Happy HoHoHo

Whew, the fudge has been CONSUMED, wrapping paper has sufficiently clogged the landfills, sleep-deprived children have been revived by enforced naps and calm has returned to the western (NY) world.
A post-Xmas-post wouldn't be complete without an inventory of the bootie. I will only submit to the highlowlights.

When my niece Jenifer asked me what Frances wanted for Xmas, I didn't skip a beat - "office supplies." She LOVES them. Jenifer was doubtful so she asked Frances what she wanted........... yup, office supplies. Frances was even more thrilled to get a tote to organize her supplies.


Lewis got some flashlights from Aunt Suzie. He especially likes the head lamp. The kids play "laser light show" in their rooms with flashlights - with these new supplies, I now call it "Cirque de laser light show."


On Xmas morning, the kids were up at 6:30. My rule is that Mama has to have a cup of coffee before gifts can be ripped into. By 7:00, they were done opening. I didn't buy silly-filler-crap. I got down to business. Everyone got a gift of their dreams (nin*tendo ds for Ana, *uggs for Frances, mar*iocart for our *wii for Lewie & leap*ster for Elly), a game, books, & an outfit. It felt good and sane.
In the afternoon we went to see the Lawyer's peeps. Ana and Elly were intent on navigating their new toys.


Aunt Laurie called me a couple of weeks before Xmas to get some gift ideas. She had her own idea for Frances - a circuit set..... hmmmm, I was a little uncertain about that. I thought she would either LOVE it or HATE it. She loved it!


A couple of days after Xmas, we had a mini heat wave - 60s and sunny! All of the snow melted and the kids got to play outside. Lewis got a plasma car for Xmas and everyone had a great time playing with it...... except for Lewis who was taking the aforementioned nap due to cranky behavior.



This is how you'll often find me in the summer, in my lifeguard chair, controlling the chaos. This is my winter version, hanging out and doing sudoku. No cocktail, Silly! It's only 2:00!
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On one of our winter break field trips, we went to feed the chickadees, at a local park.


The hands are ready. although *some* people are a little too giggly to attract the birds.


The Lawyer, Elly, and Ana got the chickadees to eat peanuts from their hands. Frances wouldn't take off her big, bulky gloves which I guess the chickadees don't like. Lewis was too............. Lewielike.


Frances was invited over to a friend's house for a New Year's Eve party. I told the Mom that I was sure that Frances would rather hang out with her Mama on NYE. Frances just rolled her eyes. I don't get it.

Snow Day!

For the last few weeks I have been performing a little dance for my children while singing a little ditty, which goes like this, "I don't have school on Monday and Tuesday before Christmas and you-hoo dooooo, HAHAHAHAHAHA." They L*O*V*E it............. or hate it, whichever. Add to the goodness that I had a snow day last Friday while they did not, and the justice is just too much. So I actually was happy when their school day was cancelled on Monday due to blizzard conditions. Who wants their kid riding a bus in a blizzard? I'm not supposed to............right?
Just to make things extra fun, the Lawyer's snow blower (The Snow King, all hail the King, please) DIED. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? She should get her butt out there and shovel before going to court? Right? Can I get an amen? But no. She thinks that I should get MY delicate butt outside and do the dirty deed. That's the kind of justice this Lawyer dishes out.
I had to force my sweet little chicks into their woolens and make them go out in the freezing cold. I submit exhibit A to prove what a rotten time they had.........

Our lawn is totally flat. Due to the *god only knows how much* snow we got, the children were able to sled and snowboard. Here's Lewie on his maiden voyage.


The bushes behind Frances are about 4 feet tall. Look how she towers over them. Yup, we got a little snow.


Elly was laughing hysterically the whole time. Let's hope the neighbors weren't trying to sleep in.


HEY - I just shoveled that snow! Stop putting it back in the driveway.


Nah, way too small.


OK, so maybe they had a *little* fun.


The Lawyer is a girl of many talents. This is her "squirrel cafe" that she built for the nasty little rodents.


After playing outside and doing some Christmas shopping, we made some cookies. I saw these on a website and thought it would be fun to give them a try........


But alas, they turned out like this.......... We think they look a little like devils. They taste great and that's what's important.....right?? No, we didn't add minced clams, you silly thing.


Tonight, my baby boy is sleeping away from the bosom of his family for the very first time. He'll be at my brother's house, with his cousin-brother, Big Al. Yes, I did grow up on the edge of Appalachia.
Stayed tuned for more Festivus........

Some Klever Names

A new special feature to this blog, just to keep it fresh and happenin', will be excerpts from "Moments of Life," the baby name column in my local paper.

Laini Spirit
Rosea Essence Ambrosia
Lulu Shazzam
Skyy Miracle
Marley Aura
Stormie Autumn

Now this next one, you're going to doubt my honesty, I just know how skeptical you people can be. I swear on a stack of holy bibles that this was really in the paper. I tried to scan it and it printed in reverse. Drum roll please..............Anita ARealGirl. Any doubters may send a self addressed stamped envelope and I will send you a photocopy.

My face x 12

Should a woman over the age of 40...... ok, 45..... really have a magnifying mirror that make wrinkles, pores, hairs, 12 times their size???
I often gaze at every inch of my face with one of these things, usually with my tweezers in the other hand, ready to remove hairs and scrutinize the state of my skin. I can also see the grey hairs at my temples.
The 40s just aren't too pretty my friends.

Trust me

While the Lawyer and I were chopping down the Xmas tree, Frances asked Lewie if he wanted to do the "Trust Fall."
"Fall back Lewie, and I'll catch you, I promise."
"No way, I can't"


"Come on, Lew, just put your arms out like this and fall back."
"I can't."


"Ana, show him how you do it."


"DO IT LEW."
"OOOOOOO-KAY"
Success


I said to the Lawyer, "Fall back, I'll catch you." "Ummm, NO!"
Who would YOU trust to catch you???

That funky junky hat

Thursday was crazy hat day at the big girls' school. Frances is definitely not a morning person. She stumbles around in the morning, eats her breakfast s..l..o..w..l..y and has to be out of the house first! She has before school activities every day and the Lawyer drives her in at 7:45. When they got to school on Thursday, Frances saw kids in their hats and realized she had forgotten her hat. Ana was only too happy to wear two hats to school and was thrilled that Frances would be stopping at her classroom to pick up her hat. High School Musical hat for Ana and Hello Kitty for Frances.


We had another 1/2 birthday party on Thursday. Frances is officially 101/2. We had 1/2 cupcakes for dessert

Another exciting day at Casa de Tzuhsi!

Post-Thanksgiving salutations

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Yeah, that's me, always a week late and a $100 short.
Here's what you have been clamoring for:

The kids and I had no school on Wednesday. We invited Cousin Big Al over for projects and pre-Thanksgiving partying. Turkey cupcakes! Aren't we clever?


Lewie just took a bunch of the mini cookies, glooped some frosting on and called it his "little guy."


Frances vogue-ing with her creation


Ana was her usual diligent self and made a cutie.


Cousin Big Al came over to join in the merriment


On Friday night, we had my peeps over for dinner. Lewis and Big Al got jester hats from Aunt Amy.


On Saturday we went to a top secret location to take our holiday card photo. It was a painless 20 minutes. Here's a sneak preview.