NYE

Well, it wasn't the greatest day ever, but I did my best. We played this morning, and did a little potty lesson with the peeing doll. She peed one drop in her potty, but I made a HUGE deal about it and gave her a gummy life saver. We spoke about how she should tell me when she has to pee pee in the potty and then i'll give her candy. She seemed to get it.

We got ready, and then we went to Costco. It was pretty good. We got soy milk, a bottle of champagne a bottle of wine & Garden State. Right by the movie section when I picked it up, someone there said, "That is such a great movie!" I said I knew, and that I'd seen it. Then at the checkout a young man helped me load stuff onto the conveyer belt and said, "That is such a great movie!" I said I knew... And the checkout girl said the same thing 2 minutes later! I love that movie.

It was cloudy & kind of drizzling so I knew that Legoland wouldn't happen for us. After the forecast last night I was so sad it was like telling me I wasn't going on vacation. However, I'm thrilled I didn't tell Mia about it because she would've been devastated.

We had plans to hit Fashion Valley mall after our trip to Costco. Les, Wendi, Jacob, Diana, Jason (her hubby) and Davey (her son) were going to motivate & meet us for lunch. As I got down there, the line to Friar's road (the mall exit) was ridiculous. I bypassed it to go to another route and the road is closed! Apparently it's COMPLETELY flooded, and one road next to the mall there has a 6-foot deep hole across it and will be shut down for a month for repair. Unreal. So I called them and we bagged the idea and met at UTC. Mia and I arrived first so we ran around for a few. Then we met the gang at Red Robin. Miss Jasmine was there (one of the teachers at Mia's school!) and Mia was so blown away by it. Then the group arrived and we ate. By the time we finished (around 2) it was pouring outside. I was so glad we weren't at Legoland in the rain!

We went back to hang at Les & Wendi's, Mia & Davey played around with the Shamu toys he had gotten yesterday at Sea World. I called Legoland to see if they were having the festivities, and they said they were doing it b/c the forecast was for a clear evening. Hm. But I wasn't going to waste admission on an hour of time there and no rides, so I forgot about it.

So they all had to get ready to go out, it was around 5:00 and I got in the car and thought... I bet if I drove up to Carlsbad and found a spot near Legoland we could watch the fireworks at 6. It was very clear out by this point. So I picked up some apples & nuggets for Mia at Mickey D's and we drove around to find a spot. It was a side road near Legoland, up the hill from that outlet mall. There were a couple of other cars parked, so I got out & gave Mia the food. We waited, and the couple parked behind us with 2 cute blonde girls said, "We figured you knew what you were doing so we followed you!"

"Well, it's the blind leading the blind, b/c I'm just here winging it... I didn't want to spend the day at Legoland in the rain."

There were several other families on that dark street near a bunch of businessparks, and so we waited together and then they started! Our view was great. Mia loved the fireworks and called out the colors and was asking me for the whole rest of the night, "Did you like the fireworks, Mommy?? Did you like that?"

We came back, and I asked if she'd sit on the potty. She sat on the big potty and made a very short pee and I did a BIG happy dance, hugged her and sang. She was so proud of herself it was great! I gave her more candy.

So now she's sleeping and I'm going to curl up with some soup, a glass of champagne and probably American Dreams. Happy new year, everyone.

Here comes 2006.

So much has happened in the past while, the holidays have come & gone. I knew that would go quickly, now comes the hard part; January & February. But this too shall pass, and I'm making plans to fill the gaping holes of time.

Mia's had a bad bout with ear infections these past 2 months. She's on Zithromax now after amoxicillin & another antibiotic didn't do the trick. Her cough is exponentially better, however not gone, and the 2nd time we saw a doctor he had me make an appointment for mid-January to check the fluid in her ears. If it isn't better, she has to see an ENT and maybe get tubes. Let's pray hard that this doesn't happen, I don't think I could take Mia having to get surgery. Espeically without Craig here. But that cough... oh goodness, it's horrendous. I'm so glad it's better now.

Mia has been enjoying the holiday season so much, I'm afraid that when it's over she's going to be depressed! Tomorrow we're going to Legoland for their "New Year's Celebricktion". From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. there's a live DJ spinning high-energy dance tunes, party favors and more. Then at "midnight" (which is 6pm) we'll ring in the New Year with a 22-foot-tall LEGO "Brick Drop" and a spectacular fireworks show complete with special fireworks viewing glasses. I'm so excited it's IMPOSSIBLE to keep this from her! But it must be a surprise because she's not going to sleep eat or go ANYWHERE besides Legoland once I tell her. She'll find out on the way there.

We had a lovely night tonight. I took Mia to Applebees. She was very very good. She must've been hungry because she ate all the applesauce & her whole grilled cheese, even after eating a bag of Goldfish! She charmed everyone at the restaurant. We sat at the table right next to the host desk at the front. The manager talked to Mia, and asked her name. She said, "My name is Mia."

The girl at the booth across from us said, "Good choice, that's my name too." There was another Mia there! Our Mia was quite tickled at this and talked to the other Mia for a little while.

Then a man came in and was asking if this one young host guy was in the Military. He said, "Yes, sir, I am." I knew not only by his haircut, but by his demeanor that he was a Marine, and he told the man that he was. He reminded me of my brother-in-law Jake a little bit, especially the way he talked.

I said, "My husband is a Marine as well, he's overseas at the moment... Where did you go to boot camp?"

"Oh, I have already been in for 4 years, boot camp was a while back. And I just got back from Iraq myself."

He looked 19! I felt so old. The man who had been talking to us there was a Navy reservist he said. I shared Craig's promotion selection with them, and they both congratulated him wholeheartedly and the Navy reservist guy said to be sure he knows he's thinking about all of them over there and thanks & respects them for what they're doing.

I asked where the younger guy was stationed in Iraq, and he said at Al Asad. (same base as Craig) He told me where he worked on Miramar, but I forgot what he said. He was so nice and so friendly. So while we ate dinner, I taught Mia to say, "Hoo rah, Devil Dog!" Ok, so now she LOVES saying that... The young Marine smiled & laughed when she said that to him as we left. It was so adorable, it's little moments like that which make me miss him even more.

Then we got home, and I found a package from Craig's mom in the mail. She sent a bag full of little toys & goodies for Mia. A puzzle, a sticker book with stickers (she loves that one), a kaleidoscope, a magnifying glass, a clear plastic wand with glittery stars inside, a compass inside of a wooden ladybug and a really cute red box with little puppet mice inside. And she sent me 3 pictures-one of Mia with Craig's dad that she took at the wedding, and two of my mom-in-law with a bunch of kids, probably some sort of retreat. She also sent me a framed picture of Mia sitting in Craig's Dad's lap. It's so sweet, and Mia
loved the toys too. She's very happy. We also got a card from Craig's grandparents. They said thank you to me for the pictures I sent to Craig's father (who lives on the farm with them), and that they're thinking of March when he'll be home. His mother's card said much the same, and said that this time next year we'll be celebrating the new year together. Amen.

It's been a month. I know, get over it.

So I'm just going to jump right in here to tell you some new stories. I'll tell you that the trip home was amazing, anyone reading this has seen the pictures and heard the stories. So email me if you haven't.

Tuesday was the first night of Chanukkah. I went to Mia's school to pick her up and looked for her artwork in her cubby. It was a construction paper glued menorah. Very nice. I pulled it out and exclaimed, "MIA! Wow! What is THIS that you made?"

"It's a... a... a... a MERICA!" Upon reflection maybe this was a combo of "menorah" and "Channukah" but I still think it's hilarious.

This morning as I got her dressed, I asked her, as I always do, "What did you dream about?"
"I got a owie." (She produces random pretend booboos now, I think she just likes to get attention & kisses.)
"Where?"
"On my finger." She shows me her index finger. No booboo.
"I don't see anything, how did you get an owie?"
"A dinosaur BIT me!"
"Oh, I don't know about that..."
"Yeah, I'm scared of dinosaurs!"
"No need to be scared, baby. I don't think dinosaurs can bite you. They're extinct."
"Yeah, dinosaurs are STINKY, Mommy... PeeeeYEW!"
I tried to explain, but I was laughing too hard.

Anyway, tonight I gave her a gift from her grandmother (Craig's mom), and it was so darn cute. It's a wooden dollhouse, just a small one with two rooms. It has a little wood stove and a table & chair. Also a bunch of accessories like a bowl, cup, muffin tin, broom & dustpan. And 2 dolls. SO cute, and she played with it for the rest of the night. She's in bed now, I had so much fun with her tonight. As we normally do, especially Friday nights since I like them.

Ok, I have to go, but I just wanted to get back in here. I once again will make every effort to spend more time here. Really!