So, as I sit here in the living room with the tree, I can't help but get sentimental.  

Christmas has been so magical this year.  My kiddos are at such wonderful ages (8 and 4) that I just want to freeze this year in time.  So many times this past month I have closed my eyes and said to myself, "Remember this, Lori.  Remember this moment.  This feeling."  I hope I can.  I hope I can somehow bottle up this innocence,; this sweetness of life.  I hope I can always hear Ben singing Christmas songs to himself in the backseat.  I hope I can always see Drew's eyes light up when he talks about Santa finding a way into our house since we don't have a chimney.  I pray I don't forget these days.

So, I bid you all goodnight on this Christmas Eve Eve.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed new year!    

I had to pull myself back from the edge.  When I encounter this type of person, I have to remind myself (sometimes forcibly)  "Turn the other cheek, Lori."   I keep hearing in my head, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."  So, to curb the rage I feel inside, I play a game.

                                       Back Story 

How to play:  After you have interacted with a rager, you must create his or her reasoning for the crazy behavior.  Now, I'm not talking about the "Oh, his wife could be in labor and they are on their way to the hospital."  That's too easy.  These back-stories must be creative.  Here are some of my favs:

1.  A man is racing to catch the love of his life before she marries the wrong man.  He has stayed quiet for too long.....he can't deny it any longer!  He still loves her, and he's been such a fool for letting her go.  (The new man is a cheating jerk in this scenario...)  The wedding starts at 1:00, and he has 5 minutes to get to the church before he loses her forever.  (aka "The Days of our Lives Back Story")

2.  A young couple discover a bomb strapped in their glove compartment of their rental car.  A note attached reads, "If this car goes under 50 mph it will explode."  The girl drives frantically, as the boy tries to find a way to diffuse the bomb.  (aka "The Speed Back-Story")

3.  A lady is dressed to kill in designer duds, high heels and spanx.  She is on her way to interview for a job she wants sooooo badly, but has carelessly decided to stop at White Castle en route.  She is white-knuckle driving to the nearest bathroom, praying she can make it and save her Prada skirt.  

6 years ago Bart and I were at The Covered Bridge Festival with a toddler Drew.  It was cold and rainy, so we sought shelter in a huge tent full of vendors.  At the first table we found a charismatic young fellow.  In his hands he held a small, neon, fuzzy worm.  As the worm leaped from hand to hand, I felt Bart start to slow the stroller.  I thought to myself, "Oh no.  Not again......"

"Lori, look at that!  How is he doing that?!?"  Bart exclaimed more to himself than to me.

"It's a string, Bart.  Like a fishing line."  I replied.

"For only $8.99 you can own your own wiggle worm!  It's super easy, and the magic is explained in your own set of instructions you will receive.  With a little practice you can pull off these amazing tricks!  Your friends will be AMAZED!"  The worm-man interceded.  

"No way that's fishing line, Lori.  Look how fast that thing is moving!  He trapped it in a glass and it still is wiggling.  I don't see a string!"  Bart countered back.

"That's because it's dim in this tent.  I'm telling you....it's a string."  I said a tad more forcibly this time.

We continued on with our shopping, but I could tell he was already hooked.  On our way back to the parking lot, we stopped and bought the $8.99 worm.  As we walked away from the tent Bart ripped open the package and skimmed the instructions.

"So?"  I asked.

Bart stopped in his tracks and his mouth set in a tight little line.  "I don't want to talk about it."  He stated.
  

Bart and I took the boys to the Mansfield Covered Bridge Festival this weekend.  (Located in Mansfield, Indiana.  It runs for 10 days in October every year.)  If you have never been to this festival you need to go sometime.  It's GINORMOUS.  The whole shindig is in celebration of a covered bridge on the property, which is really quite interesting to walk through.  We met up with Bart's parents once we got there, and we had a beautiful day.  I told Bart that Covered Bridge Day is the equivalent of his Super Bowl Day for me, so if he was going to come along there had to be guidelines.   A.)  No making fun of purchases.    B.)  No hurrying us home so he can catch the football game.    C.)  No griping about moolah. 

I told him many times he didn't have to go with us.  We would be fine on our own, and I didn't want him to "suffer" through a day of shopping.  But, he still wanted to come.  Once we got there it was clear what his motives were.  He knows what kind of food you can score at a place like that.  

I must say though, I'm glad he ended up coming.  I'm going to have to remember this when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around here soon.

So here are some snapshots of our trip:

You may call "Purr Dee Tree," but it must be confirmed by all members in the vehicle.  If everyone confirms, you get the point.  When you get to your destination, the player with the most points wins.  (No way, again!) 

So, I am going to play a huge game of Purr Dee Trees with you this week.  Your challenge?  Go out and find the best Purr Dee Tree you can find.  Snap a photo, send it to me, and we will vote on the Purr Deeist Tree on the site next week.  Get this.......The winner will receive a special P & P fall handbag.  (I'm finishing it up, and I am going to post pics tomorrow.)  



So here are the details:

1.  Photo must be taken by you, this year.  Make sure the focus is on one tree only; not a fall foliage pic. 

2.  Submit photos to:  lori@primandposhhandbags.com, or you can facebook message me too.

3.  You may submit photos until Sunday evening, October 16th.  (Covered Bridge fans, I am giving you the weekend to scope out some trees!)

4.  Tree photos will go up on the website Monday, October 17th.  Fans may vote on their favorite tree until midnight, Friday, October 21st.  Winner will be announced Saturday, October 22nd.  

So get out there and find me some Purr Dee Trees!  

My kids and I have picked up a hobby. It’s certainly not one you would find a magazine devoted or an aisle stocked at Hobby Lobby. We collect words that can be used for a person’s…ah…rear end. Those of you who are more sensitive may want to veer your eyes from reading any further. But if you really sit down, and you have to sit down when discussing the hiny, and think about it, there are so many terms we use to mean our gluteus maximus. Some are creative and some are funny. There are those that are crass and those that are just matter-of-fact. My favorites are the ones that make your tongue contort when you say them. You never know when a new hind quarters' synonym will make itself known to your kids, so you have to be on your guard to pick it up before they do and it blows up into an embarrassing, finger-pointing giggle-fest.

Our newest specimen came from my son’s social studies assignment: memorize the Preamble of the Constitution. We’ve all had to do it. But thankfully for us who grew up with School House Rock, this is an easy and nearly fun assignment. I still have that familiar tune tucked away in the back of my memory; right next to the day I discovered I was allergic to cats and the taste of caviar.

 “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.”

Preamble memorized. Done. But what does it mean? I wanted to take the assignment a step further and explain what some of the words and ideas in the Preamble meant in a manner a sixth grader and an eavesdropping third grader would understand.

One of the few times I get with my older two kids, without the persistent pestering from my 5-year-old, is in our driveway waiting for the school bus. They are fresh and bored enough to listen to what I have to say. It’s a good time to review school lessons and instill life lessons.

I explain, “Tranquility means peace…Defense means protection…Posterity means those who come behind you. Have you heard of the word posterior?”

“No. What does posterior mean?”

“Posterior is another word for your rear,” I said. Eyes light up and the Preamble takes on a whole new interest. “It’s your whole backside actually. So your posterity is the people who come behind you, who come after you.”

Then it clicks into place. “So we are your posterity,” says my 11-year-old son.

“Yes.”

“And Dad is Nana’s posterior,” my 8-year-old chimes in.

“Well, that could be argued but, yes. You get the idea,” I confirmed.

As the kids climbed onto the bus, I had to chuckle, feeling well-pleased with my morning lesson; life, liberty and a new word for our rear end collection. Chalk one up for Mom’s liberal arts education.