Christmas Again - Twice

On Tuesday, December 26th we went over to Rico's and Le Anne's house to celebrate Christmas with them. Our visit was brief because Nathan and Natalie were on Christmas overload. They were both happy to see each other, but I think they were just worn out from all the business from the previous days. They happily enjoyed opening their gifts, we visited for a bit and then packed up and head for home.







Then on Saturday, December 30, we had yet another Christmas celebration in San Diego with my sister, Julie and her husband, Joe, Dad, and Loretta. I was feeling a bit miserable with a terrible cold, but I toughed it out most of the day and night until finally I just had to withdraw myself from and type of social setting or conversation and settle myself at the table and play with Natalie's comforting play-doh. It was a fun time, Julie made a great dinner, and the kids had fun. They loved their gifts, although before they even opened them, they were having a heck of a time climbing on the boxes. Didn't I say boxes would be a hit this year?

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas

We awoke with a chatty Matthew and then all of a sudden with Natalie thundering down the hallway shouting, "Mommy, Santa brought me toys!" She was so excited it was all I could do to keep her at the top of the stairs while slowpoke Daddy went down first with the video camera. Geesh, he should have had that set up via remote control.

Santa came.
Before.


After. Are my kids spoiled?



Christmas morning with Santa's presents. Matthew loves the house, but the Elmo scared him a bit. He screamed at it first. Now, he's getting used to it and he'll giggle if I laugh, but he's still a little leary about it. Natalie and Mommy both got their dolls from Santa.






We opened presents in three shifts. Last year it took us a week to get through them all. This year Natalie was only a little too happy to help out and open everyone else's lest they were tired. First we opened the presents from Mommy and Daddy and any others that were under the tree from friends and family. Then at about noon we had round two when my mom, sister, and brother in law came. Then after dinner we had round three with Ryan's family. Talk about a lot of presents. Toys now take over my house!

Dinner was nice. I cooked a roast - my first time. My sister came and did the veggies, salad, and scallops - not to mention too many cookies to mention and a delicious chocolate cake. My mom did the potatoes. And Ryan's mom did the pumpkin pies and jello.

Christmas is always tiring but in a good way. All in all, it was a good day.




Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus.

Holiday Goodies Be Gone!

Why is it that we only bake, and I mean bake, all kinds of scrumptious goodies during the holidays? And why must I feel that I must indulge in all their deliciously yummy goodness? I do so well watching what I eat the rest of the year; but during the holiday season - which starts with Thanksgiving - I feel I have no self control.

My house was filled with all kinds of sweets: cookies, cakes, candies, the works. My students gave me delicious treats, my friends brought me over treats, and my sister (who is an excellent cook) topped it off with treats from her house. I felt that I had to sample everything - homemade or not. Then, it was a horrible downward spiral. I had to have more and another and so on. I even froze a bag of cookies, thinking that they were off limits if they were in the freezer. No, it didn't work. I can just as well enjoy a frozen cookie as well as a room temperature one.

Then I thought the only way to handle the situation was to give them away. The problem with that was that I couldn't give them all away. What if I wanted just one? I had to have some on back up. And then I didn't even give any to the neighbors, feeling that I needed to have extras at my house. Even Ryan tried to help by graciously eating a whole bag of peanut butter blossoms (my favorite). He didn't know that I had more in the freezer.

I think that if we baked more often and that these treats didn't come from every corner of the neighborhood during Christmas, then perhaps they wouldn't be such a forbidden food. Then I might not feel the need to eat every single one.

Today I am going to my sister's to celebrate Christmas number three (or is it four) with my Dad. I am planning on bringing all the remaining goodies and hope that no signs of weakness will cause me to keep two or three. I don't need them! Then I can start my new year back on track with my healthy eating habits which have seemed to go out the window.

At least until next year when the holiday baking and treat extravaganza begins.

Christmas Eve

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around Natalie was more than ready for Santa to come. We spent the day finishing up things, decorating cookies, and cleaning. Later Jeneal and Dan came over with their son Max. We had been planning to go out to dinner, something we used to do sans kids, but hanging out at home just seemed like a better idea. The kids got to open their gifts and run around. We had snacks and Christmas Eve pizza. Everyone enjoyed the evening. They left at about 9:00 because as everyone knows, all good children must be in bed at a reasonable time or Santa won't come. We left two cookies for Santa, apple juice (Nat's favortie) and a carrot for Rudolph. I got Natalie in bed by 9:30 and even though she was super excited, she fell fast asleep. Of course Matthew had gone to sleep hours ago. Ah sleep. Mommy and Daddy didn't get to bed until midnight! Merry Christmas!

Welcome! Ryan greated our guests with the camera.



We enjoyed our holiday snacks.


And the kids could be kids. They were probably a lot happier than they would have been at a restaurant. And we got to stay in our comfy clothes - a big plus.



And to all a good night.

California Snow

Growing up on the East coast I enjoyed the snow as a child. I built many a snowman and snowfort, enjoyed sledding down our big hill in the backyard (it was the best in the neighborhood), skated on a frozen pond, and even had a snowball fight or too (dip the snowballs in water for an icy treat). And what kid didn't thank their lucky starts when the local AM station announced the school closures. Although, I do recall one school year not ending until nearly July all due to those beloved snow days.

Of course as an adult and after living in California, I don't think I'd enjoy getting out into the snow too often. I hate going out in the rain. But, I do love it (and miss it and not to mention my extended family) at Christmas. I went back every year until I got married. It always felt like "Christmas" with the wind whipping through you and the ground iced over. And sometimes we'd be lucky enough to have a snowfall on Christmas Eve. There is just something to be said for keeping your drinks in the entry to keep cool. Who needs a fridge?!

Now, in Southern California our chances of a white Christmas are nearly impossible. My daughter doesn't understand that. All the holiday shows she has been watching all show Christmas with snow. She kept saying, "When it snows on Christmas Eve. . ." and I had to tell her that we don't have snow here.

Yes, a white Christmas in Southern California, in our warm Inland Empire city, it is nearly impossible . . . or is it?. . .Here's Natalie making a snow angel.

We happened to get some holiday packages the week before Christmas from Natalie's great-aunts and uncles. They came packed with their own holiday snow!

Even Matthew enjoyed the faux snow. He had it everywhere! That stuff is harder to get rid of than the real thing! But they enjoyed it and we had some snow fun.




Of course, I would love some day for them to experience the cold, white Christmas of my youth. Ryan had the opportunity shortly after we got married to spend Christmas with my family. He couldn't wait until it snowed. "Can I shovel it?" he asked with enthusiasm. I think it was fun for about ten minutes. Then we all went inside while he shoveled the driveway.

Natalie's First Movie

On Wednesday A and D track third graders met their teachers at the new theater after school to watch Charlotte's Web. We had just finished the book and thought it would be a fun outing. I thought, what a great time to take Natalie to her first show. A theater full of 80 kids is bound to be a little noisy, so add a three year old and no biggie. Well, she had been looking forward to it all week. I picked her up (and not Matthew - boy did I feel guilty) early from "school" and we were off. We got popcorn and settled into our seats, which she couldn't keep down because she wasn't heavy enough, so I had to rest my leg on it. She did great. A couple students sat next to her and she loved it. About halfway through the movie she climbed up onto my lap. Shortly after that she whispered, "Mommy, I am ready to go now." I convinced her to stay. Then at the very end, and I mean the very end, she quietly, but frantically, said, "Mommy, I have to go potty." Of course, knowing my (her) limitations, I jumped right up and ushered her to the potty. She almost refused to go because it had those "magic" toilets that flush automatically and she doesn't like those. However, I insisted and she went. By the time we were done the movie was over. Good thing I know how the story ends. All in all, she enjoyed it. On the way home, when I asked her if she liked the movie, she said, "Yes, but it was a little long. Handy Manny is shorter." Now that I know she can be good in a theater I look forward to more movies to come. And on a sidenote, she laughed and laughed when the cow "tooted" as Templeton walked behind it. Potty humor gets kids every time.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

This is why it took three days to decorate the Christmas tree!






And wrapping gifts? Forget it!

Matty's Birthday

Well, my little guy is officially one (but you knew that) and we celebrated with a little party. He loved the brightly colored ribbon attached to the gifts. He even did a whole lot better with opening gifts than Natalie. I remember Natalie opened one and then was done. I opened the rest of her presents on her first birthday. Well, Matthew was definately interested in all the gifts and I had little Miss Natalie to help me open them this time.




As I predicted he loved the boxes! Right away he climbed up on top of them! He also enjoyed his cake and ice cream. I gave him a spoon and let him have a go at it. He did pretty well, using the back of the spoon to eat. Hey, it's a step in the right direction.


I thought this gift looked like fun!


"I'm King of the World!"


What a cool cake! Daddy made it.

The Big Show

Last Friday the kids had a "show" at "school." I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Last year we tried to go but Natalie would have no part of it and we turned around in the parking lot and went home. This year she was a little more eager to participate. Little did I know that Matthew would be partaking in the holiday cheer as well. The show began with the infants and toddlers jingling bells to "Jingle Bells." (Of course!) That's Matthew in the back seat of the buggy.


Natalie's class sang "Santa Clause is Coming to Town." It was very cute. She didn't want to wear the pink hat though. Notice it on the floor where she left it.

Dancing Queen

Natalie had her dancing recital a couple of weeks ago. (Sorry I didn't post sooner but the photos were still in the camera). She did so well! I am so proud of her. I was really worried that she'd have some separation issues. When I go to dance class with her, which isn't very often since I work, she gives me a hard time about leaving me. It was to the point of the dancing teacher suggesting that Daddy drop her off instead of me. Well, we knew that wouldn't fly so I brought her and said goodbye with no qualms at all. She grabbed the "helper's" hand and said, "Bye, Mommy." I was shocked - pleased, but shocked. She eagerly went and sat and waited for her group's turn to go on stage. Then she listened to the teacher and followed the dance steps as best she could. I am soooo proud! Her plies were the best!!

Afterwards we went to the restaurant of her choice to celebrate. Well, it was actually her second choice. Her first choice was Chuck E. Cheese. I talked her out of that one and suggested Graziano's instead. They have games there so she was happy.

Are We There Yet?

Vacation is not coming soon enough. I am getting very grumpy at work. All I want to say is GRRRRRRRRRR! I really like my class but some of these parents . ....... GRRRRRR! It makes me miss my old days of teaching (five years ago) in a lower SES school. I rarely saw the parents and when I did they were very supportive. They let me be the teacher! Go figure. Well, I'll stop venting and just put on my people pleasing face for the rest of the week.

Happy Birthday Lil' Buddy

I just want to wish my little punkin a Happy Birthday. I can't believe he is already one. Where did that year go? Happy Birthday, Matthew!!! Mommy loves you.

This is what I Want

I really want this for Christmas. I wanted to get it for Natalie, but she insisted on the blonde, blue eyed one. I, on the other hand, wanted to get her this one because it looks like her. I think it would also provide me with hours of fun. Although, I do get quite a bit of real "hands on" practice. But, little Matthew is getting bigger and won't be a baby for ever! She told me Santa will bring me this one. Will he?

Let it Go

I have been teaching for eleven years. During the past eleven years, with the exception of the one year I taught kindergarten, I planned every single party. Oh, and might I add that I planned really good parties too - cookie decorating, pigfests, hoedowns, county fairs, summer camps. I am that good!

Rarely did I have parents who would jump for joy at the idea of planning, organizing, and implementing the big party (except kindergarten - those parents were awesomeand they wouldn't take no for an answer). Oh, don't get me wrong. My parent helpers have been wonderful, but planning a class party is a big undertaking.

Well, this year, knowing that I have quite of bit to do for myself and my family, I decided to relinquish the responsibility to my room mom. She was only more than happy to oblige and got right to enlisting the help of her fellow parentmates. Yay for me, I thought. That's one less thing I have to do. Well, she typed up the letter and brought it in for me to approve. It's great. It's beautiful and she even had a new idea that I hadn't thought of - an ornament exchange.

My problem . . . I hate not having control of it! I should be happy, right? Someone else wants to do all the work. Hurray! Instead, I am thinking, that's not what I would have done. But, for the sake of my sanity; my son's upcoming birthday party; the Christmas shopping, wrapping and decorating I have to do - I will graciously accept the help and let go. It's hard. I really like to control every little thing in my classroom. But, I can do this . . . let go and be happy. I can sit back and let the party happen.

But, it really is driving me nuts!

Favorite Quotes in Literature

"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."
- Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

What I do for Fun by Matthew

I am a monkey!

Why I Don't Post

. . . very much or very often. This morning I got up at six and showered. Then Matthew was up so I changed him and picked out his clothes for the day. Then I got ready while he played in the bathroom and in the closet. Hey, he likes it. We woke up Daddy. Then I got Natalie up and picked out her clothes. I checked email. After that we went downstairs and got both little tykes breakfast, set Nat up with her movie, and got my lunch together. I went to work. I worked . . . a lot. At four I picked up the kids from "school." The three of us went grocery shopping. I put it all away and made dinner for the little uns. Daddy was on his own tonight. I checked my work email. Played a bit and put laundry away at the same time. I am just that good. I gave baths and got the little punkins into their jammies. I got Nat set up with her snack and movie which is part of the routine as I put Matthew to bed. He fell asleep quickly so I emailed my minutes from my grade level meeting to my principal and checked my ebay stuff. Then I went downstairs to clean the guest bathroom. Nat was going to help, but Matthew woke up screaming. I think he had a little tummy ache. I got him back to sleep. By then it was nine o'clock so I rushed Natalie to bed without a story, Sotty Nat. I returned one phone call to my sister - ten minutes tops. Then I watched the two episodes of King of Queens that we taped, tivod, whatever. That was my "me" time. At promptly ten o'clock I went upstairs to make my Christmas cards but decided I didn't really like the photo after all. I'll wait til Saturday. I cleaned Natalie's bathroom, very well, might I add. Then I cleaned ours - just the toilet - it's late. I went downstairs and finished the guest bathroom. I put the dishes in the dishwasher away so Ryan could fill it again. We usually split that job. I got Matthew's paper ready for school along with his food. Now, I am about to wrap this up and go to sleep. However, I hear little Matthew stirring so I am not sure how long that idea will last.

Tomorrow I have an evening show for which I have to help set up and take down. I don't think I'll be home until nine o'clock unless it's just to run in and say hi to my mom and kiss the kids and then leave again. Whew! I think that must be how I REALLY keep my weight off now. Exercise, shmexercise! I get plenty just living my daily life. Wanna take a guess how many times I go up and down those stairs every day? A lot!

*I guess I could've made better use of the ten minutes it took me to write this that to actually write this!

Milestones in the Making

Boy is Matthew ever growing - fast. He's doing pretty well walking now. He can go ten to fifteen feet pretty well, unless he totally loses his balance. He's been into "drawing." Do I have a future artist? It started with an aquadoodle that we took to Thanksgiving. He first developed an interest in the pen - yummy! But now he likes to put it in his left (yes, I said left - so what, lefties are people too) hand and tap on the surface. I took it a step further tonight. In order to settle down a rambunctious Natalie, I told her to sit patiently at her table and wait for the surprise. When I came back I had paper and crayons for drawing. She drew a lovely orange Santa. Matthew did quite well himself with his tapping and making stokes on the paper. He likes to draw!

Overall, I am very impressed with his motor skills. He can throw a ball and "gets it." He actually knows that he's throwing it and will try and throw it to you. He can manipulate small objects and put them in things. He can climb onto anything, with it being Natalie's table as of lately. In fact, in his "school" they have to put him in the crib when they are changing other babies because he will climb up on anything in a matter of seconds. What a monkey.

As for language, he babbles quite a bit. He seems to know what he's saying. Some things do come out pretty clearly. Of course, he can still say cat. He can say ball, ma ma, and I think he means to say pretty when he sees the Christmas lights. It's the same sound each time and it sounds like it might be pretty. Oh, and get this, when you hold the camera up he says, "cheese," and smiles. What a ham!

All the while he is growing up, he still reminds me that he is a baby. He loves to be cuddled. I rock him to sleep. Last night I had to lay on the floor with my hand in his crib because he just couldn't settle and would scream every time I laid him down. And just looking at his sweet little face reminds me all the more that he is one little punkin pie. Natalie seemed more grown up at his age. He still seems like such a baby. But he's my baby and I can't believe he is going to be one in less than two weeks. Where did that year go?

Disneyland

You can read all about our day at Disneyland here . I'll just post some of my favorite pictures.

Matthew has no idea who this lady is.



Doens't he look cute? And, yes, I did make a special trip to buy him a "night out at Disneyland" warm outfit that he will rarely wear in Southern California.


Natalie loved this caterpillar ride at California Adventure. She went on it twice. Watch out for that watermelon juice!



I really thought this cookie decorating business would be fun and be a highlight. Natalie was quickly over it and kept wanting to know where Clarabelle went.





And the masterpieces.



Someone was a bit sleepy after a long day of dancing and Disneyland.



Despite the crowds, it was a fun day. I always enjoy going to Disneyland. It brings back memories of when Ryan and I went all the time.

No Time to Post

My goodness, I am so busy . . . or tired, that I don't have time to post. I had wanted to post after Thanksgiving over a week ago. However, we didn't take that many photos. Matthew had a bit of a bug and was cranky and not feeling well all weekend. You can't even see him in the official photo because Daddy blocked him!

Here's the day after Thanksgiving - Breakfast at Auntie's. All his breakfast ended up on the floor. Too bad Cody wasn't around to clean up like he had the night before.

Natalie also enjoyed Breakfast at Auntie's. "My favorite part was Auntie's house," she said. She loved going up and down the stairs, playing legos, and spending the night. She also stayed up late and watched tv on the couch with the grown ups. I fell asleep before she did!

The next day we went to Ryan's parents, but we forgot the camera. Matthew wasn't feeling well at all. Poor punkin.