Mom of 2

Amber and I usually enjoy quiet days at home. I working on a project or on the computer and Amber on her coloring, homework, or some other project she has come up with. We lived a quiet, yet sometimes boring existence.  In comes, my roommate and 2 kids.  Things are not always quiet or smooth, but Amber enjoys the company immensely.

Today, my roommate and her two children have gone to the children's museum. Now I am not saying that Amber wouldn't have enjoyed it but these are hard times and thinking about the gas, eating out and the price of admission just didn't sound like it was something we were going to do. Amber's question is not why don't we go with them, but what are we going to do.  OK, must come up with something brilliant... ok, or something that will keep her occupied.

Cooking is what I came up with. Amber has wanted to use her Easy Bake Oven for a long time. It was also lunch time.  Amber wants to make cake, macaroni and cheese and pizza. Sounds good to me.  I let her do as much of the cooking, stirring, and such. I love the look on amber's face. The pure joy of having time with Mom and doing a fun activity. After we ate the lunch Amber made and she had her dessert, it was time for clean-up. Amber was a  good helper and we put the kitchen back to the condition we had found it.

Now it was time for a more quiet activity. Lay down time (nap time minus the nap) is usually a hard time until I can get her to stay still long enough for her body to crash, lol. So I we put on Nim's Island and I type up our days work.

It always seems that there is a whirlwind of presents, food, family, friends, phone calls, emails, and text messages and the day after is the day to relax, ok, put together all the toys and help unpack stuff, lol.  A little slower then yesterday.  Amber got to really play in her cottage and with her Hanna Montana guitar game.

The kids had a good Christmas.  They received many gifts and we even were able to go to my folks despite the massive amount of snow.  Here are the pics.

Amber hates having he hair brushed, hence the sad face.

The gingerbread cookies the kids decorated.

Amber discovering her cottage.

Surely teenager Nick, so cool!

One of the things Amber got for Christmas was her first digital camera.  She took about 80 pictures and these were the ones, that could be recognized.  Amber moves at 100 miles an hour, so her trying to stay still long enough to take a picture was hard for her, but with time, I expect her to be a shutter bug like the rest of the family.

Amber is the last picture.  A total shutter bug in the making, lol.

2008 in review

 Can you believe the amount of snow we have gotten in just under 6 hours?  I went to bed a little after 2 this morning and it was wet and drizzling, the norm for  Seattle.  My daughter woke me up 5 hours later, excited about ALL the snow.  My car is buried.  We will not be going anywhere today.  We did pick up groceries yesterday, but you could tell that the general public did not believe the weather reports about the impending snow, because the stores were not crowded and everyone was in a slow lazy mood, no rushing around.

I took pictures of the neighborhood for those of our out-of-state friends that don't believe Seattle snow is anything more then a myth, lol.  The house across the street is not the most attractive, but with the trees in the background and the snow falling, it almost a Norman Rockwell picture.

Amber is always excited when it snows as little kids tend to be, so when I didn't hear her for a little while I went to hunt her down.  She is four years old, but there are times she is wise beyond her years.  She had thrown on her slippers, hat, gloves, and scarf and went outside on her own.  No coat and still in pajamas.  You can tell by the expression on her face she is not worried about getting in trouble, but she is pleased with herself for putting on her winter gear even if she left out clothes, boots,  and a coat, lol.  Kids!

As many of you may know, my husband Bobby and I are getting a divorce.  We have been separated since the end of October.  It puts a whole new spin on the holidays.  Amber and I went Trick-or-Treating by ourselves.  We went up and down our street and the fire department swung by our neighborhood, so she got to trick-or-treat them too.  She really seemed to enjoy herself.

Thanksgiving came and I usually cook a big meal.  We go to my parents' house for lunch and then for dinner we have the meal we fixed.  This year we went to my parents, but I did not cook the big meal.  It seemed weird not having the turkey for days and mass of dishes.

Nick decided to help by getting all the boxes with the Christmas decorations.  The first day we got the tree up before we were all exhausted and overwhelmed.  Day 2 we got the decorations half unpacked.  You would be surprised how many memories can be stuffed into a few dusty boxes.  you don't even think about those boxes all year.  We realized we needed lights and tinsel (yes, you shouldn't have tinsel when you have a cat, but I have never seemed to have a problem with any of my cats).  The third day with the Christmas carols blaring and everyone in a better mood and some new candy canes, lights and tinsel, we got down to decorating the tree and living room.  It is different doing these things now.  The kids miss their dad, but we all know that it is better for the whole family. 

We have found that we have a huge support group and that things may be different now, but we are all growing and doing well.