Choosing Christmas Presents

OK, this will tell you what a mean mom I am. When it comes to Christmas and birthdays, I choose presents based upon what I want my kids to have and what I want in my home. Granted, it's easier when they're young. But for example-- I know Polly Pockets are popular with the girls but have I ever bought one for my daughter? NO. Why's that you ask-- because I don't want the little pieces everywhere. Same with Magnetix, regular legos (we do have duplos) and other toys like that. I really hate most popular girls toys-- Barbies, Bratz, most "character" stuff (Tinkerbell, Disney Characters, etc.) So I don't buy those for Mara. Sometimes if something is branded with a character but I like the product I'll buy it-- like a scooter, water bottle. But in general, I will not buy it.

I have it REALLY good. My in-laws, I love them, but they have terrible taste in gifts. *Imagine a turquoise vinyl stuffed pig.* Where do you even pick something like that up? Luckily, they give money so I don't have to worry about birthday and Christmas presents. My mom is pretty good and is awesome about letting me give ideas.

Lastly, I don't feel like they need a lot. So they get one big gift from us (big=20/30 bucks) and one from Santa. Then they each choose a book for eachother and there's the stocking and that's it. I love it! Yay to cheap, easy Christmases with kids who are happy no matter what and here's to dreading teenagers, expensive gifts, and whining about not getting what they want!

"We are all getting too fat and lazy because we use a computer for everything"

That's right! I'm getting fat and lazy because my computer does everything for me-- cleans the house, does the laundry, makes the meals, takes care of the baby.

In short: e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

I don't know if it is really kosher to post this but I had to share it. I am on the library board here in Pleasant Grove and recently compiled a bunch of data from a survey we did about our new online catalog. We got a grant to put the catalog online and part of the requirements from the grant were to conduct a usability survey. The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
And yet.
I'll let you look for yourself at this survey and you can guess (along with me, as they are anonymous) as to what type of person wrote this one. I personally feel sorry for him (it seems like a him to me). Poor guy, computers are his demise.

Nature vs. Nurture

OK, I've decided that I am kind of an anomaly as a girl. I grew up poor. Farmer's daughter, 10 kids. I was scrawny and got my growth spurt late. I actually wore hand-me-downs from a girl a year younger than me! But, I actually didn't care that much. I didn't worry about the things girls worry about. Now, I have this daughter that I have NO idea what to do with. She likes the exact opposite things from me-- sparkly, pink, atrocious. She is obsessed with makeup, high heels, and getting her ears pierced. It really is amazing and it is a testament to me that kids really come wired a certain way. I always believed really strongly in the nurture side of things. I thought that if I was a good mom my kids would behave a certain way. Yet, I have this daughter who, when I watch her, acts as if she's a spoiled brat who always gets what she wants. She had a rough day at school this week and as I was "talking" to her she was explaining all that went on. She has this friend who is a brat, sorry, but true. Anyway, Mara acts up with her and as Mara was telling me the things she had done I asked Mara why she was friends with her. (She isn't particularly nice.) Mara informed me that she has the prettiest face, is the fastest runner and has the prettiest clothes. Oh, so that's how you choose your friends. I am appalled!! Where does she get this from and how does she even notice this? She is 5! It is truly unbelievable. All the people we really hang out with aren't that way AT ALL so how is it that she notices this and it is important. Needless to say, I quoted a little scripture ("The Lord looketh upon the heart") and gave her a nice lecture and then prayed that maybe the fact that we are dealing with this now means we will have it out of the way by the time she is older and the girls get meaner. I have always had a strong dislike for "popular" girls who treat other people as if they are worth less. That is my biggest pet peeve. And that would be my daughter. All I know, is Heavenly Father sure has a keen sense of irony.

Halloween, Shmalloween, what really gets the kids crazy is . . .

OK, many people complain about Halloween and the sugar high of the kids as well as the come down, how their kids are out of control, etc. Well, I didn't think it was that bad. Between our 2 parties leading up to the date and Halloween itself our kids got to bed on time every night(8:30) and weren't that wired. (I'm pretty mean and limit the candy intake.) What really has made things miserable around our house?

Daylight Savings Time

(dun dun dun)

With the change my kids are waking up at 6 ish (which used to be 7 ish) and going to bed at 8:30 (which used to be 9:30) so they are essentially getting 1 hour less of sleep each night. Yes, I know, I could put them to bed earlier but I don't want them to adapt to waking at 6 ish. Anything before 7 is TOO early for me. I want them to adapt back to waking at 7ish. During that adaptation period it is "heaven on earth" at my house. They are cranky, throwing fits, ornery-- truly a joy. And I am, well, pretty much the same since they are getting up early that means I am also. So, although I don't really hate daylight savings times, they really didn't think about the people it would hurt. That's right. It hurts. It is one of a mother's cardinal rules-- never mess with a child's sleep schedule. (Honestly, if any of you ever wake my napping baby, there will be hell to pay!) So, here's to praying that we will all adapt quickly before someone ends up calling Child Protective Services.

In Memoriam: Peg Bracken

I'm a self-proclaimed NPR Junkie. So those of you who get tired of me always saying "I heard on NPR . . ." Sorry, it's not going to end soon. But today I heard the sad news of the passing of Peg Bracken.
I consider myself a fairly good cook. I enjoy it and like to experiment . . . to a point. I am also a lazy cook. I look over a recipe and will discredit it immediately if it has too much preparation (i.e. chopping, ugh) or specialty ingredients that I would only use for that recipe. I do have a few recipes for special occasions or that are really good that break those rules but in general I am a functional cook. I cook to eat. What does this have to do with Peg Bracken you ask? She wrote the "I Hate to Cook Book".
The following is quoted from the la times, click here for the whole article:
Bracken sold more than 3 million copies of "The I Hate to Cook Book," which helped busy women save time in the kitchen by cutting steps and shamelessly relying on convenience foods such as dry onion soup mix as key ingredients. She wrote for reluctant cooks like herself, who knew that some activities -- particularly childbearing, paying taxes and cooking -- "become no less painful through repetition." Her book, she wrote, was "for those of us who want to fold our big dishwater hands around a dry martini instead of a wet flounder." That sentiment struck a chord with an as-yet-unidentified mass of women emerging from the Eisenhower 1950s who did not regard slaving over a hot stove a feminine virtue. Although Bracken disdained complex recipes or menus featuring more than three courses, she included some sophisticated touches. The advertising pro in her advised women to portray their cooking in savvy ways, eschewing easy phrases such as "top with bacon" in favor of the more evocative "garnish with crispy bacon curls." She called such efforts "Good Cooksmanship" and said it enabled women to give the impression that they cared about cooking more than they really did. Bracken sometimes saw cooking as therapy. The prime example was her recipe for "Aggression Cookies," an oatmeal concoction credited to a mental health center in Lansing, Mich.

Her cookbook was hilarious and real.
You'll be missed Peg, but your legacy lives on.

Pachelbel Rant

OK, so, no offense to those of you who love Pachelbel's canon but I despise it. It bugs me. In short, it is the "easy listening" of classical music. I won't go off on it too much because, again, I don't want to offend those of you who love it. Jason showed this video to me and I LOVED it. It is hilarious, so check it out. I would rate this video PG13 because it has a few swear words. Be forewarned. Dang funny!

A conversation with Peggy

Peggy: How much is the weight?

Jason: Oh, I'm at about 176 these days.

Peggy: 260??!!


Note: Peggy is Jason's mother. She is the sweetest woman but she had a stroke 6 years ago so her communication skills are lacking. It provides for lots of entertainment and fun anecdotes.