In households across the country people will be making their New Year resolutions. This has never been the tradition in my house. My parents always took a piece of paper and wrote down their New Year PREDICTIONS. They would predict what was going to happen in the coming year and then seal it in an envelope. On the following New Year they would open their predictions to see how many came true.

I would like to continue this tradition by asking YOU to write your own New Year’s Predictions. My family always liked to cover a wide range of topics from the political to the mundane. Write 5 predictions (feel free to use the graphic here) and then tag 3 of your friends to write their own predictions. You can also just leave your predictions here in the comments area. I will be the keeper of your predictions and next year we’ll see how we all did.

1.) Britney Spears will challenge Keven Federline for full custody of their children
2.) Gasoline will see $1.15 a gallon before creeping back up to over $2.00 a gallon
3.) Michael Jackson will move back to the United States
4.) Lucy will start school and discover that it isn’t nearly as bad as she anticipated. However, Mommy will discover that the home-schooling part will be far more challenging than she thought.
5.) Max will discover his independence and easily rid himself of his pacifier addiction. (I think this is wishful thinking more than a prediction).

The three people I’m tagging first are Jane from “What About Mom”, Annie from “The Daily Digress” and my old friend Holly from “Migraines and Mortgages” who has actually participated in the original version with real paper.

This is sort of my blog-i-versary. I don’t really have a set date because well, there were several starts and stops. It took me almost an entire year to figure out what I was going to do with my little corner of the internet and so my early posts are a very strange combination of topics. It wasn’t until I realized that I needed to filter LESS not MORE that things fell into place. I thought I would take this moment to tell you what I learned this first year.

1.) Writing several times a week is a lot harder than it looks. When I tell people I blog I get one of the following reactions; a.) blank stare b.) an “oh really? I should do that” or c.) “does anybody read it?” The truth is, it is hard to do. Oh, it was fun and heady the first couple of months but quickly (sometime around July) it started to get painful. Frankly, I’m not that interesting and writing 3-5 times a week can be a stretch sometimes.

2.) The internet is filled with lovely people. I’ve made some amazing friends this year and met some incredible women. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ve never met them in person, but I know their stories like I know my own. I’m proud to be a part of the “mommy-blogger” club because we are an impressive band of sisters.

3.) The internet is filled with people that have no sense of humor. I’m sarcastic and I get the fact that sarcasm doesn’t always translate well in the written world but c’mon people – really? I periodically post in some public venues and I’m always amazed at the vitrolic responses I receive on the most basic, humorous posts. It has made me very sympathetic and understanding of bloggers like Dooce. I can only imagine the hate-mail she receives. Eegads people, lighten up.

4.) I would do this even if nobody read it. The most surprising, and yet obvious, thing I’ve discovered is how much I have missed writing. My bachelors degree was in creative writing and I suppose I always assumed I would be a writer some day. My blog has really allowed me to pursue that. It is nice that people read it and even nicer when people comment, but fundamentally I do this for me.

Lastly, I have not finished this year without the amazing support of my parents, my husband and my readers. David has been unabashed in his support and even designed my header graphic. My parents have read every post, and as always, have been my most honest critic. My lovely, lovely readers who have rallied to my support, laughed at my jokes, provided me with wonderful tips and lead me down new paths of discovery — thank you. Thank you all. I hope in 2009 I continue to entertain you.

I’m not the kind of person who wins things. My luck just doesn’t run that way. However, somewhere in the cosmos the “Saint of Santa Pictures” has looked down upon me and taken me into his favor. I say this because I have had uncanny good luck with my kids and Santa Claus. Lucy’s very first picture with Santa Claus looked like it was taken from a brochure. Even Max has only provided me with one tearful photo in the 3 years we’ve taken his picture. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this and I’m sure that now that I’ve drawn attention to it I will forever be condemned to horrid photos. However, for this year we were successful:

For those of you living in the Dallas area I would like to let you in on my secret to some of my success. I always go to the Willow Bend Mall. Why? Because that mall is filled with stores that nobody can afford to shop in and thus is ALWAYS empty during the holiday season. If you get to the mall at around 4:45 during a weekday you are sure to not experience a line for Santa.

Lucy is very analytical for a 4 year old. She always has been. Where simple answers like “the cat died and is with God” would suffice for most 4 year olds with Lucy it is not enough. She is a thinker, she mulls, she stews, she questions, she reflects. So, it wasn’t all that surprising that we had this conversation this morning (while she sat on the toilet).

Lucy: mommy, do I have a beard?
Me: Nooo, you’re silly
Lucy: Will I ever have a beard?
Me: No, beards are only for boys
Lucy: That’s okay. I like being a girl. Do you like being a girl mommy?
Me: Yes, I like being a girl just fine.
Lucy: Me too. Do some girls, who are girls, not like being a girl?
Me: Um, some don’t like it.
Lucy: Why?
Me: I don’t know. I suppose some just don’t like being a girl
Lucy: Are there boys who don’t like being boys?
Me: Yes, I suppose so.
Lucy: Do they want to dress like girls?
Me: (starting to squirm at where these questions are leading) I don’t know, I suppose so.

Lucy takes a minute to reflect. This is when I get nervous. I know she’s working all this out in her head. She’s wondering why a boy wouldn’t want to be a boy and why would he want to wear girls clothes and I’m holding my breath in anticipation of the bombshell that is surely to come.

Lucy: (as she wiggles off the toilet) well, I LIKE being a girl.
Me: yep, me too.

And that was it — FOR NOW. I know the follow up questions are not too far behind. It may take her a couple of weeks but it will come up again. That is Lucy – that is her little analytical personality trying to get all the puzzle pieces of life to fit together into a nice, neat package. All the numbers need to add up, all the lines need to be straight, life MUST make sense to her. I bet my parents are loving this.

I feel that part of my responsibility as a female blogger is to bring clarity into the world of marital communication. As most married persons are aware, good, clear, frequent communication is essential to a happy marriage. As a result I would like to discuss the concept of “time” and how it works within a marriage.

#1 “Honey, would you mind changing the child’s diaper”
Husbands, you have approximately 10 minutes to begin this task. More than likely said child is sending out a stench that would make grown men weep or is carrying so much fluid between their legs that more than a diaper change will be required if more time is wasted. If you fail to begin this task within 10 minutes your wife will assume you are ignoring her and/or deciding to not do her this favor.

#2 “Babe, could you empty the garbage?”
This one is tricky since this request needs to be taken into context with other events. Are you expecting guests to arrive? If this is the case then she expects you to have this task completed prior to their arrival. Is the garbage man on his way? Then you better get it out to the curb before she hears the truck. If there are no extenuating circumstances than you probably have 20-30 minutes before she is going to think you are ignoring her.

#3 “Do you think you could get me “x” item down from attic/cupboard/high shelf?”
Unless she specifies a time she needs this item NOW. Do not wait for a commercial break, for you to reach the end of the internet or to go to the bathroom. More than likely she is in the middle of doing something and needs said item immediately. She’s only asking you because you are taller than she is. This is also true for the “Can you open” or the “Can you unscrew” requests.

#4 “Could you run to the store and get me …..”
This must also be taken into context. Is she baking a cake and has only now realized she’s out of sugar? In which case you better high-tale it out of the house and to the store. Is your normally diapered child running around naked? Well, in this case it depends on your tolerance for urine on your floor. More than likely you have anywhere between 5-15 minutes to start this task before an argument will ensue.

The important thing to remember is that all of these tasks are things that she WOULD do if she could. However, for whatever reason she can not, at that moment, do them. She is throwing out a distress signal to her teammate, she is ‘tagging’ you in to the ring. If you were in the middle of a wrestling match you wouldn’t tell Hulk Hogan “hold on a second honey I want to download the new Maroon 5 album” and so the same excuse should not be used with your wife. She is asking for help, at that moment, right now. If none of these circumstance apply to your particular situation than I would stick with no more than 30 minutes. Once 30 minutest have passed said request then nagging will ensue; “don’t forget the garbage babe.” “Babe, remember the garbage?” “Honey, the garbage. Now” You get the idea.

I’m glad I can serve you like this and bring clarity and harmony to your relationships.

Act I

Me: I really think we need to be better about making Max take a nap. When he hasn’t napped he is really prone to having tantrums
David: Why isn’t he napping? BABE! He should be napping EVERY day
Me: I don’t disagree, but he does not take a nap easily. He’s not like Lucy, he fights it every step of the way. Sometimes it’s 3:00 and I still haven’t gotten him to sleep and then it’s too late.
David: Then you need to start putting him down for nap earlier in the day
Me: it’s not that easy
David: HEY, Who is the parent here? You are. He naps. EVERY DAY
Me: Okay, I get it.

Act II
Upon returning from an all day shopping trip with my sister

Me: How were the kids?
David: great, no problems
Me: Did Max nap?
David: nope
Me: He didn’t sleep?
David: yeah, well I didn’t really try to get him to sleep
Me: Baaabe?
David: sorry, I got busy and I forgot. He’ll be fine.

I’m always looking for great recipes to make at Christmas time to give as gifts. I never make any of them, but I’m always looking. Well, this year not only did I find a great recipe, I actually made it.

I got this great recipe for Peppermint Bark from My Baking Addiction who actually borrowed the recipe from The Hungry Housewife. Now the Hungry Housewife used things like cream and real white chocolate, while I followed the Baking Addiction recipe which relied on white chocolate chips and included no cream. All I can tell you is that it tasted fantastic and made some cute gifts. Check them out here.

I will say it doesn’t make a huge batch so if you are planning on multiple gifts you may want to make more than one batch. Great internet sharing and an easy Christmas recipe is “What Works For Me” today.

Ever since having children our Christmas cards have involved the same process.

step #1: I spend 4-8 weeks hunting for cute, creative, original, and coordinating Christmas outfits for the children

step #2: David spends approximately 2 hours hunting down appropriate location for Christmas picture

step #3: David and I argue, fight, gripe and scowl at each other while cajoling the children to sit still, smile, and look at Daddy.

step #4: David takes approximately 178 pictures. One of which will actually turn out

step #5: I develop said picture into cards which we mail out with coordinating holiday stamps.

This year everything followed the plan until we got to #5. After consideration of time, money and postage we decided to go “electronic” this year. David designed the card and we emailed it to our friends and family. In case we missed anybody, I’m posting our card here.

Happy Holidays!!