happy easter

We are not a religious family, so Easter for us is really an excuse to do fun things to spoil the kids and spend time together. So, much like Santa Claus, I have chatted up the Easter Bunny myth to the girls. Hadley, who is nearing four years-old, has no less that 1000 questions about the Easter Bunny. And in her awe, I convinced her that she should be extra good and helpful tonight, otherwise the Easter Bunny will not come and deliver her special treats and hide our freshly decorated Easter eggs. Here is how a couple of our conversations went:

Hadley: "What is the Easter Bunny's name?"
Me: "Easter Bunny"
Hadley: "No! What is his LAST name?"
Me: "Bunny"
Hadley: "That's silly, mommy."

Hadley: "How does the Easter Bunny get into the house?
Me: "Hmmm... Good question, I really don't know. How do you think he gets in?"
Hadley: "Down the fireplace, like Santa."
Me: "No, that's only for Santa. Maybe he gets really flat and slips under the front door."
Hadley: "Oh. How does he get bigger again?"
Me: "He blows into his thumb and blows himself back up, like a balloon."
Hadley: "That's silly, mommy."

Happy Easter, friends, no matter how you celebrate it!

happy christmas

Santa came twice last night. OK, more like three times. We filled multiple bags with wrapping paper and boxes. We are certainly blessed.

As an added bonus for the holiday, it was 40 degrees today. An in Minnesota, in the dead of winter, 40 degrees may as well be Hawaii. Fortunately, they were well enough to go outside and play with a new tee ball set and scooter.

In a tutu, of course!

J had to work this afternoon, so I braved up and took the girls to see Arthur Christmas. I know Christmas is a big day for the movies, but I have never seen the mall parking lot so full! This was Hayden's first trip to the movies, so I decided that I'd pull out all the stops, mostly to keep her in good form during the movie. Popcorn. Swedish Fish. Junior Mints (which Hadley dumped the, nearly, entire box on the floor). They did super well!

We had about 25 minutes left in the movie when Hadley announced that she needed to go potty, so we snuck out. There was an older woman who glared at me when we came in and gave me an evil eye on our way to the bathroom, so I decided that we just wouldn't go back after the potty break. I just didn't know how much more "good time" I would get out of Hayden. No need to upset this woman further, even though I think it's silly to be grumpy at kids when you make the decision to see an animated film, in the afternoon on Christmas day. Just sayin'...

We are now home and the girls (well, Hadley) has requested PB&J for dinner. Soon, I will crank out that gourmet Christmas feast. J is bringing home some dinner for he and I... Likely something from Buca di Beppo, but it could very well be Chinese (which is what we had last year).

Our household is far from traditional for Christmas. If we lived closer to family it would be different. But, I enjoy the traditions our little family has been making.

Happy Holidays!!

on christmas eve

My girls both are sick. Strep throat and ear infection sick. Between the two of them, we've been to the doctor twice and the ER once. It's been a rough week.

But this Christmas season has been especially fun with Hadley. She understands what it's about, and maybe more about the receiving than the giving (though, we've been working on this). Since we've been stuck inside for the past 24 hours we had the chance to do a few fun things...

* This afternoon we baked cookies for Santa. Thank goodness Santa is strep resistant and no one other than our family and him will be near them, we are in the clear.

* We watched lots of Christmas movies. A LOT!

* Each kid was able to open one gift (and what awesome gifts they were!).

* We wrote (drew) a final letter to Santa.

* We had a picnic dinner, that really wasn't consumed because of my sick kiddos (nor were the cookies I offered - and for the record, they are good - Santa loved them).

* After dinner we went on a Christmas light hunt and stumbled across several neighborhoods who line their streets with candles. Just beyond charming and I just couldn't capture a decent picture of it.

* When we returned home, we went out to the backyard and sprinkled reindeer food (an oatmeal and glitter concoction a friend gave to us) so the reindeer would know where to lead Santa's sleigh.

* We picked up the living room, put out cookies and milk for Santa and got ready for bed.

After I put Hayden to bed, I let Hadley lay in my bed to watch the Elf on the Shelf. She asked for a cup of milk, so I took the opportunity to sneak outside to ring a jingle bell. When I came back upstairs she was grinning from ear to ear and whispered "I heard Santa!" So, I made another excuse to go downstairs so I could do it again. When I returned she said "I heard Santa again! I wish you were here to hear him with me." And I melted for the millionth time as a mom... What a sweet little person.

I had hoped to keep her awake until J got home from work so she could tell him about it, but she is still pretty sick and I decided that she wouldn't be jaded about Santa by next year and hopefully he can have that moment with her then.

I love the spirit and magic of Christmas. I love the make believe and the stories... And as an adult and a parent to two beautiful little creatures I am enjoying creating the same magic that my parents did for my brother and I.

May you all have a magical Christmas!

halloween 2011

J and I packed up the girls and headed to the nearby mall, who was hosting a huge shindig, complete with live kiddo music. There were so many people and so many kids near our girls age. While I am not a fan of mall trick-or-treating, I'm glad we did it. They had fun. We fed them some Zoila Pasta mac-and-cheese for dinner and then headed home.

On the way home, Hayden fell asleep in the car, so J dropped Hadley and I off at the top of our street and we trick-or-treated home. We just visited the homes of people we know, but it was a fun outing just her and I. She was so good. Said "trick-or-treat" loud and clear, modeled her Cinderella dress and said "thank you". I was a proud mama.

On our way back to the house I saw some kids leave our courtyard. As we got closer to them I realized that they had taken all of our candy. Bowl and all. Thankfully it was a cheapo bowl. I confronted them and they took off running. When it occurred to Hadley what had happened, she burst out is tears. Big tears. I just told her it was a naughty thing that they did, but there was no reason to be sad. After visiting another house and her telling our neighbor "The boys took our candy" she settled down.

I finally convinced her that it was too cold to keep going (we weren't dressed for the out doors) and we went in. J showed her how to sort her candy (something he used to do as a kid) and she picked Peanut M&M's to much on. Then off to bed she went, and J and I enjoyed some of their candy in bed while watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (the diet starts today!).

It was a good night!

happy 4th of july

We spend our day playing at a splash pad. What did you do?

fourth of july past

Three years a go today I was admitted to University of California at San Francisco's Moffitt Hospital Maternity Ward to be induced to deliver Hadley. We didn't get the call until 10 p.m. that I needed to come in, so we had some time to celebrate our last child free 4th. However, in true San Francisco fashion, it was an especially foggy evening. We couldn't even enjoy colored clouds, just the sounds of the booms.

I really didn't think I was going to be admitted to the hospital that night. I had another two weeks to my due date. It just wasn't possible.

When I got the call that I had protein in my urine and baby needed to come early I panicked. I woke up Jonathan. We started tossing stuff in a bag, calling family. I jumped into the shower for good measure... I figured I didn't want to be as fresh as a daisy for the strangers who were going to be up in my business.

And between all of this, I was shaking. Nervous. Scared. In disbelief... I was about to be MOM.

My little girl held on for several days. She was not ready to come on the Fourth of July. But this day will forever be in my memory as the day it truly became REAL that I was going to be MOM.

I can hardly believe my little girl is soon to be three...

This year we are planning on enjoying a watermelon in our kiddie pool. Hopefully catch some fireworks (if my little ladies can keep their eyes open). And taking lots of pictures. What are your plans?

Happy Independence Day!

easter, to us

This Easter was an extravaganza. And quite frankly I don't remember Easter being quite the event. Likely because I haven't really done the whole Easter shabang since I was a kid. It really wasn't a holiday I traveled to be with family. Though, since we were all in the same place, we had an Easter dinner last year. But it certainly wasn't the hurrah it was this year.

It got me to thinking, are we hypocrites for celebrating a holiday that is "religious" (and our family is not), or does it mean something else? To us, Easter is about the bunny rabbit, giving, egg hunting and being together. Not celebrating that Jesus rose. I'm not suggesting it didn't happen or that others beliefs are wrong, we are more of an agnostic household.

So what does this make Easter to us?

Photo by Emily Pitkin

This year I decided that Easter in our household will be a celebration of Spring. A celebration of Mother Nature and all her beauty. This Easter Sunday was 65 degrees. The blooms on the trees were getting close to exploding. The grass was green. The snow all melted. It was spectacular. And I think we need more holidays to relish in what nature offers us. Sure, we did the traditional decorating of eggs, egg hunt and had a massive meal with friends, but this is what we were celebrating.

From now on, Spring is what we will celebrate on Easter.

You may think of me as a hypocrite. Or something else. And really, that is OK, because, in my mind, religion is to each his own. Far be it from me to criticize what you believe and it certainly doesn't mean we can't be friends. But I hope you will accept and respect what I believe as I do with you.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, no matter what you celebrated!

Check out my What to Expect When You're Expecting giveaway! Last day to enter!

wordless wednesday: christmas

sledding

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

the magic of christmas

I love Christmas. But for a very long time that real magic hasn't existed. That magic that a child has.

For obvious reasons it faded away... The fable of Santa and reindeers flying around the world delivering presents and eating millions of cookies, truth comes to light. And the teenage years kick in. The long for surprise is overtaken by the want of something ridiculous and specific.

Hadley is almost 2 1/2 and she started understanding the concept of Santa. We did a lot of holiday related activities, watched movies about Rudolph and Frosty, read books. I told her that old tale of Santa delivering presents to good little girls and boys, but that Christmas was also a time that we give to others.

Yesterday was Christmas Eve and we talked a lot about Santa. We baked cookies for him and placed them on the table next to our big leather chair. And a few times she said, on her own accord, "Santa is coming!"

I was so excited to put the kids to bed so I could set up. Jonathan had spent the evening setting up a couple of large gifts our relatives sent and I was in charge of placing all the gifts under the tree, stuffing the stocking. And together we set up a small princess castle for Hadley to find in the living room.

And would you believe that I couldn't sleep? I was so excited! And I was up at 6 a.m. longing for the rest of the family to wake up. When I heard the pitter pat of feet on the bedroom floor above me, I got my camera ready for first reactions... And woosh! Just like that, the real magic of Christmas came over our household.

Now to a lot of you, my post about Christmas may seem very materialistic. And to people like us who are not religious and do not celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, it's a holiday that becomes about giving. Hadley, at two years old, doesn't understand that those toys we purchased for less fortunate children and the donations we give to non-profit organizations are a means of giving just yet. But some day she will. And we will strive for her to understand what this holiday means to to our family.

There may come a time when she may decide that it means something different, which is fine. But for now, it's a holiday of giving to others, appreciating our friends and family, and loving one another. And to let her parents enjoy the magic of Christmas through her little eyes.

Happy Holidays!

top five highlights of 2009 (in no particular order)

1. Hadley turned one year without serious injury. Sure, she made her way through our stair baracade and took a trip down a flight of stairs alone when she was 11 months, cried for a minute and was fine (she cried more when we took her to the doctor). Has had several bumps and bruises as she figures out spacial relations, but in one piece.\.

2. We learned we were pregnant with another little girl, who I am sure will be as beautiful, silly and loving as our Hadley.

3. I purchased my first home, albeit I am not living there yet. I inherited homes, but never bought one on my own.

4. I closed my fathers estate. He passed in early 2008 and I have been consumed with the business of his business. It's finally sorted out, in a shorter time than most, and we were able to legally close everything.

5. Jonathan and I happily hit our two year mark, which is a big deal considering the deck of cards we were handed... Between learning we were pregnant very early in our relationship, dealing with my ill father, his passing and all the moving around we've had to do because of it, we are very much in love.

Wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

an early christmas in new england

Snuggles with Grandpa

christmas decorating

Saturday, Hadley helped Grandma pick out a Christmas tree and the decorate it. It was a bit of a mess on the bottom, but Grandma was thrilled to let her decorate with her. We went back for a visit on Sunday to see the Toy Train in San Clemente and the bottom of the tree was beautiful. Hadley did a little rearranging, but all in all was a a good girl and admired the tree. I can't believe how big she is getting!

childproof christmas

I love Christmas. More than I love Halloween! I enjoy decorating a tree and my home. I've been excited to have children to start implementing some of the traditions my parents did with me, though this year Hadley is still a bit too young.

Hadley is an active 16 month old and in to absolutely everything. And I mean EVERYTHING! The fireplace (the doors are now zip locked), the toilets (the bathroom doors are kept shut), the cabinets (all child locked)... You name it, she'll figure out a way to get in to it. Which I love about her, her curiosity, but it can also be a pain in the ass.

This year we've been trying to figure out how to enjoy Christmas decor at home without burning the house down, pushing needles from room to room, ripping stockings off the wall and our only solution seemed to be to simply not do it at all.

That wasn't good enough.

So this year I got creative and I am hoping in a few years I won't have to be so...

* The stockings are hung above the mantle (not on) with care).

* I purchased a four foot fake tree at Michael's for $20 that doesn't require water (so it doesn't spill on our landlords carpet), wont drop needles and wont catch on fire should it tip over.

* I sacrificed my tiny desk in the living room for my computer to put the tree on top of. I am currently set up on the unused side of our kitchen table (must remember to unplug after use as my curious baby will attempt to do it for me).

* Christmas presents will stay safely in the closet that is baracaded by our pack and play.

But I think despite the precautions we have taken, our Christmas decor looks pretty good and my need to decorate has been fulfilled.

Pictures to come once I get my computer better set up.