365 days

One month to go. One month before this experiment of a blog is one year old.

Today I do not think I will continue. Mid January will bring reconsideration.

Hundreds protest global warming

I snagged this photo from the hilarious Maria Ashley,  who blogs here:  http://blog.timesunion.com/largefamilylife

Oven Update, or we paid HOW MUCH for this appliance?

The oven is still not working, she wrote with a deeply furrowed brow.   Guess what?   (Loosely paraphrased from serviceman's explanation)  If the thingy sends the wrong message to "the board" the whole system implodes, and even though we have a replacement thingy, we really need the replacement board.  There was no way to know this until the appliance was nearly dissembled and the thingy was tried out.   The replacement board has to be sent in from out of state.   Because why would they have it here in Portland, where we bought the oven?

Read much?

Ok, it is just pathetic my favorite book list is from 2008.   Geez.   What have I read in 2009?  Hmm...

Clifford's Animal Sounds
Little Racoon, Here's Your Spoon!
happy baby 123
Colors Foil Fun
Chickie Stop and Go
Clip-Clop
Where is Baby's Belly Button?
and one cannot forget Goodnight Moon

What are the kids reading?

Greener Grass -- it's SO good!
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
The True Meaning of Smekday
Storm: the Black Sphere
Jurassic Park

Best Christmas Card Ever

I cracked up when this came.   Get it?  Two snowflakes are never supposed to be alike.   Suzanna made this card online for her dad through Gmail, and they sent it through snail mail.   I should have known it was her!

If only every day could be so perfect

Today was a great day.

First of all, darling husband who had been in a jury trial all week returned home.  That alone is awesome.  Then, after the varsity and jv (high school daughter and middle schoolers) (and Nolan) kids went to school we took Emmeline & the three of us went Christmas shopping.   Hunky husband and I shared coffee, talked about our kids, hugely enjoyed our blossoming toddler, and stirred up love.   Have I mentioned lately how incredible he is?   I love my man, peeps!

Later in the day I picked up jvs, and they were giddy with excitement to be out of school.  Everyone was in a fabulous mood; Dad got home early, driven by Chloe who just got her driver's permit; and we went out to eat (almost never do this but my oven is still broken).

Got home, bathed baby, watched Frosty, and kids fell into bed, bellies full & bodies exhausted from giggling so much.  

I don't need gifts for Christmas; what more is there to have?

The Post that Wasn't

Every year for Christmas I make a particular Christmas bundt cake, heavy and dense with cream cheese, maraschino cherries, and more cream cheese.   It is my thing, and readers I don't have many things.   But not this year.  Nor are we having gingerbread, sugar cookies or peppermint squares decorated like cute presents (or smeared boxes). 

Our oven is broken, and has been for over two weeks.   Thaaaaaat's right, six kids and no oven.   The top works fine, and thus we have eaten our way through every stove top dinner recipe known to recipezar.  Before this I wasn't even sure what salsibury steak was. 
The repair man has cometh (after long bouts with waiting, calling, waiting, rescheduling, and his superb rendition of the characteristics of his SEVENTEEN DOGS) (I am NOT making that up) he said it would be a few weeks for the part to come in.  

From here I am supposed to ease into a charming description of the really important things about the holidays, and traditions which make our home glow with Christmas cheer.   And then I was going to post three cute pictures from our tree -- a popsicle stick baby Jesus with only one googly eye, and nostalgic handmade ornaments from preschool.   I was even going to present a little ode to preschool teachers and thank them for these hilarious charming heirlooms.

But, alas.   Somehow my brand new memory card (which I splurged on for my own self as an early Christmas present because you know it's for families memories, blah blah blah) popped out of my camera last Sunday.   Just decided to bail ship and jumped, apparently.   It was probably the taping of the baby running around -- it's quite dizzying.  And I haven't found it yet.

No pictures and no special food.  

Christmas will still come.