Random Things in No Particular Order

1. There are things that divide people more deeply than religion or politics. My husband and I are fundamentally at odds over the issue of Christmas trees. For years, he has wanted a FAKE tree. That is just not going to happen while I am still breathing. A Christmas tree has to smell Christmasy. I don’t even mind the fact that I am sometimes still vacuuming up pine needles in July; at least it keeps the dirt and the dog hair company. My dear hubby brought it up again tonight: “I want a fake tree.” I told him if he wants a fake tree, he needs to find a new wife. A nice hot, sexy fake tree wife.
2. We have been getting rain, freezing rain, sleet, then more freezing rain. It is frigid and soaking wet. I tried to let the dogs out, to do their business, several times. They just looked at me like “WTF?!?” The consensus among the canine family members seems to be “I’ll use the bathroom when you get US indoor plumbing.”
3. I almost wiped out on a patch of ice on the way back from the grocery store. I am on the fence as to whether we should ditch Homeschool P.E. tomorrow.
4. It is mathematically impossible for the money in our bank account to cover our budget next month. I am a lot less worried about that than I probably should be. This too shall pass.
5. Please check out my Christmas Unit Study Post. I am sorely in need of some fresh ideas!
6. Missy has been eating nothing — I mean NOTHING — but cereal lately. We have this bag of Mini-Wheats — y’know one of those big honkin’ economy sized bags. She has been dragging it around the house with her; she basically takes it with her everywhere she goes.
7. Marty has been spending all his time listening to Harry Potter audiobooks and playing with Bionicles.
8. Marie has been spending most of her time reading and listening to audiobooks.
9. Marty has also been doing his piano practice ON HIS OWN, and filling in the practice sheet for his teacher, with no prompts from me!
10. When is Marie going to stop going around the house singing tunes from Sweeney Todd???
11. I am trying to remember all the details, especially about my little one — the older I get the faster these moments melt and evaporate. I want to remember her off-balance walk, her one-eyed unicorn, Sandy Lavender and the time that, apparently having accepted the carnivorous aspects of our diet, she asked me whether chocolate is a dead animal.
12. My kids are deep into the spirit of Christmas acquisitiveness. Christmas lists are being made, and our budget is suddenly reaching mythical proportions in their minds. Meanwhile, the littles’ rooms are bursting with stuff. UGH! For my Christmas gift to them, I going to give each of them some money to spend on presents for a needy child. And maybe a trip to volunteer at the homeless shelter. They don’t need a new video game as much as they need some perspective. Of course, the same is true of me. The fount from which many of the bad attitudes in this family flow.