Updated

Last you knew, the children were licking green frosting from their fingers.  Since then, the following events have occurred:

1)  I visited the dentist for the first of many appointments.  Although the dentist is gentle and cheerful and looks a little like Santa’s younger, fitter brother, I did not appreciate the drilling and grinding of my molar, nor was I thrilled with the news that the tooth is beginning to crack and that a crown will be required eventually.  I tried to distract myself from the ungodly noise by thinking up words adequate to describe how I could feel the grinding of the drill in my frontal cortex, just beneath my eyebrows.  But I couldn’t think because my brain was rattling.

2)  I treated my kids and one neighborhood boy to see “Charlotte’s Web,” which was a delightful movie.  This was my four-year old’s second movie in a theater and I am happy to report that we didn’t leave the movie for a bathroom break (only once for a popcorn refill).  Afterward, I even let them play one arcade game each in the lobby.  I rock.

3)  I took three of my kids to Christmas pageant practice.  One of my sons is a speaking angel, one is a king.  My daughter might have been a sheep, but as it turned out, she enjoyed being the understudy for Mary much more.  During the second run-through, she sat on “Mary’s” chair and cradled a doll who filled in for Baby Jesus.  She sat so quietly the whole time, taking her role very seriously.  I don’t think she’ll go back to being a sheep.  We’ll probably just watch the pageant from the front row.

4)  I shopped.  Several nights. 

5)  I slept in!

6)  I baked cookies, three different kinds, plus a pan of brownies.

7)  I diagnosed my computer problem which was an allergic reaction to the security program that came installed on this computer.  After several hours of frustration, I figured out how to uninstall the program and get my regular firewalls, anti-virus programs and anti-spyware programs running properly.

8)  My daughter and I went to the zoo.  (Forty-degrees!  What fun!)  She had a great time and I discovered my camera’s batteries were run down.  And I didn’t have my spare batteries because they were in my purse and I left my purse at home and only brought essentials in my pockets.  Oops.

That’s all.  I think.  I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  We’ll have church in the morning and at night.  Christmas Day will be quiet, spent at home with just our little family.  I am looking forward to that day and all next week when my husband will be on vacation from work.  I intend to hit the after-Christmas sales and see more movies. 

Meanwhile, laundry beckons and what do you bet the teenagers will be clamoring for dinner soon?