My wrap on wrapping paper

I had hopes. High hopes. This would be the yr. The yr I show up at my MIL's house on Christmas eve with our presents already wrapped. Usually I have to ask for paper, tape, and scissors. At least this yr I'm bringing my own paper. That's an improvement right?

I hate wrapping paper. Its so wasteful, its bad for the environment. I just can't get behind it. My dad just gives people gifts in the plastic bag they came home from the store in. I agree with him in principle but I find it hard to do that either.

One yr I made my own wrapping paper with scrap paper from the company I was working for at the time. They probably wouldn't appreciate knowing that their documents were being repurposed in that way but at least I felt better about wrapping paper that yr.

I love the way a nicely wrapped present looks, lovely bow and all. I just don't love it enough.

This yr we got paper from the dollar store.

My Grandmother had a dresser full of used wrapping paper that she had salvaged from yrs past all organized by holiday and occasion. She actually ironed the paper to get the wrinkles out so no one would know. In theory I love that idea. In practice, well..........

I'll wrap them all at the last minute which I guess is about as much protest against wrapping paper as I can muster right now and enjoy the rest of Christmas.

Happy Holidays!!!

Wish and reality - 12/21/10

What I would like to do today:

-make bacon chocolate chip cookies
-make cranberry crumb cake
-make cranberry cupcakes with clementine cream cheese frosting
-make beer chicken with leeks and broccoli and mashed potatoes for dinner
-weave in the ends of Peter's Christmas sweater, same for Vivi and Siena's legwarmers
-wrap Christmas presents
-take a nap

What I will most likely actually do today:

-bake one thing
-make dinner on the fly
-do approximately 3 loads of laundry and put all the clean clothes on the folding table leaving folding till tomorrow
-vacuum
-pay bills
-try and convince Jonah to take a nap

And yes I did say bacon chocolate chip cookies. I saw the recipe a few days ago and haven't been able to get it out of my head. I mean, bacon, chocolate, cookie. what could go wrong!

My most recent pet peeve

Here it is:

Save the date magnets!

Our friends are getting married. They're a great couple. I'm very happy for them.

BUT.......................a save the date magnet is a commitment I'm not sure I'm ready to make to these two. Every time I walk into my kitchen for the next 6 months there they are, they're smiling happy in love faces staring back at me. All I want is a glass of OJ do I have to have an encounter with you two as well.

And I really don't feel like its something I can throw away. 1. its a magnet so it does have a practical value, and 2. it would be rude, right?

Whats wrong with a good old fashion card, and email? why a magnet?????

SO there it is my most recent pet peeve. thanks for listening.

Its a competition-apparently

I thought I was being a parent but apparently I'm in a competition.
I'm not competitive at all. People hate playing games with me cause I honestly could care less if I win or lose. I just want to have fun, dare I say it enjoy the experience.
But ever since I got pregnant with Jonah I feel like a lot of other moms are competitive and trying to drag me into their deal.

It started with getting pregnant. It took us more than a few months, but my view is that it happened when it was supposed to happen. Other moms: "oh one day my husband and I decided to try and we got pregnant that very night". Well good for you.

Moving on to pregnancy: I was incapacitated with nausea for 3 1/2 months. Laying in bed, only getting out to vomit, I gained weight, plenty of weight, and once the nausea stopped my back hurt, I was up all night with a kicking baby, I loved being pregnant but it wasn't the most comfortable time of my life. And don't even get me started on the hemorrhoids!
Other moms: Pregnancy was wonderful, I wouldn't have even know I was pregnant except for the belly and I didn't even have to buy maternity clothes, just kept wearing my size zero's the whole time. Well good for fucking you.

Delivery: Jonah came at 8 months, c section, not the water birth with mid wife that I had planned. Did I mention I went into labor on a Wednesday and he was born on the following Monday. I was in transition on I-95. It hurt, it hurt ALOT!!!
Other moms: just a few squeezes, I would describe it more as pressure than pain, and then poof out came my baby.
And to those moms who claim to have had an orgasm while in labor I think I speak for everyone when I say "PLEASE KEEP THAT TO YOUR SELF!!!!!"

My baby didn't sleep, there's did. They never once had a blue moment, I did.


Now all I hear is "what do you mean your child doesn't sit quietly in the corner and read all day, why can't you go to a restaurant"
Why, cause my kid is busy, he's got stuff to do.

Well let me tell you "other moms" I'm done. I'm getting off this merry go round, I'm not playing your reindeer games! I am not in competition with you or anyone for that matter. Shouldn't we be pulling together and supporting each other rather than trying to drag each other down. You won, you're the best mom out there, you're fabulous, you're tops!! Me? I'm just a normal mom trying to get through every day the best I can while taking care of myself, my family and my kid. And I think I do a pretty damn good job!

Thanksgiving - a little late

The short version:
Thanksgiving was wonderful. Uncle Tom, Lynn, Kara, Alex, Caroline, Scarlet, my Mom, Peter's parents, and Julie all came over. We had a great time!

The longer version:
I woke up on Thursday morning with the flu. Everyone loves eating food cooked by a snotty coughing person right? Thankfully Kara made a bunch of sides which were delicious! Peter hung out with the smoker and produced and amazing smoked turkey. The highlight of my cooking were the pumpkin whoopee pies if you ask me.

Jonah and Scarlet had a great time playing together. So nice to see cousins having fun.

Football was watched, food was eaten, and thankfully I didn't get anyone sick!