Fa la la la la la la la la!

It's no wonder my dad has insisted all these years for us to ALWAYS come home for Christmas-and why he is ALWAYS so giddy about it. Having a now "big boy" Jack and little Isla has made Christmas the best ever. It was so exciting to decorate cookies for Santa and leave them out along with a love letter-and to read A Pirate's Night Before Christmas the night before Christmas. It was so fun to say things like, "did you hear that?!" and to watch his face light up with excitement! Christmas morning I listened for Jack to get out of bed and discover that Santa had checked on him during the night, leaving behind a candy cane hanging on the doorknob. "OH BOY" was his reaction as he quickly tore into it. He rushed to our room with it hanging from his mouth screaming, "Santa's here!" The only look of disappointment during the day was once we came down the stairs and there was no sign that Santa had stuck around to say "Hi." Instead of dwelling on it, we quickly gave Jack his stocking and the M&Ms, Slinky and Dora toothbrush made him forget all about it. The rest of the day was full of wrapping paper, yummy food (wooden and real), A Christmas Story and napping. What is wasn't full of was studying for the Boards-thanks Adam-It was a GREAT day.

So the Advent Tree has been a great success! We've cut, glued, glittered and baked our way to Christmas-and with less than a week to go all we have left are holiday stories, visits and A LOT of wrapping for mom & dad. I am still planning the Christmas menu and can't decided between ham or prime rib. I am tempted to go completely off tradition and make a special pasta since I have been working my way through Giada's Family Dinners. Jack's vote is for marshmallow snowmen. A tradition from my own childhood that I plan on reinstating, though tweeking a bit, is crab for Christmas Eve dinner. When I was little, we ALWAYS spent Christmas Eve at my Grandma Claire's with TONS of cracked crab. I remember those dinners fondly, and would not mind carrying it over exactly the same, BUT Adam thinks cracking crab is, "too much work for what you get," and since his hands are getting a workout in school-I guess I can cut him a break. We will have crab cakes instead.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and if I don't make it back-a wonderful New Year!

PS
Jack DID get a haircut. It was an ugly sight and I fear he will NEVER allow his head to be touched again. He misses his, "tall hair," and I have to say, I think it looked better than what we left the salon with. I am slowly and carefully working on cleaning it up while he sleeps.

Arrrrr! Merry Christmas Matey!

Since we are long done with decorating the house, Jack decided to spread holiday cheer to his pirates. We think their tree house looks great and the, "Pirates are so happy waiting for Santa Claus." -Jack.

Santa's Lap

We have NOT been able to get Jack to sit with Santa since he was a wee one. This is the ONLY time he did it and I'm hoping this is not the trend with my kids-though I know better. I think they look SO MUCH alike in these pictures! I am having a hard time believing that Jack's pic with Santa was taken two years ago and that Isla is already 8 months old (and that it's Christmas again)! We are busy decking the halls, singing carols and sipping hot cocoa. Jack is loving every minute of it (except the attempts at getting him to visit Santa) and I am loving watching my kids develop the same excitement I have for the Holidays. This season is a bit bitter sweet though-I am excited to be spending it in my own home with my own family, but miss the holiday traditions back home. This will be my FIRST Christmas completely on my own-no visits to the parent's house, no trips touring Woodland for the PERFECT tree for the big house and no getting conned into wrapping Christmas presents. I miss you guys and wish you the BEST OF LUCK!

DIY Advent

My first Christmas project of the season-turning an old Hallmark advent calendar into something new and decorative. Years ago my grandma gave me a really neat advent calendar. For everyday it has a fun and festive holiday task to do; learn the names of Santa’s reindeer, make a yummy holiday treat to enjoy, make a snowman out of marshmallows, cut paper snowflakes to hang in windows, etc. It is one of the card style advents, meant to be thrown out at the end of the year. I however, have hung onto to that thing FOR YEARS. I always knew it would be a fun one to have once we had kids. Well, now that Jack is two he is REALLY into Christmas (and is starting to recognize numbers) so we are having fun searching and pulling the numbers from the “tree” and doing whatever fun thing it tells him to do to help get into the Holiday spirit.

I found a tag template online, bought card stock and ribbon from Michael's and "recycled" branches used in my Fall decorations. Easy peasy.

Halloween Characters

The kids and I arrived in California at around two (five o'clock our time) on Halloween afternoon. After reminding EVERYONE of the time difference for us a MILLION times, we still didn’t hit the pavement until 7:00 PM (10:00-our time)-THANKS Dad! I know one Wild Thing that didn’t seem to mind. Olivia on the other hand, needed her beauty sleep!

Christmas Card?

My pumpkin patch shot just ain't gonna work.

I have the cutest video of Jack discovering he can DRAW ON THE WALL-but I am having a heck of a time uploading it to blogger-can anyone help????

btw-chalkboard paint-best invention EVER!

Fair Time

We made it to the North Carolina state fair this year-and there is nothing I love more than fair food! The corn-dogs, funnel cake, candy apples! YUMMY! This fair was a bit different than what I am used to from California. Any fair causes people to come out of the wood work-but this is Carolina...and it was insanely cold-not the triple digits I am accustom to walking the grounds to. So, we arrive at the fair and after watching a women tie a "hand of tobacco" we bought Jack some corn. While enjoying this appetizer I smelled something funny and it wasn’t mullet man standing next to me. While packing the diaper bag before leaving the house, it had COMPLETELY slipped my mind that Isla had NOT pooped in a few days (we parents know that this means MAJOR business once it’s time comes). So of course 20 minutes into our fair trip Isla has a 4-Alarm blow-out and I have failed to pack the proper provisions. Her pants were beyond “spot cleaning” and yuck had even made its way to her socks and bottom layer shirt. We had no choice but to head back home (without a single taste of fair fat). Sadly we walked our poor (half naked) baby home in below 30 degree temps-and it dawned on me-we had become “out of the wood work” people to watch.

better late than never...

We had a party last weekend. A “Celebrate Fall” party-with chili, home-made mac & cheese, corn bread, apple-pecan-gorganzola salad and cranberry-apple crisp (so YUMMY-thanks Elise)! It was so much fun! I LOVE hosting parties and can’t believe that it has taken over a year in our new house to throw one! The BIGGEST reason for the delay is simple logistics-where would everyone go?? Our townhouse is a bit over 1000 square feet and with two adults, two kids and one wild and crazy dog-pretty much every square inch is spoken for. As mentioned before (actually all the time) Adam has little to NO FREE TIME. But when he did have a nice break at the end of the summer, (the last for nearly a year) he set to work on what we consider THE BEST THING EVER! With a weekend of hard labor and high temperatures (and some contracted help) we extended our living space nearly 600 square feet! The kids love it! We love it! The dog is warming to the idea…and the mosquitoes love it so much they won’t leave!

PS
Carl was not invited to the party-thank goodness for Camp Bow Wow!

My Girl

It has been a BIG month for Isla! Early in September she sat up alone and had her first taste of real food-pears. She has not been much of an eater though-a little here a little there-she definitely prefers nursing. Looks like I am destine for another baby who can "ask for it." Being a second baby-she has made things pretty easy for me-record keeping wise-since (because she is the second after all) the baby book has yet to be bought. She sat up and ate for the first time on the same day (09/05), a few weeks later (09/12) she crawled and stood up alone!!! We couldn't believe it either-at less than 6 months old! I'm not sure what to credit (or blame) the fact that she is a girl and well, we are a more advanced specimen, or that she is a second child. Either way, I have got my hands full-and lovin every minute of it!

PS
Adam wanted me to add that she has her lower central incisors (two bottom teeth):)

five

I Love You.

Mini Me

Having kids is sometimes like looking in the mirror and seeing yourself in a way you never have before. This is great when you think your kid is the cutest thing ever and someone comments on how "they look just LIKE you!" Not so great when your two year old wigglers their chubby finger at you explaining, "no, no, no" in a tone that reminds you of your mother. Learning the traits that the kids "got" from each of us is too fun. Jack has his mama's sweet tooth, eyes and cuddliness and dad's LOVE for sports, hair and "pleaser" mentality. It's a bit early to make calls on Isla-but she DEFINITELY is a chatterbox (I wonder where she gets it:)

Happy kids

Adam has been off for nearly a month and it makes us all so HAPPY! We've been to Virginia for a family visit, Savannah for a family vacation and this weekend we are off to the beach for a quick get-away. The second year of dental school will be more demanding than the first (is it even possible?) because Adam will be taking the state board exams during Christmas break - so we won't have time like this until next Summer. I keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it and to savor this time while we've got it :)

This is how I roll...

Little miss is getting so BIG! Just this week she started to really laugh, (hysterically in fact) and roll over. I really didn't think she had it in her this early. Unlike with Jack, Isla gets very little "tummy-time." The girl LOVES to be held, but she is happy (thus the crazy laughing). It's funny how you try to do everything by the books the first time around. Isla is 3 months old and I'm still looking for that darn book! Isla's tummy time consists of her tummy next to mine while I hold her and work at the same time. Realizing she was able to roll over was just a fluke. I needed both hands and set her down on the floor for a quick second. Before I knew it, she had herself propped up by the elbows with a big, proud smile. Who knows, she maybe has had this skill for weeks now!

What I've been up to

Before


After



With the recent abuse of the online SUPER rummage sale that is craigslist - I thought I would remind us of its SUPER greatness. We bought this hutch for SUPER cheap from a young family (with a two year old and one on the way) leaving NC for our old stomping grounds of the East Bay. It seams we are living mirrored lives! Adam was a bit skeptical of the orangey-red ginormous hutch in our teeny-tinny living/dining room. I saw it’s potential the minute it posted!

mid-summer collage

Naps

As I write this, two Littles are fast asleep. I am among the lucky ones: two kids that nap at the same time. Jack is still going strong with his three hour a day rests, and Isla sleeps on and off throughout the day. It usually works out like this: Jack down at 1-ish and Isla down by 2. Jack up at 4-ish and Isla around 5. It's a great schedule. Each kidlet gets a little "mom" time of their own and mom gets a few hours to herself. Up until recently (I have started back to work) I used this time to do things I really enjoy. Most of the kitchen revamp was done during naps and I redid the downstairs powder room (pics to come) as well. I painted the banister one afternoon, potted plants the next and last week I baked a cherry pie from scratch. It is amazing what a difference this time makes. The mornings fly by with breakfast, baths, usually some sort of arts&crafts project or outside play, lunch and clean up. The evenings are crazy with dinner prep, Adam coming home (among the highlights of my day ;) baths, books and bed. A night or two a week we keep the kids up a bit later to Skype with grandparents (the three-hour difference is the pits)and of course there is always laundry and cleaning. Phew! With starting back to work I realize I am fortunate to work from home (I can throw the laundry in between emails) but find it difficult to set aside time for the things I enjoy. The cherry pie was so dee-lich I bought more cherries to bake another. I just had to throw them out because of mold. I just wasn't able to get around to baking this week. I have been using the naps to work-except today. Today I blog.

Family Planning

After we had Jack I read a few articles on the subject of kid spacing. The "planner" that I am, I wanted to do this family thing the "right" way. There are of course, pros and cons for any way your family develops. But as my mom told me when we found out we were pregnant:"These things happen when they are suppose to". We planned our Jack and still freaked out when we saw two lines. Poor Isla crept up on us at one of the craziest times of our life. That first trimester of moving, settling in to a strange place and completely new routine and chasing after a toddler while feeling like I could hurl at any moment; it was hard to see any joy. Fast forward a few months, exactly two years after we had our little Jack, we were blessed with our Isla and we had joy coming out of our eyeballs! These things do happen when they are suppose to! Two years, 5 years, or like my aunt, 14 years later... For us, two years was perfect. Jack has had no problem adjusting to a new baby. It is like Isla has been with him all along.

Two Weeks and Two Gallons of Paint

Click for more Before & After

Adam and I hate to paint. I mean we really hate it. The only thing we hated more was our kitchen. With a lot of paint, way too much time and new granite countertops, we were able to transform out kitchen on the tightest of budgets. We are so happy with the results! The kitchen, dark and narrow before now looks bright and open. Because of the money it saved to do it ourselves I have no regrets, but I do swear to never again take on the task of painting cabinets (especially without a garage to work in). Our living room acted as our work space and with two kids this was not a good idea. The process took longer than we expected and our house was in shambles for way too long. My parents remodeled their kitchen when I was in high school and it took nearly a year to complete. I remember having to use the camping trailer as our kitchen during that time. Mom, you are amazing for making it through it without killing any of us or the contractors. It is rough not having a kitchen with kids (and mine was never completely out of commission). We plan on enjoying our "new" kitchen for the next few months. Adam will get another break from school in July during which we plan on pulling up the carpet in the living/dining room and vinyl in the kitchen and installing pergo in it's place. Stay tuned for more townhouse b&a....

Happy Mother's Day

Two kids into Motherhood = a few more wrinkles, many ponytails, moments wondering when I last washed my hair, finding peanut butter on my butt and puke on my shoulder (while grocery shopping), thanking the Lord for Noggin, being fluent in "Toddler", knowing all the Eric Carle books by heart, singing along with the Backyardigans, a million kisses given everyday and wondering if my heart is capable of loving more.

I LOVE being your Mama Isla and Jack! Thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day (and everyday)!

One month down...

Life is busy. Diapers (sizes 1 and 5). Feedings (every two hours on the dot). Laundry (at least a load a day). Cooking (from Everyday Food...great cookbook). Cleaning (how many toys does one two year old really need?). Staring into this perfect little face (as often as possible). Life is good.

I only have eyes for you

Isla has spotted her big brother and it's love at first sight.

Having two children born on the same date is an amazing thing. Looking at my beautiful baby girl moments after she was born and then seeing my big two year old boy really put into perspective just how fast the time goes. Before Isla was born I thought about this "time-flying" phenomenon and made a pledge to myself to take more pictures (especially video). Unfortunately, timing was not on my side and our third (yes, third) camera in two years quit working. No second story drop, no toddler toss in the toilet, no negligence whatsoever. It just quit. We promptly took the camera to the camera ER in the mall and sadly signed away on a 6 week repair voyage for the Canon. Mind you, Jack's birthday was a week away and the baby was due a few days following. A few days before The Birthday, Adam was talking with a neighbor about our ill camera and the crappy timing and as luck would have it she had just purchased a new one. She offered us her "old" camera to use so that we had something to document this eventful time. I am so happy we had a camera, but I can see why she needed to buy a new one ;)

Kitchen: Before & After

Granite: Kashmir White
Faucet: Moen Anabelle
Cabinet Paint: Valspar White
Wall Paint: Sherwin Williams Tradewind