Dear Emily and Katherine,

Please remember to be very specific with your younger, very literal, sees everything as black or white sister.  For example, if you are telling her that you don't want her following you, please be sure to also say that it doesn't mean that she can't even be in the same room as you, or that you may not tolerate her following you every once in a while.  Otherwise she will think that because you said it once, you mean it to be a permanent thing.  If you then say that she can come in the room you are in, she will accuse you of lying when you told her not to follow you in the first place.  If you are letting her use one of your toys, please make her aware of the "terms of use."  If she can use your doll but you don't want her taking said doll's shoes off or if she can use your DSi game but for only a limited time, you must make her aware of this.  If you aren't very specific, your doll's shoes could be removed and, she may think that you have in fact given her the DSi game for an unlimited time and possibly even forever. For Julia, it's all in the details.  Please be generous and abundant when providing them.  In the case of Julia, there is no such thing as too much information.

Sincerely, Mom

Silly Ladybug

Last night, shortly after Julia had gone to bed, I heard a blood curdling scream, followed by crying come from her room.  I ran out of the office to see what had happened, expecting to find, I don't know, maybe a missing limb or something.  Instead, I found her sitting up in bed, crying with a look of sheer terror on her face.  When I asked what was wrong, she said, "There was a hard bug...and it was in my hair!"  Whatever it was had vacated her head (we discovered that it was a lady bug that we found on her bed a few minutes later)so I hugged her, told her it was ok and tried, in vain, to settle her down.  Nothing was working to calm her...she was seriously scared, and no explanation of anything was working.  Julia being Julia had many, many questions about the whole thing .  How did it get in the house?  Why are bugs attracted to light?  Should I shut off my aquarium?  Should we shut off the hall light?  Are slugs attracted to light because slugs rhymes with bugs (No, I am not kidding, she really said that)?  How did I finally get her to settle down enough to go back to sleep?  Observe the picture below taken a few nights ago with my phone camera:

I told her that the one that landed in her hair must have thought that her ladybug Pillow Pet was a real lady bug and they were going to hang out.  After basically a good twenty minutes of crying, questioning, and me playing a live version of an encyclopedia on bugs, this explanation elicited this response from Julia, followed shortly by her peacefully falling asleep: "That ladybug is so silly!  Didn't he know that my Pillow Pet was too big to be a real lady bug?"

Seriously, I love that kid!

I don't want to...

...start the year off on a bad note, but seriously?  I am all set with this family getting the stomach bug twice in two weeks time (that is assuming that Emily passes it on to the rest of us).  I was only half joking when I said on Twitter that I was considering wearing a mask to fend off the germs.  Besides Emily's illness, Katherine has a massive cold and Julia just got over croup.  I guess I should be thankful that this was all either right before or right after Christmas and not during.  That doesn't make it any less annoying that some of us are sick now, and some of use are just waiting for it to hit us (and hoping and praying that it does not).

So if you could all send some healthy vibes this way, it would be much appreciated!

*UPDATE* Katherine's cold...turned in pneumonia.  Lovely.  At least the doctor was thorough and listened to her chest when we went in with a complaint of an earache.  She's was prescribed a Z-pack so she will hopefully be on the mend soon.

And really universe, a stomach bug for the family, a relapse for Emily, croup for Julia, and now pneumonia for Katherine...I think we've paid our dues, thankyouverymuch.

Blizzard Pictures

Yes, I went out in the middle of a blizzard and took pictures. It was worth the trek through the snow to get these shots (which are just a small sample of the many I took).

One of the few trees in the open field out beyond my backyard.

The birdhouse picture is my favorite of the bunch.

Yup, it was definitely blizzard-like.

Love this one with the birdhouse in the distance.

This one is looking out on the field that borders my back yard. So pretty.

Holiday Weekend Review

What a great weekend this was. There truly is nothing like the magic of Christmas...I am so glad I have kids to remind me of that.

One of the best moments of the whole weekend was on Christmas morning. Julia came downstairs, saw all of her presents under the tree and exclaimed (with a combination of shock and joy), "Mama, I was a good girl!" She is so funny. She really takes everything about the traditions and stories of Christmas quite seriously. She asked me numerous times about people getting coal in their stocking and was legitimately concerned that the Grinch would try to steal our Christmas.

We spent a good part of day today opening and assembling toys and organizing the house. Opening the toys was like trying to break in to Fort Knox. I don't remember toys being so hard to get in to when I was a kid, but, then again, I wasn't the one opening them. I am probably just forgetting.

I am looking forward to the week off with the kids. Hopefully, it will be a relaxing and enjoyable week.

Things That have Been On My Mind

(in list form out of sheer laziness).

-I am wondering if it is wrong that I am already looking forward to the summer even though winter hasn't even officially begun yet. It's probably not healthy. Really fast forwarding though the entire month of March would be good enough.

-I am thinking that I should make a New Year's Resolution in which I resolve to go to bed by 10 at least 3 of 7 nights a week.

-I am very impressed with the amount of Christmas shopping I have done already but even more impressed with the amount that is wrapped...and two full weeks before Christmas!

-The Blackberry Torch is awesome.

-I need to go on a "reading retreat." Seriously I have such a backlog of books I want to read going on right now and I never seem to get enough "reading time" in. Before bed every night just isn't enough.

-I have an idea book...a place to keep track of the many ideas I get from day to day. This is great but I need to be better about making all the great ideas come to fruition.

-Also, I need to stop being afraid to ask for help. Some of the ideas I have are BIG...and taking in to consideration the rest of my everyday life, there is no way it would be possible to make them happen without assistance.

-And now? I need to go to bed...at 10:30...not so bad.
-

Ring Ring Ring

I don't like to talk on the phone. Actually, I pretty much hate it. It is much worse for me from an anxiety perspective when I actually have to talk to someone on the phone that I don't know. Even when it is someone who I am completely comfortable with (who are far and few between) I still would rather talk in person or even better through some other form of communication (email, text).

Whoever invented caller id is my hero. When the phone rings and I can see who it is calling, I can make a decision about whether I want to talk. I have to be in the mood to talk and in the right frame of mind. I can almost guarantee that if someone is calling from a number I don't recognize or worse, from a blocked line, I won't answer. I am just not comfortable being put on the spot.

Another phone related issue...when someone calls and does not leave a message. Even more annoying than that...when someone calls repeatedly and doesn't leave a message. Obviously if you are calling me you have something to say. I have a voice mail so you can say it, so would you, pretty please?

So, to the person who has called multiple times today (at least I am guessing it is the same person but regardless) not only from a blocked line but also not leaving a message: Unblock your number and I may answer and for the love of God leave a message!

P.S. Yes, I know have a little stranger/social anxiety. Knowing is half the battle though right?