Would you risk your life for a $10 pair of Elmo shoes?

Ok, it’s been a while since I’ve really updated this…. but I have a good excuse.  I’VE BEEN STINKIN’ BUSY!!    Oh My Goodness…it’s been craziness.

But before I start off what I’ve been up to, I just HAVE to tell you what I did this morning.   Ok, I put Andrew’s boots on him and grabbed his tennis shoes and we left to get all buckled in the car seat and go to work/school.   As soon as I pulled out onto Kalamazoo (a pretty busy road, to put it mildly), I hear a THUMP THUMP!   And I actually think, man, I must have had a couple of big clumps of snow just fall off the car.   And didn’t think twice about it.  About halfway to work, I realize that I put Andrew shoes on top of the car while buckling Andrew in.   AAUUGGHH!!!   Those were the THUMPS!!    So I turn around the drive back slowing down dramatically once I get to the area where I heard the thumps praying the whole way that I would A) be able to find the shoes, B) be able to get to the shoes on this busy road and C) the shoes wouldn’t be a total loss.   Well, I saw one shoe right away in the middle of a lane rolling around as cars rushed over it.  I pulled off into a side street, waited FOREVER for traffic to clear as I watched my poor baby’s shoe get run over repeatedly before I could retrieve it.   After I got that shoe, I walked up and down the sidewalk a bit trying to find the other shoe.  The other shoes that is small and white, by the way, amidst snow piles that are big and white.   I don’t see it, so I get back in the car and drive slowly up and down and even all the way back to our driveway, scouring the street for this little lost shoe to no avail.  Finally I give up, I am running really late and conceded to the fact that Andrew’s Elmo shoes were gone and he was going to have to go without shoes today at daycare.  I start to head back to work and way further up the road, in a snow bank, I spot it.   The shoe!   I pull off and trudge through the snow bank to recover the shoe.  And I must tell you…. for being a $10 pair of Wal-Mart shoes…they held up nicely.  I had no problem putting them on Andrew when we got to school.  They were a little dirtier (which they were dirty to begin with), but really just fine.    It’s like they were made of Rubbermaid.   Anyway…. When it was all said and done and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  

Ok, what has been up with us?   Last week was so busy.  Every night we had something going on.  Tuesday as you know we went out and got me new shoes (which I still love).  Wednesday evening we did some Christmas shopping and ended up buying Andrew a new car seat while we were out (much needed).   Not sure that I love it, but I guess it’s better than what we had.  Thursday was a crazy day.   I did some grocery shopping before work, then work, then found out I had a church meeting that evening, plus I had a ton to do at home to get ready for Friday.  So I decided to tape my good TV shoes.   But when I was finally done with everything…I went to check on the tape, and it didn’t record.   It was the final Apprentice and a really good ER.   I just cried.   And cried.   Um…and I hate to admit it, but cried some more.   I am blaming it on being pregnant and stressed and well that just broke the camels back.  Fortunately, after the tears where gone, I remember I can still watch Apprentice tomorrow.  But ER is gone (so if you saw it…I need an update).

Friday, we got a lovely snowstorm that closed ALL the schools and that was the day I had to be downtown at 7:00 for a meeting.  After the meeting, I met Marc and Andrew in the parking lot to trade off the boy and we headed back home for just a few minutes before dropping kiddo off at daycare and I headed to a dentist appt.  (No cavities!!)   Then I went to work and covered for a co-worker the rest of the day.  That evening, Marc picked up Little Caesar’s and I got Andrew, the house, and myself ready for a sitter and Marc and I took off for his work Christmas party.  I was a little hesitant since I would know no one, but it was actually pretty fun and we might even hang out with a couple of the couples some time.  

Saturday was another busy day of Christmas shopping, errands, etc…. and we hung out and had the Dressler’s over for dinner and cards.

Sunday was church in the morning, then a sitter once again in the afternoon while Marc and I went with our church to watch the Narnia movie (I highly recommend it).   Afterward, both Marc and I felt like we should take advantage of having a sitter and do something fun or at least have dinner.  But we weren’t hungry and we finally confessed that we really just missed our boy.   This week was so busy that it seems that when we were with him, it was him in a car seat or us popping in a movie to help keep in occupied (not the best parenting, but necessary once in a while).  We felt that we really hadn’t ‘seen’ him in a while.   So we went home.  

And get this, Mom Dykstra…I made spritz last night.  I thought I would give it a try since I had a cookie press that I have never used.  At first I couldn’t figure out how to get it work (I didn’t swear, though).  But once I got the hang of it, it was surprisingly pretty easy.   I only cooked 1 cookie sheets worth last night but “pressed” all the dough and froze them unbaked.    So I had a cake pan in my freezer full of prepressed spritz just ready to be baked.  (Although with your son around…half the pan is now gone.  Granted, one pan bakes like 20 cookies since they are so small.)  But you would be proud and I am getting great kudos from my hubby for being such a great wife.  (Although he still said that your cutout/frosted Christmas cookies were still his all time favorite – I don’t do cutout cookies, he’ll have to be happy with spritz from me).

Ok, Marc is gone with the guys for the evening for Monday night football, Andrew is in bed, and I am going to be working on some projects here in a bit before bed.   Sorry so long.  Hope you had a great weekend.