I've been tagged!

Tammy tagged me to share 12 random things about myself that are Christmas related. Here are the rules:1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
TWELVE THINGS ABOUT MYSELF THAT ARE CHRISTMAS RELATED:
1. I enjoy Christmas more each year.
2. When I was little I wondered why everyone else didn't have a Christmas tree up on their birthday (my birthday is December 9).
3. The older Libby gets, the more lights we put up.
4. I now understand how my grandparents' light display is no longer "tacky", but for the kids.
5. Christmas songs have so much meaning since having a child.
6. I don't understand the point of Chinese Auctions, even though they are fun. They seem to totally defy the meaning of Christmas.
7. I really like a star at the top of a Christmas tree. Ours doesn't have one, but I like a star.
8. It's funny to see the the different ways baby Jesus looks in the various nativity scenes.
9. Libby thinks Baby Jesus is in a car seat.
10. I like cold weather during the Christmas season.
11. This year, Steven and I won't exchange gifts. We bought gifts for a family that couldn't afford Christmas.
12. You can get too many Christmas dishes.

I tag Anna and my sister.

Look, He Has A Tail!

This is Steven on this post. Meleia felt like I should handle this one. NO PICTURE CAN BE POSTED!

This past Saturday we had our yearly tradition of family Christmas pictures. My mom was in charge of bringing the kids and matching outfits (what a "Grand" parent!). Needless to say, when Mom arrived with Chloe and Zach, everyone needed to change into their Christmas outfits. In a rush to not take up the photographer's time, changing occurred quickly in the closest room. Meleia was busy changing Libby's clothes. Chloe and Zach were getting their outfits on, too. Zach, who's almost 5, inadvertently removed an extra layer of clothing when he was taking pants off. This is the point where Libby exclaimed, "Look, he has a tail!" She couldn't see his bottom, but did see his front. They realized what she was talking about, helped Zach and she ran off to play telling everyone "boys have tails".

PEACE...in the Wal*Mart Parking Lot, Seriously

Da-Da: What'd you eat for lunch, today?

Libby: Hotdogs.

Da-Da: You said you ate a hotdog yesterday aaaand the day before. Are you sure you ate a hotdog today?

Libby: Yes.

Da-Da: Well, the menu says that you had chips and cheese.

Libby: Well, then, Da-Da, what'd I have for lunch?

--Update on 1,2, Swat: We went to Wal*Mart over the weekend and Libby was in her whine mode. We did the 1, "I'm asking you to stop whining." 2-"I'm telling you to stop whining." 3-"You are getting a spanking because you didn't obey." (basically, at that point she really had something to whine about) So, when we finally got to the car in the parking lot, we put her in her seat and shut the door so we could get in the front seats.....for a slight moment, an ever so slight moment...........PEACE, in the Wal*Mart parking lot. She was still whining, but she was in the car with the doors closed and all we had to hear were the Salvation Army bell, buggies, people, and traffic---it was so peaceful.

--Update on my cold: G-O-N-E! Yippeee.

More l8r.

I'm Touching The Presents, Mommy. I am.

Well, my cold is tapering away for the moment and it's back to work we go. We have the tree up and the beginnings of the season are so evident. We had a talk with Libby before putting the presents out and told her that if anyone touches the presents, they get "1-2-Swat". So, she continually approaches the presents and thinks that it's okay if she says, "I'm touching the presents, Mommy. I am." She thinks if she tells us she is touching them that it's okay. She hasn't opened any--yet. We put more lights outside than usual. Libby really likes to see the lights. Her grandparents brought some light up reindeer that have been put out since the picture. One, however, looks like it's under the weather because it's lights aren't quiet working.....Maybe it will fall prey to a hunter and get put away. Anyway, we are enjoying the season--she sure makes it fuller. More l8r.

I need Salt Water!

I know that looks like an ocean behind Libby and it is, but it's how my sinuses feel! It never fails. I get common colds that last forever, don't respond to medicine and last forever---did I already mention that? Oh, plus, I get them when Steven's work is revolving around him and he can't help me. I think I may get my sinuses amputated. Is there such a thing? Here's one thing to be VERY thankful for---Libby doesn't have it...........yet. I'm keeping her at a distance and just surviving. I had to leave school at 8:30 because I couldn't stand up. Okay, here's another teacher perk for anyone (namely my sister) who thinks teachers have it so easy. When you are sick, you have to know enough ahead of time (12 hours) to find your replacement, you have to leave purposeful, doable work on your desk for your replacement to do with the kids, you still have to either show up at 7:15 for your outside "valet"/car duty or beg someone to switch with you, and you have to personally call to let the school know---------DID I MENTION I WAS TOO SICK TO WORK? It sounds easier to just show up, which is what I tried today, but the cold was just too much. I drove home (can't really remember it), fell in the bed and slept. At 3:30, the phone rang and it was Mr. Hamilton Medical himself saying he'd been trying to call me and was worried. I WAS SLEEPING, did I mention---I'm sick. Anyway, I'd love to update you on Libby, but as you can tell---she's at a distance and we are just making it. I need salt water. More later.

1, 2, Swat the Bottom

Well....time out officially doesn't work for Libby. As a matter of fact, she opts for time out so she can whine from the corner which she has discovered has more echo. We are trying a "1, 2 Swat the Bottom" routine a friend recommended. She hasn't actually made it to the "swat" due to the fact she complies by 2---she swats herself which is aggrevating, but as long as she stops the incessant whining---all is well on the homefront. School is back in session, so some sense of schedule has returned, and we are counting it down until Christmas. Libby found a placemat map and has been memorizing the names of the states. So far she knows Georgia, Tennessee, California "where the camera lives", Hawaii, Alaska, Ohio, and Washington State --which she calls "Washin' My State". Isn't it amazing how great children's memories are?

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Libby has given us two choices over this Thanksgiving Break: 1) Watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" over and over. or 2) Hear her wail about wanting to watch it. You can guess which choice we opted for.

We got the Christmas card picture taken. She didn't want to wear the beautiful needlepoint Christmas dress I had in mind, she wanted the cheap $3 penguin outfit from Target. You can see who won that one.

School is back in session tomorrow. My sister gets so mad about the time off I get. She acts like I "won" my job and schedule. I tell her the true injustice is that she gets perfect attendance awards when she calls in at least twice a month.

We now know where Libby gets her fuzzy logic from. More later.

The Day After Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a big day for Libby. We went to three family gatherings. She spent the night with her grandparents so that we could put all the Christmas decorations up. When her grandparents returned her today, they told us that she ate so many Cheetos that she threw up (which explains the orange gunk in her hair b/c she wouldn't take a bath). Poor grandparents. I'd like to say that that was an unusual event, but it's a rather common event in the life of Libby. The tree is up.

Libby: Ohhhh my! A tree is in the house.

Mommy: Yes, it's the Christmas tree.

Libby: Noooo. It's my tree. MMMMmmmIIIIIIIIIIIIne. ***pitched a crying fit***

Mommy: Okay. Merry Libby, Libby.

A NO SCHOOL DAY IS A GOOD DAY

I don't know who's happier about today being a "NO SCHOOL" day---Libby or me. It is so nice to get a break from the regular routine of things and just be at home. Today's recent meltdown for Libby was a common one in that I couldn't find her pink cat crocs. (She had a look similar to the one in the Halloween picture above.) Luckily, the world will continue revolving because she ended up finding them in her dinosaur bucket. Funny how she melts down BEFORE she problem solves. The second crisis was when a page from her Chicken Little book came out and she couldn't understand why I couldn't immediately re-bind the book to its original condition. I didn't even try to reason with her...........I just found the spare copy and changed them out. Suppose that's why she isn't reasoning through things....probably, but I need my sanity. This is all before noon!

Life With Libby

Life with Libby is a great way to begin our blog. The number one question Steven and I are asked is: "Well, have you adjusted to parenthood?" We never know what to say! Is it obvious that we aren't there yet? I don't think you ever get "there" with parenthood. Anyway, our parenthood has been a blessing. We have discovered that we were very self-centered and unfocused on the real important things in life. More l8r!