We celebrated Christmas at our house today.
Whatever you did today, I hope it was relaxing and fun!
Here are some scenes from our Christmas.
December 25, 2009
December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve Excitement
So, tonight we will have two mystical visitors to our home.
Santa
and
The Tooth Fairy!
Monkey in the Middle lost his first tooth tonight. The tooth right next to it is crazy loose as well. I guarantee the Tooth Fairy is back within the week.
However, for tonight, you cannot even begin to imagine the excitement!
Ignore the scrapes between his eyes. Basketball injury. Took a basketball to the face. Rough sport.
A Happy Little Thought
Just thought I’d share what came home with Baby Monkey from nursery school yesterday.
Enjoy.
December 23, 2009
Product Review: Wii Fit Plus
Thumbs Up.
Way up.
We have the Wii Fit and the kids and I have always enjoyed it. Monkey Girl, in particular, is a huge fan.
However, awhile ago I bought the Wii Fit Plus.
I hadn’t used it until the other day.
Now, I think I’m addicted.
The general exercises in the strength and yoga categories are the same. However, they have extra training exercises that are MEGA fun. They also have a place where you can create your own workouts according to what you want to work on: arms, hips, legs and butt, leaner you, relaxation, etc. Then, they put together an exercise routine to meet those goals. You can do just one exercise in each category, or two or three.
So, I’ve been making my own workouts, but then when I finish, I go to the Training Plus section and play while I exercise.
I am an excellent skateboarder.
On the Wii.
I am also quite adept at Kung Fu.
On the Wii.
Ooh, ooh…I also rock the house at juggling while standing on a ball.
In real life.
No, no…on the Wii.
If you are looking for a last minute game to buy for the family and you have a Wii, I would definitely recommend Wii Fit Plus.
If you are looking to start getting fit in an easy and fun way that isn’t the least bit intimidating, I would definitely recommend Wii Fit Plus.
Just in general, I recommend Wii Fit Plus.
There.
Now I have done my bit to stimulate the economy and to move toward a healthier America.
You are welcome.
…and you’ll know where to find me over Winter Break.
December 22, 2009
What Do You Think?
So, the kids have discovered the webcam.
There is some very interesting video being shot over here.
In the New Year, I am hoping to save up for a Flip video camera, and that should definitely add to the video being taken, and it will be much better quality.
I recently upgraded this blog to include the sound piece. That cost approximately $20 a year.
In order to upgrade to allow video, it’s $60 a year.
So, I’ve been considering upgrading, but I’ve also been considering moving the whole blog to my own site where I would pay for the domain, but wouldn’t have to pay to add video, sound, etc. I’m guessing that would be more than the $60 a year, but it would all be under my control and I wouldn’t be stuck with templates. Don’t see that as a complaint…I’ve been very happy with WordPress thus far. Just looking at the options.
I’m curious as to what your thoughts are. Many of you are bloggers yourself. Some of you are not, but you are blog readers. I’d like to make your reading (and my creating) experience as fun and painless as possible. So, take my poll and let me know what you think!
December 21, 2009
Happy Solstice
I love the solstice.
There is just something about the day that feels…right.
Like mother nature is doing her own thing, regardless of what we, as humans, continue to do to her.
The shortest day of the year, and yet, I worked, had a party for my co-workers at my house, played with my kids, read a few chapters in my latest Michael Connelly book, and am now snuggled in and watching The Tudors: Season 3.
Today was a really, really good day.
I hope all of you made the most of your short day, as well.
December 20, 2009
Reader Theater
On Friday, Monkey Girl participated in her class’s Reader Theater presentation.
The class was divided into three groups and each group performed a short play.
Monkey Girl’s play was It Happened At Hull House which was about Jane Addams and, obviously, Hull House. It talked about providing a safe haven for immigrants, way back in the day, and was just a really nice little play. All three plays spoke to the theme of good character and being a responsible citizen. Good stuff.
They’ve been practicing for awhile, but Monkey Girl never brought home her script, so I didn’t really know what to expect.
Real Man and I had taken personal days on Friday, so we were both able to go.
Her group went first.
She was the narrator, and then also was filling in for a classmate who was absent, so she was also playing the role of “Maria.”
She was awesome.
She rocked the house.
She had it all memorized, even a lot of Maria’s lines, even though she didn’t know she’d be filling in until she got to school Monday morning.
She read with flair, she read with drama (no surprise, since she is Ms. Drama), and she just did great.
So proud of her.
December 19, 2009
Need Another Recommendation From You
Okay, my faithful readers… You all had some great insight and information on what my next vehicle should be.
Some of you responded here, some of you e-mailed me, and some responded via Facebook.
Put it all together, and I definitely have a lot to consider and research. Great information.
Smart people read this blog.
I’m hopeful you can be just as helpful with my latest dilemma.
I need a sewing machine.
I love to sew.
I’m in the midst of sewing a gift for someone (can’t really go into details until I’m done and the gift has been given, although I don’t think the recipient reads the blog, but I don’t know for sure, so…you get it, right?)
Again, I love to sew.
I could be much more prolific if I had a sewing machine.
Before my father or mother responds with a “Um, excuse us Amy, but we bought you a sewing machine for Christmas about ten years ago,” let me explain.
My very generous parents bought me a sewing machine about ten years ago for Christmas. However, it was a pretty fancy machine and was for embroidery sewing.
I could never figure the darn thing out.
I even used my best bud, Erin’s, mom as sewing machine tech support, but even with her wisdom, I couldn’t make it work.
So, two years ago, I sold it to my friend, Darlene, who has been making great use of it. I’m thrilled that she is able to use it, because I could never figure the darn thing out.
What I need, at this point, is a sewing machine for dummies. I need a machine because it takes me forever to do all of my sewing by hand, but I need an easy machine because I’m a sewing machine idiot.
Technology, I’m a wiz.
Mechanics, I’m a total dweeb.
I had considered getting a “My First Sewing Machine” under the guise that it was a gift for Monkey Girl, who also loves to sew, but then I realized, perhaps I should get something a bit more sophisticated.
So, does anyone have recommendations on an easy-to-use sewing machine? I don’t need to do anything fancy. Just make my quilts, mend my clothes, sew some new clothes, and teach Monkey Girl how to make her own little quilts and pillows on the machine.
Please help. My Grandma Lawrence is looking down on me, shaking her head at my sewing machine inadequacy.
Help a girl out.
December 18, 2009
Working on It
I’m trying to figure out how to upload some things I’ve been working on for the past few days. I think I’ll crack it tomorrow.
Until then…
A ridiculously cold night outside, a warm, comfy blanket, all 3 Lord of the Rings dvd’s, popcorn and snuggling.
Life is good.
December 16, 2009
What’s Going On?
Television is currently undergoing a bit of a metamorphosis.
And I like it.
It started with Glee.
Don’t. Even. Get. Me. Started. On. My. Love. For. This. Show.
A show loaded with enormous singing numbers, and ridiculously talented singers. A show about kids who want to do nothing else but sing. A show about the completely non-popular kids in their high school who are fulfilled by their love for singing and performance. A show about me.
Love it.
And now?
The Sing Off.
I haven’t caught all the other nights of this show, but tonight I came home and turned on the television, and there it was.
Help. Me. Lord.
No instruments. All acapella singing. Talented singers who just love to sing and just want to sing and are singing. Sing, sing, sing, sing, sing.
Love it.
There is nothing like listening to someone who sing who can really sing. I mean REALLY sing.
I can’t go to a sing Broadway musical without sobbing hysterically. I am moved by beautiful, strong voices like nothing else.
And now? I’m not relegated to buying a ticket to a show to experience it.
It’s on TV!!!
I just hope that people who don’t necessarily love music, particularly vocal music, as much as I do are being exposed to it, just a bit, and are broadening their horizons. Maybe…just maybe, they’ll find they like it.
