Wow.!.. .or is it Whoah?!?!

I'm trying to figure out if I'm in a downward emotional spiral because I am unable to keep my house remotely picked up since Sweet Pea's birthday or if it's your typical holiday let down. The tables are packed, or at least WERE packed with stuff, lots of stuff, yesterday. I managed to devote most of the day to cleaning up and putting away a lot of things, but there was still a lot of CRAP! Mostly the dining room table is covered with opened gifts (....read as numerous little-pieced toys by evil present givers. These are the people that should be locked in a closet along with those that give loud, noisy toys too) that do not have a home.....

Having felt overwhelmed since, well, since a couple months after Handsome was born, I think I hit my wall. Cleaning yesterday was very therapeutic, although with the kids playing as I was cleaning, I still didn't get much done. But I managed to get one table cleared (and not hidden), four loads of laundry done, dog pooped picked up (that was an hour - yeah for melted snow!), Sweet Pea's gift connected to the internet..cute web site, PixieHollow.com. Someone did not read the age appropriate for a gift and had to see what it was about. Definitely for girls ages 7 and over, girls who are 4.....not so much..... Progress, not perfection. But come ON PUH-LEASE!!!! Give a Momma a break! I'm torn between feeling fine and feeling like that little bubble on the commercial that bounces along that's sometimes sad, the things that once made me happy (other than my kids) don't (at least all the time), being easily distracted, etc., etc. I think I'm alright though....although I'm sure Husband would give an all together different perspective.....but this isn't his blog is it?!?!

Speaking of whom, he actually scored a positive on the gift giving chart and purchased an i-pod thingy for my car so I can tune in my music. I love it and now I still need to download the rest of my CD's so I can get rid of our space hogging CD player, CDs and whatever else equipment we have in the cabinet upstairs and turn it into a full-fledged toy hut....just so current toys can have an 'out of site' home.

The whole holiday was a whirl-wind and it's not over yet. My Brother is in from out of town with New Wife and we still have to get together with them!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Day After Christmas, the kids were up until about 11:00 pm each night. There schedules are screwed and poor Handsome has one of those 'waterfall booger' colds! So last night I was up with him from 3-4:30 am, and finally I got tired enough, he couldn't get comfortable, so I put him in his bed, said nigh nigh and crashed. But not before he wailed a little while. Who wouldn't want to leave Momma's arms? I felt so bad, but I was so tired. It's one of those colds where the boogies just back up in the back of your throat, and unless you're an adult and can hack those babies out....you kind of hack and choke on them....it's awful to listen to.......my poor poor baby.... With all these late nights and presents, Sweet Pea isn't so 'sweet' more demanding and crabby......yesterday I think we started back on the course to wellness. How do people with more than two kids do it??!?!?!?!? Although, I would love another myself! Even on bad day!!!!! The smiles and sweetness way out-weigh the snottiness.

2009 is fast approaching...I just need to hang onto this part-time gig for a few more years! Shhhhhh! Don't tell Husband! I have to do a major over-haul on my budget though this coming year (My Christmas shopping was very eye-opening! It didn't sotp me from spending, but it was eye-opening!). I hope to get a few extra hours of work here and there in the summer.....we'll see! As long as I don't lose the job!

Almost Here!

Yes, Christmas is almost here. My two tables in my house are piled up with crap. Remember when I said I was a 'pile-er'. I wasn't kidding. Sweet Pea's birthday gifts are still left on one of the tables. The other is stacked with bills, papers, receipts, and I'm sure a couple sippy cups....Husband hates coming home to that, and I have to admit, it's to the point where something needs to be done.....so, that's what I'll be doing this weekend.....I know, it's only Monday.

Here's what I did get done this weekend. In a fast furry, I got cards done. **NOTE** This means thank you cards for Sweet Pea's birthday AND quick addressing of envelopes for this picture to go out with it!
My wonderfully awesome niece came over for four hours so I could shop (also Husband) on Saturday. Big SMOOCHES for that!!!!! I got about 90% of the shopping done. WOW, does it make a difference to do all the shopping in a shorter amount of time!!! I really saw how much I spent and I can't believe it was that much.....I didn't even go CRAZY!!! Wow!!! So not looking forward to later years. Or bills to come in.....

Handsome was a toughie to buy for this year.......there's just so much that he has and already plays with!!!! Definitely a motivator to get out and 'clean out' the baby toys in the basement.

Other than that, it's freezing here.....literally! I looked at my remote thermometer at 5:00 am this morning and it read 2.2 degrees. When Mom arrived, it read .6 degrees. Winter has come fast and furious this time around! The wind just blows, I mean that literally too! Although it is not to the point where it is taking my breath away......yet.....

Yesterday, I forced myself to take Sweet Pea to Sunday School and went back for church. I am bummed that typical attendees from our family are my Mom, myself and my daughter. Handsome is just breaking out of his two nap a day schedule, so he may be joining us soon....With the new pastor in his 2nd year, our church is more barren than last. It's sad. I've got many things to say about that, but not here. This is my biatch blog about my Husband, so let's get back to him.

I was told that once again, my list for Christmas lacked 'interesting' things. Too bad, just follow the list. Times Husband did not follow the list, I received roller blades, and a few other items I can't recall that I use just as much..... :: eye roll::

Girls night out occurred this past weekend. It was fun, although there was a new attendee and although I met her a couple times, I think I may have offended her during a password game. I just dont' think she was used to my facial gestures.......I was the oldest in attendance......the next oldest person was the 'new girl' and I thought there was at least a connection as we had the same birthday, a year apart, but still.....how weird is that? i thought I could detect some similarities....we both liked to jump into conversations and get our stories/comments in! Ha!

I tortured myself and jumped on the scale this morning.....up a pound.....I am committed to the weight loss plan and am re-affirming my resolve to lose all that I want to by March 21st.....
I have to tell myself this as three of the next 5 days will be food, family and food.....Today was bring a dish day to work.....THAT did not help with the plan either. Although, I have avoided the lunch room for the rest of the day! Baby steps, think baby steps!

Santa Nightmare

Yep, the $8.00 visit with Santa was 1/2 nightmare! The food was fine the atmosphere was less to be desired. Sweet Pea didn't win the raffle for one of four bikes and she didn't get her face painted or a balloon....Put that all together and one major meltdown ordered up! Next year will be totally different! We're going for the nice place that has plenty of activities and I'm also going to take Nana or Husband with me. The people around me were less than nice...I was miserable! Sweet Pea was miserable! Will post more later!

Thank goodness Sunday's Christmas Pageant at church more than made up for it! I have the next Tot American Idle Contestant for sure!!!!!

Must go deliver nuts for work, but had to give a briefing!

Latest Effort....

In my latest effort to save money, we'll be seeing Santa this weekend for a Breakfast Buffet for $8 per person....that's IF I remember to pick up the tickets tonight! So, 9:00 am Sat. morning, we'll be heading to the local mall to visit Santa, get a photo and whatever kind of breakfast you get for $8. I'll make sure and feed the kids before we go. Of course, we'll have already been up since at least 6:30 am, so we'll be good to go for snacks at that time. I'd love to go to the 'indoor' mall where we've went for the past three years and take pictures with the Santa there as he's got a real beard and is very 'real' looking. I'm wondering what we'll get at this.....If it's a bust, we'll trek back to the big mall.

I'm sure Handsome will be in tears (but at least he's free) (3 and under are free wheeeee!) Sweet Pea is good with the man in the red suit. I'd try and sneak her in as 3 too, but she's very proud that she's now four and I couldn't take that away! I'm forcing her to go to breakfast before the Christmas pageant practice, which starts at 10:00 am. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but the pageant is this Sunday! Uggh, which reminds me, I have to take my neighbor off the prayer list! Hooray! Back from Iraq safe and sound....at least I think so, winter keeps everyone inside!

I'm sure I'm going solo to meet Santa with the kids.....Husband, I'm also sure, must get to the school to make sure it hasn't burned down......and to not waste the day of course!

On a side note, I've got to get shopping done this week. Girls night out is the 20th, so that evening has been taken away. Which is alright because I very well may need it by then! Got some great pictures from Turkey Day and an o'kay one from my attempts at a Christmas picture yesterday! We'll see!

Hi, My Name is Heather.....

Well, as of today, I have admitted to myself that I am the WORST budget person EVER. Now granted there was a wedding in July that was quite expensive, but still..... I think there will always be something like that, so I have to be a big girl and not spend outside of my means.

I am trying to cut back. I even cut back on the birthday party guest list. I even tried to 'save' money by doing Christmas cards myself.....you know, borrow a really nice camera and take pictures.... Where are the pictures? Are the cards done yet? Well, no, no they are not..... Why? Because the camera I borrowed was my Sister in Law's and I broke it the day I brought it home. It was a Konica Minolta, who is now out of business....I didn't know that until I went to get it fixed and was told, buy a new camera....Well, that'd be fine it was MY camera, I'd buy a cheapy no frills thing. But it wasn't my camera, it was someone else's..... It was a $500+ camera.....OUCH!!!! My choices were:

1) spend $230+ to fix the old one which probably can't be fixed (they are out of business)
2) buy a Pentex camera for $230 that would give the same quality of picture (but who knows if Sister In Law would want a different type of camera)
3) try buying one on-line on ebay......camera shop guy told me not to spend more than $60....buy hey, he wasn't the one who broke his sister-in-law's camera
4) give my brother and sister in law $230 to purchase a new one

The good news is that one week and one day later, I have a new 'used' camera from e-bay that is working just fine. THANK GOODNESS! Husband attempted to get angry with me when I originally told him that I broke the camera....It went a little something like this....

"Hi Hon, I'm having a horrible day, the kids haven't been listening, they haven't been eating, and I broke Sister In Law's camera....."

"Why do we HAVE Sister In Law's camera?!?!?!" (Note: hint of anger in Husband's voice)

"Well, (lump swells in throat as if I were 5), I was trying to save money......(deep breath) by taking Christmas pictures ourselves (tears well right about here).....so I borrowed the camera. As I was taking it out of the holder...(clearing throat....the lump has reached the back of the mouth, voice cracks and trembles) it fell on the floor and I broke the battery door." (full blow tears here.....can't remember much of what was said by me after that)

In Husband's keen sense of concern for his distraught wife, he wisely says "We'll take care of it."

So, luckily, instead of $230+ to repair the old one, I got a new "used' replacement for $105. I paid $30 more than it's worth, but I didn't care cause I somewhat 'fixed' my idiotic move.

On the lighter side,

Sweet Pea turned 4 yesterday. I still don't think she understands why we had a party for her on Sat. when her birthday was on Sunday. She loved many of her gifts and I believe I totally scored with the Leapster2 purchase.....ummm, yeah, that's why my budgeting blows. I bought her 5 gifts....It was too much money, but honestly she got gypped her first 2 birthdays as there's not terribly expensive things to buy at those ages. At least not that I bought anyways. Her brother is likely to get royally screwed on his next birthday. We just have so many toys already! Poor guy is gonna get a lot of clothes (although some bought for his last birthday are fitting him now)! I figure, for birthday parties, we'll just have ourselves and grandparents after the kids turn 5. I figure there will be a little 'school friends' party and then our little one at home......I don't know. I hate to put that on other parents to buy my children gifts......Husband's family never had 'kid' parties, only his immediate family, but then again, their family is a ready-made-party (7 kids).

I've got some ideas for gifts for both kids for Christmas. Sometimes the ideas are the hardest part. There are additional gifts for me to buy this year. Sweet Pea has two, yes two Sunday school teachers.....there are only two kids in her class counting HER! She's got a preschool teacher . Two cousins on one side, two cousins on the other side, God-children, friends kids (thank goodness there are only four of those), two adult gifts to buy, 4 godparents, ....I'm already crying....remember that budget I had mentioned? I asked Husband if we could re-do the powder room on the first floor as a gift . He said no, we tried that once already! Great.....now I've got to get gifts for him! = ( I think I'm going to have to save myself and take it out of savings.....to catch up and start a new. I really think I can do this, I just know it. This is without Husband even pitching in any funds.....which will help out with the debt in the end.....I guess we go overboard on parties because husband never had them.....AND we have to feed everyone like kings and queens when they are here. I'd have been happy with appetizers and a cake.....can't talk husband into though. I tried to cook the meal myself and he was a no go on that too......

So, wedding, Husband and Sweet Pea's birthdays, and Christmas. If it weren't for those, we'd be alright! ::wink::

The first step is to admit that I have a problem. I did do the numbers, I knew I had to stick to them.....it just gets to the end of the year and poof, I explode. I am humbled.....I promise....right after Christmas is over!