The Big Fat Christmas Recap

I'm back- did you miss me?

We road-tripped south to my hometown in California and spent Christmas with my family. 

It is always a challenge to combine visiting with family with a vacation, plus a holiday- there is never enough time to do as much as we intend to do, like, I'd planned to reunite with some cousins, but it didn't happen.  I'd planned to spend some alone-time with my husband, but it didn't happen.  I'd planned to read a book, but it didn't happen.  You get the idea.

Plus, a few of us were battling nasty head-colds, so the overall energy was low. 

But nonetheless, we had a fun, memorable vacation/Christmas.  I love waking up in my parents' house, seeing a great big blue sky outside, playing with my kids, and watching Devon unwind from the months of the daily grind.  I love catching up with my siblings and eating my mom's cooking.

Here is a collection of highlights-

Can you read what this says?

It says, "Will you marry me," and the question was "popped" by my brother Seth to his girlfriend Carlee.  We were all waiting inside with the lights off, hoping that she'd say yes- otherwise it would have been an awkward party!

She said yes!

Carlee was completely surprised by both the proposal and the engagement party.  It was so exciting to be a part of the night's celebration.

See?  Super excited!

For the most part, we just hung out.

My dad made pancakes and Maxy "helped".

Joe got a battery-operated monster truck stuck in his hair.  It was a learning experience, for sure :)

The kids each opened one gift on Christmas Eve.  Pajamas.  It's tradition.

Lucy selected gifts for everyone at the Dollar Tree, and she couldn't wait even one more day to give her gifts.

Mechanical pencils for Joe, a SpiderMan cup for Max, shoe polish for Devon, glow wand for Molly....

And then it was Christmas.

There were stockings,

and my dad read the Christmas story from the Bible,

and the kids tried to be patient,

and Adam and Jill arrived with their kids, and Seth and Carlee arrived with 4 of Carlee's little sisters.

It was a full and happy house.

After Christmas, we had a collection of ailments, but we packed up tissues and pills for a day at a theme park.

And then it was a long, long drive back home to Washington.

Until next time, California...  we love you!

Ready for the Magic

I'm ready.  I'm ready for the Christmas magic to begin.

We've gone to all of our holiday parties, the ballet recital, and preschool performance.

We've decorated the house as best as we can, with our 6' fakey tree.

We play Christmas music, and Christmas movies stream on the tube.  I've seen Elf approximately 12 times this week. 

I've lit a glittery candle in the kitchen, and my wreath hangs on the front door. 

I have even wrapped 4 large gifts and set them under the tree, which exponentially multiplied the excitement of Christmas for Max and Lucy.

And Lucy removes a paper chain link every day.  Only 5 links left until the big yellow star declares that it is finally Christmas day.

See, we are going through all of the motions, but the magic isn't really here in our house.  The magic for us is in California, because that is where we do Christmas.

And, boy, could we use some magic.  We are falling apart around here.  Poor Max is so sick- and Devon has all sorts of weird symptoms, all which scream I need a vacation!!  And one more day of grey skies...  well, it just wouldn't be good.

Since it is cold outside and we are kinds of ill, we haven't left the house much, which leads to extreme cabin fever.  And to make the stuck-at-home issue a little more interesting, we are intentionally using up all of our groceries before we leave town, so our snacks and meals are requiring a bit of creativity. 

I didn't quite complete my Christmas Challenge.  I still have two gifts to buy, but, dude, guess who won't be shopping on Christmas Eve this year!  This girl! 

We celebrated Christmas with Aunt Merry and Uncle Dave last weekend, and the kids got a taste of the magic.  It was especially fun to watch Max open gifts, because at his age he now completely understands the concept of opening gifts.  Welcome to the big league, Bubsy.

 

And Grandma Donna came over last night to exchange gifts with the kids.  See Joe's face in the this pic?  This is the optimal gift-opening face.  Love it!

 

Today's agenda?  Another trip to the pediatrician with Max.  Maybe make some Christmas cookies with Lucy.  Bribe Joe to help me entertain Max and Lucy while I pack.  I can feel it already- the buzz is beginning to, well, buzz.  The magic is about to begin. 

'Round Here...

If you were to peek through our windows today, here is what you'd see-

Joe has had several tests at school this week, which somehow takes a toll on all of us.  Here, he was online studying up a bit for tomorrow's science test- the last test before Christmas break!  Hooray!

Lucy was wrapped up in a blanket because she was cold, which is to be expected since wasn't wearing pants or a shirt.  I think that she was going to play "dress up" but lost her motivation, so she settled for playing Go Fish with Devon.

Devon didn't have to work today.  He was busy doing all the dad-duties, like playing Go Fish and quizzing Joe about earthquakes.

And Max wasn't feeling well, so he napped on the sofa, propped up on a pillow so that he could breathe better.

And as for me, I did several loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen three times, and went out for a little more Christmas shopping.

What's going on in your house?

*******

In other news, Lucy's social calendar has never been more full than this December.  It has been one event after another, but we don't complain because it keeps our lives festive, plus she looks so darn cute on a stage! :)

This week was the Christmas performance at Lucy's school.

Notes from the Mama

There is nothing in the world like holding your brand new baby- so perfect and tiny.  I don't know about you, but I would feel a small pang of sadness knowing that in the blink of an eye my baby would grow and change.  But then, in a surprising turn of events, I'd find that 3 months old is even better than brand new.  And then 3 months is replaced by 4 months- yes, 4 months old is definitely my favorite age so far.  And then six months, no, no, nine months is so fun! and then 12 months, no, no, 18 months is such the perfect age!

My point is that the love of a mother grows as babies grow.  Babies turn into funny, little people, and though I miss my newborn babies, I always find myself thinking  (fill in the blank) is my favorite age, for sure. 

All that being said...

Two and a half is kicking my butt.  Probably not my favorite age!

The Festivities Begin...

Good morning!

And I mean it- it has been a good morning, so far.  Today I have the early shift with our early risers, who insist on racing the daylight to see who can get up faster.  Max and Lucy always win.  And this morning Max dressed himself in a bathing suit and Lucy picked out a sundress.  Looks like I'm not the only one dreaming of warmer places!

Remember when I mentioned that I'd like to slow down a bit?  Well, it hasn't happened yet.  Is your schedule full too?

Here is what we've been doing-

I got to spend a whole afternoon catching up with my friend Monica, who I've mentioned before here.  Monica lives in the dirty south, which is just too far away, in my opinion.

It was a treat to see such a dear friend!

Lucy's school hosted a "Daddy and Me" event, and Devon and Lucy came home with a lovely gingerbread house. Can you tell that she is very proud of their finished product? The gingerbread house is safely displayed on Lucy's dresser, where Max can't try to eat it (again).

My friend Sara hosted a wreath-making party- isn't that such a fun idea??  I got to bring the kids along, and there were delicious snacks and such, and the wreath workshop looked like this-

I had to get some help finishing mine, because someone needed mama to hold him close, but check out my wreath!!  My first-ever Christmas wreath!  I love it :)

We have scattered our Christmas decor around the house, and there is already a collection of Max-damaged items waiting to be super-glued.  Devon pulled ol' fakey out of the garage yesterday and we made her pretty-

We decided that we need to graduate to a larger tree- maybe even a real tree- but for now we'll get one more year out of this one.  The ornaments just about outweigh the tree :)  It was a group effort to hang the ornaments- Grandma helped too.

And finally, it was date-night!  We dressed up and went to the Sleep Country Christmas party.

A good old-fashioned prom pose with the Christmas tree!

So, things are festive around here, and we are feeling pretty jolly.  I hope that you are too!

Bon Bon Love

It's that time again!

Lucy's ballet recital!

This year she was a Bon Bon, and we couldn't be more proud.

Note: please don't feel obligated to watch the video clip of Lucy's ballet, though it is quite lovely and might make you smile.  Oh, and mom and dad, you are obligated :)

If you chose to watch the video, and you happened to notice the sound of a small child crying, it totally wasn't Max.  Nope, not Max.  Couldn't be Max.  I mean, why would Max be crying during his sister's performance?  He wouldn't.  No, never.  Not Max.

Anyway, Lucy's fan club was in attendance-

Little Molly was a Bon Bon too!

except for Aunt Merry, who is in California for the weekend at a bodybuilding competition-

Merry has trained like a champ, and we are cheering for her!!  Go Merry!!

I took the kids "treasure hunting" at the consignment store today, and here is our best treasure-

Boots!  But these aren't just any boots-  these are Buzz and Woody boots! (Yes, Max is still opting out on wearing pants).

What else?  I was super grumpy tonight, and being grumpy is simply exhausting.  It has been a really long week.  I continuously remind myself to slow down and enjoy this time of the year, but I keep getting stuck in a go-go-go pattern, rushing around, and giving in to the inevitable grumps. Geesh.  Maybe I'll slow down tomorrow.  Or maybe I'll just keep watching my little dancing Bon Bon, with the volume muted so that I don't have to listen to that anonymous crying child.  Seriously, who is that kid?  It isn't Max.  Nope, not Max! 

Night Owls

We stay up too late.

This is us.  Right now.  It is late.

But it is also quiet.

And it is just us, as in, "Hey, remember me?  We fell in love once.  Haven't seen you much since then.  Wanna snuggle and watch Parks and Rec?"

Just us, as in no one is calling out, "Mama, Maxy peed on the floor again!"

Just us, as in him, me, a warm blanket, a laptop and an iPad.

Just us, as in the highlight of my day. :)

My Christmas Challenge

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We are all in the throes of the year's grand finale.  We've nibbled our way through our Halloween candy, and the Thanksgiving dinner has lingered long enough that I might never again eat mashed potatoes, and now it is time to be "merry and bright" and find the magic in a season that becomes increasingly daunting to me each year.  No, I'm not a Scrooge or a Grinch.  I am a procrastinator.  Always have been.

I was the student who waited to write a paper until the night before it was due.  I was the bride who chose our wedding songs while I was already in my wedding dress on the day of our wedding.  I am the mama who fills out school picture order forms on the morning of picture day while the kids are rushing to get out the door.  You get the idea.  I don't know why I do this.  It drives my mother crazy.  If we are traveling to visit my family in California, my mom will call me two days before we leave home to ask, "Have you started packing yet?".  I don't know why she continues to ask since the answer is consistently, "Nope.  I'll pack right before we leave."

It has taken me 32 years to realize that procrastinating during the Christmas season is a recipe for disaster.  You know why it took me so long to learn this lesson?  Because I waited, of course.  :) 

Last year, I spent the better part of Christmas Eve rushing from store to store, crowd to crowd, searching through picked-over merchandise, trying to finish my Christmas shopping. 

heading out, Christmas Eve 2010

Not to mention that while I was out doing the Christmas Eve panic shopping, I ran into an ex-boyfriend who cornered me for 45 minutes while he explained his conspiracy theories regarding Disneyland, red-heads, and something about John the Baptist.  Seriously, it was weird.  And as a side note, you know how you hope to look super fabulous if you ever run into an ex?  Well, please see the above photo.  Pretty sure my pajamas were still on under that sweater.  Not ideal. 

Oh, and I just remembered that Devon and I waited to wrap our gifts until after the kids went to bed on the night before Christmas, so we were up until nearly 2am wrapping, and we both got that back pain that you get from sitting on the floor wrapping gifts... you know the pain, right?

Anyway, not again, friends!  This year will be different!  I will spend Christmas Eve with my family, darn it!  I will buy the gifts on my list and not settle for whatever is left at the local Target!  I will shop online and try to save myself some hours and crowds!  I will not wait until the last minute!  And I will go to bed at a decent hour on Christmas Eve!  Do you hear me, mom?  I finally get it!

So, tomorrow is cyber-Monday, and I'm not sure what that means exactly, but wish me luck because I'm feeling pretty pumped up to finish my Christmas shopping by the end of the week.  It is my Christmas Challenge.

Please tell me, where do you fall on the scale of Christmas shopping?  Are you already done?  Or will you be finishing on Christmas Eve?

And onto a completely different topic, I scanned a copy of my kindergarten school picture from my mom's wallet while she was here last week, and check out me at 5 years old next to Lucy at 4 1/2 years old.  My mini-me definitely has my round face!

thankFULL

How was your Thanksgiving?

I hope it was wonderful.  I hope that you were surrounded by people you love.  I hope that you ate candied yams. I hope that you too feel like you've gained 10 pounds- I'm not the only one, right?  Right?

This was the scene around here this week-

Haircuts by Aunt Molly!  Something about a fresh trim can make you feel like a million bucks...  unless you are Max....

Max's haircut was a traumatizing experience for us all.  He wiggled and hit and cried and screamed, all while Molly did her best to not cut off her own finger or Max's ear.  But in the end he looked so much better- maybe not like a million bucks.  Maybe half a million. :)

Us ladies went out for lunch.  Doesn't that sounds like something that we should just get to do anytime we want?  It sounds like a common event, "I had lunch with my mom and my sister today..."  Yep, just as I suspected- it feels natural to say it.

But it had been 5 whole months since I'd seen my mom and my sister, which is the longest stretch we've ever gone without a visit!  I have missed them, and a lunch with them at The Cheesecake Factory didn't feel like a common everyday occurrence.  It felt special.

And my dad arrived a couple days later.  He got to our house after the kids' bedtime, but I let them stay up late to see him, and, of course, he arrived hyper, and suddenly a game of indoor football was happening in our family room.  Good grief, he is a big kid!  And Joe, Lucy and Max love him dearly.

The weather was very stormy, which was perfect for staying inside and doing a whole lot of nothing. (I stole some of these pics from my mom's camera- such a difference in quality!).

And on Thanksgiving Day, we did more hangin' out indoors.

The football-watchers were outnumbered by the parade-watchers, so they were banished to the guest room and the small TV.

Lucy got a special up-do from Molly.

This year marks the most I've ever contributed to a Thanksgiving meal.  The kitchen isn't really my "comfort zone", but I'll admit that it was pretty fun making a huge mess, using every inch of counter top space, rotating the dishes in and out of the oven, and ultimately having it all come together for a traditional turkey dinner.  And I got to do it with my homegirls. :)

And when we'd finally digested our food enough to move from the sofa, we ate dessert and played a fiercely competitive game of cards.

And in case you were wondering, yes, Max feels strongly that clothing is optional, and, yes, Lucy changed her outfit at least 5 times on Thursday. 

And my heart was full.  My cup of gratitude overflowed.  And my stomach couldn't hold even one more bit of pumpkin pie.

It was a great holiday for us, and I hope it was for you too.