The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ava's preschool toilet paper tube nativity.

The gingerbread train assembled by Daddy and kids.

Gramee Rosenthal's hand-knitted stockings that hung by the chimney with care.



Brown paper packages tied up with strings.

Christmas cards galore.

Nicholas posed with our poinsettia.

Christmas Eve.... the calm before the storm.

Christmas morning.

Brahm riding his new bike in the kitchen.

Simon assembling his hexbug habitat.

Nicholas trying out his new walker.

Ava and Simon on the "jump"-oline.

The Christmas of 2010 came and went with the blink of an eye.  My children wrote and mailed off their letters to Santa very early on in the season.  They were excited to receive cards back from Mr. Claus and his elves (thanks to my amazing mail carrier!).  Simon asked for piano music and a scooter.  Ava asked for a doll and a hexbug.  Brahm asked for a hexbug as well.  I love my children.  Such simple requests.  Thank goodness they don't watch normal TV programming inundated with commercials for the newest and greatest toys.  Instead, they solely watch PBS- no ads whatsoever. 

As I was preparing the Christmas Eve dinner, I reminded Jess that he needed to change his casual clothes to something nicer.  My husband gives me grief every year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, because I make him and my children dress up for dinner.  I don't know what the big deal is.  Dressing up two times out of the year for a special dinner doesn't seem unreasonable to me.  And, it doesn't bother my kids either.  But, it annoys my husband.  So, Jess talked me into starting a new tradition.  Instead of dressing up, we decided to wear our Christmas pajamas to dinner.  Everyone was happily on board with this.  

After the kids went to bed, I had a few more presents to wrap and stockings to fill.  I had to be tricky this year and wrap Santa's gifts with different paper than that used on the gifts that Mommy and Daddy were giving to the kids (the kids questioned this in the past).  I decided to use brown paper which is actually very hard to wrap with, because it is so thick and sturdy and won't stay taped.  Of all the gifts that I bought this year, I loved the stocking stuffers the best: pistachios, oranges, piano music, books, hexbugs, and wooden whistles/harmonica.

We shared our Christmas morning with Gramee and Grandpa Rosenthal via Skype.  They were able to watch the kids open all of their presents in the comfort of their home in Las Vegas.  We spent all of Christmas day in our pajamas watching movies, playing games, devouring yummy Christmas treats, and napping.  For dinner, I used the ham bone from the previous night's meal to make split pea soup. 

As a child, the end of Christmas was so depressing.  There was nothing to look forward to.  But as an adult and mother, I look forward to life calming down and children going back to school.  And, I tend to eat far more healthy when there aren't plates and bags of Christmas treats tempting me at every turn. :)

Snow Day

The Monday after Thanksgiving break, we received a message on our answering machine at 6:00 am notifying all students in the school district of a snow day.  Simon couldn't have been more thrilled, and I was pretty excited too. 

Of course, all of my children's gloves and mittens were missing.  I hadn't bought Simon snow boots yet for the winter season.  So, my children ended up wearing a hodge-podge of whatever I could find. 



Ava and Simon rolling down a snow hill in our front yard.

My backyard neighbors built a larger-than-life snow man.  It took a couple of weeks for Mr. Frosty to finally melt. 

My kids spent a good portion of the day playing outside.  By the time they came in, everything was soaked.  A jump in the tub followed by hot cocoa was a welcomed relief!

Christmas Break Sneak Peak

Because my SLR is film fed, I do not yet have my Christmas pictures developed-- hence, the "sneak peak."  I did manage to take a handful of photos with our point-and-shoot camera, though.  This is one of my favorites- Jess and Nicholas bathing in the 104 degree natural hot spring water in 14 degree weather.  Notice the snow piled up on the edge of the pool.  The water was wonderful!  Getting out was miserable! 

More pictures and stories to come (including our real life rescue from being trapped in our minivan in the snowy wilderness).

Brahm's antics

Our house faces north, which means that our driveway is constantly shaded and icy in the winter.  My kids absolutely love slipping and sliding on our sloped driveway.  I, on the other hand, am paranoid that one of them will end up in the E.R. or at the dentist with a knocked-out tooth from falling. 

I found my children playing on the ice two nights ago.  To my surprise, Brahm wasn't even wearing his jacket.  And, the shoes that he chose to put on were my heels!  The sight of him in a short sleeve T-shirt in 30 degree weather sliding in my heels was hilarious. 

What would I do without my Brahm?

  

Swimming lessons

Tonight was a sad night for me.  It was Simon's last swimming lesson.  Ava will be continuing on.  Both Simon and Ava have been taking lessons since last winter.  And, both have improved tremendously.  Simon can swim on his own in the pool now.  Ava is almost at that level.  Now we have soccer or baseball or whatever Simon wants to pursue to look forward to.    

Simon and Ava underwater

photos courtesy of Flow Aquatics

Thanksgiving weekend

The week of Thanksgiving was a busy one.  Simon had the entire week off of school.  It snowed like crazy. Jess and I made our entire feast.  We celebrated two birthdays.  We decorated our Christmas tree.  And, I did most of my holiday shopping online.  Whew! 

The view from our loft window.

Ava playing in the snow on Thanksgiving Day.

Brahm's birthday happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year.  He opened his presents in the morning while we watched the Macy's Day Parade.

Three dollars for our three-year-old.

Our Thanksgiving table.  The kids actually made the leaves that are scattered near the gourds.

Let the feast begin!

Our Thanksgiving menu consisted of:
Boursin garlic and herb cheese with crackers
Sweet potatoes with parmesan and pecans
Green beans with bacon vinaigrette
Olive oil rosemary bread
Sausage and sage stuffing
Roasted turkey and gravy
Cranberry sauce
Sparkling apple cider

The aftermath.

Simon's back for Round 2!

Decorating Brahm's baseball cupcakes for dessert.

Simon goofing around.

Brahm's after-Thanksgiving, baseball birthday party!

We woke him up from a late nap to blow out his candles.



We always decorate our tree the Friday after Thanksgiving with our Christmas tunes blaring in the background.  In the evening, we sit down together and watch The Polar Express while sipping Hot Cocoa. 






The bottom branches of our tree sagged a bit with all of the ornaments that Brahm so carefully hung.

The end result.

Our Thanksgiving week was filled with rest....

.....and horsin' around....

......and I celebrated my 32nd birthday!



Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Whose sweater is more hideous?  Mine?



Or Jess'?



Jess and I had the privilege of attending his work Christmas party donned in ugly sweaters.  In fact, everyone in attendance wore their most hideous sweaters.  Unfortunately, Jess nor I won the ugly sweater contest.  The prize went to a lucky guy wearing a Nora-esque sweater vest. 

Between Jess and me, whose sweater is worse? 

Mine jingled with the tiniest of movements.
Jess looked like an effeminate linebacker with those shoulder pads.

I've decided to hold onto my sweater for future parties. :)