The Truth about Santa

While I do think Austin is too old to believe in Santa, I cannot bring myself to tell him.  Well, the other day I learned something about Santa that I had not heard before.  Austin and I were in the grocery store and he brought up wanting an iPhone for Christmas.  Our conversation went something like this:
Me: You will 100% not be getting a cell phone for Christmas
Austin: then I will ask Santa
Me: Go ahead but Santa makes toys not electronics
Austin: (sighs and smirks - like I'm stupid) that was in the olden days mom.  Now he buys his gifts.
Me: oh yeah, is he going to pay your monthly bill for the phone too
Austin: Maybe, I can ask
Me: I don't think that's how it works
Austin: well have you ever asked?
Me: No

One point Austin...Mom zero.

Counting down until Christmas

Only Thursday and Friday to go before Winter(Christmas) break!  I just can't wait.  Also, excited to be having Christmas Eve at my house again this year.  But, lots to do before then. 

12 days til Christmas

So, I'm not exactly sure how the 12 days of Christmas works, but on the 12th day til Christmas my true love gave to me...NOTHING.  Maybe he forgot :(

Oh wait, I don't have a true love!  Maybe next year ;)

The 35th year

As I turned 35 this month, it was time to reflect what 34 brought to me.  In a nutshell, nothing.  Nothing exciting has happened and overall could be summed up in one word - BORING.  So far, 35 has brought some ups - I bought myself a new dishwasher for my birthday.  I am pretty excited since I haven't had a working one in about 2 years!  It has already run many a load :)  And, just yesterday I bought a brand new shiny Kia sportage as my Mazda 3 was reaching 8 years old it had to go.  Not really looking forward to the payments, but super excited about the car.  Anyway, I plan on making this a more exciting year.  And, by the time I turn 36, I plan on doing something totally out of character for me.  Something bold and daring.  I'm not sure what yet, but I MUST do something.  Wish me luck!

To Argue With a Child...

As any parent or daycare provider would tell you, it is more than pointless to argue with a child.  I learned this many years ago, and yet as my child enters his preteen years and becomes increasinly snarky, I feel the need to try to let him know that he does not know everything and is ocassionally wrong.  Today, I experienced possibly our dumbest argument to date.  Austin did not seem to "get" the concept of buy one get one free.  A simple concept yes, but apparently lost on him.  Anyway, after approximately 10 minutes of this silly argument, we came to the consensus that it should be stated "buy one get ANOTHER one free".  I don't think I really won this argument or proved that he was indeed wrong ;) (I would fill everyone in on the details but that would just take to long!) Perhaps tomorrow I will remember the happenings of today and will not engage him when he says something that is clearly wrong.

Greatest Aunt Barbara

Barbara was in town last week visiting from New York.  It is always so nice to see her.  I wish she and Francie would move back to Illinois but I believe after so many years they are content in New York.  Anyway, she kept up the tradition of making a beautiful knit sweater for Brinley.  She has made all of her great nieces and nephews wonderful sweaters.  Austin's sweaters have not only been worn by him, but by Paige and Cadence too!  Such fine craftsmanship.  This time she also made a hat, mittens and these adorable leg warmers.  It was too cute.   Unfortunately, she decided to leave the day after mom's surgery.  So we anxiously await her next visit.

BTW - mom seems to be doing better day by day.  She is still in a great deal of pain but hopefully she heals this time.  Her leg looks ok besides all of the massive bruising, but her arm from the carpel tunnel surgery looks infected.  They took out most of the stiches and her elbow ones look really red and puffy.  She goes back to the doctor on Monday.  I guess we will see what he says.

Fourth of July

yesterday, I went with my parents and Krista and her family up to the Podstawa's new lot on Bond Lake.  They bbq'd and then we watched fireworks by the lake.  It was a good time, but really hot (even after the sun went down).  The fireworks didn't compare to some others I have seen in the past but the view of the lake with all of the boats was awesome.  I would love someday to watch fireworks from a boat.

Busy Summer

I think that I am going to need to go back to work to be less busy (just kidding) but I really feel a little worn out.  I am babysitting Brinley on most weekdays, taking mom to her doctor's appointments, and trying to clean at the end of the day when I am done with my duties.  I still need to find time to schedule my doctor's appointments for the summer.  I had to cancel one because mom scheduled one of hers for the same day.

On a brighter note, the hallmark ornament preview is in a couple of weeks at hallmark.  I love christmas and love seeing what the ornament inventors come up with for the year.  Maybe I will be done with my house by the time Christmas really comes around.

Austin pitching

Above are two pictures of Austin pitching his first game ever.  I know the pictures are fuzzy and far away, but I couldn't see at all through the phone camera so I just took a guess at what I was shooting :) Anyway, Austin has been asking his coach for a chance to pitch in a game all season, and as luck would have it, his coach was away this past weekend so the assistant coach let him.  His real coach won't give him a chance to do anything.  We don't really like him much (well, Austin does, but I don't).  His pitches were pretty accurate, but also pretty slow so the other team was able to really hit off of him.  And, unfortuantely his team really sucks so they were not able to get many outs (even the easy ones). Poor Austin :( but he didn't let it damper his spirits and he talked about it for about three days afterwards.  He likes practicing and I think he may have potential to be a good pitcher if he keeps practicing. Good luck Austin!

Medical and Movies

I have recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and my blood sugars are in the prediabetic range (barely, but there). My blood pressure has not been easily controlled, but my doctor is hopeful that we may finally be on the right track with the new medications. I am hoping that I will start feeling better when all of these things are under better control.

On a different note, Austin and I went to see "The Hunger Games"today because all of his friends had already seen it. I was kind of dreading going (but the only other alternative was the Three Stooges). I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was really good and didn't feel like 2 1/2 hours at all. I did cry twice, but everyone knows I am an emotional mess. I would recommend seeing it.

I am also going to be an auntie again any day now. Good luck Krista and hopefully she will come soon.

Resolutions

As I do every new year, I reflect on the previous year and what I would like for the coming year. This year upon my reflection, I realized that I am not happy when I really should be. There is nothing in my life that is so abhorant that should make me miserable. I find myself being jealous of people (this hasn't happened in several years) and I'm finding it difficult to stop. So, I have been reading a book about a woman who took a year to try to be a happier person. While I am not a fan of the author's style of writing or her need to research everything in books, I think it is a great idea to try to make yourself more happy by thinking, investigating and developing a plan. My goal for this year is to develop my own happiness plan, which I have outlined for myself. Her model focused on adding one goal per month. I decided to start with my perceived problems that will take the longest to accomplish. My goal for this month is physical organization. It would help me immensely to declutter my surroundings and I think that might in itself, create a happier me. I have also decided that I need to lose weight and have already begun my journey, but I am not focusing on that area until next month. Wish me luck!