Christmas on New Years Eve

Julie: Do you want to scratch Trav's toe too? Like father, like daughter.






Can you see her vocal cords?




We did a lot of decorating to customize our wrapping paper this year: then the fight, who gets to draw on whose gift or did you cross the line?

Christmas at the Cottage

Christmas is here!

It has been a very festive day: a late nap, dinner with the Larsons (Sweet potato bacon endive spears, Prosciutto-Mozzarella-Tomato Skewers, Strawberry-spinach salad, Lasagna, bread, cheesecake, slush and wine. Yum, Yum, Yum!! Thank you Wendi and Glenn!), a walk/sled ride in the falling snow to admire the lights in the neighborhood, more playing in the snow and last minute preparations to help Santa. Tomorrow Travis works in the morning; I get to go meet Natalie's newest addition, Pearl; LOTS of baking yet to be done for my own family and maybe for a couple of the neighbors; and dinner preparations: Cheeseburger soup and Bean and Tomato Salad with Honey Vinaigrette. The days just don't get any better than this......Merry Christmas everyone!

Naughty or Nice?

So, the mischievious one (Can you guess who?), put a scissors to her hair in the late afternoon today; so she's sporting some bangs now. Fortunately, I didn't have to get after her because she seemed to punish herself; clinging to my leg while I made dinner and then she refused to eat, she asked me to take her upstairs and put her to bed, which I did. She tearfully laid down and was asleep within minutes......I think Santa will still visit.

(Picture to be posted after we wash her hair and assess the damage in the morning.)

Home Alone

The kids discovered a new movie they find hysterical this weekend. Ever the actress, Kya trying out for the part.

30th Birthday Party

My card to Travis said: Look, it's the birthday boy!
And on the inside: I hope you get the attention you deserve.
And I think Travis would agree, he got PLENTY of attention.








Putting together his new Lego set: The Battle of Endor. I thought a gift like Legos might not make him feel quite so old.


We had a bunch of friends and family over last night for cake, appetizers and drinks. A very fun night!

A Big Day!

His artistic debut at a gallery!





So, today a certain someone turned 30; an uneventful day for the family as Travis worked all day, met us at the Pump House at 4:30 and was promptly paged at 5 as he's on call tonight. He didn't seem overly thrilled at his picture being posted around the hospital to inform everyone that he was in fact now 30 (He can thank the OR staff for that one). We'll celebrate tomorrow and post some pictures of the now wrinkled and haggered Old Man. Therin made Travis not 1, not 2, but 3 birthday cards; one of which he got his entire class to sign (He's such a thoughtful boy that one!). The kids were quite upset tonight that Dad did not get to open his gifts and if their rules apply "You can only open presents on your birthday or you have to wait until Christmas." I'm guessing that rule will be broken tomorrow but we'll see. (That could be a long wait for you Josh!)

Oh! On the way to the art exhibit, Therin was telling me how he could combine his two favorite loves: art and football. He could play football and when he wasn't playing, sit on the sidelines and draw. Hmmmm......draw plays?

In the Spirit of Christmas

We had our annual Christmas cookie baking day with Grandma Smith this weekend. We came home with A LOT of cookies. So, we made cookie plates for neighbors and friends.




We finally got the tree up!

Snow Day

Well, the kids are home and it's 11. The TV has been on since 7, no one is out of their pajamas and we had homemade popcorn for breakfast. Sounds like model mothering huh? On the productive side: I have shoveled (will need to again and again), read part of an article for my nursing CEU's and made a small batch of wreath Rice Krispie treats. I think it's time for Christmas music and gingerbread cookies and some outside time later this afternoon!

A White Christmas.........and then some

It took over an hour but between the neighbor Jim's snowblower, and my shoveling, we got the sidewalks, cars, walkways and alley pretty well cleared. I even fixed his snowblower-who knew I could be so handy? Well, it's only me and the kids today! Yeah! We'll nestle and bake most of the day I'm sure. Therin hasn't been feeling well but he seems better so far. I wish Travis could be here with us! Call if you need a ride home honey! Oh, and the last picture is a coat of my husbands that I keep stealing (he hates that) but I love the coat too!! I hope the rest of you are enjoying your Winter Wonderland!

Visiting the Rotary Lights at Riverside Park

Preparing to spoon up the first of a light snowfall

Thanksgiving

Well who isn't thankful for 5 day weekends?

Kya's priority on Wednesday was getting some Christmas decorations up so the kids put up and decorated the tree in their room.


We celebrated Thanksgiving at home with our friends, the Johnsons. Last year we made a Thanksgiving quilt to remind us of all that we're thankful for; this year we decorated prayer flags. Therin was thankful for art, Kya for birthdays, Mom for Dad's handy man skills, and Travis for my cooking. I tried Martha Stewart's Mashed Sweet Potato and Russet Potato with Herbs recipe for our Thanksgiving meal; Yum!




Many family and friends were also very successful hunters and provided us with plenty of venison for the coming year. So, much of the weekend was spent cutting, grinding, packaging and freezing venison.








Much of the day today was spent assembling a big girl bed for Kya. Should we say she was more than excited, bouncing off the bed perhaps? It is a little crowded in the kids bedroom now but we have some ideas to remedy that. Venison tacos were on the menu for dinner and Therin read us a book before bed, Hop on Pop, his first. I was a very proud mama tonight looking upon my very big seeming, sleeping children.

Hello Mr. Turkey

Weekend

Nothing exciting happened this weekend; but we were all home and maybe that was why it was such a wonderful weekend.

Therin's New Do

Why do we buy her clothes?

The "gypsy girl" skirt.








Kya dresses up almost every day in the last month. I can't think of a place we've gone recently that she hasn't worn one of these dresses. She hiked the bluffs Sunday in her gypsy girl skirt and high tops-LOVE it!

Grateful

There are days you wonder if anyone appreciates anything that you do and then there are days, like today, that make it all worthwhile.




To Therin, you are like me in so many ways. I will always cherish your thoughtfulness. You have a maturity beyond your years.

To Wendi, thank you for "Monday" gifts and you didn't even know how much I needed it!

To Monica, for all the years of friendship, laughter and support. One day, I hope to repay you. Thank you for the gift of escape and relaxation-so thoughtful and so unexpected!

To my mother and mother-in-law for all of your caring, compassion and empathy.

To an army of great girlfriends: Natalie, Celine, Polly, Wendi, Annette, Lesley, Nora and Alisha; thank you for always being there to listen, feed me, and take you up on the many offers to take my children and give me a break. I SO appreciate all of you!!!!!

To my daycare families, for acknowledging my work and dedication to your children.