There are three key phrases that I find myself repeating over and over to our youngest:

1.  Keep eating.

2.  Turn down the T.V.

3.  Sit down.

I'm sure there are more.  But this YouTube Mom says it all. 

Are you ready for Christmas?  I'm not.  Here's little ditty that explains part of the reason why...

Sing to the tune of Jingle Bells (start with the "Dashing through the snow..."  part)

VERSE 1

About two weeks ago,

In the darkest part of night,

The youngest woke up screaming

In tones of fear and fright.

She was sick all over the bed,

On her clothes and on the floor

The Spouse stepped in the middle of it

As he opened her bedroom door. Oh!

REFRAIN: 

Stomach flu, stomach flu

We had it.  How 'bout you?

Washing bedsheets day and night,

Not a pretty si--ight.

Stomach flu, stomach flu

We're better now but still

Of viruses and flu-type bugs,

We've really had our fill!

VERSE 2

So for many days on end,

We stripped, and washed, and scrubbed.

We threw our soiled linens

In our utility tub. 

It went on for a week.

She ate mostly rice and toast

Of all the stuff goin' round this year,

I hate stomach flu the most! Oh!

REFRAIN

Stomach flu, stomach flu

We wouldn't wish it on you.

This sudden, nasty, winter bug

Would really make you blu -ue.

Stomach flu, stomach flu

It's over and it's done. 

So, now it's time to settle down

For some Christmas fun! 

 
******

For some fun, check out these sites my sister-in-law sent me:

Chins Carol   (Try the "12 Days of Christmas", my favorite one)

Simon Sez Santa 

For Halloween, some people give out treats.  I'll give you a trick.  The object of this test is to try and beat the computer at a game of tic tac toe.  It'll have you screaming in frustration.

(In order to do the test, the sound on your computer must be turned on.)

Tic Tac Toe Test
 

You have to take this test.  The Spouse and I both failed.

Do The Test. 

This blog is as fluffy as the snow that is currently coming down. 

Despite the dire winter storm warnings from the weather people (and is 3-5 inches really that bad?), I decided to go to the mall today because the spouse actually agreed to take the preschooler to dance class this morning, a task he generally avoids because of "all the women."  (In his defense, 99% of the time, it is the moms who are waiting.  Sometimes, it is almost like a mom therapy group.)

But here is the story of my dash to the mall before the snow hit.

Saturday morning (12/1) 

9:55 a.m. (about 2 hours until snow supposedly flies)

Arrive at Mayfair Mall to shop for outfit to wear.  Rejoice that there is still close parking.  Further rejoicing at realization that I am free to shop without anyone asking me whether we can go home yet every 15 minutes.   But also dismay that I am still a procrastinator after all these years; Could limit dress selection.

10:00 a.m.

Get distracted by jewelry counter at Macy's. Big sale going on today.   See some items that would make good gift to me from spouse.  Decide that procrastination is not necessarily a bad thing.  Decide to embrace it.

10:05 a.m.

Back on track.  Find THE dress!  Purchase dress; head to makeup counter.

10:20 a.m.

Chat with cosmetics saleswoman.  Describe the dress I just bought.  She knows which one it is, exclaims: "You will rock that dress."  Am now feeling better about cost of dress, but feeling old compared to younger salesperson.

10:30 a.m.

Head into mall. 

10:31 a.m. 

Am now remembering why I hate going to the mall on weekends.

10:45 a.m. 

Now fuming in slow-moving, check-out line at a store that shall remain nameless.  Picked the wrong line to stand in.  Vow in the future to only patronize stores that respect the "many cashiers but only ONE line" rule of shopping etiquette.

11:00 a.m.

Still in line.  Arrgh.

11:20 a.m. 

Finally getting out of mall.  Snow's coming down.

Driving in Snow Pet Peeve:  People who cut in front of you for no apparent reason when they know the roads are slippery.

12:00 noon

Arrive home.  Car slips around in driveway.  Regret not putting snow tires on minivan last weekend. Arrgh.  Snow sucks.

12:01 p.m. 

Favorite Christmas song comes on radio.  Listen to it while parked in driveway. Decide snow is pretty.

If you have to go out tonight, take it easy out there.  Enjoy the first "big" snow!

******

ADDENDUM

6:20 p.m.

Driving to spouse's office party.  Snow is no longer pretty. 

7:00 p.m.

Bad News - Ten people show up for staff party/ Good News - More than enough fried eggplant appetizer to go around. 

10:00 p.m. 

Snow is okay, but icy rain REALLY sucks.

10:40 p.m. 

Arrive home to find that driveway is now a skating rink.   Winter is here folks!

The preschooler has just been churning them out lately. This chuckle requires some backstory.

The preschooler likes to print pictures off the Internet websites that she is allowed to access. Recently, she printed out two pictures, wrote the words "I love you Mom" on both of them and placed them neatly on my pillow. She did the same thing for her sister.

Now, lest you think the preschooler is all sweetness and light, this is also the same child who, when she is mad at you, will draw a picture of your face, draw a circle around it, and then put a big, black line right through the center of it. She will then tape that picture somewhere around the house where you will be sure to see it and know the force of her wrath.

So, anyway, the spouse comes home, notices the pictures on my pillow, and, in a voice that is a tad too casual, remarks that there is no picture for "Dad" on his side of the bed.

Later, I pull the preschooler aside and say, "Maybe you should make a picture for Dad too. He might feel sad if he doesn't have one." That evening, the spouse came into our bedroom with a strange but amused look on his face.

Spouse: Did you tell her that I wanted a picture?

Me: Well, I mentioned that you might want one. Why?

Spouse:  I was tucking her in, and she looked up and said, "Dad, there are two pictures in the garbage.  If you want one, you can go get it and put your name on it."

The season of giving -- preschooler style.
 

*******

Humorous Quote of the Day: 

"Anything you bring a monkey to is instantly 30 percent better.  Family reunions, labor negotiations, the DMV."

-- Jack Ferraiolo, Head Writer for the PBS show "WordGirl"

(I gotta admit that this quote just cracked me up when I read it, not sure why.  The spouse thinks it's just weird.)

Out of the mouth of my preschooler...

Preschooler:  Mom, you need more pzazz.

Me:  (defensively) I've got pzazz.  What do you think pzazz means anyway?

Preschooler:  It means fun.  You only do ordinary things.

Me:  Well, where should I get some pzazz? 

Preschooler:  From me.  I'm full of pzazz!

She's full of something alright.  I'm just not sure what.