I'm Spring Loaded!

Watch out, world!  I'm spring loaded!  Really!  The orthodontist put a spring in my braces.  Makes me look sproingy.  I feel like Tigger.   Tigger with aching teeth.

Today's dentist, or orthodontist, whatever, appointment started with an instant headache. As soon as I opened the door, and before I had a foot in the door the smell of the crowded lobby hit me like a plank to the head.  Apparently, everyone got cologne and perfume for Christmas and used it generously before going to the dentist today.  Holy Stink A Moley!  I checked in and took one of the very few empty chairs (the one closest to the door).  I began mouth-breathing and praying for a draft.  Geez, people!  While I was sitting there dying of second hand cologne poisoning I counted the people.  32.  Wow.  See if I ever make an appointment when kids are on a school break!

I sat there for a full 13 minutes before they called me back. Can  you believe I even survived that?  I'm so glad I took some Advil before I walked in.  Hopefully that took the edge off of the cologne poisoning headache. Whatever they do to me in the back room, it can't be as bad as sitting in the waiting area.  Egads.

First thing I said to the girl who came up to me with torture in her eyes was, "Unscented gloves please".  This sent them on a search that bought me a few minutes of peace.  And no way was I going to endure the horrible bubble gum scented gloves after sitting in the perfume cloud in the waiting room.  Luckily, the dental assistants weren't steeped in the stuff.

The gal took off my wires and my coffee stained rubber bands.  Oops.  I wonder if she noticed that Santa brought me a Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush and I've been using it for 3 whole days now.

Then the doc came over and looked at my teeth. He said they are moving into place nicely but they are just too crowded. Time to shave the lower row of teeth to make little bitty gaps for the lower teeth to have room to sit next to each other.  Shave?   Say what?  He took this little dremel tool with a little sander on it and ran it between my teeth.  Now that they are skinnier they should squeeze together and actually have room for all of them.  Hmm.  Hope that happens because it wasn't the most pleasant experience.  Although, it will sure be easier to floss for the next couple of weeks.  I told him I just started using the sonic toothbrush. He said that's good, that's what he uses.

It's the weirdest toothbrush because it vibrates at high speed!  You can't scrub with it, you just hold it next to your teeth while you pull your cheek away.  I have to pull my cheek away because it just is too much. It is supposed to be amazing, so we'll see how my next cleaning goes. Hopefully it will make a difference when it comes to scraping off the hard plaque and gunk.

After the doc was done with me, another guy came and put my new wires on.  According to him, I had baby wires.  These will be stronger and I should feel more pressure.  Oh goody.  Not only that, but he's adding a spring for that one tooth that is so far out of line that it can't be engaged in the wire yet.  Oh, ok.  So I imagined the spring going from the tooth to the wire, but that's not how it ended up.  This guy had trouble getting the new wires in and the new pearl colored rubber bands on.  He was all worried about my wincing and squinting.  You know, that's just how I am.  I make faces and tense up, it's just me.  Do your thing and get it done.  It does hurt when he applies a lot of pressure to each tooth, but if he'd hussle it up it would be done a lot faster and hurt a lot less. 

My next appointment is at the end of January.  Hopefully by then most everyone will have used up their Christmas Cologne. 

My Teacher Made It!

So far, every preschool art project that my daughter has brought home so far this year has been wonderfully done.  Perfect cutting, painting, gluing - amazing technique for a four year old.  But, my four yr old isn't taking credit for her teacher's artwork; she always tells me that Miss Teri made it. 

I'd rather she bring something home that she made herself.  Apparently, that's not going to happen.  I've been letting is slide but I was really hoping that by this time in the school year she would be learning how to cut, glue, paint and draw on her own.  These are skills she will need in Kindergarten and beyond.

Here is the ornament the teacher made.  According to Gracie, "Miss Teri painted my hand and helped me put my hand on the ornament. Then Miss Teri painted the snowmen and put sparkly ribbons inside and wrote my name". Hmm. 

Wonder if the teacher really thinks I think my daughter made this!

Not that I don't appreciate the lovely crafts Miss Teri has made for me, but I am dying to hang a glitter covered wad of colored paper and glue kid-made ornament on my tree!  I've decided it's time to get crafty at home.  Now.... what to do?  Any ideas?

Playing Hookie

Tonight was my husband's holiday party for work.  He said the teachers haven't been very festive or jolly lately, so he wasn't sure the party would be well attended, or if it would be fun.  Might be a bunch of crabby teachers venting and letting off steam.  Well, gee... that sounds like so much fun.  (note my heavy sarcasm)

I took the kids to an indoor playground place for a couple of hours to bring them down to a more manageable energy level then I fed them Happy Meals and took them to a babysitter. Actually, she's a mom and has a houseful of children, so it was very fun for them.

My husband called and wanted me to come to the party "just for an hour".  I was originally planning to go, but I wasn't really feeling compelled to drive in the rain for it. Lucky for me, it was raining causing horrible traffic jams and accidents everywhere which gave me a great excuse not to drive 30 miles to a party for only an hour.  I had a much better idea!

First, I took my daughter Lexie out to eat.  We ate at Wings & Things.  She likes wings, and I like things.  I had fried zucchini sticks. Yum, very good!  Then I took her to work and I drove to the winery just outside of town.  I did a wine tasting and purchased 5 bottles of very nice wine!  Merry Christmas, Me! 

Then I went home and met Keith there. He had put in his appearance at the party and came home so he and I could go out to dinner.  Just us.  He said the party was actually fun and everyone was great.  Hmm, guess they were saving up their holiday cheer for the holiday party!  But, I'm glad I didn't drive up there in the rain anyway.  I am glad the teachers had fun, what a good kickoff to their 3 weeks off for the Christmas break.

We went to Barley and Hops and Keith had a red IPA beer and I had a Belgian Wit.  We ordered dinner too and it was amazing!  So delicious!  Best part was, we were the only people in the place so we had a nice conversation with each other.  It was really nice! 

Then we went to pick up the kids and they were super happy to see us both.  They had a great time, played and played.  I had a wrapped gift for my friend; I figured she wouldn't let me pay her for babysitting even though I offered. She's so nice!  So I had Gracie slip the gift under their tree.  I think she'll like it! 

It was a great night!  Even though I played hookie from the party, I had a wonderful time.  Out with Lexie, wine tasting, and out with Keith.  Amazing!

Tree Instructions

I just spent nearly an hour digging around the files on my computer for the instructions on how to put our tree together.  Don't let me lose them again!

Chased Down Santa - The Story in Poetry

Our town does a very neat thing in December every year.  They have Santa and  his helpers go around to every neighborhood to collect food for the local food pantry and visit people. The high school choir rides on the sleigh and sings carols.  It's very fun! 

The city paints stars in several spots all over town, these are the Santa stops.  Luckily, there is one just a block away and we can see it from our front window.

Each night there are two or three neighborhoods that get a Santa visit.  It takes a week or a little more to cover the entire town.  Our neighborhood's turn was last night.  As much as I was looking forward to it, the evening rolled around and I totally FORGOT!

I had the three kids in the bathtub together and Charlie was done.  Figured I better get him out and dry him off before he reached his limit. Got him out and wrapped up in a big froggy towel and then heard sirens and  I remembered.  Two kids in the tub and now I think of this?  Oh me oh my. So I took a peek out the window... no...  I know just how to tell you this story.  In the form of an iconic Christmas poem! 

Twas a couple of weeks before Christmas
When all through the house
All the kids were stirring and splashing
In the same tub upstairs in the house.

The stockings were still stuffed in a storage box in the garage,
The tree is there too, placed in the corner with care.
The house isn't ready but the children don't care,
They hope that St. Nickolas will soon be there.

Two children were soaking all snug in the tub
With the bubbles of shampoo dancing on their heads,
The baby naked in his towel and I in my jeans,
Had just just set out the pajamas for our nighttime scene.

When out on the street arose such a clatter
I sprang up over the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore down the blanket we use for a curtain
And looked out over the sash.

The streetlights and flashing police lights lit the sidewalk aglow,
Gave a mid-day luster to the crowd below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a great big sleigh and one giant reindeer.

With a fat old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick!
More rapid than eagles, I yanked the kids from the tub,
I whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now, Gracie! Now, Libby! Now, Charlie-Bear!
On diapers! On pajamas! On jackets and boots!
Now to the front door and into the stroller!
Now Dash Away, dash away, dash away all!

As dry leaves on the front walk did fly,
I ran with three barely dry kids in the stroller to the end of the drive,
We looked up the street and it was quiet and dark.
The sleigh was gone, and Santa Claus too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the next street,
The sirens and honking of Santa's caravan.
I buckled in the little ones and told Gracie, "Let's run!"
Down the street and around the corner we raced with a bounce.

He was dressed all in red fur from his head to his foot,
With a white beard, white gloves and black boots.
A collection of canned food was flung on the lead truck.
Santa waved goodbye to the crowd and they drove on to the next star.

With big sad eyes, Gracie yelled, "Mom, we missed him!"
So we ran down the street following his lights.
Her belly started to ache, the running was too much
Four year old feet were tired and such.

With no time to spare in our journey in the night,
I gave her the front seat of the stroller,
pushing while carrying Libby with all of my might.
Running down two more streets to catch up to the elf.

Half a mile from our home I ran with three kids,
But I caught up to that fast old man and his friends.
I was out of breath and sweating like mad,
but the kids were delighted to be part of the crowd!

His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples were merry!
His cheeks were like roses! His nose like a cherry!
His beard was falling off, so he reached under his hat
and tightened the bow.

Child after child he held on his lap,
Libby told me she wanted to be a part of that!
Gracie said she would ask him for Rapunzel and Flynn,
Libby chimed in with requests for Santa to bring Chocolate.

Santa wasn't chubby but he was stuffed plump,
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
He welcomed Gracie to his lap and reached for Libby as well.
She changed her mind about the jolly old elf!

She kicked and she screamed, the tears rolled down.
Promises of chocolate for Christmas didn't provide any slack.
The two year old wasn't talking to the old elf wearing a red hat.
I told Santa, "Hold her tight, I'll be right back".

Santa looked frightened, Libby looked worse.
Gracie was concerned, worried about the worst.
I stepped back a couple of paces with camera in hand
And snapped some photos of my cuties with the old man.

Charlie was relaxing in the stroller by himself.
He loved looking at the lights with his big eyes and happy grin
I wondered if he wanted to sit on Santa's lap.
Decided not to traumatize the babe and just leave him alone.

Santa spoke a few words to his big elf and reindeer,
They loaded the trucks for the food pantry and
 I packed all three children in the stroller for the long walk home,
 Libby exclaimed "That was FUN! We saw Santa in the Street!"

 He sprang to his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle,
The choir, elf, deer and helpers hopped aboard for the ride.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"

Dollywood Potatoes

We call this dish "Dollywood Potatoes" because it is similar to something we had at that park back in 2000.  This is easy to make and  yummy!

Even though we use potatoes grown in Idaho and venison sausage (sometimes) from South Dakota, it feels like a southern comfort kind of food! I'm not from the south, but my dad used to fry up potatoes like this and he was from the south.  He called them "cottage fries" but that's when he just fried up the taters.  I think he made this dish too, but I don't recall.  If he did, I bet he had a different name for it.  I also cannot remember what this dish is called in Dollywood, so I refer to it as Dollywood Potatoes and I hope Dolly Parton doesn't mind.

Use a frying pan, electric griddle, or a wok.
Sprinkle with Olive Oil and fry the following ingredients

Chopped up into large bite size pieces:
potatoes with skins on
onions
bell peppers of various colors
fry sausage or brats
corn
pepper
Mrs. Dash

Fry and stir and add olive oil if you think it's drying out too much.  If you are in a hurry, you can microwave the potatoes to get them started and start frying them half-baked and hot.

This doesn't take long to prep or to cook.  Plus, it's a one pot dish! Love that!

Merging My Blogs

Currently, I'm writing three blogs.  Since I don't have that much spare time, my blogs are being neglected.  If I post in one, the others get dusty.  Rufflebutts is my new triple blog!  Three in one! 

The main page is my regular blog about life and randomness.  My spin-off blogs are the product reviews and the destination reviews.  Hopefully, I can get these two tabbed pages to work like the main blog and be able to post to any page, the main page or the tabbed pages. 

So far, I can't figure it out.  When I start a new post, it goes to the main page.  The tabbed pages seem to only have one body.  When I get the design the way I want it, I will merge the other blogs into this one. 

Moving Momathon to Rufflebutts

I'm moving my Momathon blog over to a new one.  New email address to link with it and a new name as the header. It's just time for a little change! 

I thought "Rufflebutts" still reflects my role as a mom of girls.  And, it doesn't imply that I run. Ever.

As soon as I figure out how to move it all over here, I will.  Stay tuned!