It's beginning to look a lot (more) like Christmas!

So I finally turned the lights on last night.

You know. The lights around my living room that I left up all year long because Liam loved them so much.

Well they've been shut off since summer at least and last night I realized it's time! It's time! I can turn them on again! EEEEEEEEEEEEK!

And so I did.



I seriously thought my son might jump out of his skin with excitement "LIGHT!" he screamed jumping up and down, turning all around, and (GET THIS!) POINTING!

Even Lily was amused though she was trying to nap with daddy as soon as the lights came on it was alllll over.



She had much to say. Unfortunately, as usual, it was in whatever mixture of foreign language her little mouth speaks.

I'm so giddy. The mini tree is going up SOON! I wish we could put up the real one but there's no room and, really, I don't have the energy to try to stop the cats and the kids from attacking it.

Right now? I'm gonna make peppermint hot cocoa! And make elephant noises with my son (his newest and greatest activity) and soon? You'll see THE LIST of things we've bought for everyone for Christmas. It's much more expansive than I thought and, as usual, I'm debating getting more. Good grief.

In the spirit of my giddiness I want to know what holidays my readers celebrate so go vote. For one. For many. Or even that none option! I know I left plenty of holidays off but I just grabbed a sampling of the most common ones that I could think of at 6 in the morning when I started writing this.

Now off to turn on those lights. What took me so long!

~M

Screw that new car smell!

Driving Jenas twenty year old camery back after borrowing when they drove their real car to portland for thanksgiving. It is the same age as my first car and has that old car smell! The good one. Not rotten tennis shoe. Ooo forget new car scent. Will bottle and sell this! 229097 Miles of goodness!

Happy part two!

Pecan pie, a sleeping monkey, and a husband who gets them both. That is good stuff. I ate way too much pecan pie again today. Happy sugar high! Tomorrow? I start christmas decorating. That will make everything even more fab!

pecan pie makes me happy

I got the first piece and damn is it good and a half!

Also thankful for decaf soy peppermint white mocha being back in style oh helling Yum!

I am thankful.

That i am not the only one in this family with grey hairs! Among other things! :-) gobble gobble! Hope everyone realizes how very much they have to be thankful for. I know i do! Will give a nice fat list after i get nice and fat from dinner. And that whole pie no one will eat. Bet i come home with none. Happy turkey day! Or thursday!

Welcome to my yearly pie screaming match!

One thing you can GUARANTEE on Thanksgiving?

I will be asked to make pies.

And I will agree.

And I will plan to make 2 pumpkin pies (because all recipes make 2 pies not one) and a pecan pie. And I will be happy with that.

Then, as if this doesn't happen every year, I will get all kinds of pissed off when someone in my family suggests I NOT bring pecan pie. I bring a fruit pie. I change something. I dare not buy premade pies if my kids are monsters, I'm tight on money, and tight on time. No one else eats pecan but me (well *I* don't like any pie BUT pecan dammit so THAT? is happening no matter what and somehow lots of it gets fucking eaten.)

Every year I act all surprised that there is pie drama. That demands are being made.

And if I say screw it then no pumpkin pie? I'll get a lecture that there MUST be pumpkin pie because it's THANKSGIVING!

People! There are a grand total of 6 adults and 3 kids. We REALLY don't need 4 fucking pies. Seriously. Especially since 2 of the adults don't eat pumpkin, one of the kids doesn't, and one of the kids is autistic and doesn't eat ANYTHING.

Next year? I'll go ahead and buy single slices for everyone at $3 a fucking pop and everyone can enjoy their own damn ass pie.

OMFG for as much as I love Thanksgiving it makes me want to fucking twitch.

Just pray my uncle doesn't make the stuffing nasty. It's my fave part of the holidays. And he does the weirdest shit to it sometimes. (I? Make a kick ass stuffing with nuts and apples and sausage. mmmmm. But NOOOOO I'm not allowed to make that.)

Fucking pies.

And my kids are grumpy.

The good news? Husband has Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. AND MONDAY OFF!

And my monkey starts full day school on Monday.

Better enjoy this weekend. Ahhh. Like a mini vacation! Once I get through my pissiness about the pie demands.

Next year? i'm making NO pies except pecan for me and I'll bring canned cranberries and olives or some shit. That's all they expected my sister to bring if SHE was attending.

yeah. Right. Next year? It'll be the same damn ass whine face.

Alright $40 do your magic. Need pies, flowers for my dad/grandparents graves, and 'lunch' for Liam. Who is now asking for a shake shake bottle.

Oh cod I can't WAIT to go to the store. I wonder if I should take 10 crazy pills before I go? Probably (KIIIIIIDDING. I'm on them maintenance wise. Lets hope it's enough. Ugh. I hate the holiday hell crowds.)

~M

Morning with mama

French toast baby and shopping all is good for goo!

Hats hats hats

Those are two kids who belong to me. Wearing hats. I think hell froze over.

Cookies and counting

You cannot tell here but she now knows two and five super good and three and four sometimes. She is a rock star.

Sleepy Sunday Stupidness

I've been awake since 4am though I faught it until about 445. Had the internal I'm too tired meets anxiety shakes.

Then my innards started twisting and turning and making me evacuate to the bathroom for no terribly good reason or quantity.

So now I'm tired, uncomfortable, and stressed out over not feeling well in my innards.

It's so not a great combo.

Can I start my fucking period already becasue the PRE symptoms this month are sucking royally.

Thank cod Josh has today off, works Mon, Tues, Wed, then has 5 days off. Oh happy day!

Until then? Um. Lets just hope I stay sane through today. Days like this make me icky anxious even if I don't need to be.

Just keep swimming.

~M

Post bath goodness!

So cozy and clean!

Guess where goo is!

If you guess the bath you are right. No screaming. Totally enjoying herself. Playing with toys. Holy! Happy! Hell!

A bow for a goo!

It is to the side and kind of funny but the goo? Is wearing a bow. A real bow! Eek! The possibilities are endless. I still like her chicken feather pony tail but my goo is getting grown!

Tower oh trash!

This is the leaning tower of trash at the mall. Oh happy day. Pretty sure we need to get hobbies.

Why liam in school is too fun.

My son made this at school and since he will not wear it i will and chase the kids around yelling gobble gobble! Being a mom rocks!

Too early for annoying news casters

Watching the news with goo snuggled up. I woke before five with mild anxiety. First time all month and cycle due any minute. So ready for the weekend! Also? I hate this news caster. But love the rest of the team. I will try to sleep again. Long day as always.

Gas? Is so beautiful on my wallet!

That is what i spent for that many gallons of gas. Holy. Happy. Shit. Think of all the white chocolate peppermint mochas decaf with soy i can buy! ;-)

It is beginning to look a lot like christmas!

Look! Grown up people out shopping without kids! For christmas! and i am totally almost done for my immediate family! Next stop star bucks!

Things that make me realize i am whacky.

Leaf blowers are seriously cool. I am seriously a nerd

Michelle!

He is so pissed because he had to stop playing because he was not being nice. And he keeps yelling michelle because he is super mad. Mama when he is happy but michelle when seriously pissed and wanting attention. Lovely.

Bye bye

This is liam and his favorite song. Kind of catchy eh?

Movie, election, and pictures OH MY!

Oh yes I'm back. Of course I'm pressed for time. AGAIN. AS USUAL. But hey, somet hings never change, right? :)

Computer and internet functioning again. Where it refused to do a system recover for me it totally permitted Jena to do one for me. Whatever temperamental computer. I get it. You don't love me. But as long as you function I don't care!

POLITIC TALK!

So where to start? Let's briefly touch on the election since I was seriously stoked about this election season and really pleased with the outcome. It would have been a much harder decision for me had McCain chose a different running mate though I suspect I still would have voted Obama. I really believe in the concepts he's presenting and his ability to follow through.

Let's get this straight though. Unlike half the people who voted for him I do not think he's the second coming of Jesus or something ridiculous. Does he seem like a really decent man with great plans and the ability to do it? Absolutely. Do I think he has a magic wand up his butt to do it the day he takes office? Of course not and those who believe so are whacko. We've had 8 years of moron hole to fix up. It'll take a lot to get that recovered. Do i think he's a great figure head for our country? Absolutely. He and his family are about as all American as you can get. With the bonus minority aspect thrown in to show the rest of the world we aren't a nation of white pride elitist freaks. I'm really looking forward to seeing how things progress. He's just ONE man. ONE figure with a ton of advisers in the grand scheme of our expansive government system.

I am so tired of the extremists though that either put him as devil or Jesus. he's neither. He's an elected official with a good deal of power and a lot of checks and balances. Give him a chance.

Also? The idea he won by a landslide? Makes my brain hurt. Popular vote is a landslide in my mind. And by popular vote? It wasn't nearly as far apart as electoral votes.

Seriously? Let's give John McCain some credit too. The man is pretty remarkable. And showed so much class in his speech. And I really think he could have done some pretty terrific things for this country too. (if only that pesky woman hadn't got in the way.)

Okay and finishing politic talk...can I just announce how disappointed I am in the way things worked in a handful of states regarding gay marriage? Just ridiculous. I know not everyone agrees with me, and clearly neither did the majority of people in those states, but cod almighty it makes me so incredibly disappointed and sad to see such a simple, basic right be denied again and again. Outrageous. Of course this needs to be dealt with on a national level not a state level. I only hope that is brought to attention in the near future because I am utterly finished dealing with the ignorance surrounding that topic (seriously? the whole "what's next marrying a goat?" fuck off morons. fuck off. now saying you have your own religious beliefs on it? fine. except I have a few questionable bits there too as most religious statements regarding marriage also state no divorce. And no remarriage after such a thing and no one is screaming about that or calling for mandatory restrictions before breaking up marriage which if we're going to scream religion lets scream it fairly, eh?)

And speaking on a state level. I am incredibly proud of my state for finally passing a death with dignity act allowing terminally ill people to have the option of self administering medication to end their life (provided they go through 2 doctors approvals) AND on top of it having it as a medical procedure so insurance doesn't deny their families. I've watched the aftermath of a non medical death in a terminally ill patient and it's not a pretty picture at all. This could have helped a lot.

On a sidenote? This was my very first debate as a freshman in high school! I was the ONLY person who would take on the pro side. I kicked ass to. Take that people without backing for debates. :)


MOVIE TALK!

Seeing madagascar 2 with the special needs showing? Was AMAZING. Seriously those of you local? Email me (misformichelle at gmail dot com) and I'll keep you updated on when the next one happens. It would be GREAT to meet up! It was terrific. The lights were dim but not dark. There were kids EVERYWHERE. Liam only sat down briefly the rest of the time he was running around the theater-mostly at the bottom right in front of the giant screen. You can see his head to the right in between two seats.



No one cared as my son climbed the chairs. Snuggled up to new families. Jumped up and down. Danced around. Laughed too loud. Drank his bottle.

There were older kids in there stomping and clapping and making noises that would otherwise make people question and just made me smile. It was obvious they were SO happy. And loudly and proudly able to show it off.

Liam did have to get up a few times out of the theater because he was exhausting me as I wasn't too keen on him climbing ALL the seats in the theater.

It wasn't too busy but still had a great turn out.

And Lil sat super cute in the seat I'd HOPED to contain Liam in. *snort* yeah right.



AH HA! Found the latest info. Here's December's movie showing AND locations around the country BOLT! on December 6 @ 10a. I? Will so be there.

I can't say enough good things about it. Parents laughed when my son tried to sit on them. We all commiserated at the pain of doing stairs to chase our toddlers.

But really? It was the sounds that made me so happy. The sounds of special needs kids expressing themselves HOWEVER they wanted without any parent having to worry about the reaction around them. There was a teenage boy behind me who stomped loudly and made a deep throaty noise when he was happy. I turned around once and saw the biggest smile on his face and had to smile at his whole family as they just looked RELAXED.

Okay as for pics? You'll have to wait for more. I have 40 minutes to get us all ready and I've gotten as far as picking out clothes for the kids.

And thanks Josh for bringing my coat up from the car! That so rocked. OR NOT SINCE YOU DIDN'T.

Oh. I am so happy to have my journal back. Now if only I still had readers. *sigh* Oh well. At least I can write down my brand of crazy. That's the best thing ever.

Besides, you know, everything better. :)

~M

Make me cry why dont you?

He just went up with josh while i head to Jenas and as he got out he started to cry. I said bye bye liam. He said bye bye mama and then whimpered it over and over again. Even worse with proper pronunciation of mama. I think my heart broke in two. It was so sweet and fabulous all at once. My baby.

Liam under table at mc d? Normal right? Expect big update tonight. Back in comp business.

I like big guts and i cannot lie!

Straw vs bottle. Straw win.

Today she learned to straw drink and suddenly is rocking it even at home. All done bottle. Sleep times only. You will be broke of the habit you smart smart girl! And great spoon use with her yogurt at class too! Rock. Star. Goo!

Not a flower in her hair

Please note. That? Is a banana. My daughter is so fashion forward.

Ritz Ritz baby.

That way too dark pic is my son eating a ritz cracker. First time offering it. Took it and ate it. And another. And another. Yes in the same food group but also new! Holy shit he rocks it! But we knew that already.

It is raining it is pouring...

river is set to flood again. Check early november of 06 We are expected to go a foot higher tonight. No good! let us hope it is wrong because that? Ruined lots of first floor apartments and caused us to not get in or out for days on one side. Not to mention just scary. Think we will not be at home tonight! Hope the situation tames down. Floods suck.

Oh too much cute girl.

My daughter is the cutest thing ever. She went hmm with her finger on her lip so Jena did it back and lily started shrieking yeah over and over. Oh cod i love her. Even with her smelly diaper.

Still no comp but cute shoes

well sold lil clothes. Can buy diapers. Get josh his driver license renewal. Wear my cute red shoes. Ran errands all day. More to do. Never ending. What else is new? Someone make my comp be fixed magically. I think it might really be gone. At least i have my extra cute shoes on. That is fab. -m

Blur of swirl

Blur of happy. Good because i am not so happy. :-( comp damn dead for real i think. Sigh. Real updates later. Lets hope.

You will never believe this

Dear cod. For the first time in nineteen months this child slept totally through the night and without a parent! And she is still asleep! I did not sleep the whole way through but damn near! Maybe i should lock her in the car more often. ;-) update on movie soon. Off to be productive! -m

All better!

And we are in! Now they cry! Lol. I need a stiff drink. Of coffee.

There are my kids. In my car. With my keys. Locked inside. Jena has triple a so they will be out soon. Relaxing. Relaxing. Crazy pills in there too.

Wish me luck....MOVIE DAY!

OMFG we're trying to bring the kids to a movie today.

It's a special needs showing of Madagascar 2.

This could be very very good or very very...interesting. :)

LOTS of snacks and bottles and happy thoughts go this way!

I'm really excited. I just with my husband were going with us this is a BIG DEAL!

Here's to higher lights, no previews, lower volumes, and loads of not as quiet special needs kiddos. I'm super thrilled. This is the best possible movie experience possible for Liam. Let's see how it works!!!

~M

Yum. I have nothing worthy tonight as today was hell plus five. But semi frozen eclairs make it all good!

I take it back!

Less than five minutes after i was certain my head might explod from grumps liam comes over to me and says something i do not understand. So i ask him what and he repeats himself and i think i know what he said so i ask 'you want snuggles?' and he grabs my hand and says 'yeah snuggles.' and pulls me to the couch. And now he is snuggling his sis too with giggles. That is the first time ever he vocalized that kind of need! Life? Is so good. Now back to snuggles snuggles.

Blame it on the rain? Yeah yeah. Nah. It is fab. Everything else? Eh.

I just feel like screaming tonight. The short days. Stubbing the shit out of my toes. My irritated, and yes irritating! ,kids. Sigh. Is it sunday yet? I need a weekend. At least we get paid tomorrow. So i can go pay enough bills to make my head explode. Dude. I am so taking my self care lock in the bedroom time tonight. At least the rain is gorgeous and despite the constant downpour we are not in flood mode like two years ago tomorrow. Now that would suck. And i have no idea what is for dinner so he better not even ask. I dont even want to think about it! Grr! -m

I interrupt my regularly scheduled nacho scarfing to make an important announcement.

My son is fucking brilliant.

Know what he just did?

I'm out here making dinner.

he's in the bathtub taking a bath.

Josh is in between and he hears "ALL DONE BATH!" chanted from the bathroom.

There's my son, standing up. And looks up "All! Done! Bath!" happy as can be just standing up waiting to be removed as he was all done with the bath.

The child who this time last year had ZERO words. Literally NO words. Is now regularly using 3 word sentences. Is starting in with "please" and is putting together the most remarkable phrases ever.

He said "I want cheetos please" at school the other day.

He always says "I want xxx" to me.

He said "Daddy bottle shake shake shake" indicating he didn't want a boring water bottle but instead his carnation or milk or something else that we go shake shake shake with.

I'm just in awe. In disbelief. Oh there are still so many issues to be tackled (like his crying at school. *sigh* He's now disrupting the class with it and has to stand outside with a teacher calming down to not disturb everyone. But he's getting MUCH! MUCH! MUCH! better!) And my son won't eat worth a shit. And every morning he wakes up requesting "I want chips? Chips? Want more chips?" and then looks very sad as he repeats "all done chips" with heavy sighs and asks again. As if those puppy dog eyes will magically make chips appear. (And believe me, they would be a magic breakfast item no problem but not every damn day. And I'm not getting out of bed at 5am for them sucker.)

but he's starting to communicate better and better. He's starting to understand. He's starting to listen to his name. He's starting to express himself in ways I could never imagine.

All done bath? Incredible. Unbelievable. Remarkable. Amazing.

Now. Back to assembling nachos. We have tv. And internet. A new president to come. And a son who is using SENTENCES. Freaking SENTENCES.

This world is an amazing place.

And will be extra amazing once I give myself a hearty dose of heartburn with this fabulous meal I need to stick in the oven before I'm murdered by my hungry hungry husband.

~M

Too hard to be a monkey!

Oh my poor son as we wait for daddy to get off work. Sitting in the front seat. Backyardigans cd on. Control of the window. Life is not so bad baby boy. If you are nice i will let you put on your sister's slippers while we wait! Pink goodness! Six pm get here quick please.

Holy shit! He won already? Holy shit! Hooray plus some! An amazing day. I cannot believe it is already in! this is so what we need. What a victory! And there are some great local victories as well! I am so very pleased. So very very pleased!

Vote! Vote! Vote!

Now you know who i voted for (you can click to make it bigger!). If my pic of a pic on the computer screen is helpful. If not? Obama all the way here! You? If you reside in this country? Get your ass out and vote! For someone! And dont forget local stuff too! And if you are not registered? Too late for this election but not for others. Get yourself signed up! What a privilege to be able to vote! So do it! Even if the system is not perfect it is worth the effort. I am so geeked for the news tonight. I love this process. -m

This one had her results today from the center

This one is too cute for her own good but does qualify for play group which makes me super happy! Now cross your fingers that she gets liams old class! She is going to love it!

Monkey sleep. It is hard to be a bot

Sometimes it is so hard to be a boy. But he had his best day yet at school! He is amazing.

I have just figured out my noblopomo self goal. Blogging from my phone every day even if i write a standard entry too. Gets me to use my camera phone to take sexy picks like this- i know six am michelle is impressive. But also will keep it more instant. I love my new goal. Woot for a mini goal within the larger goal.

I am so cool it hurts.

We? Just had a voting party. We are so cool it hurts. Pot stickers, chicken nuggets and voting! What more do you want? Another pot sticker. Mmm

Testing. Can i post from my phone?!

NaBloPoMo you will be mine!

I haven't signed up yet this year but dammit I will make it happen! Internet or no internet. WHY is blogging via phone so damn difficult?!

So consider this post one. From jena's again. As I upload pics and figure out who the hell I'm voting for.

I'm beyond excited to see the election.

I'm craving salt.

My gums are pulsating.

I miss my internet and cable. Dammit.

And the INTERNET PEOPLE TOO. *sniff* I miss my homies.

~M