The Final Word: Believe it: Santa Claus is coming to town

From Craig Wilson a columnist with the USA Today:

"With Christmas Eve a mere week away, it might be a good time to talk about Santa. In a good way, of course. We didn't toe the line all year to offend the old man now.
I still believe in Santa. If you don't, I have no desire to spend time with you. Especially this week. I mean, really. I'll admit I've always had my doubts about the Easter Bunny. But Santa? Never.
Santa was the topic of conversation at a dinner with friends the other night. Believe me, I have had far worse dinner conversations, and it was certainly refreshing not to be talking about our evaporating 401(k)s.
We got on the Santa topic because our host's daughter, who is about to go off to college, admitted she believed in Santa much longer than she thought she should because of one thing: her father.

To say this girl's father is somewhat fastidious is to say Richard Nixon was mildly paranoid. Everything is in its place in this man's house. Even I sit up a bit straighter when I'm there.
So, come Christmas morning a decade or so ago, when sooty footprints were found making their way across the white carpeting, his daughter could only believe one thing. Santa had been there.
She said she believed that, without a doubt, because she knew her father would never, ever have done that to the living room carpet. Never. She didn't realize then that some very strange things are really done in the name of love.
It reminded me of a story from my childhood. A family friend almost died one Christmas Eve for his children. He was up on his roof, making marks in the snow, marks that would look as if a sleigh had landed there, along with a few reindeer.
But he slipped and went flying into the bushes below. Lucky for him he was in western New York state, where there's always enough snow to break your fall.
Not learning his lesson, he went back up on the roof later that night to make what he thought was the sound Santa and reindeer would make if they landed on your roof.
To this day his daughter, now a grandmother, refuses to believe the story of her dad almost dying for her on Christmas Eve. Santa was there, she says. She heard him on the roof as she was falling asleep. Case closed.
Her father, bless his soul, died years later under far less exotic circumstances, of old age in a nursing home.
But both men did what millions of parents will do Christmas Eve. They will do most anything to keep the magic alive. Merry Christmas to them all."

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door where they're serving fudge.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. Quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-oholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it.

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Holiday cookies, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Amazing Jakes

So Sunday started off good, CSP got up and mowed the lawn (as he promised :)), then he put up the Christmas lights (which need to be redone but oh well at least we have something up), and then after a little *frustration* we decided to take Travis to Amazing Jakes. Travis calls it the fun place with bowling. CSP has never been so I was glad he went with us.

The sad part is it’s a fat persons paradise and a fat moms nightmare... it’s a buffet style place (paradise), but if you are a fat mom you can not ride the rides with your child.

I don’t know if all of you know but as of yesterday a very dear friend of mine and I started a life style change. We are determined to not be the *big* girls at work anymore. The plan that we decided would work best for us is to limit our caloric intake, so we are giving ourselves 1500 a day and will be walking for an hour. Over the holiday weekend i was very very tempted to call KLH and say "can we start this later, because I have a coupon for McDonalds Big Mac", but I didn’t and mostly because of Amazing Jakes.

CSP and Travis went on what looked like a mini roller coaster and Travis absolutely loved it, all I could do was stand by and watch. I won’t turn this into a pity party for me, that’s what the other blog is for, haha, because Sunday was about Travis. He got to play and be a kid and do all the things that he loves, even if it means that I have to watch from the sidelines for now. He even almost beat his daddy, CSP, in bowling. Too bad the place is so expensive...

Here are some pics from our fun family day:

This is the mini coaster that they boys went on

This coaster was FAST!!!

Travis on the Frog Hopper, I thought he was going to scream but he loved it.

Travis even holds the ball the right way

CSP and Travis watch as the ball slowly goes down the lane

CSP and Travis

Travis's Dream (he loves bowling)

Travis on the Chocolate Cups

Black Friday should be banned

Getting up at 330am is a little extreme to go shopping for me, but I did get some steals. I got Travis and CSP some of their gifts at an awesome price, but I dont know if my sanity is worth a savings of a hundred bucks. This isnt what Christmas is supposed to be about. I heard over the weekend that someone was trampled to death at a Walmart, are you kidding me? Was that TV or Video Console worth someone dying for? I think not!

I honestly dont thinkI will ever be partaking in black friday again unless Target has another 32 inch TV on sale for less than 300 bucks. I did good, I am pretty much done but I was beat. My feet were sore from standing in line at Kohls for about an hour, for 8 dollar jeans for my son, thats not even a bargain. The only place that was not a mad house was Target (now I know why I love them), but CURSES Walmart for letting your store become a zoo. I even got in an altercation with a Walmart employee for making me stand in a ridiculous line for a video game, guess for a moment I lost my Christmas Spirit.

Maybe next year I will spend my time off sleeping in with my son and bf, and stuffing my face with leftovers, and shop online... because I honestly dont think I will ever forget my christmas spirit and shop at 330 in the morning...

Plus people are grouchy that early and will do whatever it takes to get the best "deals".

Thanksgiving...

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Arizona with CSP's mom and dad. Here is Travis with his Ben 10 watch, that he wants to wear everywhere we go.

Travis being a ham...

Alan, CSP's dad broke out all the old school video game systems... Travis was in heaven...


Travis and CSP doing what they do best... play video games

What are Rainbows?

Last week, we had some very nice cold and rainy weather, which brought some beautiful rainbows. Travis and I were driving and saw them, and he asked me what they were. I told him Rainbows, and he asked how they got there, so I told him God put them there. He then turned to me and asked if God painted them for us, and to make things simple, I told him yes.
(Travis is in a big painting phase)
So here are some of the pics we got of the rainbows that God painted for us...

There were actually 2 rainbows

Part of the zoo that I live with...

Bear

Bear and Moe

Every morning, I am woken up to the "zoo" animals that I call my pets. On the weekends its even worse, let me explain how it works.

I have a California King, and when going to bed, I am cozy, I have space and CSP and I are sharing one blanket, at some point in the middle of the night Travis comes into our bed (Cameron gives in and lets him sleep with us), Moe (our little dog) curls up into a little ball and sleeps where ever he can fit, Bear (our not so little puppy) sprawls out on the bed and has bad gas (haha), and then there is Baby Kitty, small, yet LOUD. She comes into the bed meowing and rubbing her little head against any part of your body not hidden under the covers, and walks on your chest, ugh. Every Saturday and Sunday, the first thing CSP says is "Its a freaking zoo in here". And it is. The only good thing that comes out of all this, I some how end up with my own blanket!!!

I love my pets, but come on, we have a 3 bedroom home, with a family room, and everyone (including pets) has to sleep in the same bed?!?!? Maybe I should just rent a one bedroom apartment and cut back on housing costs... haha yeah right.

Crafty Christmas

Cameron's boring black stocking

Robert (stepdad) and Brian "B" (my brother), still need to add the red cuff and baseball charms

Girl Dogs stockings

Boy dogs stockings

this was my first good one, but its too big...

my stocking, but I might atempt another one, missing the snowflake charms

Michelles (sister) stocking

Adriennes (sister) stocking

moms stocking

cats stocking

very first one i made... i love the pattern, but i wanted mine to be wintery

MY NEW COWORKER...EKKKK

Curses GAME BOY Curses

So, last night my son is talking to grandma and grandpa C, and was asked what he wanted for Christmas. My 3 year old son says a GAME BOY. He is 3 years old. I am afraid that I have turned my son into the lazy game fanatic kid that I never wanted him to be. I know it’s wrong that I secretly wanted my son to say nothing; I just want to see you. Guess he is still too young to understand the real meaning of Christmas, but then again is it because as parents, CSP and I have not taught him the real meaning?

Christmas to him is about Santa Claus watching him (from the stars), getting presents, and looking at lights. When it really should be about family and being with one another, and not gifts. At what age do you teach that to your children or is it something you learn as you get older? It is really hard to explain why I was so annoyed that he was asking for it, but it is still bothering me. He has also asked for a baby elephant, not sure where they came from, but that doesn’t bother me because it shows to me his imagination is a little out there.

On another note, maybe it’s because as his parents, we are too excited for him to actually know what Christmas is. He knows that he needs to be good, and ask Santa for gifts. But I am afraid that he doesn’t realize the biggest gift of all is his family. And I am afraid his dad has the same problem J. Maybe now that times are tough, people will start to realize the true meaning of the Christmas season.

I am sure its too soon for Christmas Blogs, so I will definately have more after Thanksgiving, but just needed to vent about this darn GAME BOY, that I am afraid is ruining my holiday cheer!!!

Need Help!

So this help request is probably directed towards CB, but i have decided that i am making my own Christmas Stocking this year and need help finding a cute pattern. So if anyone out there finds one with pictures, please please send them my way... thanks

Over the weekend...

Lets start with Friday. CSP's parents bought all of us tickets to see Cheech and Chong live. OMG, hilarious. I could not stop laughing which then turned into crying from laughing and coughing so hard. :0). Athough we all know what they are "about", it was still a good time. I would have to say my favorite part was the begining when they did a skit from the begining of "Up in Smoke". When they get pulled over and a cop is at the window of Cheech and asks for his license and he tells him its on the bumper...HILARIOUS!

Then to Saturday, i have been promising Travis to take him to see Madagascar 2, so we met up with KH and her son at the drive in. I only saw half the movie, because Travis was mush more interested in the events going on around him, but it was still fun. Cold, but fun. I just kept thinking to myself, why cant travis be more like KH's son, he was so well behaved! And those of you who know Travis, he is not shy at all, he kept singing "i like to move it, move it" and for that i am sorry KH... and JB for all you had to deal with friday night, and thanks again for watching him...

Sunday came with laundry duties, got about 6 loads done... just to do again next weekend. And football, but again the Chargers let me down... i guess i am just going to have to become a cardinal fan!

Cheech and Chong

Yah, i am so excited its friday. CSP and i are going to see Cheech and Chong tonight with his parents. I am still battling the bronchitis, so i am sure i will fit in hacking up a lung with everyone else since they seem to be affiliated with mary jane. Funny thing is i have NEVER seen anything with them in it, but i am sure it will be a blast. Anything that has to with comedy i love. This is CSP and I's first night away from our little monster in god knows how long. Can't wait. Also it will be Travis's first night with a "babysitter", but i know he will have fun with Miss Kiley, who wouldnt she is such a doll.

Fabulous Four

I really hate these, but seeing that I am bored, I thought I would share this with everyone:

4 closests friends:
Caitlin (CB), Michelle (MA), Krisha (KLH), Jenna (JB)...lost most of my friends back at home after i had my son... sad i know...

4 things that remind you of them:
CB-Being from San Diego, Santa Barbara, MB, crafts
MA-Pupusa's, TJ, chi chi’s, working EARLY in the morning together
KLH- CH, country music, Nascar, HOT PILOTS
JB- McDonalds Cheeseburgers, AH HA, drinking, Halloween (it’s officially our holiday together)

4 favorite places that I like to eat:
McDonalds, Applebees, Rubios, Sweet Tomatos

4 favorite things to do:
Scrapbook, Taking pictures, playing with my son, reading

4 favorite TV shows:
Greys Anatomy, Lipstick Jungle, Ellen, and anything on TLC

4 favorite memories from childhood:
Camping, barbies, learning to drive, hanging out with my BF (my sister)

4 famous people that I would like to meet:
Garth Brooks, Ellen, Paula Dean, Princess Di

4 places that you would like to visit:
India, England, Africa, Chile

4 must have clothing pieces:
Cardigan, flip flops, jeans, tank top

TAKE A BREAK!

I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have. To the cool women who have touched my life. Here's to you girlfriends! Be Happy!

It is good to be a woman:

1. We got off the Titanic first.

2. We can scare male bosses with the mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

3. Taxis stop for us.

4. We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

5. No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the Speedo.

6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear end.

9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.

10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.

11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.

12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.

13. We will never regret piercing our ears.

14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.

15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.
Love ya!

I love you!

An opinion is a person's ideas and thoughts towards something which it is either impossible to verify the truth of, or the truth of which is thought unimportant to the person. It is an assertion about something especially if that something lies in the future and its truth or falsity cannot be directly established e.g. induction. An opinion is not a fact, because opinions are either not falsifiable, or the opinion has not been proven or verified. If it later becomes proven or verified, it is no longer an opinion, but a fact.

Opinions. We are all entitled to them, but should someone be judged by them? It seems that lately CSP and I tend to get very defensive when we express our opinions, but the one that is really bothering me is “living today like it’s my last”. What happens if there is no tomorrow, will your son know that you loved him, will your mom know that you miss her? What if you went to bed angry last night and didn’t say I love you and I am happy with you, and never got the chance to make things better? What if you didn’t get to say your last goodbye because you “weren’t talking”? Is it just me or do others think this way? Am I being negative, but then again can an opinion be wrong if it isn’t a fact? Why does it take something as tragic as death to make us want to live life to the fullest? I say, dont wait!

CSP seems to think that is just me thinking negative, like I want it to happen. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I AM TOO YOUNG TO DIE! But, heaven forbid, I would want to go out knowing I said I love you to Travis, or I love you to CSP. I don’t want to live my life with regrets, but every time I try to get CSP to see it my way we fight. It drives me crazy that he can go to bed mad at someone, or leave the house frustrated. CSP tends to think “there is always tomorrow”. Ok to some extend will I agree with that but for instances like loading the dishwasher, making the bed or mopping the floors, but not making your loved ones feel special. Now I will admit I am the biggest hypocrite when it comes to acting on my opinions. I can’t remember the last time I called my mom just to say hi and I love you. I can’t remember the last time I just sat there with CSP and said I love you. Maybe it is because as an adult and mother I have different priorities? But I do make sure that I let Travis know. Possibly I feel that my parents already know I love them, and possibly I feel that CSP knows I love him, but I want to make sure that Travis absolutely knows. But I promise you all, I will make sure that I take a little more time out of my life to make sure you know I care about you and I am thinking about you.

I don’t normally express my opinions, unless it’s about music, food or movies… but when it comes to life this is probably my biggest one. This is the only thing that I will ever ask any of you to take into account into your daily lives and to really think about… do you value the present? I do.

"We don’t value the present. Think about it — if you had ten minutes to live wouldn’t you rather remember the positive things that happened to you

Think of death every day. Yes, you heard right. Think of death everyday. That is the only way you will value what you have today. You will treasure the little moments that pass you by without taking it for granted. Death is not a negative reality. See it as a positive one. We all have limited time left. Everyday, we get closer to the grave. This grim reality should actually be driving us to live a fuller life, a happier life. Every moment that goes by is lost. Forever.

Suppose you were told that you have just ten minutes to live. What images will come to your mind? Will bitterness, anger, and jealousy dominate the next ten minutes? Will you think about absolutely useless arguments you had with a relative? Will you remember all the stupid inanities that you went through?

No one would if they had only ten more minutes to live.

In those ten minutes you will allow the best images to go past. You will not think of the material goods you have collected, nor the bank balance you have. You will not waste time thinking of those who hurt you, or were unfair. Instead, you will see images of the best moments of your life, your loved ones, touching moments, rich colorful experiences, laurels you got and the hurdles you surmounted.

As you realize that you have just ten minutes left, you will smile from deep within. There is so much to be grateful for. And there are so many experiences you want to relive all over again — experiences you never ever cared to remember before as you took life for granted.

It takes the reality of death at the doorstep to realize that we are blessed. Life has showered each one of us with so much richness, but we do not see it.

Many of us fear death. But can we stop death? Can we delay it according to our will? That is why it is silly to worry about something we have no control over. Instead, let us celebrate life. Living is a process of dying, said Krishnamurthi, a philosopher. He talks about how birds in the early morning chatter away merrily without worrying about whether they are going to die the next morning.

So, live as if today is the last day. Dance. Sing. Watch the raindrops on a petal. Enjoy the aroma of wet mud. Hear the birds talk. Listen to the rustle of the leaves as the wind whistles past. Give something to someone without wanting anything in return. Give to someone who cannot even return the grace. Surprise yourself by doing something out of the way. Stop being so boring and predictable and instead do something that makes your heart sing.

Do not worry about what others around you will think or say. Remember that it does not matter. What matters is how you feel. We all need to value the moment now."
-Ramesh Menon-


"Life is too short to wake up inthe morning with regrets, so lovethe people who treat you right,forget about the ones who don't,and believe that everythinghappens for a reason. If you get achance, take it. If it changesyour life, let it. Nobody saidlife would be easy, they justpromised it would be worth it."

Little Helper...

Travis has become quite the helper. He loves to vaccum, and does a pretty good job at him, almost better than his dad. He also loves to help me with the dishwasher, as long as he can put the soap in and push the start button. Doing laundry is another favorite, although he does not like folding or putting the clothes away... must have gotten that from me :). Feeding the dogs and giving them water is another one he is very willing to do, as long as I dont yell at him for spilling water. He also takes showers by himself and would rather brush his teeth on his own. I could go on and on about the things that he would rather do himself, but it would take forever, haha.

If anyone is interested I might rent him out by the hour :)

BRONCHITIS!!!!

So I have had this terrible cough for almost a week now, and found out I have BRONCHITIS! It is horrible, I can't talk, and now my throat is sore from coughing so much. Now I have to take this NASTY cough syrup, antibiotics, and a nasal spray, and the worst part is that this is making me cough up phlegm. YUM! And poor little Travis is sick too. Thats the worst when your child is sick and you are sick, there isnt much help you can give them.

Just glad I am not sick for Thanksgiving, because I can not wait to eat Coni's Pecan Pie... hint hint.

Hope no one else out there is getting sick either!

Adrienne

My best friend, Adrienne

So last week on Wednesday, Adrienne (my sister) called and said that she was coming to visit. I was so happy for her to come visit. Travis got to stay out of daycare for 2 days, which he enjoyed and got to be spoiled by Auntie Adrienne. It made me realize how much I really miss her. I have to admit she is my best friend. The one person I can talk to about anything and not be judged. Her and I have been through a lot and will hopefully be able to continue that bond.

Which got me to thinking how mad it makes me when I hear people saying how they never talk to their siblings because of something they have done. What in the world could possibly be that bad that you would never talk to someone who is your sibling. You do not get to choose your family, so live with it. That’s what life is about, being handed problems and working them out. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t get along for a lot of our childhood, and even into adulthood, but I wouldn't ever stop talking to her. Adrienne, is my only "real" sister and a lot of the time we feel like we only have each other, mostly because each of our parents have other children.

Now being the older sister, I get very protective over her, wish she wouldn’t date, don’t know how I am going to handle it when she is pregnant, and wish she didn’t live so far away. But I will always support her in whatever she does which brings me to the point of this whole blog. She got another tattoo and I am soooo jealous. Now she needs to think of another one and go with me to get one, FAST!

Some sister quotes:

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries

I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again. But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best. ~Patricia Volk