Christmas comes more than once a year at our house.

Okay so the tradition in our part of the world is that all the presents and decorations stay out until after Old Christmas Day (Jan 6). I have been very good and left them there. But I have noticed a funny phenomenon I had to share with you. LP (Little Princess) is convinced that Christmas happens every night as long as there are presents under the tree. Every morning she comes and digs everything out from under the tree until she comes across some toy she forgot that she got for Christmas. Then it is celebration and running to mommy shouting, "MOMMY LOOK WHAT SANTA BROUGHT!?!" It is so funny and sweet to watch her excitement and to watch her obsess over that toy for the rest of the day, and all for the same presents she opened over a week ago. For her, Christmas really is every day.

Shift in the weather.

Well the clouds have faded and the sun is on the horizon. It was a beautiful sunny day today. It was lovely and warm and I went out to the store with Grandma Great. I got lots done and I am just feeling great. I am going to go shortly and give LP a bath and then after she goes to bed, I will have a nice long hot bath myself.

Isn't it funny how much the weather affects your state of mind? I looked out today and saw the sun shining on the ocean, the snow melting on the steps, and I felt like the skies had opened up just for me. I can do anything, I can accomplish anything, my house is clean, my baby is fed, happy, rested and about to be clean. I have a great husband who puts up with my insanity. I can't ask for much more than that.

Muddles Musings.

Well the dust has settled, everyone is back to their normal routines. We are all going back to our normal mundane activities of work, laundry, kids, cleaning, cooking and all that exciting stuff. Are you glad to be back to normal? Do you miss the chaotic excitement of the holiday season or are you ready for it all to end?

On some level, I guess, I am glad to get back to normal. I am not a party, party, party kind of girl. But once it is over it is just back to winter. Back to dull, grey, skies. Back to slippery sidewalks. Back to weeks on end only talking to Prince Charming and my four year old daughter. And while I love her dearly, a she is not my idea of the perfect conversationalist at all times. (Don't ever THINK about interrupting Doodlebops when they come on and for heavens sake don't put her to bed without her lovey).

Every year, I feel it at some point in the winter. Like a caterpillar, I want to withdraw into my cocoon, all snuggly safe in my room until winter is over and the sun is warm and bright and I am happy as I feel its warmth carressing my skin. I want to not see any more bills I have to juggle, I want to not hear from any more grouchy grandps's, I want to not feel a pull to do all that housework I have no desire to do.

I want it to be different. I want to be happy, happy, joy, joy all the time. I want to run outside and make snowmen and revel in the beauty of it and come in and enjoy a nice warm cup of hot chocolate (or diet hot chocolate for the dieter in me). All winter is a battle. Some days I am on the winning side the battle, some days I am on the losing side. Today, I guess I am leaning towards the losing side. Tomorrow, I will wake up, do my housework, play with my baby, go to the store and revel in the fact that when we get a car, I will not be trapped in this house, in these four walls and that hopefully, I won't want to be.

Little bit of everything

I am thinking that Weight Watchers may be the way to go for me. I am not absolutely certain and I feel a little like I am floundering a bit. But Prince Charming is being very supportive, that will make it easier.

I went to the bank today with Grandpa Grumpy. I always feel uncomfortable when I have to get him to drive me somewhere, like I am putting him out or something. And then on top of that, I FORGOT MY PIN NUMBER!!!!! I had to go home and get Prince Charming's card and use his because as weird as it is, I remember his pin number!!! Now my card is locked up and I won't be able to do anything about it until we get into town. UGH! I want a CAR!!!

I did our budget today. I am pleased to announce we are going to caught up on all our current bills by the end of the month!!! woohoo!!! Next month we start on the old ones, UGH. Does it never end??? Oh well, at least I am trying, right?

Back to My Regularly Scheduled Lifestyle

Notsosnowwhite has gone home today. Now it is up to me to bring some sort of order to the chaos that I let reign whenever I have company. I just can't seem to get anything done when I have someone here. So, I let it all go.

Today though, I cleaned, scrubbed, and washed my notsolittle butt off and I am proud to say that just a little more and my house will be back into ship shape.

Now I just have to figure out a way to get me ship shape. What plans do you use to keep yourself healthy? Are you on a diet? What kind? What are your tips?

January 1, 2006 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So this is the new year. Have you made any resolutions? I have made decisions, instead of resolutions. I have decided:

1. I need to get my weight under control.
2. I need to NOT obsess about it. I need to learn to have a healthy outlook on my food consumption.
3. I need to keep up with my regular schedule of cleaning. And, barring my Christmas season laxness/business, I have been doing really well.
4. I need to concentrate on getting out of the house at least 3 times a week all winter long. Even if it is only to Grandma Great's house.
5. I need to concentrate on being a good freind, a good mother, and a good wife. I sometimes feel like I can't seem to juggle all of these at once. I need to be good to the people I care about. They are the ones who make my world complete. They do so much for me, the least I can do is return the favor.

What are your resolutions?