Lord of the Flies and Passive Aggressive notes

I will not dwell on the negative today. I can't be depressed all of the time. That's what the drugs are for.

So Christmas went better than I had hoped. When I finally woke up we opened gifts. I didn't get up until almost 3pm, and only then because the kids were jumping on the bed and telling me that Daddy said they couldn't open presents until I got up. So I got up, and all was well in the world.

George loves his travel guitar and the kids were shocked--positively shocked--that they had gotten the DSis that they had asked for. They also got swim bags, but they weren't as thrilled with those (don't know why.) I got a yarn winder, and my knitting kit is complete. *happy sigh*  Oh, and I got a new quilt, but that's something that George uses too, so it's a bit of a cheat.

But why the title of this post? Ah, therein lies the tale. The kids are addicted to Pokemon. They are poke-nuts if you will. So are most of their cousins...they have a little Poke-kids Club. It's all very cute and organized. It was sooo well organized as a matter of fact, I had to disband it on Christmas Eve. Yup. I was the bad-guy.

You see, the kids had established such a strict hierarchy of ranks that some of the kids weren't moving up. Some were actually moving down in rank. Votes were taken to banish some members from the club. Votes were overturned by dictatorial rule that stated that the Leader could decide whether or not votes counted. Kids cried...I decided to step in, in my infinite motherly wisdom (before they were rolling boulders and playing with fire) and said that this wasn't very CHRISTMAS of them, nor was it kind, and HEAVEN HELP THEM if I caught them playing games that might disrupt familial unity and peace. The club, I declared, would NEVER meet in my house again. (Over the top? Perhaps, but at this point, they hated me not each other. Mission accomplished.)


Needless to say, the Poke-kids Club immediately called a secret meeting to rewrite their charter, I guessed. Since I was getting ready for work I did not take immediate issue with this. What came out of this meeting was not a new charter, but one of the most creative attempts at making me feel guilty over their disappointment. Kids, I hate to break the news to you, but you'll have to try harder. I'm a Mom. Guilt is my job.

Dear Mom, We decided that everyone is the same rank. We don't have a leader, deputy, etc. We really want you to believe that we have changed. It is a holiday and we don't want you to make too many decisions without thinking. We know you are stressed out about losing both your parents are we understand. Love...

Christmas Post

"Despite the unexpected location change, at the last minute. Christmas, with the family, was pulled off with dignity and grace. really, all anyone wants to eat are the cookies anyway, right?"
--Becky on her blog

She puts it well. It was nice and low-key. It was great meeting Marie's daughter Jeannie, and being with family...we missed Matt and Jenny, but they spent time with her family, so that was good for them. (Matt would have been miserable with our cats in any case...sorry dude.) But we got through it. Tomorrow is just us and the kids, and quiet. George and the kids are going to church in the morning. I just want to sleep. Everything went well...but I kept looking at the door waiting for Mom.

People made Mom's cookies. The kids were playing and screaming and crying. We were sitting in the living room chatting and making small talk and laughing. But the laughing wasn't as loud. The kids seemed more subdued (believe it or not) and Christmas just felt smaller without Mom. It felt empty.

I hope the kids didn't feel it, but I sure did. I miss you Mom. More than I ever thought possible. I am never a big holiday person, but this year I feel like the Grinch.

(this was written 25-December at 0430 in the morning. I just noticed that it was never published.)

I am by no means finished...but this is where I stand.

Hats! Lots of hats

Mittens! Lots of them too!

Almost all of the nieces and  nephews are getting mittens and hats for Christmas. I have been a busy little crafter. I am also ready to put down the knitting needles for awhile. Holy cow, I think I'm getting carpal tunnel. I think that I can make that skull cap in my sleep--a skull cap that has skulls on it...am I crazy or what? 

O_o

And, thanks to an awful stomach bug that is going around Joe and Suzanne's home, I have inherited Christmas Eve!! We'll just do deserts and presents, but I sure hope no one is expecting a clean house. I really wish I could be drunk for it, but I have to be at work tomorrow night by 9. Boss is cutting me a little slack because of the unexpected hostessing, but I still have to go in. Bummer. At least I'm the Desk Sergeant...I think. That almost makes it worth my while. But it also means I don't get to leave early. Boo. I don't know that I'll be getting to Church on Sunday to sing the Christmas songs. Oh well. It's a living.

Christmas Stories

For the rest of the week, the kids are writing me Christmas stories. The only rules I have put on this activity is that they have to 1)use their spelling words from last week and that 2) they have to use adjectives. They can write Christmas ghost stories, Christmas adventure stories, Christmas stories that involve animals, Christmas stories that take place in the past or in the future, sci-fi Christmas stories...
We will read the stories on Christmas Day.
It's a fun exercise, and it also gives them something to do while I'm knitting. I have two pairs of mittens, a hat and a scarf to knit before Saturday. There's a story in that too, and I will share it soon. I will also share photos of what I am making, but not right now...I'm too buy. Go write a story or something.

Caleb Brohlin's Safety Tips

Caleb was reading the story "Officer Buckles and Gloria" about a police officer who goes to schools and gives safety tips, and the officer's canine partner, Gloria. As a project, George had Caleb make his own safety posters. I was expecting warnings about seatbelts or don't play with matches, but this is what he came up with. Hmmmm...what has Caleb been reprimanded for in the past? I wonder...

Don't Rock on the Chairs

 I have issues with rocking on chairs and we've spoken to both kids about it before. I'm sure that the kids would survive any falls, but I try to put the fear of Mom into the kids anyhow (it's kind of my job.) I like the reaction of the one in this picture who doesn't rock. Facepalm.

Don't squeeze the kitt[e]ns

I love the kittens poster because Caleb has to be reminded of this pretty regularly. Luckily the kittens are pretty good-natured, but Caleb has a great imagination about what could happen; the kid in the picture has some awful scratches across his face.

In honor of Hannah's tenth birthday, today was just a half day of school. More later about how her celebration went. (I'm so sorry that her birthday is so close to Christmas...she was supposed to be born in January, but the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley.) I can't believe she's ten years old! Sometimes I can't believe that she's only ten years old. What did I do with myself before she came along? I'm kept busy somehow. I think I remember sleeping a lot more, but it's all kind of fuzzy. My dear, my darling is ten wonderful years old. I don't regret a minute of it. She's keeping up a great family tradition by making me laugh daily--when I'm not frustrated by her strong will and opinionated nature. But I even love all of that about her. Happy Birthday, Crazy Girl.

 I am now officially following the uh...following blog:

itsallfunnytome.blogspot.com

It's Becky and her Banditos. It's far funnier than anything that I could try to put together, but I try not to be jealous of her talent.


And the above statement demonstrates one of the bizarre things about the English language, and one which I have a difficult time with--not  splitting infinitives. If you are not aware, an infinitive is a non-conjugated form of the verb, in this case 'to be.'  In my mind, it would make more sense to say 'I try to not be jealous.' But that's not proper. 'I try not to be jealous,' is correct, but it sounds funny. It looks funny. It is funny. I'm not trying not to be. I like being after all. I just want to exist (to be) not in a state of jealousy. I want to not be jealous...to be not jealous...ah nuts.

Yet, that's how English works. I've always just accepted it. When you're in a class (or teaching a class) of 20+ students you just don't ask or answer all the possible questions that are out there. When you have only two students, you can't duck the tough questions, like "why is it wrong to split infinitives?" I think that grammar is the only subject where an acceptable answer is "just because that's how we do it."
Well, grammar and statistics, but I don't have to teach statistics.
 
 And now for a preview of Becky's Banditos....



Pure imagination, candy and beer. Mmmmmmm.
(And wouldn't Becky and Her Banditos be an awesome name for a band?)

Oh, and 3 followers!!!! 97 to go until the big prize! ( I dunno. Maybe a great big candy bar! Or lunch with Becky and the Banditos--I've got an 'in.')