Today seemed like any other Friday, although it was a little chilly. I got the kids off to school and then proceeded to get myself ready for work. With coffee in hand I headed out the door. When I got to work, Dave was already at work in the office so we began our morning chit chat. How are you, fine, and you and so on and so on. After hanging up my coat I went to sit at my desk, only to find that Christmas had arrived early.

On my desk, in a not so neatly wrapped marsh bag I found Max, the dog off the Grinch, and the DVD, "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." I was so excited, although Dave wasn't sure why, so I showed him my blog from yesterday. His reply was a simple, "Yes, girl, the Grinch did have the biggest heart of all." How was I to know, I have never seen the movie!

So, maybe someone out there thinks I have a heart, and wished me to know this. Thank you, whoever you are. I will not have to rent the movie for my kids and I this weekend because I now own it. And on Saturday evening I want you to know that my kids and I will be watching this movie. THANK YOU!!!

It is a known fact in my family that starting around November, I become the grinch. All the Christmas hoop-lah before Thanksgiving is just too much for me. Too much commercialism, instead of the real meaning of Christmas -- Christ, family, and friends.

This year, to keep in the spirit I purchased a grinch hat, and yes, I have worn it. The only problem with being the grinch is I have never actually seen the movie. Never really saw a reason too. However, my neighbor's daughter has changed my mind.

I stepped over to Donna's house the other night to show her the purchase I had made while shopping that day. I had found a Christmas ornament of the grinch handing a gift to a little blonde girl. "Look!" I said to Donna, "It's me, handing my daughter Esther a gift!" Donna's daughter, Denise, proceeded to tell how she loved the grinch and how she had a collection of grinch things. After proclaiming that indeed I was the grinch -- Denise asked me this question, "Do you know why I love the grinch?" "No," I replied, "Why would anyone love the grinch?" To which Denise replied, "Because the grinch has the biggest heart of all!!"

Talk about a let down! I told them I was going out into the driveway to smash the ornament at once, which I did not. Actually, what I think I am going to do, is rent the movie this weekend and watch it with my kids!!

Merry Christmas to all those and I know and love, even you Denise!! And yes, the ornament of the grinch and the little blonde girl hangs proudly on my tree!!!

When raising three children there are definitely some defining moments as a mother. I had one of those moments on Friday evening. My husband was gone for his weekend drill at Ft. Ben , so that left me and the kids. Friday evenings are usually spent at my kids school gymnasium watching the varsity basketball game, but not this Friday. After work, and having chili at my moms, I decided to go home for the evening. The question then arose, "What are we going to do?" My 9 year old son, Avery, asked to play the PS2, to which I reluctantly relented. Thus began the evening.

Avery played, my 12 year old son Andrew played, and yes, then mom decided to get in on it. Surely I could play Jak and Daxter, couldn't I? Surely I could score 200 points by catching the fish in the net. Little did I realize how difficult this could be. As I began to try, and try, and try again, my boys and 6 year old daughter began to cheer me on. Each time I lost, I would hear, "Do it again mom, do it again." It took at the very least 15 tries for me to finally reach my 200 points to win the gaime. And then the celebration bagan. High fives all around, yes, mom even got up and danced around the room -- I BEAT THE GAME!!! I sent a text to a friend, who didn't text back, then I called my mom to tell her I had won my first PS2 game. Her reply, a simple "Is that all you wanted." It would've been a let down except that on this particular Friday evening my kids thought I was supermom -- and for an evening, I certainly felt like it.