How Could I Forget

While I was giving you the December blow-by-blow, I completely forgot about the party of the year AKA Shawn's birthday celebration. Due to Thanksgiving and my NYC trip, we had to celebrate a little late this year, but I think the fondue fest was a big success. While good food is always great, the best part was definitely gathering with old and new friends, having uninterrupted conversation without kids, and talking late into the night with the hardiest partiers - you know who you are! I really meant to take photos and completely forgot, so you have to pretend. Here is my favorite place in my house, the kitchen. See the center island? Picture the oil and broth pots here, along with sirloin, chicken, shrimp, and six dipping sauces to choose from. Moving to the counter space to the right of the island, this is where the three cheese pots and dippers were located. Finally, the chocolate and caramel pots were on the table in the Florida room/area beyond that with cheesecake, brownies, rice krispie treats, marshmellows, pretzels, fresh pineapple, and strawberries. I love having enough space for the whole party to gather in the kitchen, since that is where people always end up hanging out anyway. And since you didn't see any photos of Shawn and I opening Christmas gifts, it's because we're giving each other the mortgage this year - what a great gift that gets to be given not just in December, but every month of the year! And Happy Birthday Shawn! I'm already looking forward to next year!

And Ryan Turns Three...

December birthdays blow. Everyone knows it and there are a million reasons why. We had a small friend party at the Rec Center soft play room earlier in Dec., but had a "ree-oh" cake and ice cream on his actual birthday with the grandparents. Ryan loves everything "ree-oh" aka firetrucks (he can actually say firetruck now but everyone in the family continues his baby-talk version of using the sound instead of the name). He has not taken off his fireman boots that Santa brought except for to sleep at night. This is the awesome outfit he wore to the grocery store the night before his bday to shop for ice cream with me. I officially don't care if he wears pajamas all day long, everywhere we go. It makes him happy and I think he is adorable even if the rest of the world is saying in their head "What is she thinking taking him out of the house like that?" He held my hand all through the store - I love chubby little boy hands, YUM, I will be so sad when they don't hold my hands anymore.

Christmas Day with the DuBies

This will be short and sweet after that last one. Promise. Just a few pics for memory's sake. No photos of all the fighting we did over whether or not Santa was visiting our house or grandma's. Wouldn't be Christmas without some family fighting now, would it!




When Grandma and Grandpa were ready for some peace and quiet, we hauled the stash home and spent the evening having dessert and some laughs with some good friends. The kids gave us a bonus Christmas gift by entertaining themselves late into the night so we got to discuss all kinds of important topics like what type of plastic surgery the men would have done. I mean, we talked about the state of the economy and healthcare reform. All in all, it was a low-key, relaxing Christmas and I was motivated to come home and finish painting the basement so we can get the carpet installed ASAP and move Toys R Us downstairs in January.

Dear Blog:

I feel like we have been growing apart lately. Don't worry though, it's not you; it's me. Can we still be friends?

WARNING: LONG POST. I repeat, LONG POST.

December is always a hectic month, but don't worry, we did try to remember the whole reason for the season. As we performed some service for a family on Christmas Eve, my 5-year old began insisting "Christmas is about getting, NOT giving!!" and my husband and I looked at each other and said "How have we screwed this up so badly? What is wrong with our family?" Maybe nothing is wrong with us. Maybe it's just part of being five. I don't know. Anyway, here's what we've been up to this month:

NYC - I was lucky enough to spend a very cold but very fun three days in NYC for the first annual? Mother-Daughters weekend. I came home happy and relaxed to a husband who was overheard saying things like "I don't know how you do this!" as he collapsed in bed from utter exhaustion. We decided that it is good for both of us for me to have a get-away each quarter, whoo-hoo! What did we do? We watched movies, slept in, browsed the Bryant Park Christmas booths, ate too much delicious food and got to catch up with our friend Nichole and see her amazing new home in Tribeca.

Ryan's Preschool Christmas program - Emphasis on CHRISTMAS, thank goodness for a Christian preschool since you better not actually say the "C" word at public school, where my kindergartner celebrated every holiday but. We spun the dreidel, talked about Kwanza and and busted a pinata for La Posada, but do you think we talked about the little babe who changed the world? Sorry, tangent. Back to preschool. How cute is Ryan. How cute are his friends. How cute is he singing Jingle Bells all the time. Just pretend to hear the singing. He is cute.

I'm going to go ahead and interrup this Christmas-themed post to share an interesting fact since this is the next photo on my memory card. If someone happens to pee all over your Sonicare toothbrush (and your face as you are running in when called to assist and find them spraying the bathroom counter and not the toilet), Sonicare toothbrush heads apparently don't do well in boiling water if you try to disinfect. Just so you know, in case you ever find yourself in this situation.

Christmas Outfits - thanks Grandma! So cute! Too bad it's impossible to get a good photo of all three of them smiling. They tried, it just didn't work out that great.

Christmas Traditions - We like to go the the National Botanical Gardens to see the train exhibit and then went to walk around the National Christmas tree downtown. Here is proof we were all there together:

I cannot count how many people stopped to stare at this cute kid in his dalmation hat and gloves (complete with little tongues!). What can I say. He's my kid, I have the right to think he is the cutest kid ever.

Here is the kid who was so determined to throw change into the cars of this train, he desperately retrieved his coins every time he missed until he finally claimed victory. We spent about 10 minutes watching him from the opposite side of the tree, actually we were mostly watching other people watch him and look around to see who was supposed to be parenting this child sticking his legs under the fence to retrieve money.

Where was Ryan? I'm not sure. But they all ended up wrestling on the ellipse after warming up by the Yule Log.

Okay, listen, this is getting too long even for me to stand. Christmas Day will have to be a separate post. Because I know you are just DYING to see my kids and their presents.

Ode to Plumbing

Twas Christmas Eve Eve
And all through my house
was the smell of fresh sewer
that would kill a small mouse

A few hours ago it smelled of freshly baked bread
and thoughts of Christmas Eve dinner were filling my head

Then "oh honey, look here, oh no, what is the matter?"
It seems a clogged kitchen sink is causing quite a clatter.

"Don't worry my dear, I've got a concoction for this
don't mind the skull and cross bones, it will do the trick!
Hmmm, well that didn't work let me remove a few pipes,
jam this thing down the drain and see what happens next.

Whoops sorry honey - I knocked the pipe out of the wall
Quick grab the towels so the concoction doesn't go down the hall
A splish and a splash and my wall is all brown
Whatever was put in the garbage disposal didn't go down
Instead it's all over my wall and my floor
and now Dave is trying to fix even more

Wish us some luck and send us some wishes
I need to be able to wash my Christmas dishes!

Kids Say the Darndest things

I mentioned last week I had to drag everyone to the pet store for food. The reason we were at the pet store and not say...Target where I usually buy cat food is because I actually needed to go to Staples to finish up a present for a friend. Staples and Petsmart are right next to each other so when I pulled into the parking lot and saw Petsmart I thought to myself "who-hoo, two birds with one stone". So as we were meandering around Staples checking things off my list I warned the kids that IF they wanted to go next door and see the animals then they MUST behave while mommy tries to finish her shopping.

Now, we all know that was an empty threat because we all know I HAD to get cat food and what crazy mom is going to waste a walk next door to finish an errand as opposed to loading and unloading three kids somewhere else to accomplish said errand? NOT ME. But I made the threat just the same. After two warnings for their behavior in the store I said "that's it! we're not going to the pet store to see the animals, I've had enough!" At which point they started begging and pleading.."please mom, we'll behave now, we prooommmise, pleeaasse!" and a few tears were shed.

I was actually going to stick to my guns on this one and I said "Nope, sorry. I gave you warnings and now we've lost the chance" to which Emma retorts "but mom...don't you remember Jonah! God gives everyone a second chance. And if God can give everyone a second chance than so should you!" How do I reply to that? I caved of course. "Alright"...I said. "One more chance and that's it". They actually did behave the rest of the time and if Jacob started acting up Emma would whisper to him to stop so we could go to the pet store.

My Cat Likes Refried Beans and other things I've learned this crazy Christmas Season

So, it's been awhile since I've been able to make it to the store for cat food. My poor spoiled cat won't just eat dry food but insists on having something mushy to moisten his pallet. I was completely out of cat food and was searching for something to feed him so he would stop rubbing on my leg and biting at my toes. I'd already used up the remains of the turkey lunch meat on him the night before. The only thing mushy I had in the house was refried beans and voila! he liked them. I drug the kids to the pet store last night (which they actually love to do) and now my kitty is happy as a clam now that his pantry is restocked.

Speaking of the pet store -let me digress with a funny story...When we lived in Virginia and got to hang out with our favorite blogger Andrea and her first born, it was inevitable that whatever phase Nick was going through or new trick he learned, Emma would follow by about a week. It became uncanny to me but great because I always new what I was in for. It was always about a week to the day that Emma would say or do something that Nick had done the week before. Anyway, when I rushed the kids through the pet store last night and tricked them out the door without getting their fill on guinea pigs and geckos they were not happy with me. Emma exclaimed: "that's fine mom...I'm just going to run away then if your not going to let me see the animals!". I had to chuckle because it had been exactly a week since I Annie had posted about Nicks threats to run away. It's good to hear that even though we're so far apart, I can count on Nick to keep me one step ahead in the parenting game.


Anyway, back to things I"ve learned this Christmas season:

Glue sticks are meant for kids crafts and not for making Christmas cards. If you get your card and your tree has fallen off because the glue stick from the 99 cents store didn't hold up, well, then...I'm sorry. I obviously didn't learn this tip in time. And if you don't get a card from me, well, then...Merry Christmas!

Don't decide to make handmade Christmas cards, a scrapbook for a friend, several baby blankets and 15 plates of homemade goodies all one week before Christmas while at the same time volunteering to run your daughters kindergarten Christmas party. I guess it just wouldn't be the Christmas season without a little bit of stress though - it keeps me on my toes. I'm looking forward to this next week of R&R now that everything is done (except the wrapping) and hoping the kids new toys will keep them occupied for a few days while I slip into a deep sleep after downing a box of Sees candy!

Don't forget the true meaning of Christmas. I love the Little People Nativity set we have that the kids can play with and learn about the true meaning of Christmas. Ben said "Jesus" for the first time today and it was so darn cute because he adds a little lisp to it. I'm trying, in all this holiday madness, to teach my children that Christmas isn't just about the toys and the parties, but it is a time to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior. This year I told them that we each get 3 presents from Santa to represent the 3 presents the wise men gave to the baby Jesus. I thought it was a good way to keep things simple and at the same time give some meaning to a wonderful tradition of giving and receiving.