Archive for » 2007 «

Dec

Christmas was better this year than any other I can remember. Having a weekend before Christmas day was really useful & practical, but also allowed for us to really prepare Princess Curly for the big day. Besides the fact that it gave us time to doctor everybody’s colds (ugh!), we got to enjoy Christmas lights and extra family time together. Curly was only 1 last year, and although she enjoyed the paper & gifts, this year it was all about the anticipation!!!

She & I decorated cookies for Santa Christmas eve. Okay – I decorated mine while she licked the decorations off hers. =) She was very excited about leaving cookies & milk for Santa, and after she’d had a bath and had her princess nightgown on, we told her it was time for bed. I’ve never seen that child scoot off to bed so agreeably! We’d told her that Santa could not come until she was in bed, and she flew right up the stairs, climbed up into her bed, put her head on her pillow and let me tuck her in. We never heard another peep out of her that night! (Can Santa come every night???)

Christmas morning, I woke early. I was expecting Princess KT to wake up for a bottle, but she was sleeping soundly with her arms thrown back above her head, so I just tried to relax and go back to sleep. It was ridiculous! I don’t remember being this excited about Christmas even when I was a kid! I tossed & turned – everybody just slept. Finally, King Roy woke up and we snuggled for a few minutes and then he asked if we should wake up Curly or not. I reminded him of how she behaves when she is awakened early, and we agreed to wait a little while longer. I went downstairs and turned the Christmas tree lights on, and put on a pot of coffee. I called my dad (waking HIM up in the process) and asked if they’d ever been this excited about Christmas for us. He laughed at me (in a good way) and I told him I was on pins & needles waiting for Curly to wake up!

FINALLY – the princess decided to grace us with her presence and toddled into our room, upon which King Roy promptly feigned a snoring sleep. Curly tiptoed to the end of the bed and climbed up with us. She threw her hands in the air and said, “I waked up!” and then proceeded to wake Roy & KT up, too.

Roy led our little procession down the stairs and when Curly saw the tree & all the presents she put her hands to her mouth and said, “Oh! My! Gosh!” and ran directly to her stash! “Presents!” she said. And it began. What a FUN time! She would stop & play with a toy and then we’d remind her there was more. About halfway through she looked at everything all over the room and said, “I’m rich!” She helped KT open her gifts (of course) and we thought KT was going to take off & fly as much as she was flapping her arms and kicking her feet. She grabbed for her presents and played with the paper and had a good ol’ time.

It was WAY more fun BEING Santa this year than ever having Santa bring me gifts. The cookies were good, but watching Curly open her presents and be excited and happy was really the best part of Christmas this year. Despite the yukky colds, the moments of temper tantrums & toddlerhood, for the most part, I was reminded of how wonderful it is to be a mom. I had MY moments, too, as I locked myself in the bathroom for an uninterrupted shower and whined about the endless loads of dishes & laundry that need to be done when we’re all home for more than a day! Yes, I was glad to come back to work today – but I already miss the King & our princesses and look forward to seeing them again tonight.

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Dec

Merry Tidbits

queenmommy

I fully intended to post this before Christmas and never had a chance to get to the computer. We are on the upswing (finally) of some nasty colds, although I have a good case of laryngitis (which makes Mothering VERY interesting…)

Having received a box of Cheryl & Co. cookies from my boss and having NO self-control whatsoever, I will likely enjoy a sugar cookie coma for the next week. Yes!!! (My boss is really terrific. Seriously – he feeds my Starbucks habit AND my sweet tooth – what more could I ask for???) What is it about the holidays that all inhibitions disappear and engaging in excess cookie-eating, eggnog-drinking, and festive-partying is normal? Is it the Christmas lights blinking some kind of subliminal message (wouldn’t THAT be great!) Is it a primal instinct to fatten up for the hard winter ahead (wouldn’t that be convenient!) I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stop eating WHATEVER is out on a table or counter and it’s getting embarrassing having to brush crumbs off my cheeks before I can talk to someone…

Princess Curly was sitting on King Roy’s lap this morning when he says to her, “You’re so pretty.” She matter-of-factly replied, “Yeah. I know that.” WHAT!?! She’s 2 – how does she come up with that stuff??? How do you explain to a 2 year old that being a know-it-all is bad enough, but being a VAIN know-it-all is intolerable? So, we just gently prod her to say “Thank you” when someone tells you you’re pretty or smart (or whatever) and a little belatedly she adds a Thank You… sigh. I did NOT make her a princess – she was absolutely BORN that way.

I received a lovely little gift from my “Big” boss’s mother, Rose, who moved here from California a year ago. She is a wonderful Hungarian lady who has experienced more in one lifetime than I can imagine, and whose cheek (when I hug her) takes me back to the days when I could hug my own grandmother… Anyway – she gave a Precious Moments figurine to me for Christmas (and a plate of goodies, too!) What is so charming, is that it is entirely perfect for me. It is called “The Bee-liever” and is cute little girl with a little bee “buzzing” near her head. The reason it is perfect is because, A) In fact, I am a believer, and B) my name means “Honeybee” so anything with the bee symbol is, in fact, very significant to me. Whether or not she knows this, I don’t know, but it is a gift I will treasure for a long time…

As far as PPD and Mothering goes, I’m learning to feel much less guilt in the past couple of months than I have in my entire life. Maybe that’s a result of the Zoloft – I don’t know. I just know that I’m getting better about saying “No” to taking on more, and saying “Yes” to letting things go, and allowing myself to feel better for doing so. For instance, Christmas decorations. In the past, I have been an all-out Christmas decorator. Not a professional by any means, but during all the years I was single, I collected a large volume of Christmas decorations and focused on “themes,” of which differed from year to year. One year it was Pink & Gold (Victorian); Another year it was all angels; another year it was all Ivory & pearls; even after getting married, we have added Blue & White (Go Bulldogs!) to the repertoire. I would even decorate my office at work – hanging sparkly snowflakes from shimmering ribbon from the ceiling and playing Christmas CDs until I was sick of them. This year – it’s a 3 foot pre-lit multi-colored Christmas tree out of a box. In a plastic pot. On an end table. That’s the extent of decorating. Not one Christmas CD has been played. Not one strand of pearls or string of garland has been scene. We don’t even have stockings hung up. Granted, Princess Curly is a hands-on kind of girl and even knocked the tree over last night – no big deal – but we have no lights in the windows, and I have not even put out our Nativity scenes. The great thing is – I don’t feel one ounce of guilt. I would like to have taken the time to put out the Nativity scene, but again, I don’t want to lose any characters to the black hole that is my daughter’s toy box. I am kinda picky like that. But I also relish the idea that when Christmas is over, it will be a matter of unplugging one strand of light and putting a small tree into a box. Done. Simple.

And that’s my goal for the next year. Not just for the year, but for my life. Wanting to simplify everything I can. Getting rid of the excess (weight, stress, guilt, “stuff” in the garage, basement, closets, etc.) and learning to be content with the important blessings I’ve been given. King Roy, who is amazing and lovely and sweet and sexy and handsome. Princesses Curly & KT who both bless me and challenge me and make me a better person. My job – that is challenging but really satisfying and wonderful. My extended family – full of life, love, and laughter. It’s really amazing to stop and think about life and what we’re given and it’s rather humbling to think about what we do with what we’re given. I hope that taking this step towards a simple life will lead to living a life of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Dec

Fast Friday

queenmommy

I am looking forward to the next 5 days with my family. Both of the princesses are still not feeling well (and even feverish), so a few days off work and at home will be good for all of us. 4:00 will be here before I know it!

For the most part, Santa is done shopping for our house. I’m very happy about that. Now, all he needs are some elves to help with wrapping gifts, and otherwise, he’ll be happy eating the cookies we’re sharing from the box of Cheryl & Co cookies left on our porch last night. YUMMO! (The chocolate cookies with pink peppermint buttercream icing are my ALL TIME FAVORITE cookie!) Princess Curly is very excited about sharing our cookies with Santa this year. I think King Roy & I are looking forward to seeing the princesses enjoy this Christmas, too.

I can’t believe it’s really almost here. Christmas is just a few days away and since the “hustle & bustle” is pretty well behind me, I hope to be able to reflect upon the Reason for the season and on the blessings in my life. I have a very different perspective of Christmas this year, and I think I’ve officially moved into the “mom” thing because I don’t really even want much – haven’t asked for much – and normally the Queen wants everything… It’s a nice change.

Category: The Queen Tags: Family, Holidays, Life Leave a Comment

Dec

Almost Friday…

queenmommy

Both of the little princesses are not feeling well. Princess Curly woke up with a stuffy nose and ran a temperature & vomited yesterday. Princess KT is also running a little temperature and has been fussy – but we think (hope) it’s just teething. Curly had a vapor bath and slept with a cool mist humidifier and seemed a bit better this morning, but last night, the queen mommy did NOT get much rest. A LOT of waking up in the night. Ugh. I’m dragging today.

A coworker got a Wii on ebay and brought it into work yesterday. Now, typically our office is buzzing because we do a LOT of different things – we’ve always got some event going on or a new program to implement and we do it well. In December, things tend to quiet down for us in a big way. Students go home for Christmas break, and we get several days off, so things get pretty relaxed. So, she brought her Wii in.

I’ve never really been a gaming fan – I never got into Playstations, Xboxes or anything else. We had Atari when I was younger (yeah, and THAT doesn’t age me), and I can remember playing Pong, Space Invaders, and Mission Control. Wii is just simply AMAZING.

The graphics are kinda cartoonish – but not really dorky, and sometimes they are even hilarious. I watched while my boss and a coworker played tennis, and then baseball yesterday, and when my boss fell to his knees with a victorious yell after hitting a home run, I thought I was going to shoot diet coke out my nose from laughing so hard. It is interactive and FUN. (It helps that we have a big screen to play on). I haven’t laughed like that in ages, and anybody who played was at least winded, if not sweaty by the time they were done. I played the bowling game yesterday and actually enjoyed it. Today I played Duck Hunt – anybody remember that game? That was a BLAST! It was a bit awkward to get used to pointing the remote accurately at the screen (as opposed to a gun), but FUN as heck. I could totally get INTO gaming, and King Roy & I are talking about getting one. Eventually.

Category: Family Tags: Family, The Princesses Leave a Comment

Dec

Tuesday's Tossed Salad

queenmommy

Celine Dion is leaving Las Vegas. I have never been to Las Vegas and really never had a strong desire to go there – except to see Celine Dion’s show in Vegas. Now that she is leaving, Vegas isn’t as enticing.

I have been a devoted fan of Celine Dion since I first saw the video, “Where Does My Heart Beat Now?” It happens to have occurred with a coincidental meeting with King Roy (before he was King) in Springfield. I was babysitting and getting ready to take the 2 little girls for a walk outside, and the video came on. I cried. I hadn’t ever seen it before. I was absolutely astonished at a powerhousevoice like that coming out of such a spritely waif. While the video was playing, I happened to look outside and see Roy drive by in his car. I’d had a crush on Roy since I met him and watching this video and seeing him at the same time – well, it imprinted on my brain. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0kw1xe5JPg]

Then there’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” which I’ve loved since I was a litlte girl; ”Then You Look at Me,” – which always makes me think of Roy; “When I Fall in Love,” – a classic romantic song; “My Heart Will Go On,”- wow, was this one powerful; “The Reason” – self explanatory; and “I Drove All Night.” I played that CD driving from Springfield to Ohio overnight to see Roy, and was playing that song when I pulled into his driveway!!! Celine’s music is eternally entwined in my life and plays out the ultimate love song in my romance with Roy.

A Christmas tree is finally up in our house. It is a prelit tree – a 3′ tree on a table – big enough to have presents underneath, but small enough to avoid major injuries should it fall down on top of a curious princess. We have a 6′ artificial, but this 3′ works now while the girls are little, and can be THEIR Christmas tree when they’re bigger and can decorate it for themselves. Then the Queen Mommy can decorate her tree (I’m a big fan of “themes” when it comes to Christmas trees) and the Princesses can decorate theirs! It’ll be fun as the holidays approach and we can sit with the lights off and watch the Christmas tree – I love that.

I’d like to hand out a personal Darwin award. So we have a new ordinance in our little town (which is run by very narrow minded-locked in the 19th century folks) - and apparently it is now illegal to leave a parked car running unless the doors are locked. So, when I go to pick up the princesses, I can now be fined $104 for leaving the car running (with the heat on) while I run in to pick them up and get them loaded in the car unless I lock it while I’m away from it. This particular carriage does not have remote, much less automatic locks – and we’d have to BUY something & have it installed (if that is even possible). Getting the vehicles warmed up in the morning and leaving them running in our own driveway – now illegal. I’m not sure what the purpose of this ordinance is (other than to increase revenue for the town by awarding stupid fines) – but I’m rather disgruntled about it… As a mother with small children, I would expect ordinances which would help encourage safety and security for my family – not stupid ordinances which make keeping your children warm & healthy more difficult…

Okay – those are my thoughts for the day. Hope you have a great one!

Category: The Queen Tags: Family, Life Leave a Comment

Dec

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

queenmommy

Took my philosophy final on Friday evening and got a B out of the course. Whew! It was a really interesting course – and I enjoyed the last unit the best. It touched on philosophy of religion and apologetics, which really made me think. I love taking these courses online and have registered for 2 courses in the spring already. Roy & I celebrated with a glass of wine afterwards and that was nice.

So we did get most of the snow that was predicted for our area on Saturday, and we did get the very cold wind & drifting snow on Sunday. Needless to say, we were generally bundled up and stuck somewhere inside for the weekend. Roads were bad, the wind was strong, and getting the girls out much was not an option.

Saturday, Princess Curly (formerly CaaaLalla – it was too much to type) & I headed over to her Mamaw’s house and baked & decorated sugar cookies with her 2 older cousins. It was a lovely, messy, fun time, with 3 children who were so hopped up on sugar, they were like little windup toys, and we got to take a break to eat a good lunch. (Okay, lunch was McDonald’s, but it wasn’t pure sugar and that was the point.) It had started snowing around 11 am, and by 12 the car was covered. Princess Curly had finally crashed, so the cousins & I got to finish the rest. We had about 7 different frosting colors, sprinkles, cinnamon dots, mini reese’s pieces, colored sugar, decorator icing, etc… All in all, we baked & decorated at least 6 dozen cookies and had a really good time doing it. I hope we get to do it again next year. We were done by 3 pm and had a really good time. Mamaw has a nice big kitchen table and we got to spread out and make a mess. Thank you Mamaw!!!

Wanted to get the Christmas tree up, but when the princesses fell asleep (after waking up FAR too early for my taste) Sunday morning, the King & I also took naps and got some rest. Saturday night I was awakened every 1.5-2 hours by one family member or another, so I was rather groggy and really grumpy until I had a Sunday nap.

We did get to watch the Browns play in a really nasty mess of a snowstorm, and pull off a victory over the Bills. Even though I am not a “true fan” according to Roy, I do enjoy watching them win. (When they lose, our castle enters into a period of mourning, a few peasants are beheaded, and King Roy gets in one of HIS moods.) So, this season has provided more moments of celebration than previous seasons, and for that I’m thankful. The team seems to have finally gotten some players that play well together and Dawson’s kicks ya just hold your breath and hope the posts send the football in the right direction!

Putting up the tree with Princess Curly’s help iss not my idea of a good time, so I plan to get things moved around when I got home tonight and be ready to put it up after she’s in bed. She gets so excited about the lights, and I want to surprise her with it in the morning. I think we’ll stick to just a tree with lights again this year to avoid losing any ornaments or making any trips to the ER because of cut fingers…

For me, this is when the excitement of the season starts settling in. Baking cookies with Curly & her cousins made me think of Christmas with my brothers when we were growing up and how much fun we had with cookies, decorating, etc. We always enjoyed it and I have a lot of really great memories because of it. I hope my girls can grow up with the same kind of warm, fuzzy memories I have.

Of note: Princess KT is 5 months old today. It’s rather hard to believe. She is becoming such a happy baby (except for the teething thing). She has started saying more sounds – na-na-na when she cries (I thought it was ma-ma-ma, but it wasn’t). King Roy & I coached her last night on saying “dada” and “mama” respectively… She coos, smiles, laughs, flirts, cuddles. She ADORES her big sister – and can now grab Curly’s hair, which so far, has made Curly laugh. They just look at each other and smile and I hope that even with fighting & arguing as they grow up, that they remain adoring fans of one another.

Category: Family, Holidays, The King, The Princesses, The Queen Tags: Holidays, The Princesses, The Queen Leave a Comment

Dec

Props to my Peeps… er Peers…

queenmommy

After some soul-searching, some boredom at work, and some inspiration, I decided to change the look & feel & location of my blog. So I should give some credit where credit is due and I should probably thank my personal inspirations.

Thank you JennyfromChicago for your wonderful blog (Chased by Children – you’ll find the link at the bottom of the page). I get the biggest kick from reading it as often as I can and enjoy your input here, too. Queen of the Mayhem is another blog that really makes me laugh out loud. It is helpful to read a few other mom’s perspectives and to know I’m NOT the only mom who feels the way I do… And thanks to both of you for not suing me when I borrowed (stole) the whole Queen Mommy & Queendom idea…

To my friends Catfish & Cafegirl. A) For having been my friends from “way back when” and for not ratting me out! You have each been in my life long enough to have accumulated a vast wealth of blackmail material and have not resorted to using any of it. I owe you. B) For helping me laugh at myself & my mothering ways (or lack thereof). Being in the same boat of motherhood, even when its rocky, is very reassuring to me. C) For great, funny movies & numerous visits to TCBY!!! Without laughter & binge eating, where would we be?

To my friends Terry & Pam – two moms whose advice I trust implicitly, whose friendships I cherish with all my heart, and whose knowledge of me & all my quirks is never used against me…

To my school teachers who helped me develop my love of reading & writing. There were many who encouraged me and pushed me to be better. Thankfully, my blog is not graded. They helped steer my love of talking into writing (and my husband probably appreciates that the most).

Last, but not least, thank you to my family – both the one I was born into and the one I was given. You provide endless material for my ranting & ravings here and you tolerate / ignore / appreciate / support my rantings & ravings here and at home. Thank you for not having me committed (yet) and for encouraging me to seek prescription medication when necessary…

It’s so good to be the Queen!

Category: The Queen Tags: Parenting, The Queen Leave a Comment

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