Ok, so I’m a day late. Tonight was the 2nd night but these pictures are from last night. My parents are great and do Hannukah for the boys- so they not only get a ton of Christmas gifts, but one gift a night for Hannukah too. They make out well, huh? Last night all three of them got Hess trucks (always love those). Tonight Jack & Patrick got Super Mario 8 for the Wii, and Timmy got a wooden dumptruck with a "guy". Everyone was very happy with their gifts- and of course the boys RAN downstairs to get a Wii hit with their new game. We are having fun lighting the candles each night with grandma and grandpa. Timmy even made his own menorah at school (so we do have one jewish kid afterall) and loves singing the "dreidl, dreidl, dreidl" song with me. Although he gets all embarrased if anyone else is watching.  

My favorite new Timmy saying. There are a lot of new "I can’ts" lately. Hope this is just a phase. While the "I can’t like it" is so cute, the others I can do without.

I can’t like it.

I can’t go to school.

I can’t go to the movies.

I can’t eat it.

I can’t sleep.

I can’t go potty.

I can’t do it.

I can’t play it.

I kinda had a day like that myself. I did soooo much today, I surprised myself on how much I actually accomplished. But…I can’t like it.

I got the big boys to school, went into town with Timmy to the bagel store, the italian deli, and the camera store. Came home, potty break for Timmy. Did some computer work on pictures and cards. Finished decorating inside the house, including getting the boys trees down from the attic and putting ALL the empty boxes back up in the attic. Took Timmy to Tumbles class. Came home, another potty break for Timmy, ate lunch with Timmy while doing more computer work. Put Timmy down for a nap, balanced the checkbook and paid the bills (definitely can’t like that part!). Folded and put away 5 loads of laundry. A little more computer work. Woke Timmy up from nap, potty break, got the boys and their friend from school. Brought all of the boys home, more computer work. Snacks for everyone, another Timmy potty break. Changed a poopy accident (Timmy, not me- and this is what I meant yesterday about the potty training not going well) and threw in more laundry. Boys friend got picked up. Started dinner but was so frazzled forgot to turn on oven. Monitored boys homework. Finished boat project with boys while managing to burn spaghetti slightly. Got dinner on the table and shoveled it in in under 7 minutes. Packed up and went to scrapbook class where I finally put the 300+ pictures I recently printed into albums. Went to Carvel and got my treat. Came home, more computer work and making cards. Made lunches for tommorrow, cleaned up the house. Blogged. Collapsing now, thanks. And I get to do it all again tommorrow!

I am significantly sleep deprived. My hair is in dire, dire need of highlights- grey, black, and blonde isn’t so attractive. I can’t lose any weight although I really need to. The inside of the house still needs decorating for Christmas. I still have to make MY christmas cards. The laundry is piled up so high- dirty to wash and clean to fold and put away. I’m not spending enough time with my boys-there is a lot of guilt there. I hate that I can’t drop everything and just play with Timmy. Have to finish the boys boat project with them. Not taking enough pictures around here for me. I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping. Not. One. Gift. I’m in deep shit. And I still have a good number of shoots to go before Christmas. Potty training is not going as planned.

Overwhelmed. Freaked out. Guilty. Exhausted.

On the brighter side… I still have a number of shoots before Christmas. I just love doing it. I am getting such great compliments on my work- I love that. The big boys are doing SO WELL in school. I am a proud mommy. Their report cards were incredible. All E’s (excellents- the highest) and a few S’s scattered in (satisfactories). No NR (needs reinforcements). And all the teacher comments were so wonderful and positive. I am really looking forward to parent/teacher conferences this week. We are leaving for Florida in 22 days for a 9 day vacation. We have plans to go into NYC with the whole family later this month. The outside of the house is decorated. I have nice friends who hopefully understand that I won’t see them until January, and still like me anyway. Timmy is a great kid and he is such a love- I enjoy him so much. I have a great husband who I owe a big thanks. He has been so helpful in keeping things moving around here- laundry, the dishwasher, cleaning up, staying with the boys so I can go do my picture thing. Even though he has work of his own that needs getting done. That I have an incredible mom and dad who babysit as needed and who are so supportive. That my mother in law tears up when she is telling my friends how proud she is of me. That my father in law will come by and sit with Timmy so I can pick up the big boys from school without waking him from his nap. Still not believing I have a real BUSINESS-taking pictures-one of my most favorite things!!

Happy. Proud. Inspired. Exhausted.

Thanks for reading. I know you are out there, you blog stalkers. You tell me when I see you. So leave me a message here on the blog if you feel like it. How are YOU doing?