Until eight grade, I lived in Santa Ana. I loved it there, and that was my favorite house we ever lived in by far! One of the other perks was the group of girls I was friends with. We have so many memories together, and literally grew up together. I’ve lost touch over the years, but they came to my wedding and every once in a while I run into one of them. I heard about their annual Christmas lunch, and I wanted in. Luckily I got the invite, and I spent the afternoon with Jessica, Wendy, and Kerri laughing and catching up. I was bummed the other three girls couldn’t make it, but I’ll hopefully see them next year. Because unbeknown to them, I’m coming back every year!
Poor Scout was devastated when I told him that it might be time for the “Big Red Ball” to go in the trash. I mean it has about six rips in it, and only four panels still even have air in them. But even in this shape — without fail, my kids are in it every day. The latest games are “popcorn” where both kids are bounced up high from the inside by Micah, and “highest mountain” where Scout has Micah turn it into a mountain and he tries his hardest to climb to the top. I told him we would get another if Costco ever carries them again, and to my mom’s utter dismay — I totally will!
For the first time, our little family baked and decorated Christmas Cookies this year. I remember doing this every year as I grew up, and felt nostalgic as I was doing it last night with my own kids and a few welcomed guests — B and Ka (and one unwelcome - finger-licking Bella). The kids loved it, and this will definitely be on the calendar for the years to come. Big props go to Scout who helped me make the cookie dough, roll it out, punch it out and finally cook it. I am the WORST baker, but these beauties were delish — in large part because of Scout. He reminded me to check the cookies when the timer went off, which was the biggest help of all. And the best news — to any of those who ate the cookies — he had clean hands the entire time, and was forbidden to lick or taste until every cookie was in the oven.
Micah was trying to get creative with his PacMan cookie.
Sissy trying to look innocent in something she got called out on. But the frosting all over her face was my first clue.
Here, Ka and Siss were fighting for the same cookie.
My helper boy brought a few of the creations upstairs to offer them up.
Bella and Nonnie were takers, and Bella said, “Now these taste like Christmas.”
With my mom’s frosting recipe and the red hots, they did taste like Christmas.
Like the Christmases when I was little.
WEASEL #1
Every single morning, after Icka gets out of the bath, I lay her down, apply lotion, put on her diaper, then her clothes, do her hair, brush her teeth and adorn her with accessories. Every morning, as I turn my back for ANY reason, she slips away and runs for dear life. I am amused some mornings, but some — like the ones where I am in a hurry — it is a huge pain! Just this morning, after I answered a call, I had to go looking for her. The good news is that I can usually find her wherever the IPad is. And she knows ALL of my mom’s hiding places. So yes, this morning — there was my little stripped down girl, wrapped in Nonnie’s silk blanket and playing Bah Bah Black Sheep.
WEASEL #2
Here is Scout at “quiet time”. Apparently he wasn’t tired, so he got permission to play with the IPad. I tell him that he can only play the educational games, but I always find him playing some lame game called “Angry Birds”. Well, as he was heading back to our room, I heard the bread drawer quietly open up ad then close. For fear of a bed full of crumbs, I went in to check. Four pieces of sourdough!!! Yeah right — I think not! I limited him to one, and I can hear him playing away in the next room.
Don’t Judge on the lack of seat belts.
Every year, we stick anybody who wants to go in the back of the car with a bunch of blankets, and head out to see all of the cool houses around town. This year, NayNay, Ka and Bwella were takers. So we drove, sang Christmas songs, and played XMas lights games — such as “who can find a candy cane first?” But there was a new twist this year. Bwella (as Icka calls her) had us stop by a few houses in search of treats. It was like Christmas goodies trick-or-treating. We had luck at Diane Nielsons and the Zimms. (Jim REALLY came through!)
NayNay is on the Dana point youth board, and had to judge houses for the best lights. So she took us to the first place house, and they had this awesome ice cave. Here is Micah holding our kiddos amongst the “fog”.
Fun times!
When I heard my kids in the kitchen laughing and laughing, I was so happy I have two kids that get along so well. Little did I know the real story behind the laughs. They opened the bag of peanuts, and were throwing them like they were bombs. It wasn’t really a big deal….the clean up was pretty effortless, but as I went to retrieve the broom for Scout, Icka ran around like a crazy person. The result — every peanut you see above was in about 100 pieces.
WEASELS!
Sweet Thing was having nightmares. I went in to show my support, and she wrapped her little arms around me. I took her out to the couch and coozied with her so we didn’t wake Scout up. I made her a warmed milk bottle laced with a little medicine because I don’t really like to have a wrestling match with my daughter in the middle of the night. (Please note: she is really good at taking medicine unless it is in the middle of the night when I have to force her little lips open. Hence the bottle.) I was really disappointed when Sweet Thing decided to only hold her bottle. After 30 minutes, I tried to force feed her, but that was a real disaster. Plus I felt bad.
At this point, I heard Scout’s little feet running towards us. He had a stuffed monkey that he became obsessed with just hours before. (Usually because as I put them to bed, there is a “my toy” and “my animal” tone from Icka, so he has to claim something. This night it was the monkey.) As he came close, I told him that Icka was having a hard night, and to run along into Nonnie’s room. He started to run, but turned back and gave Icka his monkey. He said, “Mom, Icka can sleep with this monkey.” Based on his undying love for the monkey at the beginning of the night, I was so pleased with my sweet boy.
Back to Sweet Thing. She wasn’t having the bottle, and I was annoyed at this point that I hadn’t just given her medicine the old fashioned way. Icka has this really interesting thing about her. When I hold her in the middle of the night, she doesn’t just doze off into dream land. Instead, she just keeps her little eyes open and looks around. I sang to her, I rubbed her back, I held my hand on her cheek, and she just stared straight ahead, whispered “Mama” about every 45 seconds, and this particular time clenched her full bottle. As two hours had gone by, I decided it was time to take her back to bed. I laid with her for about fifteen minutes, and she finally drank about half of her bottle. Then I laid with her some more. When I realized that she wasn’t snoozing anytime soon, I had to do what I hate most. I had to let her cry it out. As I left, she wasn’t just crying, she was wailing. So I grabbed my Christmas cards and started stuffing envelopes while I watched the clock. I gave it 20 minutes until I was going to go in and get her. She was still frantic at the 10 minute mark, but by 13 minutes — silence.
This year’s party theme:
An Italian Christmas.
Details to follow, but as a taste tester….here is one mighty fine opera singer (although I prefer to be coined as an “Oprah” singer”) with her gangster sidekicks.
After cleaning up his mess, Scout said:
“Mom….I love to do things that make you happy!”
********
While I was teaching Scout about the hard-working Nephites, Scout told me:
“Mom — you don’t need to teach me how to work hard, because I already know how to. But you need to still work with Icka, because she is just a baby, and doesn’t know how to do hard work yet.”
Our neighbors directly across the street had a birthday party for their boy turning four. Scout was invited, and he was elated. So after his quiet time, I showed him the wrapped present and got him all ready. It was then that he informed me, “Mom…I am going to walk there all by myself. With no Bella, or Sissy, or Daddy, or Nonnie or you.” He then proceeded to say, “And when I’m at the party, I am going to be there all by myself.” The only saving grace was when he ended it with, “But if you want to come over later….you can.” I told him that all of the other mommies would be there, but he stuck to his original plan — sans me! I was kinda bummed.
So before I knew it, he was gone. I didn’t even tell him it was time, but the sounds of the kids playing gave him the go ahead. So about a minute after he left, I went out the front door to see my sweet little boy walking all the way around the cul-de-sac with his present tightly gripped in his hands. (I was so proud that even when nobody was atching, he followed the rules by staying on the sidewalk and not walking in the road.)
I snapped a shot, and he looked but kept walking. I waved goodbye to him, and watched him walk confidently to the neighbor’s house. (These neighbors only moved in two months ago, and we don’t know them very well.) As I was peeking from around my car, I saw Scout stop and just stand still for a moment. He then turned to look back in my direction. When I saw he was looking for me, I popped out and asked, “Do you need your Mommy to come with you?” And he said, “yeah.”
I happily sprinted over and grabbed his hand.
The party was a little boy’s dream. There were tons of Hot Wheels race tracks set up everywhere, and all of the kids just played and raced cars all afternoon. Even Micah thought it was really cool when he stopped by. But as much as he loved the party — I loved it even more. Purely because I was still welcome.
| DESIGN BY