Merry Christmas…

The reason to blog is new laptop and Live Writer! So exciting! Thanks Sweetie!

What is sweeter than sweet???

At bedtime I am usually the parent that is screaming about brushing teeth, cleaning bedrooms, dirty clothes on the floor, backpacks that are unpacked, oh- and don't forget my personal favorite- "PUT YOUR PAJAMAS ON!". All of this is usually done while Steve sits 7 feet away in the office catching up on work, watching videos on YouTube, or reading my blog.

But with all the stress of bedtime nothing beats Abby asking-

"When is daddy going to come and say good night to me?"

...Kind of like a knife in the back...

But it is kind of sweet to listen to her giggle when after he gives into tickling her and then to hear them talk to each other when he lays in bed with her... Tonight I was the audience to the two of them singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" a little off key but still adorable.

Dear Friends and Family 2009...

The hits and highlights of 2009 for the Kuhtzs (some blog worthy, others didn't make it):

9. Performance anxiety- NOT! Abby participated in her first dance recital in June. Our little hip-hopper busted a move all over the stage. I couldn't believe her and she is already excited about her next recital in June 2010! The girl has moves (check her out)!

8. AR Tests have become part of our daily discussion. Jack has fallen in love with reading. He isn't the best but he is motivated by one thing! CHARMS! I am proud to say that he is the only student in his class that has collected a charm every month for achieving the grade level reading goal. I am so proud! 7. Karate Kicks! Jack and Abby both continue to attend karate class. Jack recently achieved the rank of Blue Belt, which means that he is able to participate in advanced weaponry classes. Very exciting. Abby love karate too because she is the "upper belt" in her Pre-K class which means that she calls class to attention and demonstrates all the moves with Sensei Adam.

6. "Loser Island" is what we called the big blow up raft that Steve and I purchased on a whim at Costco in May. We spent many Sundays with the kids in the pool, relaxing on the adults-only barge. One or two "adult-only" beverages may or may not have been consumed on Loser Island.

5. RV'n. I never thought that I was one for camping but Steve convinced me that leasing an RV from some friends would be the best way to figure out if we would enjoy the experience as a family. See #3 for more on RV'n.

4. Back to work, back to reality for me. I made the big decision to get my Insurance License in September and 52 hours and a 3 hour test later I was approved by the State of California to sell insurance. I never thought that I would work for Steve but here I am doing it and actually enjoying it. The big question is will you ever go back to teaching and the answer is "NO WAY *" (*= not unless I absolutely have to).

3. Land of the lost. Our RV travelling took us to all kinds of hot spots like Fernley in Nevada, Buttonwillow, Millerton Lake, and Ambroy in California. Never heard of them don't worry neither had I and you aren't missing much. The theme to the locales is RACING, we don't go there if it doesn't involve RACING.

BEFOREAFTER

2. LeMons 2008- 2009 went like this. Christmas Day 2008 leave for race, lose because of a -1,500 lap penalty. My birthday, dirt, wind, friends, and FUN! I am hooked. August an amazing second place finish after our last driver flipped the car in the final lap (let me know if you would like me to send you the video). If you have the chance to join us at a race- PLEASE DO! As for racing in 2010, we have scheduled 2 LeMons races and Steve's Shelby Mustang will be one of the car participating the SpeedTV's newest Internet and television program, Forum Wars.

1. The BIG 4-OH! On December 15th, Steve turned 40, with little fanfare. Mostly because I was sick but also because we celebrated his half birthday in June complete with a pirate-themed pool party with many of our friends in attendance.

Tardy to the Party...

I sincerely planned a big 40th birthday blog for Steve yesterday but the sniffles got me down. So here it goes, a day late hopefully not a dollar short.

THE BIG 4-0!

Steve isn't much of a birthday guy. This year we celebrated 39 1/2 in June. Warm weather, lots of friends, good food, swimming, and a card shower (as Brian Varney so eloquently put it "You must be old, the only card shower I have heard of was for an 80 year old woman")! It was nice, without the hassle of holiday stuff to get in the way.

But you can't go without celebrating your birthday on your birthday! This year at 40, Steve:

• Scratched off his first lottery scratcher. I know, he has been hidden under a rock for the last 30 years.
• Got kicked out of a night club. I never thought I would see the day.
• Sold 35 Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans.
• Woke up at 4 am to drive to Bakersfield only to be "Patti Waldo'ed".
• Slept on the couch, because I snored all night long. SORRY!
• Crashed the Planned Parenthood of Fresno's Christmas party. Seriously!

• Had a two nap weekend!
• Felt so old he didn't want a party.
• He won $3 off of 5 scratchers.

Whatever old guy! Happy Birthday!

Guess who is on the naughty list...

TARGET!

I know right? My favorite store of all times. Has been very, Very, VERY bad! And I have the facts to prove it.

Fact #1:

On November 10th I ordered two Lego Advent Calendars, one for Jack and the other for the Callahan boys. At $29 a piece that was a Christmas spirit splurge. As I placed my order the confirmation stated "Items will be delivered between December 2 and December 16th"- Yikes that is a long time and kind of defeats the purpose of an advent calendar which is supposed to count down the 24 days to Christmas, but the boys will loved them so I left my order in Target limbo.

In the mean time every time I have found myself in Target I would have to breeze down the Lego aisle hoping that the Lego gods would smile upon me and bless me with the prized advent calendar. No such luck. Then last Thursday morning I noticed that I had a order update from Target in my Inbox. Great! The Advent calendars are on the way!

NOPE!

Wrong!

Try Again!

The Lego conspiracy continues with a back order date of January 26 to January 28. I don't know about all of you but there is not a single Christmas decoration in my house past January 3rd if there is anything I can do about it. Not to mention the fact that no Christmas item should be bought from Target after December 24th for no less then 50% off. By January 26th, these calendars should be discounted by 90% in my eyes. GRRR! ORDER... CANCELLED.

Moral to the story. Buy local. Buy early (like in October when Jack first spotted them in the store and I told him it was too early to buy Christmas stuff). And no one gets hurt.

Fact #2:

Starts with the Fresno Bee is the most worthless newspaper on the planet. After "The Bee" reformatted this fall, the news didn't exist. Articles about things I care about and that aren't even happening in our community, doesn't encourage me to renew my subscription. The Sunday ads did for awhile keep me reading for awhile. In an attempt to cut costs, I let the subscription go because I can see the Target ad online (click for this week's ad). But little did I know that Target tricks up in to feeling bad about the availability of products available in my normal Target with the sweet, sweet deals available only at the SUPER TARGET. The elusive SUPER TARGET-aghh! How I wish you were mine, all mine! But I can't have you so please don't show me what you have to offer (in other words the things that can't be mine).

Moral to the story. Ignorance is bliss. Thanks a lot Target, I am not feeling so blissful.

I am beginning to feel the pain that Charlie Brown felt. What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Merry Grinch-mas...

Last year Christmas exploded at our house. This year not so much! While I am lucky that I finished addressing our Christmas cards, I failed to remember the school, dance, and cousins pictures that have been patiently waiting to be appreciated by all that were supposed to go in them. OOPS! The Christmas decorating that I started before Thanksgiving came to a screeching halt around December 3rd. The only reason I decorated on December 3rd is because I didn't have a place to put the Christmas cards that I started to arrive and I took the card tree out of the attic and set it up.

No jolly Santas on the mantel.

No Nativity with lights and garland.

No blow ups in our yard (much to my children's protest).

There is just not enough time to "blow up" Christmas this year. Boo! Hoo!

Luckily the shopping is done!

The tree is up!

And gifts are in the process of being wrapped!

But the biggest guilt I have this Christmas season is that

I didn't have the time to write my annual Christmas letter.

Silly right?

It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions and this year I just don't have enough time to do it. Sorry!

Check back next week and maybe I will blog my Christmas letter.

There is still hope!

Life in Balance...

The problem-

A totally rad yellow and blue Schwinn without training wheels.

Won by Jack in 2007 at the Firefighters Soapbox Derby.

The solution-

Great weather + a dad that was not going to quit + The Balance Buddy + some tears=

The Results-

AMAZING! Jack is biking machine!

He wants to go everywhere on his bike and he does it with the biggest smile on his face.

If his mother would think about it she would have a picture here of Jack on his bike. Bad Mom!

AEP...

Steve is working his butt off during the Medicare "Annual Election Period" , I am trying to help him out by working at a moderate pace. Unfortunately, the grueling hours sitting in Wal Mart, driving to appointments, and calling people is not showing their effect on the actual part of the anatomy that is supposedly being worked off. I am pretty much guaranteed to be a featured butt on a national news report about the "effects of stress and obesity in America" or "why your shouldn't have a Starbucks scone everyday". AGHHHH!

AEP's new name... "ANNUAL EXPANSION PERIOD"!

January 1 can't come fast enough.

600...

It was 600 hours to Thanksgiving.

It can be 600 weeks to my birthday.

It will be 600 minutes until we leave for Grandma's.

It should be about 600 seconds until we make cookies.

And how about 600 days until Santa comes.

What is your exaggerated number? Can you guess what Abby's is?