Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Dirty Soap Company

As I mentioned in About Me, I make soap. My company is The Dirty Soap Company. I am running a special through the end of the year. Free shipping on all orders. Just enter SHIP4FREE at checkout.

Check out my site www.thedirtysoapcompany.com

Snow Day!

This is actually our second snow day of the year. The first was back before thanksgiving, but this time the snow is deeper and has some staying power. There will be snow on the ground for a few days.

The best sound in the world is the shrieks and laughter of children sledding down the hill. That is followed closely by the crunch of freshly fallen snow under over sized snow boots while kids build a snow man or make snow angels. And of course the only thing that you can do to follow an afternoon of playing in the snow is drinking cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkles while watching Christmas movies like Muppet Christmas Carol or The Polar Express.

I love snow days!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Coupons, Peanut Stickers, and Telescopes

*Warning* Somewhat embarrassing material follows (we're talking tampons)

As you can see from the picture of my children, Michael loves all things pirates. He has been known to unravel entire rolls of toilet paper just for the cardboard tube. He calls it his boom stick, or sometimes it is his "noculars" or a telescope. Yesterday I came into my bedroom and he had gotten into my purse and some of my more personal feminine products. When I asked him what he was doing he said, "Making wittle, wittle, teeny, tiny, telescopes". You guessed it, he had opened my tampons and was using the cardboard tubing. I couldn't help but smile.

It actually reminded me of a time when Isaac and Sara were younger and Michael was just brand new. In a panic Isaac came running into the living room, distraught at the actions of his sister.
"Mom! Come quick! Sara has dumped out all your coupons and peanut stickers!"
"What? Coupons and peanut stickers?" I asked a little confused, "Where is she?"
"In the bathroom! Your coupons and peanut stickers are all over the floor, you need to come and see!"
So we go to the bathroom and there is Sara, sitting on the floor surrounded with coupons and peanut stickers. I started laughing hysterically. She had dumped out my tampons (coupons) and pantie liners (peanut stickers).

Oh the innocence of youth!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

My life is an adventure


Since I have been talking of my children, I thought it was time I introduced them. Isaac is the oldest. We call him Turtle because he is slow and purposeful in everything he does. He also wrestles. Since turtles and wrestlers don't like to be on their back it works well. Sara is next. She is my princess, and she will tell everyone that her nick-knack name is Princess. Everything has to be pink and sparkly. Since I was a HUGE tomboy growing up, I don't know where she got it from. It's kind of nice though that I have a girl who likes to wear dresses, and lip gloss, and perfume, and sparkly things. Michael is the youngest. We call him Monkey. Anything that looks remotely sturdy and he will climb it. He is sneaky and silly and fun. He has the best sense of humor of the three.


With them my life is never boring. Each day is an adventure and each day they teach me something new about myself. How lucky am I?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Didn't we just carve pumpkins?

It seems like no matter how much we try to slow down and enjoy things, time has a way of moving faster and faster. Now as I sit in the glow of the lights from the Christmas tree I am wondering where the time went.

Twice this time of year I have been what the Bible would call, "great with child."

I think of all the people who were affected by the birth of my children; my husband, my parents, my in-laws, my other children. I think of all the people who were there to make things more comfortable for me; the nurses, the doctor, the anesthesiologist. I think of the comforts of a soft bed and a warm blanket. I think of the first gentle swaddling and touch of my newborns tiny fingers.

And then I think of another birth. One that took place in the most humble of conditions. It was probably cold, wet, smelly. Mary was just a young woman, a teenager really. Who was there to help her through her labor and birth? Joseph was, I imagine. Was there anyone else? Anyone to wipe a damp forehead, to offer words of encouragement when it came time to push?

One of my favorite depictions of baby Jesus, doesn't even really show his face. It's Mary, standing in the light of the new star, holding her baby close to her chest and gazing up at the heavens.

This time of year it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of activity. The shopping, the parties, the toys, the exchanging of gifts. Really the best present given, the one that is more and more forgotten and overlooked, was the miracle of the birth and the faith of a young woman who found herself great with child.