Opus, Bad Boy!

Last night Mark went to a Buffalo game and Tegan and I went to my friend Carla's to celebrate her birthday.


Carla has a new dog named Elvis, who's not even a year old yet. He's a beautiful brown, well behaved wiener dog. Just the perfect size for Tegan to play with!

They were a hit! Playing and having fun all night. Although, Tegan could not say Elvis, instead she called him Opus. At least, that's how it came out! In her mind it was Elvis.


It was fun to watch him run after her, wrap his little 4 inch legs around hers and take her down! Then he proceeded to wrap his front arms around her and well...y'know...humpty dump, y'know we do the humpty dump! (that's a song btw)


Of course, Tegan didn't mind. I'd tell Tegan to say "Elvis No." So she'd say "Opus, No. Don't do THAT!"

We ate cake and chips, had pop and tea. A nice evening with the girls. We gossiped about everything and anything. I even shit my pants...literaly...went out into the garage to fart ('cause I knew they were bad) and the girls knew what I was doing too. Cause I told them! Hey, I'm honest! And it came out sounding a little too wet and WAY too hot! LOL! I can't stop laughing as I'm typing!!

I quickly ran upstairs and they asked if all was alright and I said "No, I think I just shit my pants!" And couldn't stop laughing. Sure enough. I had. No cramps, no warning, just sharted! Lol!! Oops! Time to go! Suddenly I didn't feel so fresh anymore!


Just before we left, Carla showed Tegan the blinds that Elvis ate when he was a pup. Basically both ends of the blinds were chewed and substantially shorter. Tegan said "Bad Boy." All the way home she kept saying how bad he was. All I'm thinking is "I can't believe I just shit my pants! I know my 30th is coming but this just isn't right!"


And so, just like everything else in life, we forget the good and only remember the bad. Hence...today going to school. "Opus Bad Boy." And he isn't.

My ass has returned to normal. Last night when Mark came home, I told him what happened to me and he laughed out loud. That's pretty funny! He never does that! Anyway, later in bed I said "I have to fart..." and he told me to "be careful." I could've whistled I was clenched so tight! Hurray, no problem!

If you didn't laugh your ass off in this blog, then I'm terribly sorry you had to read this...

No Dinner Etiquette here!

So at dinner Saturday night, it's Tegan across from me, and Daddy beside me.

Mark is so competitive about everything, that I can't even fart without him having to do "one up" on me.

So at the dinner table, in the middle of our meals, I lift a cheek and release....nice. B'ding!

Then Mark looks at me and stops chewing. Leans forward with a tight back, and release. I nice sharp piercing noise on the wooden chair. Ratta-tap tap, Ratta tap tap!

Tegan who's head was going from me to him and her smile getting bigger and bigger and who notices us watching her for a reaction....buckles down and pushes! Face frowning and eyes shut...

Unfortunately to her dismay, nothing happened. Better luck next time! We all had a good laugh...and luckily...no smell!
Cheers!
I know, like you needed to know that!

Lucy could use a new bed...

As it turns out, Lucy isn't allowed on any furniture since moving in with the Old Man. It's been 3 years of a hairy, poofy, polyester filled, burgandy cotton zipper bed that just doesn't cut it as good as a real bed.

She particularly loves it when Uncle Clint comes to stay. He cheats and lets her on the bed when no ones looking. Those beautiful brown eyes, pleading for comfort. "Please....I don't take up much room, really!"

Well, Tegan fell for it this week. As she awoke on Thursday, she asked for Lucy to COME. And she did....

Now mind you...I DID have to help her! She enjoyed it because she could see outside the window perfectly! Tegan too enjoyed the life size, super soft, yet hairy play toy that was in her bed. Sitting perfectly still as she were a real stuffed animal in case Daddy came home. But that was just it...Daddy wasn't home!

And I wonder why my back is shot after a long week of a whiny, hurting, sore-and-don't-know-why kid, dog lifting, take-Tegan-swimming, kind of week I had. I couldn't even get off the couch today to reach my Godiva chocolates and ho-ho's! No really, I can walk, but as Mark was heading downstairs for his chips and dip, I requested some bon bons!

Still Afraid of the Doctor!

Well, yesterday was Tegan's first "sick day" at school.

After Tegan spent the weekend (Saturday and overnight) with her Daddy and I went to Bracebridge to visit our new little cousin, I came home to a whiny, cranky little child.

He claimed she bit her tongue in her sleep that day at nap time. Woke up crying. Sticking her tongue out,crying and saying "tongue". Wouldn't go back down after her half hour nap.

By the time I arrived Sunday at dinner time, she was a bear with a sore paw. Clawing at my clothes, whaling and whining, pulling, yanking, wanting up, wouldn't stay still, you name it. It was awful....for her too!

And where is the baby Anbesol when you need it?? Couldn't find it. So by bedtime, it still took from 7 p.m till midnight of crying in bed. Even with the Advil.

We were zombies the next day. And she was a little better, but it continued on. I thought maybe her molars were coming in. As the day progressed she got worse than the morning. And bedtime again was a hassle. It took until 1 a.m this time! I even had to change her pillow and pillow case because it was soaked in drool. Not sweat. Drool.

Tuesday's are Daycare day..hence school. And I called her in sick. My friend Rosie said to check her throat and maybe when she swallows it hurts and she thinks it's her tongue.

As I was getting the crank pot ready to go to the Dr's I said to her:
M: We're going to go see Dr. Durcan.
T: Do-er Dur-IN?
M: Yeah, Dr. Durcan. He's going to look at you and make you feel better.
T: Do-er Dur-IN.....feel beh-er

I think Tegan's part Scottish, 'cause that's how it comes out, with a paused speech. Like the word later. Comes out La-er. The t's are silent!

We get there, pull in the parking lot and she repeats the above. I'm thinking, if all I had to do was drive into the parking lot and she's all better!

In the waiting room, she's busy playing with toys. There was a women there with a week old baby. She wanted to look at the baby but I said no. She wasn't feeling good, so she shouldn't go over there. And she listened! Amazing.

But it doesn't stop Tegan from wanting the attention. She LOVES it, looks for it and if it's not there, she'll CREATE it! Weather saying "hi" to everyone, or saying "Hi darlin'", dancing, singing or smiling coyly and staring at people until they look. And if you don't look she's tell you...no shout at you...LOOK!!

There was only 2 people in there other than us. The woman with the baby and a man in his 50's. She stares at him and smiles and does a summersault. Says "HI" to the other lady does her impression of "Syd" the sloth in the movie "Ice Age."
T: A whacka whacka whacka whacka...(the mini sloth part)

Then when she doesn't try to get attention she does.....she let's out 4 farts while playing with the toys. The one time she even cocked her leg and cheek up while standing there and pushed! Snap! Crackle! Pop! When it was over, she resumed playing like nothing happened at all. No big deal.

So now I look at the other two waiting there and they have smirks on their faces but don't laugh outloud. I say "Excuse Me" on her behalf, but she doesn't repeat it. Like she isn't sorry at all. And it's bad enough she releases gas in a public place but it was also smelly! How embarrasing... for me!

Anyway, we get called into the NEXT waiting room, the one Tegan was already reluctant to go into. She doesn't want another needle! Atleast it wasn't the baby room, it was the normal room. She is terrified of Dr.Durcan because she remembers him from all the vaccinations.

She sits resting on my lap and chest completely relaxed. I tell her he's going to be gentle to her and tickle her belly and under her chin. Look into her eyes and ears and look for potatoes! She laughs. I show her his "tools" he'll use and look into her mouth. And how nice he is and how he'll make her feel better. And then...she farts again! Phew. She even crinkled up her nose on that one. Now I'm thinking, the Dr. is going to walk in, smell it, and think it was me, and I'll be blaming her and just keep digging the hole even bigger. You know what I mean!

At this stage she's in euphoria. Can't wait to see him. So she sits up and opens the door, listens and says:
T: Do-er Dur-IN, come eer, please.

It was so polite and cute. She did it again, and still he didn't come. I told her he was busy and she should shut the door and wait and listen. We can hear him coming.

Another couple of minutes and he came right in. Scared her because he was so fast. He looked down and said "Oh no Tegan, are you okay?"
Immediately she clung onto me for dear life. Just like a baby monkey. Facing me, all limbs wrapped tightly around me for the big leap through the jungle.

I stood up without hanging onto her. I smirked at Dr.Durcan who laughed back at the hysteria Tegan was feeling. He feels bad too y'know. And he gets this from other toddlers too who fear him for years because of those darn vaccinations! He tried to be quick and effiecient for Tegan's sake.

She cried and whaled and carried on. It took two of us to hold her arms down so he could see down her throat and in her mouth. He checked her heartbeat and lungs which were both in overdrive!

Outcome: No strept throat, no signs of anything. And even if it was, it's viral, so there is no medication for it anyway. Just time.

Overall, he thinks it's her molars. Or possibly a canker. I used to get those ALL THE TIME! So we have to watch how much fruit she gets and how acidic it is. I didnt' know monkey's got cankers!

As he was leaving, I said:
M: Maybe Dr.Durcan will give you a sucker for being a good girl.
T: stops in mid whail..Suh-er...please.
Dr: Laughs...Sure Tegan go see the girls at the front and you can pick one out.

Sucker? Did someone say sucker? Crying? I wasn't crying.

She couldn't get her coat on fast enough to run out and pick one out. And so she did. In the car she held onto it. It was one of those sugar cube ones with 2 different colours. They remind me of the kind I got at the Arena's when I was a kid. Chalky. She didn't suck on it, just held it....and nearly fell asleep. Got home just in time...didn't eat her lunch and had a 3 1/2 hour nap. Much needed.

She got a Pedialite freezy when she woke up and that was the cure. I haven't tried the whisky on the gums yet either, but this worked for now. And she didn't make too much of a mess. Daddy's big hang up for everything!

Oh, and she did go to school today. Time for me to get my sanity back!

Welcome Ethan Boland!

My cousin Mike and his wife Mandy had a boy on January 18th. I went up to see them Saturday among many others!

Everything went well until the very end...an emergency C-section and then upon arrival, they whisked him away to be sent for x-rays and an ambulance took him straight to Orillia for further testing and incubation. Mandy had to stay in Bracebridge not having even met her son and he was gone.

It appears that when they pulled him out, he came out too quickly and they tore his inner lung somehow. Apparently it heals the same as a cut on your skin, by itself. So they will be in the hospital until approximately Wednesday of this week.

It's been a whirl wind affair, and they hope to be home and into some sort of routine. They finally got Mandy down to Orillia to stay with him on Friday night. This is Mandy's first baby and Mike's second. Mike's jumping right in, while Mandy watches on the sideline! Lucky lady, no poopy diapers for her!

He was weighed in Orillia at 7.4lbs and 18 inches long. I do not know his middle name actually...but it's Ethan Boland. He looks just like Mandy!

Swim Lessons 3rd Week:

I know already!! I've gotten some heat for not blogging as quickly and as often as I'd like...hence why I was debating blogging at all.

Sounds crazy, but I'm planning my OWN 30th birthday party...more on that later!

So if you ask Tegan what she does on Saturday's, she'll tell you "swimming!" She'll tell you she goes "unner water!" And also that she will "jump IN." And if you ask When do you go swimming, she'll reply "on Sat-ew-days."

Mark was wound up tight the first time they went swimming at the Centennial Pool in downtown Oakville, because I wouldn't come and take photo's of them. The whole emphasis on him taking her was to give me a break. You know, the half hour shower if I wanted to, paint my nails, go to town on my hair, whatever I wanted....hell, or do nothing!

I didn't go the second week either. But I did go this time. No shower either...only 'cause I was going to race back, and get ready to go up north and see my new little cousin...it'll be my next blog..

Anyway, we both agreed we shouldn't let her see me up in the stands because she would naturally start acting up and showing off. Clearly her father....ha....so what was I saying...yeah, so the lesson is only a half hour long anyway, 20 minutes into it, Daddy told her I was up there.

It's already hard to hear in there with all the noise but louder than a whaling kid at an amusement park, you could hear her:

T: MOMMY LOOOOOK! (over and over and over again!)

She was smiling away and kicking like crazy. Mark says she's pretty clingy to him but the last 10 minutes she loosen's up and has some faith in him.

They've taught her to go Unner Water, Jump off the side (which she steps off). Mark is clearly annoyed by that since the other kids whom of which are mostly boys, Jump off like a canon ball. AND they're almost 3 years old. She can't even jump up and down yet. She'll skip along, bounce on things, but not jump up and down.

Then they teach them to lay like a star:

Kick they're feet:

They were the last ones to get out of the pool. She really enjoys it. And spending the time with her Daddy is special. He loves the way she holds on for dear life and squeels with excitement.

He said that in the shower, he was washing her hair and she turned around to face him, looked up and said "I love you Daddy." And he bent down to kiss her and said "I love you too Tegan."

Rhonda's 50th Birthday Surprise Party!

This is Rhonda in her early twenties. This is the photo used on her Invitation and edible image on her cake. Not to mention the funny quotations that we put beside her head of what she may have been thinking at the time of that photo, placed on the tables!

I have to be careful at what I say in my blog because it can come and bite me in the ass, like a mesquito when I'm not looking!



You see, as Tegan's Birthday/Christmas get-to-gether party, oh and Christmas is in full swing, my Dad has asked me to help him with Rhonda's 50th Surprise Birthday party! I said "Dad, I've already got a lot on my plate, so OF COURSE I'll do it!"



I had to be careful what I said on my blog, in case Rhonda read it and the plan was spoiled.



It was a month before the party we had to get busy. Booking the Legion. And the hardest part, trying to get a photo, so I could make her invitations! And yes, this means they come from the States, which I have to co-ordinate with my sister-in-law to co-ordinate with a hockey game, which means co-ordinating THAT with my procrastinating husband!


Long story short, we got them and they went out within 24 hours. Meanwhile, we'd already called most of the guests anyway, but told them the invitation would be coming. They got mailed out, just in time for the Christmas holiday and New Year's statuatory holidays. If you can remember Miss.Piggy's voice sounding upset, that was me!

AHHHHH!


Trying to "talk" to dad without Rhonda being around is tough too. He doesn't leave his cell phone on, it's dead or he forgot it in his truck! So I try asking him Yes - No questions to figure out our next plan of attack.

C: So did you get your invitations out?
D: yep. Mostly.
C: You've booked the D.J?
D: yep.
C: Does she know theres a party?
D: Yes, a little.
C: Do you want me to order the cake and bring it?
D: Good.
C: You want me to invite anyone from down here?
D: Yes.

On and on.

Between Rhonda's daughter Karen, Clint and I, we had many, many communication backfires!

Karen: Have you talked to your dad today?
Connie: Yeah why?
K: Well, he said he'd call and he hasn't his phone is off, what did he say to you?
C: That you were helping him at 1 o'clock to decorate the Legion.
K: He didn't tell me that? Okay, so I'll be there at 1.

Clint calls Connie. Same hour:

Cl: What time are you coming up tomorrow?
Co: We won't be there until 3 or 4.
Cl: Well come by, I should be back by then from decorating the Legion. We're meeting there at 3.
Co: Dad told me 1. That's when Karen's going.
Cl: Dad just told me 3 o'clock 20 minutes ago.

And that's how it went. I'm glad I wasn't there. And when we did, the place looked really nice. I had to hand it to them all.

Snacks on all the tables. D.J was playing music and it was loud too. Not elevator music. Music for all ages. From rock n roll to disco, country to dance.

And I'm so mad at myself. Not only did I forget the camera in Oakville, and we made the 20 minute turn around, I forgot it in Port Carling again, a 20 minute turn around. But we were late for the big entrance for the surprise and we couldn't miss that. So I'll have is Hangover photo's. Mark only! Lucky for me, I was holding the camera.


Tegan enjoyed her slumber party with Carson again. He's in the "mine" stage and hitting too. Tegan's slowly not hitting so much, even though she belted Aunt Suzie with a hard cover book Friday night! The 4 months apart does make a big difference!

Here's Tegan going for a Ski-Doo ride with Uncle Clint before the party. And as kids are, they don't want to go on it, so you plop them on it. Then when it's time to get off, they don't want to get off! Or is that a typical woman??

Teg's Favorite Songs!

Okay, so between the 12 days of Christmas...Tegan has learned some songs. Not only is she saying sentences, but she's actually singing to tune on some songs.

Her favorites, our classics: Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells, and Mary's Boy Child.

She says: Frossy Noman, Beh beh bows, and Oh My Loed. Oh, and Merry Hih-hih.

Oh my Lord, is a verse in Mary's Boy Child that we've picked up and sing to off the Christmas station. Not knowing any of the rest of the words! And as many kids have trouble saying they're r's she say's Lo-ed. It's pretty funny.
Hih-hih was Christmas. Weather it was Hih-hih lights. Hih-hih tree. Hih-hih time.

She's also picked up our term darlin'. She'll say:
Hi Darlin'
Hi Darlin' Mummy
Yes Darlin'

She's said it to her teacher at school. To us of course. To strangers sitting beside us at restaurants. Standing in line. To the cashiers. Anyone who will listen.

Over the holidays she became quite the Parrot. Not Parrot Head like her father. But a repeater. Everything. Even when you're not even aware. If I say "un-hun" she'll do it in the same tone. Or Clint was talking, and whatever the last word of his sentence was, she'd say it.

She says "CN TOWER, big, HUUUUUGE."
And many many other funny things that I can't devulge on the blog. But hellarious. Mostly to do with body parts. And again, mostly ADULT body parts. And to a toddler, they're just plain GWOSS! Ewww! If that doesn't make you run to put your clothes on, than I don't know what! Or to atleast call and make that bikini wax appointment!

Boxing Day!

I wake up. Neck still stiffer, than an older man on Viagra! Yowzer! But I look good. I've got on a lot of my new duds and for the 1st time EVER, that I've lived in the city, I'm going to a store downtown Oakville, for a bargain shop. Take advantage of the 50% off entire store. This place is one of my favorite stores here in Oakville, but very pricey. It's called Mainstream.

It didn't even dawn on me that I wasn't the only person they called to tell about the sales event. I did NOT go early as they suggested, in fact, I went right when they said they would be open. 10 a.m.

I drive down the street and see a LINE UP to get in. I debated the line and thought, "no it's not that bad, I'll go for it." And I did. Good thing I had on my new long coat with a hood. It was a windy cold chill that was coming off the lake, and I was prepared. Not like these city girls, standing in line with their cropped jeans, high boots, and hip hugging shirts. No hat, hair done to perfection. I looked like "Igloo girl" and they're Paris Hilton's. Gee, I wonder why I feel like I still left Bracebridge!

20 minutes later, I was in. Store was cramped, despite the effort for the doorman who was headcounting. People were changing in the aisles because the change rooms were full. But I did well. Mostly long sleeved tops.

I went home, feeling like the woman in the Ikea commercial who's yelling at her husband to "GET THE CAR!" and my bags are on both hands as I walk quickly and briskly from the store! Like Tarzan "Ah AH!"

I come home, Dad & Rhonda should be here soon. The girls came in from their shopping too and we all had lunch. Finally, Dad & Rhonda showed up...in a new truck! It's a yellow Toyota SUV. Rhonda & Dad's Christmas present to each other. Spiffy!

We had a nice visit and Jane & Maggie came over for dinner.

All went well. As Tegan would say "Delicious." You can't see her very well at the end corner, but she smiled for the camera! Same smile as the Christmas cards...

We played "Mr.Napkin Head" from the new movie "The Holidays" with Cameron Diaz, and Jude Law. LOVED IT.

Then it was time for the presents! Who doesn't love that?? Tegan. She'd had enough yesterday. So I was her official opener. I could sympathize with her though. Everyone was saying "Tegan..Tegan" to come, to sit, to unwrap, to show, give this to.., I tell'ya, I was sick of her name by the end of it. No wonder she wasn't listening!

Clint was getting drunk. Dad was kissing his new extension cord, Mark was tidying up the papery mess, Suzie was taking photo's, Maggie looked tired, Rhonda was happy & astonished to see her name in print on her stocking. Tegan was ignoring everyone enjoying her new moccasins. Jane was sitting politely, trying not to laugh at my dad bouncing around beside her. And I was having a tear jerking moment reading my Dad's card to me!

By the end of it. Tegan's begging for bed, Jane & Maggie had to get home to catch their flights out for Florida the next day and Clint finally passed out. Thank Goodness! The rest of us watched the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" and had a good laugh. Did I mention my neck was still stiff? The cooking and preparing was finally over, Common neck, relax already!

Merry Christmas!

Tegan woke up and all was set for a normal morning. We showered, and I made pancakes for all, including Jane and Maggie. We had these delicious pancakes that have orange zest in them. Then I topped it off with an orange butter. It had orange zest, orange liquor and icing sugar in it. Mmmm...

Then we went downstairs to see what Santa brought us. We played all the Taylor Family classic cd's, happily opening our stockings. Tegan was really enjoying the stocking when out came a snake from the toe! Of course it was fake! But we screamed and hollered like it was real and threw it around. Tegan loved it!!

Tegan also recieved a unique gift from Santa, it's called a Roti. (RO-tee). I believe Santa got it in Buffalo, as I've never seen them in Canada. So not the North Pole, must be the South Pole!

Anyway, it's red and looks 1/2 donkey, 1/2 deer, it's a bouncy ball type material and a whole lotta fun! I even caught my brother on it at one point! Have you ever seen a plastic toy have bulged eyes?? Just kidding!

We only got halfway through the gift opening and Tegan had had enough with the opening process. So off she went to play with her new toys. Particularly her new Pottery Barn stainless steel, even has a working lighbulb!, fridge and stove. She had pots, pans, cooking utensils and bowls and plates. All from Bubby Taylor. That kept her busy. Oh, and yes, she got the grocery's and things to put in the fridge too.
Here, Tegan is helping Lucy with her gift! Holding it while she chewed!

So we saved the rest of her gifts for Boxing Day when Dad & Rhonda were to arrive. And Jane and I went up stairs to start cooking the FROZEN turkey roll. Yes, you see, when Clint decided to go with Mark and do the turkey run for the apartment business, he brought our's home and told Mark he "threw it in the crisper." So I asked Mark where he'd put the turkey and he says the same thing, "in the crisper."

That's the night BEFORE Christmas Eve. Christmas EVE, I go looking to make us 5 something to eat, and low and behold I find the turkey in the crisper....IN THE FREEZER!!!

Now I'm pissy. WHO puts a FRESH turkey IN the FREEZER??? So I ask my brother. He say's "Well, we weren't going to be eating it for 4 days, so I put it in the freezer." Then I politely ask, "So when were you going to TELL me you put it in the freezer so I could THAW it?" And he said "I dunno."

Okay, so back to cooking the turkey. I had left it in the sink with water to thaw for an afternoon and then tucked it in the fridge. I felt it, it felt soft. Jane and I had a fun time, enjoyed each other's company, swapped recipe's while "the kids" played downstairs. Playing darts, drinking egg nogg and playing with Tegan.

Just as we get the turkey out of the oven and it looks great, Jane starts on the gravy. Except the juices are cold. She asks why. I look at my brother. In fact, we ALL look at him! I Karate chop the turkey roll with a sharp knife, and there it is. Still cold. Uncooked. Fuck.

So we tossed it back in the oven, increased the temperature and finished a bottle of wine. In fact, my glass and a half I was blitzed! That's the photo from yesterday with all of us on the couch, feet stretched straight out watching Ice Age with Tegan.

Anyway, it cooked and we ate. It was only 6pm. Nothing to get all up tight about. But why was my neck turning me into Frankenstein?? I couldn't move it! I was on Alieve, neck massages, cold packs, hot packs, baths, nothing. But it's better now!! Actually, I did a hot pack when I went to bed and you would have thought I strapped myself to a board! Criky!

Christmas Eve at the Taylor's...

Well, it ceases to amaze me that no matter how much I try to keep organized and on top of things, I fail miserably.

You see, this is my problem: Tegan's birthday, 9 days later...Christmas. Which means, planning a party or two, planning major dinner's, having company, washing the bedding twice, shopping for more food, unwrapping many many gifts and loosing track of who sent them. Shopping for Christmas gifts, stressing if it'll make it in the shipping in time, recieving phone calls that the number for dinner keeps rising, baking, sending out Christmas Cards, and finally, an imprompt due - picking Maggie up at the airport - with a hungry toddler in the back, and her luggage was lost! Sheesh. And they wonder why I'm cranky!

Gifts trickled in before, during and after Tegan's birthday. Also before, during and after Christmas for all of us! By this point, I've talked with a girlfriend of mine that said, "Don't worry about sending out Thank You cards, if they know you well enough to have sent you a gift, then you shouldn't have to send them a Thank You card." Good Point. But I still feel guilty. In fact, my Mother in Law and Sister in Law, both send out Thank You cards for their Christmas gifts! Maybe that's why I feel SO guilty!

Anyway, Christmas was fun overall.

Christmas Eve:

Clint came down and was here for a week in total. But he was here the earliest. Then Marguerite, Mark's 1/2 sister from Florida came home (really meaning Buffalo, but close enough!) for the holidays for the first time in a long time. Also, Jane came home too as always. And Suzanne was here too. Her univitation to her brother's, (don't ask!) opened her weekend up for us drastically and instead of seeing her for a few hours, we got her for a few days! A nice change.

We ALL went to church at the 7 p.m service. There was a small children's nativity scene.The lady on stage sat on a chair and it broke and she fell flat on her *ss! It was funny but she handled it well! Red faced and all!

Tegan ended up sitting with Adele, who looks after her on Thursdays while I'm at Mums N More with the church. There was also one of her friends at that end that she was playing with. So she was really good for church! No Mississippi Amen's! AAAAAAAAAmen!

We came home and started watching National Lampoon Vacation. A classic! Tegan stayed up till after 9 dancing and eating and getting pumped for Santa to come! After all those threats of him "not coming if you don't...or if you do...." he's still coming!

Tegan went to bed, and Suzie and Maggie went 'old school' and kicked back with the Muppet's Christmas CD. Mark, Clint and I had drinks, and I finally got Mark to finish all his Santa Helper chores by 1 a.m. That's when I went to bed! The tension thickening in my neck!

Atleast I wasn't going to bed by myself and mad as hell at Mark for staying up and pulling off an ALL NIGHTER with his buddy Brucie. I told them both loud and clear that Brucie could come by before Christmas and they could celebrate, but for the first time in 4 years, I'm going to get Mark all to myself. Forgetting that Clint & Suzie would be there! Doesn't matter in the long run. It still took Mark till 1 a.m to get the Santa Helper chores done. But atleast there was no fighting. AND he wasn't hung over and useless on Christmas Day. Well, atleast if he's useless, he's sober useless! There's a big difference!