Really??

Seriously, what is wrong with today's youth? How have we allowed children to become tyrants? Bullies? Disrespectful? Seems to me that our kids need MORE instruction and discipline, not more mindless entertainment, entertainment that often includes violence, foul language, graphic images, lack of respect for authority, etc. If I am concerned about the community I live in now, goodness, where will we be in 20, 40, 60years?

Perhaps what our children lack is our time...time where we, the adults, set the tone, the pace, the EXAMPLE... I know plenty of kids who are polite, caring, respectful people. I am beginning to know more kids however who are not. Kids who will lash out and harm those around them at the drop of a hat or even for sport. Kids today, adults tomorrow...what will their future bring them and, in the end, us?

Another Christmas...

The boys woke just after 7:30 and promptly ran around gathering the SnowmanPoop (mini marshmallows) for DS #1 to eat...blech! The morning was bright and shiny and the gifts overflowed from under the tree.

DS #1 received a MP3 Player, a comforter for his bed, apporximately 77 packs of gum (from many different people) to feed his gum chewing habit, chocolate mint cookies, two new shirts (spiffy polos), NOW26, Starbucks Peppermint Frappuchinos, and a bunch of gift cards!

DS#2 received an electric kids guitar which has already stopped working, two dance mats for his dance parties, Kidz Bop 12 CD, High School Musical CD, a new CD player, a Racheal Ray kids cookbook, a new shirt, a Bionicle, and some new books.

DS #3 received an orange fleece, an orange hat, and an orange backpack (have I mentioned orange is his favorite color?), a much anticipated Nintendo DS, a Spiderman 5 in 1 Web Blaster, some new books, a Bionicle, and some Spiderman games.

DS #4 received a magnetic monthly claendar board, a giraffe blanket, a giraffe book, a giraffe toy, and a jungle set (including three giraffes (did I mention he is completely smittten with giraffes?), a new yellow backpack and a yellow shirt (oh, he is also in love with the color yellow), a bunch of Hot Wheels and wooden cars (addicted to cars as well), and Lego Mosaics.

DS #5 received a Nintendo DS, a Bionicles building set, Legos Creator Dinosaur set and Racers, a red backpack, Lego building boards, some gift cards, and a game.

DH wanted work shirts (he got three), new socks and underwear (exciting I know, but practicality is his middle name), some snacks for the office (Odwalla bars, Luna bars, Cliff bras, nuts, etc.), some travel sized things for his suitcase, and a seriously cool cookbook he mentioned seeing. It's culturally relevant-it is written in English and has subtitles in Cantonese. Tradtional recipes...cant wait for him to get cooking!

Me? I got not so much...well, he told me late Christmas Eve that he really didn't have much for me. So he wound up wrapping a few things I had recently purchased (two shirts and a couple of scarves and a new book) to give me, but independently I received two pairs of socks (granted cool Smartwool ones I had asked for), some chocolate (have I mentioned I have lost 25 pounds in the last four months? Please don't tempt me...), and a Mountain Mudd gift card (coffee shop with a drive thru). So, yup...no diamond pendant (asked for over the last threeyears and no MP3 player or similar, also asked for), but hey, me feet will be toasty and I'll have some chocolate with my Chai Tea Lattes!

Hope your holiday was merry and bright...

Wrapping Rap Up!

This year I fairly freaked at the thought of the 10+ hours it would take for me to wrap everything.... so, I tried something new! I ordered online and had it shipped directly to them ("head's up, gift ain't wrapped, leave it in the shipping package until Christmas morn!)

Then I did what any rational woman of five would do. I bought a TON of short boxes, other boxes, and gift bags at the local Dollar Tree. Yup, stuff, open, flatten, reuse next year. I say I am going green, but really, I am tired of slaving over corners and getting tape stuck to my fingers.

Yup...going green!

My baby is 9!!

So, tell me, why do the boys keep growing older? Last week we celebrated DS #2's 9th birthday. Seriously, it was just yesterday that he was born. He should be playing with Fisher Price Little People still right? Nope, we had a Dance Party! Strung up lights, got a CD player and real CD's -- High School Musical, The Naked Brothers, The Jonas Bros, Kidz Bop....music thumped through the house. The floors shook, the kids (boys & girls) giggled and boogied (old, aren't I) their way through the night.

Bachelorette Party!!!

I have to tell you about the Bachelorette Party at CiCi's Pizza (all you can eat marginally acceptable pizza, salad, and dessert buffet place)!!!

The whole group of ladies in blue shirts....shirts that say "Bride", "Mother of the Bride", "Bridesmaid", "Friend of Bride", etc.

Bride to be wearing a TIARA and a pink sash that says "BRIDE TO BE" across it.

They are standing there asking the CiCi's staff if they can bring wine in...um...ok.....NOT. "Um, we don't have a liquor license ma'am." Replies the young clerk with a puzzled expression...

So, one of the "Bridesmaids" leaves and comes back a few minutes later with Sparkling Cider and Dixie Cups....sneaking it in, under her arm....like contraband. All that was missing was the brown paper bag!

A few minutes later....from across the restaurant, you can hear the faint sound of "Chug, chug, chug!" The faint sound gradually increases to a crescendo of bar level antics..."CHUG, CHUG, CHUG!" The entire bridal party is cheering on the Bride as she chugs her sparkling cider.

People in the restaurant were casting glances, rolling eyes, and laughing their butts off! Seriously, the humor of the Bachelorette party in a cheesy (pun intended), while chugging sparkling cider wearing matching shirts and a tiara was just too much!

Meanwhile, the restaurant is full of families, lots of kids milling around. It was Spirit Night for one of the local elementary schools. "Chug, chug, chug......"

Oh, I should mention, Red Ribbon Week (drug awareness and prevention) was just the week before.

Yup, it doesn't get much better than this! Life in my small town...lower your expectations.

Chug, chug, chug!