ALL ABOARD!!!

I ADORE The Polar Express ever since my second grade teacher read it to my class I was head over heals. It's a beautiful story. When I was fresh out of college and living in New York I got to see the movie in 3D Imax, it was a huge deal back then. The snow, the train careening across the ice, it was all breath taking. I worked for Santa at Macy's 34th street that holiday season and they played The Polar Express soundtrack pretty often. I loved that music and it became forever tied to those wonderful weeks working for Santa, in my memory.

Needless to say, when my father-in-law acquired the Polar Express train and invited us over to play with it and watch the movie I was super excited. My kiddos grow up into between each visit to the rails.

2009

It was more for Isaac's benefit back then, but Riley liked the light and movement.

2010

By this year Riley was 18 months old and had the most adorable indignation about the train. She chased it and yelling and gesturing. I think this was the year Grandpa let Isaac drive the train too. So much growing up that year.

2011

We took a year off from the trains for a trip to Ice & Snow! My amazing father-in-law invited us to an amazing adventure with snow, ice sculptures and ice slides! We had a blast. Isn't Roo's tiny (s)no(w)man adorable?

2012

By 2012 it was my turn to grow up or at least that's how it felt. This was the year they brought the polar express to our house. I put out appetizers in my Christmas apron, Mike made the grown ups chicken bryan and the kids wore jammies. It felt so grown up to host my in-laws. This was the first year Riley remembered the previous train night. We enjoyed Polar Express in 3D, talk about warm fuzzy memories! Isaac was a much...more careful engineer too.

2013

This was the year Isaac got his own train! Here's the story of Isaac's train, it's a good one. It was the second year in a row Roo informed me which pajamas she was saving for train night because by now it was an important event in her life. The train was beautiful all set up around our tree. I love the idea of all the happy childhood memories a passed down toy has already been a part of before we start making our own. Can you tell I cry after all the Toy Story movies?

2014

This year we were back at Grandpa's for train night. He remarked how Isaac has matured and is a lot more trustworthy on the train controls. I think Riley will be ready to try her hand by next year. On the flip side Isaac was far to cool to observe the traditional Hot Chocolate song dance break. What can you do? They just keep growing.

This Year's Christmas Cards

At some point last year I was watching a Psych Christmas episode in which Shawn is in the office and the Grinch walks past the widow behind him. Pardon me while I Google that episode name for you..."Polarizing Express" from season five (you're welcome). I decided holiday photo bombs was the way to go for our next Christmas card. Mike agreed and soon we were seeking out cheesy family photos to imitate in our post card style pictures. Oh and did I mention Mike talked me into to doing FOUR of them? In the end it was really fun that everybody had something different, but next year we'll go back to a single card for sure.

Here they are! Top to bottom: Bumble (abominable snowman from Rudolph) putting the star on a tree, Heat Miser (Year Without a Santa Claus) riding on a geyser, The Grinch stealing Christmas and Santa peeing into the ocean.

Which one is your favorite?

All family photos by Mad Clix Photography

What Exactly is Your Persuasion on the Big Man?

I was absolutely correct about last year being my last chance for a picture of both kids with Santa. I was prepared so I didn't even flinch when Isaac opted out this year. I know the magic isn't completely gone for him, but it's not cool to take Santa photos when you're a twelve year old boy. He still fretted about being on the nice list when his yearly video message from Santa arrived. He was still up for almost all our Christmas traditions. The boy lives for Norad tracks Santa.

Last year Isaac started gently questioning Santa. I told him he was free to believe whatever he chooses, but I reminded him it sure is a lot more fun when you believe. I also told him that no matter what he believes he has no right to take it away from anyone else. That was all I needed to say, he never questioned me again. I've always told my kids that anyone who dresses as Santa is doing it to not to trick anyone, but to make children happy. Santa's busy and a lot of kind people give him a hand during the holidays.

The silver lining is that Santa pictures are now a girls' tradition. There'a nothing like quality time with my little girl. She wrote her own list this year. Santa read all four items with a huge grin on his face. She was a bit star struck, but they had a lovely visit. It's nice now that she can remember a few Christmases. I look forward to all the Christmas magic ahead of her.

Christmas Memories

It's funny how the best memories come at unexpected times. When I was living in Los Angeles, it eventually happened that I couldn't go home for Christmas. There were two consecutive years that ended up being my absolute BEST Christmas memories (pre-family of my own, of course). I remember work gift exchanges, coming home to piles of packages on the doorstep, bribing my room mate to help me put up my first real tree, driving around looking for a Christmas Eve service (and scoring big time), friends that were like family and driving to work through beautiful neighborhoods with amazing lights. I found so much magic in those years. I never felt sad or lonely like you'd expect to feel. I was grateful for my job and holiday pay. I loved the Christmas Eve shift because it was quiet and co-workers were laid back. Every gift I received from friends or in packages from family was extremely appreciated. Christmas was everywhere even in a big anonymous city.

I even remember a neighbor of mine who I would frequently see and exchange pleasantries with in the mornings, but never actually introduced myself to. He left a Christmas card for me under my wind shield wiper. If that isn't the Christmas spirit, I don't know what is. What a great way to learn someone's name.

The radio switching to Christmas music made my commutes more pleasant, the lights filled me with childish wonder. I recall it being the best time of year to get lost because of the Christmas lights. I had my first Christmas tree and my one and only tree decorating party. Those memories are treasures. I still own the ornaments people brought to the party and I can still tell you where each one came from. I was so blessed for those Christmases where I didn't take a single bite of food or kindness from someone for granted.

I think those Christmases were on my mind because we were hit so hard by all the illnesses this year that I lost the reigns. I just couldn't do all of the things I normally do for my family and friends at this time of year. I tried, but ended up feeling sad and discouraged. That's when I realized maybe this year was another one of those tricky blessings. It looked like a curse, but I was in a position to scale back and in doing less, spend my time in a calmer state. My less-wound-up state allowed for feeling completely overwhelmed with gratitude for things as simple as the day to day health of my family. So while two months of compromised health for one or more members of the family wasn't pleasant it was a perspective adjustment.

Happy Holidays, do less (trust me, it'll be better).

Christmas: Super Nailed It!

I'm not saying it went off without a hitch. In fact, I suffered my own personal worst nightmare. I bought two new educational games for Riley's Leap Pad tablet in the fall when they were on sale and LOST them. They simply vanished. I found the receipt so I know I'm not crazy. I even have a witness to me "putting them away", but they never turned up. I HATE losing things. I was super bummed. It actually happened twice this holiday season, the one gift card Mike didn't immediately pass to me seems to have walked off, but at least there's not a time crunch to find it since it's ours. Other than the lost items, I suffered a lot of unexplained anxiety this holiday season. It was so unlike me and there really weren't horribly stressful situations occurring. Things were well in hand, I had healed to the point that I felt more myself than I have in a long time and opportunities for merriment and memory making were everywhere. I'm 90% sure it's the hormone regulation method causing me distress. After the New Year I'm detoxing from this crap and trying something else. Fingers crossed for a more permanent and natural solution.

We had thoughtful gifts (store bought and home made) for all our wonderful friends and family. Mike did home roasted flavored coffees again. He always uses fair trade certified green coffee beans, but this year both the coffee and flavors were completely organic. The kids stockings were bursting at the seams (I actually had to wrapp stuff and stick it under the tree last minute). We had an amazing family Christmas card to follow up "Happy Smallidays." For the first time ever we weren't late to Christmas brunch. Not only were we on time we were the first ones there! The host was stunned. It was a result of my careful planning (including something for the kids to do while we sit in the car waiting for Daddy Christmas morning, which we didn't need for the first time ever) and Mike being much more on the ball with his project.

It was a huge deal to have all our gifts so well received and to see our kids so delighted. I worked hard all year collecting gifts and a lot of them involved interviewing spouses/debating with my spouse/ninja-like stealth. It was sooooo worth it. It was a very Merry Christmas. I was so grateful to spend it with my whole family the one I was born into, the one I married into and the one I made. On top of all that I was beyond overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and generosity of others this season. I am still in shock from all the love and kindness. As if my heart weren't bursting with happiness already Christmas dinner was perfect!

For a few years now, I do a roast in the crock pot with veggies and potatoes for our Christmas dinner. Some years it turns out better than others. Thanks to an amazing book we gave as a Christmas gift (The Science of Good Cooking) we had new knowledge of how to prefect it. I highly recommend that book, Mike called it "how to cook correctly." He would not let me wrap it until the last minute because he wanted to read as much he possibly could. We ended up ordering ourselves a copy. In the end it was worth a little studying because the roast was AMAZING. Great end to a great day.

This holiday season we had tons of fun, spread some Christmas cheer, baked, spent time with friends, gave back to those who helped and supported us during the year and kept the magic alive for the kids for another year.

I hardly stepped foot in a store thanks to gathering Christmas gifts through the year and online shopping. I highly recommend not shopping in-store in December if you can help it! Those cute jammies I gave the kids for Christmas Eve? $5 each pair online with free shipping. Aren't they adorable? That awesome Hello Kitty outfit? $6.00 -marked down from $40 to $20 minus the $15 rewards money I got for buying Mike's gift on the online black Friday sale- I win! I'll keep my sales/deals & coupons brag short.

This Christmas was full of love and gratitude. We were all grateful. In a comedic twist Mike and I both gave each other mops and cameras. The kids were absolutely ecstatic. Even Leeloo was rewarded for her good behavior. I actually wept exclaiming "oh, my heart" as Riley opened one of her gifts Christmas morning. I felt her joy and it was overwhelming. It was a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas From Our Family

Merry & Bright Looking at Lights

I'm not exaggerating when I say we have been super busy since Halloween. I don't think we've had a weekend without plans since then. It's all good stuff and I'm very grateful to have friends and family who want to see us. I love school, library and city Christmas events. I'm beyond ecstatic to be able to pet and babysit all my awesome little buddies. We've had so much fun! It's really been great! In fact, loving all these events and opportunities is the problem. I'm finally "up to it" and I want to do them ALL! There aren't enough days in the month for it.

I just didn't realize how fast the pace had been or for how long. This week we finally had a day that was just us. It was nice. There was still lots to do and Riley was still on the mend from her cold, but it was nice to slow down. I had been bummed Riley missed her cookie party, but everyone got to decorate cookies anyway. I was also disappointed we didn't get to go to the Grinch event at the library. I've been trying to get us there for 3 years, but something always comes up. So really we have no idea what we're missing. I was so worried about missing something I even wrote "light looking" on our jammed December calender.

Something came up on the day I picked so we decided to do it tonight. I'm glad we waited because everything was up and wonderful. Even random neighborhoods we cut through to get to our favorite displays had great stuff. Interesting stuff like the house with several different kinds of birds or the large inflatable Christmas monkey! It was a nice "chill pill" for me. There was no need to keep pushing myself or fret about "missing" things, Christmas is here. Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, it'll all be over in a jingle or two. I'm so grateful for the memories and to start slowing down! Merry Almost Christmas!

C is for Christmas Cookie!

I had grand plans for trying a new kind of cookie for Santa this year, but Riley ended up with a fever Thursday night. Her sudden illness threw a wrench in things and caused her to miss her class cookie decorating party. So we did regular sugar cookies after all. On Friday night we made the dough and she cut the shapes. Today we "decorated our heads off!"

Isaac decorated cookies at the same time at his grandparents' house with his cousin. They made gingerbread ninjas! I think Santa will be pleased.

A Little Merriment

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Past & Present

Cookie Swap

I had no idea how busy our Saturday would end up being when I declared in November I wanted to do a small cookie swap with my mom friends. I made brownies and Roo decorated all the tags for me. As it happened my little get together forced Mike and I to clean up the front of the house (dining room and Christmas tree area) which I was immensely grateful for. Nothing else mattered for a few hours. I would sit at my pretty table with friends and converse completely uninterrupted by children. It was a much smaller group than I anticipated, but that didn't matter either. It was about taking a break in the middle of all the craziness for an hour or two. It was wonderful! I'm blessed to have friends who bake wonderful things and make beautiful jewelry.