If you can't beat 'em ... cave

"Oh - two years apart is a great spread" the random man in the waiting room who asked about my kids said to me as I paced around drinking a cocktail before my cat scan. "Three years apart and there is a lot of bickering and fueding but two years and they are so close, bonded for life."

Really? I hope he's right, but I gotta tell you there is a whole LOT of fighting going on in our house lately. Like - a WHOLE lot and it's conception isn't recent! They fight about everything! They push each others buttons in new and unusal ways. They are nearly 4 and 6. (I mention that in sincere hopes that 4 and 6 is better??)

The most over the top scenario I can give you to accentuate my point happened in the car last week as an ambulance passed us. Our family habit is, see an ambulance or fire truck and we pray for the family in trouble and the workers that are trying to help. (See, we are putting the goodness out there ...yes?) This is what I heard in the back seat.

Bear - "Dear God, please be with the..."

The Comedian - (screeching to get attention) "No Bear. You don't pray to God. You pray to Jesus" (calm now) Dear Jesus, please help ....

Bear - God
Comedian - Jesus
Bear - GOD
Comedian - JESUS

(I'm sure you get the idea. It got louder and screechier until I rocked both their world by telling them that they are related, Jesus being God's son and all, so you could pray to either)

Truly, I hope after their decade of teasing each other incessently, lusting after each other's hair type, stealing each other's clothes and just making each other's teenage years a living hell - I hope they do become the best of friends. I pray they tackle the world as a team, demoloshing any shady character who crosses their path, effectively kicking some butt to protect the other's honor.

But, until that day arrives we need a moducum of peace around here. Buttons need to be un-pushed for a while. So, as much as I struggled with Christmas this year - the giving to receive, the receiving in general, the expectations that kids have about presents, the lack of attention on the REASON we celebrate this holiday, and the just-now-weirding-me-out fact that we lie to our kids about Santa but ask them to come to us about anything...I have decided to C.A.V.E.

If I can't single handedly create a birthday party for Jesus under each Christmas tree complete with a sincere *gasp* from each child as they open a present and say, "Thank you so much! I am grateful for whatever I get", then I might as well use what the kids DO think about to my benefit.

This is the letter that will be accompaning the small basket of unwrapped gifts under the tree.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Miss Bear and Miss Comedian –

It was so nice to see you in Weston with your Nana and Papa. I took your lists home to the North Pole and read them…twice!

I checked my other list too -the Naughty or Nice list. I was happy to see that you were nice when you played alone, but there was a lot of naughtiness when you played together.

I really want you to share nicely. You will see some of the things you asked for and a few other gifts that are meant to be SHARED.

Next year, I hope I see your names in the Nice column – together! I’ll be watching…

Merry Christmas
Santa Claus

Am I going to hell? Well, if I do at least there will be some peace on earth (or at least in my living room) before I get there.

Show and Tell - Patches Abound!

If you are here from Show and Tell - WELCOME!

Some of you may have seen my previous post, about The Comedian and her EYE PATCH! As it was a nearly wordless wednesday (truly I can't use NO words - it's just not in me) I didn't explain.

She has had glasses for a year to try and keep a "floating eye" from becoming a "laaazzzzy eye". (sorry - kid movie reference). Anyway, at her six month check the machines said that her weak eye wasn't getting any stronger. At the 12 month check they said the same...even with the glasses.

So - here we are. One month of "arrrrgh maty" patches. But, the funny thing is SHE LOVES THEM! "It will take lots of convincing" the doctor said with a you will probably have to put your foot down kind of voice.

Nope. She asks for them in the morning - my sweet comedian girl. And - oh boy - does she LOVE the attention!!

So, for show and tell I present our current "eyedentity" collection - as decorated by both girls and worn with style!

These were decorated by Bear and the pictures below shows The Comedian's creations.

And don't forget, to go check out what else is showing and telling!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday!!!

(think 80's mega hit tune)..."I wear my sunglasses at night!""I wear my patch during the day!"

Show And Tell - A lot of dough!

Cookie Dough That is!

What we DIDN'T have was...POWER! Thanks to the ice storm that beat up the North East we were blessed with a snowday to get caught up with our holiday prep! The cookie dough sat patiently until the power returned. We have now eaten more than our fair share and frozen the rest.

Oh - in case you were wondering. Bear is making good old fashioned Choc. Chippers and the small balls are a family recipe: Italian Anise Cookies. They look like this when baked and decorated.

Happy Baking and Eating! And - if you are looking for a good way to walk off some of those calories...try hauling your Christmas tree home, red-wagon style! (he-he)

What are you show and telling?