Grace in Small Things - 85

1.  2 happy and healthy daughters who I love with all of my heart.

2.  A husband I love and who loves me back.

3.  Being at a place in life where I am happy... and look forward to more of the same.

4.  A nice glass of wine and a piece of chocolate mint cream pie.

5.  Being comfy and warm on the couch at midnight... wondering what the new year will bring.


Best wishes to all for a happy new year.  May 2010 bring you everything you hope it will!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


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A sneek peek at our New Year's Eve Festivities

I can only hope that your new year's eve was spent with as good company as mine.

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Grace in Small Things - 84

1.  A Christmas tree that was loaded with gifts... but not overloaded.

2.  Ana's favorite gift - Pawpalz Puppy (I'm assuming... since she can't tell me... but she carries the dog around saying "aw, puppy" and hugging it.)

3.  Zoe's favorite gift - Monkey Hide & Seek Safari Game (She could hide and seek for that monkey all day long.  We've already replaced the batteries 2 times.)

4.  Nick's favorite gift -Mini RC Helicopter (or cash... that could be his favorite.)

5.  My favorite gift - Amazon Kindle (I've already bought and loaded a couple of books.  LOVE it.  Any Kindle book recommendations?  I can't decide what to read next.)

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Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

 

Visions of Sugar Plums

Some thoughts on taking a 4 year old to see The Nutcracker Ballet for the first time...

• The 4 year old will be thrilled at the mere thought of going to the ballet with her older cousins and their friend... and NO BABY ANA.
• She will be a chatterbox the whole way to the ballet... especially asking "are we there yet?"
  
• It would be helpful to read the story BEFORE seeing the ballet.  Otherwise they feel the need to ask 90 gazillion questions in a full volume whisper.  (who are those children? who is that man? why are they at a party? why did she get that nutcracker? why did that boy stomp on that nutcracker? why is the party over? why is that nutcracker big now? why is that nutcracker a prince now? what do you mean the girl is dreaming? why are those rats there? why is that light flashing while those rats fight? and on and on and on).
  
• You should not be surprised when the 4 year old loudly says "Mommy, that man is nudie!" when the dancer doing the Arabian dance of the Coffee happens to be shirtless.
• The child will ask if the ballet is over at intermission and insist that it should be over.
• The child will want an overpriced box of raisinettes at intermission because she will refuse to remember or accept that she doesn't like raisins.
• You will HAVE to eat a very large box of raisinettes... because they were overpriced... and can't be wasted.
• The 4 year old will probably almost fall asleep during the 2nd half of the show since it is after bedtime.
• When the show is over she will want to know why they are done dancing... and when she gets to see it again.
  

• The 4 year old will be over the moon with excitement at being able to say "I GOT TO HOLD THE ACTUAL REAL NUTCRACKER!"
  

Ho Ho Ho

Zoe and Ana were very happy to see Santa this year.  I guess they both know that they've been good girls.
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Wordless Wednesday - Peace on Earth

For more photos... check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

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Can't do it

Ana is 17 months old. 

We already know she's the size of a 2 year old.  She's been wearing 24 month and 2t clothes for months.  Now I guess she thinks she better act and talk like a 2 year old too.

I have a degree in Child Development and worked with infants and toddlers for years.... but I still can't remember if most 17 month olds use this many words.  Zoe talked a lot... but not this much.  Is it a 2nd child thing?

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Grace in Small Things - 83

1. A hot cup of coffee

2. mittens

3. warm puffy coats

4. Christmas songs on the car radio

5. Christmas shopping online

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Jingle Bell Time - What a Swell Time

Tonight was FINALLY Zoe's holiday show at school.

I say finally because if you stopped by the house anytime in the last few weeks you might have had the chance to hear her practicing since she was constantly singing one or three songs here and there during every day. CONSTANTLY.

She was SO excited that it was finally today.

I have to say I am extremely impressed with lack of stage fright. She has been thrilled knowing it was show time... but I always worry that she'll get nervous right before going on stage. She never does though. She truly loves being on stage performing. We will definitely be keeping up with her dance class for recitals... and I'm sure she'll be interested in joining some kind of chorus as she continues in school. Maybe some drama, too. The girl does have a knack for drama lately. (That's another post entirely I suppose.)

She went onto the stage with such confidence.  She sang louder and more clearly than all of the other kids right from the get go.  Sometimes she tends to be a little shy... but wow... get her on stage and she just shines.  Even the teachers have made comments about how much she surprised them.  I am one proud mama.

Zoe walked into the room with a smile on her face (and antlers and a red nose... like Rudolph).

She seemed to smile her way through singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bell Rock, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

I love this shot of Zoe.  Her expression.  Her pose.  Can't you just tell what a great job she was doing?  (I wish it was a better shot... but it is still a keeper.)

Here is the whole herd of reindeer.  I'm sure Santa would be happy to have them pull his sleigh! I just think they all look so festive.

If you have 6 minutes and 50 seconds to share... here's the video!

If you can't see the video here is the YouTube link.

Somebody needs to tell me how to get better shots in places like auditoriums and gyms. I realize the lighting is just not ideal... but somebody must have some suggestions to help me improve. I'm thrilled to have these shots for memories... but I just wish the quality was better.

Grace in Small Things - 82

1. A stomach bug that lasted about 6 hours instead of 24 hours or LONGER.  (poor Zoe)

2. The look on Zoe's face when I included "popsicle" on her list of dinner choices. (at least she at something)

3. Finding out that Pizza Factory delivers Tiaramisu. (even though I missed Nick's company holiday party)

4. Waking up and seeing Nick was able to bring home some seafood risotto that I missed out on.  Yeah for party take out.

5. Having Zoe wake up just about back to normal after a good nights sleep.

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My little elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

This just never gets old. It cracks me up every time.

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Christmas Decorating during a Recession

A friend e-mailed this to me and I couldn't resist sharing it.

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I shoulda bought a lottery ticket!

My e-mail is just full of prizes today!!!  Well... not FULL... but we're feeling awfully lucky around here today.

First...
Zoe's school newsletter for December was e-mailed out just now.  Under the section titled "Box Tops For Education" it announced that Zoe's class was the winner of this year's first box tops contest.  Actually... it's says "we have an overwhelming winner."  "Just in November they collected over 260 Box Tops.  That is the greatest number of Box Tops EVER collected in a one month period by a class at 'insert Zoe's school name here'."  How awesome is that??? 

You know what truly makes it awesome???  Last week Zoe handed in 83 boxtops that we collected... and then yesterday we turned in another 96 (thanks mostly to Cara @ I Miei Due Bambini...  and my Aunt Pru... and a bit of last minute scavenging around the house).  Plus we sent in 20 more on the cut and paste handouts that were sent home.  (10 on each picture).  So we handed in 199 (if I counted properly) of those 260.  Woo Hoo!!!!!  Ice Cream party here we come!

Second...
I just got a comment/e-mail from Mrs. Kennedy (the creator of NaBloPoMo) telling me I was chosen (randomly) to receive one of the NaBloPoMo prizes!!!  The prize I was picked to win is a one year Flickr pro account from Mrs. Kennedy herself.  Eden Kennedy @ Fussy!!!  How cool is that???

Do you know what makes that truly cool?  I just got an e-mail from Flickr telling me my pro account expired.  I was trying to decide whether to renew it or not.  Perfect timing.  Now there is no decision to make.  Just an account to renew!

So... lucky lucky me.  Anybody else want to e-mail and tell me I've won something?  It certainly is a good feeling.