I wish so much that the stars had been out last night. Last night I was just so restless. If only there had been stars to ponder. Unfortunately, I don't think that I'll be see them for the next few days. Even now it's a bit cloudy and gray outside. I wish we could have sunshine and snow at the same time(possibly up to 4 more inches to night...); it would sort be like having yummy chocolate cake and eating it too type of deal.
Don't mind me today. I'm definitely going through my annual "how to I balance out how horrible the world is at Christmas time with Christmas spirit" mode. Sometimes there's just too much sadness, too much violence and too much hopelessness. I made the mistake of watching the news last night. How can people just be so rotten to each other? Why are there so many negative stories as compared to positive ones?
I know you aren't supposed to compare your kids. But, even at 4, I thought Pumpkin had some idea of the giving and sharing aspect of Christmas. She was 5 when she wanted to wrap things up from her room to give to people (of course, there were all things she didn't really WANT anymore, but still.... it was SOOO cute!) Even after the shopping for other people, making gifts for others, after carefully telling the Nativity story as we put the pieces up, it's still all Santa and me, me, me with Monkey and Parrot.... Part of me says that they are just kids, they are only 4, it's no big deal, but the other mommy part of me is screaming in frustration today. I really want them to see that Christmas is so SO much more.
In the news last night there was a story about a couple who were cleaning up their driveway after last weekend's storm. The woman moved her car off to the other side of the driveway so her husband could finish plowing. She slipped on the ice and fell into the path of the truck, unseen, and was killed instantly. How? How do you deal with something like that? There's just so many dimensions to such a tragedy. That poor, poor family!!!!!! And to add salt to the wound, the husband may be charged with killing his wife....
Okay.... let's just to go happy thoughts, (think positive happy thoughts, MacKenzie.....) Last night was Pumpkin's Winter Holiday Concert. Notice I don't say Christmas. Can't say Christmas in schools around here anymore and the songs all consisted of Jingle Bell Rock and Frosty the Snowman and such.... Anywhooo, it still was a lot of fun. The kids on stage were wonderful (one little 2nd grader in particular....). The twinadoes knew at least half the songs so they enjoyed it as well. And the songs they didn't know, they kept entertaining all those behind them who kept laughing at their antics. One woman asked Monkey what her name was and she looked right at the woman and said, "I don't know!!! But apparently the way she said it made them all laugh. Then, a song they associate from Home Alone was sung and they kept doing the whole bit where the little boy slaps his face and screams. Fortunately, they didn't scream, but well.... for those not really interested in the music, they kept them well entertained.
Apparently, the Parent/Teachers Association for the school pulled in enough money this year to hire a music teacher to come in twice a month. Yes, you heard me right. The school my daughter attends doesn't even have a music class anymore because of all the budget cuts. It is truly is pathetic, especially when you compare this Winter program to last year. The kids this year just seemed to take so much more pride in their presentation. Plus, instead of recorded music, the music instructor played the guitar and it just blended in so much nicer. You could actually HEAR the kids voices. It really was nice. If there was this much improvement, how much more could there be with music being offered, say even once a week?
This is the last year the school will be open, anyway as there is a consolidation plan that is supposed to go into effect next year. Many parents like us are quite fearful that our kids just aren't going to get the attention and instruction they currently receive. Although even now, Pumpkin is bored with school. She's reading at a 5th grade level so in spelling tests with words such as enter or home or walk, she just isn't getting that challenge. In math, however, she remains at that second grade level. We would love to see a program where her strengths are challenged and yet she can still have opportunities to work on the subjects she finds more difficult.
I keep hearing the chorus of this song running through my mind today. I heard this song last year and it's just so soft and calming and pretty. It's a Christmas song, a parent's prayer and a reminder that there is something bigger out there than all the loneliness, hatred, meaness, all the nastiness that the world does heap upon us. In this stone cold world, please, be ever near....
And now, I shall continue my day. I will use the method of distraction by visiting all the wonderful blogs around here, even though I do have to finish up Christmas baking lists. I think most of my day tomorrow will be taken with baking, but that's okay. Oh plan of action! I really enjoy that.....
I guess in some ways it's good that we didn't get as much snow as they anticipated. However, at the end it all turned into rain and now the temps today so far are around 18. The ice is amazing. The wind, too, last night kept waking me up as it whipped around the outside of the house. At one point I had to get up and take down all the bird feeders that I have stuck to the windows because those on hooks kept banging into the house (and window of course) with great force. I was a little sad to see this morning that the branch that held my favorite bird feeder broke. When Honey was shoveling I poked my head out the door and asked if it was able to be fixed. Then Papa, who heard me ask spoke up and told me that he didn't see it last night and accidentally hit it with the plow. So, I guess that's a no that it's not going to be able to be saved.....
Yesterday we kept ourselves busy with Christmasy activities. I think I finally got the length on the scarf that I'm making for Papa. I may do a little more, though just to be on the safe side before taking it off the loom. It's so nice and soft. I'm having a fun time working on it so I think I'll be a little sad when the project ends. This one, I admit, has been my favorite so far. The girls stuck cloves into oranges and today we will put ribbons around them and put them in their rooms. I was absolutely amazed at Monkey, who after she understood exactly what she was supposed to do, did such an amazing job. We had to stick holes in the orange with a pen so she could get the cloves in there, but she didn't miss a single hole!!!! I wish so much I owned a video camera because she was just so intense and absorbed into the project. I think I may have done a good thing this year when asked by others what Monkey might like because I told them art supplies.
Pumpkin keeps getting angry at her sisters because we also made the "Grandkids gifts to the Grandparents" yesterday. Of course, Monkey and Parrot want immediate acknowledgement of their handiwork but Pumpkin knows they are supposed to wait until Christmas. The temptation was just too great for the twinadoes when we ate dinner with Mom and Papa last night. Pumpkin kept yelling at them not to tell.... She was so aggravated at them. I admit, I was happy when it was their bedtime because they were really starting to get on each others nerves (and ours...).
My agenda today includes paying some bills, cleaning up from all we did yesterday, finishing up a few projects and start making a list for all the Christmas baking. I need to see what I have and what I need. By the end of the week the round of Christmas parties begin. And of course, there's the baked goodies for Christmas presents as well as all the yummy treats needed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Yikes!!!! So why am I still sitting here writing this????
It's only 8 degrees outside right now. We had to bring in all our groceries and the few things we bought while out and about. My fingers were so, so cold!!!! It wasn't until I did the dishes this evening that they finally seemed warm again.
Tomorrow the weather calls for a 100% chance of snow with sleet and freezing rain in the mid afternoon. You can tell. It smells like snow and even feels like snow out there. I overheard one person telling another at the grocery store this evening that they felt all jittery and that only happens when a "big one" is coming. Yuck. Well, what will be will be. We don't have to go anywhere in the next few days; we have plenty of food, plenty of activities to do and a generator which at least keeps us warm, allows us to cook and lets us flush the toilet (very important, don't you think!).
Tonight I couldn't decide which was the more appropriate song for this Saturday. It was a toss up between Let it Snow or Baby, It's Cold Outside. In the past, Baby It's Cold Outside hasn't held a great appeal to me, but this year, for whatever reason, it's starting to grow on me. When I found this video on youtube starring the Sims characters, I couldn't resist. The person who made this video has a lot of creativity.....
I don't know who Stormme or Joy are, but I sure would like to ask them how on earth they got their kitty cat to do that!!!
AHHHH!!!! I had today all planned out. But, I forgot that other plans had been made. Mom C and Papa and the 5 of us are going to Bangor today to meet Little Brother, SIL and Abby. We're taking all the girls to see Santa and then going out to eat. I'm excited to go yet at the same time, I'm very disappointed that I can't stay behind to get done what I have to do here. I would be so much better off if I were here, but I can't not go see Santa!!!!
I'm super sad that I'm not going to really be able to get near my niece. It's going to be torture to be near but not hold her. I just can't seems to kick this head stuff and I just don't feel comfortable getting too close to her especially around this time of year. Maybe, I'll at least be able to play peek a boo with her across the table....
The girls are yelling for me. Time to grab our coats, mittens, hats, scarfs because it is super cold out there today!!!!! We also have to stop somewhere along the way coming home to get some food in this place! We're gearing up for another winter storm tomorrow into Monday. It will be around a foot or so of snow unless it changes to some freezing rain. Then we're expected to get around 8-10 inches. I have to tell ya, I'd rather get the full foot of snow. Freezing rain and mix and everything makes me nervous. At least we have a safe warm house to be in. That's a very nice feeling. Although we do have a back up generator for heat, the stove and such, we try our hardest to cut back on the energy it takes. And reading books, knitting, playing barbies with the kids or singing Christmas songs doesn't use any electricity at all!!!!
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Unfortunately, I don't think that I'll be see them for the next few days. Even now it's a bit cloudy and gray outside. I wish we could have sunshine and snow at the same time(possibly up to 4 more inches to night...); it would sort be like having yummy chocolate cake and eating it too type of deal. 
). The twinadoes knew at least half the songs so they enjoyed it as well. And the songs they didn't know, they kept entertaining all those behind them who kept laughing at their antics. One woman asked Monkey what her name was and she looked right at the woman and said, "I don't know!!!
But apparently the way she said it made them all laugh. Then, a song they associate from Home Alone was sung and they kept doing the whole bit where the little boy slaps his face and screams. Fortunately, they didn't scream, but well.... for those not really interested in the music, they kept them well entertained. 
I was a little sad to see this morning that the branch that held my favorite bird feeder broke. When Honey was shoveling I poked my head out the door and asked if it was able to be fixed. Then Papa, who heard me ask spoke up and told me that he didn't see it last night and accidentally hit it with the plow. So, I guess that's a no that it's not going to be able to be saved.....
She was so aggravated at them. I admit, I was happy when it was their bedtime because they were really starting to get on each others nerves (and ours...). 
