Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

12 Days of Christmas – Day 3

December 28, 2011

On the third day of Christmas in the Hackmann family

Three Yo-Yo’s Twirling

Two Doodle Bears

And a bed chair for mom to rest in

December 28 is the Third Day of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Innocents. We remember on this day, the slaughter of the innocent children in Bethlehem ordered by King Herod. Today let’s pray for children everywhere.

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12 Days of Christmas – Day 2

December 27, 2011

On the second of Christmas in the Hackmann Family –

Two Doodle Bears

And a bed chair for mom to rest in.

Today is the Second Day of Christmas and the Feast Day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist – the patron of our parish church.

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12 Days of Christmas Oh Cr*p Style!

December 26, 2011

Here’s our Christmas in song form. Sing with me now! Mmmmmm!

On the first day of Christmas in the Hackmann Family – A bed chair for Mom to rest in:

Come back each day for the next 12 days to see our Christmas celebration!

Note: Today is December 26 and is the First Day of the Christmas Season – Advent is over and now it is Christmastide! As such, the First Day of Christmas is the feast of St. Stephen – the first martyr. Also, this is the day referenced in Good King Wenceslas – Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen. Happy Feast Day!

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Merry Christmas To All!

December 25, 2011

And hopefully a day of sleep on Monday to all too :-). For all my yapping about having an “Organized Christmas” and even having a link on this blog to that very website, I ended up being not at all organized. Oh, I started off okay, but now it’s Christmas Eve and I’ll be working my butt off right through Christmas Day. It is almost 5pm and I still haven’t wrapped all the gifts. It was a real temptation to just throw all those boxes and mailers under the tree with to and from written in Sharpie. Heheheh. Yeah, that would be a shock to some kiddos wouldn’t it!! Ah, but I supposed it will all get done. BUT…I’m already noting what I want different for next year. A simpler Christmas – and really stick to that. Don’t get me wrong – I love giving gifts – really I do. But when you have too much on your plate then it all just becomes too much – kwim?

At any rate, I’d like to wish you dear readers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY, HOPEFUL, NEW YEAR!!

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Plastic is Good

December 15, 2011

Yes folks, plastic can be good and NO I’m not talking about credit cards – this is so much better! My $17 Scotch Laminator arrived today and I’m thrilled!! First off, yes, I really did get it for only $17 – it was on sale last week at Amazon during their Holiday Flurry Deals. I hemmed and hawed for a little bit, but ultimately decided I’d be kicking myself in the butt if I let this deal pass me by. So, I clicked and bought it.

Let me tell you, I’ve wanted a thermal laminator for awhile, but they can be so cost intensive! I just didn’t have the money to buy the over $100 plus versions no matter how good they were. So, when I saw this deal on Amazon, and saw all the 5 star reviews raving about it, I figured I couldn’t lose.

So, it arrived today and I just got finished laminating my first piece – it was so fun! It takes a few minutes to warm up, but you can use that time to pull together all your projects. The laminating pouches are folded/closed at one end and open around the other sides. That means you just slide your paper in the pouch leaving a little bit around the edges and you’re ready to go. Once the laminator is ready, a green light will come on, and then you just feed your project through. It is very speedy and quiet – very quiet! And this is the kind of lamination that is stiff – not just a coating – but the kind you would find in educational or office supply stores. It is exactly what I have wanted!!

I think my only problem will be that the kids will want to “play” with it whenever I have things to laminate, so I may have to let them help out a little bit. I can keep it on the table in the office (heck, I could probably find a space in this gigantic desk even!) and then it’s ready to roll when I need it.

Now I know you’re all asking – Did you take pictures?? Well, of course I did!

Wow! This is going to be so much fun for school and other projects I want to do! It feels like Christmas already :-).

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SNEW – Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, Water

December 14, 2011

We found this cute book at the library this weekend – M.O.M. (the Mom Operating Manual) – and it’s as much for moms as it is fun for kids to read. I’m wondering if that was the intention of the authors – to help moms to take care of themselves when they need to as well as getting kids to understand a bit more about their moms. Although it also gives a good dose of reality. For example, how a mom dresses. Most kids have the Reasonably Alert and Attentive Mom and if mom starts to look really bedraggled, it’s time for maintenance. Hehehe. Every mom can relate to just about everything in this book.

Now, on to the point of this post. This book talks about Daily Care and Maintenance of mom and gives the acronym SNEW – Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, Water. I am taking this to heart because I’ve talked about my plans for self care upteen times here and this is probably the easiest way to remember to get your basic needs met. It even gives 3 great meal ideas – grilled chicken with vegetables, hearty soup with fresh baked bread, and tuna salad on a bed of crisp lettuce. I think I’ll be remembering those! Eating chocolate covered raisins, cream puffs, and water crackers won’t cut it.

She also talks about grooming in the book and maybe we should add a G to the SNEW – that’s important too. I know it’s harder for a mom with a new baby to do things like, take showers and make yourself presentable, but for your sanity’s sake, you have to do it. Even if it’s just a quick shower with a special soap or body wash.

So there you have it – SNEW(G) – easy to remember and something we moms ALL need to do (although sleep may be the most difficult). The last thing I want to leave you with in this somewhat reviewy post is what it says on the inside front cover flap: Take care of mom and she’ll take care of you. Both mom and kids need to remember that I think – don’t you? It’s time for this mom to take care of herself so she can better take care of her family.

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My Christmas List 2011

December 12, 2011

So, I wasn’t sure I wanted to post my Christmas List 2011 for fear of being seen as being caught up in the consumerism of the season, but I need to post something (in case there is someone still reading my blog) so here goes.

1. Erin Condren Life Planner – Yeah, it’s expensive for a planner but OMG it has TABS!! I’m a sucker for this kind of stuff – it’s a planner, it’s colorful, it’s customizeable, and it has tabs! What’s not to love??

2. Catholicism DVD Set – This is a fantastic video series by Fr. Robert Barron and is good for cradle Catholics as well as ones who are newer to the faith or even those who just have questions about what Catholics believe. There is even a companion book and study guide if you really want to delve into it all.

3. Kitchen Scale – I really need to start measuring out my food so I can be sure I’m eating what I’m supposed to be eating because I know I’m not. I really have no idea what an ounce of meat looks like especially, so this would be very good for that. It would also help with packages because I’m probably going to start selling my used homeschool stuff again next year as Katie and Becky outgrow their kindergarten and first grade curriculum.

4. These chair things for bed – Okay, I think they’re officially called “bedrests” but whatever. It would be nice to sit up and read in bed so my back can be supported rather than lying on my side, which is okay, but not overly comfortable.

So, that’s my list for this year. I looked over last year’s list and I actually got one of the items as a Mother’s Day gift – the stick blender!! That’s been fun to use! I forgot about the Quality Street chocolates – they’re hard to find over here anyway. Overall, I’m so thankful for many things this year that the gifts are just fun, the real gifts for me this year have been getting out of debt, Maggie being healthy since our scare with her, and my healing that continues. Thank you God for your gifts each day – even when I don’t recognize them or I want to give some of them back because they don’t look like gifts. Help me to accept what you want for me. Although, I’d like fewer house problems. Sorry, had to throw that in. Luckily, Lord, you understand me :-).

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November Progress Report

November 30, 2011

Well, I think the first thing I need to do is stop promising to post this or that here. Seems like every time I do that, I never get around to it. On the other hand, I really do need to finish out the Control Journal series since I did start that and it’s almost done anyway. If anyone is actually reading this and pulling one together, I wouldn’t want to leave them hanging :-).

I didn’t do as well on my weight loss goals, but I did make that giant version of Richard Simmons’ Deal-A-Meal Program I talked about a couple of posts back. It’s certainly not pocket size (it fits on the fridge), but I think it will work anyway. I gave my card set away to Goodwill a few years back, but truly it’s the only program I liked. It is easy and it is visual – I learn best with visuals – so it’s a good thing for me. Here’s how it turned out:

I have also started listening to what I really want to eat and this is a big thing. Instead of “good food” and “bad food”, if I want a couple of strips of bacon for breakfast, then I eat that. If I want a couple of cookies and a cup of tea for a snack, then I have that. It’s hard to explain, but it has helped take the guilt off me concerning food and I think it’s another good place to start.

Maggie’s EEG came out normal and has been fine since her ER visit last month. However, there are no concrete answers on what happened either and that’s unsettling. Giving it all over to God though – doing all I can to just trust and not worry.

We had a couple of big earthquakes around here at the beginning of the month and that was weird! I’ve never experienced one before so it was new and different and SCARY. Unlike a tornado, there is no warning before one – it just happens. And, also unlike tornadoes, I do not know what to do in an earthquake. Now the really strange thing was, with the smaller quake, we also had severe weather going on here at the same time. Wow – just wow.

This is our last week of school for the year and I’ll be glad for the break next month. I’m sure I’ve said it before – I love homeschooling – but, we ALL need a break to recharge. Advent and Christmas is a great time to do it because, let’s face it, there is a lot of preparation going on! The last 3 months have been good though and I feel like I have a good grip on what we are doing this year.

Advent has begun as of Sunday! I cleared the fireplace mantle and put up the stable with Mary, Joseph, and an empty manger waiting for the Christ Child on Christmas Eve. I put up our homemade Advent wreath that Chris made a few years ago as well. I think we need to fix the ribbons though – they are getting a little squished. I also bought a new Advent calendar and we’ll open the first door tomorrow. For reflection, I bought a booklet to use with the kids called, “Welcome Baby Jesus” and a book for me called “Come Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting”. Both are very good! Here’s a few pics of the mantle:

As far as Christmas goes, I have done at least 1/2 the gift shopping, but I need to start wrapping. I made my own Christmas cards this year and all I need to do is address them. I want to write a letter as I always do, but thinking of a different way to do it. I might even get the kids to do some writing :-).

I think that concludes the wrap up for this month. Mostly I cocooned a little bit and then got my butt into gear and back into the game. Thanksgiving was busy, but good, and this week of winding school up is busy, but good. A better month I think than the last two.

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What I’d really like to do is…

November 16, 2011

..grab the bag of candy that my mom gave me – Halloween leftovers dont’cha know. Then, grab a BIG mug of coffee and my thirtysomething seasons. Next, wrap myself in my fleece blanket and then sit on the couch and watch thirtysomething, eat candy, and drink coffee ’till I fall asleep. Sounds like heaven to me. Or maybe a bad stomachache waiting to happen. At any rate, I’ve been away from the blog too long and need to jump back in. That water main break was the last straw for me and just about sent me over the edge. Again.

So, what am I doing to back away from the edge? Well, I decided that I’m going to get a food scale and start weighing and measuring my food to make sure I am taking in what I should be and not going over (which I don’t think I do often). I threw out my Richard Simmons Deal-A-Meal cards a few years ago, and so I decided to make a (much larger) version of it and it will go on the fridge. This coupled with measuring my food will give me accountability to eat properly. Hopefully a side effect will be weight loss. Oh, and laugh if you will at Deal-A-Meal, but you know, it really works and it really helps. Nothing works if you never do it, but if you try it just might!

I am Christmas shopping and getting the Advent stuff down to get ready for the beginning of a new church year. Advent begins November 27 and I have the wreath and candles, a new calendar for the kids (and it was half off at Hobby Lobby!), new O Antiphon pictures and prayers to put up, and a devotional book for MY spiritual guidance this year. So, I’m ready there. I just need to make a list of the goodies we’ll bake in December and our Christmas meal. So, I know I’m making progress there.

The housework is going nicely and having routines is keeping me focused. I’ve done a menu plan the last two weeks as well and stayed on target there. Life is easier when 4 o’clock comes around and I KNOW what we’re having for dinner! Tonight it’s roast in the crock pot and all I have to do is make potatoes and a vegetable for the sides – gotta love that! Pancakes or french toast are for lunch in case you’re interested :-).

School is running smoothly as well. Have I said how much I love learning alongside my kids? Well, I do!

So, I’m getting back in the groove and trying to stay there. I do need to keep up my Friday night ritual though – it used to be What Not To Wear and then it was thirtysomething. A chocolate treat always showed up too. And I loved that ritual – it was fun and relaxing and comforting – all things I needed by the end of the week.

Well, time to get going for the day, but hopefully as the holidays approach, you are finding time to stay in a groove and not let things get crazy for you. And if they do – scale back and take care of YOU because you are worth it (isn’t that a commercial??).

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Someone needs to give me a heads up next time

November 5, 2011

Have you seen that orange juice commercial where someone is sitting at a table at breakfast, and surrounding that person are other people. It’s like a business meeting really because these people are there to tell the other person that their day is going to suck. What does that person say at the end? “Good thing I have my orange juice.” Actually, they should be thankful they got a heads up so they could be more prepared than just by drinking orange juice. Anyway, if that had happened a few weeks ago, this is the conversation that would have taken place around MY table:

Me: What have you got for me?

Mailman: I’m going to put a letter in your mailbox today from a collection agency. Apparently, the credit card company says you still owe.

Me: Swell! What else?

Husband: First, I’m going to leave the light on in the van all night, and the next morning the battery will be dead. Oh, and I should have told you two weeks ago that the front tires are in bad shape. One is bald and the other has wires showing through. You’ll find out on your own the day before you have to go on a trip out of town.

Me: Excellent! Next?

Ambulance Driver: You will not be able to wake your daughter up one morning and have to call us at 6 am to check out what’s going on.

Me: Wait a minute, my mom was in the ER not that long ago!

Ambulance Driver: Sorry – we just get ’em.

Me: Well, all righty then. And you?

Hardware Store Man: I’m going to help you find a new stove because the one you have has a burner that is dying. You know, the big one in the back that you use to cook your mega sizes of food every day?

Me: Super! Anyone else?

Neighbor: I’m going to knock on your door and I’m not there to invite you to coffee, I’m going to tell you that there is a water main break right on your front lawn. You are going to get a lot of attention and not the kind that’s enjoyable.

Me: Sounds great! Good thing the Loony Bin is just two counties away!

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