Pretend birthdays

A few weeks back, Son made a table out of a box complete with a pretend 'birthday cake' for the three of us to celebrate together. He does love his birthday celebrations.

So he had a blast at his friend's seventh birthday party today. They played games, ran all over the gym (resulting in a few minor injuries), ate lots of cake & opened gifts. Son loved seeing what the gifts were. The dude loves birthdays!

Tasty delays

Son & I bought a gingerbread house down to my nephew's house where everyone pitched in to make this yummy creation. Son & nephew had a ball doing most the decorating!

No sleepy time needed here!

It's so sweet watching the kids sleep. It reminds you of the innocence that thrives in all of us as children. Such a contrast from when they're cranky & tired!

Ready to go home

This week my Mom & I took my two kids to visit my oldest brother, sister-in-law & nephew. It was relaxed week where the kids had a great time playing together & the adults hung out. The evenings were surprisingly busy with various projects. My brother & his wife went on a date night while we watched the kids. What a nice chance for a relaxed visit with family!

The trip is reserved!

Yesterday we reserved our flights & hotel (with reduced costs compliments of my parent's timeshare) to Vegas. In order to save costs, we may have to skip the Grand Canyon tour but are really looking forward to a nice couple vacation together in the future!

For now, we're staying indoors avoiding the plummeting temperatures outside especially with the kids. We have food, warmth & each other to have fun with til the weather decides to 'warm up' to a 'heat wave' of 20 degrees in a few days. Time to break out the crafts!

Not there yet...

Although I'm not there but someday I will probably be then feeling how this video describes... It was a hoot to watch though! Yes, you heard me right... I said hoot.

To new adventures!

Eight years ago (during the pre-kid era after we got married), Hubby & I were planning a week long trip to a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. The six months later he was laid off & we decided to postpone the trip for a couple of years. Two years later & one IVF cycle later, we were pregnant with our first child. Two additional IVF cycles & four & a half years later we had our second child. When you have one or more kids, it's hard to find the time & money to take a vacation alone with your spouse. We managed to get a weekend away alone before our daughter was born which helped us really reconnect.

Before Christmas, we discovered we earned two free airplane tickets. Knowing we hadn't had much time alone or even together during the past few months, we started to plan a trip & considering a cruise (since airfare wasn't a worry & babysitting was arranged). Since then some events have transpired & we have decided to put the cruise on hold for another time. Instead we're considering a couple possibilities including a day trip to the Grand Canyon with a laid back trip to Vegas. Either way, I'm looking forward to spending 'adult time' with Hubby!

The wild ride continues...

Two & a half weeks ago, we were started to celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately our wild ride has continued into the new year.

The beginning of last week, we attended my grandmother's heartbreaking wake & funeral where I somehow found the strength I needed to get through it to support my family. Afterwards we had a luncheon with my relatives where my brothers, youngest sister & our significant others found some laughter & happiness being together again. I was staying strong but grief over losing my grandmother kept creeping up & overwhelming me. I was tempted to just stay home & reorganize the house but decided our family plans for the Adventure Guide weekend to a water park resort would be good.

So last weekend, Son had a great time playing with the other kids & I really enjoyed meeting the other parents. While he didn't enjoy the water slides so much because they were dark & cold, he loved the kids' indoor play area, indoor water park & riding the tubes in the wave pool. Saturday night, Son kept waking up ALL NIGHT crying & kicking probably from a reoccurring nightmare (we think). Unfortunately we were both woken up repeatedly & Hubby kept getting kicked each time Son woke up. Sunday morning we were both exhausted physically & emotionally so we spent the afternoon at the indoor play area where Son played & made the most of the tickets he'd won.

After a long drive home, we unpacked & then Hubby started feeling off. So I let him do his thing while Son 'took care of Daddy' & then I put the kids to bed. Now normally Hubby's fine after about 20 minutes but 2.5 hours later he wasn't improving. A neighbor came over to watch the kids until my in-laws arrived while I took Hubby to the hospital where they admitted him. Luckily it was something fixable but it still scared me until Hubby started getting his color back & feeling himself yesterday afternoon.

When the kids to visit us at the hospital (so Son wouldn't worry) they did pretty good & were entertained by the cheerful staff & a 'doctor outfit'. I insisted Hubby stay (while the nurses & doctor agreed) that he stay for another day just to safe, especially since my mom & Hubby's parents were staying with the kids while I watched over my man. Yesterday he checked out & we both came home. Thankfully he's back to normal without any problems so far.

Did I mention how I'm ready to get off this 'ride' yet? I really hope the new year doesn't continue this way.

Thankful for small moments

Last week I had a fabulous day. After taking Son to preschool, Daughter had & I had a fun morning playing hide-n-seek & chasing each other around the kitchen. After picking Son up, the kids & I all took naps. Son woke up from his nap in a great mood & crawled into bed with me where we came up with a game plan for the remainder of the day. He watched a short cartoon & I finished a book until Daughter woke up. We had a late lunch, played 'band' (we all play pretend instruments) on the way to the grocery store (where Son was pretty good for a 4.5 year old) & sang songs on the way home. I was feeling absolutely overjoyed when I got home, thankful for the reminder of the simple joy felt during these simple happy moments with my kids (especially with my grandmother's passing). Just goes to show you that sometimes the sun does shine through clouds.

Doesn't Daughter & her new baby (compliments of Grandma) look like twins??? And this is what we call Son's 'creepy smile'! Try to relax boy.

Holiday moments to remember

Welcome all to 2009! The end of last year (boy, does that feel weird saying!) was a wild roller coaster that I'm still recovering from.

We braved the weather & traveled to have a fun Christmas Eve with Hubby's relatives;

Then Christmas morning we opened presents & had a breakfast casserole (prepared by Hubby this year) at our house (when immediate family is invited to join each year to share Christmas morning with us).

That was followed by massive amounts of presents & a delicious dinner at my parent's with my family.

I've never met anyone who does Christmas like my parents, especially for ten people including kids, grandchildren, my great-aunt & grandmother. Check out the fifteen stockings hung from the fireplace. Santa had his work cut out for him!

Surprisingly three of my siblings (plus a few significant others), almost all the grandchildren, a few of my uncles, & my grandma even joined us.

Let me say as the oldest of five, that it is no easy feat to get three or more of my siblings & I (plus significant others & kids) in the same place at once (especially with two siblings out-of-state). Unfortunately that's common these days with a large family.

There was a moment between my youngest sister & Grandma where they were both laughing so hard. Looking back, remembering my Grandma so happy, makes me especially thankful for the wonderful last memory of her. Little did I know it would be our last one with her.

We then went to my oldest brother's for the weekend (where most of the family met us there) to celebrate Christmas there with them as well since they couldn't make it up.

The kids had a fabulous time together, especially when everyone played hide-and-seek with them in very unique spots!

A few days after Christmas, Hubby & I went to a Broadway show with my sister-in-law & her Hubby, compliments of in-laws. What a great Christmas present! The show & music was amazing.

The night before New Years Eve, we were getting ready for the big night when a cannonball dropped on us. My mother called about midnight with news that my Grandma had passed away that evening in her in her sleep at 82 years old. I was devastated (as were other family members) & fell apart. Yes, she lived a long life & went peacefully & I'm thankful for that; but her health was improving so much that nobody expected it. Then again I guess nobody really does. How were we supposed to celebrate the new year at a party? I tried to block it out temporarily but thoughts of her kept me crying all night & throughout the day as we got ready for the party (which we already paid tickets for). The next morning my eyes were so puffy that they it looked like I was getting silicon implants in my eyelids! Did you know it is easier to apply eyeliner when you're eyelids are swollen? Oh yes!!!

After we dropped Son & Daughter off at my folks (who welcomed the distraction) on New Years Eve day, we drove to the city with my youngest brother & his girlfriend where we met my sister-in-law, her Hubby & their friends. There I managed to forget for a while, dance & enjoyed a fun evening out. That was until after the midnight toast when I made the mistakes of having three shots of tequila, all within 30 minutes! For the third or fourth time in my life, the last few hours were a blur. Definitely not the smartest thing I've done, so obviously I won't be repeating anytime soon. All in all though, it was a great night laughing & dancing with family & friends.

Santa can only be so cool...

The other day, Son was watching a commercial (that happened to have been on his christmas list) when he turned to me afterwards & said, "Santa's great Mom, but he didn't get me that toy.". It was all I could do to turn my head, stifle a surprised laugh & reply, "Oh really?"

Such honesty in kids!