Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Holiday Highlights

What a wonderful Christmas! So fun to be with family that we haven't seen in a while. So blessed to share a small piece of life with people I love. I got to enjoy some little things this week at the farm. Cooking and washing dishes could have been a drag, but it was wonderful to be helpful and useful for others. Sharing gifts with those we love was a joy. Seeing the faces light up and the smiles take over.. people getting what they wanted with no strings attached.

So here are some pictorial highlights.. notice the small things, please.

Oma Hugs are the best!

I can't believe they took the time to pose so sweetly!

James and Julie always go great together. What a wonderful brother and sister I have!

Sisters! See the family tree behind them on the wall?? They come from a long line of sisters, but share a love so sweet!

This is a table full of food, that represents tradition and love and effort and all those fabulous family things. I am so blessed to have a family that values that. Notice, no turkey, it's roast beef with Yorkshire Pudding and other fun treats.

Every "kid" table has it's own personality. I can't pick just one for this table! These are kids who have tons of individuality and personality!

Dad likes to play tough. And he is tough. Shhh, don't tell, but he's a softie, too. Especially when it comes to his family. Love Granddaddy's Marine "fighting" ring there. By the way, he's protecting his Yorkshire Pudding!

I love stockings! Here are ours. Can you guess who gets which one?

An angel shared the news of the birth of Jesus. This one has been hanging around our house for over a decade. She's got some news to share too. Jesus is born!

Such handsome men and what a legacy!

I am truly blessed!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Tell me it's over.. PLEASE

We have turned the proverbial corner. The sick one seems to be fungus, fever, and puke free. He actually ate a real meal today and played chase with his brother. Friends, that is the first time in 7 days he has done that. Despite his worn out, thin as a crack addict look, I think it is all good. The bones and dark circles will go away after a few regular meals and some good sleep. He has settled in to playing some X-Box in the horizontal position, but we are well on our way. I am definitely looking forward to a great Christmas on the farm.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Whew! I should have a medical degree.. or something

When our kid gets sick, we work hard to make them well. Along the way, I have picked up a few tricks.

Trick 1: I avoid nasal decongestants that simply thicken the snot. That leaves me with 1 or 2 options to deal with head congestion. Guaifsasen and the equate nasal spray make a wicked 1-2 punch.

Trick 2: I put myself in the mindset that sleep is optional and get some whenever I can. Having awoken to child gagging on snot for several days in a row, I am in prime condition.

Trick 3: The use of unused prescriptions should be handled carefully, but is totally an option. Remember that little used script from the summer that is floating around the medicine drawer? It could be handy if a mass of mouth fungus arrives.

Trick 4: pray pray pray..

Trick 5: When it's not working, go to the damn clinic and get some antibiotics. Don't dawdle around and wonder if you should wait until morning. Usually, sooner is better if you the little patient isn't perking up.

Trick 6: After 6 days of battling the gunk, be ok with scrapping your plans for Christmas holiday domination and settle for corn dogs, rented movies, and doing a little laundry.

Trick 7: Keep a list of when differnent medications were given. It's so hard to remember what was given when. The combinations of acetiminophen, ibuprophen, 2 decogestants, mouth fungus removal pills, and antibiotics with different dosages and time spans can get a little hard to manage when you are sleep deprived. If you don't keep track, bad things can happen.

Trick 8: Remember to thank the husband for understanding when you are too tired to cook a healthy meal. Corn dogs are substantial and will get them through until tomorrow.

So, I am off to do some laundry and check on the sick one who is finally eating more than 2 mouthfuls in a setting.  Looks like things are looking up!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,
  I hope you and the Mrs. are doing well in the days preceeding your busy night. I truly hope and pray that the elves have kept up their productivity and the reindeer are prepared for their supporting role in the festivities of the 24th.
   The W'ham's are well and have just a few simple requests.  Mr. W'ham would like a smooth ending to his Masters' classes. See, with just one class left, set to be finished the first week of January, he's kind of waiting for the next shoe to drop. So, can you bring him peace of mind and completed paperwork? And some speakers for the entertainment center. And maybe even a new "how to build a deck" book? He seems to have lost his other ones.
   Son #1 is my manic planner and would like to become a Lego engineer. He has a life plan that, with several contingencies mapped out. He  seems to have it all under control. So, what do you get for the boy who has everything?? I don't know either. Perhaps if you could get him a love for people other than his best friends? Maybe help him to be a little more understanding of people less intense than he is? Oh yeah, and maybe a razor, because I think he might need one really soon. And some pants that are long enough would be great.
   Son #2 is insanely curious about his world and how things work. He doesn't have a favorite anything other than video games. He loves to solve those problems, as long as they aren't too hard. Then he gets frustrated, much like his Mama. He is not interested in reading, except when it involves things he shouldn't be reading. So, if you could bring him the code for how to read, that would be great. He's getting there, but could use a bit of a push. Oh, and a haircut that doesn't make his cowlick stick straight up would be grand. And some pants without holes in the knees. And socks.. matching socks.
   Now Mama W'ham's list is a bit more simple. She would like a maid to keep her house neat. If that is not possible, perhaps some initiative to help from the menfolk in her world. She would love to find a new author to read that provides a creative and fresh perspective to the literary world. And finally she would like to have a deck in her backyard, some trees removed, and a plumber on retainer. Simple, see?

  So, dear sweet Santa, Merry Christmas to you. May you be blessed and have a wonderful, safe trip. I'll see you soon with cookies and cocoa waiting.

Yours Always,
The W'ham Guardian House Elf

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Topics of Conversation

The Tactile One took me on a date tonight. He made sure to get permission from Daddy and repeated often that this was a "play" date. He has been well trained that only Daddy takes Mommy on a real date. After peeling him away from the X-Box, we had a lovely meal at Rico's Grill. It's good Mexican food. But the conversation was better.

Everyone who has ever been on a date knows that conversation is everything. And, WOW, the topics we discussed: The emotional evolution of Batman and his parent issues, the difference between a tenor and alto saxophone, the gelataneous consistencies of various cheeses, how to make fried ice cream, how to draw a good draft beer, proper and improper ways of salting chips, and why opening doors for girls is important. And that was just during dinner. Velocity of air bags, common favorite fairy tales, how 3d movies are made, why popcorn pops, what makes elevators stop working, the engineering of parking garages, and why we don't have Christmas lights outside were other highlights. Feel free to use any of these on a date if you are searching for something to say. In fact, you can bookmark this for easy retrieval if you'd like.

I'm a little worried that he is such a good date. That kid can carry a conversation and ask questions and charm anyone within 30 feet. He is a natural! Sweet smiles, funny faces, holding hands without presuming, and a desire to make sure everyone has a good time. He is a born charmer and a great kid. I am so blessed!

I hope he asks me out again. I'll wait a day or two for him to call before I get worried.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thoughts for Thursday

Things I've overheard recently that made me laugh, giggle, or groan....


"Mom, can you marry a car? Because I LOVE that one right there."

As the smell of an SBD wafts across the living room, all citizens start looking at one another and I hear, "Ewww! That one was cheesy!"

"Let's play He, She or It! You guess the gender." Yeah, that one was at the RenFest, of course.

"Ok, Finds, Kills, or Gets Killed? Which one?" We obviously watch too many crime dramas with the children.

"Oh, it's just like Diagon Ally in Harry Potter." Proclaimed by the oldest upon entering the RenFest  compound. Very astute, I thought.