December 2013 – Are You Finished Yet?

My Christmas Gift To You. There Is Dancing Involved.

Published on December 23, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop28 Comments

I wanted to make a quick post to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and to thank those who have supported this blog. This has been a big year for me in terms of Are You Finished Yet?, and I have been lucky to welcome a lot of new people to my little party here. So this is what you would have received in your mailboxes, if I had everyone’s addresses:

Also, my kids wanted to dance you out of the holiday season.The epic nature of their moves Continue reading “My Christmas Gift To You. There Is Dancing Involved.” →

Have a Nostalgic, Sepia-Tinted Christmas

Published on December 20, 2013December 20, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop5 Comments

vintage Christmas party — It’s ’bout to get fa-la-la-loony up in here. Source

Emily and I are having a Remember the Time Christmas party over at her blog, The Waiting…because she actually decorated her blog for the holidays, unlike me. Head on over there and see if you can tell whether or not we bowed to the gods of Pinterest during our collaborative post party planning. (Hint, we didn’t. But we are poking fun at some old Christmas photos.) Just click the link below Continue reading “Have a Nostalgic, Sepia-Tinted Christmas” →

The Myth Is Over, But The Magic Remains

Published on December 17, 2013November 18, 2014 by Kelly Suellentrop39 Comments

This is it, I thought to myself. I just had this feeling the moment was upon me. But I never would have guessed Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to be the impetus for the conversation.

On the television screen was a warehouse full of mall Santas in various costumed states, running an underground knockoff toy ring. Jim Belushi was trying to con Schwarzenegger, the desperately gift-less father, into buying a cheap replica of Turbo Man for his son.

So many Santas. So many obviously fake Santas. I could sense my daughter recognized the perfect moment of opportunity. Continue reading “The Myth Is Over, But The Magic Remains” →

Mail Order Anniversary

Published on December 12, 2013December 12, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop26 Comments

We may live in the age of email, texting, and social media, but there is nary a person who doesn’t get a little thrill when the mail carrier delivers an envelope or package to your door. And since this is one of the busiest times of year for snail mail, Emily and I thought we would write about MAIL for this week’s Remember the Time Blog Hop. Did you have a pen pal growing up? Did you develop a love affair with buying and receiving things from the Home Shopping Network when you got your first credit card? Did the mailman actually turn out to be your real father? Whatever the story, just be sure there’s an element of nostalgia Continue reading “Mail Order Anniversary” →

Help Them Find Their Words. Even The Gibberish Ones.

Published on December 10, 2013December 10, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop30 Comments

Mlunch. Cheweez. Amana. Hosible. Uncle Donald’s. Flop Shoes. Bolo Daddy.

I have a running record of seemingly meaningless words like these on scraps of paper, tucked into baby books. Yet I knew exactly what each one meant when they would fall from the lips of my daughter or son. The ones I listed above can be translated into: lunch, Cheerios, banana, hospital, McDonald’s, flip-flops, and peanut butter, respectively. I don’t ever want to forget the ways in which my children claimed the English language all for their own as they were learning to talk and Continue reading “Help Them Find Their Words. Even The Gibberish Ones.” →

Matching Outfits: Which Sister Wore It Better?

Published on December 5, 2013December 5, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop33 Comments

So I have been co-hosting the Remember the Time Blog Hop with Emily of The Waiting for a few months now. I’d say it has really brought us closer…as close as two bloggers who live in different states and communicate mostly via Facebook messages can be. So basically, we’re like sisters. Down to the fact that one day in the comment section we are arranging marriages of our children (wait, that would be creepy for siblings to do), and the next we’re declaring jello wrestling death match fights over who gets to marry Rick Astley if Continue reading “Matching Outfits: Which Sister Wore It Better?” →

Brought To You By the Letter “G”: Guest Post, Giveaway, and Gratuitous Generosity

Published on December 3, 2013December 4, 2013 by Kelly Suellentrop29 Comments

Great Grecian Goblets! I have lots of GOOD things for you today! And they all begin with the letter G.

FIRST…

I am super excited to have a GUEST POST over at Crazy Good Parent, a blog recently started by Janice of Snide Reply. It is a place where parents who struggle with mental disorders or illnesses can find support, share experiences, and just feel normal. Today, I am sharing my story of my own struggle with anxiety, which many people may not even know I’ve had. Because I find it to be Continue reading “Brought To You By the Letter “G”: Guest Post, Giveaway, and Gratuitous Generosity” →