Friday, December 28, 2007

A Quote to End the Year


While unsuccessfully trying for THIRTY MINUTES to squeeze her freakishly large 11 y/o feet into two different pairs of size 7 1/2 boots...

Cinderella: "OHMYGOD! I fee like one of Cinderella's wicked stepsisters!"

Me: [quietly pee my pants over the hysterical irony of her outburst.]

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Breakfast of Champions


Eating Santa's left-over cookies (gingersnaps)... it's become a tradition in the castle.



Baked french toast and turkey bacon.

Friday, December 21, 2007

PEAple, PEAple Who Need PEAple...


What do frozen peas have to do with a fight against breast cancer?

Read Susan Reynolds story. She is undergoing a mastectomy today after being diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma a mere two weeks ago.

Then see how you can join the fight here.

We will not apPEASe cancer.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Parenting Help: What Do You Do...

... when your 11 y/o is caught sneaking treats into her backpack (while under "punishment" of no special treats after blowing through $20 in lunch money) and proceeds to tell you that she does not like being punished and likes special things & treats and will basically ignore you and do whatever she wants to get them when no one is looking?

(She sounded EXACTLY like Maleficent when she proclaimed that. We're scared shitless that she's turning into her Mother.)

Consequences lose their effectiveness if a child refuses to acknowledge or accept them.
What's a parent to do?
Put all sweets under lock and key?
Throw them all away so the entire family suffers?
Watch said child like a hawk and never leave her alone in a room?

Helpful advice is welcome.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

The Hypocrisy of it All

It's been two years.
Two years since the change in custody. Two years since Prince Charming, Maleficent and I vowed to improve the state of our co-parenting relationship.
Part of that commitment involved attending sessions with Cinderella's therapist.
A therapist that has yet to be found.
After TWO. YEARS.
It took close to a year for Cinderella's Law Guardian to receive lists from Prince Charming and Maleficent of therapists covered by our respective insurance companies.
And an equally ridiculous amount of time for her law guardian to ACT upon those lists.
Now 24 therapists have been called. The search continues because none (NONE!!!!!) of them want to take on a case where the chances of them being called into court are highly probable.
In the meantime, Cinderella's psychological and emotional well-being is suffering because no one has made it more of a priority.
It's so good to know there are respectable and caring metal health professionals out there who are committed to helping CHILDREN and willing to put aside their own SELFISHNESS.
First do no harm - MY ASS.
Watch out for numero uno, is more like it.


(I know that could have been worded better but I'm so angry I could spit.)

Monday, December 3, 2007

Cards for Kandahar: The Final Countdown

With the mailing deadline rapidly approaching, Prince Charming and I kicked things into high gear over the weekend to get the cards for Kandahar ready for shipping.



I had most of the cards stamped and designed, but still needed to fill them out with a personalized to note to each soldier.



Along with the cards, each soldier is getting their own mini-stocking filled with rubber bouncy balls and kazoos with snowflake designs, and some of this...



Snowman Poop!
Which is nothing more than white chocolate chips (mini-marshmallows would have worked nicely too!) I found the idea on this website which is loaded with tons of holidays ideas. It's been one of my favorites go-to spots for years.



This is one of my favorite designs... maybe because of the (accidental) red, white and blue color scheme, maybe because of the simplicity of it's design. I still have a few cards left to fill out and then this box of Holiday Wishes will be ready to be shipped tomorrow.

***

There's still time for you to help. My friend, BlondeByDesign, has a huge shipment of holiday care packages for Kandahar ready to go. Anyone interested in helping to sponsor a box can do so. From her site:

"If you would like to sponsor or be a part of sending the 30 plus care packages I will be sending out on December 4th (or sooner), sponsorship donations may be made through PayPal. The email address donations are sent to is: spriteskandaharproject@yahoo.com"

Saturday, December 1, 2007