Merry Christmas Everyone

This year we all got the gift that keeps on giving. That's right. We all got a bug. Erin spent most of the night of Christmas Eve sick in the bathroom. Jeffrey woke up about 5 with his own issues. Both kids were very worried that since they were awake Santa might not come, but I sleepily assured them that being sick didn't count. Santa might have already shown up anyway. So Tom spent the rest of the night sleeping with Erin and I snuggled in with Jeffrey. Erin woke up about 7:30 feeling better, but still icky. After a while, before breakfast, she curled up on the couch in a ball.


Both kids were able to enjoy their Christmas though, especially once the Motrin kicked in. Erin had asked Santa for some un-breakable headbands and he certainly came through. He also tucked some lip balm and sparkly nail polish. Boy, my little girl is certainly growing up.





Jeffrey had asked Santa for a train table. Since the whole table wouldn't fit in the sleigh, mommy and daddy came through with a wooden train set for him. Tom made Jeffrey wait until the very end of Christmas morning to open the "big box". He certainly was excited once he did get to open it. His Star Wars toys from Uncle Bill were also a huge hit. Thanks, Uncle Bill.





The rest of Christmas was low key. We tried out some new Wii games. Erin tested her Bolt DS game. We put together puzzles and Leggos. The kids have also really enjoyed their "Stuff to Do" boxes that Grandma W. sent them. She filled a couple of shoe boxes with some paper and pencils, simple crafts, Bingo games etc . . . Each day both kids have gotten into their boxes to dig something out. Pretty cool idea.





Since people were feeling down we decided to hold off on Christmas dinner until everyone could enjoy it. So our quiet Christmas at home, ended up a bit more quiet and low key than we'd planned, but it was still pretty special.

SNOW!!! In Action...

More Snow. We're not having any fun at all.

Yes Virginia . . .

. . . there is snow. And lots of it. It seems we're surviving the great snowpocalypse of '09. They predicted snow, so I made sure we had a gallon of milk. That was about all I made sure of. Maybe I should have taken it a little more seriously.

This was a weekend that had been full of plans. We had two final shows of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. There were two holiday parties, including the annual Baxton Wine Party. The gym was holding a family "Santa Brunch and Dash." Well, none of that happened. What did happen was this.




Yep. Snow. LOTS of snow. After about 24 hours of constant snow we have accumulated somewhere between 20 and 24 inches. That's more snow than we've seen in VA in the last 10 years combined. Honestly. Pretty freaky.

About 5 PM Friday evening the flakes started falling. It took Tom 2 hours to make the 40 minute drive home. We ate a late dinner and then headed out for a nightime walk in the snow. It was beautiful, pristine and silent except for the giggles of one little girl. Jeffrey was not having quite as much fun because we couldn't find his boots and his feet were cold. We stopped at the top of the hill and had a snowball fight in the middle of the road. After a quick cup of cocoa when we got home, the kids snuggled off to bed.




We woke in the morning to an amazing amount of snow. More snow than I ever even remember growing up in MA. After breakfast we bundled up the kids and sent them outside. Finally realizing that I must have accidentally sold Jeffrey's boots, we layered 2 pair of soccer socks and put him in mommy's boots. That's right, the 4-year old is wearing mommy's boots. They had a blast plowing through the snow. For both of them it came up to about mid-thigh. Erin really wanted to sled, but the snow was too soft. I finally went out and packed down a little path for them to get a few slides in. After an hour or so there was snow just about everywhere. In hoods. Inside pant legs. In boots. Inside gloves.

For the rest of the afternoon we hung out inside. We made cookies and some ham/bean soup. Tom baked bread and we just had a blast.

I assume we'll be snowed in for at least another two days. Maybe tomorrow we'll try sledding down the road.

Just a Phase

I'm really hoping this is just a phase. Please don't tell me, "It only gets worse," "Wait until they are teenagers". Because you might just find pictures of my cute little guy on E-bay. He'll be sitting on the 3rd step from the bottom, because he lived on the time-out step today.

The backtalk and the sass are driving me nuts. I honestly hope that it's nothing more than a phase. I don't remember Erin being much of a back talker or sasser when she was 4. But maybe she was.

A basic conversation from today..

"Hey bud, can you find some shoes so we can go to the library."
"No, I'm busy."
"I told you a bit ago we were going to try to go to the library this afternoon."
"Well I'm busy now."
"Jeff, please go up and get your shoes."
Sassy voice, "Please go up and get your shoes."
"That's it. Time out step. No library."
"Fine."
"Fine"

Seriously looking back at it, it does look like a conversation with a 15 year old. Heaven help me in 10 years.

Thankfull Days

It's been a few weeks since Thanksgiving. Forgive me since they've been busy weeks.

As had become tradition we host Thanksgiving for the extended family. This year we had 14 people sleeping in the house at one point (3 BR, 2 bath). Close quarters, but it's all family.

Tom's brother, sister-in-law and their 2 daughters arrived Tuesday afternoon. Erin and Jeffrey were waiting at the window for them to arrive for several hours it seemed. They see their cousins a few times a year, and always play nicely together. Even if Jeffrey ends up the odd man out sometimes.



Grandma and Grandpa W. arrived later Tuesday night. The kids got to play with them for a few minutes before bedtime.


Wednesday was a day of some errands in the morning. Then the parents took off for a local winery leaving the kids with Grandma and Grandpa. We discovered a chocolate wine that was just divine!!

Thursday morning Noni, Grandpa, Oma and Uncle Jon arrived. How exciting!!!! We all had a great day. We chatted a ate. Tom smoked a turkey (which was done by 1 PM when we were planning on eating at 4 PM), there was ham, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing, mashed taters....all the fixings. We also had a plethora of pie. Can't ever have too much pie :)


As an extended family we all enjoy games. Clearly late to the party, but we all discovered Apples to Apples over the weekend. There were laughs, guffaws and all out silliness. So much fun!!!

While the adults played, the kids had their own party . . . in Erin's bedroom. Three cousins (Erin, Rylie, and Jeffery) spent the week camped out on Erin's floor. They all had so much fun chatting. Reading stories. Playing games. I'm not sure how much sleep was had, but fun with cousins is precious.

Friday morning, a few of us ventured out to black Friday fun. Jon and I hit up Toys-R-Us. Tom, Jeff and Robyn headed to Best Buy. They returned with mommy's Christmas gift...a new HD TV!!!!! So Friday afternoon we got some time to relax and watch a movie on the new TV.
Erin and Rylie spent the afternoon playing with Oma. What a special relationship Erin has with her Oma. Not every little girl has a 93-year old best friend. After dinner Friday, Noni et al had to head back to DC. The kids were very sad to see them go.

Saturday was another quiet day around the house before we headed out to dinner at a local Japanese restaurant. The kids call it the "fire place" and all had a great time. Jeffrey made sure to let Grandpa know, he really likes shrimp (which he does). When we got home we had time for a quick campfire in our fire pit on the deck.


Sunday morning Grandma and Grandpa had to head home. Daddy and Uncle Jeff planned a brew day. The mommys had some shopping to do and brought Mr. Jeffrey (feeling a little left out with the girls) along for the trip. The kids all had a great time playing.

We all had a great week with family. Though a little cramped at times, that's the way we like it. Can't wait to see you all again :)