Birthday

I do love my birthday.  This year, we celebrated at Dunkin Donuts and then all weekend.  I was surrounded by all of my favorite people who were so full of donuts, they couldn't stop themselves from enjoying my day with me.

Thanks kids for making it a great start to year 34. 

Putting the tree up for Christmas

Nothing says that holiday season like getting the tree set up.  We like to make the event a family affair.  We all pitch in and help, but there are traditional roles we all usually take on. 

1. Matt lifts.  He also encouraged the kids to help lift. 

2. The big kids fuss.  They don't want to touch the tree.

3. I move furniture. 

4. Cecilia cries because no one was paying attention to her.

5. Harper tries to look busy holding her towel so she doesn't have do do with Matt is making the big kids do. 

6. Matt brings in the tree stand.  He encourages the big kids to lie on the floor and tighten the bolts around the tree.

7. The big kids fuss that the bolts are difficult to tighten. Needles are falling on them. Harper doesn't have to do anything.

8. I get the vacuum.

9 Cecilia calms down with a snack.

10. Harper moves into the other room to find another towel. 

11.  Matt tightens all the bolts. 

12.  I give Matt a big hug. 

Fun moms take their kids out to dinner.

What's a mom to do when her partner in crime (dad) is out of town?  There is really only choice here...ice cream for dinner.  I made the executive decision that not forcing the kids to eat dinner at home would be fine if we went out together.  Here are the list of good things I rationalized in my brain:

1. My kids would think I am cool.  They don't think this very often, so I seized the chance.

2. Matt would think I am a fun parent.  He doesn't think this very often as I enforce bedtime and won't let people wear shorts to school in the winter time.

3. Frozen yogurt is technically a health food.

4. The store is locally owned so I am helping a small business person.

5. We shared an apple on the way there.

While we were there, I texted Matt this picture.  His exact response back: "Mom of the year, I am so proud of you!"  I was feeling very smug about letting go and being a cool mom...and then the baby dropped her ice cream, Harper stepped in it, Will asked for another bowl (whined over and over) and Abby wouldn't let Harper be in her show that she was putting on for me in the middle of the ice cream store. I guess I can't win them all, but I can convince Matt that I am a fun parent.  

After Thanksgiving Shopping

What do you love about Thanksgiving?

1. The day off of work?  yes.  love it.

2. Family?  yes, they rock too.

3. Leftovers for days?  bring them on. 

But even with this amazing list, I need to give a special shout out to the shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, a truly American holiday activity.  Without fail, my mother, sister and I go every year.  My sister in law also rounds out the group, even if she has to rock out her shopping remotely (her mad shopping skills deserve their own shout out).

Why do we do it, this shopping on this day of the year?  There are crowds and lines and so many people, but really those don't matter when you are watching your mom try on 8 pairs of shoes only to make the same funny face of dislike again and again.  I can't stop myself from trying on the 8 right behind her, making a different face of dislike, and then handing her another pair.  The crowds, lines and people just fall away. 

Pants

I hemmed these pants like nobody's business!

Sometimes love is a hemmed pair of pants the night before a cold school morning. William doesn't ask for much (or maybe he does, but I can't hear him above the noise created by his sisters) but he doesn't like to wear pants. He much prefers shorts. But tomorrow is going to be 20 degrees in the morning, so the boy must wear pants. It is the least I can do for my little 9 year old man.

Happy in Shorts

One Million Selfies-Abby

I leave my phone with Abby for five minutes and I return to about 20 selfies of Abby in her finest poses.  I will be looking through my phone and find Abby selfies in large quantities.  These are from a doctor's appointment where Abby had my sunglasses and a few minutes to kill. 

Everyone got their hair done

 

After bath time tonight, I went ahead and gave everyone a ponytail.  Matt had the least, um, material to work with.  William has a surprising amount of hair.  Harper and Abby are bored by my efforts to keep their hair organized, but tonight they were both willing.