Santa's Sleigh

Santa's sleigh just recently had a very expensive visit to the Rochester Ford service department.  I had noticed some slight vibration when driving recently; however nothing was lighting up on my dash board so I just assumed it was the pains of a vehicle with 75,000 miles on the odometer.  Nothing worse then an unexpected vehicle expense, with Christmas just around the corner.

I have a zit on my face that could literally acquire it's own zip code.  I am not sure if it is a result of the changing weather, pre-holiday preparations, the ATTEMPTS at getting a recent family photo for our Christmas card, or unseasonably busy work month.  It is likely a combination of all of the aforementioned items.  I like to think I don't sweat the small stuff, but between a sick child, rearranging my last week's work schedule, and an absentee husband (for the month of November)...I think it may be my body's way of telling me that it is very PISSED off at my late nights, and caffeine overload.

We have a family trip planned for the weekend, so I am looking forward to that.  However traveling is not always the most relaxing activity, when you are doing it with a rambunctious Toddler.  Jake will be participating in a seminar for work, so James and I are on our own. Luckily, we are headed to The Kalahari so there should be plenty of stimulation to wear my "busy" man out!  Saturday we are headed to visit some very good friends who also have kids.  The men have graciously volunteered their services for child care, so the ladies are heading out!

Cheating

I feel so dirty, I have done something AWFUL.  I have cheated on my FAVORITE holiday, Thanksgiving.  I am usually very adamant that the Christmas decorating does not take place until after Thanksgiving, which is arguably my favorite holiday.  I had to make an exception this year.  James had a night away with Grandma this weekend, and Jake was hunting.  I was left with a very empty and quiet house.  So I decided I might as well be productive.  Finished the laundry, paid the bills, made a Target run for groceries and a few Christmas gifts, AND finished a book.  What was I going to to do with the remainder of my day?  Looking ahead to next week, all I could think of was our busy holiday schedule.  Traveling to Onalaska, Thanksgiving, Swimming Lessons, Holiday photos, etc.  Ummm, when am I supposed to put up a tree?  And I will give you a wild guess where Jake will be.............HUNTING!  I had full disclosure of this expensive and time-consuming hobby prior to getting married, so I try to keep the complaining to a minimum.

So, the house is ready for Christmas.  I vowed to keep the tree lights turned off until after Thanksgiving, and I saved the fun task of hanging the ornaments.  So we can come home from stuffing our faces for two solid days, and trim the tree.  I cheated again, and turned the lights on today for James' enjoyment.  He was in awe for all of 1 minute, and then moved on to something else.

James is sick, shocker I know!  I am anxiously awaiting our 6-month mark at day care, which is when he will supposedly be less apt to illness.  Just when we experience the absence of a runny nose, he decides it would be a good idea to stick one of the most popular classroom toys in his mouth (a.k.a. the community petri-dish).  Better that he be sick now, versus when he gets to school and has to make up a days worth of homework without the help of a teacher.  I am truly dreading the day that math problems (that contain anything other then numbers) start being plopped down on my desk.  How do you tell your child that aside from basic addition and subtraction, they are on their own?  Good think my husband is much more capable in the math and science department.  Sleep has been difficult for him the past few nights, so I will likely keep him home with me tomorrow.  Which means I will have some shifting of work priorities, but nothing that cannot be handled or rescheduled.  I would be extremely thankful if we could all be healthy on Thanksgiving.

Tinkle, Tinkle Little Star

James decided to use the potty tonight!  I really have no experience, or idea of what potty training consists of but figured that I would be able to use the standard method of trial and error.  He gets the opportunity to use the potty at school before every diaper change, and I assumed he would start to see some of the older kids and naturally want to follow suit.  So in all fairness, I cannot take all the credit.  I must take a moment to thank all those little munchkins in his class!

I can't believe it is only Tuesday, how can this be?  Part of the problem may be that it has taken me a few days to recover from my weekend of fun.  I guess you couldn't even consider it a weekend, it was really only a DAY!  Jake and I went to the Badger/Gopher game in Minneapolis with some friends this weekend.  I was determined to have a fun night out, since we had a hotel room to venture back to and no alarm clock (aka Hungry Toddler at 5:45 a.m.) to wake up to!  I lasted until 1:30 A.M......not even really sure how since most evenings are wrapped up by 8 p.m., and I am snuggling with my NOOK.  I am going to climb into bed, and hope that a much more rested version of myself rises tomorrow!