The Mother of Geese

Please watch this video. Brad did not want to do it but I think he did awesome. So awesome in fact, I couldn't help myself in the end.

During one of Abbie's choir performances this winter, Max thought he would go ahead and join the choir. I was not about to go grab him and alert his inner-tantrum forces-so I just let him be, like any other awesome parent. I am so glad that I had Abbie do choir (she kept calling it Squire). Music is such an important part of the season. If you want your ears to bled, go ahead and listen to this video from her school's Christmas concert. And I thought it was hilarious that Amelia slept through the whole thing. (and they sang it 3 times!-and we were by the 6th graders.) Speaking of Amelia, I forget how sensitive she is to music. Abbie is definately my artistic one who notices the small details visually that I miss. Amelia is all about audio cues. She was sitting in the back of the car and she was crying and saying "I am a little bit sad." After some probing about how she needs Christmas-the words Where did the Christmas go eeked out and I didn't even realize that sh...

I love how an exhausted Max is clutching the rolling pin. You know the problem with being super-organized? Like having all your christmas shopping completed, wrapped (hidden), out of state gifts mailed, neighbor gifts delivered, decorated, daily baking projects with the kids completed? It makes me available to help with all the other things that go down. (dear future Heather. Just. Say. No) I am tired and I miss my blog. (chugging Diet coke)

I was coming back downstairs from putting Max down for a nap and I hear Amelia singing Mary's Lullaby to herself. She is playing with a nativity set and is sweetly retelling the story of the birth of the Savior. My heart swells a bit. Then her version of the story makes an adventurous plot twist. (I grabbed a pen and scribbled word for word what happened next) "Then a dinosaur came and scared all of the people. And the dinosaur was kind of soft and not soft just really squishy but really scary! And the sheeps were all really dead. And the dinosaur scared them all. So the baby Jesus said hey let's get a ride out of here (at this point she empties my folded piles of clean laundry out of the basket and pimps a get away car for everyone). Then they take a ride. Hold on! (she dumps the nativity out). Run baby Jesus! run! hurry! AAAAHHHH! We knocked over all the people! And baby Jesus said let's go again!! and baby Jesus began to cry and the people said no! no babies crying ...

We made a gingerbread house while Max was sleeping. Amelia's roof was so heavy laden with candy it kept causing the house to collapse. Abbie's perfect little patterned roof tiles. Take a bite! Take a bite! (but please don't really take a bite because I'm not making another one...) on the Seventh Day of Christmas about a half hour later...I was scrubbing stupid royal icing off my cabinets. Every. Where. But we sure had fun!

the girls hosted a holiday music dance party! wish you were there? Want to recreate it? Blast Chipmunks Christmas over and over and over again on the IPOD and there you have it!

We cuddled under blankets while watching Santa Claus is coming to Town. (is it inappropriate for me to mention the blatant nazi-ism going on in that weird little film? Kris Kringle just got thrown into prison. Nice.) Also, is it braggy to mention that I wrapped all the presents while the girls were at school? I let Max test drive all of his presents. When I finally wrapped them up he kept pointing at them and yelling DAH! DAH! I always think I can do these kinds of things thinking that my kids aren't really that bright and they won't figure it out, but it is always ME who is not that bright.

We hosted a fabulous cookie exchange!

> So I nearly made it. I missed a day because I did the black Friday thing and ate a lot of food and got my house ready for Christmas and I missed a day. Since I have gumption I will do it again next year..but until then can I show you the worst hack job in the history of scissors?! I was out and about last week and Max needed a haircut. Amelia was a bit homeless looking too so I went to a place I have only seen but have never actually been to because it was on my way. It rhymes with hollah butts. -which I find to be a very stupid name for a haircutting place because their cuts cost more than Ah-Dollar. They should rename it to Sucky for Under 10 buckys. Whatev. I should preface this by saying that Amelia is a statue once you strap that doggie apron around her neck and start weilding the scissors. So I can't in good faith blame her for the hair massacre. Take a look. What stray long pieces? Huh? What? Funny, I didn't ask for a reverse a-line but that is totally what she hear...

I want a do-over.

And good night! Sorta feeling like Max right now...

Kneader's run for rolls and pies-Check! Brad's inability to resist until tomorrow-Check! Buttermilk brined turkey in fridge-Check! Table favors completed-check! (no thanks to the model, however.) Linens pressed-check! (trip to mom and dad's to steal napkins-check!) Thanksgiving? Bring it.

I will know why. Lame post. Took Excedrin PM and had a fabulous post in mind but now it doesn't really make sense, so.... Do you think I should make spinach gratin for Thanksgiving? I'm already having: Buttermilk brined turkey Mashed potatoes Stuffing Sweet Potatoes Pear and Gorgonzola salad Green Beans with Shallots Rolls I probably have enough, but I do likes me some spinach gratin.

While I was cleaning up after breakfast I heard chairs being dragged around the tile. When I turned the corner, I was alarmed to see this. First attempt at the front door I removed the chair and redirected his attention so I could make an effort at the laundry. When I turned the other corner, I found this. Another attempt at the back door So, the next time those obnoxious alarm salesman come by, I may actually invite them in. Looks like we may need to invest in a door sensor soon.

Instead of the previously planned post I will write instead about my fabulous talented first born. She had kind of a rough time this week so I took her out for ice cream and loud music. Our favorite combo. One thing I like about Abbie is her amazing artistic ability. Here is a sampling of some of her work. She is has always been incredibly detailed. Enlarge one of the pictures and you will see what I mean. ps. You can always call me for the low-road.

I had a venting post that I had planned on throwing out there tonight but I am quite sure I will offend someone and come off as the protective mama bear. So I am giving myself 24 hours to let it mull a bit. Then post it tomorrow. Or not. In the meantime I will just say that the PTA can suck it. That's all.

Do not read this post if you don't want to know about the movie. My ticket being handed to the guy after waiting 2 hours in line. I'll just say that it was the funniest movie I have seen in a long time. I laughed a lot!!! I am not one of those Twillight Groupies, but I can appreciate a good interpretation from book to film. And that movie was HILARIOUS!!! Oh, it was not a comedy? Well, here's why I laughed in the movie. 1. Edward's flying wedge a la Kath & Kim. 2. Edward's lip gloss. Cherry chapstick much? 3. Jasper killed me. Seriously, his shifting little eyes. 4. Bella's open mouth the whole time. (Reminds me of Mary Poppins and the Cod fish line) 5. Carlisle's plastic hair piece. 6. Crazy Rebecca from Grey's. 7. Bad Nina from 24. 8. Cedric Diggory's manic depressive interpretation of Edward. He was cah-oo-coo! 9. I hesitate to even post this reason because it makes me sound like a jerk...but...affirmative action....in Forks Washington? Nope n...

So I really wanted to make these cookies for tonight. But I didn't get to it. What is tonight you say? Why I am joining several thousand other women addicted to mormon po*n for the midnight showing of Twillight. 12:05 showing. If you're not going to make it you should read about it here . Thank you Celia for making me realize that I really am just a cougar gal at heart. (no not a BYU fan).

In my head I'm chanting get her Max! It's not like they are cage-fighting or anything...It's just good ol' fashioned Karma stepping in to balance the universe. (oh and the post yesterday? sorry. I guess it was really bad because when I logged in this morning I was down one of my followers. Whoever you are, please come back. Follow me.)

check!

8:30 am. I am making Brad a sack lunch. Actually its more of a sack full of all the meals he eats during the day. (considering breakfast #1, mid-morning snack, lunch, late lunch, after-school snack with Abbie). 8:56 am. Max, Amelia, and I drop Bradfo off at work. Amelia asks, "Why you kiss daddy two times?" 9:39 am. Amelia asks, "we going to go get my daddy now?" 9:44 am. Amelia says, "I go tell daddy that's he's finished with him job, kay mom?" I explain we will go get him before dinner time about 6:00. 9:45 am. Amelia asks, "what time is it?" 9:52 am. Amelia asks, "we gonna pick up my daddy. Come on mom." I explain that we can't. 9:53 am. Amelia says, "but that's sad!" 9:54 am. Amelia says, "but I'm a little bit sad, because I want my daddy." 9:55 am. Amelia says, "I'm a little bit sad, and a little bit sleepy but I'm not sleepy but I am sad a little bit." I say how about we ma...

You might want to enlarge it to get the beauty of my handwriting. This afternoon I was playing in my parents playroom and I stumbled upon a notebook that I had written in when I was probably in the 4th or 5th grade. Here is one note I found particularly amusing. I will transcribe exactly as it is written with my comments in parantheses: Dear Shannon, (cousin Shann-AN. A.N. whatever) I havent written in a long time because I guess my only excuse is school. (oh the life of an elementary school girl so demanding!) You try and live on a schedle (schedule) of having your own article in the newspaper, school sectretary (a poor spelling one) and clairinet (clarinet) and being an iceskater. (I love how its like a challenge. You. Try) Speaking of iceskating (one word) (I don't think you know) (that last part was really in parantheses. What can I say, I've always been a fan) but Ive been at it for a while and take lessons (I think I was "at it" for a year. I can only figure it ...

Is right here baby. I make it several times a year and its a winner every time. (by the way posting every day for a month is sort of hard.)

My little taste testers. Exactly 3 months ago Bradfo lost his job. It has been a humbling, soul crushing, precious trial that I am happy to report is now over. I am proud that he remained hopeful throughout it all (when I was mostly breaking down and freaking out), that he logged in a lot of long hours in the search, he attended career workshops, resume clinics, met with someone to help nail the interview, made a lot of great contacts with recruiters and basically learned a lot about himself. For the first time in nearly seven years he will be leaving the house to go to work (He's been downstairs in the basement). I will pack his lunch (most likely leftovers from the night before), kiss him goodbye, and drop him off (we are still a 1 car family). It will be an adjustment for all of us. He will need to get dressed (sorry buddy, I don't think PJ bottoms and garment tops are part of the dress code bummer dude). I will no longer be able to run quick errands while the kids are asle...

Makes me want to lose another 40. No seriously, thank you so much for your outpouring of love and support! I am still not sure about this whole LOOKATME! business but I absolutely appreciate it.

sigh. I can't believe I am posting this. (Deep Breath) Before I'd like to thank Kneaders French Toast, my pregnancies, cold cereal after 9:00 pm, Rocky Road ice cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes, chocolate covered Jo's, trying to eat as much as Bradfo for making me what I was. yikes. After (well, more like During, because I'm not done yet) now I am going to go and regret posting my before pictures.

I am so bush doctrining this winter. Check it. yo.

Tinker Upstairs (thanks Boys for fixing my stroller tire) Tinker (belle) Downstairs