The Eve of Saint Nicholas

'Tis the Eve of Saint Nicholas and all of the preparations have our three angels revved up like tops about to go ballistic! Perhaps it is my fault. In an effort to help our three year old twins and their one and half year old brother understand what is going on we have been singing St. Nicholas songs for about a month. In addition, they know that he brings chocolates, apples, and oranges...

Today we have hit a new St. Nicholas low. The girls are holding over each other that each and every infraction the other commits will lead an empty boot tomorrow morning. The whining and whinging has hit new levels and my normally curly hair is now straight!

Basically, I think that Holiday overload has crept into our quiet household. Erm...quiet isn't exactly what I would label this mayhem, but let's just say that the decibel levels are out of control. The apples are being pilfered and even the Advent calendar was breached!

So, now holding the fact that St. Nicholas is only a call away has become my desperate plea for the last hour. Sitting here, I am wondering where we went wrong. Was it the light displays we visited? The attempts of sitting on Santa's lap for a wee photo? The gift shopping? I am not sure, but all I know is that Christmas is still over two and a half weeks away and these little munchkins are wound up so much that something may burst. Or implode.

With this mayhem in our happy house, my hubby and I have come up with a three part plan:
1. Stop all talk of Santa in the house.
2. Hide the Advent Calendar and all remaining chocolates - all 5 of them.
3. Take a deep breath, enjoy the moment, imbibe if necessary for the first part of number 3 to be feasible.

So, Happy St. Nicholas Eve. Put out your boots and if you have been very good this year, perhaps St. Nick will leave something for you tonight!

Computer, Schmomputer

Not too long ago- okay way back in 2004- I was curious to see who was voted out on American Idol, having had missed the previous evening due to some work related event. I innocently logged onto www.AmericanIdol.com, which back then was not the correct address. From my one little goof, the nastiest virus to ever hit the universe overtook my computer rendering it functioning, but the hard drive was shot and needed replacing. A new computer was needed!

My darling hubby decided that he wanted to wait for the much anticipated new Microsoft Windows system, but finally caved into my pleading in December 2005 when it had still not been released. Just in time for Christmas my shiny new computer with flat screen monitor arrived and I was the happiest camper with my new little darling...that is until Tuesday night.

Tuesday was a happy day. My darling was humming along unknowingly about to be victimized. It was about 6 p.m. when H and C decided that the DVD drive is a great place to insert PLAYDOH! The little drawer is now permanently stuck in the partially open, but won't open or close state. So having the super-platinum warranty, I called my friends at Dell.

We are still waiting for the Dell repair person to come to fix this, but the words "You need a new optical drive" are still sending chills up and down my back. When the lovely Dell person asked if I felt comfortable replacing the item by myself, I merely said, "That is why they pay you the big bucks and I majored in literature." He laughed, but I wonder what he went home and told the family/roommate/soul mate. I wonder if yet another idiot on the phone tonight was uttered in exasperation, or did he commiserate with the doings of twin tornadoes?

Hopefully, my little darling will be all repaired by tomorrow.

Am I talking to the wall?

It seems lately since Miss C and Miss H turned the ripe old age of three that answers are no longer part of their conversations. They pretend to not hear me, though when activities are removed from the line up, their earways are suddenly cleared up!

The girls are now in school, going three mornings a week for three hours. It was weird last week just being here with their little brother, but today was a different story. I actually was able to tackle some work that has been piling up! Divine! I will miss them, but having a little bit of life back is so nice.

All three kids are playing nicely together right now. I hold my breath and hope this continues!

Well, more later!

Messy Angel

My messy angel, Caroline, caught in a rare, quiet moment, tugged at my heart as she slumbered. I gazed upon her glowing face with a burst of maternal love. A breath caught in my throat as I wondered what beautiful dream caused the smile to dance on her cherry lips. A stream of light, awakening from its nap, illuminated the mass of golden curls that surrounded her head like a beautiful halo. It contained a luminescent glow caused by the drizzle that just changed to snow.

Just when I wanted to cry...

Today was a really tough day. Who was poopy, who was snotty, who was hungry, who was whining....the list goes on and on. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, when H wrapped her arms around me and said, "Mama, I love-ah you!" Tears came to my eyes and the wonderment of life from the eyes of a 2.5 year old hit home. It is days like this that I will look back at with joyful rememberance - until the next whiny day hits me like a mack truck.