happy.

Santa Claus came to our town tonight, and we were so ready.  We gave the kids a shower and put them in their pj's with promises of Santa, fire trucks, and candy.  There were all set.

We headed out about fifteen minutes before the fire department was set to come through our neighborhood, to be sure that we got a good spot to watch Santa go by.  I was sure it was going to be really crowded.  When we arrived at our spot, we were four of twelve people set to watch the parade.

Santa was running a little behind, so we hung out in the Jeep and listened to Christmas music while we watched for flashing lights.

Approximately 40 minutes after we arrived at our parade spot, the fire trucks came into view, and we all hopped out of the car, ready to cheer, and wave, and grab as much candy as we could.

The kids were so excited to see Santa, but as the fire department drove by at about 15-25 MPH, they were gone before we knew it.

And then Jack started to whimper, and Hannah looked up at me with her big, blue eyes, and said, "Why Santa no throw candy at my head?"

Apparently I remembered him throwing candy from when I was little, but he does not, in fact, throw candy in today's day and time.  Oops.  The littles were upset.

So we went home, sent the kids into the family room, and Brad and I threw leftover Halloween candy at them.  This seemed completely acceptable and fun to them, even better since we let them each eat one piece, and the rest of the night was wonderful.

Lesson learned.  Santa does not throw candy from the fire truck.

And we do not need to leave 45 minutes early to "get a good spot."

Now we know.

As we were tucking Jack in to bed tonight, he sat up and shouted, "Happy!"

I think he still had a good time - candy or not:)

Girl Time

Last night, Jack was really, really tired.  Like I'm going to cuddle up next to Mommy while we're watching TV and fall dead asleep tired.  

So tired that a little sister didn't even wake him up with her elbow (and consequently, tears) when she wanted to cuddle with Mommy, too.

So very tired, that I was able to carry him upstairs and put him in bed.  He woke up enough to roll over comfortably, and then he was out.  For the night.  My poor, little man.  So, so sleepy.

Hannah?  Not so tired.  And in desperate need for a bath.  So after we tucked Jack in, she and I came into our bathroom, and I started to run a bath.  Hannah decided she'd rather get in the shower, so I must have asked her if we could use the separate sprayer that we have for the kids.  This was an unacceptable plan.

When I told Hannah that I wasn't going to take a shower, she replied, "Yes, you is."

And I mean, really?  How do you say no to that?

So as much as I hate to take a shower at night and get all cold before bed, I pulled my hair up tight, and got in the shower with my little princess.  And I'm pretty sure the special one-on-one time made her evening.

Oh, how I love these little lovelies of ours!

For My Little Sister

On Thanksgiving, Dylan was given his first, impromptu, haircut.  And I'm not sure my sister was ready.

Uncle John?  Definitely ready.

The rest of us?  We were pretty ready, too.

But Rypie?

Not-so-much.

I can't remember if I cried during Jack's first haircut.  I remember that he cried.  And that they gave him a lollipop, and I took lots of pictures.  But I don't know if I cried - I think I was so proud of my little man, needing his first haircut.

My mom and I took him to Cartoon Cuts in the mall, and they gave me a little certificate with a lock of his hair that I will have for the rest of my life.

But I was ready.

And while Ryan thought she was ready, she was not.  BIG DIFFERENCE.

I took some pictures of this momentous occasion.  When the dust settles, and she's over Dylan's missing curls, she can look at the pictures and smile.  I hope.

Both grandparents had to hold Dylan still

Two toofers!

Hannah helped Dylan relax by holding his hand

I warned you

Proud Papa

Dylan looked so handsome.  Grammy did a good job.  And my little sister?  She pulled herself together:)

Now Hannah thinks she needs a haircut.  And that, my friends, is simply not happening.

A Happy Thanksgiving, Indeed

Our Thanksgiving was perfectly lovely this year.  We had a low-key day at home that included pajamas and warm socks.  We cooked, napped early, showered, and headed over to Grammy and Grampy's for an early Thanksgiving dinner (first time in their new house!).  The food was delicious - seriously yummy.  The company was even better:)

Jack and Daddy cuddling on the couch

Cousin love

Grampy carved the turkey

The view from above

Kisses for Dylan on his first Thanksgiving

Hannah helped Grammy make coffee

The littles played under the table:)

Buddah wanted to join in on the tickle fight

Grampy made Dylan laugh...

...so Dylan tried to eat Grampy's ear:)

It was a perfect holiday - so many things to be thankful for this year!

Happy Thanksgiving...

...from our crazy crew to yours!

May you have many things to be thankful for this holiday!

We have fun.

Sometimes, randomly, the littles do something that's just entirely too cute not to photograph.  Last night, it happened to be that before bedtime, they climbed into a basket of clean laundry to play.

 It was priceless, or so we thought.  I ran for the camera.  The battery died.

So I ran for the better camera.  And then we got carried away.

Playing in the basket for sibling pictures escalated into attacking Daddy.

And then trust falls.

{Look at that head of girly hair!!!}

And then it turned into sibling rivalry.  Pretty typical around these parts:)

{I promise he was only sad for a millisecond.}

{See?}

And then?  Hannah Bear struck again:

     Jack - "I want a turn."

     Hannah, sitting proudly, centered on Daddy's lap - "Too late.  Check minus."

But that time?  We all just laughed and laughed and laughed.

Truth

Sundays haven't been the same lately.  First of all - there's this:

(source)

I'm not ashamed to say that we were slightly addicted to Sunday night TV.  And we're going through withdrawal.  I'm trying to get into The Walking Dead.  I don't love it, but I need TV to look forward to on Sunday night.  To help me unwind before the work week.  I need Michael C. Hall or Bryan Cranston to find a new show.  And quick.  Could Aaron Paul also be in it?  Because that would be great.

*****

It is too cold to grill steaks on most Sundays now.  Sunday Steak Dinner is on hold, and it's sad:(  No steaks.  No Dexter.  No Breaking Bad.  Sundays make me want to cry.

*****

Two Sundays ago, I hit a wall.  Almost every night since I started my new job, I have worked from the time we put the kids into bed until I went to sleep.  Seriously, except for a random Friday or Saturday, crazy hours of planning, checking papers, organizing materials, etc.  And then?  I hit a wall.

I reward myself on Fridays and Saturdays when I know I don't have to accomplish anything for the next day.  But then?  I find myself procrastinating on Sunday until late Sunday night.  Which is when I start pouting that I have work to do.  

So I decided no more.  I am not bringing work home unless I have to.  Report card time, crazy weeks, etc.  Tonight I actually did some work, but all in less than 45 minutes.  And I have felt much better.  You'd think I'd be blogging more, but I'm so tired.  I've been enjoying just flipping through catalogs, surfing the Internet, watching TV, and going to bed a little bit earlier.  It's great.  I need quiet, non-work time.  I'm maximizing my time during specials.  I'm planning in advance, and making it work.  Not everything is urgent, and I'm working on this.

*****

Hannah has not had a single accident in the last two days.  Not one.  And she is so proud of herself, but not nearly as proud as I am.  

*****

Jack apparently wants to go skiing.  I wonder how one knows about skiing in Colorado at the young age of five?

*****

I'm stalking my neighbors (hi there!).  Their twins are coming home from the hospital soon, and I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear that today is the day.  I'm checking their blog like crazy, I hold my breath while the page loads - the countdown clocks are addictive.  When one of the countdown clocks restarts, my heart sinks.  I can't imagine what that feels like, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed the girls will be home for Thanksgiving.  That would certainly be something to be thankful for!  Hannah can't wait to have playmates - especially girly ones:)

*****

That is all.