Starbucks... oh my.

I think I was 25 when I experienced my first Starbucks drink.  Today, we made the mistake of getting the boys a Starbucks hot chocolate.  As a quick reminder, they are 6 and 4.  Parenting mistake #4345... and counting.  I don't know what we were thinking, but it didn't take long from them to go from their normal state of extreme energy to go a level of hyperism (think I just made that word up myself), that I've never seen.  Thankfully we were outside and their loud blurts of random words, phrases and shouts, didn't bother the passerbyers on the sidewalk.

And to make sure Jarrett and I don't make that mistake again, we photographed our mistake. The boys look awful darn cute, but let me tell you, wow, what ever they put in their hot chocolate is powerful, that must be why I love them so much. 

What we thought would be a nice special treat...

soon became apparent was a bad mistake on our part...

as Michael spilled half of it on his head.

but as the chocolate kicked in and they started dancing around in circles...

and screaming like college freshman boys at their first bar party...

we soon realized we had made a BIG mistake.  Even though their cups were not empty, we found the closest garbage can and tossed them away! Notice Mom was still waiting for the drink to kick in. 

Lesson learned.

Until next time,
Angie

Christmas Baking...

It has become an annual holiday tradition to bake Christmas cookies and candies.  My mom use to do it with her sisters and girlfriend when I was young and now it is something that we continue with our family members here.

This past weekend we got together and made all sorts of goodies and it was a lot of fun.  Even Uncle Nolan from New York came in for the baking weekend and it was great having the kids around to help be taste testers.  Turns out some of the adults were great quality control testers as well, but we won't name any names.

Here are a few photos that I was able to snap in between cookies and candies...

Making cinnamon cutout ornaments for the kids

Nana and Ava helping make chocolate cookies

The boys being boys and playing video games

The bakers admiring the finished products



Jarrett trying to decide what to "taste test" first.


Until next time,
Angie



Christmas Doggie...

The other night I was in the kitchen while Jarrett was working in the office.  The boys had long been in bed and I was on my way of going to bed also.  On my way out of the kitchen I looked on the couches to see if Jack was passed out asleep and to my surprise he wasn't there. 

I immediately went in search of him and it didn't take me long to find him.  As I went in the front living room I found him curled up in his bed (which he dragged out of our bedroom and into the living room) and staring at the lights on the Christmas tree.

I immediately thought to myself that I needed to find my camera and without saying a word to startle him I was able to snap a few photos...

After snapping a few pictures, I called for Jarrett to come out and see what Jack was doing. When Jarrett came out Jack turned his head around, looked at us and gave us an expression, almost to say, "Who says a dog can't like Christmas too?"

Until next time,
Angie

Creativity at work...

This morning Mom woke up with a headache and was moving a little bit slow.  Although she didn't want to admit it was the champagne, the two glasses of wine and the wonderful Baileys on ice she enjoyed while celebrating with some great friends last night.  I think I've hit the point of becoming too old to have more than 2 drinks in one night but it was sure fun last night!

So this morning when Gabriel and Michael wanted to get up at 5:55 a.m., I did my best to trudge out of bed, make my way to the couch and plop down while they attempted to play quietly (ha ha- there is no such thing).  When Gabriel asked why I wasn't up getting them breakfast, I told them I had a headache.  Moments later he was playing doctor, pretending to be Dr. Benesh (which happens to be the name of Jack's vet) and helping me to feel better.  The first thing he did was put his hand on my head and said, "Mom, your heart is really slow.  I need to check your heart." 

Still attempting to go back to sleep on the couch, the next thing I remember hearing was the office door slam and the boys cutting paper behind my head.  Then it was the tearing of the tape from the tape dispenser and the next thing I realized, there were standing over me with homemade stethoscopes taped to the sides of their face and ready to check my "heart".

I have to give them credit, they are getting pretty good at creating some unique things out of paper.  So good in fact I made Jarrett take a picture.

Until next time,
Angie

A Christmas Moment to Cherish Forever...

I've always been close to my grandfather.  When I was little he would take me to preschool, elementary, middle, high-school.  The truth is, he and my grandmother were the ones who took to college and dropped me off that final day of summer, as my parents were busy working at their weekend jobs.  For these reasons along with the fact that we shared so many times together, I'm very thankful to still have my grandfather in my life.

And even more thankful that my children are getting the chance to meet, get to know, and create memories with him as well.  Just this past week, my grandfather, "Grandpa Ray"  came down from Iowa to stay with us for almost the next month.  This will be the first time since WWII that he will be away from "home" on Christmas.  For the last 5 years Christmas has always been a very difficult time for my grandfather as he misses his soulmate, my grandmother, who went to Heaven in 2005.  Understandably this time of year, is difficult as he thinks of the wonderful memories they had together, from their first Christmas together after he came home from the war, to the Christmas' with their young children, and then with grandchildren.  I can not know the pain he must endure when he thinks of the holidays without her. 

I hope though, that seeing Christmas through our young boy's eyes that in someway the sadness that fills his eyes can be brightened with the excitement, amazement and awe that Gabriel and Michael have when we talk about this magical holiday. 

I've seen small glimpses that I think he's starting to get into the Christmas spirit.  I don't think it hurts that it looks like our house threw up Christmas decorations, really every place you turn there is a reminder of the holidays.  And then there's the coloring of Christmas pictures, the Christmas candies and cookies in every nook of the kitchen and even the humming, whistling and singing of holiday carols from various members of the family.  I think our Christmas fever is spreading... since Grandpa has been here, the Hallmark Christmas station has been on every evening and Grandpa and I have been tuning in each night at 7 to catch the nightly feel good holiday movie special.

And then there was this...

Gabriel asked Grandpa to read him "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  As I stood behind them at the sink washing dishes, my eyes filled with tears.  How lucky am I that my son gets to listen to his Great-Grandfather read one of our holiday classics. 

Christmas is truly present in our home and we hope in yours too.

Merry Christmas and as always,
until next time,
Angie

I love you in the whole wide world.

Every night as we tuck the boys into bed, we say our prayers, gives hugs and kisses as we walk out of their door, we exchange I love yous.  The boys usually say it about three or four times in a row as we shut the door and walk down the hallway to the living room.  They know that with each repeat of the saying they'll have to get louder as we walk farther away.  It is our routine and I love it.

Recently though the boys, initiated by Gabriel, have morphed our I love you saying into something uniquely their own.  Instead of just saying I love you, they now say, "I love you in the whole wide world."   Sometimes it is just left at that.  Picture this... a shout coming from a door shut and a room completely dark, "MOM?" "yes Gabriel?" "MOM, I LOVE YOU IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD."  "Thank you Gabriel I love you in the whole wide world too."

Other times the boys add in a comparison of how much they love us versus something else.  For example, the other day Gabriel said, "Mom, I love you in the whole wide world more than strangers."  Isn't that nice?  I interpret that to mean he loves me more than strangers.  Good to know where I rank. :-)  And it isn't just Gabriel, Michael joined in too.  Earlier this week Michael said, "Mom?"  "Yes Michael."  "Mom, I love you in the whole wide world more than my pants from Gabriel with holes in the knees."  Again I thought to myself, good to know where I rank. :-)

In all seriousness, it is wonderful to hear the boys be so expressive about their love and I'm extremely thankful they are so open with their feelings.  I know I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing their "I love yous"  in what ever way they express it.

Until next time,
Angie

My other life...

Last night Gabriel got to stay up a little bit later than Michael and instead of cleaning up something or letting Gabriel watch a few minutes of TV, I decided to just sit on the couch and talk to him.

He sat next to me and as we looked at the Christmas tree, he made a comment about his other life.  It didn't take me long to realize he was talking about his life before his us and his foster parents.  It had been over a year ago since he last mentioned anything about his first family.  Jarrett and I both agree that we want the boys to know that we are always okay with them talking about their life before us as it is a part of their identity and a very important one at that.  As soon as Gabriel said his other life, I responded, "Gabriel tell me about your other life?" and just like that he started talking and couldn't stop.  Almost as if a flood gate had opened.

Gabriel talked about the people in his life and how he felt about them.  I could tell as he talked that the memories were somewhat fuzzy as he'd be talking very quickly about something, stop mid-sentence, pause and then would say, "Mom, I can't remember."  Then he'd pick right back up in the story and share in detail certain aspects that left a very clear impression.  It was heart-warming to hear his story and the love he had in his eyes for the people he talked about reminded me about the loss both he and his brother have endured.  He then said, "I miss my other life, but Mom, I love my new life.  Is that okay?"  I responded, "Absolutely honey.  You know you and Michael are very special in that you have more than one family.  Most people only get to have one.  Do you know how special that makes you?" 

 A few minutes later as I was tucking him into bed, he gave me a hug and said, "Mom, did you like to hear stories of my other life?" I then told him that he can talk about those memories anytime he wants and that I like to hear them.  I'm not sure, but I think it was a really good thing that happened last night, because this morning when Gabriel greeted me at o-dark hours (really early in the morning), the first thing he said was "Mom, I liked talking to you last night about my other life, did you like it?" and again I responded, "Absolutely honey. I loved it."

Until next time,
Angie

Soccer and Baseball Saturday

This fall the boys have each been playing their own sport.  Gabriel is in baseball and Michael is in soccer.

They have been doing great and each growing and learning a lot about their respective sport. 

It has been interesting to split duties and try and cover two practices each week and games on Saturdays.  Thankfully we are lucky that they both play in fields right across from each other and luckily have only played at the same time one weekend. 

Thus, it would be fair to say we've been spending many a Saturdays at the ball park.  It is hard to believe when the season began we were wearing shorts and a tank top and sweating our, well, you get the point. 

And now just this past weekend, we went to the game dressed like we lived in the cold Midwest...

Even though the temperatures have been extreme, it has truly been fun watching the boys learn new skills.  We are proud of them and look forward to them continuing to grown as they pursue new sports and new teams.  I'd look forward to sitting outside for many more games, for I know the time will go by way too quickly.

Here are a few highlight photos from their fall season...

We are proud of you boys. 

Until next time,
Mom

The Sing Off...

In celebration of the holiday version of "The Sing Off" last night, I decided we should have our own holiday version at home.  What started out as a duet, quickly turned into a battle of who could better outdo the other...
Enjoy... and make sure to watch for the facial reactions of the non-singing competitor...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unt--ib2xtQ

Until next time,
Angie

A Gingerbread...

I know you've probably seen the pictures.  They can be beautiful.  I've seen them with ornate frosting in just the right places.  I've seen many with candy beautifully covering every crevasse and corner.  I've even seen them with accessories, like a white picket fence, a tree, and even a garage.  That's right, I'm talking about the seasonal Gingerbread House.

Tonight we attempted to make our first one as a family.  See last week Michael and I were shopping while Gabriel was in school and Dad at work.  When Michael saw it he started begging immediately, "Mom, can we have this?" Please Mom, we don't have one." "Mom, we can do it as a family." and with that, his final plea, he had me.  In the cart in went and home to sit on the counter until we found the perfect family night to do it.

Tonight Dad was able to get home at a reasonable hour so we decided to attempt it tonight. The boys were very excited about it and very willingly did everything I asked right away as to not lose the chance to assemble it tonight. While Michael was showering Gabriel helped me measure the exact amount of water to mix up the cement and while Gabriel was showering Michael poured the water into the cement mixture to make the glue.

They moved all the candy over to the table and as we all sat down I came walking over with the bag of glue.  It was then that I noticed we forgot to bring over the actual gingerbread walls.  As I turned from the counter to the table with the glue in one hand and the gingerbread pieces in the other...
And this is the part of the story where everything takes a turn for the south.

See just moments later, our lovely gingerbread pieces looked like this...

Yes, you are correct, there are only suppose to be 6 gingerbread pieces to the gingerbread house.  Not 46.

See clumsy mom happened to grab the pieces and on her way over to the table decided to throw them on the tile floor.  Okay not really throw them but you could say accidentally dropped them. You now see what happens when the pieces come in contact with a hard surface.

After a few moments of sadness and pouting (mostly on mom's part), Dad and Mom brainstormed if there was any salvaging of the activity and quickly decided there was not.  So instead we each picked a few pieces of the broken puzzle that should have been our lovely gingerbread house, and instead had a decorating competition. 

Gabriel made a snowman complete with mint disks and black sharpie marker outline.

And Michael carefully inspected every single piece of candy to see if there was even one piece that was edible (see Mom told them none of the candy was edible, it was only for decoration).

Dad was the photographer and tried to cheer everyone up.

And pretty soon everyone was really happy and having a lot of fun.

And at the end everyone picked their two favorite pieces (see we each got to have about 12 pieces each to decorate) and placed them in the center for judging.  Here Gabriel is helping Michael pick out his 2 best pieces.



And after all that, here is our finished product. 



Turns out that everyone got to vote and here's how the voting results came out.

Mom voted that Michael's were best

Dad voted that Gabriel's were best

Gabriel voted that Mom's were best

and Michael voted that Dad's were best.

You know it is funny how things sometimes work out.  See when Michael picked out this activity it was just important to him that we do it together.  When I looked at this activity, I was hoping to create a picture perfect family gingerbread house.  After dropping it and seeing my hope shatter into 46 pieces, turns out the true lesson in this was for me to learn.  It really isn't about making a picture perfect house, it is about making the most of the pieces we were given.

This holiday season, it is easy to get wrapped up in the "perfectness" that Christmas and the holidays is suppose to bring.  The perfect tree, the perfect present, the perfect card, turns out that really isn't what this time of year is about at all.  Thankfully Gabriel, Michael and Dad are around to remind me of this lesson.

So the next time you come by our house, please remind me to show you our beautiful and many piece gingerbread creation.  It may not look like the pretty picture on the box, but it sure is perfect in our mind.

Until next time,

Angie