it's all good...

wow... just spent the last five days with the kids, and while i had some lows, the highs really lifted my spirits. i'm looking forward to them being on vacation next week. we're going to be busy with a long list of things i'd like to do. we'll probably only accomplish a small portion of things on the list, which is why i wanted to make it a long one. if anyone has any free time at all, and would like to torture themselves with our company, please call. i know some of you are either going to have a day off here or there (friday's, hot fudge! let's go to that country breakfast place!), might be in town on vacation (hint, hint, totu!), or not leaving town for business (thought i wouldn't use it against you, huh, linesteppa?!), so i'm hoping to that some of you will help me not go insane with my kids, i mean, spend some quality time with us, hee hee.

this week:

career choice of the month:
i would like to dress up as Mrs. Santa and pass out warm cookies and milk (just the cookies warm, not the milk.) for people. it'd be nice if i could go door-to-door - i can't stand malls.

i spied:

• an old nun driving a tricked-out bright blue pickup truck. i did a double-take.
• a mini theft ring including a mother and her 2 teenage daughters. the clerks at the accessory store we were at said that they have been hit by the three several times and just can't seem to catch them.
• my christmas tree totally mismatched, with the weight of the tons of ornaments pulling it down. i love it!!

lows:

• D1 telling hot mama, who was kind enough to take the kids to the park while i went to the dr for a nasty uti, that he doesn't want to go to the "freakin' park again". apparently parks aren't the coolest hang-out spots for 11-yr olds.
• D1 also complaining to hot mama that he doesn't like being at "boring old mom's house". rest assured, we later had an in depth conversation about how "boring" his life could be... the first thing i said to him was, "you think i'm old???!! ok, boring i can handle. but old?!"
• out of the mouths of babes... D3 said that my breath stank, but was quick to add that my hair smelled like flowers. gotta love the honesty of children.
• shopping for clothes for the girls on sat. i can't stand shopping. i wish i could be anesthetized and have someone put the clothes on me, purchase whatever fit, and then wake me when it's over. if it were legal, i'd seriously consider doing it to my kids. i really don't think the boys would mind.

highs:

• the constant debate with D4 over letting her into the garage to take a peek at some presents i've hidden in there. absolutely relentless! i love her persistence. it goes good with her smile. i think i'll find a new hiding spot for the gifts, and then let her scour the garage for them. that'll be funny. i bet you're all thinking i'm a cruel mother...
• we went ice skating on sunday, and they were all so very good and patient. the boys stayed together, and the girls were really good about letting me take turns skating them individually around the rink. when i'd take D3, the boys would hang with D4, so she wouldn't be left alone. it was nice.
• got D4's ears pierced. she pitched such a fit after the first ear was done, we had to come back after a trip to the toy store for the second one. we looked at toys until the pain subsided, and made mental notes of what she wants from santa.
• was fortunate enough to miss out on the CV downtown christmas parade due to lack of parking. hot mama said it sucked balls anyway.