Curious-er and Curious-er

Could it really be that I did not learn my lesson last time I was eyeball deep in laundry.... the lesson of doing it regularly and folding it right away.... nope and NOPE.

Spoke too Soon

We had our first fight over a toy today. tears, screaming, crying... the works. :(
Nick wanted it and big, mean Claire took it from him.
It was Claire's toy and Nick was too little for it so she took it from him.
Nick proceeded to chase after Claire crying and screaming. What a sight... And yet, it was so cute at the same time. I can say that because neither of them can read.

A Moment in Time

Tonight I looked over from my perch on the couch next to my husband and saw my little ones playing nicely by themselves and thought to myself, 'how did we luck out and get these two?' Then I wondered if every mother has a moment like that, if every 'demon child' has a moment when their mom feels lucky to have them. Maybe there is nothing I can do to preserve this moment, nothing I can do to ensure that I have the same moment tomorrow night so I'll just enjoy every moment as it comes and make the most of them.

Who am I kidding; look at these kids; they are angels.

Happy New Year!

Ok, we weren't ready to come back from vacation so soon, so we extended it by vacationing in our backyard. We went into China Town yesterday with Mary and Bill to celebrate the Chinese New Year. One of our family friends has an exchange student from China and she was really down about not being home for the celebration so we all headed into China Town to cheer her up. It was fun, definitely something we will only do once, it was crowded and a bit cold but fun!

Flying South

to warmer climates.

Like Rabbits!

Recently Ami posted her kitchen after making soup.... It definitely qualified her as a Havener. Although semi-legally I am no longer a Havener in name, I recently realized that another qualification is that when you have people over you rush around like crazy people trying to get your piles of stuff that should have been sorted through hidden. In some cases this may render an entire room unusable. (usually a bedroom)
Digging out is proving more challenging than initially anticipated. My mayhem and foolishness do not give up easily. And little hands have gotten a time out for aiding an abetting said clutter in it's escape to other rooms of the house.
This is how we know we are related... Clutter follows and multiplies around us.

Laundry ... Bah!

I would be interested to see who is also experiencing this laundry burst? I know I have not been able to do laundry for about a week, but I spent the better part of two days at my father-in-laws house last week monopolizing their washer/dryer. And now that I am starting up again at home I realized it could take me until we leave for vacation to get caught up! We are only three and a half people. Most days I don't get dressed, cause no one will see me and apparently my desire to impress and seduce my husband has taken a downturn. Claire did revisit bed wetting but only once a night and she isn't having accidents during the day. Nick, well he changes when he feels like it, usually once a day. He's not too messy yet. Jim wears, well he's the wild card, but I don't launder his work pants, But he does wear about two 'outfits' a day, work and pj type comfy clothes.... So how is it that every available space in this (I give it small) apartment is full of laundry!?
Boo hiss, I hope I win the lottery, then I will donate all my dirty clothes to the needy and buy all new stuff that doesn't need washed. I may also get a massage and something nice for my husband. (if he's nice to me)

Kisses

Cat and Mouse

Claire and Nick have been working on co-existing in our little space. Claire has discovered that by moving Nick's hands when he is pulled up on something- he falls down. And Nick has discovered that crying will save him from all situations uncomfortable especially those involving little sisters. So we have a great cycle of crying and falling... Nick is getting the short end of this arrangement mostly.
Yesterday evening we got a glimpse of what life will/would be like when/if they get along with each other. And it was Reeeeeeeaaaallly cute :)

Mommy Look What I Can Do!

All by his stinkin' self. What a shame we have to lower his crib mattress before he even got to really use it.

And Claire wanted to share this with you...

Need a Smile?

Notice that the Ingas have diapers on....

Home Again

We are home!

Ok not that home, but home enough, away from Gram's house. While we love her, she was glad to see us go. She looked like this in the beginning,

and I did not feel safe photographing her near the end. ;P
Santa came to Gram and Pap's, bringing giant smiles and a present for everyone.

We love Santa. Claire is sad to see the tree come down and even more upset about the stockings missing from the bookshelf. I guess she understands that means no more presents for a while.

Snow Babies

Yesterday was our first snow of the season and boy did it do it right. about 6.9 inches of white goodness fell overnight greeting us this morning clean and fresh. And we couldn't wait to get into it and mess it up! We bundled up and hit the 'front yard' to make some snow angels and tromp around in our new snow-pants. Nick liked it OK for about 3 min. and Claire loved it. I can't get over how much more she is able to enjoy things as she gets older. She really is our little angel.

Psalms 91:7

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

On The Move And Chatting all the Way

9 Days!? Can it Be True

Today we went to play group and we met Santa! We didn't sit on his lap, we sat with the less scary elf-lady. But we got a teddy bear for effort and even smiled a little (not that I caught that on camera....

We also made it on the news, well they were filming when we were there, but I don't know if we will be on the news or not, watch for us at 5 and 11! apparently they are low on news since our little playgroup holiday party made the cut... Overall our first Santa experience ended with no tears and two new teddy bears...
Can there really only be 9 days left till Christmas?!

Hang-Over-Day-Off

Yesterday on 'hang-over-day-off' we went to get a tree. It was bitter cold as Claire's face will tell you, but we picked what we believe to be the best tree on the lot. ('Big as Daddy and fat as Mommy' just like Claire wanted)

We got it home, stood it up and opened our much awaited train! Claire and daddy tried to figure it out, and when they did we were all smiles :) Thank you GB and Pappi!

Then of course after about an hour of messing around with the train (I forgot how much time you spend lining up little wheels as opposed to actually running the thing) We had to decorate it, the tree of course.

And take our picture in front of it.

It was a good day.

Holiday Cheer

This past weekend, the kids and I hit the road. We went to Aunt Ami's!
While there we did lots of fun stuff, like going to see a three story house shaped like a shoe and baking cookies... none of which I have pictures of. Those are on Ami's camera.
I do have pictures of our Sunday. We went to see Aunt Laurie! We helped her put up her Christmas tree.

She was THRILLED to have us...

once we figured out that she is always so jazzed we were no longer scared by her overt enthusiasm

We helped with everything, the nativity

the ornaments (ok, we let Annie put on her own)

We even made some handmade crafts to decorate our own homes with.

It was a great day of family and fun, exactly what we needed to get us in the holiday spirit.

Thanksgiving

thankful for sisters, all sorts
thankful for cookies
thankful for aunts and uncles
thankful for christmas trees
thankful for no traffic in NYC
thankful for family :)

Just an Update

We are doing well here in cold, rainy New York. Planing a trip to warmer climates? next weekend at Ami's spa and resort. (we expect warm moist towelettes after dinner) Getting in the Christmas spirit with our advent wreath, ok so we haven't actually dug it out yet, maybe tomorrow after we can get to the back of the closet. But we did advent today at lunch and it just reminded me of family, singing carols after dinner and baking cookies. It made me kind of homesick. I wonder if my mom felt that way about any of her christmas traditions, do they still make her miss her mom? The tree will come soon enough and then the surprise christmas train from GB and Pappy! Lights already sit on my floor waiting to find a place in the windows, maybe they will race... a nod to my mom. and 'Santa Baby' is in my kitchen ready to sing and dance whenever the mood strikes.
Until Christmas, we will continue to attend play group on Tues. and reading hour at the library Wed. and Thur. Nick will continue to become more mobile as the days progress, first rolling and now scooting on his face, just like his sister. :) Jim will work and work, awaiting the Christmas break when he gets to see his in-laws and perhaps sleep in past 8am. I will work feverishly to get the house in order and eagarly await the Christmas day when I get to hug my mom and dad and tell them thank you for the best christmas present ever.
What are your plans for the month?