Christmas Highlights

1. Spending time with all 3 of my siblings. Spread across 4 states and 2 time zones, we can't get all together very often, so this was a special year!

2. Snacking on Christmastime goodies. I'm eating the last of mom's caramel cashew corn and drinking the second to last Vernor's and eggnog as I write.

3. Four Christmas parties in 24 hours! That must be some kind of record I think!, especially since Santa visited two of them. M LOVED it and was right up there chatting him up, N was watching from a safe distance (no WAY was he getting a photo taken with that guy!) and C was unphased.

4. Ordering a bridesmaid dress and suit for Hubs' siblings spring weddings! We are so excited and happy for Aunt L, Uncle D, and their fiancé(s)! What a fantastically wonderful year 2013 is going to be!

5. Worshipping two Sundays at our home church, Christian Celebration Center. We receive a warm welcome from old friends and the boys LOVE Power Plant, the kids' church.

6. Watching the cousins play together. My kids are numbers 5,6, and 8 of 8 grandchildren for my parents. They love hanging out with the "big kids" (there are 3 5 year olds!) and following them around. We all spent half a day at a nearby water park last Thursday. My boys were like little fish in a big pond there, but they loved every second of sliding, splashing, and squirting!

7. Going on a hot date with Hubs while the kids stayed with Grandma. Free babysitting at its finest!

8. Reflecting on our many blessings in 2012 and looking forward to an exciting 2013 as we celebrate New Year's Eve with our families tonight. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here are a few random pics from my phone...the 3 and 5 year olds demolishing Hubs on Christmas Eve, me and Steve trying on wedding clothes, and my Mother in Law's mantle this year-Aunt L and I had to make 4 new stockings for my C, the fiancé(s) and A, J's son! Wowzers, what a lot of stockings!

The Long Drive

Merry Merry! We made it to MI with 3 munchies in just 13.5 hours, which must be some kind of record, especially since the fellas did NOT sleep all night like I expected.

I talked Hubs into letting me drive the first leg, and when he said yes, I jumped at the chance. After keeping the boys up all afternoon in hopes of them falling asleep early, as well as packing up the suitcases and the van, I was ready for him to have a turn with the fellas.

While gassing up and filling the tires, M had a bit of a freak out when he understood we were about to drive. "I wanna fly in the plaaaaaaane!" He cried.

We stopped two hours in for Culver's, but N refused to finish his butter burger. A mom with 4 teen age sons saw our crew, smiled and told me, "you got off easy having three," I laughed, because I saw their family nearby and wondered how many burgers I'll have to buy in ten years. Two hours later, when we thought the boys were sleeping, we heard much crinkling of wrappers. N was eating his ice cold burger.

After paying $13 in tolls going through Chicago (why?!) we had the home stretch back into Michigan.

All in all, not bad, could've been worse, just glad we're here. Tomorrow morning begins the festivities!

Christmas Photos

I know you've all been dying to see our families' Christmas photos from my amazing Nikon, and I finally got around to uploading it this afternoon.  I've been busting my tail all week unpacking 7 pieces of luggage, washing countless loads of laundry, organizing a multitude of toys, grocery shopping and of course, trying to feed my family.  There are times the blog has to take a backseat, I know you understand.  Without further ado, in no particular order, here are a few of the 250+ pics:

Uncle A teaches the boys to play "Don't Break the Ice"

N eating a piece of candy, I'm sure, from the look on M's face!

M cuddling with Papa Santa

As close as N would get!

Fun snuggles with Mommy

S teaches the boys how to use a remote control car

Aunt M was very excited about the New Year's lobsters!

N thought they were cool

M was terrified!!

Group shot of our New Year's "feast!"  Look at the boys' smiles!

N is a pretty pretty princess

We tried forever to get a cute family shot in front of the tree, and this is as good as it gets.

Yeah, a harmonica and a recorder.  I'm totally getting paid back for buying my nephew a marshmallow shooter.

I'm going to make you crazy with this, mom!

N and M helping cousin E open some adult's gift!

M was thrilled with these "Cars" cars!

Another shot of the boys opening someone else's gift - grandma's TV.

They spent a lot of time driving their new cars together.

Happy 2012!

We are looking forward to a very exciting year with the addition of baby boy number 3!  We still don't have a name for him, but my in laws told me they are placing bets.  On a side note, Aunt L slipped that her bet is Timothy, which made me laugh out loud in her face (sorry about being rude) because one of my many rules for baby names is no ex-boyfriends.  "What?  You had a boyfriend named Timothy?"  she cried in disbelief.  What a sweetheart.  She was just 13 years old when I started dating her brother and since I don't talk about exes (there's no point in talking about all the frogs after you find Prince Charming) she had no idea!

I'm not going to do a year in review.  It was a good year, but if you're a reader, you know all about it.  We have a lot to look forward to in 2012: Hubs' travels should slow down a bit (he had a crazy fourth quarter), we have new big boy underpants for potty training (coming soon!), and of course, a baby brother to prepare for! 

Last night we spent New Year's Eve with my parents, sister and nephews for the fisrt time in years.  Because Hubs and I had so much fun with our at-home lobster boil last year, I talked my family into doing it with us!  Papa wanted to show the grandsons the lobsters, so he dumped them out onto the counter.  The bigger boys were interested, N didn't care, and M freaked!  Trembling, tears, sobbing and clinging to daddy ensued during the 5 minutes the lobsters were creeping on the counter.  (I'll upload the pics for you when we get home.  It's pretty funny!)  "No Crabs!  No Crabs!  No Crabs!" he cried.  I'm certain he's only seen crabs and lobsters in picture books, so I'm proud of him for recognizing a crustacean when he sees one, but I don't have a clue what scared him so much.

After the little fellas were boiled, red and still, M was all smiles and even playing with the legs on Daddy's lobster.  None of the kids would take a bite, but none of the adults cared - we wanted our lobsters to ourselves!  The kids had noodles, shrimp, corn and biscuits.  Eight year old S cried, "It's a feast!"  "Yes, it is," I agreed.

My guys passed out around 9pm, but my 4 and 8 year old nephews were determined to stay up until midnight.  We played Scrabble and Yahtzee, then watched the ball drop in NYC.  We all counted down, then cheered and kissed at midnight.  Four year old E said, "Just one ball?  That's it?"  I think the boys were a little disappointed that they stayed up for that. 

Happy 2012, my friend.  May this year bring you many blessings, much love and good health for you and those you love.  Count your blessings - they'll always outweigh your tears. 

'Tis the Season

For fevers and snot. 

I'm having this recurring dream where every Christmas, when we fly back to Michigan to spend the holidays with our families, the boys get sick with something, be it ear infections or nasty butt colds.  Wait a minute, that's not a dream - it's reality! 

What is it with Christmas, families, flying and kids?  Am I doomed to repeat this every year?  (Sigh)

The good news is, it's just a nasty butt cold this year, so far.  Last year we wound up in the urgent care with the first of two ear infections!  I think we've beat it as N has been fever free since he woke up this morning.  I think we're through the worst of it.

I'm halfway through my second day of self-imposed solitary confinement with the kids and I'm about to declare them healthy jus to get it over with.  Well, I'm about the declare M healthy so he can go have fun with his Aunty tonight.  N is still not 100%, poor buddy.

I'm sure he'll be better just in time to go back home.

Honk-shoo!

Grandma and Papa K. watched all 4 grandsons last night so that we could go out with my sister and her husband.  We told the kids we were going out on a date and my precocious 4 year old nephew asked, "A double date?!  You're gonna be kissing, aren't you?!" He cried, making a face.  We laughed and laughed, first at the fact that he knows what a double date is, second at the idea of two sets of old married folks kissing in my sister's tiny Prius!

The four of us had a good time noshing on sushi and then yukking it up at my old stompin' grounds, the Bennigan's where I served my way through college and marriage.  Eight years later, my favorite manager and even a couple of former co-workers were still there to greet me with warm smiles.  It's like going home.  And it makes me realize how easy life was in college when I thought it was SO HARD. :)  I mean, wouldn't it be wonderful to put my kids through that giant dishwasher instead of bathing them?  And wouldn't it be great to have the food magically appear in the "window," ready for consumption, rather than figuring out what to prepare, making it and a mess, only to be instantaneouly and simultaneouly rejected by both of my sons? 

While our server was not one of my former co-workers - there's a lot of turn over in 8 years- he was a friend of my sister and brother in law, so when I ordered a brownie bottom pie for dessert (a totally legit thing for pregnant women in my family to order) he brought me this:

A double!  Because he thought I was having twins again?!  Sheesh.  I'm not that big!

Me, sis, and Hubs hangin' out.  Brother in law snaps the pic

We did some other things, but I won't bore you with the details....I'd incriminate someone.  (She knows who she is.)  A good time was had by all, and the big pregnant lady ended the fun at midnight because she was about to turn into a pumpkin.   

What I'm really writing to tell you is the story I heard this morning from my mom.  The boys were giving her a hard time going to bed.  What?  Your kids?  They're so well behaved.  Yeah, that's because anyone can behave for an hour, as long as it takes to go out in public!  I'm relieved to have learned that they're not treating me or hubs with any special malice, however, and that they spread the wealth to all. 

She finally separated them because of all of the screwing around and stood sentry between both bedrooms.  Exasperated, fianlly, she told them, "No more talking!"

From one of the rooms, she immediately heard a loud, fake snore:

"HONK-SHOO!  HONK-SHOO!"

alert dialog

confirm dialog

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, my friends, from the great green state of Michigan.  We did not have a white Christmas this year, but that's okay.  It's actually in the 40's and quite nice! 

We are having a grand old time with our families and the boys are in love with all of their presents.  In fact, M has a favorite and insists on schlepping it back and forth between the grandparents' homes.  We could barely pry the die cast metal Charger out of his hands for bedtime last night!  They hardly quit playing to eat, sleep, or allow us to change their diapers. It's fun to see them so "into" Christmas for the first time.

Because Hubs' family and my family live just 11 miles apart, we have multiple celebrations to attend on Christmas Eve and Day.  At the first party (below), the boys were digging into the gifts while we were all still eating, despite being allowed to open one of their own to keep them busy.   They had a blast helping pass out the presents, then as we all opened our exchange gifts one at a time, they moved from person to person "helping" them open it up! 

Grandpa and Grandma S. with the grandkids and the greats who are LOOKING at the CAMERA and SMILING!!

I supposed we inadvertently trained them that that's just what you do at Christmas - because they decided to continue passing out gifts and opening them for everyone at the remaining 3 parties!  Fortunately, no one seemed to mind, probably because the boys didn't care what the gift was once it was opened...it was time to move onto the next!

I warned you that my blogging was only going be as good as my technology this week, so I must tell you that my Nikon's memory card doesn't fit into my mom's laptop, so all of my beautiful pictures (once Hubs changed the shutter speed for me) will remain there until we get home, so you'll have to make do with what I can pilfer from Aunt L's facebook page! 

On a side note, I have to tell you a funny story.  I spent an hour or so on Thursday cleaning out and meticulously repacking the boys' Thomas the Train backpacks, each with diapers, wipes, snacks, DVDs and a player and its charger.  There was going to be a chance that Hubs and I would have to separate and each take a boy on a flight alone.  We fly standby and every now and then, especially at the holidays, the flights inexplicably fill up and we have to change plans at the last second.  As we unloaded at the airport, I disconneced a DVD player from the van, and asked, "Where's the Thomas the Train bag?" (to put it in). 

A look of horror of recognition flashed between us as we both instantaneously realized

WE LEFT THE TRAIN BAGS AT HOME.

The fellas know now that the train bags are for flying and that there are special treats and toys in them.  They were half packed and sitting on the kitchen counter charging the DVDs most of the day, but the boys have learned since our last flight that it's possible to drag the dining room chairs across the floor (eek!), so after hollering at them to get out of there several times, one of us who shall remain nameless, removed the bags and put them up high on a shelf.  Where they remain, perfectly packed, for our next flight. 

Those snacks are gonna be stale.

The good news is that our iphones were fully charged with "Lunchbox" aka Monkey Dance and we had one DVD player with one video and most of a charge, and we all made it on the same flight just fine.  Whew!

Merry Christmas, my friend.  May you find much love and peace enjoying Christmas with the ones you love.

Thanksgiving Recovery

That's what we're in this week - half back to normal, half recovering, and starting to plan The Christmas Trip.  Fortunately, all went well on our whirlwind trip to MI to visit the families, despite being cut almost a day short due to full flights.  Unfortunately, I did not take any photos.  I'm really stinking it up lately with taking photos.  We'll blame the baby, whom I've taken to calling "Three," because I don't like saying "it," "him," or "her."

Some highlights from Thanksgiving week:

This is N and M anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving at my in-laws.  Their shirts say, "I like turkey with my game!"  They were so hungry that they climbed into their booster seats and waited for food while watching football.  This was taken by Aunt L and lifted from her Facebook page just so that this post wasn't completely void of photos.  They ate a sliced apple, applesauce, sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows and two bites of turkey, then were excused to play so the rest of us could eat as the food arrived for us!  Maybe someday we'll all eat together - maybe someday they'll eat a real meal.

Grandma and Grandpa babysat so Hubs and I could have Friday afternoon off to do some much needed shopping.  Basically, we bought his Christmas gifts and not much else, but that's okay - like I'm going to get to shop for him without the kids sometime in the next 3 weeks?  Highly doubtful.  It was fun to just spend the day together, without the boys, when we were both wide awake and not dead tired, like we are every. single. night. when they finally fall asleep. And to eat in a restaurant like real adults - you know, in peace, without high charis and spilled milk and ketchup.  It was lovely.  (In case you were wondering, we did NOT shop Thanksgiving night, overnight, or Black Friday morning.  We are not those kind of people, like some relatives we know.  You know who you are.)

In five days, my twin boys usually take 10 naps total. Last week, there was only ONE nap taken by little M on Saturday afternoon.  We have seen some SERIOUS sleep deprivation and I am now 100% convinced that my kids are not ready to give up naps.  In fact, N pulled the covers over himself last night and this afternoon, turned over and didn't make another sound!  (That's a miracle, in case you weren't sure.) What I despised last week (and nearly drove me off a cliff) is now my sweet peace this week.  There is a silver lining to everything.

Sunday was kind of whirlwind because we attended our home church in MI, then wolfed down lunch at the food court in the mall.  But I add it to my list of highlights because at the food court, we were able to share a meal with my parents and grandmother, Hubs' parents and siblings and us with the boys, all together.  The boys were happy because they got nuggets and fries (what else?), everyone was happy because they got to see them eat them (and eat what they wanted) and I was happy because I was 6 seats away when the milk tipped over and doused my mother-in-law's purse. I warned them all to watch those milk cups, so I am absolved from ruining her Coach purse.  See why I don't wear or carry anything new? 

And we can't wait to do it all over again in 3 weeks! 

Deck the Walls

This was at my mom's last weekend, when my sister and her kids were over.  My four year old nephew came running into the living room where the adults were talking, (and Hubs was being killed on the Wii by our 8 year old nephew):

Day have markers!
Who has markers?
Da babies!  Day marking da wall!
WHAT?!

I've learned from a previous experience that Magic Eraser will take this stuff off in a second, so after snatching the markers away (and they weren't the Crayola Washables, fyi) I cut a Magic Eraser in half and gave them each a piece.  I wasn't going to let them off the hook this time!

My mom, of course, thought this was hysterically funny - read her comment on July's post - and wanted me to take a picture.  I told her, no way!  I don't want them thinking this is cute enough to photograph and give a repeat performance!  (I was pretty hot - not seeing the humor WHAT.SO.EVER.)  So she grabbed her cell phone and snapped this one because I refused.

I guess now, it's kind of funny, but that's only because it came off and now mom has stored the markers somewhere unreachable by two year olds.  (Right, mom?) 

If this happens again, though....

Parent-Free Vaca

It seems appropriate that the boys' vacation should be called Parent Free if ours was Adults Only, right?  We left them in the competent hands of my parents and sister-in-law, as well as my parents and sister.  They traded back and forth!

The first day, I called right away to check on them.  Aunt L told me that N cuddled with her in the morning, asking "Daddy ok?"  Yes, she told him, Daddy's ok.  "Mommy ok?"  Yes, Mommy's ok, too. "Ok."  He was satisfied with that.

A dream come true for N!  He got to open and close the door 100 times - AND sing "wheels on the bus!"

I guess they didn't miss us too much after that.  M waved to the photo my mother-in-law keeps on an endtable in the living room "Hi Mommy!  Hi Daddy!"  He also told them that "Daddy at work at the airport," and "Mommy in the other room."  I was in the other room for 5 days, but he didn't seem to mind!

M ate the WHOLE thing!  Free popsicle day at Junction Valley Railroad

The fellas went on more excursions than we did!  They played at a neighborhood playground, rode the quarter sized trains at Junction Valley Railroad, ate at Zehnder's and took a carriage ride in Frankenmuth, swam at Sanford Beach, AND visited the Saginaw Children's Museum!  Whew, I get exhausted just thinking about it!  The boys are sleeping like rocks this week, so I guess they're recovering from the vacation as well. :)

tractors and busses and grandpa, oh my!

a little unsure of that tunnel coming up...

all smiles on the carriage ride with a horse named Ernie

we love chicken, yes we do, we love chicken, how about you?

I'm having difficulty recovering the pics of the boys at Sanford Lake with my folks and my sister, but Aunt M told me this: that they played at the splash park then had lunch.  A fence separated the picnic area from the beach. M said, "going to the beach!" and slipped between the posts, running toward the water.  My sister said her great big skinny little behind couldn't fit through the rails, but she pushed her way through because she wouldn't make it to the end of the fence to go through the gate before he hit the water!  She told him they had to finish lunch first and dragged him back.  My brilliant son told her upon returning to the picnic, "Going to the beach!" and did it again!  This time, lunch was finished and they schlepped the beach chairs and whatnot to the sand.

"Why did you bring those?" my mom asked her, indicating the chairs.

Aunt M told her she always brings them, that HER sons play in the sand and splash in the water while she reads a trashy novel  magazine.

Needless to say, Aunt M didn't get any reading done.  In fact, she never unfolded a chair.

Heh, heh.

We'll see if they're up for it again next summer because we've already made reservations for two in Kona because the boys had so much fun they're already asking for vacation again!

Update: Here are the Sanford Lake pics - it was near 100 degrees that day, extremely hot for MI!  What a great way to stay cool!

M likes to give his trucks a bath

N on two feet, though I'm told he liked crawling like a dog in the water.  Go figure.

More Wedding Fun

For the second time in two weeks, I celebrated a friend's wedding.  For the first time in years, Hubs and I dressed up, danced and were childless for 8 HOURS!  The ceremony was both joyous and solemn, we all cried at the vows, the bride was spectacular and the whole thing reminded me of my own fantastic wedding day 9 years ago,when I married my knight in shining armor. 

Then we all partied at Apple Mountain where we snapped funny photos all night long.  So if you're looking for adorable pics of the boys, read yesterday's post.  Today's post is all about me and hubs having fun with his family!

3 Handsome fellas - I like the one in the center the best!

My "Elaine Bennis" pose with the guys.  I dance like her, so why not?

I had a little accident.  Like, lighting the centerpiece on fire.  Oops.

Me and my handsome hubs.  He just gets better looking every year!

L and I strike a Charlie's Angels pose.  We'd already dumped a water glass, lit the centerpiece on fire, and our table STILL wasn't excused for dinner!  We had to do something!

Finally they opened the dancer floor!  Party!

Uncle D caught the garter! 

I could've danced all night with him!

But he couldn't, so I danced with his brother to "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.  Some of you know how much I LOVE Neil Diamond. :)

S the bride, A and Hubs lead the pack

L and S the beautiful bride

 After we left, I said to hubs, "We need to have more fun like that!"  I'm praying for more weddings for all those good looking people in our photos! And they're all single, so I've got a lot of matchmaking to do!  Actually, I stink at matchmaking.  Remember the bride from two weeks ago, K?  I tried to set Hubs up with her before I knew he liked ME!  Bwahaha! 

But we DO need to have more fun like that.  And they all ARE still single.  :)