Post Holiday Blahs? Nah.

Ok, I will be the first to admit, once HappyTime(tm) has passed I can tend to get a bit down. January just seems so bleak... its cold, I'm pale, nothing fits well (thank you extra holiday goodies) and there just isn't much to look forward to. Or at least that is one way of looking at it.

One of my NY resolutions this year is to start looking for the silver lining more instead of just noticing the cloud. So, it is in that spirit that today, instead of looking at all the downers, I will look at all my blessings!

1. I have the most amazing husband on the face of this planet. My husband puts up with me - which is saying a lot. I'm not the world's easiest person to live with. He works so hard to provide everything our family needs and to make me happy. And he does both beautifully. In addition, whoever came up with the term "co-parenting" clearly was thinking of my hubby. In fact there are times I feel like I'm the one slacking off while he carries the load. I'm a very lucky woman to have him in my life.

2. My daughter is beautiful, smart, healthy and happy. I know all parents think their children are the best, smartest, etc etc. And I'm no different. Which is a wonderful thing. I am just as in love with my child as I am with my husband which makes for a very happy home life. Of course there are times she is a challenge (or just being a parent is a challenge) but those are the times she (and the family as a whole) are growing and developing and so for those times I am grateful. My daughter amazes me everyday.

3. I have a wonderful home. Yes, we are trying to sell and have been for quite some time - but it will happen. Houses don't stay on the market for decades... just months. We just have to wait that out, and then we get to build our dream. But in the meantime we have a wonderful home that keeps us safe, warm and dry. We have the house that we came home to after our honeymoon. We have the house we brought our first child home to. We have more than enough space and all the amenities we could ever need.

4. My family is near me and healthy. Right now, for the first time in a long time, my entire immediate family is in the same area. I know it won't last forever but its sure nice right now. In addition, my family all are hale and hearty. There will come a time when my parents will face some of the golden year health challenges. But for now, everyone is nearby, healthy and blessed.

5. Hubby and I both have jobs and they are ones we enjoy. In the current economy it would be enough that we had jobs that met our needs. But we are both lucky enough to have jobs that we enjoy - most of the time. We both like what we do, and whom we work with and that makes each day so much easier. We are fortunate to have the paychecks we do, and while I like to think we've been smart with our finances, having the jobs we do allows us to be able to do some of the fun things in life which keep us balanced and fulfilled.

I could go on listing many, many more. But I think that's enough for today. I've made my point - both hopefully to you dear reader, and more importantly to myself. So happy new year, and may 2009 bring you all the blessings you can count!

Time Flies - When You Feel Like Crap

Every year.  I'm serious - just about every year that I can remember, I get sick for the holidays.  Usually right at Christmas but sometimes it comes on around New Years.  Such is the case this year.  I squeaked by CMas for the most part, but am sitting here in my fuzzy robe and socks, hair stringy and flat, nose red as Rudolph's with a mountain of Kleenex next to my keyboard and one stuffed up each nostril.  My husband is such a lucky man.

And on top of everything we decided this year would be a great year to start a new holiday tradition - hosting our "first annual" NYE party.  It sounded like a great idea at the time - and would be still - if I could breathe.  Or swallow.  But at this point, since my symptoms didn't come on in full force until yesterday there is no turning back.  You can't cancel NYE for 20 of your friends.  I just wish I felt tremendously better.  I wish I had the energy to be the hostess with the mostest.  Instead I'll probably greet everyone, make sure all the food is out and drinks are filled, and then I imagine around 10:00 I will leave hubby to entertain the masses and excuse myself off to bed.   Neato.  

You know, I cannot really remember a NYE that has lived up to the hype.  Last year, due to the caucus (and hubby's lack of understanding of advance reservations) we had no where to go eat.  When we did find someplace that could still fit us in, our little one decided not to cooperate and got very sick.  We spent the evening with my parents at our house eating pizza and playing Sequence.  It was fun, but not exactly the stuff movie scripts are made of.  

So on top of an already crappy holiday season (I'll probably explain more at some point - maybe not...) I now get to spend my NYE sick with 20 drunk people in my house.  I'm just cranky I don't get to be one of them.

Amen

From time to time (ok most of the time) I feel guilty about the things I don't get done in a day... in a week... in a month. Near the top of that list (kinda near blogging) is keeping in close contact with friends.  The sad truth is that unless I work with or near them, it just doesn't happen on a regular basis.  Luckily a lot of my friends are mommies so they "get it".  They live it.  But some of them aren't and I always wonder if they feel like I've abandoned them.  I think some non-mommy folks tend to feel that once a friend has kids, that friend decides nothing exists in life other than their new bundle of joy.  Its not exactly true - but the result ends up being the same.  So many of the moms I know tell me how they wish they could live a double life - have the child they ardore but still have plenty of free time to get in spa trips, shopping, and time with girlfriends.  But the bottom line is that you don't.  And since you are responsible for the life you brought into the world - you happily accept that fact.  But it hurts when your friends don't.

One of my best mommy friends sent me this article, and while perhaps a little harsh on the questioner, still makes a very valid point.  I'm posting it here for all to see.  If its too small in the frame below, just click on it and it will open up an enlarged view.

Yeah I Get It

Ok ok ok I haven't blogged in a while.  Like a long while.  Like forever.  But things here have been nuts.  With holiday prep, shopping and baking, and fitting in that work thingie there has not been much room for the ol blog.

And tonight is no exception.  I write for no other reason than to tell those who still check in (all 2 of you ... thanks mom) that I will be back soon.  But just not tonight.  And I haven't forgotten about you!!

I just have to get some of that free time stuff everyone keeps talking about....

Letter to Santa

This was too god not to steal from my cousin and post here!

Dear Santa,

I've been a pretty good mom this year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than the doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. Sold enough popcorn and cookies to send a small town to scout camp this summer. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, (I've had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles,) who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years to write again.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy/toy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint-resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that won't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide a few candy bars.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. A nice hiding place to talk on the phone would be a real "plus"!

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother/sister," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog or the neighbors.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to shower, brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. Here's a novel idea...I get to go to the restroom uninterrupted...and alone!

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and I think my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. (I suspect he wants his crayon back.) Have a safe trip, remember to leave your wet boots by the door, then come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to the cookies on the table but please don't eat too many (you'll make yourself sick!) or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...!

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can just keep my children young enough to continue believing in you.