Happy New Year

First, I want to thank everyone for their comments you left on my last post. I really appreciated hearing from all of you. You really cheered me up. I am feeling better. I got out yesterday for a little me time. I know the majority of my down feelings come from lack of sleep. Thank you again for the love!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!! I hope everyone will have a great 2006!!!

Resolutions

I am not big on making New Year’s resolutions. I never keep them or forget about them. I think that is a lot of pressure to put on one’s self to make these decisions at the beginning of the year when you don’t know what is going to happen down the road ahead.

Last year I made goals I wanted to achieve for the year. What a laugh! Here is what I put down for my goals last year.

Get Healthy
Get Prayer time
Get Debt paid off
Get Savings
Get Happy
Get Relationship back on track.

I really did not work very hard on any of these except the debt stuff. Our debt should be paid off by the summer of 2006. I never made time to pray very often. I started out great last year on exercising but by March it was a joke. Never put any money away for savings. The happy part is less than I wanted it to be. My relationship with my husband has been strained. Not like divorce or anything but having two small children around makes it hard to focus on us.

I feel like I just existed this year and really did not contribute anything. I feel like I float through the days doing the same routine.

My husband was upset with me this year when he was trying to buy me something for Christmas. He said he couldn’t think of anything I like to do or was interested in. I don’t sew, cook, make crafts, or do any physical activity like biking or hiking. I don’t have any hobbies. Am I that sad of a person? I think I have lost my identity. It is not like I want to work or anything. Even though I graduated from college, I wasn’t really motivated to have a career.

I do a lot of reading when I can. I try to not let my mind turn to mush. It is hard when Nick Jr. and Disney are on.

I don’t know where I am going with this post. I guess I am just rambling on. This is the time of year when people take stock in their lives and decide what they want to do in the new year. January 1st is a new beginning to start fresh. I don’t know what I want to do. Maybe because I am exhausted from lack of sleep (Little Cubby not sleeping through the night and up like every freaking two hours.) that I am thinking about all this stuff.

Why do me make resolutions and never keep them?

More Christmas pics

to infinity and beyond

Music maker

Can I watch it now?

After Christmas rest

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and are playing with your new toys. We had a nice Christmas. It was stress-free and relaxing. The boys had a wonderful day. Big Cubby said that this was the greatest day ever. He also kept saying thank you about a dozen times. Little Cubby was kind of grumpy but that was because he was up lot the night before. Overall it was wonderful!

Christmas fun

surveying
Hey for me

Merry Christmas

I don't know when I will be able to post again so I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

I look forward to reading everyone's Christmas updates next week.

Merry Christmas from the cubmommy household!

Sickness

The “sickness” maybe returning to our household. Hubby is starting to feel tightness in his chest and coughing a little. I have been spraying down everything with Lysol in hopes of keeping the “sickness” out. Wouldn’t you know Christmas would be like this? I hope I can get Hubby feeling better so the boys don’t get sick. UGH!!!!

I have so much to do tomorrow. Hubby should be off and I have tons of errands to run, presents to wrap, cookies to bake and laundry to get done.

I don’t know if I mentioned but we are starting a new tradition called the Christmas pizza. I am not going to spend all day in the kitchen cooking and then cleaning up for the four of us. I want to enjoy Christmas playing with the boys and their new toys. So I came up with a Christmas pizza. Our grocery store has a pizza they make and sell and on Friday’s it is on sale for $5. It is pretty big of it will feed all of us. I am going to cook it on Sunday with snacks and maybe a frozen dessert.

I hope everyone keeps the “sickness” from visiting your house this Christmas!

Christmas shopping

I was going to write about going out with the masses this weekend to do some Christmas shopping but now it seems not so interesting. I will say that I can not stand the kiosk people at the mall. I know they have a job to do but they are highly annoying.

The cell phone company employees are like slimy car salesman you would see in the movies with the plaid pants and white dress shirt with a bright color tie who has sweat stains in the pit area and the button over their belly is about to burst. Man, they can be so obnoxious. It is a turn off when they are yelling for you to come here.

Then you got the people trying to sell some pillow thing that is heated. Every time you walk by they are like “hey come touch this. You must touch this.” Dude, I am not touching anything because you say so. I would be more than happy to show where they can put that pillow.

Then you got the people trying to get you over there so they can show you the miracle product that will make your hands smooth, make you smell great, make you look 10 years younger, will cure cancer. I was walking by some of these people and in front of me were three little old ladies and I almost ran over them as they tried to flee the area where these people were.

So far I have talked about shopping this weekend ok so I will bore you some more. I got a lot done and was pleased with my purchases.

I went to buy some new jeans and to look for a new sweater. What is the deal with women’s clothes? They only make clothes for juniors and old women. You know what I am talking about the clothes that make you either look like a slut or make you look like a grandma. Why don’t they make cute clothes for us Mom’s? It is frustrating. I am not ready to wear the sweaters for every holiday. I hope I don’t offend anyone but I am not ready for that. All I am looking for is something cute that doesn’t show off the belly yet can be considered hip. I guess I will stick with my comfy pants and jeans with turtlenecks and solid color sweaters.

So there my adventures in shopping. Unfortunately I have to do some more shopping this week. I will be glad for Christmas to get here so I can relax.

Holiday meme

A friend sent me an email with this so I answered the questions. If you are interested in doing it let me know when you do and I will come and check it out.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Just sits them under the tree

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights

4. Do you hang mistletoe? NO

5.. When do you put your decorations up? When I get a time.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes and gravy

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? getting up Christmas morning and seeing what Santa brought.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My mom told me and I was pissed at her.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Depends if we are visiting family. If not no.

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? chocolate chip

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it. I live in Chicago can't get away from it. Big Cubby loves it as well.

12. Can you ice skate? no and won't try in fear of breaking my leg.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I don't really remember maybe a Barbie

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family and enjoying watching the boys reaction to everything from the Christmas tree to the gifts.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Fudge

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? The new ones we are making with my family.

17. What tops your tree? A star

18. Which do you prefer - Giving or Receiving? Giving because I love to watch my boys reaction to it all.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Oh Holy Night and Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum

21. What is your favorite holiday movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Wiggle's workout

Before Big Cubby was born, I was into exercising. I was a runner. I would run about 2 miles a day. Then I got pregnant and slowed down. After Big Cubby was born, I really didn’t exercise as much and then Little Cubby came along and now I have no time to.

This week I stumbled on a way to get my heart rate up and do a little exercise. We haven’t watched The Wiggle’s in awhile because it was the same old episodes. On Monday I put them on and noticed they changed their format a bit. It is 20 minutes of nonstop songs.

So for 20 minutes I do the actions to the song if there are any. I run in place. I do squats while holding Little Cubby. I run back in forth in the living room. I really get my heart rate up. It is a great exercise while the boys do it with me. I have done this every day this week except today. I had to take Little Cubby to his 15 month check up.

The boys think I am goofy but I really work up a sweat doing this.

Lights, Camera, Action Wiggle’s

Is it a guy thing?

Big Cubby likes to have his hand in his pants while he walks around, watching tv, and when he sleeps. Is this normal boy behavior? If it is I sure hope my husband is not walking around work with his hand in his pants. Hubby says it is a comfort thing to do especially at night. I just don't want Big Cubby doing this when he goes to school.

So, you tell me is this normal?

15 Months Old

Little Cubby you turn 15 months old today.

You are now walking like a pro. You even walk really fast when you are chasing your brother. You love to be chased as well. You laugh and giggle when we try to catch you.

You love music and will start to move with music whether sitting down or standing, doing a little dance. You love to watch the Wiggles with intensity.

You still eat books.

You can say uh oh and daa daa. You have your own language right now. You do understand us when we tell you to go get something or to come here.

You are officially eating regular food. You will pretty much eat anything. You like veggies which we are very happy about.

You love to be held. You want to be in my arms or sitting on my lap. You would probably sit there all day if I let you. You like to cuddle.

Generally you are good natured, but when you’re mad you let us know. Loudly. You have started throwing your self down on the floor when you are very upset. You don’t do it often yet. Is this a peek of the terrible twos?

You like to play with cars, trucks and trains.

You have two of your molars in on the bottom and I think you have two coming in up on top but you won’t let us look in your mouth.

You still not are sleeping through the night. You get up if we are lucky only twice a night. The norm is 5 times a night.

You are no longer nursing during the day. You only are nursing in the middle of the night. You drink milk and water.

You love to smile. Your smile melts everyone’s heart when we go out.

You are growing so fast not sure what your weight and height is yet because your doctor’s appointment is Friday.

You are my little cuddle bug and I love you very much.

Tagged

I was tagged by Mommygoth. So here it goes.

Seven things I hope to do before I die:
1. Visit Europe. Specifically go to Germany. Hubby’s mom side of the family is from there.
2. To see my children get married and start a family
3. Pay off all our debt
4. To see the Cubs win the World Series
5. To see the Bears win another Super Bowl
6. To learn to ballroom dance. I love to dance.
7. Learn a different language. Probably Spanish.

Seven things I cannot do:
1. I don’t know how to juggle to the disappointment of my son who asks me everyday to do it.
2. I can not carry a tune, sing or hum every well.
3. Play a musical instrument. In Jr. High I took Band and tried to play the flute the teacher felt so bad he gave me an A but told me to not take band again.
4. Stop worrying about finances.
5. Go up on any high places. I have a total fear of falling.
6. Eat liver. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.
7. Cook. I am horrible at it.

Seven things that attract me to my spouse (significant other, best friend):
1. His sense of humor.
2. His lips. I love his juicy lips especially since I have pencil thin lips.
3. His confidence. He knew what he wanted to do very early on in his life and pursued it.
4. The way he protects me and boosts my self-esteem.
5. The way he plays with the boys. He makes the giggle and laugh.
6. The love and closeness he has with his family. I don’t have that and it is nice to see that he respects his family.
7. His patience because he has to put up with a lot from me.

Seven things I say often:
1. I said no.
2. Whatever
3. For the love of pete…
4. Bite me
5. I love you
6. Do you smell poo
7. Seriously

Seven books or book series I love:
1. The Outsiders-S.E. Hinton
2. To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee
3. Anna Karenina-Leo Tolstoy
4. Dracula-Bram Stoker
5. Harry Potter series-J.K. Rowling
6. Romeo and Juliet-William Shakespeare
7. The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien

Seven movies I could watch over and over again:
1. Grease
2. Major League
3. Raising Arizona
4. The Mummy & The Mummy Returns-Brendan Fraser version
5. Dodgeball-really anything with Vince Vaughn in it
6. Dazed and Confused-Love Matthew McConaughey
7. Father of the Bride I and II

Seven people I would like to join in this “Seven Sevens” meme:If you would like to participate in the meme then just let me know so I can come by and check it out.

Santa photo

As you can see Big Cubby being a total freak and Little Cubby very excited waving his hand. At least they are not crying.

Santa visit

Well, my well intention plan to get some Christmas shopping done did not go as planned. I took the whole family and we headed to the mall to visit Santa on Saturday. We got there early so the line was not as long.

What an adventure it was. When we got there and got in line we started to prep Big Cubby that Santa was going to ask him what he wanted for Christmas and will probably ask what his brother wanted.

We met a family behind us in line that had a little boy who was 4 in August like Big Cubby and a little boy who was 19 months old. Little Cubby will be 15 months old tomorrow. The little boy kept asking Big Cubby questions and Big Cubby kept acting weird. He warmed up a little bit to the boy but by then we were next in line. Times like that I wish we could afford preschool for him so he can be around other kids.

So we are next in line and Big Cubby keeps saying he is nervous. It is our turn and we go up there and put them on Santa’s lap. Before that they asked us if they were taking a photo and we said no we would be taking it. They said they only allow two shots. So Hubby is trying to set the camera and it is taking awhile so we are feeling the pressure of the workers on our back. He takes one shot because they were thinking he was taking more.

Big Cubby acted like a goofball and wouldn’t really talk. Little Cubby at first just kept looking at Santa like who are you and then was smiling and happy. Santa asks me how old Little Cubby was and he asked nothing bothers him does it. And I said no he is pretty laid back but he has to because of this brother. High maintenance. He said he loved babies like this. Poor guy how many kids does he see a day that scream and cry. I give him props for doing this job.

The boys got an activity book and we were on our way. Hubby did not like the photo he took and was upset. I told him it was ok because we were really there so Big Cubby could tell Santa what he wanted. The picture would have just been a bonus. No big deal.

In my family we always had Santa visit up until I moved out of the house. I always loved the excitement of getting up and seeing what he brought. Hubby’s family did not celebrate Santa. They are very Christian and thought it if their kids believed in Santa and when they were older told he did not exist then what would stop the kids in believing there wasn’t God because you can see him. I see where they were coming from but I believed in Santa and I believe in God today it did not screw me up. I plan on teaching my children our faith. So they don’t really care about the Santa stuff so the photo was for us.

So I didn’t get much shopping done. I got one thing for Big Cubby and I got a gift card for my niece. That was it. So I guess I will have to get it all done next week right before Christmas. This time I will go alone.

Ramblings

We got a crap load of snow last night. Hubby did not get home until 8pm thanks to the CTA. So that meant I had a long day with the boys. I had to give them their bath and ready for bed. I am looking forward to go shopping tomorrow by myself. I need a break.

Great news my photo on Flickr has reached a hundred views. That is awesome. I am very excited. Hubby is happy also. So go over and click on the photo. I love to get more views. Hubby has a couple of new pics on there. One of them taken last night from work during the snow falling.

Last night around midnight the guy who keeps the apartment yard tidy was outside using a snow blower and then shoveling snow off the back deck. Little Cubby's window is right off the deck so you know what that means yes he was frightened awake. Let's just say I only got 4 fours of sleep last night. It is bad enough the kid won't sleep through the night but to have him awakened on purpose really sucks.

Not enough coffee to keep my functioning. I hope everybody has a great weekend!

I did the unthinkable

Big Cubby has been a terror for four days now and I was about to lose my mind. So I decided to do the unthinkable and take the boys to Sam's Club. Normally when he is acting up this is the last thing I would do because a tantrum usually ensues but I did not know what else to do.

So I bundled up the boys and we got in to the van to head to Sam's Club to pick up our Christmas cards. I thought the change of scenary would help.

Good news so far it has. Big Cubby behaved the whole time and now that we are home he still is behaving. OK, now that I have said that something will happen.

Keep your fingers crossed that I survive the rest of the day.

Stir Crazy

It is soooo cold here today. We are talking single digits and wind chills. So we have been couped up inside because it is so harsh out. Also I don't want to take the boys out because I don't want them to get sick for Christmas. I know we will have to venture out soon so the boys can see Santa maybe this weekend.

I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet. I know there is only 18 days before Christmas. I will probably go this weekend and get a few things. I have made a budget on what I can spend so I put aside some money this pay period and I will finish up on the next pay period. Yes that is right it is a few days before Christmas when that will happen and I will be one of those people out the day before Christmas Eve and maybe Christmas Eve buying gifts. I will be smart next year and start saving money next year so by the time November rolls around I can get all my shopping done earlier.

So yes I am going stir crazy. I have kids bouncing off the walls and my mind is turning to mush. Reading your blogs are the only thing keeping my sanity from totally disappearing.

Snow Play

We have new pictures on Flickr of the boys playing in the snow. This is the first time Little Cubby has touched and played in the snow. Also there is a picture of me that I have to say is the best picture taken of me in a long time. Usually the picture of me I am making a stupid face which I don't mean to make. I really hate my photo being taken.

We took the boys out so we could take a picture for our Christmas cards. Later that afternoon, Hubby took Big Cubby, who was now in warmer clothes, back to the park where he really got to play in the snow. He came back after slipping near the slide with a more skinned nose (it was all ready skinned when he fell on his face at home when running and slipping on a rug), fat lip and skinned area between the nose and mouth.

The boys had fun and I am sure there will be more snow soon. I love having a white Christmas I hope we will.

Oh Christmas Tree

Yesterday I went and bought our Christmas tree at Target. I picked out this one because it was the right size for our apartment. So last night I decorated it with lights, tinsel, and a few ornaments. I only wanted to put a few ornaments on because I did not want the boys playing with a few of them. You see my Mom and my Grandma have given me an ornament every year since I was born. That is right I have 33 years worth of ornaments. Now they have added the boys so they get ornaments as well. I could fill up two or three trees with the ornaments I have.

The boys loved the tree. Big Cubby was in awe of it. He did not want to stop looking at it. Today he told me that our Christmas tree was perfect. He is right. It may not be big but it is ours.

Christmas is all ready wonderful and we have several weeks to go.

Parenthood

Have you ever seen the movie Parenthood? Well if you have then you remember Steve Martin's youngest son and how he would headbutt anyone and anything he could.

Well, I have a son who does the same thing. Little Cubby loves to headbutt everything. He will headbutt the wall, the bookcase, the chair, the couch. He will come walking toward you with his head down ready to headbutt us. He loves to headbutt us. He just laughs and giggles when he does it.

I swear I worry about this kid sometimes. Could this be a sign of intelligence? Oh I hope so. Meanwhile my son headbutts me to show me he loves me.