Who Knew?

That after visiting Lula last summer, Elijah would become determined to be an X-Box 360 owner. (Thanks for sharing your man-room, Scotty.)

That Joe and I would give in and actually buy said X-Box for him for Christmas.

That hooking up X-Box Live would be so complicated, even for computer-whiz-Joe.

That even I would love it, too!

As Elijah says, the graphics are amazing!

The ability to play online with other people through your game system on your own TV is cool.

And the absolute best part? Netflix on Live. You can log onto Netflix, pick out your movie (or TV series...hello, LOST!) and then load it right onto your system and watch it immediately.

Even though I was skeptical of having another game system in our house, I can now say that I love this one!

Anybody else have X-Box Live with Netflix? Any good movie suggestions? Wanna join me in a game of Lego Indiana Jones?

How to make a friend, by Gabe

As most of you know, Gabe is my outgoing not-a-shy-bone-in-his-body kid. Elijah and Isabel are friendly, but Gabe takes it to a whole new level. Any place we go, be it Kroger or the YMCA or even the hospital for a work party, he manages to make a new friend.

How does he do it, you may ask...

Here's an example:

Yesterday, at Elijah's first Upward basketball game, Gabe spotted a boy about his age playing a Nintendo DS just like his.

He looks at me and says, Mom, see that boy over there. I'm gonna go and make him my friend. I bet he likes Kirby and Lego Star Wars just like me!

And off he went. Within two minutes, the two of them were sitting side by side, discussing their games and ages and likes/dislikes. Now, if Gabe had his way, we would have invited the boy over for a playdate and maybe even a sleepover, without even knowing his name. I have to teach him to hold back a little, as some people are a little overwhelmed by his friendliness.

I, on the other hand, love it!

How bout you? Wanna come over for a playdate? I'm sure Gabe will even share his beloved black olives :)

Different perspectives

Amazing the difference a (few) years makes.

When I was a kid, I lived and prayed for snow days.

As an adult, I like the occasional snow day, especially in December when I'm in the Christmas spirit and the snow makes everything prettier.

It's kinda like this...

Kid Heather: Yay, we have a snow day again today! A four-day weekend for us! Woo-hoo!

Mom Heather: Um, four days in a row with a houseful of husband and kids? Really? wow, that's great...

Kid Heather: But we can go out and go sledding and make a snowman and have a snowball fight!

Mom Heather: I can't be outside for five minutes without my hands going numb and white (damn Raynaud's disease). I'd love to sled, but I won't last out there. Snowball fights? I give it two minutes before a kid comes in crying from a snowball to the face.

Kid Heather: I love when we come in all cold and frozen and drink hot cocoa 'til we thaw out.

Mom Heather: I hate the piles of wet snowsuits and socks and boots and hats and gloves on my floor. It takes ten minutes to get the kids bundled up, ten more minutes to get those clothes back off, and two hours to wash all the darn stuff. Snow days are too much work.

Kid Heather: But it looks so pretty outside!

Mom Heather: I agree, it does look pretty. Until you have to drive thirty miles to work in the stuff, 'cause nurses don't EVER get a snow day. And then you end up getting stuck there for a double shift when your relief can't make it in. Been there, done that, many a time. Not fun.

Kid Heather: Well, I'm glad we got two snow days this week. So there.

Mom Heather: I'm fine with it. I just hope these are the last snow days of the winter.

Clearly, I am a woman on the edge. My two days of having the house to myself so I can get some things done are just a figment of my imagination. I need an hour long shower and a tall glass of wine.

How are you surviving the snow? Do you still like snowdays? Am I just a grump?

A student is (re)born.

Here I am.

I survived my marathon work/school/work and now snow day, and I've managed to get the kids out of the house and into the snow for at least 15 minutes. Time enough for a quick blog update.

Tuesday was my first night of class.

American Cinema, which counts as my American History credit. I wasn't sure what to think about the class description, but once we met the professor ("call me Pete, not Dr. Bender"), I was hooked.

He loves his subject. He is excited to teach this class of thirty-something nurses a bit about American film. And though I can't speak for the rest of them, I am excited to be there.

Opening a crisp new notebook and putting pen to paper, jotting notes while watching this movie:

Discussing the movie afterward, noticing plots, subplots, hidden meanings and methods of cinematography...stimulating our brains and urging us to broaden our horizons and think outside the box.

I know these next two and a half years are going to be a lot of work. Papers, midterms, finals, clinicals. I'm sure there will be classes that I won't love (nursing theory and research, yuck). But sitting there in that classroom, I remember how much I love to learn. And I'm excited to be a student again, after all these years.

Several of you have said you are thinking of going back. I'm telling you: sign up for one class that sounds interesting. Get back in the classroom. See how much you love it. Then blog about it, 'kay? (Yes, Suzann and Rebecca, I'm talking to you!)

And we're off...

Work 13 hours Monday night.

Sleep for 6.

Go to school for 3 hours Tuesday evening.

Work 9 more hours Wednesday evening.

Find time for sleep somewhere in between.

Thank Joe (again) for the best Christmas gift ever:

Not only will I be able to keep my eyes open, but I'll be smelling good, too!

I apologize in advance for not visiting much this week. They're forecasting snow on Thursday, so I'll be snuggling up with my laptop and coming by then. Have a great week, and thanks so much for your encouraging words on my last post; you guys are the best!

I am that person.

You know the person that goes to church, then cusses out the driver in the parking lot after service is over?

You know the person that smiles to your face, then badmouths you when you walk away?

Okay, maybe I'm not that person. I don't (hardly ever) cuss in the car, especially when the kids are with me.

And if I'm pissed at you, I'm not going to smile and tell you I'm fine. I will tell you that I'm pissed. And why. I may get all nervous inside, and feel like I'm going to vomit, but I'll tell you (I hate confrontation).

But today, I am that person. That mom that looks like she's got it all together, sitting with her kids in front of the church, smiling and shaking hands and listening to the sermon. Feeding her lovely little children lunch, tidying up the house, doing some laundry, printing out some pictures...Martha freaking Stewart, right?

Yeah, except for the part where I just completely lost my temper and screamed at Gabe over a broken Christmas toy (brand new only one week ago, now missing a tire and thus unable to function). I didn't just yell for a minute. I yelled and screamed for a full five minutes, sent him to his room, then proceeded to lecture him for five more mintues about how hard Joe and I work for our money and how I am not going to buy him any more toys. EVER.

Yep, mom of the year right there.

I could say it's because I'm pms-ing. I could say it's because I am craving some me-time, which has been non-existent during these last two weeks. I could blame it on the cold weather, and being cooped up inside with three restless kids and a computer-addicted husband.

But I'm going to be honest here. Right now, I am failing miserably at being the mom I want to be. I have zero patience. I am fuming. I want to leave this house and not come back. I want to go somewhere warm and lay on a beach and read a book and not hear the word "mom" for at least a week. I want to not feel guilty.

All I can say right now is thank God for grace. And forgiveness. Both His, and Gabe's. Because I know in a little while, I will settle down and I will let Gabe out of his room, and he will be just as sorry as I am. And we will cook some dinner, and put away laundry, and read some books, and work on his miniature house, and it will be fine. No grudges, no tears, just a broken toy that probably only cost $5 anyway.

Sigh.

That beach still sounds really good right now...

Baby, it's cold outside!

Like, sixteen degrees cold! With no hope for above-freezing temps for at least a week...brrr!

What better place to spend these cold winter days than our snug and warm basement? Gabe got a miniature farmhouse for Christmas and he was chomping at the bit to get started. Have you ever built a dollhouse before? It comes with about a million little wood pieces that you must label and sort before you even get started with the paint or glue! I had to do that part on my own (with Isabel's help), and then we headed over to Home Depot to pick out the colors. I love that Gabe wanted this for a present...it's going to be a great family project!

I'll be sure to post pictures of the house once it's completed...hopefully before spring!

What are you going to be doing during these long winter months?