There is something about the days before Christmas that are so magical. It's something I feel in the air. I see it in the glow of my house. The blue from the cold outside. The feeling I can't explain. I love it so. I tell my kids not to wish for Christmas to come, because it will, and then it will be over. I don't want it to be over. I want that magic to stay, to last longer that it will.
Christmas has come and gone and so does the magic in the air. I don't feel it anymore, not in my house, not as I drive around the city, maybe the rain washed it away. It makes me sad. It makes me reflect on the hustle and bustle and how I wished I slowed down more.
Christmas was a success. Everyone is happy. Everyone got more than they had wished for....
Today was the first day out since Christmas. My head cold is on it's way out, although Sofia and Lilia are showing signs of sickness. I hope it stays away. Our sleep schedule is all screwed up, even Lilia was on the midnight-noon track, right with me. Breakfast by 1pm. I'm such a bad mom.
We have five more days left of break -- going to make it fun, tomorrow we will meet cousins at the pool by noon. I hope we can all get up and out of the house by then.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Cookie Exchange
It was about ten years ago that the "mommy group" began between my friends/family. I was home on maternity leave with JH. Bella and Sol were also born in 2001. We had play dates and the annual cookie exchange began.
Tonight was the tenth year.
I wasn't looking forward to it, really. Just another thing to do. Another thing to bake for. Another thing to get dressed, showered and presentable so that I could leave my house looking have way decent. Really, I just wanted to be home. Friday I was gone until late, Saturday gone all day and today I just wanted to putz around the house and check off some "home" to-do's.
But we went. I made five dozen bags of fresh peppermint bark and a large caesar salad for dinner.
The kids were ecstatic. They had fun. I had fun. I do love these women. I do love sitting, talking and catching up. I wish I took a picture with them. Next time, for now I captured these beautiful kiddos.
Tonight was the tenth year.
I wasn't looking forward to it, really. Just another thing to do. Another thing to bake for. Another thing to get dressed, showered and presentable so that I could leave my house looking have way decent. Really, I just wanted to be home. Friday I was gone until late, Saturday gone all day and today I just wanted to putz around the house and check off some "home" to-do's.
But we went. I made five dozen bags of fresh peppermint bark and a large caesar salad for dinner.
 |
| Violet, Lilia & Ruby (Violet & Lilia are the same age) |
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The A Team
Today's advent calendar said..."cookies and cocoa with the neighbors".
This is how we roll, a little counter-top dancing to Run DMC pre-partay. (She was actually looking for sprinkles while dancing.)
Lilia, of course it's blurry, she's movin'.
And she sat and waiting for the A Team arrival. "Two claps of my hands means they are here".
Clap clap.
They arrived around 6pm and quickly pulled up to the table to start the cookieeating decorating.
Two star cookies each and a cup of hot chocolate, complete with mini-marshmallows and whipped cream. That lasted about 10 minutes and then they were off playing.
I baked molasses cookies tonight. Three down, three to go....
Night.
xoxot
This is how we roll, a little counter-top dancing to Run DMC pre-partay. (She was actually looking for sprinkles while dancing.)
Lilia, of course it's blurry, she's movin'.
And she sat and waiting for the A Team arrival. "Two claps of my hands means they are here".
Clap clap.
They arrived around 6pm and quickly pulled up to the table to start the cookie
Two star cookies each and a cup of hot chocolate, complete with mini-marshmallows and whipped cream. That lasted about 10 minutes and then they were off playing.
I baked molasses cookies tonight. Three down, three to go....
Night.
xoxot
Monday, December 12, 2011
After
I think I need a new car battery. Wait, I know I need a new car battery. I've had to jump it a couple times in the last few days. I stopped by Les Schwab, they confirmed it. Luckily I found my warranty, right on top of my glove box, and will return tomorrow.
I did some damage at Costco tonight. Butter and chocolate are expensive. I opted for the $18 box of Hershey Bars instead of the $12 bacon. Chocolate makes much better peanut butter fudge than bacon. Sorry kids.
Tonight.....
After I cleaned the kitchen.
After I gave Lilia her spelling test.
After I made a batch of molasses cookie dough.
After I "visited" the boys "store" in JH's room for a hand massage by Lilia ($2). They were trying to schedule me in for some major work, i.e, $10 to change my sheets. And $15 for a complete bathroom clean. Highway robbery.
After I baked chocolate mint and sugar cookies.
After I gave Lilia a bath.
After we watched Fear Factor.
After I read to Lilia before bed.
After I cleaned the kitchen from my baking mess.
After I turned off all the lights downstairs.
After I headed upstairs to hear the soft sounds of kids sleeping with Adele in the background.
After I kissed kids goodnight and pulled the covers tight.
After I picked up the bath towels off the floor.
I stood at the upstairs landing and thought, another day is over, just-like-that.
Good night.
xoxot
I did some damage at Costco tonight. Butter and chocolate are expensive. I opted for the $18 box of Hershey Bars instead of the $12 bacon. Chocolate makes much better peanut butter fudge than bacon. Sorry kids.
Tonight.....
After I cleaned the kitchen.
After I gave Lilia her spelling test.
After I made a batch of molasses cookie dough.
After I "visited" the boys "store" in JH's room for a hand massage by Lilia ($2). They were trying to schedule me in for some major work, i.e, $10 to change my sheets. And $15 for a complete bathroom clean. Highway robbery.
After I baked chocolate mint and sugar cookies.
After I gave Lilia a bath.
After we watched Fear Factor.
After I read to Lilia before bed.
After I cleaned the kitchen from my baking mess.
After I turned off all the lights downstairs.
After I headed upstairs to hear the soft sounds of kids sleeping with Adele in the background.
After I kissed kids goodnight and pulled the covers tight.
After I picked up the bath towels off the floor.
I stood at the upstairs landing and thought, another day is over, just-like-that.
Good night.
xoxot
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Hello
Life gets hella busy and blogger doesn't seem to make the top 10 of my daily to-do's. I had a nice November streak going, but them BAM, December hit. The month arrived accompanied by a sinus infection and migraines. Nice. But nothing time and antibiotics couldn't get rid of.
Now it's the 11th of December. Over a third of the month has passed. My kids are so anxious for Friday, as it's their last day of school before a nice sixteen day break. When they wish for it I tell them to stop!! Please, please, don't wish the time away. It goes too quick and I want to savor every day like a decadent piece of chocolate.
Today it was dark chocolate, filled with peanut butter. A little run to Trader Joe's brought me some nice holiday treats for the home. Sofia is preparing her goody bags for her girls at school. She went with the theme "peppermint and chocolate". TJ's has a nice selection, so it worked. The chocolate/peanut butter combo was just a little somethin' somethin' for the long ride home.
I had so, so, so much to do this weekend. The list was long. I tried to remain calm, as life (and my plans) got taken over by other things, um, like life. Sometimes it's hard for me to just go with the flow, to be present in the moment and not think about everything I should be doing. I haven't even started (and may not) my holiday photo-video. I haven't started baking. I haven't started Christmas cards. I haven't, I haven't, but, but....
Friday was a great night in Seattle with the older three. We watched my colleague's son Adam perform the lead role in the musical 13. It was awesome. Just being downtown in the hubbub of it all is magical.
And then on Saturday Mateo came over while his parents went shopping. You see, I'm the aunt that takes all the kids while the parents go shopping. I don't mind. Really.
Later we ventured out to see Santa at the Commons Mall. Our traditional place for Santa visits. As they situated themselves behind Santa and on his lap, I realized the distinct gap in size between the older three and Lilia. An aha at the moment, my babies are growing up, I have such mixed emotions. I held it together and didn't get weepy with the elves watching.
They all sat and talked to Santa, didn't complain, and I owe Santa big for telling the kids that his elves make a lot of things at the North Pole, except dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, lizards, turtles and the like. I could have high-fived him right there. After some dinner, photo booth shots and singing our lungs out to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" while driving home topped off the evening.
IN the photo booth.
I put the kids to bed by 10, and then spent the next three hours trying to catch up on my December Daily. I'm still behind, but much better than before.
Today was supposed to be a day of gettin' it done. Sofia, Syl and I left at 9:30 in the morning for Soso's soccer game in Bothel. Post game we putted our way back down I-5 and arrived home at 4:30. By then, gingerbread house making was out of the picture. And shush, having forgotten to pick up the houses at Costco had nothing to do with the postponement.
And then, the one thing that was certainly on schedule....the Sunday night getting-ready-to-go-back-to-school routine was quickly on it's way.
Good night.
xoxot
Now it's the 11th of December. Over a third of the month has passed. My kids are so anxious for Friday, as it's their last day of school before a nice sixteen day break. When they wish for it I tell them to stop!! Please, please, don't wish the time away. It goes too quick and I want to savor every day like a decadent piece of chocolate.
Today it was dark chocolate, filled with peanut butter. A little run to Trader Joe's brought me some nice holiday treats for the home. Sofia is preparing her goody bags for her girls at school. She went with the theme "peppermint and chocolate". TJ's has a nice selection, so it worked. The chocolate/peanut butter combo was just a little somethin' somethin' for the long ride home.
I had so, so, so much to do this weekend. The list was long. I tried to remain calm, as life (and my plans) got taken over by other things, um, like life. Sometimes it's hard for me to just go with the flow, to be present in the moment and not think about everything I should be doing. I haven't even started (and may not) my holiday photo-video. I haven't started baking. I haven't started Christmas cards. I haven't, I haven't, but, but....
Friday was a great night in Seattle with the older three. We watched my colleague's son Adam perform the lead role in the musical 13. It was awesome. Just being downtown in the hubbub of it all is magical.
And then on Saturday Mateo came over while his parents went shopping. You see, I'm the aunt that takes all the kids while the parents go shopping. I don't mind. Really.
Later we ventured out to see Santa at the Commons Mall. Our traditional place for Santa visits. As they situated themselves behind Santa and on his lap, I realized the distinct gap in size between the older three and Lilia. An aha at the moment, my babies are growing up, I have such mixed emotions. I held it together and didn't get weepy with the elves watching.
They all sat and talked to Santa, didn't complain, and I owe Santa big for telling the kids that his elves make a lot of things at the North Pole, except dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, lizards, turtles and the like. I could have high-fived him right there. After some dinner, photo booth shots and singing our lungs out to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" while driving home topped off the evening.
I put the kids to bed by 10, and then spent the next three hours trying to catch up on my December Daily. I'm still behind, but much better than before.
Today was supposed to be a day of gettin' it done. Sofia, Syl and I left at 9:30 in the morning for Soso's soccer game in Bothel. Post game we putted our way back down I-5 and arrived home at 4:30. By then, gingerbread house making was out of the picture. And shush, having forgotten to pick up the houses at Costco had nothing to do with the postponement.
And then, the one thing that was certainly on schedule....the Sunday night getting-ready-to-go-back-to-school routine was quickly on it's way.
Good night.
xoxot
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