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.