Not Just Lurking, Actually Updating You...

Am I actually taking a few moments to journal what's been going on?

I'm finding it difficult to comprehend there are just two weeks left before we begin a new year. Seems like Thanksgiving was yesterday, literally.

The weather hasn't helped. Its been warmer than usual so we have no snow on the ground. It feels like I should be gardening, but then I look at the calendar and know the snow and ice will come any day now. I don't have any cold frames or a greenhouse so nothing really will grow.

I'm anxiously anticipating date night tonight. DH and I are going to see Cage The Elephant. They always put on a super high energy show. I know its going to be incredible. I'm really hoping it helps DH's mood. I think the stress from work and our days of less sunlight have been bringing him down.

This afternoon I'm bringing Pepparkakor cookie dough over to a friend's house with the hope she can help me roll out the cookies very thin. I haven't enjoyed good Pepparkakor cookies since my grandmother had made them. The store bought version doesn't compare.

I decided not to do much baking this Christmas knowing there will be plenty of goodies around. Its always a challenge to get through this season without over doing the sugar quota. I'm focusing on raw veggie appetizers I can bring to the parties we'll attend instead. I will probably bake a batch of soft gingerbread reindeer cookies for the boys.

I got my haircut and now its not growing. She cut it too short. I warn them every time, as soon as you snip my longer hair, it will spring up and appear much shorter. I wanted shoulder length and ended up with chin length. I'm getting used to it and people tell me it looks cute, but I really hate not being able to pull it back into a pony. I swear it just looks shorter everyday too. It doesn't seem to be growing out.

After almost 4 years, I took the boys in for a wellness checkup. I couldn't believe it had really been 4 years, but honestly, they've never been sick in all that time and with all of the changes in our health insurance coverage, I never scheduled wellness checkups. As luck would have it, our current insurance meant the boys could see their original physician, which they were happy about. It went better than I had expected.

Our doctor hasn't always been homeschooling friendly. I've tried over the years to educate and enlighten him. I was surprised he didn't make an issue out of it this time, and I actually found a homeschooling magazine in his waiting room!!

I was also surprised they didn't fight me at all when I asked they NOT give the boys the flu and HPV shots. These are two I definitely think they can do without.

Of course after visiting the office, I'm in full out germaphobe mode. I always feel like we get sick AFTER we visit a clinic for the obvious reasons. I did try to schedule earlier morning appointments hoping our exposure would be less. It would be more healthy if doctors still made house calls don't you think?

My parents will be here this weekend and we'll celebrate at my sister's house. Next weekend there's another party at my sister's with more of my family attending. I like being able to celebrate in smaller gatherings. Its less overwhelming and you actually get to spend time visiting with people rather than touching base for a few minutes.

Christmas Day we'll be home, in the nest. I plan to wear yoga pants all day.

I most likely will not have to drive in to work much the next two weeks. I have projects to work on from home, but we'll have no lessons now until after the new year. Another perk to my job, semester breaks!

I'm going to try filming customer service videos with my son, who's really taken an interest in film making. I've told him it would be good practice experience to help me write, film and edit these clips for my workplace. Maybe someday he'll make a living doing what he loves to do!

I didn't get any Christmas cards written, and I won't have all the perfect gifts for everyone, but I do feel like I'm managing to not become overwhelmed. As they say, "Martha Stewart doesn't live here and that is a good thing!"  I'm having enough of a challenge trying to maintain healthy habits.

Sleep has been difficult, but I think that's midlife hormones. I can go to bed at 11:30pm and wake up wide awake at 5:00am. Of course the crash comes later!! Some nights, I just can't fall asleep no matter how hard I try. I seem to go two days without sleep and then be able to sleep one or two nights. I'm trying not to stress over it. I think it will all balance out eventually. Unfortunately, I'm always ready for a nap when I have to leave for work!

Monday's Musings

I'm still having strange sleep patterns. Went to bed Saturday at 1:00am(Sunday), and woke up at 3:00am, unable to fall back asleep. My brain's been on overdrive.

Since I couldn't sleep, I read through the book, Wikis The Educator's Power Tool by Kay Teehan and now the autodidact in me wants to learn more about creating and using Wiki's. I should have been sleeping, not brainstorming.

Last night I got a little more rest, but had nightmares of aliens attacking the planet. I woke up thinking it would have made a great movie.

My parents are driving down a day earlier than scheduled trying to beat a snow/ice storm scheduled to begin this afternoon. I hope they are careful and stop and get a room if the road conditions get bad.

This rearranges my plans for the day. I have to get the guest room ready! I was thinking of driving to the pool - no joke - to take the boys for a swim and grab a few resources I need to work from home the next two weeks. I know I had just said how awesome it was not to have to drive anywhere, but after my Wiki brain storm, I now want to create a Wiki for work and I need a few things. Plus do I want to wait for my paycheck to be mailed? My checking account balance says no.

I had a discussion with DH about how the whole gift buying thing sucks the joy out of Christmas. Its stressful not having money and feeling the pressure to find just the right gift. I'd rather focus on being with family, enjoying tasty bites, playing games and creating laughter. I get now why some families take vacations this time of year and skip the whole material/commercial scene.

I should get moving here, open up the guest room and finish the before Christmas cleaning projects.

Groundhog was set up....

DS10 pointed out perhaps they shouldn't hold that groundhog up so high and his shadow won't appear that big. You think people would learn to erect a tent over him so the sun's rays miss him entirely.

I so need spring. This past weekend it did warm up enough for an outdoor walk without a cold air induced asthma attack. That was a blessing. It felt good to stroll and stretch my legs, but I still had to watch for melting ice and snow.

DH fought with setting up computers and convincing the cable guy we needed wireless. "But you aren't hooking up a laptop?" Dude, with two computers, and two game consoles, we don't want wires everywhere tripping people. We're still having reliability issues with the online gaming.

Now that the new computer is up and running, DH confessed to me that our old computer's fan has gone completely out and its a matter of time before we lose the hard drive if we don't replace it. I have to make a point to get all my photos burned and uploaded to a backup site. For now, I use Winkflash.com because prints are only .6 cents each. DH may ask our nephew to help him install a new fan so we don't lose our old computer.

For months now, DS10 has been a tad bit envious of DS13 because we decided DS13 is old enough he doesn't need to be told when to go to bed. I told DS10 he could stay up and read if he wanted to, but he had to do it in his bed for now. He was ecstatic. He thought that was the coolest thing, to be able to read all night if he wanted.

Since we home school, I don't have to wake them at any certain time. They can sleep until they feel rested, and they are learning to listen to their bodies and go to sleep when they are tired. I actually read last week that there are physiological changes that happen to the teen body that prevents them from getting tired before 11:00pm. Unfortunately, teens in school have to get up early, so they are not getting enough sleep. A high school in Minnesota pushed back the morning start time and grades started improving.

We watched the Superbowl and I had to remind DH, although we were rooting for the Cardinals, we're used to losing because we're Bear fans. "Settle down and take it like a Bear Fan!"

I made guacamole and discovered I have no diminishing returns when it comes to creamy green heaven! I can't have avocados in the house. As if that wasn't enough of a calorie nightmare, I made brownies too. Hopefully the weather cooperates and I can keep walking outside. I get too bored on the treadmill just watching TV.

I have to go. Yumi is freaking out. With the little bit of snow that has melted, the stray cats are once again on the prowl. She sees them in the yard and goes bizerko. I should look into getting her those kitty happiness pheromones.