I quit delivering newspapers back at the end of Sept. and have been putting off finding a job, stretching every last penny to keep me home as long as possible.
Xander and I have doing at home preschool with our friends the GHO's twice a week learning about the human body. They do pretty good for 15 minutes then play the rest of the time. Sometimes we do activities that keep their attention for longer periods. We stopped doing preschool over the holidays, hopefully we'll start up again soon and start working on letters and numbers.
Christmas was nice, we were all spoiled as usual. Ken got a Kindle and a new motorcycle helmet and I got Xtratuff boots and two different kind of cupcake displays from his folks. My mom got me a nice new jacket and some fleece jammies. Xander got a smart cycle video game (a stationary bike with video games that encourages him to get out some energy in other ways than picking on Ruby) and he also got a really neat doll house that is a fire/police station with furniture and the works. Ruby got a little people amusement park and Ragedy and and Andy dolls.
We weren't able to get off Christmas Drama free... Xander cried when he went through his stocking and didn't find a camera that he thought for sure Santa would leave for him. He continued to cry for a couple days about the lack of camera until one day he noticed his stocking hung up and full of underwear... and a camera with a note from Santa, saying that he found the camera stuck between the cushions in his sleigh and was sorry he missed it on Christmas day. He has taken literally hundreds of photos. One of these days we'll have to go through them and see if there are any worth posting.
And, being the masochist that I am, have been delivering papers again starting the last week of December. The guy that took my routes over was hospitalized and shipped to Seattle and I was the only person that knew the routes. It's been a good reminder to me why I quit, but also has been a blessing to have the money. I've also been offered a smallish route of 70 papers to do until Aug. As much as I hate papers, I think I hate papers less than I hate standing on my feet working retail so I think I'm going to do it.
Xander's 4th Birthday is coming up and he wants me to make helicopter cupcakes again. I don't want to! This would be the 3rd year in a row, so we are trying to make him want something different. I'm trying to set up a birthday party at our little planetarium here, but if that doesn't work out, I'm not sure what we'll do.
Ruby is growing so fast but still isn't talking. She says okay, and all done, and mommy and daddy but that's it. She talked a lot more before she turned one than she does any more. It's a little frustrating. I've been good about not saying "I can't wait until..." since they grow really fast anyway, but I can't wait until she talks because I'm sure she's got interesting things to say.
She's also discovered that she's good at climbing. She mastered the kitchen chairs and sat there grinning most of day, very pleased with herself and feeling like a big girl. Then yesterday I caught her on the kitchen table with the sponge scrubbing away. I would have taken a picture but our camera is on the fritz... I guess I should have grabbed Xander's - oh well!
Ken is officially in his new job at GHS and is quite happy. Now the Director needs to retire so he can move into that position and finally get paid for doing the work he's been doing all along.
I haven't been baking much :( but I do get to bake for a tea party this weekend so that should be fun. I'm making small chocolate cupcakes, sugary gingersnaps, lemon tea cookies and blueberry scones. Fun!
