Bits And Pieces Of Pre-Christmas Minutia

Yup, it's less than 48 hours until Christmas. The last week has been crazy because...

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I found out Wednesday morning that I was the designated person responsible for acquiring bouquests for the teacher's assistant and for the aftercare teacher at Liam's school. This was not a problem as I was sure I could get FTD or somesuch website to deliver two bouquets to our house Wednesday afternoon that I could take to school for the Christmas party on Thursday. I called, and sure enough, I was guaranteed that two beautiful winter bouquets would be delivered by 5:00 PM. At 8:00, there were no bouquets, and the customer care center at the website was closed, as was the local florist. So I went to a nice grocery store, grabbed one of every kind of wintery flower they had on hand, and made two really nice bouquets for the teachers.

The next morning, I took my bouquets and both kids to school, had the party (the teachers really liked their flowers), and came home. On the porch were the two bouquets I had ordered the day before. They were very pretty and looked nice in my home, but since they had been ordered for another occasion and were late, too late in fact, I called the website back. They promptly refunded my money AND we got to keep the bouquets. So yay for flowerssenttoday.com!

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Liam came down with an ear infection Monday. He did make it school this week, more because he wanted to go than because he was really up to going, but he's still a little tired. His pediatrician got herself fired for telling him rudely that his symptoms don't make sense, and his ears don't hurt when she peers inside.

(There's a long story here, but I'm not going into it now. Suffice it to say a change in medical staff is necessary.)

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Kieran caught the bug from Liam, and ran his first high fever - he woke up at 3:30 Friday morning with a 101.3⁰ temperature. But with Motrin and TLC, he seems better by this weekend..

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I caught the bug from the kids, and spent this morning in the ER. I thought about waiting and calling my internist tomorrow morning, but really, that's crazy. I don't even know if the office is open on Christmas Eve.

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My husband is wonderful. He's handled both kids pretty much by himself since Friday afternoon, except for nursing duties.

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Yesterday, Kevin and the boys made these yummy white chocolate chip-cranberry cookies. They are so good!

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And, while waiting for my antibiotic prescription to be filled, I bought Kevin and me a bottle of champagne for refreshment while playing Santa tomorrow night. I hope the kids cooperate and stay asleep.

(Don't worry, I didn't buy anything requiring complex assembly.)

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I don't know if I'll be back before the Big Day, but if not, Happy Holidays to everyone!

Lookee What The Mailman Brought Today!

(In case you can't tell, it's a Valentine's Day catalogue.)

Enough, people, enough already!

Christmas Surprise

We were sitting on the couch by the front window Saturday afternoon. The Lemur, who is currently obsessed with fire engines and Christmas, heard a siren. It became apparent that the siren not only belonged to a fire truck, but that said firetruck was coming down our street. Then, wonder of wonders, we realized that there was more than one truck. Liam jumped onto the back of the couch to spectate.

Not one, not two, but three fire engines came slowly driving down the street, lights and sirens in full action. And then, on the back of the ladder truck, who should appear but Santa himself, standing tall and proud on the back of the truck.

Liam was beside himself as he realized that not only does Santa bring toys to small children, but he also is a way cool dude because "he hangs out with the firemen, Mommy."

Christmas magic takes many forms, and when I saw the look of wonder on his face as Santa appeared, I realized why we do this stressful season again and again each year - because, buried in the lists of things to do, make, and buy, are moments of pure joy. If Liam gets even one moment like that each Christmas, it will make all the craziness worthwhile.

Tempting

So here I am in the midst of what the Weather Service euphemistically calls "a wintry mix" (to give it that certain holiday feeling, I guess), and which is materializing as about half an inch of sleet on my back deck.

Oh my, look at what the mailman brought us today.

Sounds wonderful, eh?

This Train Is Bound For... Snacking

With apologies to the lovely person who first wrote the American spiritual "This Train is Bound for Glory," we present our afternoon project today...

...the beginnings of the coal tender...

...filling the coal tender...

...the finished train with its chocolate chip "coal" and stockpile of extra "coal"...

...we left poor Kieran with only a tube of wrapping paper and an empty Cliff bar box for amusement, and some freshly-steamed asparagus for a snack...


...the train artist himself!


..the TRAIN!

And also! We got out tree up this weekend, so the holidays may commence at the Menagerie House! YAY!

Sick Day

Hi Everyone,

It's me, Kieran. Guess what? The Lemur has a cold and he gave it to me and Mommy. So we've been stuck in the house for the last two days. Here's what's up ('cause I know Gran-Gran is curious...)

We've played with the ferrets. A lot. We might have worn them out. Or not. Ferrets love to play almost as much as four year old boys. Here's Pippi climbing up Mommy's sweater. The Lemur was chasing him.

(Yes, Mommy knows his tail is bald. We have a vet appointment next week, don't worry!)

Oh no! Now The Lemur is chasing ME in his sports car!

And he put glasses on me!

And a hat! Because Mommy and The Lemur and I are wrapping Christmas presents, I guess. Now I'm ready for action...OK...

...and look! I have stolen The Lemur's train. It's yummy. Hopefully he won't be too upset.

I hope everyone else is healthy! I will be back after everyone here is well again!

Hugs,
Kieran

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