Made it through another Christmas...

Wow, the holidays are quite a huge deal, aren't they? Especially with a 6- and 9-year-old! I won't even begin to list the multitude of presents that my kids received...
Fiona crawled in bed last night, however, a bit forlorn, and I asked her what was the matter. She dejectedly replied, "I didn't receive enough presents..." I stifled a laugh and tried to talk seriously with her about how some children don't receive any presents or only one, and then we started to count her presents up. She initially only counted nine, but we were still counting at twenty-something, when we were finally distracted by Michael, who came in to ask what we were doing. She still maintains, however, that she didn't receive enough, as she wants at least 100. I think I'll have to buy her a stickerbook next year and give her each sticker separately... Anyhow, she received a very fancy doll, an Aerogarden, Wii games, movies, clothes, etc. Life is rough for the poor privileged thing! Honestly, though, I am a little sympathetic. It really is all a bit much for a little girl to take in. She's being utterly doused with far too many things, and we're guilty of this repeatedly. I'm seriously considering trying to stick to just one or two fun presents for them at their birthdays this year.
For example, Fiona received Olivia on Christmas Eve. Olivia is a very high quality doll--the likes of which I never had as a girl. I also gave her Kit, a small American Girl doll, on Christmas morning. Kit sort of displaced Olivia in Fiona's attentions, of course, which I rue because Olivia should be a treasured toy and has been relegated to the level of Kit and Barbies at this point. If Olivia had been an only toy for Christmas, then I think she'd be treated with more regard, and Fiona would have enjoyed her much more.
My dear friend Kelly commented, "we're creating monsters!" when I mentioned Fiona's greedy reaction to the inundation of Christmas. She's right...it's difficult for a child to process so very much, and the continual stimulation of constantly receiving creates a pattern that the child adapts to.
Fiona is a very sweet, very loving, and quite generous little girl. She is not generally greedy, and she's one of the most thoughtful six-year-olds in existence, I'm sure. I'm sad that we truly do 'spoil' her by making it so excessive.
Sorry to be such a killjoy! Fiona will adapt and be okay, I'm sure, whether she receives one or one hundred presents for her birthday next year! I do remember that she was a bit rotten at her excessive birthday party last May, as well, but she quickly went back to her normal, sweet self.

Alex, on the other hand, received just one major 'fun' toy from Santa--his Wii. Of course it has a multitude of games, but he seems to be happy with his presents and a bit better-adjusted to receiving and appreciating them.

Santa brought 'Rock Band' for Wii with accompanying instruments, and I played drums or sang tonight with Alex and Michael. I don't like the guitar, as I actually do play real guitar and find the fake one annoying. The drums are a blast, though, and singing is like karaoke. Michael had a wonderful time--the most fun he's had in ages! I was happy to see him having so much fun! Alex, on the other hand, was also having fun and looked way too cool jamming with the Wii guitar--which worried me more than anything...

Anyhow, just decompressing about our Christmas. We are taking a trip up to colonial Williamsburg, VA next week. We'll be coming back on Alex's 10th birthday, January 4th, 2009.

Brilliant Homo Sapien Hubby!

Our million-dollar, incredible, computerized Maytag Neptune washing machine went kaput on us last week for the first time in over 6 years. Michael, a jack-of-all-trades, somehow managed to figure out what was wrong with it and ordered a new motor and a new gasket (the leak likely killed the motor, from my understanding...). After a long day of work, he came home oh-so-happy to find the parts waiting for him to tackle. He replaced the motor within about a half hour, but the silly gasket was the killer! Alex initially tried to help him, and then I did, and my arms are still sore! There was this cord that seals the gasket on, and, by incredible strength or a special tool, you are supposed to stretch a metal spring to hold the cord together. Michael and I could not manage it, no matter how we tried. I was actually quite worried that one of us would get injured, and Michael did get a gash on his hand at one point. After a bit of this, and my arms shaking from prolonged effort, I came up with brainstorming ideas of implements and strategies to help us. While my ideas didn't really have a lot of practical substance, they set Michael's mind churning, and he rigged up a home-brew anchor to one end and a pulley (devised of a thin rope and a metal ring) onto the spring. It worked without a whole lot of to-do!
The analogy with how humans became the dominant creatures of the earth through using their tools and wits came to me while I observed his cleverness. I'm not sure a man of twice his brute strength could have pulled those ends together!
I am happy to say that we have our first load of clothes in almost a week washing in our machine right now. Yay for Michael!

Lower Braces on--finally!

Ouch! I now have a full set of braces, and I have to say that the lower ones are far more painful than the top--probably because the teeth are far more crooked! Not for long, though, right?
I hope that 2008 is the end of invasive procedures for me for quite a while! Of course I'll have the braces on for a couple of years, but they've been set in place, the tooth extraction is history, and now I should only need adjustments. I'm done with my knee surgery and am rehabing that knee currently. The Lasik is just a memory at this point... So, no more plans for bodily invasions for some time! Whew!

Alex is a 2nd Degree Black Belt!

Alex achieved his 2nd degree decided black belt today. Testing was this morning. He is turning 10 next month, and he has now been in taekwondo for over four years. I was gratified to see that his form and techniques are continuing to improve. I take it for granted now, but when he started, I would have been amazed to see the contrast between then and now.
Fiona received her red belt today! We hope to see a black belt around her waist by sometime next summer...
Unfortunately, I completely spaced on the camera today. Sorry no pics!