Colonel Mustard With the Candlestick at the Mailbox

After doing some Christmas shopping one afternoon, I got the mail whilst pulling into the driveway. I off-handedly said someone must have stolen the Christmas cards from our mailbox because we didn't get any. When we opened the door Zeke whispered, "Has anyone been here?" Then he shone his new flashlight on a spot on the cabinet door and exclaimed, "Look! It's a clue." Guess I shouldn't say random things like people are stealing Christmas cards from our mailbox.

Chaos

My boy has eczema, and when it gets itchy it feels like bugs on his skin. He calls them 'scratching bugs.' If you hear him saying he has scratching bugs on his head, please don't take your kids and run--it's not lice. Tonight he was listing where he was itching. "Scratching bug on my foot, scratching bugs on my head...it's scratching bug chaos!"
(This picture has nothing to do with scratching bugs, but I thought I'd share a little sibling hug action.)

Lordy, Lordy, Am I REALLY 40??

Aww, my dear friend Youth, where did you go? And why did you forsake me??!! Old age is for, well...old people. Last I checked I wasn't old. But now my 40th birthday has arrived. Wow. The big 4-0. How did this happen?? I am OLD! Since it's my birthday week, I have been thinking about this whole forty-thing. That's like, nearly middle-aged. Looking at where I am now--middle age--and where I have been, this is what I see. I don't have the biggest house on the block, I don't drive an expensive luxury car, I don't have a top executive job; the list can go on and on. But when I look more closely at where I am now--middle age--I'll tell you what I do see. I have a great spiritual life with a wonderful savior who will never leave me nor forsake me. I have a more fantastic husband than I could ever have imagined (who, by the way, is NOT 40, so that makes me a Cougar--rrrrar!). I have two beautiful, happy, healthy kids. I have a loving extended family (and yes, that includes my in-laws). :) I have a house that provides shelter and is filled with a whole lot of love and laughter. I have a dependable car that gets me home to visit my said extended family. I currently have the least respected 'job' of a stay at home mom that I absolutely love and would not trade for a million bucks; the list can go on and on. So yeah, I'm 40 and I like where I am!
Lucky for me, 40 is the new 30, which only a couple years ago was the new 20. Which, by the way, I don't feel a day over. So there ya go. Age is just a number; it's all how you feel. And if you squeeze me, you'll discover that I feel great!

I'm Not Clairvoyant, But I Can See the Future

I am not clairvoyant, but I can tell you that Zekers is going to be the last one to sleep at slumber parties. The boy who puts shaving cream on another little guy's hand and then tickles his nose to try to get him to smack himself in the face. Or the one who puts his sleeping friend's hand in a bowl of warm water to see if he will pee the bed. Or the fraternity boy who writes all over his pledge brother's face with a sharpie because he passed out first. I am not clairvoyant, but I know this because last night we let him sleep with us. After the lights went out, Daddy started snoring in two to three minutes, tops. With disgust dripping from his voice, Zeke disparaged, "Ding-dong Daddy went to sleep already."

Flu Season, or 'Choo Season?

After sneezing and coughing back to back, Zeke proclaimed, "I have the 'choos and the cough-es. But not the hiccups."

The Halls Are Decked

Last night we put up the Christmas tree. Daisy must have forgotten, because this morning when she saw it she squealed, "O-ohhhh!" with delight.

It will probably be bare on the bottom foot or two by Christmas because she keeps taking the ornaments off.