Misc. Photos from X-Mas Eve and X-Mas

At the Japanese Steakhouse for my birthday dinner:

Christmas PJs tradition is started, as we open presents on Christmas Eve.

My birthday present from my husband...


On Christmas morning...


Thank you all for the birthday greetings and well wishes, my birthday dinner was yummy, chocolate cake yummy too! We also had a nice holiday with family and friends stopping by, children were happy with their presents and we are happily tired.

From Our Family to Yours

Gather round girls and boys,
It's time to make your joyful noise
Some feel it in the feast after the fast,
Or the oil lamps everlasting,
Or the Solstice in the wild,
or the birth of a baby child.

(chorus) It's your holiday song
No one more true or right or wrong
When our faith calls our name
Someone else's does the same
Hallelujah! Thank you.

So gather round girls and boys
It's time to raise your lowly noise
Some feel it in the drum, in the snare

or the silence of their prayer
or the church bells on the hill
or the harmony of goodwill

(chorus)

For every voice lifted in song
The sacred place we all belong
A chance to heal a broken world
with every voice in every song
of every boy and every girl!

---Indigo Girls "Your Holiday Song"

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

On Birthdays

"Oh that must have sucked growing up!"

"Oh, did you get combined gifts?"

"Oh, I bet you felt robbed."

When I tell someone that my birthday is on Christmas, I usually get one of those responses. And I usually tell them the truth--really, growing up with my birthday on Christmas was mostly cool. My husband likes to joke that my family moved Christmas around for me, but really, they just made sure to make it special. We opened Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, there were separate Birthday Gifts (wrapped in Birthday paper) under the tree, which I could not open until the next morning. We had Birthday cake with Christmas dinner--actually, I usually had TWO birthday cakes, because I would have to have my child's birthday party 2 weeks before (to accomadate vacations, etc.) so I would have a cake then too. Generally speaking, I never felt "ripped off" or slighted. Yes, it did kinda suck getting a bike for my birthday in the middle of winter (after a while, my family decided to wait to give that gift in the summer). But, generally speaking, being a kid with a Christmas birthday was not bad at all.

Being an adult having a Christmas birthday is actually a bit harder. Because Christmas is about children in a lot of ways. And gift giving. And especially when you have other gifts to give, sometimes the last thing you think about is giving a birthday gift. So, there have been times when I actually have thought that my birthday has been an afterthought.

It has been nice this year to get some wonderful birthday cards from my parents and family. It has been nice that this year my son specifically wanted to give me two gifts (one for Christmas and one for birthday) because he felt that I did not get enough birthday presents. Especially this year, when I have been not only stressed about life in general, but dealing with the specifics of getting gifts, etc. for the kids...sometimes its nice to slow down and acknowledge that birthday. So, I am looking forward to seeing the kids open their presents Christmas Eve, but I am also looking forward to a dinner out at one of my favorite restaurants and some chocolate birthday cake!

I'd especially like to share some birthday greetings to some great Braces Bunchers, Suzy and Calliope...Happy Birthday!

First Concert

Michael did very well at his first band concert, including doing very well at announcing the first song...

Perfect Moment Monday - Uncomfortableness

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.

Many moments, too many too count, occurring because family time, busy time and because I was again reminded because of this time of year how fast time goes...

Moment #1: We are sitting in the movie theater amongst our friends. My husband is on my left, my son on my right. Every so often my husband taps me on the leg or shoulder. A gentle tap to mean that he likes a certain scene (we do this to each other all the time during movies, t.v. shows, etc.). A few points during the movie he puts his arm around my neck and shoulders. It actually puts me in a strange position and I am not totally comfortable. But I linger at having to get out of this hug from my spouse. Until my back starts to really hurt and then we reposition. The last half hour of the movie is kinda dragging and since it is an evening show, my son is starting to get restless and tired. He starts by putting his arms around me, until he eventually is sitting on my lap, a gangly almost twelve year old that barely is contained in my arms. This is pretty uncomfortable, my legs are starting to fall asleep and occasionally his head gets in my viewing space. But I don't care--how much longer will I get this type of snuggling by him? So I let him sit and fidget in my lap.

Moment #2: We are playing and carrying purses and backpacks around to various trips. We have gone to the beach and now it is time to go to her "house". Which she decides is under our kitchen table. She entreats me to come in. And I get down on the floor and try to squeeze under the table. I have to basically lie flat--and that is not good for her, because it is not time for sleep! So I sit up (well, kinda crouch/lie) and my head hits the table. She says "You are big!" and I agree. And she says "But I am small!" and I agree, while I rub my head and wish I had carpeting on the kitchen floor.

Christmas Snippets

--Last night more packages came in the mail. And she caught sight of them. All I heard last night was begging for "pressies". I was very good and said she had to wait until Christmas for presents.

--She likes to sing along with Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. She is very cute when she does it. It reminds me of when I spent hours teaching Michael to sing Frosty the Snowman when he was 3 years old.

--We have had a lot of sugar cookies this year. Kinda sick of them now.

--Tree is barely surviving this year--glad I did not go all out on decorating this year. Between the cats running around it and under it and IN it and Willow playing with it by taking ornaments off and acting like the tree is a house...it is good that there are still ornaments on it!

--Going to start the pajama tradition this year. I have matching pjs for both kids this year which I will have them open on Christmas Eve. Looking forward to seeing my cutie-pies in them (they are red with snowmen).

--Still need to do a lot of wrapping, but at least all the gifts that needed to be shipped are out!

--Songs I am tired of hearing: Rudolph, We're a Couple of Misfits, and Holly Jolly Christmas.

Blog Make-Over

Lookie what Suzy did! Thank you so much, Suzy!

I am very thankful for my friends that I have met through blogging. I had never before spent money on this hobby of mine, never really thought it was worth it. But this year I got to meet some of these wonderful women that I have been fortunate enough to know through blogging...and it made me realize that this is a sort of home for me too. And as such, it could use some re-decorating.

I like this new look. It fits my personality quite well, and I hope to not only keep on blogging, but keep on meeting new and old friends through this medium.

So this is Christmas...

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

{Refrain}
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear --- John Lennon

I find it always amazing that one can find a song that sums up your feelings...that humans are so unique but yet the same. In our need to remember and reflect, our need to have love and life and fun and cheer.

It seems like this year just went by so fast. Last night, as I was driving home, picking up the children and listening to my wide variety of Christmas songs on my iPod (hmm...and yet, I do not have the above one on there...I will have to fix that!), I actually flashed back to last year, remembering someone coming over and wrapping his gifts before heading on from our place. And for a brief second, I actually was not sure if that was this year or last. The years come fast and furious and sometimes they blend together.

Was it last year that I went with the kids by myself to the Zoolights or was it the year before? (I think last year husband was able to join us). This year we tried to go and the traffic was horrendous and we were not even there yet...so I guess we will try again...

This year Hanukkah was at the beginning of the month. We really did a lot of Hanukkah related things this year, including having Latkes TWICE for dinner...but now Hanukkah is over. (We keep the Hanukkah decorations out until we put the Christmas decorations away--but this year, that makes it somewhat depressing)

We have watched almost all the holiday Cartoons (Willow has watched Olive the Other Reindeer twice!) Still working through the holiday movies (Christmas Carol and Its A Wonderful Life amongst others).

I find I am another year older. And I still need to work on some things. Patience and wisdom (and losing more weight) being at the top of the list.

As I was hurrying around this season--I realized I was hurrying around. And sometimes missing out on the important things. So, this week, I resolved to let the chores go a bit. And to just breathe. Just let the time be as still as time can be. This weekend, I spent some time just lying on the bed, watching the cats cuddle and lick each other and realized I could learn something from them.

So this is Christmas.

Oh, and as an aside, can I just say I CANNOT read through this book without crying!! I actually hide this book, so that I don't have to read it sometimes. Last night, Willow found it. And I could not make it through the book without choking up...

Perfect Moment Monday - Two Babies, No Waiting

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.


They are all here in this picture.

The man that is humorous, witty and kind (bearlike and eccentric too). The boy who is on the verge of gawky teenagerdom but is still my sweet little boy at heart. My mischievious cyclon of a long-wished for daughter. And my week-old nieces.

Caroling at Mt. Auburn

I always like to keep busy and find fun things to do. And if I can find something that is minimal money (or free!) its even better. Especially out in nature.

So, today, the kids and I enjoyed the mild weather and went to something that I hope to do annually--Caroling at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.



Not only was it free, not only was it Christmas themed, but it was also at one of my favorite places in Cambridge. Mt. Auburn is beautiful and it was the first time I had went on a guided tour. I guess the Friends of Mt. Auburn do lots of activities like this and in fact this caroling is something they do each year.

Our first stop was at Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's grave.




We read his poem "Christmas Bells".


We then went along to several other stops, singing "Jingle Bells" and "O Christmas Tree".

We went to Philips Brooks grave--he was the rector of Boston's Trinity Church, and authored "O Little Town of Bethlehem", which we sang to him. (We also sang Happy Birthday, cuz his birthday is December 13th--Willow liked that one!)

We also went to James Russell Lowell's grave and read his haunting poem "The First Snowfall"

We actually haven't had any snow yet, but I think I do want to come back to see Mt. Auburn with snow. It has been a couple years since we had been there and I had forgotten how much I loved it. Michael pretty much had to stick to with the group, as I was on my own with corralling Willow--who was praised often for being so cute and well behaved.







Willow and I admired many interesting and beautiful monuments. (We were also to look for angels and wreaths)


The caroling ended at this angel, where we sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"





Afterwards, we went in for some hot chocolate and cookies.

And the photographer for Mt. Auburn cemetery asked for Willow's name--cuz she might be in the local paper in a photograph talking about this event...

Sleep. It's not for 2 1/2 year olds...UPDATED

Or at least not mine right now. Since the cursed (oh I used to love you, really I did)Day Light Savings switch over...sleep patterns all over the place are screwy.

Maybe its the holidays. Maybe its the change in weather. Maybe she's in a growth spurt...but Willow has not gone to bed the last week and a half before 10 p.m. (Oh, last night when I was by myself--it was 10:30).

And we have tried all the tricks we know of. But. She just will not go to bed. She will procrastinate. (I myself am a sucker for "just one more book, mommy") She will cry and whine. She will ask to go sleep in her brother's bed. (which used to work in those desperate times of just last week...but not so much this week)

Last night, I found myself putting her on her bed, kinda just throwing her covers on her legs and slamming her door. (Yep, I said it, not proud of it...but it was 10:00 p.m. and I was tired.)

I let her cry it out for 15 mins. I opened the door to her kneeling near the door, crying...and asking me why I closed her door (yep, that got me feeling pretty much like a heel). But the crying out helped to exhaust her, and I did talk to her about why I closed the door--that it was WAAAY past her bed time and not time to play, time to sleep. And I rocked her until those little short gasps of crying breaths were gone, told her that she needed to sleep now, told her I loved her. Tucked her in good, kissed her...she said I love you too.

And finally went to sleep.

I think this weekend we need to concentrate on this problem a bit more...we are EXHAUSTED, even if she isn't!

UPDATED:

Maybe I should read one of these books to her...

JOHN LENNON

"Imagine"

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...


Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...


You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one


Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...


You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Influences

Willow is with child. She has a "baby in my tummy". I know, I know. I swore that I would not let her ruin her life. But, hey. She's young. And I will support her decision to have a non-existent baby in her tummy to the last.

Oh. She may have TWO babies in her tummy, actually...

Obviously, she's been exposed to a lot of pregnancies lately. Her best friend at daycare, Tessa, has a new baby brother. And she got to see Tessa's mom everyday--and she had that type of body I would kill for--all baby like it was a basketball that she was going to deliver. So, that was an obvious influence.

And my sister-in-law had two (!) that just were born last Wednesday, so she has seen tons of pictures of her cousins in the last few days. (She is soo looking forward to meeting them, I am not sure she understands that they are really real yet)

Still. It was surprising the other day to learn that she has a baby. "In there" [points to stomach, then jumps around the kitchen like a kangaroo--ah, another influence!]

Videos - Holiday Misc.

Kids dancing after breakfast - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Willow playing with Rudolph, Santa, and another reindeer. Showing them a Channukah book.

Perfect Moment Monday - Practicing

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.



Practicing for Holiday Concert...


Yesterday morning, practicing...pretty good since he just started last year and barely practices!



The moment is all of it and more...he was playing perfectly before I got the video camera. Then he was nervous. The first take--squeak! This was the second take. Meanwhile, she sees something happening--so she joins in singing away!


Later, he plays for his grandmother on Skype. The look on his eyes of pride are perfect, as is her appreciation of his playing.

Making Grammie's Fudge

Our traditional making of Grammie's fudge...


Willow helped get the ingredients together...


Pouring the evaporated milk in.


Time to cook the sugar and milk mixture.


The best part--licking the bowl!


Yum--chocolate!

Willow and Claus

Willow has taken to Santa Claus this year. She has realized who he is, what he looks like and I think she is understanding that he is going to be bringing toys. She alternates calling him Santa Claus and the "Ho Ho Man". Her daycare provider took her to the Enchanted Village on Thursday and I think she is indeed enchanted with Santa Claus now. To the point of it being a bit protective.

Case in point--tonight. Tonight we decided to watch "Elf". I thought it was something we could all watch. However, I did not expect the reaction at the "false Santa" scene--Willow became upset and said she was scared. Because "Santa" was being attacked! We turned the movie off (we will try to watch it sometime this weekend, since we have passed the "offensive" scene)...interestingly enough, later on tonight, she wanted to watch her new cartoon passion--old Warner Brothers cartoons!

First Night of Hanukkah

Hectic and harried, later than normal and we did not do everything we usually do...but we did it! The first night of Hanukkah is over...



After lighting the Menorah, presents:





Then, yummy pot roast and latkes!

Happy Hanukkah!

This Morning...

has been a pretty good morning so far.

I got up pretty much refreshed (I actually got a good night's sleep). My cellulitus was hurting on my leg last night, but elevating seems to have worked and it is better today (hoping the antibiotics are doing the trick). I was able to exercise and enjoy a good episode of Angel. Everyone showered, and I got the pot roast into the slow cooker. Was able to talk to Willow about tonight being the first night of Hannukah and listen to her talking about that she wanted to "go to Hannukah" (right now I suppose).

And then she mentioned "birthday" at random--which is pretty good, since her cousins are being born this morning...(which already makes it a pretty good morning, don'tcha think?)

Texted my brother, wishing them luck. (still awaiting report, but by now they should be here, if not already, shortly).

And as I drive into work (listening to a nice Christmas CD that the Cub Scout troop made for us the one year Michael was a Cub Scout), I get a call from Hubs. Willow counted the menorah candles--at least up to five...in english and in spanish (I guess Dora and Diego DO have a purpose in my life)!

So, yeah. This morning is rocking!

(I am taking half a day off today, so that I can meet K & L, my nieces)

30th Post - Holiday Spirit

She is playing with two action figures and she pokes them into the branches in the Christmas tree. I tell her to be gentle with the tree, she says "I will be gentle". Then, I ask her what she is doing...she says they are living in the tree--playing house. I ask her if it would be a good idea to ask Santa Claus for a dollhouse. Her reaction is instantaneousness...she turns around, eyes huge and she squeals in delight at the idea. (Luckily, Santa has gotten the dollhouse for her already)

I am finally excited about the holidays. For some reason, after it became apparent that fall was falling and Halloween was around the corner, I was not looking forward to the changing seasons as I usually am. Maybe it was because summer went by so damned fast. Maybe it was because I was having such a great time.

Now, however, I am enjoying the season because I am enjoying seeing the holidays through their eyes. The older sibling helping his sister understand the concepts of Hanukkah. Everyone reading book after book after book about Santa Claus. Watching our favorite holiday programs and listening to the music.

And shopping for presents.

Tonight I wrapped their first night of Hanukkah gifts. I cannot wait until Wednesday night...the first night. A night of latkes and pot roast, dreidals and gelt.

I finally found my holiday spirit, it was there all along...in my children.

Note on 30 Posts in 30 days: Well, this is the last day. I only had a few days where I had not much to say, but I must say that it is hard to be obligated to write every day. I am glad I did it, but also glad its over. Thank you for reading.

If you are interested in seeing other 30 posts in 30 days writers, please stop on by NaBloPoMo, or stop on by Suzy's place.

Perfect Moment Monday - Post # 29

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.

Moment #1: I show him the buttons and how to separate (not like we do much of that around here--the usual way for us is just throw some in). As is typical of him, he asks lots of questions (I picture his head is full of questions that he must have answered). I expect that he will be interested enough to learn how the washer and dryer works, but little else. And that is where I have underestimated him (yet again). He enthusiastically takes to laundry. He asks a fewe times this weekend if there is any laundry to be done (there always is). And he quickly gets his shoes on (laundry is downstairs in the kinda creepy basement), and rushes down there to put more laundry in. He asks a few questions more, but, so far, the laundry has come out great. (and, with some prodding, he even puts his share of laundry away!)

Moment #2: This morning. I am saying good-bye on a Monday after a long weekend. This morning she came into our bedroom flush with sleepy-morning-ness. And she cuddled in my arms, her thumb in her mouth, her eyes half-closed. It reminded me of when she was so small (how could she have ever been that small?). Fast forward to the good-bye. She is snuggling on the couch with dad, as I rush along to say good-bye. And she asks for kisses ("tisses") and kisses me and hugs me and says "You have red hair!" (like it is something new and wonderous that she has just discovered)

Moment #3: Last night, of course just before you go to bed, you start worrying about things. And we talk about our worries and just when I am getting upset and frustrated at life, he comes up with something ridiculous and makes me laugh--diffusing the situation as he usually does, reminding me what is important in life and love.

A Non-Traditional Tradition Day

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is our traditional day to put up the holiday decorations and the tree, etc. We even got the decorations up from the basement on Friday night so we were prepared. As we figured out last year, decorating with a Todd-lor is a bit more time consuming...so I planned that the whole day would be spent doing a little bit here and a little bit there.

BUT. I did not plan that on Friday night I would have what looked like an insect/spider bite...that would turn out to maybe/possibly be cellulitus (which I had when I was pregnant with Willow). So.

Saturday morning, I got up and we could tell the red welt was spreading...at first I just tried to call into the Dr.'s office to just get a prescription for an antibiotic...so I kept things going by starting the Christmas music and getting out the Hannukah decorations (yeah, we go like that...you try finding some jumping Hannukah songs--other than Driedel, Driedel, Driedel).

Alas, they would not give me an antibiotic without seeing me...I actually cried a little cuz I really was getting a kick at watching the kids go through all the stuff...

Hubs kept the kids busy while I was gone, tho...Willow asked him to read EVERY SINGLE holiday book we have (we have a TON of Hannukah and Christmas books).

After coming back armed with my antibiotics AND being told that most of the time I was to keep my leg elevated (and definitely not stand around and decorate!)...we put the tree up FINALLY.

And I watched as the traditions were non-traditionally accomplished---my son (not me) and my husband put the lights on the tree. My son and husband positioned the lights and got the Santa Hat topper on the tree. They put on the music...I sat on the couch, leg propped up.

Luckily, the doctor did say I could walk around (a bit)...so I did help, like everyone else, in putting the ornaments on the tree....which was also a bit non-traditional, cuz I decided to save myself headaches this year and not put any (well, hardly any) glass ornaments on. And not put most of the ornaments on the lowest branches so that Kif will bat at them. (Although as I write this, the cats seem to have found ways...I need to buy a spray bottle...really, I do)

So, finally, our traditional (non-traditional) tree is up...the lights are kinda crooked looking and there are bare spots where lights should be...there are tons of ornaments on the top of the tree, barely any on the bottom...hardly any rounded glass ornaments...Willow tried very hard to put multiple ornaments on the same branch, one after another after another...but, its our tree!

I had originally thought that we would celebrate by going to the Festival on the Commons, but our timing was off (and we had plans to see a movie at Chunky's)...so, another non-traditional start to the holiday season---but wait, dad took them, while mom stayed on the couch...wishing she could see Willow's eyes light up.

P.S. On the drive back from the movie, 9:30 at night, we pull over at the Commons. And I get out and do a short walk in the very cold night air with my two children, who show me the decorations....yeah, I did get to see her light up.

If you are interested in seeing other 30 posts in 30 days writers, please stop on by NaBloPoMo, or stop on by Suzy's place.

Laser Tag

Went to play laser tag with Michael yesterday. It was his first time playing laser tag--I am ashamed as a geek parent to say that. Frankly, it never occurred to me that there were any laser tag places around anymore. It was really fun. We divided up...husband took the first round of games while I took Willow around the video arcade. Then, we took a break for lunch and then I went and played laser tag with my son.

We were on the red team. It's been a long time since I have played laser tag, but it was such fun, and especially fun to play it with Michael being on my team. Unfortunately I was the only mom playing (although I saw a couple dads), so I was having to be kinda unsportsman-like and shooting little kids...but I spent most of my time going over to the other team's base and shooting the heck out of it (more points that way). The technical way laser tag is done is different from when I used to do it--and I love it! The time just flew by! (Oh, the red team won--we kicked green team's butt!)

Michael had fun and I think we will do it again real soon!

Pictures from Thanksgiving

Willow drawing a hand turkey.


Michael drawing a hand turkey.




Pie for Breakfast!




Getting ready to go to a friend's for Thanksgiving...Willow started being her whirlwind-self....

As is evidenced by this video...



Food, food and more food...






Willow made a work of art out of her food...did not eat that much of it, but she had fun with it, all right.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for so much and for so many people. It has been a pleasure to meet so many wonderful people through the internet, and I am especially thankful that I got to meet a lot of them in person this year. I am thankful for my wonderful son, my caring and giving husband, my whirlwind of a daughter. Our wonderfully laid back cat and our hyperactive kitty.

This year has been stessful, and we are still in the midst of some major anxiety and stress in our lives...but for today, I am happy for who I am and where I am and for those around me too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Personal History

Last night I was getting ready to go to bed, when I started to rummage around in books. We have a bedstand that has doors that open upon hidden book shelfs. And I was putting some away into the books on my husband's side of the bed, fixing the books up when I found it. The Lincoln plaque. I thought I had lost it.

The Lincoln plaque is a small brown hanging plaque that has Lincoln's Gettysburg address written on it. I always had it hanging in my room somewhere when I was young. I am not particularly sure where it came from...I suspect that it was my Grammies or my father's from when he was a kid. But I have always had it. Specifically, I have always had it hanging in my bedroom. I liked reading those passionate words, it always gave me chills and made me humble. And I brought it with me to my new home and hung it up in our bedroom.

And then...well, then the age of it caught up with it. It is warped (possibly by being hung up in my bedroom when I was 16--living in the basement next to the furnace (it was a remodeled basement). The heat and cold weather probably caused the warping. But now it cannot hang very well. It kept falling off. So I remember putting it aside at one point a few years ago....and then it vanished. (I think someone tiding up put it inside the bookshelf)

So. I look at this plaque. I remember this plaque as being wooden, but now I look at it and I think it may be plastic (just painted to look like a dark wood?). The raised lettering that says "Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address" used to be painted gold...most of the gold is gone now. I have a strong urge to go hunting in my Grammie's old cedar chest to find her letters to me that I put there after she died (maybe I will pull those out this weekend). The Address itself is on cheap paper (I had memories of it being engraved) and some of the letters are faded. I read it, partially from memory.

I have chills and I am humbled.

(I am thinking on how I can get it to hang...perhaps some ribbon through the hole? I am also thinking about giving this to Michael)

Thanksgiving Away

We moved 800 miles away from our families, so Thanksgiving was a particularly hard holiday to be on our own (like, truly on our own).

The first couple of Thanksgivings were pitiful. We were a young couple, just starting out, homesick, trying to mesh two different family traditions together. We tried to be like our parents. We tried to cook a turkey (disaster), we made too much food and sat in our little apartment. It was not awful...it just did not feel like Thanksgiving.

And then we met Liz and Jesse. They were a bit older than us. An established couple who lived nearby. And the next Thanksgiving...they invited us over. Jesse was a wonderful cook. He was born near Roswell, New Mexico. She was from Texas. The traditional turkey and stuffing we were used to gave way to a spicy difference. It was the first time I had jalapeno corn bread (YUM!). They made us feel at home and we were comfortable and happy. We were over to their house for a few more Thanksgivings and then they had their daughter and were called upon to visit their relatives.

It was time once again to be on our own for Thanksgiving. But this time--we bought a small Turkey breast. We had a small little feast. And we were comfortable in our skins, in our homelife, in our own traditions.

And then we had Michael. And the time to make our own traditions became stronger. Each year, the holidays became our own and our family integrated traditions from our families and changed them to fit our situation. The Pie For Breakfast tradition was born. The stay in our pjs for Thanksgiving tradition began.

And now. Well, now we are invited over to our friend Colt's house. This makes the third Thanksgiving in a row. Sometimes I miss our pjs tradition, but it is nice to feel like we are part of a family bigger than our own. It is definitely more of the traditional Thanksgiving over at Colt's house--turkey, homemade mashed potatoes and stuffing, pumpkin pie (Colt's a good cook--and doesn't like help--he's kinda persnickety about that--which is fine--I don't really like to cook!). Football is on in the background, relatives are there (alternatively cooing at how cute Willow is and helping to keep her out of trouble). Colt has an old Atari 800 and some point Michael will beg to play it for a while.

I guess each phase of our Thanksgivings have reflected where we were in our life. Right now we are in the phase of a toddler and teenager and established friends.

But we still have Pie for Breakfast.

Perfect Moment Monday

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.


Moment #1: His assignment is kinda vague. Write down a quote from someone that has inspired you, and then explain why and how it inspires you. Pretty complex stuff for an 11 year old. Especially one that, while there are times he does get philosophical, most times is interested in Mad Magazine, Star Wars and SuperHero Squad. I try not to lead him--this has to come from his own experience. I tell him that he should think of a famous person that he is interested in. I mention Gandhi (he doesn't know who he is, I explain a little of the history of Gandhi, etc. and realize we are getting off track). I then think about that biography project he had last year on Albert Einstein. He was really excited about him and talked a lot about him for weeks afterwards...even said that he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. I mention this to him. And he comes up with a quote on his own. And it fits my son very well. I don't even think he realizes how well it fits him.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”--Albert Einstein

Moment #2: She is so deeply frustrating! She likes celery--sort of...cuz I find bits of celery on the floor...and then find her taking one stalk after another stalk and chewing on it. And then--she spits it out...ONTO THE FLOOR!! She is into everything, climbing on top of the couch, trying to open drawers. And now she is under foot while I try to cook. Ugh! I want her to go away, so I can do this! But. I help her get the step stool over near me. I give her the bag of peas ("Ooohh...cold!") and I help here pour them into the pan. I have her hold the measuring cup while I pour the liquid into it. I watch as she pours the dry ingredients in (some are all over the counter now). And I do it with a smiling encouragement. And she is beaming and proud of herself for helping me cook!

The Extras

Now that I am re-watching some of my very favorite television shows in the morning while I exercise, I finally have the time at last to see a lot of those DVD extras that I skimmed over when we first got the DVDs.

You know how it is—you finally get the DVDs of your favorite show, you re-watch it and maybe go through some of the extras—maybe the “making of” featurette. But you never really get to ALL the stuff.

Unless you are me and you want to make the experience last and keep your interest while trying to get yourself up early in the mornings to work out.

Before my recent kick of re-watching (mostly sci-fi) television shows, I would watch movies, etc. Its far more interesting, actually to re-watch the shows. Seeing relationships develop, remembering when which character did what.

But the commentaries and extras have been the surprise to me. Most have been stimulating and add something to the series as a whole.

The Doctor Who had the Dr. Who Confidentials and David Tennant's video diaries. Those were fun to watch, the giddiness of everyone--obviously enjoying doing the show.

Babylon 5 commentaries were very informative. Especially since JMS wrote all the episodes in Season 3. For more of a fun behind the scenes, commentary with the actors was hillarious. The making of the various aliens and their make-up was after my own heart.

For a break before I went onto Angel, I re-watched Dr. Horrible. And the extras included audition videos that people sent in to be part of the Evil League of Evil. Very creative and fun...the whole family started watching them. This one was one of my favs.

So, now I am re-watching Angel. I just watched my first commentary, and it was great to hear about how the pilot was made.

I am glad DVDs have all this extra stuff--and I am glad I actually have been making the time to watch them.

Report Card Time...

Michael got his report card on Friday. Modestly he mentioned that his conduct rating was not totally the way he wanted (he has had behavior issues at school). But I cannot see anything wrong with this report card.

To see those A's and A+'s and know how hard he has to work everyday to keep himself focused and on task. To see him struggling to get that homework done. And to see that...just makes my heart burst.


Click on image to enlarge.

Well done, Michael, well done!

Busy, Frantic Day - Updated

Today (Thursday)has been an especially frantic day. It started off with the thought of being a little bit of a hassle, but not too frantic (for me, anyways).

Kif had his neutering done on Wednesday.


Ana sent this picture of a "happy, healthy, neutered kitty" last night.

She lives about an hour away from us, so it was decided that since she had a medical conference on Thursday in Boston, she and I would meet about 15 mins. away from my home (as I live about 20 mins. away from Boston). I hesitated, as I had a doctor's appointment that morning, but as she said it would be around 6 a.m., I knew I would have plenty of time. Until she overslept. So, we did the Kif Exchange, but at 8 a.m. which meant I went right from dropping him off at home to my doctor's appointment (routine check up, a-okay!).

Then it was onto work (after a quick stop off to get breakfast, later than usual). At work I got texted by my daycare provider. My daughter fell at the Children's museum, had a gash on her head near her hairline, and many band aids were applied, but it was still bleeding. (She texted me because it was too damn loud there at the Children's Museum--yeah, I can believe that--its like a zoo there!) Since Willow seemed to be fine (she had lunch, was running around, etc.) We took the wait and see approach.

Later, after I was able to actually speak with her and our doctor, it was decided that it was okay. Crisis averted! Although later on tonight I gave her a bath and got the bandages off (not fun, cuz the band aids stick to the hair), and made sure to consult Ana (who is a Physician's Assistant) as to what she thought--Neosporin was applied and all is well.

Meanwhile, while my daycare provider was texting me, my brother was texting me that his wife was being admitted into the hospital. She has Pre-eclampsia with twins (girls). Luckily, they got her blood pressure down and they are at home....but that added to the drama of the day. (She is at 34 weeks+, so things are being monitored but every one is doing well---oh, and I get to be an Aunt real soon!!)

Home, made dinner, did the aforementioned band-aid-ectomy, helped Michael with his homework. Later, he was still doing a project that was due the next day. And he had not really worked on that much. So. He was up until 10:30. And it was math. And it was hard. And he kept asking the adults for help. And one of the adults hates math and doesn't understand it (that would be me) and the other one was trying to work from home (that would be hubs).

Oh.And the girl would not go to bed. Until 10:40 p.m. (when she was inserted into tired Michael's bed to snuggle)

Yeah, weekend, hurry the hell up already.

UPDATE: I don't know where they get it. really. how can they possibly go to bed around 10:30 p.m. and be up at 5:45 a.m.?!?!?! Um, the time change definitely has not been helpful around here...
(Oh, and Kif--he likes being home. So much that he nuzzled me and nuzzled me--at 4 a.m.!!!)

Tired.

Playing with Toddler

Scenes from last evening:

She climbs upon my shoulder and wants me to walk her around being "Tall"

Willow crawls upon the floor with me, approaching me, panting and barking. The little dog comes up to me and licks my face. And then she leaves and comes back and makes a small noise that takes me a while to realize--she is roaring and she is a fierce (?) lion. Then a pig, a cat...and another unrecognizable noise--oh, she's a turkey!

I check on how Michael is doing with his homework in his room. She follows. And discovers some of his toys. Specifically, a Spider-Man doll. She plays with it and she trys to find the little Spider-Man doll that she had in her toys--its the Baby Spider-Man.

Then, we sing "Happy Birthday" to someone (I don't know who) and eat "cake" made of building blocks.

Finally, after running around in the kitchen to no music...time for books.

And bed.

If you are interested in seeing other 30 posts in 30 days writers, please stop on by NaBloPoMo, or stop on by Suzy's place.

Hey, it Took me Until the 17th Post...

to have nothing really much to say.**

So, I guess I will just do a status report for this week:

--Kif has been transported over to our friend Ana's house, since she lives closer to the animal shelter that is going to do his neutering today. The exchange was made at a sort of undisclosed location (an Indian restaurant half way between our houses) and this morning I got a great text from Ana saying that he was doing fine and that she feed him a little more food just before midnight (no food before the operation this morning)

--Had good Indian food and went shopping with Ana (feel a LITTLE guilty about that cuz poor Kif was sitting in his carrier in my car the whole time)

--Michael finished the newest installment of Wimpy Kid within 2 days time. (picture of him getting the book on Saturday)




--Willow is on a milk strike. Doesn't like milk anymore...unless its chocolate milk! (Well, at least it gets her to drink it!) Luckily, she loves cheese still, so she gets her dairy in...

--Her "main" present came in the mail yesterday (right now it is safe from prying eyes here at work)




--I have most of the kids presents purchased and some others have been purchased too.

--Debating on holiday cards. Almost bought some yesterday. But I want to try to scan in some professional photos for cards...wondering how to do so on the cheap...

--I get to go scrapbooking on Saturday!!

--I also get to go to the Dentist on Saturday! (yay?)

--Is it Saturday yet?

If you are interested in seeing other 30 posts in 30 days writers, please stop on by NaBloPoMo, or stop on by Suzy's place.

**Despite what the date says at the top here--I wrote the title last night, but the main body of it today (11/17)

Perfect Moment Monday

Yay! Perfect Moment Mondays are back!!

Please click HERE to see this week's Perfect Moments.

Morning Interruption:

Trying to get some extra sleep on the weekend. Sleepy Sunday it is not. Lying on my bed, I hear commotion downstairs, but I turn over--and my face touches the cat's face. Our fat lazy companion cat wants to snuggle. I let her sleep on husband's side and I turn over. Then onto my stomach. Just as I drift off...I hear russling behind me. And she is there, asking if she could have a juice box. And would I look at her finger, cuz there might be a boo-boo there. She has snuck away from dad. I kiss the boo-boo, tell her yes she can have the juice box (more because she will then go DOWNSTAIRS--usually I try for alternatives--or at least a "please"). I roll over onto my stomach again. And as I drift off to sleep again...he comes in. He has finished a reading assignment and has to have a parent sign off on it. And dad's handwritting is awful. And he has to have this done RIGHT NOW (cuz he is anal like that). So I sign his paper. (He says he is sorry to disturb me--oh, and can he go on the computer now?)

You might think I would have been upset with all the interruptions. I wasn't even annoyed. I just chuckled, figured I should write a post about it....and then FINALLY got my hour's extra sleep in.