Artemis

I think if this is what my new year has in store for me: It will be a wonderful year.

I didn't do as well as I had hoped with this blogging challenge. But I have posted more this year than I have the last 4 years, so I will call it a success. And I plan on next year being even better. I've never been big on New Year's resolutions. Seems ridiculous that you decide at the beginning of the year to do some things that you couldn't follow through with on previous years. Well, I guess this year I have a resolution. Or more so, resolutions, plural. Or maybe they are more goals than resolutions. Maybe that is the same thing. I really don't know. Some are big things, some are little things. But all things, I think, will make me a better person. Here's my list: 1. Make one close friend in Helena. One that I can call up to go for a glass of wine when it's been a bad day or to go get coffee on a weekend morning. I know this won't be easy, I'll have to put myself out there. I am reading a book that may help me with this task, MWF Seeking BFF . 2. ...

It looks like I'll be getting exactly what I want for Christmas, which is to hang out with both of my sweet nephews at the SAME TIME! That's all an auntie could really wish for. Merry Christmas to all.

Periodically, I stop by Kmart. They often have cute, cheap clothes. Who knew, right? Yesterday I walked in and in the entrance is a giving tree for the Salvation Army. I have read a lot of controversy about SA and their homophobic ways, so I have been avoiding the bell ringers a little more than usual, even though I know all the good they also do. But it was hard to miss this tree. The gifts for children were supposed to be picked up no later than Dec. 14th. Yet, there were easily 30+ names left on the tree. It broke my heart. All these children are going to get nothing for Christmas. I stood at the tree reading all the things the children wanted and needed. I called my Mom and told her of all the children left on the tree. And as I talked her into joining my crusade, people overheard me as walking by and soon there were 5 or so people looking at the tree with me. They all pulled off a child from the tree, which was awesome. I pulled off 6. I picked 3 boys, ages 6 months, 2 years and 1...

I'm so excited for Jessie, Dave and Sam to come in one week. I'm over working and over everything else, I'm just ready for it to be my break and for Christmas to be here. I want to hang out with my nephews all day and eat cookies and candy and play games with the fam and do a whole lot of fun stuff and a whole lot of nothing for 4 days. Which means that, just like today, the next week is going to drag on and on and on.

I am not doing so well with the blogging challenge the past week. Part of the problem was that I was also trying to challenge myself not to write about the kiddos everyday. But screw it. I spend 45+ hours a week with kids that are not my own, so sometimes writing about it is the only way to keep me sane! So, to get back in to the swing of this, here is a list of my favorite kiddo quotes of the past few days: Dylan: Cassie, you brush those teeth so nice and bright! Bennett: Parker don't have a penis. What does she have? Parker (while sitting in a time out): All done crying. Cassie: I know, but you are still in a time out for hitting Dylan. Dylan: She won't do it again, Cassie. No, she won't. She won't. Bennett: You're funny. Cassie: You're funny. B: No, I funny. C: Bennett's funny. B: No, I FUNNY! C: Bennett's funny. B: NO, NO, NO, NO I FUNNY!

I have a pimple on my cheek that is so large that every time I look down, I can see it. It's so big that I feel like it should have it's own name, like Javier or Jorge. It kinds of bothers me, though, that the first names that pop into my head to name something grotesque are foreign names. But all the "non" foreign names that popped into my head for naming a pimple, such as George or Frank, are people that I know or know of, and maybe it is more offensive that I associate someone with a pimple. Plus, this pimple seems like it's going to stick around for awhile, so a friendly name seems more appropriate, like Javier or Jorge. Hmm. Such a tough decision. Maybe I should figure out how to get rid of this mother so I don't have to name it at all. Geez, now I'm comparing it to a mother. This has got to stop.

Put a girl in a tutu: And all the boys swoon.

So far, this is how my day has played out. Had trouble getting out of my warm bed, so I finally got out a half hour later than usual. I forgot to get a towel before getting in the shower, so had to get one while I was dripping wet. Apparently I wasn't the only one who had trouble getting up this morning because the first kid didn't show up until 8:30 and at least one is usually here by 8. The kiddos have been helping me (mostly watching me) hang Christmas decorations (aka "decododations" as Greysen calls it) while listening to Christmas music. Turns out the Christmas spirit has hit us all. Bennett kept reminding me, "Be careful, Cassie! Don't fall, Cassie!" as I stood on a stool. Very helpful. And that's my day thus far. Exciting stuff.

B: Don't touch my finger. Me: Why? B: I have an owie on there. Me: Can I see? B: It's on my arm. Under my sleeve. Me: How did you get an owie on your arm? B: I throw a toy. It hit my arm. Me: That's why we don't throw toys. B: Yeah. I hit my head. Like this. On the floor. Me: When you throw a fit, you hit your head, don't you? B: Yeah. Baby cries. Like this, (rubbing eyes) "Wah! Wah!" Me: Do you cry like that? B: No, baby cries like that. Me: What baby? B: When baby is mad. Me: What baby? B: I have a baby. At home. Me: It's at home? B: Yeah. Another 2 year old interjects: P: No, I have a baby at home. B (angrily): No, I have a baby at home! P: My mama. B (angrily): No, no, no, no, my mama! And so are the conversations of my day.

Almost every Thursday night for the past 3 years, I have taken care of a sweet little girl. But really, most of the time it's like spending time with a friend. She is such a little adult, always has been. When she was only 5, I would go over there after a day of taking care of kids and we would sit down, have dinner and just talk. She didn't expect to be constantly entertained as most kids that age do. She just wanted to spend time with me. And I wanted, and still want, to spend time with her. However, the older she gets, the more she reminds that she is just a child. Tonight, she whined, cried and threw fits just like every child I've seen. But unlike every other child, she actually has good reason. She has gone through more than most kids her age should ever have to deal with. She has acute pancreatitis . It's a disease that I don't really understand. I try, and by now I should understand it, but I don't really. I mean, I understand the definition and what isn...