Gift buying frenzy comes to a close.

As is customary, the Christmases that Dan is not deployed turn into gifting free-for-alls. The Christmases that he is gone, the children have, what I consider to be a *reasonable* amount of gifts. I cannot believe the amount of presents the kids are going to be receiving this year. I try to steer the kids away from the commercial aspect of Christmas, but this year, it ain't happening. Daddy really likes buying gifts. A lot.

I got to spend a blissful afternoon window shopping, (Well, I *did* buy a pair of "rapper's girlfriend" silver hoop earrings that I like an whole lot.) browsing at the bookstore, and getting my hair cut and colored. Ahhhh....I feel human again.

I decided that I should do my grocery shopping tonight, went up to the local Walmart and there was NO ONE THERE. I was shocked. I did my shopping, and on my way out was wished a Merry Christmas by the Apache Junction Mounted Rangers atop their gigantic horses. (Horses looked cold.)

The Duncans stopped by earlier while I was out. They all wore out all of the kids by launching kickballs at them for a couple of hours. Faith's leg hurts from kicking. Poor woosie girl, just like her mama. They brought us a wonderful gingerbread house kit and a gift certificate for the movies! We are so excited and thankful for the gift and for them.

I rented "Rush Hour 3" for our "date night". We really thought the first two were funny, so hopefully this one will be good, too.

Shining Moment in Parenting

Last weekend, Bubby fell backwards off the swingset, into the sharp gravel beneath. He had a lovely, blood-gushing headwound. Of course, he wouldn't let me wash the blood out of his hair, so he looked like something fit for the upcoming Halloween holiday. (I started calling him "Headwound Harry", after a Halloween decoration I had seen last year...) He was also sporting a VERY red, chapped face. Instead of using a tissue, he just smears his snot all over his face. By evening, his cold was getting worse and we no longer had a humidifier.

I decided to take Headwound Harry with his chapped face to Target to buy a humidifier. (Daddy was out of town with the army.) I plunked him in the seat of the cart and Sissy started pushing him. Things were going pretty well. I was looking at something, when I heard Sissy yell. "BUBBY!!!! You kicked me in the NUTS!!!!" Apparently, he had been swinging his legs and kicked her where it counts. I stifled my laughter and explained to Sissy that girls did not have "nuts", nor was "nuts" a nice word. She was embarassed, and said "Okay".

Bubby has this new fixation with proving his sister wrong. Very competitive boy. He screamed at the TOP OF HIS LUNGS: "SISSY! GIIIIRRRRRLS DOOOOOON'T HAAAAAAVE NUUUUUTS!!!!!" in a very, smug way.

The whole store stopped moving. A pin dropping could have been heard. There were eyes on us. Other parents glaring at me. Headwound Harry with the chapped face was a site to behold BEFORE he screamed out that gem. I could just read the minds of the other parents, "Look at that mess of a child! And his dirty mouth to match!" I wanted to sink into the floor, but instead I had to focus on not falling in heap of laughter.

Both children later asked me: What *ARE* nuts anyway???? This was a good lesson for them not to say things if you don't know what they mean.

Parenthood: What a humbling experience.

They did the mash.....

HALLOWEEN 2007!!!

This year, we had Operation Overdrive Power Rangers "Blue Ranger"....and Dorothy with Toto, complete with ruby red slippers!

Blue Ranger was still quite under the weather, so he only trick or treated around our little cul de sac. Dorothy took Toto (and Daddy) quite a distance in the subdivision. She returned with a full bucket to share with the Blue Ranger.

Our first Halloween in our little house was a good one. It was fun setting up the display out front. I plan to add to it a little each year!

It's Halloween!!

The outside of the house is decorated, the pumpkin is carved, the candy is ready. And, Bubby is sick. He isn't happy about missing trick or treat, but I think that everyone can remember at least one holiday, growing up, that they missed out on because of illness. (Mine was Christmas, and I had a similar plague had befallen me as has my son.)

Daddy and Sissy will brave the crowds for some trick or treating, while I pass out candy and Emilio watches from the couch. Last night, the school sponsored a Trick or Treat night. Each teacher passed out candy from her room, and there were hotdogs and some activities. Bubby was barely alive, but I took him up there for an hour in his costume. (Unfortunately, I forgot the camera. Bad mother.)

Our puppies are in their pumpkin costumes, ready to bark at all of the strangers coming up our walk tonight!

Progress!

Yesterday, I buckled down and did some painting in Faith's room. I plan to do some more today, and hopefully finish it tomorrow.

The shipments from Gap and LandsEnd came, filled to the brim with new school clothes for the upcoming school year. Faith could use a couple more pairs of long pants and athletic shoes. Other than that, I am pretty much *done*. It only cost a couple of hundred dollars this year because I shopped some major clearance sales. I have to set to work washing all of the new clothes and hanging them in the closets later.

The last session of swimming lessons is underway. Both of the kids made a lot of progress this year with their swimming. They really enjoyed their lessons. I am not enjoying sitting out in the sticky heat. It's humid out now and miserable. It didn't rain out here, but did rain in a number of locations last night. We had a bit of clouds and thunder nearby, but for the most part, the first monsoon storm of the year passed us by. It was actually closer to our *old* house, which is funny. When we moved out here, we were looking foward to catching some good storms since we are so far out east. Oh well, maybe we will catch the next one. The wind did knock over our patio umbrella and table last night, so I guess that's something!

Tag!! I'm it!

A fun blogger named Chel is tagging everyone for a "meme" about Me and Hubby. Here goes mine:

#1: His full name is Danilo. I refer to him as "Dan" to other people. I have never called him by name in 13 years of marriage, because I can't figure out which name I should call him. So, he is "Hon" most of the time. He calls me "Hon" or "Ames".

#2: We really like to sit and watch "Jackass" reruns together when the kids go to bed.

#3: He gets really mad when he finds half-finished cans of coke in the house. I pretend I don't hear him when he complains about it.

#4: We never took a honeymoon or a vacation. We figure it will happen when the kids are grown.

#5: We don't like sharing covers in bed. He has his, and I have mine. Everyone is happy.

#6: He makes the coffee in the mornings. I never make it right.

#7: We are activity-opposites. He can't sit still and loves to work out. I could sit still all day, and workout only so that I still look good.

#8: I am his memory. I remember names, faces, places and dates for him. He cannot locate his wallet or keys without effort. Some of his fellow soldiers call me his "personal secretary" because I keep his life in order for him. My favorite times are the ones where he doesn't remember the name of a person that *HE* knows and I have never met. I will remember the name from just his mentioning the person and have to tell him.

#9: I love my hubby. We have been through all sorts of trials over the last 13 years, but I wouldn't change a moment of it because of where we have ended up!!

I can add. I swear.

I just looked at my latest entry. I said it had been two months since I last blogged. Whoops. April to July is *three* months. Duh.