I had a really great entry I was going to write, but I just *don't have it in me*.  I'm fumbling around in my life like a 4 year old wearing his daddy's work shirt.  I just don't have it in me.  I'm still around, though. 

How I’ve missed you, my Xanga friends!

Happy 2008!  I would
promise to keep you more up-to-date, but I don’t want to make a promise that
will be difficult to keep.  Mommy duties
and all.  However, my new camera arrives
tomorrow, maybe I can bring myself to take a photo a day to show you my
life?  I may attempt that, and you can
all see how awesomely terrible I am at real photography.  Chasing a 4 year old with a camera, easy.  Getting a drooly baby to smile, easy.  Taking a well-thought-out photo, not so
easy.  But we’ll see, maybe I’ll even
surprise myself.  I keep telling everyone
that with the new camera, I’ll be able to take a photo of Bran’s inner nasal
workings and we’ll be able to count the hairs. 
That should be the first photograph, don’t you agree? 

I believe I have decided to post some of what happened
Christmas day, though I’ll do it in a protected post, just to be safe. 

Our New Year’s Eve was basically uneventful.  We stayed home, ate most of the day, and
allowed Brandon
to snack on junk more than usual. 
Strangely enough, he wanted very little junk, and would rather have real
food.  Good for him!  He stayed up until midnight, when we all
(except the baby, she missed it by about six minutes!) exchanged kisses to ring
in the new year, and then he promptly asked me “Can we go to bed now?  I’m tired.” 
He went to bed, we let him have a late movie, and just minutes later,
little one was asleep.  How sweet.  But he made it to 2008!

Still no tooth.  She’s
trying, she really is, but her teeth are as stubborn as her brother’s
teeth.  She can sit up if we put her in
that position, but eventually falls over like a broken Weeble.  She’s also stating to coot on her belly,
albeit backward, but she has teh movez! 
She also thought that Christmas tree lights were for eating, until her
brother informed her that no, they’re not, and get away from it.
 
On Christmas day, this is so funny, my step-nephew was
refusing to share some toys with Bran, even though there were enough.  (It was noodles and worms.  Visit a local Dollar Tree, you should find
them.  They’re a gross gag-gift-y kind of
toy that only little kids and their sick, twisted families will
appreciate!)  Step-nephew is throwing a
fit, and firmly refusing to share, while Brandon, one hand on his hip, the
other pointing a finger at him, says, “You’d better share or I’m gonna SPANK
YOUR BUTT!  And if you don’t listen, I’m
going to tell your dad, and you’ll have to go home.  So quit fussing, and start sharing!  I will spank your butt!  And if I tell your dad, you’ll have to go
home, so if you don’t want to go home, you’d better just do what I say”.  I could hardly keep myself from being
hysterical.  It was so funny.  Step-nephew didn’t share, no butts were
spanked, nobody got sent home, and I mostly kept my composure.
 
That’s about it for now, I’m going to work on my protected
entry.  Also, I promise to get caught up with you soon!  Toodle-moo!

I'm 3 weeks behind on my email.  That's about 3000 (yes, 3000!) emails to get through.  Possibly more.  I've neglected my Freecycle duties for 3 weeks.  I have just not had much chance to sit down at my computer for longer than a few minutes! 

I baked a ton.  I made some chocolate chip cookies that were SO GOOD that I ate the first batch.  I had to make two more batches.  I made some chocolate sandies that just MELT IN YOUR MOUTH.  I made some sugar cookies that left a little to be desired.  I made some of my trademark cranberry chai Chex mix.  I also made some dark chocolate truffles that made me propose marriage to myself.  I have an Avon box full of cookies.  Anyone want some?

Baby is teething.  The tooth hasn't broken through, but we see the dot. 

I did a Passion Party for some friends last weekend - 5 people, (two couples and a friend who's husband will return from Iraq shortly, WOO!) and my sales were $400!  I love you guys, you know who you are!  I really had fun, and was sad I had to leave so early, but the danged baby loves my boobies, apparently. 

Brandon is doing well in school, and can even spell "off" and "on" on his own. 

There was some Christmas drama involving me, Craig, and my family.  Don't know if I'll post about it or not.  It's over, I think we're good.  I hope so. 

Thanks for looking for me, I swear I'M STILL HERE.    Message me and you can have my mobile if you're that worried, to text me.  I would say email me, but fuck, three thousand emails!  JESUS HAROLD CHRIST and most of them are CRAP. 

Yes, I'm still here, just busy.  Update soon, promise!  Anyway, what do you think of this camera?  It's in the right price range, it has features I'm looking for - has anyone used it?  Know anything about it?  I need a better camera to take better photos of random buttcrack when I'm out and about, folks!

Also, to those who thought my brother's marriage is over, FALSE ALARM.  Damn.  Dunno any details. 

Okay, time for food.  Later, and happy holidays!  Also, to Amanda -

MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS, BITCH.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Craig apparently speaks English Acronym as a Second Language.  The other day, whilst speaking (poorly) of my sister-in-law, he described her as a "MILF".  I was in the process of pouring some milk for Bran, and just about spilled it everywhere.  I asked if he knew what "MILF" meant, and he said "yeah, a real dumb fuck".  I said "Um, no, it's an acronym, for Mother I'd Like to Fuck.  Please never use that acronym and sister-in-law's name in a sentence EVER AGAIN".

Duh.

Visit here for more info.  I just signed up, thanks to lilms_sassy!

You need to go play this game or any other game on this site, damn you.  I want you all addicted!  

Also, Brandon has the sudden-vomit-everywheres.  Dunno why.  He's probably sleeping.  Craig is at the landromat washing OUR blanket.  

Oh, and he wondered last week, does coffee make you cough?  And do you play on planes?

"Baby butt.  Let me show you it". 

Hahahahahahaha!

And we beat last year's record for light strands.  Last year, we were at 9.  This year, it's THIRTEEN BABY.  But the tree is taller.  Tho narrower.  Photos later, no ornaments are on it yet.

Happy late Thanksgiving, too!

EDIT:  I'm also planning a night out at Missie B's, a drag club, in KC during the middle of December.  My best friend will be in town and could use a night out.  Interested?  Let me know.  I promise I will be good.

Ha.

Brandon is having a sleepover at my parents' house, so that meant I could try something new for dinner.  Much like our store is starting to sell lamb, they're also starting to sell veal.  Please, don't lecture me about veal.  I know all about it.  It still tastes good, and is lower in fat than beef. 

We were initially going to have the lamb meatballs again for dinner, but the lamb shipment isn't expected until next week.  I had the onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and tomato all set, so I made pico de gallo instead.  I thought it would also be a good counterpart to the veal chops, and it was.  After making a HUGE bowl of pico, I dredged the chops in some flour and browned them in olive oil.  The chops were about 2 inches thick, bone-in.  I preheated the oven to 425 and baked the chops for approximately 10 minutes after the browning.  While they browned, I deglazed my pan with some of the pico, adding a few pinches of flour and maybe 1/4 cup whole milk.  The chops were served with the pico sauce, some fresh pico, and a glass of 2001 Sonoma Zinfandel.  Yum. 

I'm currently waiting for FartBaby to go to sleep so we can finish dinner.  I can't rock her without her hanging on a boob, so daddy has her.  I'm blogging, as you can see.  She doesn't need to nurse, anyway, as she's stuffed to the gills.  She's currently up there humming and singing and chatting about things that are apparently important to her.  Like mohk, toys, and mashed potatoes.  And her brother.

Wait, it's quiet.  Must.  Be.  Nearing.  Sleepytime!