Surviving At Home

During Christmas break our girls decided they wanted to get the Wii. I was really annoyed when I heard this because I had thought to buy it for them as their one big gift for Christmas but back at Thanksgiving my oldest had said that they changed their minds.

Never mind the fact that this was barely a week after Santa had come and I couldn’t understand why they didn’t appreciate their new gifts.

So, we made them a deal: they could get the Nintendo Wii once they earned enough money for it. That would be tough for our youngest but they scrounged and scrabbled for extra jobs to do around the house. Of course, they wanted to get paid $5 for emptying the dishwasher (no way!) but they got the idea that they had to E-A-R-N that game.

We were impressed because they didn’t keep asking, “When can we get the game?” We counted their money two weeks ago and hubby surprised them by taking them to the store yesterday. We had to give them a small advance so they’ll be working to pay back that “loan” but we’re all enjoying our new toy.

Even our youngest mentioned, breathlessly, how you have to keep moving to play the sports games. I won’t count it as “real” exercise but at least they’re moving and learning how to play new games.

So now I need some ideas for game titles suitable for a 12 yr old and a 7 yr old. Suggestions please!!

If you scroll back a couple of posts (or click this link here) you’ll see my last Wordless Wednesday photo. Here’s the story behind the picture:

That photo was taken at my college graduation in May 1990 (no, I’m not afraid to announce how old I am!). It was at my graduation dinner in Syracuse, NY with my family. I believe graduation was held on Mother’s Day that year but it was rainy and damp, just typical weather for that part of the country. I probably should have been warming up with a hot drink but how could I resist the size of that strawberry marguerita!

I decided to use that photo on this particular date in December because I celebrated my 40th birthday. Oprah must be right that you get more comfortable with yourself as you age because I’ve been pretty open when people ask how old I am. Contrary to my husband’s jokes, I do NOT pretend that I’m still 29.

Of course, I had a harder time admitting I was 31 than I did 30, so maybe next year will be more difficult.

A drink like that probably would have put me to sleep now that I’m older but the photo captured the same sentiment…life is good. My hair is shorter and my clothes are larger but I really have very little to complain about.

So, that’s the story. No, Nell, I did not have 3 of those drinks way back when   I was merely looking forward to being a new graduate embarking on another chapter of life. (and who wants to be loopy in front of their parents?)

Geez…I just spent a bunch of time deleting spammers’ comments but ended up deleting a bunch of comments from friends

(Seriously, do these spammers honestly have nothing better to do with their time or their lives than to attack our blogs?)

So, to all of you who took the time to leave comments this fall, my sincere apologies. That’s what I get for going too fast and not paying closer attention.

I do so love to get comments so please come back and write some more…pretty please?

I know the holidays have passed but in all the craziness I forgot to post this funny email joke that my mom sent me.

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York on Christmas Eve and says, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.”

“Pop, what are you talking about?” the son screams.

The father says.”We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.”

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. “Like heck they’re getting divorced,” she shouts, “I’ll take care of this,”

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. “Okay,” he says, “they’re coming for Christmas and they’re paying their own way.” – Merry Christmas!~