{Christmas tidings}

I have been remiss in writing for a while. Last week, we went down to Farmington, New Mexico for my brother's wedding. It was beautiful. I had a great time meeting up with all my friends I grew up with. Bruce and Marissa are now happily married and missing the snow by honeymooning in Florida. Jon brought me back home for my surgery on Tuesday. The rest of the family got here Christmas Eve night. I now have all my wisdom teeth out, lots of stitches, and 2 little kids begging me for the ice cream I'm eating.

And yet, despite my chipmunk cheeks, numb lips, and inability to eat any yummy Christmas delectables, I am happy. I love my cozy home, children's laughter, making Chex mix (although I can't taste it), having all my family here (except the newlyweds), and holding an ice pack to my face while I play games with the fam... We also experienced a miracle. When we were given the estimate for this emergency surgery, it was $530 we had to pay up front right before Christmas. Monday we received a check from someone for $500. Unbelievable, except that our God is amazing.

On a side note, for 3 years, I've been joking about our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and the fact that I wish for a beautiful tall one. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, when Jon and I went to the grocery store to get last minute food stuffs, there was a big "free" sign on all the leftover trees. We looked at each other like "What in the world?" So we brought the 10-foot tree home and put it in our other living room. How elated the kids were when they got to decorate it with candy canes. I hope all of you out there have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas...

{or what do you say to this?}

I was doing Katie's hair Sunday and she wasn't too thrilled. Trying to explain, I coaxed, "But you're my little girl, and I want to make your hair pretty..." (something she could care less about-I know)
She looked at me with consternation, "I'n not your dirl. I'n your yadybud. And yadybuds don't have hair!"

Later that day, she asked me for some milk and took that opportunity to drop my cell phone in my own cup when I got up from the table. Little stinker! I came back, took a sip, and the phone hit me in the lip. It's totally destroyed. Been through cream-of-wheat swimming, toilet dunking, couch hiding (for 3 months), dizzy spells in the kitchenaid mixer and bread machine, and multiple dropping. Just couldn't live through a milk drowning. I think she's going to be a fiasco/genius in chemistry lab someday.

{what do you say to that?}

So, I walk into my Chad's room to find the bag for his library book and CD to be cut with pinking shears all the way around. Quite a nice design actually. Incredulously, I pick it up, look at my son, and query, "Why in the world did you do that!?!"
He unflinchingly returns my question with another question: "Mom, why in the world did you leave the scissors on my dresser?"

For 4 weeks now, we've been waking up around 5:00 and leaving at 6:00. The kids wake up somewhere in between. However, we have not yet been able to teach them the difference between workdays and weekends. Saturday morning rolls around and yes, they're both in our room at 5:45 asking for breakfast. Cheerios in fact. Neither of us can find it possible to get up. We tell them to go in the playroom (which is right by our room) and play for a while. Soon we hear little feet padding down the stairs, some rustling, and padding back up. Ahhh, we close our eyes and try to enjoy the fleeting thoughts of sleep.
Later, when we descend upon the kitchen, we immediately notice the entire remains of my birthday cake gone! There's no way my 2 little children could have finished off that much. I fix breakfast. They don't want it. Instead they sneak back up to the playroom. Out of curiosity, we follow only to find them pulling the cake on the cardboard out from under the toddler bed and a bowl of popcorn out of the closet. "Shh!"...Chad reminds Kate. "Mommy and daddy need to sleep."
We are in hysterics at that point. At least we know our 2 babies can fend for themselves! Reminds me of Crosby's "Chocolate cake for breakfast"...

{cappuccinos and lattes}

You might say I am not a coffee person. I detest the cheap flavored stuff they brew at work. Could never tolerate Folgers or CoffeeMate. Have only used my 4-cup coffee maker (that I got as wedding gift) when my dad visits. Went through 5 years of night shift without drinking the stuff. Jonathan drinks coffee even less than I do. However, I do have a certain, perhaps expensive, taste for a good mocha or cappucino-if you remember my entry about OZO's coffee shop. So it was to my fantastic surprise when I came down to the kitchen one morning to find a Breville espresso machine. An early birthday present to me from Jonathan...the best one he's ever gotten me. After many fun experiments, I've settled on my favorite combination: about 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate syrup (from Whole Foods) in the bottom of the heated cup, 2 shots brewed Mocha Java from Caribou Coffee, steamed whole milk, and raw sugar sprinkled on top. Amazingly, even with one hand, Jonathan has become the best at steaming milk to the perfect froth. It's become quite an enjoyable art for us. So, we invite you to come enjoy one with us anytime.

{a little bragging}

Yes, I must say, I did marry my best friend. He knows me better than anyone else. Knows when I need a date. In fact, a candle-lit dinner. So last week I'm tired, hungry, work all day, get home at 8:00 at night, and find the table set for 2, the kids fed and in bed, and Jonathan lighting the candles. Lamb roast, potates, spinach souffle, and homemade chocolate mocha pudding. And all with only his right arm! (Left arm's out of commission for a while). Amazing to say the least. The meal was delicious! I am duly impressed that he was willing to betray to me the fact that he CAN do more than he makes out, and that he's definitely milking this situation for all it's worth;-) Until now! Anyway, thought I'd do a little bragging...

{halloween fun}

We got to trick or treat with 2 cousins this year. Kate was "Teeter Bell" and Chad a "ghost."

{changing jobs}

Well, I am starting a new job at a new place. Quantum change in my life. I've been in the ICU for 5 years now, and because of negative changes in the environment in which I am working, a recent assault by one of my patients, and various elements of family and babysitting, felt it was time to move on...which I'm not terribly good at, but excited nonetheless... Come November 4, I will be working in the Neuroscience Institute at The Children's Hospital full time for a while, then down to part-time when possible. The hours and campus are the same as Jonathan's, so we'll be able to ride together and eat lunch together. No weekends, holidays, or nights. It will be an improvement in many ways.