The closing of a cold holiday

This December has been an odd weather month to be sure. We've already received more snow and truly cold days than I can ever remember seeing in December.

Last weekend we were hit with a sudden warm up (nearly 50 degrees) and a couple inches of rain after seeing more than a foot of snow about a week early. All the rain combined with a fast melt led to seepage in the basement. Hello, Shop Vac.

The next day? 36 degrees.
A dusting of snow last night, and today? About 25 degrees, and windy.

Today we braved the cold for another holiday tradition we have with the kids - the "Winter Wonderland" train exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I don't care what age you are: the model trains, Chicago landmarks crafted out of natural materials, pine-scented air from the myriad of trees, flowering plants and poinsettas decorating the displays, and fake snow gently falling from above - its magical!

Tonight we'll sit down together for the final family meal of 2008. Sam will lead the blessing, we'll toast wine glasses to milk glasses, and wish each other a Happy New Year. I never fail to be amazed at these two wonderful, infuriating, clever little people we have seen grow from tiny babies into their own personalities. 2009 holds nothing but hope and possibility.

I wish you, too, a 2009 full of wonder, peace, good health, possibility and joy!

When its too quiet in the other room

I guess I'm more jaded than I realize.
Yesterday, it was FAR too quiet in the other room.

Way.

Too.

Quiet.

To a mom of preschoolers, that typically means trouble.

So imagine my surprise when I went into the family room, and found THIS:

Yes, Sam is "reading" Maddie their new Curious George book. They're so darn sweet.

(Right now...it bears noting!)

Fairytales don't always have happy endings

The picture says it all:

iPhone...I waste time..but how fun

For Christmas, my darling hubby surprised me with an iPhone.

I love technology, I love the web even though I know my computer is really just a giant time-sucking vacuum in disguise. And this is the coolest freaking thing, ever.

So after going to get my phone (and talk about time-sucking vacuums, go to your local phone store. Lots of sales people milling around, doing, well, we weren't sure, but they weren't helping customers. We were being helped, as we arrived EARLY, but for a technology business, nothing was working). but I digress. So after finally getting my phone, I spent a good part of the day adding email addresses, bookmarking craigslist, adding an application for the Weather Channel, a shopping list, a Gratitude Journal (LOVE IT) and a FooPet, taking pictures of the kiddos, and syncing my iPod application. Now all I have to do is add an application for Blogger, and I'll be in hog heaven!

So if you try to call and I don't answer, I may be playing with the kids...but I also may be throwing a ball for my cyber lab puppy.

Since my hubby is still dragging his feet about getting a real one.

Christmas...rain?

Its raining.
It is 50 degrees and foggy.

It is two days after Christmas.
In Chicago.

Does anyone see the problem here?

Now, normally, I'm not one to complain about 50 degrees in December. Heck, I'm not going to complain about 50 degrees at all. I'd be happy to live in a temperate, 70 degrees year round kind of thing. I'm not a cold weather girl, despite my...er...many years of living in Illinois.

But yesterday, see, we had 12 inches or more of snow in the backyard.

Today, I have a small stream and damp knees from shop-vac'ing the seepage in the basement.
I have cranky kids, who I couldn't get outside into said rain to splash in puddles, as that is what we love to do (burns off a lot of energy) because even they said it was too yucky outside.

But I guess I shouldn't complain about the rain. Its gonna be 23 degrees tomorrow, and snowing....

Papa's gift

My dad is the original "McGuyver". He can find a simple solution to what seems to be an impossible problem - the kind that makes you smack yourself upside the head and revert to your 10-year-old kind of response: "Duh".

As you may know, Sam is going to be a rock and roller when he grows up.

So for Christmas this year, well, Papa built him:

A stage.

Yes, a true wood floor (thanks John for the donated Pergo flooring!) complete with strobing LCD lights on a remote control. On a previous visit, he hung curtain wire for me on the wall (behind where the stage was to be located) and Christmas eve, we hung iridescent purple and teal curtains for that special touch. Mimi added a mike stand, amplifier and toy electric guitar to round out the gift...

The look on Sam's face was priceless - confusion, shock, and glee flashed over it in a manner of seconds.

And since Christmas eve, he has been "rocking it out" for us every day!

Look out, John Hiatt, John Prine and Lyle Lovett. The next generation of the keen observer of everyday life is coming into his own...

Christmas Morning (or, the fruits of Pete's labor)

I've got to credit Pete for the huge amount of patience and persistence he showed with regards to the assembly of the kiddo's presents from Mommy & Daddy this year. We decided to give our own little Suzy Homemaker a real play kitchen (to replace the small one Mimi found at a yard sale for $5, which confused me as to whether it was an oven, dishwasher or refrigerator.)

However, in the process of assembly, Pete discovered that a key part was missing some key doo-hickeys (yes, that is a technical term). Little Tikes informed us that they would send a new part out, and yeah....it would arrive a week or so after Christmas.

Clearly unacceptable...

So I went back to a particular large toy store chain, paid $20 more than I had the first time, and bought another one. We ever so carefully eased out the needed board - to discover that it, too, showed construction errors. However, these were less a problem, so we replaced it with the bungled part (and returned the more expensive one to the store.)

So, finally finished, Pete moves on to project 2: Sam's big-boy trike.

Which, surprise, surprise, is missing a tool key to finishing assembly. Thankfully, our neighbor is a serious biker and he has every bike-related tool one could wish for, so Pete brought it over to find the needed part and the neighbor marvelled at the ridiculous design - it was so much more complicated than it needed to be! So kudo's for Pete for not putting it through a wall in frustration.

In the end, all turned out well.

On Christmas morning, the kids opened presents from Santa. If I could figure out a way to include the audio here, I would. Sam was honestly, truly thrilled with every single present he opened. Not to often you hear "Oh my GOSH. ITS A BOOK!!! Look Daddy, its a Dinosaur Train BOOK!!!" from a 4 year old.

This was the first year Maddie really "got it" and she carefully peeled off the wrapping paper in very tiny strips. And squealed, as only she can, when she discovered what was inside (in a clear mimic of big brother.) We enjoyed watching them, and didn't even attempt to open our gifts.

We took a break for a hearty breakfast - and I will happily recommend the French Toast Souffle recipe found at Cooking Light's recipe website, MyRecipes.com - and then brought the kids to the basement to give them our gifts to them, now assembled and on display:

Sam's "Hot Wheels" trike - no baby bike here, this has a handbrake and is for 5-10 year olds...

and Maddie's new "Deluxe kitchen and Laundry Center" (far nicer than the one in my first apartment...)

Daddy with his handiwork(s)

Chef Sam offers his "delicious eggs" while

Chef Maddie serves her favorite pizza.

We had a mellow day, I cooked a turkey (that the kids were too played out to eat by dinner time) and, as Sam said, "We had the best Christmas, EVER!"

Christmas Eve

With Pete's family far off in Virginia, I'm always thankful for my family who are close.

This year the snowy weather cleared up enough to allow my parents, grandfather, brother and nephew to join us for a low key Christmas eve.

My nephew Jake brought a gingerbread house kit to build with Sam and Maddie. Maddie thoroughly enjoyed it, my crafty girl. Jake is so thoughtful! We opened presents to each other; Jake and Pete played pool in the basement while Dad and Papa Dan relaxed and visited with John. We then had a dinner that (if I do say so myself) was delicious!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the evening. Enjoy!

Me and Papa Dan - we're so blessed to have him with us still!

Maddie excitedly opens an Ariel doll from Uncle John & Jacob.

Sam and Pete - the older Sam gets, the more he looks like his Daddy!

Jacob and Maddie. She is always so excited to see her "cousin Jakey".

(sorry, Jake, I know you don't like it. Ask your dad how long it took him to outgrow "John-John"!)

Cover - Boy?

A guitar lesson was cancelled last week due to a scheduling conflict at the middle school where we meet. Today we were to make up the missed lesson at the home of a fellow guitar student.

As usual, I was having difficulty lighting a fire under Sam's behind to get him moving.

"C'mon Sam, let's get your shoes on, then grab your guitar. Remember? Today we meet Miss Laura for a "make up" lesson."

Sam's blank look was replaced by one of sheer panic.

"Mommy - NOOOOOOO. I don't want to put on make up!"

Family Christmas Weekend

The weekend before Christmas we got together with my mom's side of the family for our annual "Vicini Christmas". This get together has been going on as long as I can remember, really - my Mom hosted it for years on Christmas eve .

We especially look forward to the weekend because it is another opportunity to for the kids to get together with all their McCarrens cousins. Sam, Julia and Sophia are all within 9 months of age, so it is especially fun to see them grow up together, and to see their how there personalities mesh (and don't) with each other. Maddie trails after them all, but seems to be especially drawn to Julia's quiet nature.

Its not an easy task to get everyone sitting down and smiling at the camera - at the same time.

Especially Max - here he is!

The kids opened their presents to each other and (in the case of Sophia, Julia and Max, who stay in St. Louis for Christmas Eve), from Mimi and Papa. It was utter chaos, and I think Papa could have used a pair of earplugs, but it was fun to watch.

Anything relating to Fancy Nancy is a huge hit with Maddie, and Sam loves his tractors. (As does Max! They each received a set of tractors & farm equipment, and were busy with them the rest of the day.) Sophia and Julia looked beautiful in their fairy princess tutus and wings, although Sophia didn't keep hers on long enough for me to get a picture of her!

(Bob did. I guess I'll need to steal it off of their blog...)

And as always, Mimi's nativity provides hours of activity for everyone. So many animals to arrange, and the baby Jesus for Maddie to sing to...

A few more pictures that just struck me:

Pretty, sweet Julia

Max, with his ever-present blankie.

A tired Sophia has a quiet moment with her daddy and Junie B. Jones

And a not-so-quiet moment as Maddie enjoys Sophia's new microphone! (which is not needed by either of them in reality)

I think this is the closest Max got to me all weekend. If he wasn't with Bob, Pete seemed to be an acceptable substitute, but that was it.

And the tshirt pretty much sums it up:

Later that day, we went to my cousin's house for a potluck dinner with much of the extended family on my Mom's side. Its great to be able to actually sit and visit with family we don't always get to see - while the kids ran around with each other. Kudos go Katie and Joey for herding sheep all night (and Joey, for taking all the abuse they dished out. I think by the time we left, he was missing one shoe and one sock.)

Its a wonderful way to begin our Christmas holiday!

Christmas Cookie Snowday

Since our school district cancelled school at 8:45 the night before (and about 6 hours before the snowstorm even started) we had an early start to our Christmas holiday. With Pete outside shoveling snow, I opted for a warmer way to pass the morning - cutout cookies!

(Ok, so I bought the precut frozen sugar cookies from GFS this year. I still had to bake them. And they taste goooooood.)

Sam in action....

And with his completed cookie!

Such concentration! Frosting cookies is serious business!

Wearing a crown really does help frost the cookies faster.

The end result: if you can believe it, there really were sprinkles left in the jars a the end of the day!

Jingle Bel-dens!

Yahoo! As they say, the 3rd time is a charm....


Today, we went to see Santa at the mall. Maddie was mildly disinterested in the idea until we picked Sam up from school, and he showed excitement at the idea. He had lots of questions on the trip, mostly along the lines of "What will Santa say if I ask for TWO DVDs? What will he say if I ask for "Lots and lots of Trains and Lots and Lots of Tractors?" And although the first thing that came to mind was "Son, you watch altogether too much TV, apparently", what I managed to respond was more along the more appropriate lines of "Be a good boy and listen to your Mommy". (As its never too soon to play the Santa card in this house.)


We arrived shortly thereafter, and after securing a prime parking spot (unusual), walked together to Santa's workshop. Maddie was awestruck. I was struck speechless - there was no line! No one even on Santas lap! (You see where my priorities lie...)


We walked the line around the workshop, gave their names quietly to the woman who was getting info about pictures while the kids bounced impatiently.


They approached Santa, who smiled widely and said "Hello, Sam - how are you today" -- and for the first time in 3 years, Sam did not freeze in shock at the idea that the big guy KNEW him. Santa chatted with Sam for a minute while Maddie looked shyly on, then said "hello Maddie". They sat on his knee, grinned hugely, and chatted some more.


At long last, wonderful pictures with our winsome Santa!




Afterwards, I asked Maddie what she asked for (as she is still figuring out this whole Santa thing) and she replied cheerfully "A map".


A what?


Sam disgustedly replied "Maddie, you can't ask for a map. You need to ask for a toy." She stubbornly replied, quite happily "No Sham, a map."


Go figure.....