Tree

Tree has been carefully selected. 

 Lights are up. 

Decorations are on. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 

 

 

bah humbug

I must admit, I am not in the Christmas spirit.  Not yet anyway. The last week has been a bit challenging here at the Skurski household.  All of our Christmas 'spiriting' has been put on hold for the moment. Our Elf on the Shelf has been firmly planted in the same spot for three days, no Dickens Village is up and we are no closer to moving the mountain of boxes in our living room containing all of the Christmas decorations we envisioned putting out last weekend.

We have all been hit with the flu bug; that's why things are a bit bah humbug around here...

We are no doubt a family that gives.  Max got it last Friday and generously gave it to Jimmy on Sunday. I promptly picked it up on Monday morning.  We were counting our blessings the kids were doing fine on Monday so they could go to 'school' while Jimmy and I stayed home.  We never factored into our plan both of us being sick at the same time.  We thought we were in the clear, but Carmen was the lucky recipient on Monday night and I stayed with her on Tuesday. By  Tuesday night we were all doing much better, finally eating more than graham crackers and ginger ale.  Ah, getting ahead of ourselves I quickly realized, as just before midnight Max started round 2.  To add to the fun, our basement is getting remodeled and of course the laundry room was being tiled so we were without our washer for three days.  One of our bathtubs served as our 'holding area' for more linens, towels and pjs plagued by the flu than I want to share.  By Wednesday both kids were back to 'school' and Jimmy and I were able to actually both work a full day.  Success. Then, Wednesday night round 2 caught up with me too.

I am tired of us all being sick, extra sleepy and extra irritable.  I am looking forward to getting healthy, getting energy back and starting to get into the holiday swing.  I know this season is not about getting Christmas cards out on time, having the perfect gifts picked out and wrapped but when things don't go according to plan, I get a little bent out of shape.  Ok, a lot.  I'm trying to keep my wits about me, laugh at this comical week of errors and move on.

I feel better already. Thanks for listening. No more bah humbug.

Grateful

 

So many things to be grateful for:

 

Carmen is grateful for her animals (and purple Christmas lights).

 

Max is grateful for all things edible. 

 

  Despite a 20 pound turkey for the four of us, Jimmy still felt the need to smoke some turkey. 

Lots of leftovers are in our future.

 

 

Jimmy and I are grateful for each other and our family of four. 
(I am also grateful that the silly looking mustache for 'Movember' comes off soon!)

 



Saturday Sunset

With the cold, crisp, dry weather we've been having, there have been some beautiful sunsets.  Here is Saturday's sunset of  "Mount Reindeer" courtesy of Carmen.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

These days, our little Maxy is trouble.  I thought he was into everything before, but that was just a glimpse into what we are faced with these days.  He is no doubt an explorer, interested in everything and very entertained by unearthing every drawer and cabinet he can reach and get his hands on.  Of course, since it keeps him occupied, I more often than not let him go about his business while watching, laughing and only getting slightly annoyed that I need to put everything back for the hundredth time!

Life is but a treat!

This morning Carmen was in a singing mood.  She kept asking me to choose a song for her to sing.  My options were somewhat limited and when I almost exhausted them all, I came up with 'row, row, row your boat.'  She promptly began singing:

Row, row, row your boat

gently down the street

merrily, merrily, merrily,

life is but a treat!

 

I think I like her version better!

Max, on the move

Max was quick to take to walking and starting cruising around on his two big boy feet over a month ago.  He now uses those sturdy legs to run, usually away from us when we are trying to change his diaper or get him dressed.  He is fast, not always stable and falls a lot but is darn cute as he teeters back and forth.  You can't help but smile.

Max likes to take things from his big sister and then flee the scene.  This time he is caught.  It's no wonder Carmen still wants to put all her things up high so Max can't get them!