How I love Christmas! I love seeing the lights going up all over town. I love picking a tree and decorating it. Putting out the nativities. I love finding just the right gifts for family and friends. I love the growing pile of prettily wrapped things under the tree (or on the side table out of the dog's way!). I love the advent calendar my mom made when we were kids, baking the same cookies she baked, anticipating the arrival of family. I love celebrating the amazing birth of Jesus and all that it means. And, I love the scads of Christmas cards pouring in from everywhere!

This year, as with last year, though, we're not (gasp!) sending any Christmas cards out. Between this blog and FaceBook, I feel so connected to everyone, it seems redundant to write out a year-end summary letter and send out the obligatory family photos. So, here you go. Here is your Christmas card from us! Enjoy!

Size does matter. I unscientifically proved it at my gym class this morning. You see, we had a substitute teacher. And she was approximately my size! Not quite, you realize, but much closer than the itty-bitty gal who normal teaches. And here's where it gets good--triumphant, you might even say--I kept up!!! I was still awkward, uncoordinated, and occassionally off-beat, but I could match her jumping-jack for jumping-jack instead of the usual 7 for 8. My jump-squats were perfectly timed to hers! Everything she did I could do at the same exact pace. I'm sorta embarrassed to say what a confidence-booster this really was for me, but since some of the rest of you have admitted to similar feelings as I expressed in the last post on this topic, I'll let you know--it felt good!!!

Another event I've been meaning to write about happened at the gym a few weeks ago. I started attending a new class--Total Body Conditioning, 90 minutes of combined aerobics and weight-lifting (low weight, TONS of reps). I took a spot way in the back so as to be as inconspicuous as possible among the 30 other (much more fit) women and the token male. I spent the first half-hour of the class with my eyes glued to the instructor. But then my gaze was distracted by the sight of something long and white flailing in the mirror (three of the walls are covered in them--mirrors, not white flails). I have long ago realized that I completely lack grace, coordination, and rhythm (all requisites for an aerobics class and one among many reasons I haven't been in one in years and years), but I was nonetheless momentarily horrified to recognize that the apparation was my own arm, very much out of sync with the other jumping jackers in the room. As if being off-beat wasn't bad enough, my second rush of horror assaulted me when I realized I was entirely recognizable in the mirrors--anyone in any place in the room could see my face! My entire head stuck up above the crowd!

Now, I know I'm taller than most. I realize that I squat down a tish when I hug my enviably petite friends, but what is normal for me must be normal for the world, right? THEY are short, they are the anomolies, but I am only slightly above average. . . Right?! Like I said, we normally see ourselves alone in the mirror. Suddenly thrust into seeing myself in comparison with a crowd of women, I realized with a jolt that the "slightly" that I'd always clung to (the "slightly" that allowed me to resume wearing high heels after a decade hiatus) was a bit of an understatement. In fact, I saw that I was even taller than the token male.

It isn't that I abhor being tall. It isn't even that I wish I wasn't. It's more like I just didn't know how tall I really am! I knew about the inability to make my body conform to actions more complicated than walking (let's just say I'm not too interested in seeing myself walking in a mirror anytime soon either), but I was sincerely naive about the height issue. It doesn't actually bother me except that the whole inconspicuous thing is a bust.

I have continued to attend the class as faithfully as I can. And, each time I do I rehearse the mantra that it's okay for me to do my best, even if it looks ridiculous or pathetic in comparison to the other women in the class. I remind myself that not only were they naturally endowed with a sense of rhythm (but they probably can't blog very well and they don't know the secret ingredient to the World's Best Frosting), but they've been at this for a long time and know what to expect from the instructor. I'll get it too, someday. Okay, maybe that's still unrealistic, but I will get better. And doing what I can is soooo much better than sitting around doing nothing. And, what with all this great exercise, my legs can only look better and better in those high heels!

10 July 2010


Uh, sorry. So, there's this weird paradox about blogging. When nothing much is happening, there's plenty of time to write, but not much to say. When things are hopping, the bloggable material is copious, but there's no time to get it all in black and white. I'll try and hit some highlights for posterity, but I apologize that it won't be as good as if I had written it in real time.


The following three posts should bring you pretty much up to speed.

I went to the grocery store this morning and was tickled by the reaction of the checker. I wish the receipt told me how many items I bought, but I can't find that stat. Anyway, she rang it all up and totalled it. It came to $115 something. She said, "Dang!!! I come in here and spend that much on like 2 bags of stuff!" I smiled and said, "Wait 'til we take off the coupons." She scanned them all in and the total came down to $95 something. "Dang! With sales and coupons you saved $88.45!" She was proud of me; it was so funny! It wasn't my best trip (savings of 48%), but it made me feel proud and happy because the cashier was so proud of me!

My mom got me a "CD-2800 Ultrasonic Cleaner" for Christmas. You know, like they use in the jewelry stores to clean your rings while you browse. Well, it works fairly well (you have to run it for at least two cycles and add a little soap to make it really work, but hey, no biggie). But, the really great part is the instruction manual. Here are the best excerpts.

"Close supervision is necesary when this product is used by, on or near children or invalids." So, remember, if you are going to clean your children or invalids, you must supervise them closely.

Also, "Never use while sleeping" So, if you are a sleepwalker, make sure this is out of reach before you go to bed.This is great. There are many uses for this machine. Including FINGERS!, "signature chops" (what IS that?!), and "slots and lines of dishware handles" (again, I have no idea what that means and the picture isn't really helping).

Finally, some more CAUTIONs. "Do not dissect the unit except the authorized serviceman." Nuts. Mine didn't come with the serviceman. Guess there's nothing for me to dissect. Unless he answers my call for help....

And, "Repeat working cycle can enhance the cleaning effect. While the interval is better longer than 5 minutes." Hmmm. Yeah. I'll take that into consideration.

Let me start with a little update on Punk's new hair. He came home from school Monday and told me that some kids at school were making fun of his hair. :( I asked him how he felt about it (sad) and whether he still liked his hair the way it is (yes). Later, he told A about it. A asked what he did when the kids said those things. "I told them they hurt my feelings." Pretty good response. Now that it's been a couple of days, it seems to be okay. We'll see how long he wants to keep the "bald" look.

At Pea's preschool each week the study a new letter. Each letter is represented by a Letter Person with certain characteristics. So far they've had Mr T with Tall Teeth, Mr F with Funny Feet and Mr M with the Munchy Mouth. This week is Mr H with Horrible Hair, so today everyone is to come in with horrible hair.

It's hard to make nice hair look horrible temporarily, but I think Pea and I did a pretty good job!

To see Punk's horrible hair from last year, click here.

Now, while we're on the topic of hair, mine's making me a little crazy. I'm growing it out for A, but it's so tempting to cut it all off! My remedy is to get a trim and pink extension in October (they have them in October in a way that benefits breast cancer awareness). Whatcha think?

There's a lot rambling around in my head these days. I'm hoping this "download" will help clear the air. (Yes, I did just call myself an airhead!)

BLUE WITH ENVY
After I redid Pea's hair on Tuesday, Punk was jealous that she was getting lots of attention for her pretty hair. Before we headed to the gym on Wednesday morning, I asked if he wanted me to spike his hair (he's been wanting that frequently lately). He said, "Nah, but could you spray it blue?!" So I did. He got more attention than Pea that day!

COMPARING

I'm really bad at remembering my kids' milestones, but there are a few facts and figures ingrained in my brain. One of those is that Pea was 16 pounds when we first "met" her by photos in Jan 07. She was 18 months old and 16 pounds--the same as my friend's 9 month old. Yesterday I met a 24-pound 6-month-old. It's staggering to think about.

PREPARING

When we left Boise in September of 07, we felt our family was complete. We were expecting two children to come home to us from Liberia. One of them was Pea. The other was a sweet boy who was a year older than Punk. Unfortunately, he didn't make it here. But, at that time, we didn't know he wouldn't be coming home. So, we thought we were "done" and we were moving to a much smaller dwelling, thus we sold/donated/gave away/got rid of almost all our baby stuff. Now that our home study update is completed and we're this { } close to being on the list (meaning we could have a baby nearly anytime now), I'm a little obsessed with getting prepared!

We did save a few things (stroller, crib, Pack-n-Play, diaper bag), but no baby clothes, no pacies, no bottles, no receiving blankets, no lotsa things. There are quite a few things that I considered "must-haves" the first time around that I don't really need this time (bouncy seat, changing table). But, there are several things that I learned that I do need (receiving blankets, carrier) and I want to start getting them amassed.

I also need to figure out the immediate sleeping arrangements. I want baby close to me, but A doesn't want to be woken up all through the night. So, do baby and I move upstairs? Does A move upstairs? Do we put baby in our closet? Of course, all of these options would be temporary, but none are exactly ideal. What to do, what to do.

CHURCH MOVE

Did I tell you our church's big news? We are moving to a space in the mall! Actually, two spaces. Right next to Sears. We're all really excited! Not only is it a nice new space (with three separate areas in the little kids area--called the Greenhouse--for infants, walkers, and preschoolers), but it's an amazing way to intersect people's lives. While many people wouldn't walk into a typical church building, they just might be curious enough about church in the mall to pop their heads in. Sunday is our opening day. Can't wait!

I did get the snow tires put on yesterday afternoon and we did head out to Raleigh for our USCIS fingerprinting. The roads were clear and we had no trouble getting to or from our fingerprinting appointment. We'll be ready when fm5 (family member #5) comes onto our horizon.

In case you're wondering, the snow's pretty much gone. Easy come, easy go!

It really is snowing here today! I can hardly believe it! It started out as rain this morning, but around 10, it changed to snow! Here are the proof-pics! (Editor's note: I'm not totally confident of the actual times here, but they are what the camera said and I think they give an accurate spacing if nothing else.)

At 9:59 AM:

At 10:01 AM:

At 10:05 AM:

At 10:13 AM:

At 10:14 AM (to show the accumulation):

At 10:38 AM:

Now the question is, do we go to Raleigh for our fingerprinting appointment tomorrow? Of course, the temperature is going to dip below freezing tonight, causing all the rain and snow to turn to ice. And, seeing as we live in North Carolina, a relatively snow-free state, it's highly unlikely the roads will be de-iced. I called the USCIS hot line and inclement weather is a valid reason for rescheduling an appointment. We simply need to write a letter explaining our absence and they will send us the new appointment time. It's not like we're in a huge hurry--we don't have an application in anywhere, we just want to keep our options open.

On the other hand, we never off-loaded our snow tires from our winter in the Great White North. So, we could get those put back on and make the drive tomorrow in relative security. And, it did take them about 3 months from the mailing of our application until the first fingerprinting appointment. What to do, what to do?

I have The Weather Channel's toolbar installed on my Explorer, so I can always see the current temp, the day's predicted high, and tomorrow's forecast at a glance. This morning when I checked the weather, there was an ominous orange box around the current conditions (38 F Sunny). So, I clicked and lo and behold, we're under a Winter Weather Advisory and supposed to get SNOW tomorrow!

Here's the exact advisory:
... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY.

SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES COULD OCCUR IN THE ADVISORY AREAS WITH ALL SNOW ENDING LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

I'll be sure to let you know if the weatherman is right or wrong!