Tomorrow is “Free-For-All Friday” which means you can post whatever you want on my blog. I’m putting this up early at the request of a friend. Say what you want to say, share a link, complain about household appliances, etc…all you have to do is login and post!

Not sure what to say? What were you most and/or least favorite Christmas presents this year?

Here’s how to do it:

• Go to the log-in prompt by clicking here.
• Login/Password: guest/FFAF
• You will be redirected to the dashboard – Click on “Write” on the top menu bar.
• In the categories box on the right, make sure there is a check mark next to “free for all” .
• Type a title in the “Title” field and type whatever you want in the “Post” field.
• When you’re done, click the “Publish” button.

Is there a difference between a lollipop and a sucker?

Today was my last weekday at home before returning to work from my maternity leave on Monday. So, I designated today Pajama Friday. I took a shower last night before bed and got up this morning did my hair and put my make-up on and then put on my prettiest pair of pajamas to wear the remainder of the day. I actually did get dressed mid-day when we had company and then I made Christmas cookies but after that, back in the PJ’s I went. You see, I wanted to relax and feel comfortable, yet beautiful all day. You see, as I mentioned in my post below, I can feel some guilt when I don’t get dressed, but this was different, because I did get dressed, I just got dressed in a clean pair of jammies…so no guilt!

It was a lot of fun making cookies too. I played Christmas music and remembered the days of decorating cookies with my Mother and little brother. Gabe helped a little and I can’t wait until the kids are a little older and can really enjoy cookie decorating and making a huge mess. Seriously, it is one of my fondest memories of a family Christmas tradition with my Mom.

Then tonight we enjoyed my new family Christmas tradition. When Mike and I first moved in together, we used to pull our mattress out into the living room and sleep in front of the Christmas tree. It felt so warm and magical snuggled up all night in front of the beautiful glow of the Christmas lights. The second year we had a tree, we did it again. I decided then that it was a tradition I wanted to keep going that would someday include our children. So, this year, we pulled out the air mattress and made the bed. Gabe, Evie and I fell asleep in front of the magical glow of our tree. It was wonderful…until the air mattress deflated an hour later. I actually suspected the air mattress had a leak, which I also suspect was caused by our cat. Doesn’t really matter though, it was so nice to fall asleep in front of the tree with my babies and perhaps we can either patch it or purchase a new one for future years.

Those of you who have lived with me or know me very well are going to laugh a little at this, but I am completely admitting that I am a special kind of crazy. I’m not sure, but I think it can be classified as OCD. For example, I have a system of showering that must be followed each time I shower.

1. Lather hair with shampoo.
2. Brush teeth (Must be done before washing face or body so if any toothpaste or spit gets on me, it will be washed away.)
3. Rinse shampoo out of hair.
4. Put conditioner in hair.
5. Shave, if needed & wash body. (This allows time for conditioner to effectively moisturize my hair.)
6. Rinse conditioner out of hair.
7. Wash face. (Must be done after the conditioner is rinsed from hair to ensure that no oil from the conditioner is left on the face to cause potential acne. Never mind the fact that I haven’t had acne in years.)

Not crazy enough for you? How about my flatware? My daily flatware is all multi-colored Fiesta dinnerware. I have 2 sets of Sapphire, 2 sets of yellow, 2 sets of Persimmon, and 1 set of Juniper, Chartreuse and Cinnabar. Well , I have it in my head that at any meal, each individual dining should be using a different colored plate and if at all possible, no one should have the same color plate. In order to ensure this is the case, I like the plates to be put away in the cabinet so that you can grab 4 plates and never grab duplicates. When I put away clean plates, I put the first set of Sapphire, Yellow and Persimmon on the bottom. The Juniper, Chartreuse and Cinnabar next and the 2nd set of Sapphire, Yellow and Persimmon on top. Is it sinking in how my crazy works yet?

I could list examples until I was blue in the face. Towel folding…lists for every occasion…just ask my husband. I’m sure he can give you many more examples. The upside is that I accept that it is crazy and don’t expect Mike or anyone else to follow the rules I have in my head. If you know my family at all, you know that this kind of crazy is harmless and I’m quite fortunate that this is all “the crazy” that I have. The downside is that I will refold all the towels, rearrange the plates, reload the dishwasher, etc. when people aren’t looking.

Well, I have a question for you. I’ve been wondering if something else is part of “my crazy” or something normal. It concerns my kids. I have it in my head that my kids must be dressed in daytime clothes in the morning, pajamas in the evening and dress clothes whenever we are going out or having company. During my maternity leave, I have had lazy days when I hung out in my pajamas and I’ve let my son hang out in a diaper or his pajamas or…Evie didn’t spit up at all, so I left her in her pajamas. Anytime I do this, I feel horribly guilty. Like it is some kind of parental neglect not to have the kids dressed by 8:00 AM and in their pajamas by 8:00 PM. I’ve been frustrated with Mike when I’ve come home from work and found Gabe in a diaper or the pajamas he slept in. I try to keep that frustration to myself…because why should it bother me? Is this just another one of the rules in my head that are part of “my crazy”? What say you?

I heard the politically correct version of “O Come All Ye Faithful” on a radio show that I tune in to and while I know it was meant to be comedy, it made me sad. It is so dangerously close to being a reality that it isn’t funny.

Oh come all you people,
Joyful and triumphant.
Oh come you, O come you,
To Los Angeles.

Come and behold this young person,
Born the kid of parents.
Oh come let us look at him or her,
Oh come let us look at him or her,
Oh come let us look at him or her,
Christ the average kid of earthly parents.

This holiday is about the birth of our savior. You can change the words to the songs, you can take Christianity out of the CHRISTMAS decorations. You can try and change the name to “Winter” or “Holiday”…but this holiday is and will always be about the birth of our savior.

Occasionally Gabe hears a word and thinks it is hilarious. In this video, he heard me say “It’s Classic” and he went with it.

A great tragedy occurred in Omaha yesterday. A senseless act of violence that has and will continue to effect so many innocent people. I’ve watched an abundance of news coverage since yesterday. I’ve seen the killer’s face countless times now. I can’t get it out of my head and I want to since this is exactly what he wanted. He wanted to “go out in style.” He wanted his name and face to be known.

I think it is more important that we know the names and the faces of the victims. I pray for their families during what will be a very sad and difficult holiday and probably the first of many sad holidays to follow. It would be hard to ever think of Christmas shopping and the joys of Christmas without being able to think of the loved ones lost.

I stumbled across this blog and I’m thankful that someone is giving those who have left this world under tragic circumstances a face. Remember their faces and try to forget Mr. Hawkins. He doesn’t deserve this fame, regardless of how troubled or tragic his life may have been.

It was a very long night…but Gabey isn’t dying. He has croup. He had two breathing treatments in the ER. Mike came home with him at 2:30 AM. I finally headed to bed at 3:00 AM. When I got up to relieve Mike at 6:45 AM, he looked completely exhausted. My butt is dragging too. I need to laundry and dishes but I had a hard time just dragging my butt off the couch to write this post.

*yawn*:eek:

Back to the couch.