I really am still alive. Sort of.

Oh, hi. Yeah, I’m still breathing. Basically, this past month has been kicking my tail.

There’ve been several times during the past month I’ve wanted to blog, but I just didn’t have the time, energy, or brain power left to form the sentences. I fear I lost out on a few good ranting opportunities, and some people on Facebook may have borne the brunt of that. I’d apologize, but I’m not really sorry. Oh well, there will be other chances. After all, this world is not getting any less stupid. And, um, 2014 Olympics, y’all. They’re coming.

Remember when we started potty training Honor back in, um, September? Yeah. We’re still in potty training hell, basically. Oh, she stays dry quite well - even overnight - unless she decides she just doesn’t want to go to the potty. Which happened four times before lunch just the other day – for no apparent reason. And don’t even talk to me about #2. Or bedtime. Let’s just say that listening to a 2 year-old scream, “I need to go pee pee!” every 10 minutes from 7:30-10pm every night just blesses your heart. And don’t even think she’s sleeping through the night after that. Because she’s not. Which means neither are we.

In the midst of all of this, Caedmon has been testing boundaries. At one point, I had to remove every toy from his room and he had to earn them back by having a good attitude and not whining for three days. That was fun. Each age has had its challenges, but this is a whole new level. Tattling, instigating, whining, plain old blatant disobedience, and “piling on”. I mean, if I’m in the middle of cleaning up poop, per se, why in the world would you think it’s a good time to ask me a deep, existential question? Or if Honor is getting in trouble, what possesses you to jump in and say, “Yeah. You know you weren’t supposed to do that.” Seriously? No. Also? I discovered the other night that he’s getting a 6 year-old molar. Which is just weird. I mean, I knew it was coming, but…weird.

But with the bossing that goes on between the two of them, I’d love to hear, just once, Caedmon say, “You’re not the boss of me.” We’ve been learning some tough lessons on personal responsibility lately and why you are responsible for your actions, even if your 2 year-old sister told you to do it.

Parenting is hard, yo.

I never thought I’d be so ready for Christmas vacation. Today was our last day of schooling for the year. I’m ready for a break.

In other news, we’re ready for Christmas around this place. Gifts are under the tree, and Caedmon is loving counting down the days until 1) Christmas, and 2) the days until he gets to open (some) presents (which is one day less). Husband and I are ready…I think. Last year, we spent several hours putting a LEGO fire station together late into the night. This year, it will be more of the ride-on variety of toys that will be assembled on Christmas Eve. For both kids. They are going to lose their minds. Provided we don’t lose ours first in the assembly process.

I know Christmas is always fun and magical, but I am especially excited this year, because I think it might be the first time Honor “gets” it. And she’s going to absolutely love her gifts. I never thought it would be so much fun to pick out girly things when I myself am not into all the frilly girly things. But it is.

And most importantly, our kids are more and more understanding the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth. Because that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.