Merry Christmas, everyone. This video, taken last night, is too priceless not to share with family and friends. My mom and Sophie dancing up a storm – what could be better? The little one definitely has some talent. And a good ear. Grammy keeps up pretty well herself, I might add.
Category Archives: Frazzled Working Mom’s Fleeting Moments (2007-2013)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The four of us are sitting in our cozy den watching the annual holiday showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” We’re enjoying the Grinch song and watching the Grinch dog fall over from the weight of his faux reindeer antlers.
This classic cartoon is helping me get into the holiday spirit after another much-too-eventful day at work. Only 1/2 day left to go. By the way, we didn’t win the lottery. Crap.
Sophie spent time with her papa today making little creatures out of corks. Very cute. They’re painted lots of different colors and there’s a whole colony of them currently residing on our dining room table. I have no idea what they’re going to do with them, other than add matchstick legs and build a house out of legos for them to live in – we’ll see. The essential thing is that Sophie had some super quality time with her dad today. And I think they may have even bought me a couple of presents, too. Yippee.
Not Soon Enough
1 1/2 days until vacation. First vacation since July (how many times have I mentioned this on my blog?). I had another fun-filled day at work. Speaking of which, I played Mega-Millions the other day and the drawing is tonight.
I’m finding myself dreaming of winning the lottery more frequently than I used to. Wonder why that is. And since a cousin won the lottery years ago with a group of colleagues and my best friend’s brother won the lottery in England years ago as well, the odds of my also winning are pretty much slim to none. But spending a couple of dollars every few months can’t hurt, because you just never know.
So when we win the lottery, there are lots of things I’m going to change. Quit our jobs, to begin with. Volunteer instead. Spend lots and lots of quality time with my girls. Buy a home in France so that we can spend more time there. We need to start introducing the girls to their European heritage. Travel the world. Start a charity. It’s fun to dream. Do you hear the deep sighs?
Soft Bellies
I am cold. It’s very cold outside and there’s no thaw in sight. My hands, which are never cold, are cold. Hell, my butt is cold. Sophie and Chloe aren’t cold, however. They’re so warm when I touch them, I don’t want to let go of them.
But they don’t like to be smothered. Especially not by their mom. Which means that I’m still cold! I was rubbing Sophie’s belly earlier and it was toasty. And oh so soft. I love my girls’ soft bellies. I hope their bellies stay soft forever.
Two and a half days until vacation. And then I’ll have lots of opportunities to rub bellies before 2010. Can’t wait.
Sea of White
The snowstorm came. And blanketed the region in beautiful white fluffy stuff. The girls came home from their weekend at Grammy’s, having been cozily ensconced in a 33-story apartment building, to a yard full of enticing snow. They had a snowball fight and with Papa’s help, gathered a bunch of snow into a pile. Why a pile? So they could jump in it. Not sure how that turned out, but Chloe and Sophie were happy.
Our neighbor kindly cleared our driveway for us with his snowblower. A very nice gesture that won’t go unforgotten. The time saved, not to mention the muscle aches – boy, were we thankful. The snow was light, but there was a hell of a lot of it and it was taking us a long time to clear it away.
Back to school and work tomorrow – except for the hubby, who’s now on vacation until January 4 (I’m so jealous). My vacation doesn’t start until Thursday at noon – so I’ll be counting down the hours until then. First multi-day vacation since the end of June, and I’m more than ready for it.
Let it Snow
It looks like we’re going to get slammed tomorrow with the first major snowfall of the year. I have a major problem with that. For several reasons. First, my distaste for cold and snow increases proportionally as I get older. Now that I’m 41 and I’m starting to head down the other side of what I hope will be a very large hill, I dread the winter. Second, tomorrow is only December 19. IT’S NOT EVEN WINTER YET. Third, my husband and I are supposed to go out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate my birthday.
The girls love the snow. Really, what kid doesn’t love the snow? Even I liked the snow when I was a kid. As long as my feet didn’t get wet. Which means that in retrospect, if I’m being honest with myself, I just lied. I tolerated the snow at best.
Chloe and Sophie, however, really enjoy the snow. And their Papa enjoys it with them. Good thing. If the expected weather doesn’t disappoint, I just hope it’s not a preview of what’s to come.
Writer’s Block
I asked Chloe to provide a poem for tonight’s blog entry. Because I’m tired and don’t have any ideas. You’d think that with kids like Chloe and Sophie, I’d always have ideas.
I actually haven’t seen much of them this week. Been getting home late – social engagements and hair appointment. You know, it’s the holidays. Places to go, people to see. And they’re staying at Grammy’s this weekend, enabling the hubby and me to go out for my birthday dinner.
Only problem there is that he couldn’t get a reservation at any of his preferred choices. How crazy is that? Sure, we could eat dinner at 5 pm (but last I checked we don’t live in early-bird special Florida) or at 10 pm (last I checked we don’t live in Spain either) at these hotspots, but really? No reservations? In a crippling recession?
So I don’t know where he’s taking me on Saturday. It’s going to be a surprise. Hope it’s good. Hope it’s a place we haven’t been to before. Maybe we’ll get to the movies also. That’d be nice. Especially since our holiday shopping is basically done and I have no desire to brave the mall.
My mom gave Chloe a shrinky-dinks kit for Hanukkah. Remember shrinky-dinks? They haven’t changed. Still need to bake in the oven for a couple of minutes. The girls love how they curl up and flatten out and get really, really small. Funny how these old toys are still fun for the new generation. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Happy Birthday
I turned 41 today. And had a lovely day, I might add. Started off with Chloe and Sophie assaulting me in bed with lots of birthday cards. Homemade and store-bought. Sophie made me a card with lots of hearts and stickers. Chloe wrote: “A happy, happy birthday, a happy birthday to you. This is not a time to be crying boo-hoo. You’re the best mom EVER to set foot on this planet (not to mention this house). Love you xoxo.” Really, what can possibly beat hearts, stickers and poems?
And to top it all off, it was a day without work (BlackBerry e-mails notwithstanding). Ranks right up there among the best birthday presents. Kind of makes me wish my birthday was every day of the year.
I then spent the day at the mall with mom, shopping, having lunch and going to see “Up in the Air” with George Clooney. Loved the movie. Bought gifts for the hubby and Sophie’s teachers. Got a few little stocking stuffers for the girls. Bought my birthday present (hubby couldn’t get it over the weekend because Sophie was sick with strep throat and bronchitis).
I love my family. They’re all I need. They make me feel rich and warm and full.
Home Economics, Part II
In continuing the home economics theme I wrote about last week, Chloe had her first cake decorating class on Thursday. This is her creation (the teacher had already baked the cakes). Chloe took care of all the icing, and the little flower on top.
Not bad, for a first try. If she continues to enjoy it, I could theoretically save quite a bit of money by having her make all of our celebratory cakes. The more money we save, the more I can dream about retiring from my job. I’m counting the days until next summer. No more minivan car payment, no more preschool payment and potentially no more cake payments.
Tomorrow is my birthday. Will not be in the office tomorrow – staying far, far away so as to increase my chances of actually enjoying the fact that I’m now 41. Looking forward to going out to lunch with my mom, doing some shopping and going to the movies. George Clooney in “Up in the Air” – here we come.
The Tree and the Menorah
Papa bought the Christmas tree today. The girls are decorating it now. Sophie has decided to hang all of the red ball ornaments next to each other as a family. I call it “Sophie’s 4-Year Old Obsessive-Compulsive Corner (see photo).” Chloe’s a real pro at the decorating this year. She has a very clear idea in her head as to what ornament belongs where.
The tree topper this year is one of our “French” frogs. We’ve collected them over the years, and the one doing the honors this season is “Le Roi Grenouille” or the frog king. He’s quite regal looking, actually.
On the Hanukkah side, the menorah that I’ve had for a very long time is in the kitchen. It’s nothing fancy, but I have a soft spot for it. The problem is its size. It’s so small that the candles barely fit. I told Chloe that we’d get a bigger one for next year. It’s only fair, really. My menorah just can’t compete with the 6+ foot tall Christmas tree in the other room.
I confounded Chloe yesterday when I recited the prayer over the candles. She didn’t understand how I could possibly remember those words from Hebrew school so many years ago when I can barely remember what I need to buy at the supermarket. I tried to explain the concept of long-term versus short-term memory, but gave up when I saw her salivating over the present she was dying to open.
Happy holidays, everyone!