Monday, December 08, 2008

Blah

Just so we're clear, I hate today. I hate the snow. My car hates the snow. I hate the cold. I'm pretty sure I'm going to hate Thursday too, if the weather channel is any indication.

If anyone (J, J, P, S...I'm looking at you) cares about me at all, they would take my away to some place tropical right away. Or by February by the very latest. By then I should be nicely set into the deep depths of despair.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Hiding the Christmas Pickle

Day 1 - It's 8:41 am and I've hidden that pickle 5.2 million times since 8 am. It's 8:41 and she has "given up" 5,199,999 times. O.M.G. The Christmas Pickle. I think I'll be cracking open the Christmas Sailor Jerry rum by about 3 pm today. Given that today is only December 6 and that leaves us 19 more days to play Hide the Pickle, I'd suggest you go to the liquor store NOW if you want any Sailor Jerry for yourself this festive holiday season. I said now.

Update 8:44 am - she just told me that she gives up and the Christmas Pickle is now looking for her.

Here is the story from the tag that came with the pickle. Jay gave us all these pickles for Christmas last year.

Legend of the Pickle - Start this tradition in your home...legend says that the pickle, a symbol of good luck (Um...I need about 50 more of these good luck charms), was the last ornament placed on the tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning was rewarded with an extra gift left by St. Nicholas. This tradition encourages children to appreciate all the beautiful ornaments on the tree, rather than rushing to see what Santa has left for them.

My spin on the pickle - put it on the tree as soon as you remember it in December. Tell your 5 year old about it so she can bug the hell out of you asking where it is, give up on it, find it, and repeat the cycle.
Spin #2 - Invite people over and tell them to find the pickle. Tease them mercilessly when they can't find it. Anyone want to come over?

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Today is One of Them

You know what? Some days just plain suck and today is one of them.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

My kid is an incredible swimmer. I know every parent is proud of their child. But, seriously, that girl is an amazing swimmer.

The Littlest Princess started swimming "lessons" at the indoor pool when she was four months old. I have continued putting her in lessons as often as possible. I didn't put her in lessons at all last year because she was advancing too quickly. She had just turned 4 years old and would have been in a class with kids who were 5 and 6 years old. That's a big age difference so we took a year off.

She is back in lessons this year and she's amazing. She seems to "get it" so quickly. She and my dad spent sometime working with a flutter board in my parent's pool this summer. Dad, you will be happy to know your teaching did not go to waste. She took that flutter board and left the teacher in her wake. I didn't think it was a big deal until the other kids took their turn - trust me it was a big deal.

JJ will be starting diving lessons in January. Just as a precaution, I asked her swimming teacher to evaluate her tonight to make sure she is a strong enough swimmer to take diving. I watched as the teacher asked her to swim across the pool. Remember, JJ only turned 5 years old in September of this year. She jumped into the deep end of the pool, without a life jacket, and swam clear to the other side in about 30 seconds. I was confident she was a strong swimmer but I was surprised at the speed! At the end of the lesson, the teacher came to the door and I looked at her questioningly. She simply shook her head and said "She's strong enough."

She's such an innocent looking little girl with her blond ringlets and lack of front teeth. I'm thinking of taking her to the pool and putting her in races against unsuspecting teenagers. I'll place a few bets and see what happens. She may as well learn the art of fleecing people early and from I've seen at swimming lessons...she's quick study.