Christmas

Photos For Johnny Mac Pippin

Christmas, Daily Dose, Family Funk, Friends & Family, Kid Talk /

You might have seen the post I wrote on BlogHer.com filled with gift ideas for Johnny Mac Pippin — and you might have noticed that I did not include any type of photo album for him. Texasebeth noticed and made the suggestion and that was awesome — because it’s on my list of things to do.

I was hoping (and am still a little hopeful) that he and his parents would be moving back to the mainland sometime soon, so we would have more opportunities to visit JMP and he would have more opportunities to visit us. Hoping that we could all get to know each other face to face rather than through Facetime. Because as much as JMP loves his mom’s iPhone, it’s just not quite the same as getting to cuddle and giggle in person.

As the days start slipping by and there’s no sign that they are going to be moving I’ve started thinking about sending JMP a picture album filled with pictures of family members who wish they could spend more time with him — something he can look at and play with and his parents can point out all of his people.

A few weeks ago, I ordered a couple of really nice books from Paper Coterie — a journal/notebook and a “quotable” book that I’m going to try and remember to update once JMP starts talking, for real.

These books are really nice and I’m impressed by the quality and by how easy it was to make both of them.


So — I think I’m going to head back there and make JMP a nice photo album all his own. I hope he likes it.

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Christmas Baking Has Begun

1 Comment / Christmas, Daily Dose, Foodie, Kid Talk /

The first mess clean up was an exploded coke – a container of Fiber (scary Fiber!) fell from the top shelf, knocked over an unopened coke, fizzy carbonated elixir of life (according to TW) all over the kitchen floor. No I didn’t yell. I just quietly walked to the laundry room for a beach towel. Handed it to TW. Quietly walked back to the laundry room for the swiffer wet jet and calmly cleaned the floor.

Spreading the joy – one kitchen clean up at a time.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

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Snow is bad

2 Comments / Christmas, Family Funk, Kid Talk /

After the kids decorated their cookies, they put on their cold weather gear and went outside to make a snowman… or something. It was blissfully quiet in the house for about five minutes…

Then Michelle came in, because she was freezing. TW gave her gloves that had holes in them and the snow isn’t good for snowmen and there was a fight and those little kids are rabid.

Liz comes in next, crying because JOSEPH is EVIL.

Chris came in next and informed us he lost his shoe in the snow and ran around in his sock until RJ found his shoe.

RJ and Prince J came in… smiling…

Which leads me to believe they are the two heartiest of our children and will survive world war III if it occurs. The other three, wimps – all of ’em. (Not that you saw ME out there in that cold, wet, white stuff. I hate it out there.)

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Last year’s present, this year

5 Comments / Christmas, Family Funk /

I’ve been lusting after the inflatable Santa with flamingo reindeers forever. Last year, Bealls (Florida’s Department Store, wahhhhh) put them on sale. Seriously on sale. And TW surprised me by ordering one. Except she accidentally ordered two. I didn’t open either box. Christmas was finished, it made no sense to open the box(es) just to set it up AFTER Christmas.

When we moved to Illinois, we tossed both boxes onto the truck and I sort of forgot about them for awhile. As it got colder and colder and the snow got deeper and deeper, I started thinking more about those inflatable flamingos. I was really happy to carry one of the boxes into the house when I brought the rest of the Christmas decorations into the house over the weekend.

I thought we might get my flamingos inflated over the weekend, but we didn’t. I thought we might get them inflated yesterday, but another snowstorm hit so we didn’t.

Tonight, the little kids decorated the tree and the house and it was havoc. I hid in the back room for awhile because it was just too crazy and I really was trying to get a wee bit more work done. When I came out, TW had inflated last year’s gift on the front porch.

The Flamingo-Deer don't look pleased

I love it. Love it. Love it. Love it.

We need two more long extension cords so we can put them both on the front lawn, not the front porch.

TW always knows the perfect gift – and when to give it.

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Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy

2 Comments / Christmas, Family Funk, Friends & Family /

This afternoon, while rebooting, I went to the back room and stood at the doors looking at what little bit of sun shines on us here in Glenview. TW’s sister called and she went into the office to talk to her. Suddenly, I hear some other voice. And TW talking to this other voice. And I start thinking, “what are the kids doing here???” Then I hear TW call my name. I come out and I realize it isn’t the kids, it’s JOY!

I grabbed the dog from TW who was still talking to her sister, and then invited Joy into the house. Joy always comes bearing gifts – first my birthday gifts (plus just because gifts for TW) and now shiny silver wrapped box… The woman is TOO much.

I sat her down in my chair, took the box and put it in the laundry room, and we chatted about life and work and stuff. Joy suggested I might want to open the gift before Christmas, because she thought it might be really useful now. I ignored her and kept talking about my life and work and stuff.

TW hung up on her sister and Joy again suggested we might want to open the Christmas gift now. So, I handed the gift to TW and grabbed my camera.

A space heater! I love that woman!

A space heater. OMG! Just what we needed! How did she know (haha possibly because she has one and it’s the only thing that keeps her from freezing at her desk while she works so hard at BlogHer.com?) Seriously. We didn’t have one. We’ve talked about getting one but we’re on a budget and the budget just got significantly CUT so we’re just sitting here freezing most of the time.

As soon as Joy left, I opened the heater, plugged it in and OMG it works. It’s almost warm in here. Actually it is warm in here except for the occasional breeze that blows in from somewhere in this room (probably the floors, hahaha.)

TW suggested I put it in the bedroom for awhile to take the chill off so it will be warm when we quit working and head to bed with books. I told her I would but first I’m carrying it to the family room when we watch Survivor. This thing is AWESOME.

Joy, you shouldn’t have. But dang woman, you do know how to give the right gift at the right time!

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Santa Claus: Blame the Patriarchy

3 Comments / Christmas, Daily Dose, Family Funk, Kid Talk, Women /

I know, it’s Easter and here I am blogging about Santa Claus. That’s just the way this family rolls. Also, this is sort of related to the Easter Bunny so just be patient while I explain.

Yesterday when TW picked up the kids from school there was a discussion about what the Easter Bunny might bring. This led to RJ saying that she is pretty sure the Easter Bunny is a girl. She is also very, very sure that Santa Claus is a woman.

TW questioned this because, ya know, Santa Claus is a dude. Everybody knows this.

RJ does not agree because what everybody really knows is men do not know enough about children to be able to provide the perfect, high quality gifts delivered by Santa Claus. Only a woman would have the insight into gifting and into children to be able to pull of a great gift giving season – year after year after year.

TW asked her how she reconciles that with the long, long history we have of Santa Claus being a man.

RJ says, duh. Santa is a woman dressed like a man. History proves that women have often had to pretend to be men in order to accomplish great things. And, that they have had to allow men to take credit for their work because women aren’t allowed to do great things.

Needless to say, I love that kid.

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