Monday, Monday

Well, what a weekend. Nick and I knocked out the bulk of our kid shopping for Christmas. Now I just have to wrap what we are giving Turbo and what Santa is giving Turbo--in different paper of course. Bruiser is also getting a visit from the jolly guy in red. I need to take Turbo shopping for his dad's gift and let him choose something for Bruiser. We need to hit the local chocolate shop for the obligatory treats--I love turtles, truffles, and jelly bellies. There may be the odd stocking stuffer to pick up, but my shopping is mostly done. Nick is another story. He still needs to shop for whatever he decides to get for me. Typical last minute guy shopper.

Next weekend I will be making cookies with Turbo. I will be posting a cookie recipe when I decide which one we will be making. Maybe candy cane cookies-Turbo likes to help with rolling those out.

I still have not done the cards. I got a 24 hour bug on Sunday and couldn't move off the couch. Feeling better now, but the stuffiness is running around our house right now. Everyone is sniffing and running at the nose. It's kind of gross around here but hopefully we get it out of our system before Christmas.

And finally some pictures:

Aren't we a cute couple?


Brotherly love.


The proud graduate and his family.
(This one might go out in the Christmas cards, its the best one of the whole family.)

In other news I won an award from Leigh over at Leigh vs. Laundry. Go check out her blog, she's pretty funny at Leigh vs. Laundry.

A little of this and a little of that...

Hey, hey, hey it Friday! Nick's favorite day of the week, cause we get paid for it and it's the end of the week. the weekend is in view. Turbo should be at Grandma's tonight so we just have Bruiser. Tomorrow we are heading out of town to go shopping for Turbo. We are going with some friends so good times are expected.

We are finally escaping the deep freeze--temps should reach above 20 degrees. we really have a winter wonderland going on here. It's pretty but I could do without the extended below zero temps.

Can I just go on record as stating that I hate doing dishes. I can hunt up every dirty dish in sight and get them all done and not five minutes later the sink is full again. I swear the dishes mate in the dark. No matter what I do the sink is always full of dirty dishes. Maybe paper is the way to go, hard to cook in though.

I have chosen the Christmas picture of the family that will go in our cards, I just need to print them off. Then address cards and write a letter and get them in the mail. Um--maybe Sunday. I procrastinate on this one all the time. One year we sent new year cards--hey it was still the holidays right?

Here's hoping that your Friday goes well.

Christmas traditions

It being that time of the year and all, traditions become all important to some people.

I look back fondly at the sort of traditions that I had growing up. Decorating always started with the tree. Once we had gotten the tree we put it up and then my mom put the lights on--usually around ten to twelve strands, we liked a bright tree. Then my brother and I spent the next couple of hours hanging our ornaments in just the right spots. Christmas music played in the background and it was always fun to see a beautiful tree when we were done. After we had placed the last ornament my mom and I would put the garland on-shiny silver garland we used year after year, no tinsel for us cause Mom hated the stuff and the cats ate it and that was never pretty.

As I got out on my own, well I was with Nick, we started the tradition of finding a tree in the mountains. That was always fun and refreshing to go find the perfect tree. We would decorate it but I got tired of putting on all the ornaments I had as a child. We went minimalist with lights and strings of beads. Nick started putting the Christmas cards in the tree as we got them and that seemed to be the perfect way to display them. Once the Turbo was old enough to start putting his ornaments on the tree we started having more ornaments. This year we watched a Christmas movie while we decorated. A nice tradition getting revived.

Another tradition we have is to watch A Christmas Story at least once on Christmas Eve--during the 24 hour run on TNT(or TBS, I'm not sure which). Nick has an affinity for that movie which is a whole other post (later I promise). I like to watch the standards-Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc. It is fun sharing them with Turbo. Bruiser is not interested yet.

As for Christmas Day we don't have any set traditions except we have decreed that we won't go anywhere. The kids deserve to play with their toys, not rush from one place to another. We do Christmas Eve with Nick's folks and then go look at Christmas lights, then home to leave out Christmas Milk and cookies and carrots for Santa and the Reindeer. The next day everyone comes to our house for brunch and my mom brings her gifts then. I spreads out the gifting for the kids and they can appreciate what they get.

I guess we have more traditions than I thought. What do you do that are tradition at your house? Do you want to change them or make new ones. I think we need a few more at our house but it still feels like Christmas here.

Light the lights

My father-in-law loves Christmas. He truly lives for the season all year. He plans out where the lights will go and where the rest of the decorations go. He has the blow ups of Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and various others. It is, to say the least, very festive outside their house. They live two blocks down the street from us so we can see when they have their lights on. It always looks good in the snow.

The year that Turbo was a baby-seven months at Christmas-Papa and Nana were moving and could not put up Christmas lights. Papa decided that Turbo could not miss out on lights so he came and set up lights on our lawn. It looked like Christmas came and threw up on our yard. There was no plan just blow-ups and lights all over. We got lots of looky-loos that year.

There have been years when Papa has dressed as Santa and handed out candy canes to the people driving by to look at his lights. Turbo was three the last time he did this. We told Turbo we were going to see Santa but when he got within ten feet of "Santa" Turbo yelled "That's not Santa, that's Papa!!" He was quite offended and disappointed. We told him Papa was helping Santa out. Can't pull one over on that kid.

I think it drives Papa nuts that we don't do a lot of outside decorating, but I honestly don't think our wiring could handle it. He has tried loaning us blow-ups but we just don't get into it like he does. This year the weather has been less that friendly for outside decorating unless you started in November. We will do something inside around the windows but that's all I think.

At least we can enjoy what he does. He puts thought and effort into it and it usually looks good when he does. He doesn't go overboard like some houses featured on TV--not because he can't but because Nana keeps him in check. Does anyone else do the big blow-ups or just the lights? What does the outside of your house look like?

Random Tuesday

Well time for more randomness associated with Keely at the Unmom. If you want more randomness just click the button above.

I am new to this blogging thing and I am thrilled that I got the button thing to work. I'm totally non tech savvy, so I'm happy I figured it out.

Moving on, we have snow here to go with our very cold temperatures. Not as much as some places but the four inches we have gotten this morning thrilled Turbo to no end. He got up and saw it snowing and immediately started hoping for a snow day. No such luck but at least they have indoor recess.

We cheated this year and did the pre-lit artificial tree. We usually get a real tree from the mountains but the logistics of a real tree and a crawling, pulling up ten month old just seemed a bit too much. The tree is pretty but only has white lights that are on steady. I'm used to twinkling colored lights and this one just seems a bit flat. Next year we will be doing the real thing again.

Our collie mix dog(who is mostly black with a bit of white on his belly and legs) turns white when he goes out in heavy falling snow. Of course he can turn white even when it is not snowing cause he loves to roll in the snow on our backyard deck. I can always tell when he has rolled by the telltale bits of snow clinging to him. Also, he spend a longer time outside when he rolls. He suffers from separation anxiety and is there fore the fastest pee in the west. We can let him out and he is done and ready to come in before we can sit down again.

Well my brain is empty so head over to Keely's, you won't regret it, maybe, I don't know.

Spin Cycle---Dear Santa,

Jen's Spin Cycle assignment is the letter to Santa or a Christmas wish list. This has always been hard for me to come up with. For years(pre-grandchildren), Christmas lists were requested by Nick's folks at Thanksgiving. These lists had to be long and stuff we really wanted. If they weren't long enough we were asked to provide more ideas. It's hard not to sound a bit gimme-gimme when making a list like that. We got some great stuff but coming up with those lists was never easy.

Now it's not so hard. We just say what the kids like or need and we get gift cards. Still, we have to come up with ideas for each other, not just the kids. I try to keep a running list on the refrigerator with gift ideas. It changes from time to time but the basics stay the same. Anyway, what follows is my Dear Santa effort both for things that are within reach and for the more extravagant stuff.

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl this year. I know that because of this you will be generous during your visit. I would like the following in no particular order:
-A new TV to replace the one that tanked in October. WE will treat it well and enjoy it.
-New tires for the car--things are slippery here and new tires would help.
-Something that is shiny and sparkly for my neck or hand. I'll leave the details up to you.
-A new cutting board for the kicthen(talk to my husband on this one, he can hook you up)
-A coffee pot or hot water maker for my office.
-A new memory stick, my old one is too small to carry pictures around on.
-New Rubbermaid storage containers.
-More hours or a raise at work.
-Time. Time to sleep, play with my kids, cook fun food, scrapbook, spend with my husband, and the energy to enjoy it.

I know that some of my requests are a bit harder to provide than others but if you could do your best I'd really appreciate it. You will be getting a letter from my son Turbo shortly. He has been pretty good, so you can be generous with him too(within reason). Thank you Santa. Turbo and I will be making cookies for you, chocolate chip and sugar, and leaving some carrots for the reindeer. Have a great New Year(since you work Christmas).

Lots of love,
Vandy

Pictures! Pictures!

Here are the guys I live with. They are fun and sometimes crazy but we always have lots of love around.


Nick and Bruiser lounging.



Turbo showing off his lost tooth. More are loose and he could end up missing his two front teeth for Christmas.


Turbo and the ten month old Bruiser. I think they will keep me on my toes. They are cute enough to get away with lots.

Dear Everyone...

For the Spin Cycle this week the Family Newsletter is up.

I try to do this every year because our friends and family are far-flung and we don't get together with them easily or often. We don't try to do the top this thing and we try to let it be news-not a brag fest. So here is a form of what we will be sending:

Happy holidays all!

We have survived another year of ups and downs.

First some ups:
Nick has finished his Master's Degree! He is all done with school. We are very proud of him for sticking it out(he has been fed up with school for quite some time and getting him to finish took a lot of encouragement).

On January 29, 2009, Bruiser joined our family. He is a happy, healthy ten month old now. He wants to keep up with his big brother and is quite content to bulldoze his way where ever he wants to go.

Turbo is six and despite some bumps at school, he's adjusting to his little brother quite well. He still thinks his brother is cool but Bruiser still can't get into his toys so we will see how that goes.

Now the downs:
On January 29, 2009 I got laid off at the consulting job I had. Yes, it was the same day I went into labor. I don't think the two were related, but you never know. By the end of April I had another job(that paid about half what I was making) so we are still keeping our heads above water.

Our health has had its downs as well. In January both Nick and Turbo fought the flu (possibly swine flu but not confirmed). There were gobs of green goo all over-fun to deal with while juggling a new born. We had our share of summer colds and then the dreaded Pink Eye hit Turbo just after Thanksgiving. So far he has not been generous with his germs--lots of hand washing here.

In other news, Nick is doing well with his archery hobby and I am trying to get back to my scrapbooks. We are always busy but still seem pretty boring--the highlight of our week is something new on TV.

All in all, 2009 was not really mean to us and hope that 2010 will be kind to us too.

Here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy New Year!
The Jones's (honest noone has to keep up with us--most just pass us by!)

Shopping Bug

The shopping season is upon us. It comes with the rest of the season's joys.

I tend to start collecting things about August or September. But Nick and I do the heavy shopping on a weekend between now and Christmas. I like to shop but usually have to drag Nick kicking and screaming to the stores.

Nick does the rest of his shopping the weekend before Christmas unless he is making things(he's pretty handy--I'm hoping for a cutting board that he's has been promising for a couple of years now). He's really a typical guy and will wander around like the other guys hoping the perfect gift will smack him in the face. I give him a list of suggestions but there are times when he needs more directions.

I'll take Turbo to shop for Dad and Bruiser in the next couple of weeks and then, except for stocking stuffers, we'll be mostly done. We do have to think about the grandparents but they always want just simple stuff or "nothing really" which of course means something really.

We intend to have small stuff for Bruiser cause, really, he doesn't get it and the boxes will hold more allure for him. Turbo gets three or four things-some from Santa and some from us. At six he's all about how many presents are under the tree, how many are his and not necessarily their content. Now all I have to do is get the letter to Santa figured out.

Christmas milk and other random things...

OK, so It's Tuesday and time to let everyone in on my random thoughts.

Pink Eye is gross. Turbo has an impressive case of Pink Eye. The doctor was even impressed. I think its yucky how much crust an eye can create. It's almost as bad as the green goo that Turbo produced when he was sick with the flu last January. Almost. I think the Pink eye wins.

Hoping for more snow soon. Things are looking depressingly brown and icy. I prefer the white of the snow. It makes me feel cozy and safe in my house. I also feel like cooking soups and stews and chili and warm things like that. So I am hoping for snow this week.

Is it just me or are Funyons wildly addictive? I'm not that fond of onions but I love Funyons. Nick thinks I'm weird cause of this. OK, so he thinks I'm weird for a lot of things but he always looks at me funny when I get Funyons.

Moving on, It's egg nog time. Although in our house it's known as Christmas Milk. This is what Turbo has called it since he could talk. It will probably always be known as Christmas Milk now. It works for us.

I don't like shopping for my mother for Christmas. She is at that age where she needs nothing and wants nothing(except really expensive things that are out of our reach). If she finds something she wants she gets it and I feel like it's a cop out to get her a gift card. Oh well, we'll think of something.

Well that's about it my head is empty so head on over to Keely and check out the other randomness happening this week.