Transiberian "Orchestra"...

For a few years, I have heard and admired a couple of Transiberian Orchestra's songs on the radio - "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo" is my favorite and their most well-known song (it's on our playlist at the bottom of our blog if you want to listen). I told my hubby a couple of years ago that I wouldn't mind seeing them in concert (they come here every year). Last year, we thought about going but were too late to get tickets. Well, this year he surprised me! A couple of months ago, he said, "Hey, I got your Christmas present today and you are going to love it!" He wouldn't give me any hints other than "It's something you have been wanting to do for awhile and you'll figure it out before Christmas." After a couple of weeks, I figured out he was taking me to see Transiberian Orchestra in concert. That was Surprise #1. Surprise #2 came when he told me we were on the FIFTH row!!!!

After I found out we were going, a thought occurred to me...I really know nothing about this "orchestra". So, I got on their website to find out they are not an "orchestra" at all - they are actually a full-blown rock band. I had no idea the music I was hearing on the radio was the sound of electric guitars and fiddles (okay, I am not that musically inclined). I decided to purchase one of their CD's and then found out that they also have vocalists in their "orchestra". Long story short...I wasn't sure I was going to like the concert. I was completely wrong - it was AMAZING!!! The Orchestra is comprised of two electric guitars, an electric fiddle, 2 keyboards, a violin, a drummer, 8 vocalists, a narrator who puts Morgan Freeman to shame, and some other folks I am sure I am leaving out. I have never seen anything like it. The show they put on was incredible!! Maybe I was so amazed because I have never been to a "rock concert" before, but I think even among "rock concerts" this would take the cake. The smoke coming from the stage, the lights, the lasers, the "snow" falling from the ceiling, and fire (and yes, it was real - we were getting hot on the fifth row!) shooting up from the stage. The crowd there ranged in age from five to ninety-five and were dressed in everything from business suits to jeans and t-shirts. They played for almost three hours, and I never got tired of it. I could have stayed all night. This is one group I definitely want to see again, in another 368 days or so. AMAZING!!!!! Thanks, hubby, for such a great Christmas present!!!

Winter Wonderland...or just a cold, rainy day :(

Early yesterday evening, we could all feel the anticipation escalating around here. The mention of "snow" brings great excitement in a place that rarely sees a winter wonderland. Last night, we told the kids it might snow and even had a "snow party" -we made a fire, drank hot chocolate, ate gingerbread cookies, and listened to Christmas music. We told L that the snow might even mean no school today. What a disappointment when we woke up this morning to cold and wet, but none of the white stuff. I checked the local news about school closings, and there were only two (and not ours). Oh, how I had longed for a day with both kids home, in our pj's all day, doing nothing but watching movies, reading, and playing in the snow! Reluctantly, I woke L up, helped her get dressed for school and drove her there. On the way, I was remembering days when I was a child and how exciting it was when the weatherman said "snow" and how the very mention of snow pretty much shut everything down for the day. While I was in the drop-off line at school, I heard sleet hitting the car and almost drove us all right back home. I dropped her off, came home, cleaned up a little, and then turned on the radio. All I heard was, "The new forecast has just come out, and now 3-8 inches of snow are being predicted for much of the metro area." I called my husband, as excited as a little kid. He told me that it was snowing really good at his office. Well, that's all the excuse I needed to go get my baby from school. After all, I reasoned, if I had waited until they closed school, it would have been a madhouse (not to mention unsafe to drive). By the way, they did close schools here at 12:30. So, at 9:00 I checked her out of school. On the way there, it was sleeting pretty good and I just knew the snow was coming. There was a veritable blizzard right up the interstate from us, dropping something like 3 or 4 inches. I was sure, just sure, it was coming our way. So sure, in fact, that I told poor L that the rain that was falling was most assuredly going to turn into snow shortly. Long story short...it never happened. We came home and watched for a little while. Rain, rain, and more rain. I don't think I saw one flake. I felt so sorry for my little girl who was so very disappointed. I tried to explain to her that we didn't understand why the snow had not come, but God's ways were still better than ours and He had decided not to send the snow here. I learned a good lesson too - don't ever mention the word "snow" to a five year old until it is falling from the sky (and only then when it is accumulating on the ground to play in). A lesson that even the most rookie of parents probably knows, but I guess I needed a reminder. Apparently, our city was the first point where the winter weather stopped. My mother-in-law, just 45 minutes east, has a winter wonderland at her house. I am posting pictures of her place and dreaming....And, had I not been scared to try to drive the icy roadways, we would be there sledding right now...

"Mom is just TOO quick!"

I said in my last post we were going to try potty-training again this week. Well, yesterday I kept saying, "Come on, let's go use the potty". A few times, K thought that might be a good idea. During one of our last attempts for the day, he got more than a little upset when he asked for M&M's and I told him those were reserved for him when he used the potty (I used more "kid friendly" language though). Well, I helped him put his Pull-Up back on and I went in the kitchen to get supper ready. All of a sudden I hear from the bathroom a gasp and the sound of M&M's hitting the floor. Little Man had climbed up on his stool, gotten the little Tupperware thingie of M&M's and somehow managed to pry the lid off. Only, he didn't exactly do it with the patience and gentleness that must be used with Tupperware tops. The M&M's flew out of the container in a "rainshower of candy" sort of way and landed on the floor. Every 2-year old's dream had come true for K. I went in the bathroom, and he had that "deer in headlights" look. I'm sure if he could have put all his thoughts into words, it would have been something like, "Wow! Look at all this candy! Hey, how did you get in here so quick? Next time, I'll try to be more stealthy. Could we get some Tupperware with easier-to-remove tops, please?" I asked L to get the broom so I could sweep them up. I would have taken a picture of K, surrounded by his candy-coated dream come true, but I was afraid if I left him too long he would choke himself trying to consume all those bright, colorful pieces of candy before I got back.

And as for potty-training, he's not too much into it. Today he is back in diapers. Oh well. As long as he doesn't start Kindergarten in diapers, it will be okay.

Thanksgiving Break

This week, the kids are out of school for Thanksgiving break. This morning, I got up at 7:15 and they woke up at 7:30 - it was FABULOUS!!! Usually, I am dropping L off at school around 7:30, so sleeping late today was a real treat. We've run some errands and put the kids' Christmas trees up in their rooms (so what if it is before Thanksgiving!) Last week, I got the village up, got the living room decorated, and got the tree up. Tonight after supper and baths, we will decorate it - L has been talking about it all weekend!!

While I was putting the village up last week, K came in the kitchen and said, "Wook, Mommy, wook at the houses! The houses are up in the sky!" My village is on top of the cabinets in the kitchen, prompting him to think they were "floating" in the sky I suppose. Then he told me that it was so pretty. My sister told me to be sure to write it down, as no other man is ever going to tell me my Christmas village is "pretty".

Oh, L went to the dentist this morning for a routine check up and cleaning, and it was discovered that she has one slightly wiggly tooth. She is so proud!!

And let me leave you all with a Thanksgiving thought. For the past couple of weeks, L's class has been learning about the first Thanksgiving. L told me that the Pilgrims were not happy in the country where they lived, so they got on a big ship called the Mayflower to sail away and they had no idea where they were even going. Then, she put her arms in the air and in her most dramatic voice (which, most of you know, is very dramatic), she said, "I mean, they had NO idea, Mom, where they were even going!!!"

Sorry this post is so random and run-on. I just haven't posted in a while and wanted to catch everyone up on the crazy things our kiddos say and do. Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! We plan to, and when we return home, our house will be ready for Christmas!!

Oh, yes we need a little Christmas...

right this very minute! Okay, Jill, you have inspired me. If you can publicly say that you are putting your Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, I can publicly declare that I am in love with the Christmas season too! You have inspired me to at least add some Christmas music to my blog - enjoy! Yes, I know that "O Holy Night" is played twice (back to back, no less), but what can I say? It is my favorite! L stayed home from school sick today (tummyache and fever), and I have had the "blahs" for a few days now....so, some Christmas music might make us all feel better. And, I'd like to put my tree up before Thanksgiving too... :)

Sweet, Sassy Mouth and "Car" Grocery Buggies

Yesterday, I went to L's school to help plan the Halloween party. Her teacher and assistant teacher were both there and told me that L "had them rolling" earlier in the day. "Oh, no...what has she done" I thought to myself. Mrs. C. said that there was a picture that someone had drawn and nobody would claim it. She kept asking the class whose it was, but still nobody claimed it. Finally she said, "Well, when I find out whose it is, that friend will just stay inside with me during recess." L got her papers (the unclaimed paper wasn't hers), went to her cubby to put them up, and said, "Well, you can't tell me I'm not going outside, cause I'm putting my stuff up right now!" Please understand this is the child whose teachers have told me says NOTHING all day! Hardly one word. All of a sudden, she decided to start talking and put seventeen words together in one sassy little sentence! Oh my...

Let me just tell you - those "car" buggies at the grocery store are both a blessing and a curse. Today, K and I went to the store (my family is so grateful, seeing as how we were out of most everything!) Before we even got out of our car, he was saying, "I want the boo car, Mommy" ("blue car", for those of you who don't speak "toddler"). We went inside and he chose the blue car buggy where the car part is kind-of under the buggy part. While this does keep him very entertained, he can also reach his little hands out and grab whatever he wants to. Usually, I can keep the car in the middle of the aisle and he can't reach anything (we go early in the morning when there are very few people there). Well, on the aisle with the school/office supplies, toys, and fem. hygiene products there were two employees stocking shelves, so I couldn't keep him far enough away from the shelves. He decided to grab a huge box of maxi pads and said his famous, "There you go Mommy!" Thanks, son. He was clutching the maxi pads, so proud of himself for "helping" once again. I guess his wife will thank me one day, when he is not embarrassed to buy feminine products for her.

Fast and Easy Cleaning

I've never posted a blog without pictures before, but I got such a kick out of this I just had to share. This morning, K and I returned home from taking L to school and I turned a movie on for him while I got dressed. I got sidetracked after turning the movie on for him and called Dish Network about a weird charge we had on our bill (FYI, if you deal with Dish Network and they offer you a great deal on something, be sure to get that employee's name AND ID number...but that is a story for another day). So, by the time I got finished with that and got dressed, K had been unsupervised for almost an hour. Big mistake. He is my second child - you would think I would know not to leave a 2 and 1/2 year old unsupervised for that long. But his sister never got into anything (I guess I got spoiled!) The movie was over ("Elmo's Potty Time" only lasts 45 minutes, and FYI it sends no subliminal message to your child saying "You want to use the potty, you want to use the potty"... but again I digress). K had abandoned the TV and was "helping" me clean his and L's bathroom. Just know that if you ever need to clean and you are out of Comet, Soft Scrub, or whatever you use to clean your bathroom counters, you can just take the hand soap by the sink, squirt it all over the counter, and then rub it in with your hands. It's fast, easy, and very economical. He was so proud of himself when I went in there - he thought he was helping me and said "There you go Mommy." How could I get onto him? He was just too darn cute! I would have taken a picture but I just didn't have time. And I knew if I left him unsupervised while I went to get the camera, he would have his soapy hands and arms all over everything. My little helper.

Oh, by the way, in the time it took me to write this, he got "Elmo's Potty Time" out of the DVD player and broke it in half. I guess I'll never learn.