Can she fix it? Or is she a pack rat, or just plain cheap?

While cleaning out the garage, we came across many things, a lot of it useless. But this cooler, I thought, could be salvaged. Dave told me to just throw it away and get a new one. Maybe one with wheels, since he is the one that has to lug the cooler around when we are out and about. But there was nothing wrong with it other than the broken handle. I assured him I could fix it. I knew there was a reason I had bought Duct Tape in every color a few months ago. I knew just what to do.

The Problem: Broken handle on cooler.

The solution: White Duct Tape.

Ta Da all fixed. Won't Dave be impressed?

These are some pictures of Elyse I had to share. She is taking her nekked baby-doll for a ride. She has her refreshment stored in the back so she won't get an open container citation.Ant's do not make the best of playmates, but she was willing to give them a chance.

Descent into migrain hell

It started about 1:00 a.m. It pulled me from a deep somber, slowly calling me out. The throbbing, on one side of my head. Once awake, I laid as still as possible hoping it would stop, or at least slow down it's take over of my entire head. It slowly spread from one side of my head to the other side, until finally it had spread to that place in my stomach and throat as well. I had to get up and vomit, twice. There was no denying it, I had a migrain. I managed to stumble to the kitchen for my medicine, the medicine that makes my stomach sicker that the migrain. But I will do anything to stop the pain.

I was very careful to be sure I had the right bottle. At two in the morning, with a groggy pounding head I was afraid that I would take the wrong pill. In my haste to get the pills out I dropped one. I dropped a little piece of gold, that's how I feel about those pain stoppers. So there I was at 2:00 a.m. crawling around the kitchen floor in minimum light trying to find that little stinker. Finally, there it was under the stove. I dug it out and decided it was too icky to swallow so I burried it deep in the trash. I didn't want the little kids to find it. Elyse isn't beyond dumpster diving, yet.

So back to bed I went, to wait for the pain to subside. That's when the 1 year old insomniac got up. Since the lock out incident she has become more calm in our bed. Knowing that the wrong move or kick could send her out the door. I am still trying to decide if I should continue to feel guilty over that or not. So there I lay in pain, listening to the alphabet song being sung over and over.

Finally, the pain started to ease and the singing started to slow. At about the same time the pain was gone and the singing had turned into the sound of soft breathing. She was asleep!

Soon sweet sleep took me over too. Too bad ten minutes later my alarm went off to signal the start of my day. Aww, well, maybe I can go to bed early tonight.

Sorting through the crap of our lives

What a day. It was one of those Sunday's I hate. We spent a good chunk of the day cleaning out the garage. I spent hours with two tables set up sorting through the crapola of our lives. I had stuff spread all over the driveway. See, we haven't cleaned the garage in years, years I tell ya. Once in a while I would throw things away, and I did put things in bags or boxes and mark them but we just never went through it again.

There were stacks of boxes and bags to sort through. I reduced it all down to three containers. My suburban is stuffed full of bags and items that I am going to take to the Salvation Army in the morning. There is only enough room for me to drive and Christopher and Elyse to sit.

The funny part was that cars going by would actually slow down, and look. They thought we were having a garage sale. A couple of people even stopped and rolled down their windows and asked if it was a garage sale. That's when I got a brilliant idea. I set out some of the baby items I was going to give away, like the swing, a stroller, a bouncer, a high chair and some other miscellaneous Items. I took cardboard and wrote a price on it and set it in front of each item. I made $63.00 cleaning out the garage. Not too bad for a few hours work. It also saved me from hauling all that stuff away.

I would have rather spent the day doing something with the kids, but these things have to be done too. I tried involving them in the cleaning, but they kept hauling stuff into their rooms. So I finally had to sit them in front of a DVD, ugh.

I am exhausted, but the sense of accomplishment overshadows my tiredness. Now to tackle the closets.

Funeral

We went to a funeral today. It was a funeral for a good man, a man that was too young to die. He and his wife are friends of ours. He had a disease, a disease called cancer. It ravaged his body. He fought long and hard, he was a warrior. He never complained, he never felt sorry for himself.

After years of treatment he was declared cancer free. Then last November another tumor was found. Again he fought, but he was weary, his body was tired. It was time for him to go.

So, we went to a funeral today. It was at a beautiful glass chapel on a hill. It was a somber service yet a time to celebrate his life. The chapel was packed, standing room only. A testimony to what kind of a person he was. He touched so many people's life's and they came to say good bye. His family and friends have suffered a great loss.

Good bye dear friend.

Free haircuts

He looks all sweet and innocent.

Christopher is giving free haircuts tonight. I noticed a trail of hair going down the hallway. Upon following it I found Christopher with a fist full of hair. I very calmly and quietly asked him whose hair he was holding. His response was, I don't know. So I said, well, you are holding it, so I thought maybe you would know who it belonged to.

He confessed that it was his hair. I asked him why he would cut his hair and he said so that people could see his ears. He does have long shaggy hair, with plenty to cut and I couldn't see exactly where it had come from. I was trying to stay ever so calm, but I was slowly losing it. I couldn't even bring myself to find the spots where he had cut it. I put him in the bathroom on a step, that is his and Elyse's time out spot. I really needed the time out more than he did. I was home alone with the kids, and I was feeling overwhelmed by just the nightly schedule.

As I was telling him to stay put, I noticed Elyse had some hair clippings stuck to her shirt. I was almost shaking by then but I did not raise my voice. I asked him if he had cut Elyse's hair. He knew better than to deny it. I asked him why he cut her hair and he said so we can see her ears too. I had to walk out at that time and shut the door. I went into the kitchen and took my frustration out on the dishes.

I finally went to get Christopher from time out and I checked his hair. Sure enough, big chunks are missing from above his ears. It isn't too noticeable, but I will probably have to take him for a haircut to get it fixed. He also cut a chunk out of Elyse's hair on one side, right below her ear lobe. I will probably leave it like it is. It isn't too noticeable. Not exactly how I envisioned her first haircut.

A hot bath would be nice, but I don't feel like scrubbing out the tub.

Missing our neighbor

About six years ago a couple moved in directly across the street from us. Lets call him Guy and her Lady. Guy and Lady seemed like complete opposites to me. Guy is an extrovert, Lady is an introvert, Guy is athletic with an athlete's body and Lady stays inside and doesn't have an athletic body, Guy is on the short side, Lady is tall and so on.

They weren't married, Lady had actually bought the house and Guy was moving in with her. Shacking up as Dr. Laura would say. I don't judge, if they were happy, well, it's their lives to live. They seemed happy and in love.

Guy knew everyone in the neighborhood. He would ride up and down the street on his bike talking to people and just being friendly. He would always yell hello across the street when I was out or wave as I drove off. He would venture across the road every now and then to talk, but never stayed too long. He never talked badly about the other neighbors and was just an up person.

The neighborhood children loved Guy. Guy was never too busy to toss the ball around with them, take them on group bike rides around the block or buy them ice cream from the ice cream truck. Guy is just generally an all around nice guy.

On New Years Eve I noticed Guy wasn't outside with the rest of us nerds at midnight, banging pans together and setting off fireworks, like he had been in years past. His car was gone. For the next several days his car was gone. We would never think of asking Lady where he was because she didn't talk to anyone. Every once in a while we would see Guy's car in his driveway and get excited thinking, Guy is back, he is home where he belongs. Then we would notice him putting boxes in his car.

Last night, Guy's car was back, he was in the driveway loading it up. He was alone so Dave ventured over there to talk to Guy. Sure enough, Guy had moved out, he is living in a neighboring city. He didn't say what had prompted his move, and Dave isn't one to pry so we will never know. We will probably never see Guy again.

It's strange how much quieter the street has become without Guy. How unfriendly it seems to be now. He was the glue that kept us connected. I feel as though I am mourning the fact that Guy is gone. We all are. We will miss Guy.

The story of a 1 year old insomniac and a desperate mom

For the last five nights in a row, around 1:30 a.m., Elyse comes down the hall and climbs into bed with us. If she would just lay there silently, be still and go back to sleep it wouldn't be a big deal. But she kicks, she kicks me mostly, she never kicks Dave. She then starts singing, she sings the ABC song over and over and over. Finally I turn on the T.V. in hopes that will quiet her. But you know what, there is nothing kid oriented at 2:00 in the morning. Actually, it is quite the opposite. I had to quickly turn past Girls Gone Wild commercials several times, ick. So we finally settle on Jay Leno reruns. Elyse actually seems to enjoy the Jayster, she will lay still and watch the entire show. That gives me a chance to drift back off to sleep.

Last night I was dreaming, dreaming that I was snorkeling in Hannamma Bay in Hawaii, a favorite place of ours. In my dream something went wrong, I couldn't breath through my snorkel and I couldn't seem to stand up, there was a great weight holding me under the water. I was drowning. Suffocating. Then instincts took over, and I woke with a start. Elyse was laying across my face and I couldn't breath. Was it an accident, or was she just mad because I had dozed off and was no longer watching late night Leno with her. I turned over and was mulling that over when she started kicking me in the back of the head.

I just couldn't take it anymore. I was exhausted and tired of being abused. I got up, pulled her out of bed and put her back to her bed. She was getting out of here bed even as I was trying to get out of her room. I ran, yes, I ran back to my room and locked the door. No, I am not proud of that but I was hoping she would go back to her bed when she realized she couldn't get to mine. She stood outside my door screaming mommy where are you? Over and over.

Just as I was starting to feel quite guilty and let her in, it got quiet, hmmm, maybe my plan had worked. No, soon there was a quiet knock at my door followed by Taylers voice. Elyse had gone for reinforcements. I told Tay to just go back to bed. It was still quiet, I waited, not wanting to go out too soon for fear she might hear me. I waited 25 minutes in darkness and silence. Then I quietly, oh so quietly I unlocked the door and slowly opened it and peered out into the hallway. Laying there on the floor all covered up was Tay and Elyse. Elyse instantly stood up and darted into my room and climbed into my bed. I told Tay to go back to bed and what a good sister she is.

So, Elyse has won. I can't have her keeping Tayler up all night and I don't know what else to do. She did finally go to sleep around 5:00 a.m. I finally went back to sleep about 5:30 and my alarm went off at 6:15. Another long night.

I have to keep wondering, what causes a one year old to get up in the middle of the night and stay awake for hours on end and still not be exhausted the next day. Most importantly, how long will this go on.

The street is not an ashtray!

I was on the road today running several errands. I saw at least five people flick their lit cigarette butts out their windows! I see this from time to time but not like this. I was at a stop light next to a lady when she flicked her butt out the window. I gave her a glare that should have set her on fire and she just looked at me. I couldn't let it go. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I rolled down the passenger side window and yelled, the street is not your personal ash tray, that is littering not to mention the fire danger. The wind is still blowing today and that butt could have easily been blown into the dry brush next to us. She just looked at me, I really wanted to smack her. Yes, I had road rage.

Then I went to the kids school to get them and there was a man standing right in front of the school smoking. Right in front of the school. Why not have a beer in front of the school too? This just irked me. I coughed a couple of times and shot him a look but he was clueless.

Is it Friday yet?

If a tree falls, an answer to the age old question, sort of

Everyone has heard the age old question about the tree falling in the Forrest.

I have an answer to another question. If a tree across the street is blown over, and hits another tree on the way down, does it make a sound.

Absolutely, YES! It makes a horrible cracking sound, followed by a big thud, followed by more cracking and finally two or three big thuds. Once the dust had settled, I was able to go out and survey the damage. The tree's came about three feet from taking out my car and about five feet from the garage.

Then there was another sound. The sound of city workers with chain saws cutting the trees up, and the sound of a wood chipper shredding them down to mere saw dust. Soon, I am sure we will hear the sound of cement trucks rolling through the neighborhood to fix the sidewalk that was left all twisted and shattered. Soon there will be no evidence of those two trees. Trees that had been there for probably thirty years.

Life goes on, thank God.

It's a pony tail day

The wind is whipping through the Southern part of the golden state today. It has been going on for a couple of days now and should continue through tomorrow. There are gusts up to 80 mph.

I hate the wind. I hate the noise. I hate the mess it creates. I hate how it dries out Christopher's little legs and makes them crack and bleed. I hate how it stirs up the dust an pollen and irritates Jeff's allergies and asthma. I hate how it makes our lips chap. I hate how it makes my hair whip around and tangle. I hate worrying about Dave being blown around the freeway on his way to and home from work. I hate the power outages it is sure to cause. I hate the wind. Did I mention that?

So, it is a pony tail day. My hair is pulled back into a tight pony tail and I pulled Tay's hair back into a tight braid. I put chap stick in everyone's pocket and I put extra lotion on Christophers legs. I medicated Jeff and sent a note to his teacher instructing her to call me if his asthma acts up.

At least it isn't raining.

Sunday Morning

I love Sunday mornings like today. It is chilly outside and we are holed up in the house. We have nowhere to go and nothing to do today. The smells of the potato and egg breakfast with a side of pancakes is still lingering in the air. The kids are scattered through the house, still in their jammies, playing games, reading books and watching t.v. Me, I am tucked under a blanket with the lap top surfing the net.

Later, we will hit the mall for a late lunch, and the book store for some new books. After a family movie and a popcorn dinner, we will tuck the kids into bed, and I will get to watch Desperate Housewives and then drift off to sleep. It is a good day.

Show and Tell: My Favorite Hat

These pics were taken by my nine year old daughter this morning on our way out the door for school. I am really not that short, I had to kneel so she could take the pics, she is short. My hair is all fluffy and hasn't been *styled* yet so please forgive the frizziness. I have lots of hats. As a redhead with fair skin I am a shade dweller. I have to wear hats when I am in the sun for long periods of time or I get sun stroke.

This is my favorite hat. I got it two summer ago when we went to Palm Springs. We stayed at a place called Dessert Springs Resort, that's what the hat says but I don't think it is legible in the picture. It was an awesome resort. Our Villa was right on the golf course and there were swimming pools everywhere. We took the week to just kick back and relax. Of course, it was 119 degrees there most days but it is a dry heat, and it didn't feel a degree over 118. We did put the kids in child care one day and make a feeble attempt to golf. Dave and I have always wanted to golf but with five kids it is not a luxury we can afford, money or time wise.

This is how I wear it on bad hair days.


This is how I wear it when I just want to embarrass the kids.

All About Me

I noticed something happening to me between Thanksgiving and New Years, something I said would never happen. I was becoming frumpy. I quit showering daily, yikes! I have always showered and washed my hair every day, ever since I was a teen. I do know there are some lucky ladies that don't have to wash their hair daily but I do. It isn't oily, but it clings to my head if it isn't cleansed daily. I got lazy and started sleeping late so when I would finally pull my big lazy body out of bed I would just have time to pull on some sweats and sweep my hair into a sloppy pony tail. Forget about makeup. I would trudge around the house like that all day and when it was time to get the kids I would put on a hat and sunglasses to hide behind so no one would notice how icky I was. I think I was kidding myself.

One day while getting dressed, I caught a glimpse of my half naked body in the mirror. Oh, the horror. There was that marshmallow man from Ghostbusters looking back at me. I looked over my shoulder, sure I would see him peering through my window, but no, it was actually my reflection in the mirror. A blanket of shame and embarrassment came over me. How could I let myself get to be like this? I mean, I knew I was chubby but this, not this! So I stepped on that horrible scale and sure enough, I am 50 pounds overweight. 50! Not the 20 pounds I was after having Elyse a year and a half ago but 50 pounds. I had gained 30 pounds in a year and a half.

I knew I was gaining weight, jeans don't lie. No wonder my diabetes has been out of control and my blood pressure is slowly rising. I wasn't taking care of myself. What happened to that person before kids? The one that played softball, soccer, the person who loved to kayak and mountain bike. I peered closer in the mirror, she has to be in there somewhere, I must find her and free her!

So a New Years Resolution was made. Starting January 1st, I would go back to Weight Watchers. I had had great success with WW after I had Jeff so I know it will work for me again. But wait, I couldn't start January 1st, we had a New Years party to go to and there was sure to be good food there to gorge myself on, the 2nd, I would start the 2nd. Then the 2nd rolled around and the kids and Dave were still home, and we still had the junk in the house, so I couldn't start until that was gone, right!? The 3d for sure would be my start date, yes the 3d!

The 3d came and I started to make yet another excuse, because you see, excuses are easier to make than changes, real changes. That's when I thought of the marshmallow guy that is holding the athletic girl hostage, he was smiling and taunting me. No more excuses. The 3d was my start day. I had a rough first week but since then I have been doing well.

I get up early and take my shower first thing and get dressed, in real clothes. I blow dry my hair and put on make up and face the day with determination and all the confidence I can muster. Now, I'm not saying that I will never have a -no shower, pony tail, no make up, wear sweats all day- again, just not everyday like that bad month.

I have spent so many years taking care of the needs of my family I neglected ME. I need to carve out some guilt free time for myself. I need to take care of me, I am important part of this family too. Now, I am not saying that I will now neglect the needs of my family, they are still the most important people in my life. I am just saying that I deserve the same care too.

The Lonely Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs get lonely, who would have thought? The picture isn't very good, but what inhabits the pink shell is a crab named Pinky Tuscaderro, Pinky for short. She belongs to Tayler. She is huddled up againts the empty shell of her companion, and long time friend American. American died a few weeks ago. American was Jeff's crab and we were all very sad when he passed on, but none was sadder than Pinky. Pinky and American would sleep in a half coconut house together. Upon Americans passing, I left the shell in the habitat for decoration. Then I started to notice that everytime I looked into the habitat, Pinky was next to Americans shell, even when she should have been in her half coconut house sleeping the day away, as hermit crabs seem to do. So we all started to pay more attention to Pinky. I would put her in the cup holder of the stroller and take her to pick up the kids at school and she loved it. She loved the sunshine and all the attention she gets from the school kids. She became quite social. When we would come into the room she would crab walk to the side of her habitat to see us. When she hears my voice she pops out of her shell to see me. She would watch t.v. with us and watch us play games. She became one of the family. Strange? Yes.


But she was still lonely. I really didn't want anymore pets, quite frankly I was waiting for her to pass on so we could be pet free. But the look in her beaty little eyes was just so sad and sullen. So we had to get her a companion. We went to the pet store, and they had a whole mess of hermit crabs, hundreds it looked like. That's when I got the idea. What if I brought Pinky back and just quietly placed her in the tank with the other hermit crabs? No one would ever notice, and she would have all the friends she could handle. Well, the kids would not go along with that idea, and to be honest I have become quite attached to Pinky and I would have missed her. So, we bought her three companions. She seems to have bonded with one in particular, a small brown one. I find them huddled together often, in their half coconut home. She still comes to see me when I call her and she is much more content now. Pinky is lonely no more.

Space Germs

I was watching the news last night, there was a report on the return to Earth of space dust. From what I remember, years ago they sent up a space probe to collect the dust from a comet and then they brought the dust back to Earth.

That got me to thinking. I wonder what could be in there, I mean they think comets are made up of ice, will they open it up and find a glass of water? It did get pretty hot when it came through the atmosphere so maybe it all just evaporated.

Then again, they are hoping to find some kind of dust and particles. I am not naive enough to believe that we are the only beings in this big vast universe, I don't think the space center would be that naive either, would they? What if they open up that canister and release some kind of super bug space germ into the atmosphere. What if comets are really medical waste barges dumped from other universes. I just don't know if it is such a good idea to bring foreign, I mean really foreign matter back to our little blue planet.

They say that they can study this *dust* and it will help *us* understand the birth of our solar system. They spent billions on this expedition, BILLIONS! This got me to thinking again. WOW, what could I do with billions of dollars? I really don't even want billions of dollars, maybe a few million but billions, too much to think about. But what else could this money have gone for? Maybe it could have bought food for the many kids that go to bed hungry in our country, other countries. How about clothes, shelter, education, medical care, medical research, medicine etc.

What is more important, learning about the *birth* of our solar system or taking care of the people that are here, I mean, we are here, how we got here isn't that important, is it? Surviving here is important, taking care of each other is important, isn't it?

I was just thinking.

Vegas, Baby

The Stratosphere Hotel, pic taken from the fwy.

So, Dave got some time off work so we decided to take some much needed family time and take a trip to Las Vegas. I would love to share the details with ya' all but you know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

I will say that we had a fantastic time and we were sad to come home to the same 'ole routine.

Has this ever happened to you?

I was rushed to get out of the house yesterday morning. I planned on going straight to do the grocery shopping after dropping the kids off at school. Half way through my shopping, Christopher said mom, why couldn't I wear my slippers to the store and you did? I looked down and sure enough, there were my pink fuzzy slippers staring back up at me.

From then on shopping was a complete flop. Elyse wouldn't sit down, Christopher pulled a box of poptarts out from the bottom of the display and an avalanche ensued and I had no checks when I got to the cashier. Those were just some of the events that happened.

Next time I will wait until the weekend or when Dave is home to watch the kids.

Update on the loneliest boy

Jeff came out of school yesterday with a big smile on his face, he had made two new friends at recess and he was so excited to have had playmates.

Then I noticed something interesting on our walk home. Several, eight maybe nine children would yell out "bye Jeff" and wave at him. I thought, for such a lonely child, who wanders the playground with his hands in his pockets, well, he sure has a lot of friends. Once we got home two more kids came by wanting to know if he could come out and play.

Today was more of the same.

I think I was sucked into his story, his drama. I have been suckered, I hope.

All is good in Jeff's world again and my heart is singing.

Back to our regularly scheduled programs

First day of school in September.

The three older kids went back to school today after being out for slightly more that two weeks. They are all wearing new Christmas clothes, new shiny shoes and they all had hair cuts yesterday. It is almost like starting the school year over again.

I miss them. The younger kids miss them terribly. Elyse keeps wandering around the house calling their names. Christopher keeps asking if it is time to go get them yet.


Jeff is our middle child, he is seven and in the second grade. He is a wonderful child (yes, I am biased) who hardly gives us a moment of trouble. He is our art-sy child. He loves drama, he wants to perform and be an actor when he grows up. He draws and paints. He writes his own plays and acts them out for us. He also loves baseball and football and girls, god help us. He is quite the story teller and can draw us in and make us believe we are right there living it with him.

I was helping Jeff comb his hair last night after his shower and he started to tell me the saddest story. It seems that he *broke up* with his best friend a few weeks ago. Best friend was very demanding and insisted they only play what he wanted to play. Jeff didn't seem to agree and in his words at recess one day he broke up with best friend. It was all I could do not to laugh at the phrase. I was proud of him for standing up for himself. At seven that must have been very difficult for him.

The story continued on. Since the time of the said break up, he has no one to play with. He said he walks around at recess with his hands in his pockets and looks at his shoes. That broke my heart, so I called Dave in to hear the story and share my pain. I seriously wanted to cry at that point, I could just picture my poor miserable little boy stumbling around the big playground with his hands in his pockets feeling lonely. He kept telling us how the other kids were playing and having fun and oh, how he wished he could have fun too.

Jeff on the school playground last month when I was a parent volunteer. He looks like he is having fun.

We suggested several alternatives, why not ask some other kids to play. He replied that we don't allow him to talk to strangers (there are six second grade classes at his school). I did try to explain the difference between strangers and kids his age being playmates but he said he was too shy. Why not play with so and so from your class, I asked. He can't find them at recess time he replied(there are easily 300 kids on the playground at recess time). Try the swings, jungle gym or slide we begged! They are too crowded, he said with a deep sigh. We were out of ideas by that time, so we hugged him and asked him to just try some of the things we suggested, he agreed. Then I gave him ice cream and let him beat me at Uno over and over. You know, to build his confidence.

So here I sit, knowing he is at lunch recess and all I can think about is my lonely boy wandering the playground, wishing he could have fun too. I am so hoping this story isn't as sad as he makes it out to be, he can be quite dramatic. I wanted to go play with him at recess, I want to *spy* on him at recess to make sure he is okay, ya know?

My heart hurts.

Five Weird Things

I was tagged by Slacker Mom to share five weird things about myself. I had to whittle it down to get just five, okay six.

1) I can wiggle my nose up and down better than Samantha on Bewitched.

2) I like to eat raw dough. Cake, cookie, brownie, it doesn't matter what kind, I like them all.

3) My middle toes are crooked, they bend outward at a weird angle. I was self conscious about them for many years and wouldn't wear open toed shoes but now I could care less. I think they add character to my feet.

4) I have to sleep with a pillow over my head, it has to completely cover my head with a little space open at the bottom so I can breath.

5) I don't like french fries, potato chips, ice tea or watermelon or any melons for that fact. I wish I did like those things because everyone else does, at least everyone I know does. I feel like such a freak for not liking those things.

6) A bonus: I am grossed out by meat. I was raised vegetarian and I have never eaten, sea food, turkey, chicken or pork (that I am aware of). I have eaten exactly two steaks in my entire life. If I did eat meat it had to be a burger covered in cheese and a bun so I couldn't see it at all. I ate beef for maybe two years and then gave it up completely 18 years ago. I still miss big macs.

Happy New Years!

The kids in Las Vegas at the Luxor a month ago.

Happy 2006! We had a pretty uneventful day. It rained off and on most of the day and I hear a storm is coming down from the North tomorrow that is going to be pretty bad. It looks like it is going to rain on the Rose parade for the first time in over fifty years.

I made a cabbage stew and cornbread for lunch, I read a long time ago that it is good luck to eat cabbage on New Year day so we have it every year. Since we aren't big cabbage fans, unless of course it is grated and covered in dressing and so many seasonings you can't actually taste the cabbage, over the years it has become more stew than cabbage stew.

Later in the afternoon it was dark and raining out so I decided a movie would be nice. I thought about calling a friend to go but I decided I really just wanted to go alone. I didn't want to hastle with what theater to go to, where to meet, what time we should go etc... I just wanted to go. So I went. I saw the Family Stone, such a good movie, I recommend it. I laughed and I cried, and I cried. I was glad I was alone.

Last night was a great success. Except for the fact that Elyse decided to poop at the restaurant and I had no diapers with me. I took her dirty diaper off and cleaned her up and pulled her tights up and said a silent prayer that she wouldn't pee on the way home, she didn't. We watched Elf and at 10:00 p.m. I told Christopher and Elyse that it was midnight and we had a mini celebration and put them to bed. Deceitful, I know, but they were tired. The rest of us played games until close to midnight then we watched the rebroadcast of the ball dropping in NYC. The kids and Dave went outside and banged pots and pans together with the other neighbors who were also setting fireworks off. Then finally, to bed.