Five on Friday- New Year's style

1- Staying home or going out?
2- Resolutions or no resolutions?
3- Looking forward to 2011 or will you miss 2010?
4- Bubbly at midnight or already snoring?
5- Traditional New Year's meal or eating whatever you can find?

My answers:
1- A little of both. Out to dinner with kids and then may stop at a party across the street (but am content to stay home, too! Not feeling it this year!)
2- None so far, but the day is not over. I need to think about this. Maybe cut back on my reality TV!
3- Looking forward to it. 2010 wasn't the best as I look back on it.
4- Bubbly. I have to, at least, toast at midnight. I've never missed one yet in my adult years!
5- Traditional New Year's meal...money, health, etc. Pork, greens and black-eyed peas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Have fun whatever you do tonight....

Home again.

A great Christmas was had by all. After we saw what Santa brought the minis and opened our presents, we loaded up the car and headed to Charlotte to visit my parents. We ate a fantastic meal, opened more presents and watched the snow fall that evening. Our first white Christmas! It was awesome. Sunday we got out and played in the snow (about 3 1/2 inches) by way of snowball fights and building a sorry looking snowman. Then my mom and I were even able to sneak out for some after Christmas shopping. Today, along with the rest of the state of NC, we traveled home to about 6 inches of snow! So unusual for this time of year.

Tomorrow we'll break in the new wii games before pulling for our beloved NC State Wolfpack in the Champs Bowl in Orlando against WVA.

Wednesday, I'm meeting a friend for dinner and then we're seeing "The Black Swan." Should be good. Oscar buzz. I just heard Natalie Portman is engaged and expecting with the choreographer for the movie and NYC (French-born) ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied.

Hope you're enjoying your lazy last week of 2010...

The final countdown

I hope we make it to Christmas around here. Santa is seeing some things that he may not be happy about...The kids are bored, cranky, agitated and on permanent sugar highs. Yesterday was a fun day. We dropped $680 in unexpected car repairs on the SUV. We ventured out Wednesday night for a fun drive around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights when all of a sudden the car had other plans so we quickly returned home to switch cars. Oh my.

Mini#1 got his new bionator for his mouth on Tuesday so we're saying "What?" every time he speaks because he's getting used to it in his mouth and we can't understand a thing the poor kid is saying. Then on Wednesday he lost a tooth (one of those on the top side of mouth that is loose one minute and out the next), his first in a while. It was a little dramatic getting it out but, finally, he let me carefully remove it with a tissue. However, a few hours later he was even more dramatic when I was accused of throwing the tooth away. He left it on a napkin in the kitchen and, yes, I cleaned up behind him. He panicked big time! Luckily the trashcan wasn't too full and I found it wadded up in the napkin fairly quickly. The tooth fairy came last night and all is good.

What else? The minis want to open a present (well youngest mini mostly) every minute and asks me every other minute if he can! Good grief! This morning I had to wake them up so we could get to the gym for a class I wanted to take. Well, not really, but I wanted to get.out.of.the.house! It was a lovely time of screaming, pleading and almost crying to get them out the door. Luckily, we all survived though I may not be able to get out of bed Christmas morning after that class. We settled down and watched "Home Alone" when we got home and now we're getting ready to whip up some sugar cookies for Santa.

Yes, I may sound a little Scrooge-y as you read this post, but I'm not (entirely!). I am thankful for my health, my family, my SUV, my warm home and that all those presents are even under our tree. And for THE GIFT given to us so many years ago and the reason I truly celebrate Christmas. I really am thankful. But, I think I may ask Santa to grant all of us moms Dec. 26 as a mental health recovery day. I think we should be allowed to do whatever we want to after the big day. Don't you?? I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and find many things to be thankful for in the midst of a little chaos.

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas in Paris

This week...

Minis playing on Ipads at the mall.

Great display window at Apple.

Playing with Leggos at the Lego store.

In line for Santa. My sweeties hated "dressing up," but they looked so cute. I compromised and let them wear jeans. It was a great day. Mr. Pink let them shop for me and I acted like I didn't know they were doing it. This was last Wednesday, by the way. I've been so busy that I'm just now posting. Did more shopping today while Mr. Pink took the minis to an NC State basketball game. My friend's husband got them on the "jumbo screen." They wore their monogrammed Pottery Barn Santa hats (best use of a store credit I had) and were so excited to see themselves on the screen! Tomorrow we're off to visit Mr. Pink's grandmother for the day. It's his Birthday and, without his parents being alive, it's comforting to be around her I think. So back to wrapping presents I go...busy, busy, busy.

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas in Paris

Notre Dame- So beautiful.

Tune Tuesday- Toy Jackpot

Another commercial song. This time it's Target's Toy Jackpot by Blackalicious. Every time this commercial comes on I want to dance (and I have!). It actually makes me temporarily forget all I have to do in the next couple of weeks. Do you like it, too??? Enjoy!

Sleigh Ride

Thought I'd quickly post this photo before going to my neighborhood cookie exchange. It's from our sleigh ride Friday night. It was fun as usual. Not too cold, not too long, just right. Then into the clubhouse for cupcakes and coffee and a visit with Santa. Hope you all have had a great weekend!

Busy, busy in NC

Hope this finds you all happy and healthy! Trying to cheer up because I saw 2 news stories that really saddened me today. One was about a fatal wreck this morning and Mr. Pink actually saw the aftermath as he was stuck in the traffic. I won't share details because I don't want you crying like I did!! Sooo sad.

But, I came to the blog today to cheer up!! And I will because tonight I am going to the annual neighborhood ladies' Christmas party. It started out as playgroup moms, but a lot of us have graduated from playgroup and we've extended it to others. Will be fun. We all bring an appetizer, a festive drink and a gift to exchange that crazy way where you draw a number and fight over, I mean nicely exchange for another, if you desire. Looking forward to dressing less "mom uniform" and more sparkly and getting together with the girls. We always have a fun time!

Tomorrow night it's the neighborhood sleigh ride. Saturday it's a sorority sister's party and Sunday it's a cookie exchange! Whew! Let the season begin.... Are you going to any parties this weekend? Have fun!!

Wordless Wednesday-Shopping in Paris

Conversations with a 5 yr old-Christmas style

Mini#2- I'm gonna ask Santa for everything in the world.

Me- What? That's a little rude don't you think?

Mini#2- Mom! I'm gonna say "please."

Clearly, my job is not finished, but I see progress in his manners!

Hoiday Song

I love the new Honda Holiday commercials because of this song. So catchy. Enjoy.

Five on Friday- Christmas Movies

Here are some of our favorites. We even kicked off the season by watching Jim Carey's Christmas Carol last Friday night for family movie night. I was always a fan of the George C. Scott version, but this production is awesome...I bought it the day it went on sale. What are your favorite holiday movies?

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December in Paris-'cause I wish I was there.

So beautiful! I wish I were happily shopping in Paris today. Unfortunately, I am finishing up the decorating in my house among the 50 billion boxes of decorations I have accumulated. Fortunately, the end is near. I hope to have everything decorated and boxes packed away today. I can't stand living in this chaos...and I'm running all over the place trying to get some things done before the precious minis are out of school for a month starting Friday afternoon. Year round school. They're out 4 weeks! We have the school parties and programs this week. Throw in an orthodontist appointment, dentist appointments, cub scouts and church. I'm actually going to be glad to relax a bit starting next week. Anyway, my wordless Wednesdays will feature some Paris photos this month. I watched "Something's Gotta Give" last weekend and it made me want to go to Paris again. If you're into French music, buy the soundtrack for this movie. Has some great stuff on it. Jack Nicholson even sings a decent La Vie en Rose. Ok, back to my decorating.....