A few free hours

My sister-in-law, Cindy, and my neice, Ana, are currently at my apartment baking a cake with my girls and painting the girls' fingernails. They are giving me a few blissful hours to run some errands. The girls's Dad only has them on Dec. 12 (his choice). This is my only kid-fee day before Christmas so Cindy was kind enough to help me out. Thank you Cindy and Ana!!!

My lovely neighbor sent us a Thanksgiving card with a $50 gift card to Wal-Mart in it. I'm going to use it to get gifts for the girls. Megan wants a new winter coat, a new comforter, Breyer horses, and a few good books to read. Brigid wants transformers, Bionicals, and some Hannah Montana stuff. Abigail only wants Ariel stuff, a few toy horses, and some Hannah Montana stuff. Caroline wants toy horses, Care Bear stuff, and some Hannah Montana stuff. (I seem to be using the word "stuff" a lot.)

Tuesday was Caroline's Star Student of the Month award ceremony. She got one last year too. She was sooo excited and I am soooo proud of her. Unfortunately one person was notably absent (again). I keep hoping at some point that he will realize what he is doing to the girls. I think his dislike for me is so strong that it interferes with him being with the girls. It is sad really. And Caroline was disappointed. As am I.

I took the girls to Light-Up Louisville on Friday evening. We braved the cold (30s) and enjoyed Christmas carols and seeing Santa. When the fireworks and lights were over megan turned to me and said, "That's it? We stood out in the cold for this?" Lovely. I imagine after seeing Thunder Over Louisville this definitely paled in comparison.

Well off to shop and then home to put up the tree. Yea!!!

A few tidbits

My Facebook friends have heard these stories but I wanted to post them here too.

While I was sleeping two weeks ago, Brigid, who was sleeping with me, cut a big chunk out of my bangs. Lovely. There truly is no rest for the weary. :)

Abby came home from school last week and said, "Caroline had a really bad day." I asked what happened. Abby said, "I bit her in the bathroom and I had to go to time-out."

Sitting at the dinner table one night after Abby lost her first tooth, Megan asked me if the tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, and Leprechaun were real. She said, "I know that Santa Claus is really but these other guys? I mean, c'mon. It seems kinda strange that we let strangers into our house to leave money on the table. Is it really you Mom?" Then she sat for a minute and said, "Naw, it can't be you 'cause you never have that much money in your wallet." There is something to be said for Megan's wisdom. :)

The vacuum fairy visited my house on Monday. My vacuum (which was only 1 1/2 years old) died. I asked to borrow my brother's vacuum because almost 4 weeks without one had me with some very dirty carpets. He said my sister-in-law would bring it to me on Monday and I said I would return it on Tuesday. When I got home there was a brand new vacuum on my kitchen table. Thank you Cindy!!! You guys rock!!

And one last wonderful thing: Caroline is Star Student of the Month for November in her 1st grade class. I am so proud of her. She was Star Student last year too. Such a great kid.