This just about sums up how all of us feel today. Christmas was wonderful but an exhausting cacophany of noise and color and light. God bless us, every one.

Merry Christmas to One and All! 

The kids are literally bouncing off the walls; have been since Tuesday. There is nothing I can say and no amount of mom type looks that will calm them down. Getting the kitten probably doesn't help.

Yeah, the kitten? She totally loves SO, but at night, who does she want? Me. When she doesn't feel like going to sleep yet, who does she bug? Yours truly. Who is feeding her? You guessed it.

She likes to perch on my shoulder like a little furry parrot, it's quite cute but a bit cumbersome when I'm trying to do stuff.

Kids had their Christmas concert tonight. K was just hilarious, belting out his song and doing the actions very exaggeratedly. He also seemed to be the only one of a few that actually bowed when everyone started clapping. Haha! Then he managed to talk a parent into bringing him back to where I was sitting w/everyone. I initially was asked to sit at the front to help his teacher, and SO immediately assumed it meant he could sit too, and then the JK teacher stepped up and told us to go to the back because we were taking up space. Ah me, such is life. C was very good as well and she always puts forth a lot of effort when it comes to any kind of performance. I love going to these things, the kids just crack me up and make my heart swell a little.

I did fifteen million tons of baking this afternoon and the result was I sent half of it to the school social tonight. We didn't actually make it to said after-concert social because my friend's aunt passed away over the weekend and the wake was tonight. I am so close with him that there would be no excusing my presence, it would be like not going to my own aunt's wake.

Such a terrible time of year to lose somebody. But she's better off now, cancer is a sonofagun and it's best she goes before she really starts to deteriorate, and is spared pain as well as her family being spared the pain of watching her die slowly in front of them.

Didn't mean for this post to be morose. Truly, I didn't.

My sister-in-law is coming over shortly so that I can dye her hair just before Christmas. Of course this should be interesting as my kitchen is a disaster area due to the baking and cooking supper spree and not having enough time to clean it all while simultaneously getting the kids ready, thanks a lot for the help SO, no no you just stay napping on the couch, really, I'll be ok. Grr.

Later folks.

We've all agreed to call her Mischief. It totally fits her and SO has already dubbed her "Missy" for ease of use. She has already become his little suck which is quite funny because he has always maintained that he is more of a dog person.

Day one with her was a bit uneventful; she slept mostly, to hide from the terrifying creatures trying to coddle her to death. When the kids were asleep and the house was quieter, she did a little exploring and found she was a brave kitty after all, and not at all afraid to plonk away at the (thankfully plastic) ornaments on the tree or rip away at the rugs.

She ended up snoozing with us of course, until about 1 am when C was coughing and coughing away, I got up to give her some meds and Mischief of course being on top of my belly was quite put out about the disturbance. The result was she expected to be played with for at least 45 minutes before cuddling on the couch with me to watch some TV until we both passed out.

C ended up staying home sick today, legitimately as her cough was quite terrible and she had a bit of a fever. She was delighted to have the kitten snooze with her on the couch.

K learned the hard way that she had claws because she tried several times to crawl up his pantleg. He was quite offended that her little scratchy parts were in such close proximity to his kneecaps; we reminded him that we did try to warn him that might happen.

All in all though the kids are very pleased with her, as am I. Tomorrow we go to register her with the vet and get her checked out. This should be an adventure as I have yet to purchase a cat carrier...

Tonight I went out with my brother and his significant other and SO of course, for dinner. We all agreed rather than exchange gifts it's nicer to just get together for dinner. It was a really pleasant time and we need to do that more often I think.

Ok time to rest or something, I'm still zonked from the weekend which is unusual and leads me to believe if I'm not careful I'll be next on the coughing list. Also Mischief is crawling up my leg.

The SO's Christmas party last night was an absolute blast. The food was fabulous and the wine was flowing and I don't remember the last time I had such a good time. We ended up saying to hell with it and stayed at the inn last night and got company rate of $60, woohoo! I'm kind of glad we stayed because there was no way I would have been able to crawl into a cab... haha.

I met some of JG's good friends and that was nice too, they are a lovely couple and we've made plans to get together some time in the new year.

I got my nails done yesterday as a treat to myself and I BROKE ONE already, snapped it on a chair tripping over someone at the party. Also a weird event: I set my glass of wine down on the table, I wasn't rough or anything and it shattered! I was kind of embarassed about that but the one server said it happened all the time in that room, she even had a bottle of wine break in her hands the one day. She said as long as I didn't cut myself it's all good. Which I didn't. Phew.

In other news: we got a kitten today! We haven't decided what to name her yet but she is sooo tiny and adorable, she's a grey stripe with just a few spots of light grey-brown... our friend's calico cat got out one day and came back pregnant with the grey Tom cat down the street! Haha! So the SO and kids went to get supplies... our friend was kind enough to drop her off with a new litterbox and everything which was a plus, but we still had to buy litter, food, a dish for the food, etc.

I said we should name it Smokey but the kids are hell bent on Paws, because one of her little paws is more brown than grey.

Now I have that song "When Smokey Sings" stuck in my head.

Time to toss together a dinner of some sort. Ugh. Don't want to look at food.

Bob Noxious on the radio, singing this tune yesterday, and I can't get it out of my head

Police nabbed my Dad
The police nabbed my Dad
The police nabbed my Dad,
drunk in public,
wasted on eggnog...

Mmmm eggnog. I truly love that about Christmas (and Easter), is that twice a year I get to gorge on that crap until I'm sick of it, and then don't have to think on it again until the next year.

Just finished off the Lemony Snicket books. They are actually quite marvellous on the whole and I would be lying if I said I wasn't dying to read the (not yet published) thirteenth and final novel.

Tonight is my darling SO's company's Christmas party, and I'm quite excited about it actually, as he is wearing a new suit & tie and dayum son he looks gooooood.

Now I'm off to tidy the house etc.

I have a job interview tomorrow. Eek.

Paperformers! Little paper cutout-and-assemble transformers! So cute!

It's of course safe to post now about JPk's surprise birthday Mardi Gras. JPk, I'm so terribly sorry that I missed it... I spent most of my weekend either in the hospital being prodded or in agony hoping the meds would kick in. Stupid UTI & poss. kidney infection. Know I was there in spirit, ok?

I do feel terrible about missing it, because I was looking forward to celebrating with you and especially looking forward to seeing your surprised face... I hope it all went well and you had a grand time and aren't too hungover today...

love ya sweets.

Mr. Pryor, you used to make me laugh until I almost peed. Seriously. Be at peace.

This saddens me to a certain degree; I'm finding as I get older, all the icons I grew up with are one by one making their final march towards St. Peter's.

Jennifer Lee Pryor said her husband inspired many people by being candid about his own strife.

"He was able to turn pain into comedy," she said. "He let the world see it, and that was his inspiration, too."

The negotiations for the demolition of 123 gingerbread lane have come to a settlement, and the deconstruction is well underway. Mister and Mrs. Gingerbread disappeared some time last night, along with their tree and gingerbread dog. The chimney has been dismantled and the left roof is starting its slow decay into nothingness.

I have not participated in these monstrous events as I must confess, I do not wish to partake in its demise. The children and my darling SO have therefore taken the grisly task upon themselves with stalwart courage. I salute them in their endeavours!

Parent/Teacher meetings today went well. The kids love their teachers this year which makes a big difference.

To add insulting pain to the injurious news of my tooth's plans for defection, I may possibly have a UTI. Because what the hell, right? May as well be in pain while painfully contemplating my options with regards to the nefarious tooth.

Bla bla bla. I sure can spin a yarn when I've a mind to do it.

While darling C was at Brownies and K was at the gathering at the retirement home, I wrapped a ton of presents. There was paper and tape flying everywhere. The result of course is, that K is bugging me every 63 seconds to open them.

I have mixed feelings about the Xmen 3 trailer (found here). While it looks interesting enough, I wonder where a new director will take it and also, you can put sixteen tons of make-up on him but Kelsey Grammer will always be Frasier to me. I'm sure he'll make a terrific Beast, I'm just sayin'.

I am pretty excited about Narnia though. I loved those books as a child and I hope it will be as fabulous as it looks thus far.

I forget what else I was going to say, a clear sign that I need some tea and perhaps a nap if I can sneak it in. I don't feel so good all of the sudden.

Guess who might need a root canal? Oh yes sir. My other option is extraction. Ick.

Stupid genetics and bad teeth and grrrrrr.

On positive side, I'm pretty much done my Christmas shopping, hooray!

Tonight's another badge night for C, she's going for TWO badges tonight so hopefully it will work out for her.

Tonight is also a Christmas gathering at the retirement home my mother-in-law's mother is at, so I was voluntold to come by after Brownies.

SO's company Christmas party is the 17th, I'm sort of anxious about it for reasons I cannot comprehend. I think I'm just anxious, period. Holiday blues seem to be hitting me as well and I have no clue why.

Oh-ho! I found a pack of Ferrero Rocher under my monitor's stand! Dare I indulge?

I made my man a manly type supper yesterday, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, corn, yorkshire pudding, gravy, and stuffing. Yes. Stuffing. He loves stuffing with gravy on it, okay? What do I know from boys?

So last night, after their baths (because I wasn't thinking too clear, you'll see why I said that in a minute) the kids and I got to working on their gingerbread house. I had the foresight to set up the walls and roof already, so all we had to do was add icing sugar to the sides and top so the kids could put their candies on it. Which was fine, but both of them kept sneaking fingersful of the icing sugar and then wiping the evidence off on their pajamas. (See what I mean?) I also had bought a container of those Voortman gingerbread men, which Kevin proceeded to call his "Army of Gingies" and had them marching up to the door of the house. It was funny, and he insisted they all live beside the house until Christmas.

Ok time to go clean up the kitchen and do mom type things I guess.

The kids are pretty excited about it being December, what with the advent calendars and everything.

Today is skating for C, I had initially volunteered to go help them with their skates but it turns out, I have an appointment today at around the time they have skating, so there goes that. Hopefully her teacher isn't too disappointed... I'm sure there will be parents to help though.

The format went well in spite of a few glitches here and there. My back-up CDs I made though? Yeah. They're EMPTY. So all these photos I'd taken of the kids are gone and all kinds of projects I was working on and everything else is gone gone gone. That was the only true source of frustration here.

Snow's all gone again. I don't GET this weather.

I feel like crud in ways you wouldn't believe. Seriously. I'm not looking forward to travelling to Dundas this weekend with a plastic bag in front of my face... if I'm still sick by then I'm just not going, to hell with it. My mom will probably be upset with me about it but I'm not about to infect the rest of the family just to say I showed up for Christmas. Honestly.

Time to get the kids ready and go.