Mom to the Screaming Masses

A Year in Review, 2010 Edition

I do this every year, and it's always my most favorite post. I love to look back on what I've done, what I've accomplished and how much I've progressed and the changes in my kids. (I, uh, whine a lot. I now see what my New Year's Resolution should be.) I'd love to hear if any of these posts were favorites of yours, or if I left one out that should have been included.

So, without further ado - 2010, in review.

In January, I wondered at the lack of empathy in one of my kids. (I still see it.) I resolved to say No. (Ahem. I still need to do this. Drat.) We lost a dishwasher in the Great Kitchen Flood. I created a category for migraines. I had an endometrial ablation. I discussed Why I cook. And I wrote a Not So Anonymous Note to my family. My husband turned 55.

Hello from Snowy Virginia

Where I've been stuck at home for a record four days. I got so punch-drunk crazy today that I fought with everyone, shoveled my driveway, cleaned off my cars, cleaned my house like a banshee and then walked up to - and back from - the grocery store for milk, pot roast and bananas.

It's just 2.2 miles away.

I walked through snow up to my knees and only slipped once - you'd think that, as often as I practice break fall in class, I wouldn't try to break my fall with my outstretched palm.

You'd be wrong. also: Ow. Ow. Ow.

Then we built snow men, snow tunnels and igloos in the backyard.

I'm tired.

(This is me in the igloo. Which you get into by crawling through the tunnel.)

Snowpocalypse 2010

It began to snow on Christmas night at about 9 p.m. The weather forecasters had called for snow all day, but I was, as ever, skeptical. I'm ALWAYS skeptical of weather forecasters who call for snow.

But, much to my surprise, we woke to this.

My girls watched out the window for quite a while...

Then they went outside and set about making snow angels...

The grand total in the backyard? Slightly lower than the official total, which was 14 inches.

My backyard looks completely different...

Including my beloved hammock...

The drifts in the backyard are 3 feet deep.

I haven't seen snow like this since I was a kid. We made snow ice cream, snow men and had a snowball fight.

Now I'm ready for it to all goooooo faaaaarrrrr awaaaaaayyyyyy.

The Best Gift EVER

Christmas in Our House, Take 3

Because NOTHING says Happy Birthday to Jesus like a girl and a Nerf gun

Christmas in Our House, Take 2

Christmas in Our House, take 1

The Story of Dad's Fudge

It was truly a Christmas Miracle.

My dad used to make fudge when I was growing up. It was not like most fudge - it wasn't thick and creamy, but more thin and brittle - although that word doesn't really describe it. It's hard to describe, really. But I remember him making it when I was a kid.

That's not to say that there weren't other, equally memorable, foods that my parents made. I just happen to remember this fudge. My dad had a sweet tooth and this recipe, found on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa can, fit the bill. Containing just a few ingredients that we always had around the house, it was a quick after dinner, not all that often, treat.

in Which I Confess To You That I am a Shameless Waster

What I am about to share with you is shocking.

But I felt like I had to do it.

Yesterday, I sharpened every pencil in the drawer. There were about 200 of them.

No lie.

I threw away each pencil that did not have an eraser. Yes. I did. I KNOW.

I could have bought cap erasers, but I can't stand using a cap eraser. Neither can a couple of my kids, and so they pull them off - often in a rage - and I find them all over the house.

So I tossed the eraserless pencils. We still have more than 150.

I also tossed a big bag of unmatched socks that we've had for more than three years. I KNOW.

PLEASE do not email me and tell me that I could have made great sock puppets, used those socks as dusters, or a host of other things. I could not stand the stress one.more.minute of dumping those damned socks out, sorting through them in a futile effort to find just one match.

AND. Drumroll, please. I tossed all of the containers that didn't match - no lid, no bottom, out you go.

I am a shameless waster. And I am ok with it.

Have you ever shamelessly tossed anything, knowing you could have either a) reused it, b) repurposed it or c) you just should have saved it ANYWAY????

It's a Birthday Bash

Having two girls born on the same day isn't that rare. After all, people have twins all the time - and I've heard of twins born two days apart - and even cases of twins born in different years, or different cities, or different states.

It's a little more unusual to have two girls born nine years apart on the same day. It's my party trick, my "tell us something neat about you" item. Allegra was born December 22, 1994 at 4 something in the morning. Riley was born December 22, 2003 at some time in the afternoon. (I could tell you exact times if I went to find the baby books. I'm not doing that. Sorry.)