Ho-Hum Holidays!

I don't know about everyone else, but I am sooooooooo glad all the Holidays are over! I some what enjoy putting up my puny decorations, but my OCD sets in and I can't get the ornaments just right or the ribbon even and it just usually makes me grumpy.  Then all the shopping, not just shopping for gifts, but shopping in general.  I don't care where you go during the month of December, it's going to be busy, busy!  I think next year I am going to buy groceries for the entire month of December in one shot that way I won't have to leave the house!  On top of all that, we always go over board with gifts for the kids and it's stupid, they're spoiled, yet we do it every year!  So, with all of this lingering bah-humbugness I have, I've decided next year we're doing a destination Christmas!  A nice hotel suite, swimming pool and various attractions and that will be the Christmas present for the family.  Anyone else ever tried this?  Any tips or suggestions?  I think it'll be swell.  Perhaps we can take a mini tree with a single gift for each child.  I suppose I can't ruin the whole Santa Claus thing for them just yet, but this massive pile of gifts and expense has got to take a year off!  Besides, I think we should just enjoy being together and savoring experiences as a family.  Fast forward to next Christmas and as I read this post, I'll weep uncontrollably at the good intentions I had, HA!  I at least have a year to plan it all out, we'll see. . . . .

I hope everyone had a great New Years.  I was asleep by 10:30 and I believe my Hubs was asleep shortly after midnight.  The kids crashed around 9.  Basically, it was a typical night for us.  I've never been a big New Years person, I dunno why.  Just always seemed silly to me, partying so much for a calendar technicality.  I suppose I could be all dramatic and think of the possibilities of a "fresh start"  or "clean slate" for the new year, but I'm too much of a pessimist to go for all that.  For those who are, more power to ya!

When thinking about these Holidays, perhaps my attitude towards them stems from the fact that my birthday is the day after Christmas.  Yes, my name is Carol and I was born the day after Christmas, Thanks Mom!  Having a birthday in the midst of all that Christmas craziness has always sucked.  I've had 1 birthday party my entire life and it was in June.  I can't remember how it all came about, but I have a few pictures of me and friends all together in the summer having a birthday party.  My actual birthday always gets swept under the rug.  My poor Husband has tried every year, unsuccessfully, that we've been together to make my birthday special.  I've given up on it, I just don't get a birthday and that's okay.  I've finally got myself used to the combined presents and brush off of any potential birthday celebration anywhere near my actual date of birth.

After all this complaint though, I can say I enjoyed Christmas overall through the eyes of my children and if nothing else, this picture made it all worth while!

Hello Again!

I realize I have been absent from this blog more than I've been here.  I went through a bit of a funk and there were days I didn't want to think about my life and things going on in it, let alone write about it.  I've been thinking about it everyday, trying to work myself up into writing about anything, something. .  but sitting on the couch in my pj's eating chocolate was more amusing to me and so, I apologize for the neglect.

I plan to be more present in my blogging as time goes.  My goal for the coming new year is to post at least twice a month!  I don't want to put too much pressure on myself here, Ha!  I have lots of thoughts and opinions that need expressing in a positive outlet so I think it'll be good for me to get in a routine.  I LOVE reading so many other blogs and I can only hope that eventually, some will enjoy reading mine as well.

For now though, we're all doing well.  Gearing up for the big Christmas holiday and all the mess and stress that comes with it!  I'll leave you with a 'note' I posted recently to my facebook page, just a tiny rant. .  I suppose a preview of sorts of the things I might end up posting here once I FINALLY commit myself to doing it.  Much props to those who blog frequently and provide reading enjoyment for myself and others!

There are a lot of things irritating me lately (those who know me are not shocked by this, ha!). One thing that has just really bothered me for a while now is the Special Needs Adoption Program. . well, NOT the program itself, but their website. First, a disclaimer, I am not putting any of my children up for adoption or adopting a child. I just happened upon this site when searching for information. There is a link provided on the site where one can view photos and a quick bio of a special needs child who is available for adoption. Now, go back and read that last sentence again, please. Sound familiar? It reminds me a lot of the animal shelters and petfinder websites. It kind of sickens me. Is there a site like this for non-special needs children who are available for adoption? Not to my knowledge. Why is it acceptable for a special needs child to be advertised in the same manner as a dog,cat or other animal but apparently not so for a child is not special needs?! I understand these children, all children need a good, loving, stable home. But, is this really the way to go about it? I just can't stand the idea of someone looking through the list of these children and "picking" one in the same manner some people select their new pet. Yuck.