No mother of two should be up at 2:30 a.m., let alone posting (and catching up on all of her friend's blogs - did Racheal Janakes have her baby or what?!!). However, I'm a bit cracked out after downing countless Coke Zeros today in order to complete a major cleanse of our house. Specifically, I went through the kids' toys and stuffed two huge garbage bags full of books and cars, baby toys, etc. (etc., etc.!). I also cleaned out the kids' drawers - including their dreaded sock drawer - and came up with another bag full of clothes they've outgrown (I'm saving the most precious items for progeny, of course). I was thrilled to throw in four pairs of my own shoes that have occupied precious space in our San Francisco closet.
It feels so good to get rid of all of this stuff...I will joyfully deposit several large garbage bags (along with our old vacuum cleaner) at Goodwill tomorrow morning!
It does not, however, feel good to know that my yummy babes will be up and at 'em at a horrifyingly early hour...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Computer armoire?
I'm seeking a computer armoire/office. You know, the kind with cabinets that you can close at the end of the day (and hide the mess)? With the cabinets shut, it should be discreet and should look like a regular armoire or other piece of furniture, as it will be occupy a conspicuous spot in our dining room.
I need to make a purchase because I'm moving out of my office/laundry room in the next couple of weeks. We're remodeling the room to become a bedroom for Jackson, thus giving Jack & Abby their own rooms. We've moved our laundry downstairs to the garage, which isn't as annoying as it sounds, and is certainly worth it for the kids to have their own bedrooms.
I'm not terribly excited about working in the dining room, but I AM excited about decorating the kids' bedrooms. Here's what I've picked out for Jackson, and here's Abby's....
I need to make a purchase because I'm moving out of my office/laundry room in the next couple of weeks. We're remodeling the room to become a bedroom for Jackson, thus giving Jack & Abby their own rooms. We've moved our laundry downstairs to the garage, which isn't as annoying as it sounds, and is certainly worth it for the kids to have their own bedrooms.
I'm not terribly excited about working in the dining room, but I AM excited about decorating the kids' bedrooms. Here's what I've picked out for Jackson, and here's Abby's....
Friday, December 28, 2007
Christmas 2007
Christmas truly was something for the record books. Jackson, our happy helper, assisted all of us in opening our gifts. He tour through present after present, barely pausing long enough to appreciate each goody he unveiled. Despite his frenzy, it took several hours to open all of the gifts. By the end of it, even Jackson was exhausted (and that's a rare occurrence)!
Next year, we may decide to limit the number of gifts beneath the tree. The kids would be just as happy with a handful of gifts, as opposed to the gross consumerism displayed this year!
That said, I don't know if Scott and I will be able to show any restraint. We're not so great at demonstrating restraint when it comes to buying gifts for each other! Just like we do every year, Scott and I promised not to get each other anything, preferring instead to bankroll the money (the kids need to go to college, right?). And despite this promise, we suprised one another with numerous, fabulous gifts! My sweet husband spoiled me with a Gocco, mani/pedi gift certificates, Dolce & Gabbana's new scent, the new Feist album, and several other presents. My favorite was a 3 ft. x 3 ft. stretched canvas print of Jackson and Scott (posted below).
My mother-in-law (Grandma Candy) came to visit, which made for an extra-special holiday for the kids. We bought her a digital camera...she's not sure she'll be able to work it, but we have hope for her yet! After all, she's managed to navigate her Mac computer, emailing regularly, purchasing airfare online, and even reading this blog!
Several days later, ribbons and boxes, lonely puzzle pieces and Thomas trains are strewn up and down the halls. I plan to go through the kids' toys this weekend and make a giant contribution to Good Will, while making room for all of the new stuff Jack & Abby received.
We had an amazing holiday. We are so blessed to have each other and are extremely grateful for the gifts given and received - both temporal and spiritual.
Forgive me for posting so many pictures...this post was created in large part for the grandparents who couldn't be here.
Opening gifts
So many presents...
Beautiful blue-eyed boy
Jackson and his new shirt
The picture Scott used for my canvas - my favorite gift!
Jack and his Daddy
Jack, Grandma & Scott - admiring the photo book!
Abby with wrapping paper stuck to her bum
Finally enough hair for a ribbon!
Next year, we may decide to limit the number of gifts beneath the tree. The kids would be just as happy with a handful of gifts, as opposed to the gross consumerism displayed this year!
That said, I don't know if Scott and I will be able to show any restraint. We're not so great at demonstrating restraint when it comes to buying gifts for each other! Just like we do every year, Scott and I promised not to get each other anything, preferring instead to bankroll the money (the kids need to go to college, right?). And despite this promise, we suprised one another with numerous, fabulous gifts! My sweet husband spoiled me with a Gocco, mani/pedi gift certificates, Dolce & Gabbana's new scent, the new Feist album, and several other presents. My favorite was a 3 ft. x 3 ft. stretched canvas print of Jackson and Scott (posted below).
My mother-in-law (Grandma Candy) came to visit, which made for an extra-special holiday for the kids. We bought her a digital camera...she's not sure she'll be able to work it, but we have hope for her yet! After all, she's managed to navigate her Mac computer, emailing regularly, purchasing airfare online, and even reading this blog!
Several days later, ribbons and boxes, lonely puzzle pieces and Thomas trains are strewn up and down the halls. I plan to go through the kids' toys this weekend and make a giant contribution to Good Will, while making room for all of the new stuff Jack & Abby received.
We had an amazing holiday. We are so blessed to have each other and are extremely grateful for the gifts given and received - both temporal and spiritual.
Forgive me for posting so many pictures...this post was created in large part for the grandparents who couldn't be here.
Our nudie girl
Opening gifts
So many presents...
Beautiful blue-eyed boy
Jackson and his new shirt
The picture Scott used for my canvas - my favorite gift!
Jack and his Daddy
Jack, Grandma & Scott - admiring the photo book!
The Christmas bomb
Abby with wrapping paper stuck to her bum
Finally enough hair for a ribbon!
The kids' birthday party
It was awesome, to say the least. More than 60 friends came over to celebrate our sweet munchies' birthdays. We were incredibly touched and honored by this tremendous outpouring of love. It's especially important for Scott and me, as we have no family close by.
The kids were ridiculously cute. Jackson - cracked out as ever - did wind sprints up and down the halls, shrieking all the while. He was so overwhelmed and ecstatic with all of the guests and all of the attention. Abby is a blossoming social flower; she greeted each reveler with a wave and "hi" and was quite thrilled to be passed from person to person all afternoon. I barely saw my baby girl!
In addition to standard party fare - food, drinks and goodie bags for the kids - we invited a local children's musician (Keta) to play songs at the party. Abby was the belle of the ball, dancing along fanatically to every song Keta played.
Jackson and Abby blew out their candles after the chorus of 60 sang the birthday song. Mom & Dad had baked mini-cupcakes for the occasion. Despite the fact that they were "mini," Jackson still managed to consume his body weight in sugar, which meant a very long and painful bedtime process. Abby - just like most 1-year-olds - simply stuck her entire face into the cupcake, grinning widely through frosting-glazed lips.
I hate to admit it, but we hid almost all of the kids' birthday presents until Christmas morning, at which point we finally let Jack & Abby tear into the gifts. We won't be able to do that in the years to come, but, this year, they didn't know the difference! Thus the reason I'm a little late with the thank-you cards...
Sneaking his fifth (or was it his sixth?) cupcake.
The birthday song
Mini-cupcakes for the kids
Abby demonstrating her remarkable musical aptitude
The kids were ridiculously cute. Jackson - cracked out as ever - did wind sprints up and down the halls, shrieking all the while. He was so overwhelmed and ecstatic with all of the guests and all of the attention. Abby is a blossoming social flower; she greeted each reveler with a wave and "hi" and was quite thrilled to be passed from person to person all afternoon. I barely saw my baby girl!
In addition to standard party fare - food, drinks and goodie bags for the kids - we invited a local children's musician (Keta) to play songs at the party. Abby was the belle of the ball, dancing along fanatically to every song Keta played.
Jackson and Abby blew out their candles after the chorus of 60 sang the birthday song. Mom & Dad had baked mini-cupcakes for the occasion. Despite the fact that they were "mini," Jackson still managed to consume his body weight in sugar, which meant a very long and painful bedtime process. Abby - just like most 1-year-olds - simply stuck her entire face into the cupcake, grinning widely through frosting-glazed lips.
I hate to admit it, but we hid almost all of the kids' birthday presents until Christmas morning, at which point we finally let Jack & Abby tear into the gifts. We won't be able to do that in the years to come, but, this year, they didn't know the difference! Thus the reason I'm a little late with the thank-you cards...
Sneaking his fifth (or was it his sixth?) cupcake.
The birthday song
Mini-cupcakes for the kids
Abby demonstrating her remarkable musical aptitude
Abby getting her groove on
Blog drought...
It has been over a month since my last post. Officially a drought. In the last month, I've been occupied with the following mundane, yet time-consuming tasks:
1) Planned and hosted a birthday party for my kiddies with 60+ people in attendance.
2) Completed all Christmas shopping and mailed packages to friends and family in other cities/states.
3) Coerced my husband to design our Christmas card.
4) Updated our mailing list; stuffed, addressed and mailed all cards.
5) This is the biggie: spent 50+ hours (not exaggerating) designing Apple photo books for each of the three sets of grandparents.
6) Purchased a Christmas tree and (nearly a week later) trimmed and decorated the tree (in fairness, Scott took care of this task in its entirety - I was too freakin' tired!).
7) Nursed two sick children back to health the entire weekend of Dec. 19, including a five-hour stint in the hospital where Abby received three breathing treatments and a course of steroids after contracting bronchiolitis (she's okay now!).
8) Wrapped Christmas presents, watched (and photographed) my children rip through the dozens of gifts in a frenzy, and, finally, stood back in awe to observe the grizzly scene...it looked as though a bomb had gone off in my living room!
9) Cleaned up the debris for two solid days - and we're still not finished!
10) At long last, stressed about updating my blog! I still haven't posted pics of the kids' birthday party...
11) Oh yeah - one last - keep up with my full-time job and raise two tiny children all the while! Ahhh... December!
1) Planned and hosted a birthday party for my kiddies with 60+ people in attendance.
2) Completed all Christmas shopping and mailed packages to friends and family in other cities/states.
3) Coerced my husband to design our Christmas card.
4) Updated our mailing list; stuffed, addressed and mailed all cards.
5) This is the biggie: spent 50+ hours (not exaggerating) designing Apple photo books for each of the three sets of grandparents.
6) Purchased a Christmas tree and (nearly a week later) trimmed and decorated the tree (in fairness, Scott took care of this task in its entirety - I was too freakin' tired!).
7) Nursed two sick children back to health the entire weekend of Dec. 19, including a five-hour stint in the hospital where Abby received three breathing treatments and a course of steroids after contracting bronchiolitis (she's okay now!).
8) Wrapped Christmas presents, watched (and photographed) my children rip through the dozens of gifts in a frenzy, and, finally, stood back in awe to observe the grizzly scene...it looked as though a bomb had gone off in my living room!
9) Cleaned up the debris for two solid days - and we're still not finished!
10) At long last, stressed about updating my blog! I still haven't posted pics of the kids' birthday party...
11) Oh yeah - one last - keep up with my full-time job and raise two tiny children all the while! Ahhh... December!
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