Excepting a few short outings here and there, I’ve basically been holed up in my house since last Wednesday. That’s a long time to be stuck inside a less-than-2000-square-foot space with unlimited access to baking supplies. Totally unrelated piece of trivia, did you know that it’s possible to gain five pounds in a week?

I would have thought that being housebound this long with the kids would have made me Homer-Simpson-something-something crazy by now, but it’s been . . . well, I do so love to complain, but truthfully it’s been kind of nice. Really nice, actually. The boys seem to have reached some kind of awesome stage where they aren’t so enormously different in ages and abilities, and I keep catching them just sort of contentedly hanging out. I can’t quite describe how it makes me feel to see them playing together or listen to Riley’s happy chatter interwoven with Dylan’s babbling. There needs to be a whole new language for that sort of joyous, heart-expanding goodness; it eclipses all things.

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Before this snowbound business I had been feeling kind of sad about Dylan, about how he’s growing so quickly and entering into the realm of knowing what he wants and not being afraid to complain about it, often at ear-splitting levels. Where did my good-natured little baby go, I kept wondering, but oh, he’s still here. It’s easier to see it when life isn’t so rushed, that’s all. When we don’t have to run around all crazy in the morning getting everyone out the door, when evenings aren’t a stressful mess of hurried meals and tired kids and exhausted parents.

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My mother and aunt were going to come for an early Christmas last Saturday, but we had to take a snow check. Now it’s unclear whether JB’s parents will make it, they’re battling their way up I-5 but last we heard they were in Salem and going about 30 MPH. We may be on our own for the holiday, and while that’s a bummer, we’re certainly not the only ones — I have coworkers and friends all over the place here in town whose family plans have been completely derailed by the weather.

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We remain optimistic about the possibility of hosting a big family meal, though, and have picked up our Giant Hunk O’ Ham. No matter what, we’re certainly not lacking for food around here (see also: five pounds). And thus it’s time for that classic holiday game played throughout many cultures this time of year . . . CAT OR HAM?

Which weighs more, our cat?

Or a bone-in ham?

The rules are simple: you place your guess in the comments, I’ll randomly pick a winner from the correct guesses, you win an Interesting Prize.

You should know that 1) we did get Cat to stand on the scale with her full weight, and 2) my scale only measures to the pound.

CAT?
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OR HAM?
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** Comments closed! CAT OR HAM data being compiled now . . .**

Comments

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Ashlea
15 years ago

Wow… Screwed that one up. I ment to write she, yet he came out… TWICE!

Whoops! but i double vote for the cat now. females are always weight sensitive :)

Sharla
15 years ago

This was really tough. I kept going back and forth. They both look like they could weigh about the same, and I would hate to insult Her Majesty so I’m going to say HAM!

Joy
Joy
15 years ago

Cat. And I hope the weather improves so you don’t have to eat the cat.

Jennifer
Jennifer
15 years ago

CAT!

Jo
Jo
15 years ago

I’m going with Cat, and sooo cute too!

Naomi
15 years ago

I also say Cat. She has that look on her face that says, “Step back. I don’t want you seeing the numbers…..DAMNIT! After the holidays, I promise I’ll get in under control.”

lori
lori
15 years ago

I say the cat

Erin
Erin
15 years ago

My apologies to her, but I vote cat. That does look like a significant ham though.

Heidi
Heidi
15 years ago

I’m putting my money on the ham.

And also, poor kitty. The inhumanity. I make exactly the same face when I’m forced onto a scale.

Heather
15 years ago

Ham, definitely. But kudos to cat for getting on the scale in front of others. I’d never have done that.

Michelle
Michelle
15 years ago

Cat. Definitely.

Becca
Becca
15 years ago

I considered my answer carefully and as a huge (non-stalker-y) fan of your blog I resorted to what I know about CAT to determine my answer. She is an evil beast who has most likey made that face at the camera for two reasons:

1) to deter those who do not know of her evil ways from thinking such a sweet looking cat could possibly weigh more than a Christmas ham and that you should be publicly shamed for making her get on a scale.

2) to show those who ARE aware of her evil-ness that she most certainly weighs more than the ham and she knows it without having to step on the scale. Also, that she intends to eat your face off tonight as punishment for this heinous crime.

Therefore I have devised in no uncertain terms that CAT is the obvious winner.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Magpie
15 years ago

Wait, 25-pound cats get their own TV shows these days? My parents’ cat missed his big chance at fame.

I vote CAT. But I think it’s close.

Megan
Megan
15 years ago

CAT! I think I’ll play a similar game, Cat or Roast Beef!

shal
shal
15 years ago

You are apparently doing much better than my family. We have the flu, we have cabin fever, and we lose the will to live every time a snow plow goes past our busy street with its plow UP.

And with that, I say: HAM.

Steph in CA
Steph in CA
15 years ago

Cat – I’m guessing 17 pounds.

Emily
Emily
15 years ago

This is so hard. I read every comment thinking “Cat. No, ham. But wait, cat. Or ha-cat. Yes it’s cat. Unless it’s ham.”

I vote ham.

sooboo
sooboo
15 years ago

I’m gonna go cat. That sucker looks pretty big.

Chibi Jeebs
15 years ago

I’m so conflicted!

I’m going with ham. I think.

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

I have to say….cat. Ham looks like a close second, though.

Now I just have to say….*whine* can we have a little snow, tooooooo, pleeeeeeease?

Apparently the Snow Gods (or Goddesses) do not like Richmond, VA, because we are staring an “unseasonably mild” GREEN Christmas square in the face over here. And it sucks.

Merry Christmas to you and your family! You’re gonna have a great time with those two gorgeous kids of yours! Enjoy!

Christine Brandel
15 years ago

Aw, crap! I’m the dork who didn’t put in my name! Mommy brain strikes again! Sorry….

Amy
Amy
15 years ago

I’m voting for ham.

Glad you had a chance to slow down this week!

Melissa
Melissa
15 years ago

I’m going with Cat.

That picture of Dylan standing up next to the couch is great. I think he looks a lot like JB and I can’t believe how big he has gotten. Hope you guys have a great Christmas!

Dynamita
15 years ago

Definitely CAT

Don’t worry too much about the 5 pounds. It’s probably mostly water weight as you went from eating lots of water dense foods (fruit and veg) to eating dryer baked goods. You won’t find it very hard to lose them back when you get on track.

Amy
Amy
15 years ago

I’m going with Cat.

Ashleas
Ashleas
15 years ago

CAT FTW!

Mary
Mary
15 years ago

I’m going to say ham, but it probably only beats cat by a pound or two.

Lori
15 years ago

Alas, I am all too familiar with gaining 5lbs in one week. Stupid snow.

I’m going with ham. Cause that is one solid hunk o meat and me thinks the cat is mostly fluff.

Deanna
Deanna
15 years ago

cat – always bet on cat.
cats rule.

Jenn D
15 years ago

My vote is for Cat.

Tessa
Tessa
15 years ago

Cat.

Natasha A.
Natasha A.
15 years ago

WELL, knowing what my cat (who looks EXACTLY like yours), and how much he weighs…I would say CAT.
Happy holidays!
Natasha A.

ginger
ginger
15 years ago

HAM. HAM is dense stuff, and CAT is smaller than she looks because of fur.

My in-laws have been struggling up from Sacramento for days on I-5, to see my husband in Seattle, and in fact they spent last night in Salem and I am rather worried they will spend tonight in Centralia or the car. (There’s just not very much on I-5 between Portland and Seattle. I am especially concerned about those two sections marked “next rest stop 40 miles”.)

Lisa
Lisa
15 years ago

Puddy Tat, fo’ shizzle.

Jenn
Jenn
15 years ago

Cat. And btw she is gorgeous.

jennifer Paddack-Hyde
15 years ago

your photos are beautiful. And I’m going to guess the cat. BTW…love the look on your cat’s face…priceless!

joanne
joanne
15 years ago

I’m going CAT!
As always Linda you sum up the parenting perfectly!

Rachel
Rachel
15 years ago

I’m going to have to go with the ham. The cat looks bigger, but…

JenL
JenL
15 years ago

Well, I looked this over with my two year-old on my lap, and showed her the photos, and asked her which weighed more. She promptly replied, “bread!”, but since she was looking at the picture of the ham when she said it, we’ll go with the ham.

Never bet against my two year-old. I have learned this the hard way, to my chagrin.

Merry Christmas, Sundry!

jessica fantastica
jessica fantastica
15 years ago

I choo-choo-choose CAT. Hope you have a merry Christmas and you get some relief from that weather. :o)

Mychal
15 years ago

As yummy as Cat looks, I’m going to have to choose ham.

erin
15 years ago

Hmm, that’s an awful huge hunk o’ ham, but then again, so is Cat. Huge, that is. But I think I’ll choose Cat. Just because my cat is 14lbs and he looks about the same size as Cat. Merry Christmas!

Yet Another Jenny
15 years ago

I’m going w/ HAM, if only because we may be giving Cat a complex.

Jeannette
Jeannette
15 years ago

I say ham.

I remeber when my 2 started playing together and it does make oyur heart tingle. Now they are 4 3/4 and just turned 2 and they can play by themselves for about 30-45 minutes before someone gets hurt!

Jon Bell
15 years ago

No one is ever going to read down this far.

Ham.

Beth
Beth
15 years ago

I’m going with Cat. No way would you buy a ham the weighs 16 lbs, which is what I’m guessing the cat weighs. Did you really think you would get a record number of replies?

Melinda
Melinda
15 years ago

Cat!

Crystal
15 years ago

I say Cat.

Jessica
15 years ago

When I originally saw your title I thought we were guessing whether you were eating cat or ham. You know like that cheap chinese food and sometimes you wonder? Anyway, I say Cat. But tell her she looks very thin on camera.

Anne L.
Anne L.
15 years ago

CAAAAAT!