New Year's Eve - Goodbyes

I can't believe it's New Year's Eve again. Frankly it surprises me every year that January is after December. And I've just figured out why that is. I think of the calendar as a vertical line with January at the top and December at the bottom. And I also think of the years as sitting next to each other, not running together end after end. All Januarys are next to each other, etc. So it seems odd that when we're at the bottom in December there is this invisible connection to the top again to January. I know it's odd but it's sort of like all those other associations I make like colors for school subjects (English is yellow or red, math is red, science is green, social studies is blue). But I digress. A long standing tradition with my friends is to say goodbye just before midnight to all the things (or people) that will (or already have) left us with the ending of that year. Good or bad. And usually they are bad. Some not so bad, like we'll say goodbye to my old job because I will leave it in 2004 and won't have it again in 2005. The ones relating to people are obviously sadder. As an example we will probably say goodbye to Ronald Reagan who also left us in 2004. This will be one we'll do early on, it's easy to say goodbye to a president we never knew. We'll need much more beer and emotions to get through the rest of our goodbye list. I actually suggested we skip it this year because I'm too chicken to actually live through it. Although if I lived through the 1999 goodbye of my mother and the 2003 goodbye of the baby then I can pretty much survive anything. And I know that there are things we need to say goodbye to so others can have that little step toward closure. But just as I said about the calendar we are on the bottom in December only to be at the top again in January. The new year and all the new events to come fill us with at least the hope that the new year will be better. And it has to be better!

Three Months Old!

Here is Joshy at three months. How cute are those little cheecks!

How cute am I??

Sledding!

Chris took Paige to his parents "hill" to sled for the first time. We had bought sleds for the kids from Santa but since they really wanted to go tonight we gave Paige her sled early and told her it was from us. I really wanted to surprise her with it under the tree, it makes such a good visual, but giving it to her tonight was the right decision. They had a blast. Now, this hill is nothing compared to the high school hill where we grew up sledding, or the place across from the dump where I think we went a few times, but to Chris, growing up it was a mountain. And I guess with snow it's pretty fast, especially if you're 5. Here is a picture of my happy girl once she came back inside.


I love sledding!!

Snow Day!

It's a snow day! Wooohooo! Even though it has been years since I've been in school I still get excited for snow days. Today is Paige's first snow day ever. We're watching movies and having hot chocolate...all the classic snow days things to do. Except she can't play in the snow because it's insanely cold and I'm not taking the baby out. But maybe when daddy gets home. She did go out to check the mail for me, mostly so she could be in the snow a little and she came back in 5 minutes later crying from being cold! She put her boots on but had no socks, she didn't wear her mittens and kept picking up the snow. So now she's snuggled down wearing dry pants and socks and her gloves under a blanket watching a Barbie dvd. What could be better when you're 5!

I'm going to be an Auntie again!

Chris' sister Mary just called with good news! She's pregnant and we're going to have another niece or nephew next summer! From my calculations she'll be due either the end of July or beginning of August! I'm so excited for her and Tom! They got married in June but they have been together for years. Tom has two boys from his first marriage and Mary is a better mother to them than their own mother is, but still we all wanted her to have her own child and experience it all from the beginning. And she should have this baby in plenty of time to loose some weight before she has to be maid of honor in her twin sister's wedding! 2005 is shaping up to be another busy summer of showers and excitement! Wooohooo! We are so happy!!!

What a day!

I cannot believe the day I am having! Since Joshy was asleep when we went to get Paige I decided to head to the post office and get stamps for the Christmas cards I made yesterday. Now the past 2 times I've gone to the post office I locked the kids in the car and ran in. This is a small neighborhood post office so it's not really a big deal. But Paige said she gets afraid, and she's right it's not a smart thing to do, so I took them in with me today in the pouring, freezing December rain. Thankfully Joshy kept sleeping. And I ran into Jerry the nice man who used to work there and knew everyone's name. So it was lovely. Leaving I had all kinds of stuff in my hands: gloves, receipt, stamps, credit card, baby seat and Paige's hand. It was a lot to carry but I got the kids back in their seats and went headed back to the elementary school since Paige had forgotten her school pictures. While she was in retrieving them I went to look at the pictures on the stamps. You guessed it, no stamps. So now I'm out of the car in the pouring rain like a mad woman, tearing it apart looking for the stamps. Of course we can't find them so we go back and look all around the puddly parking lot-still can't find them and no one has turned them in. Now I'm out $30 and have no stamps and since I'm not working I can't really afford to throw away $30 at Christmastime. GRRRRRR!!!!!

Well when we get home I decide to make a lasagna since Joshy is still alseep and Chris won't be home until 6. He usually cooks but since I have the time, and it's one thing I actually know how to make I decide to help out, otherwise we'll be eating dinner at 7pm. It's going along swimmingly until I go to put the mozzarella on top and discover the package I just opened is moldy! This from the same grocery store where I just got a sour container of 1/2 and 1/2 last week! Of course I had mixed some of this mozzarella in with the ricotta so it's all throughout the lasagna, I can't just pick it off the top. Now my head is about to split open because I am now out more money and I am not going back out in the rain to get more cheese. Thankfully Chris called the store to complain and they're going to give us a fully cooked roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and corn to replace our dinner. But still. It was a really nice lasagna, and I can't believe I had to throw it out! And I got sauce on my shirt. And the Joshy woke up and while eating he pooped through his clothes. I think I'm going to bed when Chris gets home. I can't take anymore!!!!!

Sleeping Through the Night

Sleep is a wonderful thing! And Joshy is getting the hang of it. Two nights ago he slept from 10:30 to 3:30 (5 hours) and last night he slept from 10:30 to 5:00 (6 1/2 hours)!! It is unbelievable how good and sane I feel after a good nights rest! Wahoo!
And the next time he goes to the doctor they'll say he can start on foods and juice. I can't wait! I get so excited when my kids reach a new fun phase of life. By the way, for all those interested he was 10 lbs 15 oz and 22.5 inches at his 2 month visit. Still a little peanut!