Guard Your Christmas Balls

Derek took this picture of Jack on Christmas Eve morning. Jack seems to be saying, "Bring it, Santa". He's been good....mostly good....But that counts, when you are two.

La La Loopsie-palooza

The little striped children played together so nicely with their new favorite things....little dolls.

Christmas Day

I have been trying to think of what I want to capture about this Christmas and save for my babies to read. There was a wide spectrum of emotions throughout the holiday, which made it dynamic and very special...Even with those very blue moments.

This year Derek and I invited my mom - Gee, Sarah and Mark, and Shelly, Robert and Olivia to come and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us and then caravan to see dad - Papa, at the Veteran's home. My goodness. I even tear up thinking about it, but no one made it. I know everyone was in the place they wanted to be, so that should make me happy. I just had an idea of something that would be really fun and it didn't turn out. The weather was partly to blame. Snow was predicted on Christmas Eve and I knew that Gee would not drive in it. And, Sarah and Mark put a Christmas tree up for the first time at their fire station and wanted to spend it together there- I think it sounds romantic, but I missed them, even so. And, Shelly, Robert and Olivia declined early but said they would be up to visit again soon.

But, lucky for us, there was a back up plan! Derek's parents had come from Kentucky the day before to see family, us included, and were waiting in the wings to unload Christmas at our house! We had our favorite BBQ - Smokin' Joe's BBQ for lunch, made drinks and caught up while the kids napped and Christmas movies played. The snow came and went, and we ripped into Christmas gifts early and loved every minute of Greta and Jack loving it.

I had planned to make baked potato soup for dinner, but couldn't quite get up the gusto with the change of plans. We ordered up pasta, salad and breadsticks from Olive Garden. There are perks to living a block away from the OG! It was cozy and nice. We opened a bottle of wine and I got to use my new wine aerator. Let me tell you...It most definitely takes the sexy out of pouring a glass of wine. Derek and I laughed so hard, I had to leave the room!

With some sleepy babies, we said goodnight and poured milk, set out cookies, sprinkled reindeer food and carrots and hung our stockings. Christmas Eve is my favorite. I love knowing what the next morning may bring. I love finally falling asleep and waking up early. I woke up even before the kids! So, I ran downstairs, flipped on the lights, blasted the Christmas music and screamed, "Santa came!!" (I used to do this as a kid.)

Back upstairs I helped Jack wake up Greta, who was the sweetest little sugar plum. She woke up happy it was finally Christmas! We all ran back downstairs to see what was by the tree....And, my memory card was full on the camera. I have no pictures or video of what happened next, but I know I will never ever, ever forget the joy. Leaps of joy. Awe, and amazement. I got what I wanted for Christmas right then. Greta had asked Santa for a La La Loopsie. By the week of Christmas she had changed her wish from one, to a pile of. Good thing Santa had La La Loopsie fever and did deliver more than one, because they are all so dern cute. She got 4. And the angel child gave the one with blue hair - Mittens Fluff and Stuff to her adoring brother, Jack. Santa noted that in his records. Jack asked Santa for a poo poo. (Thomas the train....anything.) Santa brought him a Thomas that he could ride on, and off he went! He said, "Big poopoo, nah smah! Big!" We opened presents together, and made it a wonderful morning. I made Christmas breakfast (that casserole that made me rich and famous before babies). Derek used his new French press to make us coffee and we made sparkling orange juice with my new twist and sparkle.

Then it was off to see Papa! We met Papa and Gee at the Veteran's home, and Papa saw us before we even pulled into the parking lot. I thought that was really sweet that he was watching for us. Every time we visit, it is so special to him. Jack took his Thomas and raced all the Grandpas down the halls. He stopped by a big Frosty the Snowman decoration and said, "Cute" and then hit the accelerator again. We handed out sugar cookies in pretty paper bags with satin ribbon and Greta ate all the brownies out of Gee and Papa's cookie bags. She loves her chocolate. Jack managed to find a bunch of bananas and brought it to me for his snack. It was nice and relaxing to be there. I was so happy just to see Papa's face smiling and Gee looking fresh and happy....not stressed over those everyday things. On the way home it felt like we had planned a great day for the kids. They were so excited to play with new toys and put on warm pajamas and do all those Christmas things - fire in the fireplace, candles smelling good and a special dinner planned. We had fillet mignon, twice baked potatoes and steamed asparagus.

All was well on Christmas day. Though some things didn't go at all how I had expected, and some went much better. There were some derailments, but Thomas prevailed and smiles were all around...And, for the right reasons. We have this awesome love...And that is what Christmas is all about.

Just a Taste

Chanel No 35

It's my 35th birthday today! I was dreading this one for most of the year. I don't know why, except that maybe it feels like the next big one is 40 and I just don't see myself as what I have always pictured a 40 year old to be. And, 40 is great. 35 is great. I am so blessed in this life with health, and love and all the little things that make me happy... And, then about a week ago I was playing with Greta and Jack and I thought to myself,"Why would I dread it...is there something I am missing that I thought I would have by this time in my life?" There is nothing more that I could ever want than to have this time with my loves...my babies, by husband and my family.

Life is good. 35 is rockin.

I started the day at 5 am with Jack hollering for me and Greta, as well. I went in her room to tell her it was still night and then I went to Jack who was up for the day. Derek went in and cuddled with Greta and with Jack in my arms, we all slept a little bit longer. They sang to me in their sweet little voices when we all got up and Derek had a birthday package wrapped so nicely with a pretty balloon. I don't know how he managed to hide a balloon from the kids, but he did it!

He got me Chanel no 5 parfum...What I used to wear before I ran out and then had babies and just quit wearing perfume. It smells so great on me. It brings back memories. I love it.

Greta and Jack wanted some on their wrists, too. Greta said she would like a bottle. I told her Daddy would love to buy her first bottle of Chanel No 5 and she said, "Oooo, or No 6!"

Hipstamatic Greta

I love her. That's all.

Queen for a Day

Little Greta turned 4 and it was the sweetest day! She asked for a princess to come to her fairy tale party and it was a treat for all of us. Snow White came and the little guests were captivated by her stories and games and treasure hunt. She painted their faces and gave them golden crowns and wands and treats from the treasure chest that Greta opened by picking the princess key.

We sipped poison apple punch and a chocolate cake that I made just for Greta, as well as pink cupcakes because every little girl likes pink just a little bit. There were birds all around and butterflies and some very happy little children....And one very happy mamma, too. I felt like the queen...Not the wicked one, but a very proud one. My little girl is 4 and she is such a tender and wise girl. She couldn't be more fair.

Christmas Party

I get to dress up tonight and go to VML's holiday party at the Uptown Theater! I love, more than anything in the world, being home with my babies, but I don't get to feel glamorous as often as I used to. Here is my dress.....

I am so excited. We have our loving baby sitter, Emmy, coming over to eat with the kids and watch Wall-E and play in the new playroom. Greta is so excited to dance with Emmy (she is a ballerina) and Jack, too. I just hope I remember how to go to a party! Let's hope I can restrain myself from cutting up someone's steak or wiping their face. Let's hope I can still walk in heels! (It has been 4 years!) The last time I wore them I was about 8 months pregnant with Greta and it was also at VML's holiday party. By the time we left, my feet were swollen, my stupid crotch of my maternity stockings was sliding down to my knees and I had lost my sense of balance. I bet it looked like Greta was on her way out the way I sauntered through the door. I hope they were all drunk and don't remember! I hope I give them a different impression this year!

But who cares about them, I am going to have an absolute ball!

A Moment

I have to write this down. Sorry. I know it is one of those posts that might make your eyes roll and a pffft sound come out of your mouth. But, this happened and it was a big one for me. I might just start crying, thinking about it again.

A few nights ago after we got the kids jammies on, their faces and hands washed and their teeth brushed we put Greta in bed and tucked her in tight for Derek to read her stories before bed. I was walking out of her room with Jack to read and rock him to sleep. Greta cried out and ran to us. She wrapped her arms around him and cried. "Please don't go, Jack, I love you and I need you near me." "My brother, don't be away, I want you close." "I love you Jack." He stood wrapped up in her arms with his little legs in his red plaid pajamas and his little face tipped up to look at hers and he said, "I you, too, Gigi, I, you, too." She was sobbing into him and he was rubbing her back with comfort and Derek and I looked from their tight embrace to each other and back again over and over and over.

Whether this was a stall tactic to avoid bed time or total sincerity, it worked both me and Derek good. I was in tears over it and Derek's eyes blinked red away. It went on for a good 3 minutes and then we peeled them apart and settled them down for bed. I knew there would be moments like this that make up for all of those moments where I screamed in my head, "Why did we have them so close together in age, I am loosing my ever loving mind!" I heard several times from several people that there would be this moment. I just didn't know it would be so big.

The Lap

Fingers are crossed that Santa will come through. These kids were so lucky to get some extra time with Santa this year because we went to see him before lines filled the aisles of the store. He even told them that his favorite kind of cookie was peanut butter. Greta said that she would eat one but leave the rest for him. She asked him for a Lalaloopsie doll and Jack asked for uhh poopoo. (choo choo train). Santa then handed him gently back to his father.

All Heart...mostly

Last night we cuddled up on the couch together to watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas....not the old classic, but the Ron Howard movie. Still, I love it. I think it is super cute. Jack was a liiiiittle bit scared, but that is normal for him. We even got Happy Meals for dinner because Derek is in Austin and we do special, fun stuff when he is gone so the time goes by more quickly. Jack would live on salty french fries if I let him. It is adorable to watch him dip them in ketchup with such satisfaction.

Then Greta starts to cry....sob. Huge tears and I can't tell why. Not hurt, not fighting... Well, she was crushed that the Who's were mean to the Grinch when he was child. It seriously crushed her. This girl, I tell you, may bring about world peace.

Oh, but on the flip side. She got so mad at me and Derek because we wouldn't let her take a toy on a trip to Home Depot. We held our ground on the matter and Greta raised her arm, clenched a fist and made a crashing sound with her big pink pout. Then she said, "Lightning bolts at you." I love it. (It also beats out the story of the time she slammed me on the head with a frying pan during a play date.) I can still hear the noise it made.

And, our Jack....He is talking a lot more, but the funny thing is that he has the habit of saying, "uhh" Before every single word. Is he French? And, typing "uhh" doesn't even really embody the sound he makes...It is seriously this nasal French noise. Uhh poopoo.

We are still working on Jaques sleeping abilities. Derek has taken over his night wakings and it has lead to mostly sleeping through the night. But at first, as Derek walked into his nursery Jack would yell, "Not you! Uhh!" so sweet. He wants his mamma, but Derek has won him over and let him know that everything is ok and he can sleep without boob. Yep, he's French.

This morning Greta had her dance class. While we ate breakfast she asked to see the Nutcracker up on the Apple TV. She and Jack danced their feet off holding hands and sweeping through the living room. I was taken with those mamma tears again, like I can't believe this is my life, watching my kids do this thing that would only happen in my cheesy mamma dreams. My heart.

Thanksgiving in our home

I feel more and more thankful every day. And then Greta offers up the prayer and my head explodes with thanks. We woke and drove to Warrensburg to eat with Papa and Gee. Gee brought "all the fixins" and we ate amongst the grandpas and nurses. We were all too stuffed to eat the pie, so we left it with Papa. That made him smile. We made it home with napping babies in the car, and woke them with slices of pie and whipped cream. And, Derek and I started to put up the Christmas tree while Jack and Greta flipped out over sugar and excitement. They were like cats when you rearrange the furniture.

The day after Thanksgiving we continued the fun and festivities. Grandma called from Kentucky and was at the Disney store buying black Friday deals for Christmas and Greta's birthday and she said they were running out. I panicked! I brushed my teeth and had Derek drive me to the mall! He dropped me off at Dillards and I ran for the Disney store to get Belle's Castle and a singing princess! They drove off for coffee and smoothies. I was triumphant. Then they took me to Target where I got the splish and fish bath toy for Jack and the last Lalaloopsie outfit....ever to be found...

And then we totally lost our marbles and Derek dropped me off at the GAP to get Christmas jammies for the kids at 50% off. I went in, and scored their size and then I waited in line for OVER AN HOUR. I think it was kind of fun to see the mayhem, and I am glad that I was alseep at 3 am when it all began. I will never stand in line for 50% off jammies again. I prefer shopping online and waving at the UPS man as he brings the packages to my open arms in my house....as long as he doesn't ring the doorbell and wake the babies.

But, we survived and went home to eat the most incredible cinnamon rolls from Costco. I began cooking our feast and Derek worked on the playroom (which is almost, really truly almost finished!)

We ate together at dinner time and it was the sweetest meal I have had in a long time. The kids mmmmm'd and yum'd and ate their bites. They loved the candles and ate my apple decorations. It may be the same every year, as long as it is not overlooked for beginning the Christmas season of shopping and stuff. I am thankful that there is a day that makes me sit down and look around me and smile from the inside out for all that is good in my life. It is simple and so great.

Well, You Know My Name is Simon....

I especially like the toes.

We spent a few beautiful days outside this fall just savoring the last moments before snow and ice. It was totally awesome to just sit in a big pile of warm leaves and watch them blow into the neighbor's yard with the south wind. neener neener. We also took a vote and it is unanimous that we have the prettiest tree on our street right in our front yard. Unfortunately, I never took a picture of it and now it is bare. Next year. It is huge and bright yellow. It casts a golden glow into our living room and Greta's room.

But, now the leaves have fallen and now we are almost ready for the flakes. We have to bundle up our chalk people.

Never Jump Into a Pile of Leaves With a Wet Sucker....

Oh, they loved it. They are napping now and it was a great morning. We dressed and ran out into the back yard filled with leaves and warm sunshine. It was so nice out and might be the last of these days before winter. I raked huge piles for them to jump into and they laughed and took turns. And then they turned and smiled and pulled me into the pile and tossed leaves my way until my bra was full of them, and my undies, too! I loved it. They made me feel like a kid again. These kids are amazing to me - their laughter and their smiles.

Lucky for Dad, we didn't bag the leaves so we can do this fun all over again when he is home with us!

Moustache

My good friend sent me some more photos from Jack's second birthday, and they were too cute to just store on my computer. I thought this would be a good place to stick them so we can look back and say, "Dang, we look good in 'staches.

I have left the streamers from the party still hanging in the dining room. If they hang on, they may make it to celebrate Greta's fourth in a few weeks. I might have to dust them, though.

It is my new philosophy that both streamers and moustaches do indeed make a space more interesting. If both are present, there is nothing to do but party, friends.

The Great Pumpkin

After watching The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, I heard Greta practicing for Trick or Treat. And, she said, "Can I have extra candy for my blockhead brother?" I didn't stop her, because I thought it was so funny! Isn't that horrible?

We trick or treated on our street and went to the Purple People Eater Party at Lytle's. There was chili, cornbread, and cider, pumpkin donuts and more trick or treating. I think they were the cutest kids on the block....other costumes included a NASA Astronaut, a fireman, Tenderheart Bear, a monkey, a shark and Lytle himself was Elliot from ET in a red hoodie, BMX bike with milk crate and ET in a white blanket. Our childhood lives on! And, I am rolling in candy now!

It was Boo-tiful!

October is already in the books and I am already reflecting on it with a smile. We did it up. Halloween was not just a day, but an event...like the Olympics. Every morning the kids woke up and ran to these spooky Halloween boxes that would squeak and play eerie organ chords and ominous laughter and wishes for a Happy Halloween. Each morning they got apples, some marshmallows, stickers, felt masks, glow wands, spooky Pez characters and all the like. I had too much fun! We made Great Pumpkin and full moon bisquits, pancakes and goodies for breakfast. We made ghost grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch...it was madness!

Greta had her first Preschool Halloween Party and rocked it. I volunteered to make a sweet treat and Greta helped me make Jello that I layered in clear cups, yellow, orange and a swirl of whipped cream and a few candy corns on top. They looked like pretty little candy corns. Greta decided to be the spider at her preschool party from last year, and we even painted a friendly little fly on the tip of her little nose. Other kids in the class looked so cute - there was a Minnie Mouse, Strawberry Shortcake, an orange and black witch, Woody, Veggie Tales Tomato, a Knight in shining armor (I told Greta to get to know him!) The little ones are so excited and so sweet. Halloween is sure starting to become a favorite!

Goblins

Er, I mean, cousins....