Jingle Bells, Batman Smells...

And I don't have a darn thing wrapped. And I really have no desire to wrap gifts. Scrooge? No. I actually have purchased all the gifts for everyone in my family, which I think is a recent record. The last two years I have been shopping up until the 23rd - and even was shopping for stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve two years ago. Ugh! The thought of wrapping a bunch of gifts right now just doesn't sound entertaining. But, I think I'm off to torture myself for a half hour or so and wrap some gifts... yay.

Why I Love Colorado

We had a cold spell the last couple of days. It's been in the mid-20s. My dad would argue that this isn't cold, maybe because the high in Wisconsin isn't going to be above freezing anytime in the near future. Boohoo. I've become spoiled since moving out here and I. Like. It. Tomorrow we bounce back to the low to mid 50s. My kids will be playing outside in sweatshirts or light jackets - if I can convince them that even that is needed. This is wonderful to me! Any time of the year, for the most part, my kids can be outside running off their energy. Even when it snows, the snow (all 1 - 2 inches of it) lasts about a day and then is gone. So many people think of Colorado and think 'SNOW' and 'COLD'. They are so very, very wrong. Yes, it is cold and snowy if you drive up into the mountains. But here on the front range we have very pleasant weather. Except for the wind. I hate the wind. But I love the temperate climate! Sorry, Mom and Dad. I don't plan on moving back to the frigid tundra anytime soon. But you can come out here! You don't have to bundle up for months at a time. Here, it's just days at a time. I don't even wear a winter coat anymore. A jacket is all I need. Aaaahhhhhh....

Visitor

We have a special visitor for the next few days - K's dad. He will have the distinct pleasure of living life with us - one pageant and five indoor soccer games over the course of four days. Isn't he just LUCKY? We are very happy to have family visiting us yet again - hopefully our crazy schedule doesn't tire him out too much! Only time will tell...

Eleven

CED turned eleven today. Eleven. That's hard to fathom. She has been counting down to this day with joy and excitement. Her only request for gifts? Clothes. From Justice. Expensive clothes from Justice. What did she get? Clothes. From Justice. And not a lot of them. But she is happy. Very, very happy.

Reflecting on eleven years ago... I remember going into labor with her. My OB was, unfortunately, on vacation for three weeks and I went into labor with her 2 weeks early. Of course. The 'substitute' doctor was not overly helpful when I called to ask a couple of questions the night before I had her. K kept giving me a hard time, saying that we should head to the hospital. Me, in all my young mother wisdom, kept putting him off. That is, until the contractions began. We lived 45 minutes from the hospital - oops! I did make it there in time and CED did not arrive until the next morning. A beautiful blond baby girl. That eventually had colic. Oh, the holy hell of colic. I now understand Shaken Baby Syndrome and so does K. We would trade her off every 10 - 15 minutes or so as she screamed her head off for hours every night. We would bounce her in her bouncy seat - on top of the dining room table - as we ate our dinner. Fortunately she outgrew it, because we didn't know how much longer we could take it. So if you ever tell me that you don't know if you'll make it through colic, you will. I promise, you will. It will be hell, but you will make it through. Today we have a beautiful, healthy, self confident eleven year old that brings joy, silliness, and her own personality to the mix we call our family.

Happy Birthday, CED. You are so very, very loved.

The t-shirt says 'You Wish You Could Kick Like A Girl' - love it! I'm telling you - watch out for girl soccer players. They are a-gres-sive!

'Tis the Season Part Two

Tonight, MAD had a musical program at her daycare. It was absolutely adorable to see all the little people up on stage in the sanctuary (her daycare is at a church) singing their little hearts out. After the program, a special guest arrived - Santa! MAD was able to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wants (candy and a TOY - no specific toy, just a toy). At first she adamantly refused to sit on his lap, but when she saw a fellow classmate sitting with Santa, she suddenly became game for the opportunity. JED, my date, also sat with Santa and asked for a Nintendo DSi. Santa, being the smart man he is, asked 'What else would you want besides that?' Thank you, Santa, for helping to set up my son for reality - he will NOT be getting a Nintendo DSi for Christmas this year. I love it when adults see reality in the face of pure hope.

'Tis the Season

On Tuesday, CED and her fifth grade counterparts put on a musical performance in the evening. They sang six songs - representing all of the various holidays that are taking place during this time of year; Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa. They did a really nice job and it was a pleasant half hour program.

Pageant Queen

Not the beauty pageant - Christmas pageant. MED attends the Colorado Springs Music Conservatory every Wednesday after school for a couple of hours. Part of their outreach to the community is to put on a Christmas pageant - this year titled 'The Gift'. MED's group only spends about five minutes on stage, but they all do an outstanding job of saying their line (one per child) clearly to convey the message that we all should give to others especially at this time of year. All of the students at the conservatory did a fantastic job putting on this presentation; it was a lot of fun to see what their hard work and dedication was able to produce.