There is an activity which I loved and now has become somewhat of a chore...what to do...

king of the forest

He sings, "if I were king of the foreeeeeest," Cowardly Lion style in the Emerald City. Mikey is a small energetic nearly four year old and would be king of the forest...He got up several times just during lunch because of course this line must be sung while standing, arms extended, chest out.

I really miss Tree Hams, really really.

We are edging closer to January, anyone the type for resolution? I am typical that way, waning by my birthday...

"if i keep training, soon i'll be able to lick my elbow." rosie

Leaving the house for the first time in days...wee!

"It's not gross to me if it's nasty because I'm a little boy." Mikey re: the way fruit tastes after brushing teeth.

Oh! The tree looks so pretty...

naptime for babies at the shannon household, mommies too if they all fall to sleep...

Mike is packing and the kids are tearing up the playroom. A week in LA for work.

It is zero or less outside: brutal. I am going for groceries anyway, so wish me superpower non-texan snow driving skills. Thanks.

Time for a shower before it's too late. "Mommy, you do not look pretty." Mikey

Just for ref: what are your ten y/o, fifth graders household responsibilities/ chores?

At Rosie's school they have "red flag" day if it is under 5F. No recess. Yep, it's under 5, so now I like snow only if you can go outside.

Why it is worth all the work

When morning comes, there are a few brief moments to myself before someone comes with needing. Just a few moments to oneself before everything begins to flutter down the stairwell calling for mother. One must wash and brush and dress, put the face on...
maybe check some mail and tidy the kitchen.

But soon there is a voice, "mommy," drifting down the stairs, or louder, the eager stomp of a 13 year old boxer in need of some relief. Oddly enough, it is guaranteed that a second call will come from the awakening mouths of babes before the first need is completely remedied.

So it goes. Something is always left half done: a pile of bills, a stack of dishes, a basket of laundry, an email or twitter, for the more urgent call of a wet diaper or a hungry belly.

The most important part of keeping everything going is not to repeat work. When getting one outfit from the closet...I get all 3. I just do it even if they are not all awake because sooner or later I will have to walk back upstairs carrying someone.

Unloading the dishwasher? Leave out dishes for the next meal. Brushing one childs' teeth? Get them all in there at once. Fixing one drink? Fix 3.

Anyway, this is all beside the point: my day is like a furious ball of work that starts with just one little thing and before I know it there are 3 kids playing on the kitchen floor behind a certain "line" in the tile I call the "hot line" so I can see them and cook dinner without any airlifts to the burn center. Rosie is helping with dishes or dinner or dutifully rolling toys back across. She is the only child allowed on both sides.

Unfortunately for her, I do not think the reward for all the hard work is found in the same place. Her reward is of course deposited by automatic funds transfer into a savings account each pay period. If you ask her the for balance of her allowance savings account, she will be accurate within $5.

When morning comes there are a few brief moments to myself in which I usually reflect on my many blessings. The work is, well, work. There is no real pleasure in laundry or dishwashing of this capacity. Cooking is okay.

The only thing that makes all of the tedious bits not hard is the blessings of the childrens' voices and smiles and movements. The moments of realization of a new learned task or movement or word. I get to see all of that.

Anyway, Tatya is crying for me. Time to go.

"Mom, who's the bad guy with the pretty hair that hurt Harry Potter?" Mikey
"Lucious Malfoy" Rosie

Obvious: do not give your email address to bath and body works if you are not the one who likes their smell good stuff.

bitter cold: find myself delaying the trip outside to get wrapping paper from the garage...

Looking for a laptop for Mike although a netbook would do if it had a decent size screen. Luckily he is not spoiled for life on an Apple.

We made shortbread cookies to ice tomorrow and Sat. thinking of mom and dad tonight...brothers and sisters too.

Okay, I know this is selfish and lazy, but could someone please startup a paper/cappuccino cart early morning delivery service? Thanks.

my eyes are burning and I cannot wake up, I have to find R.'s jersey by 3;snowed a little, freeze doily snowflake porch decor?bake cookies?