J3’s birthday

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Yesterday J3 turned 9 years old.  He had a 1/2 day at school and thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Watson he was able to wear his new Transformer shirt and digital watch:

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He took donuts to school with him and afterward he brought home his friend A.  They had a good time and eventually were joined by J and T:

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There was lots of noise, fun, pizzas, gifts and then the cake:

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as requested by the birthday boy – persimmon cake with cream cheese frosting.  I made it from scratch.  Yes, I AM proud of myself! ;-)   J3 got the movie UP, a digital camcorder, an airsoft gun, Jelly Bellies (including flavors like booger, skunk and who knows what else – a huge hit! lol),  money and a giftcard.  We are trying to convince him to wait until after Christmas to spend the money and gift cards, but we’ll see if we can keep him from it!

At 10 pm we asked them to move into the bedroom…but I think the last time Eric talked to them was around 2am.  But the worse part was that they were AWAKE at 6:45am!!!

After a nice breakfast – I made an oven omelet – I took them all home.  And, then laid around all afternoon.  I might never recover from this! ;-)  But I’m realizing that I will never have an eight yr old boy to raise again.  Boys are so cool and do such unexpected things!  During the card ride I heard one boy say to J3 “Real boogers taste WAY better than booger Jelly Bellies!”  See what I mean?  lol  Soon I’ll only have BIG boys – trying to enjoy everyday – gross as it might be!

Whining via bullet points

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Sorry y’all…but if I do it here, I don’t burden my family and can generally let it go after getting it out!  So here goes my whining via bullet points:

  • Had to make a decision I didn’t like today.
  • Sissy has a cough…and twice now it’s make her throw up.  Ugh
  • There is no milk in the house.
  • I have no idea what to get J3 who will be 9 tomorrow.  We’ve talked ourselves out of every idea we had and J3 is no help.
  • J3 is having 3 buddies spend the night tomorrow night and I have no idea what we’ll do with them.
  • Also J3 wants a persimmon cake. (1) I’ve never made a persimmon cake and (2) I have no ripe persimmons.
  • Tonight is the annual Christmas program at Eric’s school. So, I really want to make sure J1 and J2 have haircuts today and I’m not sure I’m up to fighting them about it.
  • I’m behind at work due to all the Holiday stuff.  I hate when I finally keep a certain plate spinning only to realize another one is wobbling and will soon fall.

I need to stop whining.  Time to get busy.  If anyone has a gift idea for a 9 yr old boy – that is NOT Legos! – please let me know.  I need inspiration!

Bits and bobs

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  • I’ve baked 22 mini-loaves as Christmas gifts this year.  I’ve got a few more to bake before I can declare myself done.
  • A moth ate a whole in my Big Shrug. I’m so upset and trying to get all my wool into bags before they are eaten too!  🙁
  • I’m already planning to knit myself another Big Shrug out of something that moths don’t like.  Anyone have a suggestion?
  • We have snow predicted in our forecast for tomorrow – it’s crazy!
  • When Sissy goes to bed – or down for a nap – her routine is to say goodnight to everything she sees on her way.  Some of my recent favorites are
  • Nigh-night tree! (Christmas tree)
  • Nigh-night Jesus! (one of our nativities is on her path to bed)
  • Nigh-night house!
  • Nigh-night sun!
  • and the silliest:  Nigh-night beard! (Daddy’s beard)
  • I said I wasn’t going to make myself crazy by trying to knit Christmas presents, but then I looked at my Christmas list and I have a couple of people who I think will really appreciate knitted gifts – so I’m knitting my fingers off!  I have just under 3 weeks to finish!  I can do it!
  • I’ve been very depressed lately. Holidays can be so hard and the grey weather really sets me off.  This is why I was a bad Oregonian.  I loved it there, but I need the sun.  I *did* LOVE The Dalles though.  I’d go back and live there tomorrow if we had to…of course, I’d be bringing my extended family with me…and I don’t think they’d go!
  • There is nothing under our tree (until I wrap the items I’m knitting).  One reason is that we are really scaling back this Christmas.  Only a family gift (A Wii Lord willing) and stockings.  Also Eric’s side of the family agreed to not exchange gifts.  It’s sort of a relief as so many of us are finding it pretty hard financially this year.  We are blessed but extras are just not happening.  I really like the simplicity it’s allowing though.

OK – I’d better get some knitting in before Sissy wakes up from her nap!