Today…

Outside my window: It would be virtually impossible to not have a White Christmas at this point. With at least a foot of snow already on the ground and more snow predicted every day this week, it will likely be very, very white indeed. Luckily my handsome husband is back home to shovel for me.

I am hearing: The hum of the heater, the rattling of BB swatting at her toys, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (recorded on PBS Kids) playing on tv, and the dishwasher doing it’s daily jig (am I the only one who finds the noises of the dishwasher slightly musical – anyone else dancing in their chairs to the sound of their dishes cleaning? Just me?)…

I am thinking: It’s going to be a good week. If it kills me.

I am hoping: that I’m right.

I am reading: Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter which I won in a giveaway on the Mom Lit Facebook Group. I have never read any of Jane Porter’s books before but OMG they are good – they are a classic example of why chick lit books became popular and I am anxiously looking forward to reading all of her books now.

I am creating: I just declared our 2010 Family Calendar complete and hit the necessary buttons to pay for and order it. I am pretty pleased with how it came out – I went with a one picture per month mandate this year and I think it really did wonders for the appearance – the pictures have always been cute but now they are all frame worthy in my humble opinion. I’ll probably post the lucky winners here soon.

I am wearing: pajamas of course – these days Monday is always a pajama day – okay, let’s be honest, most weekdays I only get dressed when it’s time to check the mail… shhhh….

In the kitchen:

• Monday: Jen and Vic’s Mac and Cheese
• Tuesday: Gnocchi with Boca Crumbles and Spaghetti Sauce
• Wednesday: Shrimp with couscous and frozen veggies
• Thursday (my birthday!): grilled cheese and soup ; sugar cookies and buckeyes for Santa
• Friday December 25: Eggplant Parmesan

Plans for the week: Monday through Wednesday consist of an awful lot of status quo (did I spell that right? Anybody know?) but THURSDAY – Thursday is my 27th birthday!! We’ll be waking up in the morning and beginning the preparations of my birthday cake and by we, I do mean Dan. He’s making me my very own Limoncello torte inspired by the Cheesecake Factory. It’s going to need several hours to chill in the refrigerator so we’ll be starting it in the morning – and also starting our buckeyes for Santa (yeah right) which also need some time to chillax – then we are planning to go have lunch at HuHot – a fun Mongolian Grill that I always see advertised on tv – and kids 3 and under eat at their little “buffet” thingy – aka the Food Bars for free. And then, you know, Friday is Christmas. So that’s pretty cool, too.

A few of my favorite things: watching A Very Monkey Christmas with MM, which then inspired him to draw his OWN Christmas List; our 2010 calendar which is seriously fabulous, playing in the snow, the anticipation of Christmas 2009.

A picture thought – MM’s Christmas List:

clockwise from the top left: a sled (as drawn by daddy), the top of a doghouse, a very tall and narrow chair, the rest of the doghouse and a car with The Man in the Yellow Hat driving(as drawn by mommy and daddy collectively)