jenna at Bloggy Blog Designz. Start getting your new blog look ideas together ;)

I wish I could say I am done with my Christmas shopping, alas it is not to be. I still have a couple last things to get, but I am super close. Fortunately I have wrapped as I have gone, so that part is not looming.

We did take our gifts to the family we adopted (through the Salvation Army) on Sunday. I hope they wait until Christmas to open them, and I hope they like what they received. Seeing the look on the eight year old's face made everything worth it. She looked so happy to be toting the gifts into to her house from my car. Before leaving, she gave me the biggest hug and it struck me that she is a complete stranger... that I will, more than likely, never see her again. But I touched her life. What a blessing for me.

I'm a mom from the middle of nowhere, South Dakota. Our little town has a population of just over 1,000 now - but when we first moved here, it was still working up from the 900s. Our big family of six didn't quite push the town over the top, but we came close. We moved out here from North Carolina when my youngest wasn't even one year old - now, that was a road trip - so my husband could be near his parents and help keep up the family farm. We also thought it would be a calmer, quieter place to raise a family than the big city of Raleigh.

Our kids had some trouble adjusting at first, but now they love living here and are always begging to visit their grandparents on the farm. Grandma always spoils their dinner with root beer floats and helps them make crafts out of coffee filters or her big jar of colorful buttons. Then there's Grandpa, who gets out the old train set and teaches my son all about golf while the sounds of putts and drives from the TV fill in the background. There are pet cats, cows, and sheep galore, and one friendly dog who greets the kids with slobbery kisses every time they arrive at the farm. It's a great place to grow up, and I'm so glad we decided to give them the opportunity to enjoy it.

Stress and the City

Of course, life isn't always paradise. I left my family back in North Carolina so we could raise our kids in the country, and there were times when I missed Raleigh and the people I had left behind. My mother's age and deteriorating health started to worry me, and sometimes I feel overcome with the desire to move back so I can take care of her. I have brothers in the area, but let's face it - when it comes to care-giving, boys aren't always the best nurses.

One day, I was sitting at home, feeling sorry for myself as I folded the laundry. Always fascinated by "grown-up" activities, my youngest daughter was "helping" me fold the endless heap of clothes that accumulates when you have six people living in one house. My husband came in from work and saw that I wasn't my usual self, so he asked how my day had been. I told him that it had been fine, and he gave me a quizzical look. After a few seconds, he asked what was bothering me if everything was fine. In a moment of overflowing frustration that had been building for weeks, I said, "If you can't figure out how to be sympathetic every once in a while, you'll just have to take me to the funny farm!"

I was about to burst into tears because I knew he didn't deserve my anger when I heard the excited voice of my daughter: "Mommy, mommy! Can I come, too?"

Of course, she didn't understand that I was referring to a mental institution, not her grandparents' farm. To her, "funny farm" was a logical name for the place she loved so much. I couldn't help it; I started laughing until tears rolled down my cheeks.

I was a tired mom at the end of the day, and my daughter had just provided the perfect punch line to help me see how petty I was being. Although her words brought laughter, they were also a profound reminder to me that my husband and I had moved to South Dakota for a very good reason. I believe that it's the best environment for raising my children, and I know my mother would want that every bit as much as we do.
My family visits North Carolina once a year, usually at Christmas, and my mom is doing just fine. Every time I start to worry about her, I remember that I'm making the right decision for my whole family by living here and raising my children to love life on the farm.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online degrees, and what it takes to succeed as a student getting an online associates degree remotely from home. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

It's Friday! I love Friday because I get a reprieve from having to come up with my own ideas. Usually I participate in The (Un)Experienced Mom's Fill in the Blank Friday, and a couple of times I have done Mama M's Five Question Friday. Since I can't choose one over the other, today I will do both!

The rules for both are pretty much the same. You cut and paste the question into a post of your own, answer them, link back to their respective founders and then link your post up to their blog.

First, The (Un)Experienced Mom's Fill in the Blank Friday. The question this week is:

If I were going to be on a reality television show, I'd be on ________.
I don't think the 10 pounds I have to lose would qualify...but I would totally want to be on The Biggest Loser if I did need to lose that sort of weight. What an amazing experience to be able to absolutely transform your life. I always feel so inspired by what those people accomplish. Plus, I may have mentioned once or twice that I enjoy working out. ;)

Next up is Mama M's Five Question Friday. The questions are:
1. What's your "comfort food"?
2. Do you send Thank You's (handwritten or email)?
3. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?
4. What is your favorite online recipe site?
5. If you had to choose: "Friends" or "Seinfeld"?

1. What's your "comfort food"?
Dessert! Almost any type...but I prefer baked treats over ice cream (though I do love ice cream too). If it's done right, Creme Brule is the creme de la creme!
2.Do you send Thank You's(handwritten or email)?
Yes, but sporadically. Well, maybe not so much sporadically as only for specific events. For example, when I had my baby shower, I sent them. For Christmas, I don't. Maybe it's because I get gifts for the same people who get them for me, so it's like an even swap...no note required. At least I'm going with that!
3. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?
Rosanne. That way, when I got back to my own reality, I would appreciate it that much more. Plus I think she's a riot.
4. What is your favorite online recipe site?
Food Network. There is a recipe there for anything, and everything...and so many of them are awesome! In my opinion, it trumps all others.
5. If you had to choose "Friends" or "Sienfeld"?
Hmmmm. I really enjoy "Freinds," but Sienfeld is freakin' funny. "THESE PRETZELS ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!!"

Now, go do your own post and be sure to link up. Then again, if you don't want to, and you'd rather leave me a comment with an answer or two...no need to twist my arm!

Once upon a time there was a woman who had a clean house...where did she go? I'll tell you where. Crazy. That's where. Each night I go to bed with my crazy tank at full. I mean topped off. Morning comes, and I rise with slightly renewed vigor. Then it begins. My day as short order cook, washer of dishes, wiper of butts, healer of hurts, teacher of lessons. My day of being incessantly needed by these tiny little people.
I once made a reference to the seagulls on Finding Nemo...about their mindless chanting of "mine! mine! mine!" Well, just replace "mine" with "mommy" and press repeat. So it's no wonder my house is no longer the place of cleanliness and order it once was. At first, I was in a constant state of distress. Frazzled at every coner turned within these walls. Not one five foot stretch of floor can be walked over without encountering a car, shoe, doll, ball, lego, unopened tampon (no, there is nothing sacred...no private space), action figure, stuffed animal, muffin tin, and the list goes on. Daily I precariously walked the fine line between this world and looney town.
Until I simply decided to not care. That's right. I decided there are glass balls and rubber balls. Glass balls are the ones that will break when dropped...things like reading to Addyson and Colton, making their meals, giving them love. Rubber balls bounce. So the living room floor that is littered with toys and countless other articles, rubber ball...bounce. Having clean laundry... glass ball...break. Having folded laundry, rubber ball...bounce. This way of thinking keeps me hanging on to the last fraying thread that is my sanity.
Now, I am about to post some very frightening pictures of my house at its worst. Bear in mind this is not (despite my proclamation) the usual state of my home. If it were, ain't nothin' that would keep me planted in reality! This is the state of my home post Christmas. I will say, however, that it stayed like this until just a few days ago. Oh, and the living room is exactly like this still.
Be warned...not for the faint of heart.

One of the two living room couches in its usual fashion.

Part of the living room. Yes that's a bottle of facewash...in the living room.

More living room.

Kitchen island. See the Clorox bottle? Yeah...that helped. I will say though, my dishes are always clean. For me, that is another glass ball.

My nightstand. Sadly, this is always the way it looks. Oh, yes...I sleep with earplugs so I don't have to listen to the rattle and hum from the other side of the bed.

Sigh. My floor. This is gone now.

Just beside our entry. That is a hitch on the floor. You know, in case we need to make a quick get away and have to use the hitch. Really, I have no idea. This area has also been whipped into shape.
So now that I have given you ample reason to feel better about your own house, kindly thank me before you leave.

Not Me! Monday time. After you read here, head over to MckMama's blog to read what others are not doing.

My brother works as one of the chefs at Binkley's, one of the most renowned restaurant in Arizona, and quite possibly all of the South West. It is certainly one of the best in the country. For Christmas, my brother treated my husband and I to a meal there. We went Saturday night while my dad stayed with the kids.

While at this 5 star restaraunt, it was not me who giggled like a little school girl every time they brought out a new amuse bouche. My husband did not make faces at the look of about 90% of these, which in turn, did not send me into fits of laughter. We are way too cultured to behave like that at such an establishment.

Keeping with the food theme, over the holiday weekend it was not me who ate so much junk that it sent my stomach into crampy spasms. I am not still suffering from said cramps as I type. **side note-I fear I may be coming down with some sort of stomach bug actually, and I am only hoping that it was all the garbage I ate that has me feeling like this**

That's it for me today. Let's hear from you! What didn't you do this past week? Leave it in the comments, or do a post of your own and link up to MckMama.

I am doing a melting pot of posts tonight. First, I really want to answer Keely's

Getting to Know You question. What was your favorite gift that you received this year for Christmas? This one is incredibly tough as I did receive some really spectacular gifts. So, I will mention two of them (though there are more that I loved just as much). First, Andy got me a necklace from Lisa Leonard Desings. It has the names of my kids on it, and I adore it (p.s. totally not sponsored to say that or anything...just lovin' the gift I got). Next was a gift that Andy went through a ton of trouble to procure. He registered me for a photoraphy class at a local community college. He actually had to get me accepted to the program they offer first. In order to do that, he pretended he was me to get my diploma, and my college transcripts. Sent them to the community college, and applied/enrolled online as if he were me. Crazy! Crazy that he did all that, and crazier that a community college needs all that when I already have a four year degree (well, it took me five years, but who's counting?). Anyway, I now get to attend the photography class starting in February once each week for, get this, six hours! The class is over three months long. Thrilled. Such a thoughtful gift.

This leads me right to my next segment ;) Christmas. Rather than bore with a lot of details, I will simply say that it was a wonderful time spent with family. We all received some wonderful gifts and the kids had a blast (as exhibited by pictures below). I am not entirely sure that Addyson got it as much as I thought she might. She loved opening presents, but I think the connection between the opening and the fact that they are now her gifts eludes her a little. Though I can't be certain. Colton, without question, had no clue...didn't expect him to. We had good food and good fun, and now I am feeling the "let down" effects after cresting the last peak on the Christmas roller coaster. Sigh. Happens every year. Now...for some pictures ;)

Addyson getting a peak at the loot Santa left behind.

Said loot

Addyson has a thing for Tink.

Turns out all Colton needed this Christmas was a box. Who knew?

My brother (taken with my new lens I might add). Yes, that was another favorite gift for me this year...from my Dad.

Addyson showing off her new shoes.

This is what I get when I ask her for a smile.

My cutest little bug...playing with the window.

This one my dad took...me.

My brother's girlfriend.

So now that I have inundated this one with pictures, I think I am done. The holiday buzz is dissipating (sadly we don't usually do anything for New Year's), and we are getting back to normal around here. I wouldn't have it any other way.

A quick hello and belated Merry Christmas. Coming out of what has been a whirlwind for us, we are back home from visiting family. Unloading the car and filling our house with the things we all received. Looking forward to posting later tonight...I have been jonesing for the blog ;)

Until then...I bid you adieu.

I have not even crossed the finish line yet. I still have to get one (maybe two) more gift(s), and I have to get stocking stuffers...I tell you, Santa is a slacker! Isn't stuffing the stocking part of his job?

Wrapping is well underway, however, and that has me feeling pretty pleased. I have been wrapping as I go, so I only have a few gifts left that need their festive skins. Our tree already has a fairly hefty bounty below.

We leave tomorrow to travel far and wide about 120 miles to visit family for all the festivities. I have been delegated to make the Spanish rice for our Christmas Eve dinner. Also, I opened my mouth and mentioned salsa...or something or other. So, I now have to do that too.

With all the craziness that is this season going on, I have not taken much time to sit back and enjoy it, or even think about enjoying it. Today's the day. I will get my last items scratched off my list, and will finally sit back (with a glass of wine perhaps) and revel in the completed tasks.

I honestly can't wait to see what Addyson will be like this year. I do think Colton will just be all about tearing the paper, but Addyson may finally "get it." So it should be fun.

In any case, since we are leaving, I probably will be M.I.A. for a little bit. Maybe not though...there is always the chance that some creative surge will occur and I will be able to get some posts done and scheduled. We'll see. Whatever the case...Merry Christmas! Happy every other holiday too for those of you that are not Christmas celebrators (is that a word?). Here's to great food, fantastic family and friends, lots of laughs, and being able to wear your favorite pair of shoes without a swollen foot (that one is just for MODG).

Tasty Tuesday is my way of helping other moms (and dads too!) to come up with some new recipes. I feature anything from main dishes to desserts. I love to cook, and love to eat even more...but I also love to share. Sometimes the recipes are an Mamma original, and sometimes they are totally stollen. Today's is ripped off from Paula Deen on the food network. She is not know for waist friendly foods, but they sure are delisious. This one is no exception. Today it's Mexican Wedding Cookies. These are the most buttery, melt in your mouth, little bites of bliss this side of heaven! I made these for Andy's holiday party. Double batch. Nary one cookie left. Yep, they are that good.

Ingredients (for single batch)
1 Cup butter- room temperature
1/2 Cup Powdered sugar (plus some for coating)
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 Cups Flour (plus more for dusting hands)
1 Cup pecans- finely chopped

Cooking Instructions:
Heat oven to 275
With an electric mixer, cream butter and powdered sugar, on low, until smooth. Beat in vanilla, gradually add flour on low speed and mix until smooth. Mix in pecans with a spatula. Flour hands and shape spoonfulls of the dough into crescents (I just rolled it into balls).

Bake for 40 minutes and remove from oven. When cooled slightly, but still warm, roll in powdered sugar and transfer to a wire rack to cool. That's it!

I am considering making more of these bad boys for our family Christmas Eve get together. Afterall, we are having Mexican food ;)

Keely has done it again. She's gone and asked us to share even more about ourselves. So if you are not tired of learning more about me. Then read on. This week she has posted quesitons which require only one word, but I can tell you already, my answers will not be so. After all, this is about getting to know me, and in order to really do that, I think you need a little bit more from me than just one little word. That's my modus operandi.
Following are this week's questions:

1. Middle name?
Marie
2. What do you think is your best asset (physical)?
My eyes. I like my feet too. It has always been between them, but I think the eyes win out. I just like that no one can really say what color they are. They are a blue/green, and sometimes look more one than the other.
3. If you could only eat one type of cuisine for a year, what would it be (Mexican, American,Chinese..etc.)?
A whole year?! Wow, I love to eat, but one type for a whole year might make me not like that type much anymore. I guess I would say Mexican. I do love it, and there are a ton of ways to prepare different things, so yes...Mexican it is.
4. Walmart or Target?
Okay, I love the prices at Walmart, but I always go to Target anyway. I just can't stand how Walmart always seems so ghetto. No matter what, I always get a defective cart. The one that not only squeaks loudly, but takes brute force in order to get it to move!
5. Favorite State besides the one you live in?
I absolutely love Massachusettes. Colorado is also great, and I have lived in both places.
6. What side of the bed do you sleep on, left or right?
Left...that is if I am lying in the bed. Looking at it, it would be the right.
7. King or Queen size bed?
King...and even that feels, at times, too small.
8. Beer or wine?
I love wine...but frankly there are times when nothing but an ice cold beer will do. I love oatmeal stouts!
9. Water..ice-cold or room temp?
Ice cold, but no ice. Unless I am in a restaurant, then I want ice...but no nasty lemon (remember this one?)!
10. Christmas..love it or hate it?
Honestly, I have a major issue with those who say they hate it. Come on...so you've had a bad experience, or many bad experiences...I say change your experiences! Start with attitude. Anyway, I LOVE it. Nothing beats spending time with loved ones, eating yummy food, and sharing old stories while making new ones.

That's all folks! (don't you love Porky?) What about you? Care to share? Inquiring minds (mine in particular) want to know. To play along, cut and copy the quesitons to do your own post, then go back and link it up with Keely. Don't have a blog, or don't have the inclination to do a whole post...then answer any or all of the questions right here in my comments.

Friday for me means it's time for The (Un) Experienced Mom's Fill in the Blank Friday. Super easy to play along. Just grab her button, cut and paste her question, answer it and link it back to her. As always, I gladly accept your answers right here in the comments as well. To all of you who have been taking part, thanks! Keep it up and we will keep it around ;)

Her question today is:
If I had spare money that had to be donated to 3 charities, they would be _________, _________, and __________.

Here's the thing, I am deviating from the question just a wee little bit. We don't really have spare money this year, but we are already donating to two charities. One I blogged about before. It doesn't actually require extra money, just extra stuff. It is a local charity, and we donated a TON of our gently used toys and clothes to them. It is a children specific charity, and they ensure that all the items go to less fortunate boys and girls. Next, we have put aside some money this year to adopt a family via the Salvation Army. We have been assigned a family of five. It is a single mother and four children. They can't even afford a tree this year let alone any gifts. I feel grateful that we are in a position to be able to help her and her children this Christmas.
Finally, about the third...if I had an endless amount of cash, I would donate again to String of Pearls. I say again because we didn't donate for the holidays, but we have donated to them before. Fortunately we have not experienced infant loss, but can not imagine the pain for those who do/have.

How about you? Do you feel moved to give to any charity? Do you volunteer your time? Do you wait for the holidays or do you participate all through the year?

Growing up, my brother and I were never those kids that got spoiled rotten for Christmas. Oh, we received plenty, and were always grateful for what we did get. In fact, I remember the year I got my acid washed denim jacket, walkman and New Kids on the Block tape. Wow! Did I just say all of those things in the same sentence? I loved that jacket! I wore it all of the time. That walkman was played so much that in the first few days I already needed new batteries. The tape? Please don't tell anyone that I had posters of them plastered all over my wall...absolutey sure that if Marky Mark ever met me and really got to know me, that he would fall head over heels. Pft. Right.

Fast forward to last night. My husband and I were talking about the kids (ours not New) and their gifts. We have decided not to go crazy on them. The reason simply being, we don't want to instill in them at such a young age, a gluttonous attitude. Certainly they will not be deprived...they will all receive plenty, but not so much that they don't appreciate the things that they do get. I long for them to look forward to the celebration with family and friends. I want them to cherish those times as much as I always have. Presents were nice, okay...awesome...but they were not everything. I want my children to look forward, with anxious anticipation, to giving someone that perfect gift just as much as they look forward to getting it.

Just like I mentioned in this post, I believe my kids to be blank slates, waiting to be marked. It's my desire to teach my children at a young age about the many joys of Christmas. My daughter already has a giving spirit, and I intend to nurture it.

When asked what she wants from Santa this year, my daughter's reply is "candy and a radio." Truly if that were all she received...her Christmas will have been made! Now, don't get all in an uproar on me, we are totally getting her more than that. Just not so much more that next year the greed will overtake her. As for Colton, I have an inkling that he will be enthralled with simply tearing open the packages...and Drew, he made a list, and between us and family, he is pretty much getting everything on it. So before you go feeling all sorry for our munchkins, rest assured that the visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads will surely become a reality.

So spill it. Do you go crazy with gift giving for the kids? I started a discussion about it in my new Blog Frog community...would love it if you found time to come over and join and jump in the discussion. You can reach the community through the widgit down on the left of my sidebar. Oh, and of course I still would love to have comments here. I know, I ask for the world.

Since the holidays are upon us, I thought it would make sense to repost this recipe for those that missed it the first time around. I am telling you, if you like toffee, this is a keeper!

Tired of your same old tried and true meals? Looking for some new ideas for family dinners, or even just a new cookie recipe? Then Tasty Tuesday is for you. It is my half-baked idea to help some other moms out with new recipes. I would love to hear your favorites as well!

On the menu this week is a deliciously crunchy, buttery, and oh so yummy toffee! It is a HUGE hit with my family and friends. It has become my tradition to make it and pass it out to the neighbors every holiday season ( I always get requests for more). I am certain that if you like toffee, you will love this. I only wish I could take credit for this as being my own...alas, this sweet confection is courtesy of my Hershey cookbook.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Hershey's MINI Chips Semi-sweet chocolate(separated into 1 C and 1/2 C)
1 3/4 Cups Chopped/Slivered almonds (toasted and separated into 1 1/2 C and 1/4 C)
1 1/2 Cups butter
1 3/4 Cups sugar
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
3 Tablespoons water

Cooking Instructions:

Spread 1 cup of the mini chips in a buttered 13X9 inch pan; set aside. Spread almonds in a shallow pan; toast at 350 degrees for about 7 minutes, stirring gently midway through ( I do it a tad longer because I like them to be a deep/warm brown). Set aside.

Melt butter in a heavy 3 quart saucepan; blend in sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly (this is quite literal...you can not leave it to sit and boil unstirred) to hard crack stage, 300 degrees on a candy thermometer. Bulb of candy thermometer should not rest on bottom of saucepan. Remove sauce pan from heat and immediately stir in 1 1/2 cups of the toasted almonds.

Immediately spread mixture evenly over mini chips in prepared pan, being careful not to disturb chips. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup toasted almonds and 1/2 cup mini chips. Score into 1 1/2-inch squares. Cool completely (this usually means overnight for me); remove from pan. Break into pieces and store in a tightly covered container.

Note-You do not have to have a candy thermometer to make this...but I highly, highly recommend one. I have made it without, and it always turns out better when I use one.

There you have it. Trust me (well, you don't have to trust me if you don't want to), this is the best recipe I have come across. Make it for yourself, family, friends, anyone you know who loves toffee. This is sure to be a hit. If not, you can blame me.

P.S. Totally unrelated...I finally started a community on the Blog Frog. Won't you please join me? You can get there through the widgit down on my left sidebar. Consider it a Christmas gift if you will ;)

Keely is hosting another "getting to know you," and so I thought I would join in. This time we are asked to post a favorite Christmas picture, and tell a little about it.

This is Drew, my stepson last Christams. First, I just love this picture of him. Second, it was taken with the camera my dad had gotten me for my gift. I LOVE the camera! I hadn't a clue how to use any of the settings yet (still am not great, though better). It's my Canon Rebel Xsi, and this year I am hoping that Santa finds me deserving of a new lens and some other accessories.

If you have some favorite Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/whateveryoucelebrate pitures, post them and link up over at Mannland!

Yes, you read correctly. I asked if anyone has ever pooped on your floor...like besides your pet. I have had the misfortune of this happening twice! Once several years ago, and again today.

Several years ago, we were still living in our old house. It was summer and my husband's brother and his family came to visit. They have six kids. It was a mad house. All the kids were swimming in the pool out back; the husbands were outside watching them while my sister in law and I were inside putting lunch together. Suddenly I could hear my husband bark at my stepson to get out of the pool. Next I heard a muffled butt chewing right outside our back door (it was just off the kitchen). In comes Drew, fresh out of the pool and no towel in sight. As he traipses across the kitchen floor I find mysef getting annoyed that he is leaving puddles behind as he goes. Little did I know I should have been wishing the puddles were the only mess he would leave on my kitchen floor. Unbeknownst to me, Drew was having such a merry old time with his cousins in the pool that he couldn't be bothered with such civilities as coming in the house to use the bathroom. Nope. He crapped himself. I found this out when my husband grabbed Drew's arm to hurry him along through the kitchen, and jarred a turd loose...which in turn slithered out of his pants and onto my floor. My kitchen floor!!! Speachless. Slightly embarrassed. Conflicting feelings of aggravation and amusement all at once. That was me in the horrible seconds after it made its debut with a sickening little plop. Like I said, my brother in law and his wife have six kids...it would take much more than that to shock my SIL.

Flash forward to today. I am putting a Christmas movie on for Addyson when she goes bolting out of the room towards my bedroom. Her potty is in my bathroom, and this is a regular occurrence so I knew she would be hollaring for me to come and wipe her momentarily (I bet you think you know what happens). Maybe I go to wipe her and she has had an accident on the floor in there? Nope. She never calls me to wipe her. She just comes gallivanting back out to the living room. I am distracted with the DVD player, and absently tell her to go back in to the bathroom so I can wipe her bottom. She stays. She farts. She laughs. I say something like "oh that was really nice, Addyson." She thinks she is funny, she tries to fart again, and does. Still distracted I hadn't noticed something else had also escaped her precious little bottom. She tears out of the room to the bathroom wailing away. Crying? What did she do? I look down to the space on my carpet she had occupied not seconds before to see a little bitty poop. Does it get any better than this? Fortunately, it cleans right up without leaving a trace. I go in to wipe and console her. I explain that I am not mad...I know it was an accident. She stops crying. All's well that ends well.

Time again to confess those things that I really didn't do. By now, you should know the drill. After reading, head over to MckMama's to read what some others have to say, and maybe even post your own.

Since I am such an on top of it mother, I always make sure my son is in a clean diaper. So, the other day while trying to sneak in a quick post, I would never have pretended I didn't smell the pungent stench emanating from his under region just so I could finish what I was doing. Not me. I wouldn't ever let my precious little babe sit in his own stew so that I could do something for me first.

We went to get our Christmas tree this past weekend, and I managed to string the lights on it that same night. It only took me 3 hours! After stringing the lights I did not decide to just decorate the rest later on. Certainly our tree is not still sitting in our living room with bare branches, save the lights of course. Not in my house.

Finally, I did not get dressed in my workout clothes last night (despite the nagging voice in my head telling me not to), walk into the garage (where we have an entire gym set up), see the state of it with boxes out and sitting on the equipment I would use, turn around and come back inside. I would never let a little thing like a few boxes deter me from working out and getting into my skinny clothes! Not me.

How about you? What did you not do this past week? Let's read it here in the comments, or head over and do a post of your own.

So Keely has a sister, Kassi. Who knew? Maybe you did, but I didn't, and I suppose that this is what this is all about. Getting to know eachother just a little bit better. These questions were originally posted by Kassi, but then Keely snaked them, turned them into a little blog hop of sorts. Since my well of thoughts is tapped out tonight, I am playing along.

1. How old are you?
I am 33...but recently told someone at the gym that I was 31. I was serious. I wasn't lying. Not intentionally. Then later, when recounting the story to my friend R, she asked why I said I was 31. It was only then that it dawned on me that I totally forgot my own age. Sigh. I suppose it's all downhill from there.

2.Where are you from and where do you live now?
If by from, this means where I was born, then the answer is San Diego. If it means where did I grow up, then the answer is Arizona which is where I am now. I bet you're happy to have that mystery solved!
3. What music have you been diggin lately?
When my car stereo isn't taken over by toddler tunes, I go between classic rock and country. I am lovin' Antebellum's Need You Now.
4. Favorite food(s)?
Is this a joke? Like many others, I love Mexican food. Come on, you can't grow up in Arizona, and not like Mexican food. I also really like sushi. Oh, and pretty much any sort of dessert.

5. Single,married, divorced?
Hitched. 5 years this coming March. Best years of my life so far ;)
6. Kids? If so, how many and how old?
My step-son will be 11 in February. My daughter will turn 3 the same month, and my son will be 2 next August.
7. What are 3 blogs you read daily?
Yours, yours and hers. Really? Come on. No way am I going to list just three. There are some great reads out there. I happen to like quite a few of them.
8. What is your favorite Christmas/Holiday tradition?
I love Christmas. We have mostly always spent it with my Dad's side of the family. We all get together both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In my own home, my husband and I started our tradition of decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love it.
9. Lastly, if you're a blogger, how long have you been blogging and if you don't have one..how long have you been reading blogs?
Funny thing, like Keely, I started out reading MckMama's blog. I had heard of blogging, but never stepped foot into bloggy land until MckMama's. I was captivated with the story of her son. Plus she is just interesting. Then, she would link (more often than I wish were possible) to other blogs of families fighting for a child's life. Finally I had to stop going to check them out. Breaks my heart. So I stuck with reading hers, and thought about doing one of my own. Okay, I am going to share more here than required. Please don't judge how ridiculous this bit of information is...just rack it up as yet one more reason to call me crazy. I was afraid to start my own blog. It seemed that all the blogs I had been reading had some tragedy going on. Either the tragedy was the reason they blogged, or it happened after they started what was to be a normal, run of the mill, talk about anything and everything blog. I was superstitious. I didn't want to be one of those tragedies (By the way, if you are one of those blogs, don't be offended. I am not at all saying blogging isn't a great place to get support. I would want the support it lends. I just had this totally unrealistic fear that I might bring it on myself). I decided to hike up my panties and get the hell over it. Here I've been since October of this year.

What about you? Will you share in a post or here in the comments?

I just finished stringing the lights on our Christmas tree. During mine and Andy's first Christmas together, this became my job. It may or may not have had something to do with my nagging him about the way he was getting it done. Seriously though...the guy was just shoving the lights on the branches in a very haphazard and gap creating fashion. What woman wouldn't nag make kind and appropriate suggestions about how to do it better?

Well, it was only a matter of a precious few moments before he kindly and appropriately suggested just what I could do with the lights. Hence, light stringing = my job. Whatever. It gets done the way I like.

I feel like a photo is in order, but I'm too lazy to make that happen right now. Not to mention, it's not completely decorated yet. So maybe when that's done I'll slap one up here. Not unlike the way my dear, sweet husband used to slap the lights on the tree.

In other news, we've all been attacked by some mutant stomach virus. Well, all but Andy. Thursday I was really wishing for a sick day. Preferably paid. Alas, all I received was a swift kick in the arse in the form of two unruly (more than their usual unruliness) children.

Merry merry.

It's December 5th and the only person guaranteed to get a present from us as it stands is my sister in law. Yes, M...you are loved. I have been so bad about getting my butt in gear to do shopping. It's just hard. I don't get into the spirit doing my shopping exclusively online, and I can't go out during the week because I have the little ones with me. Sigh. So I have to wait for the weekend when Andy can be here with the kids, and I can go get my shop on. Today is the day.

Another problem...I am fairly stumped. I don't like to just get things for others just to get them. I love seeing the look on someone's face when I got the right something. Nothing better. There is honestly only one Christmas where I know I got it really right with Andy. Isn't that sad? I'd love some suggestions. What are you all getting for your spouse? How about siblings? Kids? How about I send you some money and you just shop for me? No...I suppose that wouldn't be right. Not to mention it would be a sure fire way for me to not get in the spirit at all.

My jolliness will kick in when we get our tree. First things first though...I need to clean this house. I don't like to decorate my mess. Not cute. If only the layer of dust would pass as a snowscape for our Christmas village!