Doing It All

One of the most fantastic things about being a working-out-of-the-home mom during the holidays is the lack of day care. The place closes from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.

I love it.

You can hear the sarcasm, right? 'Cause you should.

All week long, Hubby and I have been trading days at home and in the office so that neither of us has really gotten a full week of work in since before Christmas. And of course, this week happens to be one of the busiest of the year for Hubby and for me as well.

Juggling has become quite a talent of mine.

Today I am at my office, working on hotel contracts and organizing all the files piled on my desk. Set up on top of my filing cabinet is my laptop, currently featuring Sleep.ing Beaut.y. My desk is covered with crumbs from blueberry muffins and every once in awhile, I hear the VERY annoying sounds coming from the Prin.cess Lapt.op delivered by Sant.a this year.

Yep, Grace is at the office with me today.

While this is fun for a little while (think 5 minutes), its definitely not the way to be productive. The 52.927 trips to the restroom every hour and the background noises from all the toys and movies isn't distracting at all!!

I dont know how WAHMs do this Monday through Friday!

3 more days til day care opens again!!!! :)

I realize the video is sideways....I cannot figure out how to rotate it.

My brother adores Grace. And each Christm.as, he tries to find the best gift of the year for her. 2 years ago it was a tricycle. Last year it was a pretend vacumn cleaner cause she is terrified of the real thing.

But this year, he landed himself at the top of the list. The Sh.it List.

Yes, the video is adorable. It even makes you smile and giggle. Now please imagine living with that present. Minute after minute, hour after hour....listening to "What A Gir.l Wants" in electronic tones and sung by Ba.rbie herself!

Introducing.............

Polly.

Our newest family member.

For about 2 weeks now, Hubby and I have been scouring the internet and all local pet store adoption days for just the right dog. Jake-dog left us in early 2007 and we are both finally ready for a new dog.

We meet Polly a few days ago and fell in love immediately. She is the calmest, sweetest dog I have ever met. Grace loves her and she adores Grace already.

My camera got quite the workout these first 24 hours with Polly. Enjoy---more are ocming after Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!!

The Family.

A long day for Polly.

Bedtime for Grace and Polly.

Please Exit The Building

When was the last time you had to participate in a fire drill?

And was there ever a time you were officially NOTIFIED about said drill?

At the office, we got a notice at the beginning of the week that a fire drill would take place today, after lunch. Its now 2PM and still, no drill. After lunch is 1PM, NOT 4:29PM like I am sure they will do. But whatever.

The best part of this experience is the Tenant Evacuation Plan Assignment Worksheet that my boss had to fill out. There were more requested positions than we have employees so everyone has at least 2 roles, except me. Cause I am the primary searcher.

My job description says: The Searcher's role is to ensure that no one has been left on the floor (ummm, there are at least 100 people working on this floor; only 8 in my office. Why do I need to look for 92 extra people!??!). The Searcher should make rounds in the designated areas of the suite to inform about the need to evacuate the building ('cause the loud annoying alarm sound is not an indication of the need to leave the building). Important areas include conference and meeting rooms, lavatories, computer centers, and any other enclosed room. Okay, so when the firemen find me burned to a crisp in the bathroom, at least they know I was just doing my job! Once they have completed their serach, they shoudl report any problems before vacting the building. And who should I be reporting these problems to? And I promise to do my best with the "vacate the building" instruction but what if there are more enclosed spaces to investigate!!?!?!?!

We also had to decide on a meeting place outside the building for all the staff to go to in case of an emergency.

We chose the bar across the street.

Come on alarm----RING! I need a drink!

Someone actually produces these ornaments!!!!!

Christmas is a time for family and friends and Santa and presents.

But at my house, it is also the time for pranks. Particularly aimed at my in-laws. Don't get me wrong---I actually like my in-laws. They are pretty fun people.

My brother in law started a new business a year or so ago. Doing what you ask? Picking up do.g po.op. Yep, you read that correctly. Last year, we gave them a Welcome sign for their house; instead of engraving the family name on that sign, we inscribed "Po.op Palace". (Come on, laugh...its funny!).

Check out what we found this year!!!

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA

Each of my in-laws should be receiving their new 2007 ornament in 2-3 days (according to the U.S.P.S.) but there will be no card or "From...." attached. Just an ornament in a box.

Hubby and I are taking bets on which family member will be blamed for the Christm.as fun and which sibling will figure out that it was us!!!!!

Bundle Up!

In a few hours, I will be on a plane....heading for the coldest experience of my life.

2 days in Minnea.polis in the midle of winter.

When I arrive in the city at 1:30PM, it will be a mere 16 degrees. Currently, it is 2 degrees.

There aren't enough layers in the world to keep me warm!

Luckily I will only be there for 1 night.....and then I can come home to the crazy DC December we are having. But at least its above 10 degrees here!

Define "Good Girl"

The man in the big red suit has made his appearance at the local mall. Actually, he has been there since before Thanksgiving but that isnt the point.

This year, Grace gets it. The whole Christmas thing....be a good girl and Santa brings you toys. Thats all you need to know as a 3 1/2 year old.

But how do you define "good girl"? Grace defines it as a girl who is nice to her friends and says sorry when she is bad. This is what she told me yesterday after sitting on the old man's lap. $15 and 2 copies of the cutest picture later, I guess she is right. Isn't she?

Cause as long as you say "I sorry Mommy" after cussing out your princess figurine for not going to sleep, those 3 words erase all "badness" from Santa's memory. "F---ing Princess" is not what 3 1/2 year olds are supposed to say....BUT as Grace told me, "I say sorry so now Santa is happy".

Oh, well, okay then.

Midnight Ponytail

I havent had to truly "hold her hair" for a few years now. That crazy bachelorette party...I think that was the last serious partying I have done......3 years ago!

Last night, I held her hair.

The 3 1/2 year old was throwing up and my first reaction was to hold her hair while she puked in the toilet. When she was done, she looked up at me with these sad little eyes (she hates being sick!) and said "why do I have a ponytail?". My answer: Cause. And when you are older you will totally understand."

I let Bill get the towels and clean up the puke on the bedroom carpet. At least she made it out of the bed.

Today I stayed home with her. She has a little fever but I bet it doesnt even register at 100 degrees if I took her temperature. Really, it was a great excuse to avoid the offie today.

Its been over a week since I posted here. I didnt forget---but between the midnight Black Friday shopping, the Christmas decorating, and the general work-sleep pattern of life right now, I havent posted. But I have a few in the works so I promise...I am back!!!!