One of my favorite things about Christmas is...

The music! I am not very good at lyrics, but how could you mess up a Christmas song? Okay, okay, I have been know to slaughter a song or two or a thousand with bad tone, but that's it! The music just makes me happy and I love both traditional and contemporary.

My favorite contemporary song is from Wham!, "Last Christmas". Very cheesy but it gets stuck in your head; and well, all day you are singing, "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away..."

So what's your favorite?

Christmas Time is Here Already...

Christmas time is here already. I have to say that having kids really renews your excitement for the holidays! So many things I want Abby to experience. I just can't wait! Here are some pictures I found filed away recently. I was 5 and 6 when these were taken.

It all started with my cheesecake

I have a great cheesecake recipe that I found last year. It is a very festive dessert that reminds me of the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays because it uses pomegranates both in the cheesecake and in the syrup over the top.

We had company over on Sunday, so Saturday I made it. We still had some left, so Tuesday rolled around and I didn't want it at the house anymore. Every Tuesday me and a girlfriend get together for a weight-loss club meeting. So I sent her home with two thick slices. :D (Because that is what you do at the end of a weight meeting, ha ha ha). Okay, maybe it's just an excuse to get together!

Well, I got a call from her the next day asking for me to make it for one of her family dinner parties in December. At the end of the conversation, it was agreed that I would cater the whole thing. I know it's really bizarre, but I am VERY excited to do it. So now I have two big events to plan for! I can't wait for the holidays, they can't get here fast enough.

Who knows, if all goes well, it could be more than a one-time gig!

The New Bowling Set

Today, Abby and I went to lunch with some friends who came into town. They brought Abby the cutest bowling set. This evening, Abby got a spare...

Made me laugh!

An Oldie, But A Goodie!

This is the video I meant to publish! I could watch her sign her colors forever! :)

Oh, so little!

This wasn't the video I was meaning to post, but it is cute of Abby! She was so little, once upon a time. Sorry I am so LOUD in the video, Abby didn't have her hearing aids in, so I wanted to make sure she heard me.

The Bully At Our House

So I have a bully at my house. Yup, that's her in the pink "Fairy Dress". She takes toys, and she orders Alex around. Alex on the other hand, is really a push over. Not that HE is happy about the circumstances, but it happens. I am trying to have him "man up a bit", but most days he cries.

As a parent/baby-sitter, what is the fine line in teaching the kids these lessons; specifically, having Alex fight back a bit, and having Abby "get what's coming," for being the bully?

There is just so much "policing" I can do; but the last thing I want is an bully who thinks she is entitled to everything and to watch a boy who lets her take things, then comes crying to me. Did I tell you Alex is three and a half and Abby barely two?