On the tenth day of Christmas . . .

. . . Mommy’s got to make this quick.  The children are at Nana and Sir’s for the night and there’s lots to do.  But, I couldn’t resist sharing today’s shenanigans (and please note, no children, animals or bystanders were harmed in the making of these shenanigans - I will say a HUGE thank you to the Brodies for their sense of humor and for playing along with us):

Grandparents’ version

. . . ten laws a breaking! 

NOTE - No children or animals were harmed in the making of these photos!

Ten lords a leaping would be an awesome gift,


But they got stuck while jumping through a snowdrift. 

Instead, we caught the children in the act 

Of making mischief, and that's a fact!

Talking while driving

Assault

Drinking

Flashing

Speeding

"Stick em up Mister"

Kidnapping

Pick Pocket

Smoking

Tagging

 Friends’ version

Ten lords a leaping would be an awesome gift,

But they got stuck while jumping through a white snowdrift.

We had to be content, you see, to watch the popcorn fly.

So we've also given you some to try.


Mommy forgot completely to take the picture this time, so you have to settle for the box!  :-)

On the ninth day of Christmas . . .

. . . Mommy is crashing from a sugar high that might have been induced by Skinny Girl Cranberry Cosmos and a Bailey's Hot Chocolate at the girls' cookie exchange party!!!

I didn’t blog last night because I was preparing for the Trifecta’s cookie exchange party where we had TWENTY-SEVEN kids and their parents!  Holy crap, even I didn’t know what that many kids at one time would look like!!!!!!!

Major lesson – Always stock up on the marshmallows when you plan to do a snowman mason jar project.  I am certain those kids were playing a “one for you, one for me” game with those things.  I even bought the JUMBO kind!!!  But, I think a fun time was had by all and now mommy is going to pass out watching Charlie Brown Christmas.

But, first, here are our Christmas shenanigans the last two days.  Mommy was pretty proud of herself for these ones!

On the seventh day of Christmas . . .

. . . thank a teacher! 

As we prepare for our teachers to have a well-deserved break, and as I reflect of the heroism of those at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I was again reminded about just how amazing teachers are.  The Ego (3^rd grade middle child) apparently had homework this week related to doing something nice for mommy and daddy and writing a note about what she likes about Mommy.  I found our bed like this when I went in my room:

The note on the bed said "Surprice Mommy and Daddy".  She had made our bed for us!  Now THAT is some fantastic homework.

As we remember just how heroic and incredible our teachers are every day, I have yet another diversion . . . many of us are still grieving with the families in Connecticut and wondering what we can do.  Below are two projects that you could participate in.  One is for anyone and is done through the National PTA.  The other is through the Girl Scouts.  8 of the 12 girls killed were girl scouts and two girl scout families lost sons.  As sisters across the country, we should reach out.

The Trifecta will participate in both of these ways.

Support through the PTA

Welcome Students to a Winter Wonderland 

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA address at the end of this email.   



Donating and Organizing Fundraisers for Sandy Hook Elementary School Donations will be accepted indefinitely to the Connecticut PTSA “Sandy Hook Fund” to provide ongoing support to the community. Please send checks to the Connecticut PTSA address listed at the end of this email. Group fundraising projects may include walk-a-thons, spirits days, pajama days, etc., which may be scheduled at your convenience. 

For student-run coin drives, please submit all donations by February 14, 2012. 

The Newtown community has requested only monetary donations at this time. For service or product donation inquiries, please contact newtownboe@gmail.com. To contact Sandy Hook PTA, please email sandyhook@ctpta.org.

Support through the Girl Scouts

Here is a Trefoil that can be enlarged if you want to print it out.

From the Girl Scouts of Connecticut website:

Girl Scouts across the nation are encouraged to write down thoughts or prayers or art in the shape of the Girl Scout trefoil and send them to our Hartford Service Center, c/o Trefoil Project, 340 Washington St. Hartford, CT 06106. In mid-January we will present them to the Newtown Service Unit during a memorial service.

We did have Christmas shenanigans, and I need to catch up.  So, here’s how it went:

On the fifth day of Christmas . . .

. . . Mommy finally hasn’t been diverted!  But, we’ve had a lot of fun with this one.

Grandparents version

On the fifth day of Christmas my grandbabies gave to me . . .

. . . five golden THINGS.

On the fifth day of Christmas being clever took all our might,


But, we think we got it just right.


Silence, shoes, banana, ornament and ring

Are all golden items we thought fit for a King.

Friends version

On the fifth day of Christmas with things rather tight,

It's important to us that we all travel light.

Gold rings are too heavy (and so are gold buckles),

So please be content with sweet rings on your knuckles.

On the fourth day of Christmas . . .

. . . we all know what that means, mommy’s got another diversion.

This time it’s to the Living Nativity at Horizon Prep Academy.  

Notice the water spots - we were in the rain most of the time, and the kids loved it!

With all the lists and events and presents and food and, . . . and . . . and . . . to remember this holiday season, it’s easy to forget the reason for the season. 

That’s why I wanted to go to the Living Nativity, and let me tell you, this was not your typical living nativity with just the birth of Jesus displayed.  There were 5 separate scenes, too many actors to count, and this story came to life in an extraordinary way. 

The nativity was so moving that the Superego (oldest child) said to me as we were walking out the door “mommy, I’m so sorry for how we acted earlier today.” 

Holy SH*T!!! probably would have been inappropriate to yell at that moment, but “scared the beJesus out of” might have been appropriate!

From a petting zoo to camel rides to games to crafts to Kettle Corn to Ice Skating, this place had it all and with the exception of $7 for Kettle Corn and $5 for Ice Skating, it was all FREE.  They even had some pretty tasty food trucks.

The nativity will still be going on 5:30-8:30pm on December 21, 22 and 23 if you are in San Diego and you’d like to go.  A few recommendations:

      1)   Get there right at 5:30.  We waited in line for an hour, but it was a ½ hour show.

      2)   Plan to spend at least 2 hours there.

      3)   Take at least one other adult.  That person can stand in line while you take the kids to all of the other activities.

      4)   The very last scene of the nativity is dark and can be a little scary for some of the younger kids.

      5)   Prepare to eat there.  They have several very tasty food trucks, and of course, did I mention the Kettle Corn?  Also, and this was a class act, they had FREE water stations.

Highly recommend this as a reminder of why we celebrate. 

And, because it wouldn’t be a Griswold family Christmas, I mean Dugdale family Christmas without Shenanigans:

On the third day of Christmas . . .

. . . Mommy’s going to take one more quick diversion.  Today the girls and I and their girl scout troop attended a “Wreaths Across America” ceremony.  Across the country 150,000 people laid 400,000+ wreaths on the gravesites of soldiers in National Military cemeteries.  This was such a special thing to participate in, and in light of the events of yesterday was more solemn and meaningful.

This is the girls before we laid the wreaths.

Again, take a moment to continue to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For our 12 Days of Christmas Shenanigans, here’s what you missed:

Heavy Heart

Today I am not going to do my planned post out of respect for the families in Connecticut who are facing an indescribable loss.  My mommy heart is heavy and I just didn't feel right being irreverent about motherhood and the holidays.

As someone who has faced the loss of a family member to gun violence, I encourage all of us to more than ever appreciate the joy that life can bring us, while keeping families who will lose loved ones this holiday season in our hearts and prayers.

On that note, Matt-Matt I miss you and love you.

On the first day of Christmas . . .

. . . mommy proved she’s crazier than initially expected.  

Because the holiday season isn’t busy enough, I decided to come up with a little game to play with our friends as well as the grandparents. 

I am writing this post with the caveat to all my friends out there who have kids the Trifecta’s age and who were not included in this ring and run project . . . I’m so sorry that we didn’t include you.  The girls had to pick one friend each and we couldn't do any more than that.   I promise we’ll catch you on the next round (and I also promise you won’t have to wait until next Christmas).

My posts during the next 12 days will be one day behind because I can’t reveal what we are doing each day until AFTER they are done.  But, these were too good and too much fun not to share.  I got this idea from www.alteredstateofmine.com.  Loved her poems and suggestions, so we are copying many, but put some of our own twists.  The girls and I really enjoyed coming up with the pictures and gifts.  

By the way, do NOT try to sing these verses.  I took HUGE liberties with that part.

So, here goes –

Grandparents version – Send an e-mail with the subject “On the first day of Christmas, my grandbabies gave to me”:

A picture of them holding pears in trees.

I also included the following poem

The Christmas Season is so full of fun

We're happy to share with our grandparents

Why our mommy is always on the run.

The song that we sing twelve days in a row

Won't get tiresome with the trifecta you know

Each day we'll send something

Please don't worry, it's coming

Today calls for a partridge for your pear tree,

But partridges are too hard to catch,

So we hope you will see

That our funny pictures will become quite a batch!

Friends’ version

Leave a can of pears on the doorstep with the following poem:

This glad Christmas season is so full of fun.

We're happy to share with your family, then run. 

How grateful we are that you're playing our game.

You'll now find that Christmas won't be the same.

 The song that we sing twelve days in a row

Won't get tiresome with treats from friends you know.

But to keep up the mystery and the fun,

You won't know who we are until we're all done!

Each night we'll bring something

Please don't watch for us coming.

If you catch us too soon,

It will spoil the fun that's coming!

Tonight calls for a partridge for your pear tree,

But partridges are tough catches, you see.

Now, how about some canned pears, instead of the bird.

They taste very good, or so we have heard.

Of course, we did get caught by one family, and the others will definitely know by now that it’s us.  I’m also so annoyed with myself that I forgot to take a picture of the pears.  I had to ask one of the recipients to send me a photo.  I’m an idiot!

Now I gotta go find some turtle doves – anyone have a distributor for that?!

Mommy’s Christmas list . . .

Everyone else gets one, why shouldn’t I?!

Of course, mine wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t actually just expanding on my “sh*t no one tells you about”.  So here is my “Mommy Christmas list”:

 1) Skinny Girl margaritas – oh, wait, people do tell you about that, but here’s what they leave out . . . the “skinny” part is because the serving size is a shot glass.  After I drank the whole bottle of White Peach Margarita at our last party, I realized keeping that up was not going to keep me “Skinny”!  But, it’s the holidays, and I have 2 weeks of 24:7 kid time coming up.  If everyone wants to be happy, this MUST be at the top of the list.

2) Peace and Quiet – Husband from Heaven and I are constantly trying to find that “silver bullet” parenting technique that will calm us down before the screaming starts – I mean us, the children are a given.  I have found nothing more powerful than “Parenting with Love and Logic”.  Self help books are not in my comfort zone and I often find them rather “soap boxy” (yep, that’s a word); but, I’m telling you, this book has saved my sanity.  It’s been so effective that today the Ego (middle child) commented on how happy she was when mommy “didn’t start yelling” when the Id (the youngest) started yelling and throwing books in the driveway.  Every time I read that book I feel a more empowered parent.  Best part, the children have no idea I’m messing with their minds!

And guess what, it can be really effective when you hear this from your spouse "what do you know about the red stains in the Superego's (the oldest child) bedroom?"

Pre "PLL" mommy would have taken away the Superego's birthday even though it's 6 months away.  She also would have woken up the entire neighborhood with the yelling.

Among other things, post PLL mommy will be charging the Superego to pay for professional cleaning, and the Superego is now in fear of asking for any playdates or sleepovers because she knows the answer will be no (I didn't take away a playdate she already has scheduled, I'm just not indulging future requests).  Sounds counterintuitive, but that child has had the most incredible behavior the last two days!

You can get Parenting with Love and Logic on Amazon, or their website that is linked above.

3) A personal Banker - provided in the form of the app iAllowance.  I’m telling you, this app has saved me so many of the arguments that start “But moooooooooooooooooooom, I swear, you haven’t paid me my allowance for at least 3 weeks and I neeeeeeeeeeeeeed that phone shaped lipgloss, right now; I’ll DIE without it”.  Before this app my response would have been an embarrassing tantrum in the store and then of course, the children would have been screaming too . . . Now the children can see if they have any money in their “piggy bank”, and the best part, mommy doesn’t have to carry around three piggy banks and the kids don’t have to remember to bring their money with them.  As if THAT’s ever happened!!!!

With this app you always have the “bank” with you and you can deduct money instantly without any actual money ever changing hands.  AND, important to mommy is that you can apportion a part of their allowance to charity and at the end of the year they can discuss how they will give away that money they didn’t even know you were siphoning off!  The best part – the app automatically adds their allowance at the beginning of each week so you don’t have to remember to give it to them.

Best quote from the Ego about the app "Mommy, thank you so much for buying that app.  If we didn't have it we wouldn't be able to eat these Reese's cupcakes that (the Superego) bought with her allowance."  She's right - my answer would have been no before.  Now, the answer is "if that's what you want to spend your money on and you have enough money, yes, you can buy it."  I guess I just outed myself that it's not always about "real food".

To find the app, look up iAllowance in the app store or click the link.  And yes, you will need the $3.99 upgrade.  It has been worth much more than that in saved fights.  The best part . . . this thing is “mommy brain” proof meaning that even I can figure it out.

4) The gift of time – there is not a mommy on the planet who doesn’t constantly think “well that’s ½ hour of my life I’ll never get back”  after having waited for and coaxed, begged, pleaded, bribed and yes, even yelled at your kids to get in the f*&#ing car.  Oh, maybe that last part’s only in my house! 

One thing I found that has been a God send in this area is called the Time Timer.  It shows the kids in a red pie shape just how much time they have left to do something and rings at the end.  When we use this, the kids get chores, etc. done in half the time.  Of course, at the moment, mommy’s going to lose her mind because one of those little boogers has hidden the d@mn thing and no one’s fessing up!  Hence the need for a new one.

The Time Timer can be found at Amazon.com.

5) A personal chef.  Not gonna lie.  I have a chef in Husband from Heaven.  But, he always dreads my 4:00 “what’s for dinner honey” phone calls.  The hardest part about cooking dinner (from a non-chef, of course), is planning the week’s menus and then having all the ingredients when you need them. 

I recently learned of a meal planning site that not only provides 5 weekly meals and a shopping list, but it is focused on “real food”.  The site is called Fresh 20.  We’ve only done it for a week and cooked 2 meals (during the holidays was a bad time to assume we’d eat 5 meals at home), but I love it.  It takes the stress out of planning, and we always have what we need.  

AND FINALLY,

6) Sliced Bread – gotta love HfH.  He is on the eternal quest to buy everything from Costco and he was so excited when he could buy “real bread” again because Costco sells Organic Bread.  My bread adventures were a disaster, but I was unwilling to buy bread with all the preservatives.  So, this is the best of all worlds – mommy gets the “real food” and daddy can feel good about it because Costco sells it.  I’m not even sure he actually compared the prices with grocery stores – he just trusts that if Costco sells it, it must be cheaper.  They also have organic jam, so we now have tub o jam too! 

If you know of any cool “mommy savers” that I must try out, let me know!  In the meantime, don’t forget #1 and the holidays will be much merrier for all!!!

It’s beginning to look a lot like . . .

. . . Santa’s sleigh exploded in my living room.    

I don’t know what my problem is, but I thought it would be a good idea to bring out every single box of Christmas sh*t, lay it out in the living room and that would “inspire” me to figure out how to decorate our house for the holidays.

Here’s what I learned about decorating your new house for the holidays . . .