December Days (And Nights)

Happy 2015 to all. My days of commemorating Christmas in a timely manner and writing an eloquent new year send off are apparently on hold for the time being. But I hope you won't lose patience with me and forget about us. Someday I will be eloquent and timely, but now is not that time.

The kids are back to school after a lovely, noisy, messy, hilarious never-a-dull-moment winter break (what's that you say? You can hear me shrieking with glee all the way from New Jersey?).

Of course I joke. As my dad is fond of saying, "All good things must come to an end." There is only so much familytogetherness and staying up late to watch "Grease" and eating as many M&Ms a little person (and her parents) can take before we all run screaming for 8:00 p.m. bedtimes and wheat grass (probably no wheat grass for the kids).

But before that, there was December. Blissful, hopeful, sparkly, glittery, twinkly, all-wrapped-up in teachers' gifts and homemade chocolate oatmeal cookies and holiday school luncheons and Santa visits and staying in our pajamas all day long. Because we could, December.


This visit to Santa was hard-won. I thought I was so clever to wait until late in the season to take them (less crowds) but we still managed to arrive while the Big Guy was on break. Which meant tacking on an extra fifteen minutes to our wait. Which was totally fine of course since three year olds LOVE to wait in line (said no one never). Also? Super grouchy Santa. Notice how no one is sitting on his lap? Luckily I don't think the kids noticed, but what I noticed is, it's no longer about parking for a spell on Santa's knee and casually chatting with him and telling him what you want. It's about, what size photo package would you like, ma'am? Click. Next. Oh well. We'll still be back next year. I finally got organized and framed all the Santa pics from over the years and it's fun to see the progression (and a little terrifying to see how much bigger everyone is from year to year). I'm big on tradition, even if it does sometimes come with a dose of crabby.


Hanukkah came close to Christmas this year, which is always a treat (although it still snuck up on me as it always does and I was the crazy woman shopping at Target on Hanukkah morning, hysterically throwing "Frozen" socks and Transformers and coloring books and Spiderman tooth brushes in  my cart). Speaking of gifts, the twins also now think that the custom is to get Hanukkah gifts in the morning--due to a combination of their early bedtime and the fact that since they would surely would surely want to play with whatever gift they got, I saved their presents for the morning. Let's just say they caught on to this right quick and it took a full week after Hanukkah was over for Harry to stop greeting me with "I want to go downstairs and get my Hanukkah present" every morning.



This was the first year that big kids lit candles "by their own" (as Lucy would say), and the first year that the twins allowed the candles to stay lit (you may recall last year, when Lucy insisted on singing "Happy Birthday" and was furious when I wouldn't allow her to blow them out). This year Ellie and Leo also came close to memorizing the Hanukkah blessing.


Once upon a time, Leo's school hosted an annual "holiday lunch" for students and parents. It's been a few years since they held one but I was happy to learn it was back on for this year. Harry was already home from school by lunch time so Dudes in Holiday Sweaters, it was.


There were also preschool holiday concerts (with the requisite Santa visit with the suddenly "shy" Lucy).

There were painted Christmas cookies (edible egg wash).

And more cookies.


There were cards sent home from school that made my heart swell and my eyes tear (see above, from Leo): "I love our family." SOB.

Right before Christmas (two days before winter break) Ellie was felled by an atrocious stomach bug (is there such a thing as a non-atrocious stomach bug?) that she was kind enough to give me as an early Christmas gift. This made the last minute Christmas crunch (teacher gifts, wrapping of and delivering of said teacher gifts), shopping, meal prepping quite, um, challenging?


Fortunately, I was much better by Christmas Eve and able to mostly participate in one of my favorite activities, which is staying up late, watching the beloved "It's a Wonderful Life" and wrapping ALL the Christmas presents with Erin. Usually this is accompanied by Bailey's, but with my body still not being at 100 percent, I skipped it this year. I KNOW.


We were busy, busy elves.


Christmas dawned early (as it does every day). Within seconds the living room was a wrapping paper battlefield (note to self: we need a better Unwrap the Christmas Presents System. Anyone have any recs for "big" families and small, impatient children?). The bouche de Noel (see above) didn't fair much better than the presents.


Later in the day, my trusty assistants and I (eager to test-drive new gifts) fetched Chinese takeout (Nobody felt like cooking and I hardly felt like eating so it was perfect).


As night fell, we did something I'm sure no other family in the world did on Christmas (see above). PS., if you didn't know already? Leo IS Elsa (he doesn't allow anyone in the room to speak when he performs "Let it Go" alongside her).


Ellie stayed up late on Christmas night painting (with a new easel and paint set from Grandma Jerry).


Lucy asked to bring "just a few" of her gifts to bed.


Harry fell asleep with one of his favorite presents (that was of course, actually Leo's).


And it was, the Best Christmas Ever.

5, 2, Pre-K, Pre-K: Ready, Set, Go!

And just like that, summer was over.



All in all, it was a good one. It was not without its complications of course (working part-time from home with four kids? Not for the faint of heart-By the way, I think I need to just go ahead and pre-order that line on my grave stone: Not For The Faint of Heart). But considering all there was to balance, I think it went well. It was the first I spent with the kids since The First Summer (that would be, when the twins were born and GAH I think I have basically repressed that by necessity). Needless to say life at home with four that includes twin three year olds is a little different than newborn twins (newsflash!).

I want to say this was our last "hard" year (stop laughing). Maybe next year I will be able to manage more daring outings solo? In the beginning and middle of the summer we were still haggling with naps so we were limited schedule-wise--oh but those days are all in the past now (SOB). Harry could definitely still use one, a fact which he makes particularly clear around 2:58 pm each day when suddenly all the Lego structures start falling apart and he wants cheese crackers right! Nowwwww! And whyyyyy can't he have MORE Batman Legos? But instead, he chose to fall asleep on the way to picking Ellie up from camp. For a whole ten minutes. On particularly long days, Lucy would usually snooze on the way home. Because, tandem naps? HA!


It was Ellie who had this genius idea when we went school supply shopping last week. Two carts! One for Twins, one for Stuff. Brilliant. Everyone was happy, reasonably calm and well-behaved. Also? Contained. WIN!


By Labor Day everyone was clamoring to get back to routine (or start one). This was at 7:30 in the morning. Ellie playing school with her eager students.


Ironically, the littlest one was the first to go back. Lucy started preschool last Wednesday (a day before the other three returned). So far (all two days), so good! Her teacher has picked up on her "stubborn streak" (a kind word for Lucy's tendency to uh, bulldoze her way through life), but we shall see how it all shakes out. She is certainly ready, that we know.


First day of second and fifth grade. No idea what was going on with this little love fest here. I think they were both so thrilled to soon be rid of each other that they decided to show a little last-minute affection.


I know, I know, Harry was in preschool for much of the summer but he was "off" the whole month of August and he had an official first day just like the big kids.


Day one had Ellie very excited to impress her new teacher (or maybe she was just eager to try out the Mr. Sketch markers I had to go to two different stores to find-they were on her supply list as "required.")


Ready! Set! Everyone say, Back to School!

And that's just what they did.

Summer, So Far

Summer is in full swing.

Leo and Harry are in summer school. Ellie is in camp and Lucy is...yelling at me and eating a lot of Popsicles.





I am struggling to get here, to this place, to this touchstone that has been my little haven for so many years. The irony is not lost on me, that now that I spending so much time with my children, I don't have as much time to write about them. There is little to no time for reflection. It is tote that barge, lift that bail, make that snack, pack that lunch, load three kids in the car to go pick up one more.

I know this season is short. Temporary. It is also hot and sticky and ripe and loud and silly and messy and excruciating and beautiful and brief. The beautiful is sometimes hard to remember when you are in the middle of it and trying to balance so many things and wants and needs and schedules and your email is chiming because you have a deadline to meet and there are also voices saying "MOMMY" and "MOOOOOMMY" and then you remember that you have to ask someone for the twentieth time, "Do you have to go potty?"



With the boys in school in the morning and Ellie in camp, Lucy and I go on little excursions.



In a few weeks Leo will start camp. Ellie will begin her series of week long speciality camps (science, art, gymnastics). Lucy will finally get HER day ("princess" ballet camp--can you stand it? Because I barely can).



Fourth of July outfits (minus Harry) plus a Turtle.



I have always, always wanted to make a Flag Cake. Mission Accomplished.



Stars + Stripes.



"I need to teach them how to run down a hill!" Said Ellie. Meanwhile I was humming the theme to "Little House on the Prairie."



Leo, rightfully proud of his Super Hero watercolors.





Things don't always go swimmingly for Lucy at the playground.





Cuteness. With a potty photo bomb. Because, of course.

No Glasses and Non-Stop Lucy

Oh it's been the usual flurry of activity around here.


First Scrabble game with my daughter. I have dreamed about this day.

Did I tell you we got a composter?

We got a composter. I am a crazy composter now. Did you know you can compost match sticks? Human hair? String? Well now you do. It feeds the crazy animal in me that hates wasting anything. I swear in my former life I must have been a child of the depression (right now Erin is reading this and thinking about the fact that I have been known to save and freeze a single strawberry--for smoothies).

The big kids and I enjoyed a rare outing of just the three of us last week, as we concluded spring break (which must be the biggest misnomer in the history of ever). We explored a new playground and can I just say that taking two big kids to the park is my new version of a spa day? So relaxing (comparatively speaking).

I also got a sitter this week so I could take Leo to the opthomologist (no glasses needed--I'm a little surprised but relieved). Leo, on the other hand was bummed, and so disappointed he actually followed the doctor into his office asking, "Where are my glasses?" (Peter Parker wears glasses, you know). In spite of the crushing news that he did not need his vision corrected, Leo was his usual amazing self at the doctor (not even fussing when his eyes were dilated). When I returned home one baby was napping peacefully (cough, cough, Harry).

One, was not.

Why nap when you can eat Mommy's takeout lunch treat (thank you, Chipotle gift card). And she didn't even know she liked guacamole.

Lucy. Oh, Lucy. At some point you will read this and please know that I say this with all the love in my heart that when I put my head on my pillow at night, it's the not the waves I hear crashing (like after a day spent at the ocean)--it's the sound of your voice. The screeching, the squealing, the whining, and of course, yes, the laughter. It's you, with your unabashed loquaciousness, your 110 miles an hour way of being, it's your has-to-do-things-your-way-OR ELSE. It is your Force of Nature self, (yes, in all of its cliche glory, it fits you to a Capital T.)

But of course there is the flip side.

I was SHOCKED that she sat for a full dental cleaning last week.

She can also be incredibly agreeable and helpful. She looooves to help. "You got it!" is her response to almost every chore type of request (she loves to retrieve the broom from the mudroom, for example, or clear her dishes from the table). Recently I asked Ellie to get me the iPad from upstairs and a few minutes later, down padded Lucy, "Here you go Mommy!" she said, her face, beaming with pride. There was Ellie, a few feet away looking sheepish: "Well, she's very responsible!" she offered.

The hours between 6pm-6:30pm continue to be the most trying (dinner is over, babies are winding down by winding up, or so it seems).

Good thing I employ one of the best toddler yoga teachers around.

Bedtime does of course eventually come. Listening to Harry and Lucy chat in their cribs, as Lucy asks Harry "How old are you going to be on your birthday, Harry?" (We've been practicing this question with them for the upcoming big day). He replies, "Fwee!" And then she counts, "One, three, seben, nine, eleven, TWENTY!" 

And just like that, all the screeching and whining falls away. 

 

Summer Tease

Friday I felt downright victorious because we played outside without coats (poor Harry, such a creature of habit--he can't figure out what's going on when he doesn't need a coat--as soon as he hears "play outside" he runs to the mudroom, grabs his little navy blue down jacket off the hook and commands me, "Put my coat on!"). Lucy is no better--she insisted on wearing her Flipeez hat on today's neighborhood walk (high temperature: 79 degrees).




A rock, a trowel and a fairy skirt. She has a PLAN.

Then this weekend happened.


It was 82 degrees. Wait. WHAT?


Tomorrow it's supposed to rain. Not snow. So we're good.

Like a Lamb: Notes at the End of March

1. Last week we (well, a few of us, see above) played outside in the backyard WITHOUT COATS OR HATS. And it was just so dang exciting I almost couldn't stand it.


More evidence of children without hats. Please pay no mind to Harry's dirty face. The boy loves a good mud pie.

It's been a looooong winter folks. I know you've heard about this a few times. Even though it rained pretty much all weekend, it's pretty clear that spring is on da way. Friday on the way to picking Ellie up from school I saw the first little insistent purple crocuses of the season. In other words: Hope in a flower.



2. I've started cooking dinner again. Nothing fancy but a bit more complicated on weeknights than cereal or ordering Chinese takeout. And of course my children eat none of it and only eat, like four things between them (but none of the same four things). Anyway. I get a strange thrill from cooking with what's already in the pantry (for the grownups)--as well as trying new recipes. I forgot how much I love cooking.

 Last week I made:

Quinoa, zucchini and corn enchiladas

"Steak" quesadillas: (made with leftover cote de boeuf from a fancy dinner out--I assure you this is not exactly a usual staple at our house), sautéed red peppers, cilantro and cheddar cheese, served with homemade guacamole (I make mine with diced onions, fresh garlic, lime juice (I only had lemon but lime is better), cherry tomatoes and fresh cilantro.

Stir fry vegetables: (broccoli, carrots, zucchini, spinach), and capellini noodles, served with tofu and the peanut sauce from here (pictured above), topped with fresh cilantro.

Shells and vegetables: Sauteed vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach), Italian sausage and (pasta) shells with parmesan (OF COURSE). Served with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts (my absolute fave way to prepare them: drizzled with olive oil and parmesan cheese).

Quinoa, vegetables and Italian sausage: Sauteed zucchini (are you sensing a theme?), broccoli, fresh spinach, Italian sausage and tossed with quinoa. This was a little too much like the meal from the night before but I defrosted a bunch of sausage and had to cook it.

I haven't really started "meal planning." I basically just go to this fruit and vegetable market that is crazy cheap and sells crazy fresh produce and I buy a ton of different stuff and just throw things together. And I alternate every few weeks with groceries/dairy products/pantry staples/dry goods from Costco, Trader Joe's and Target.


Fresh herbs (basil) are also helpful.


A few weeks ago I made this two bean (white and kidney) chili with corn, cherry tomatoes and ground turkey. It made a great lunch for almost a whole week (for me--again, no children would eat--sigh). You know what I don't miss? Spending money on lunch!

3. More evidence we may have overdosed on "Frozen." On the way to picking Ellie up from school last week, Harry saw a man wearing a white sweatshirt and exclaimed, "OLAF!" (Yes, we OWN the dvd now--the kids actually gasped when I showed them the box). Then yesterday at a birthday party, "Let it Go" started playing and Leo actually had to stop eating his pizza, stand up and sing. And of course there were the requisite hand gestures and footwork.


Leo's "Frozen" world: (left to right) Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff


4. Lucy's favorite: When she wakes up before Harry (afternoon nap) and we sneak downstairs. I let her sit on the counter once while I made her a Nutella sandwich. Now she wants to do it every time.

Another Year, Settling In and a Thank You

Another birthday earlier this month and in my book, many small cakes trump one big cake. Happy birthday, indeed.

Thanks to everyone for their sweet comments to my last post. It's been heartening to hear from people and the support means so much. So thank you. Truly.

I absolutely HATE going this long between writing here but I will be honest. I haven't really known what to say. My mind is a jumble about everything that's transpired. Things seem fine and normal and things also feel completely upside down.

An email from an old high school friend who had also experienced a job loss summed it up best: He wrote to me of his layoff experience, of what it was like for him  to suddenly be without something that is the "anchor to our days." Which, yes. That. Exactly.


Don't get me wrong. I have plenty to keep me busy.

I think the toughest thing right now is that my life suddenly feels very small. Quite literally! Don't get me wrong--I love these small people, I'm just not accustomed to being with them all day every day. And I always thought I was a better mom when I had "my own thing" and requisite time away and that's always been work. But I also know that there is some grace in this and in a funny way I'm very lucky to have the chance to be doing what I'm doing right now. When we're driving in the minivan toward Costco (have I mentioned how amazing it is to grocery shop on the weekdays? No crowds and I don't have the rushed, urgent feeling because this is it! THIS is our big outing for the day!) and Lucy calls to me from the backseat "MOMMY! You need to talk! You're not saying anything," I can't help but smile.



And then they call to me to "Put on Frozen" and before I know it we're all three belting out "Let it Go" as we drive up Northfield Avenue and I look in the rear view mirror and see two sets of winter coat-covered arms gesticulating and conducting and of course hear their tiny unabashed voices: "Let it Gooooooo!"


I'm in the kitchen loading the dishwasher AGAIN and I realize the twins are suspiciously silent and I pad toward the front of the house and find them both sitting, almost tush to tush on the carpet in Leo's room, reading--Lucy, a Dr. Seuss and Harry a Lego instruction manual (because, of course).  I linger in the doorway much longer than I need to thinking, This is what I missed when I wasn't home with them. All the little, quiet moments. And so I'm enjoying them now. Or trying to. Because who knows how long they will last.



I mean, spending all day with twin two-year-olds, followed by everyone's favorite Witching Hour, aka, helping-Leo-with-his-homework-when-all-he-wants-to-do-is-play-Legos-or-watch TV, while the aforementioned twin two year olds pull at my leg or tug at my sweatshirt string or repeatedly ask for "More seltzer."  It is the best of times and it is the worst of times. Truly.



While it was unquestionably difficult working full-time and commuting into New York City every day, one of the things I enjoyed the most about it was the literal "change of scenery," not to mention the "break" that working afforded me (I've always said that going into the office was the easiest part of my day). The intellectual challenges were nice too, as were conversations with people over the age of nine.

The day, recently, that the boxes from my office were delivered to the house? That was a hard day. For years and years, that office in midtown Manhattan was my little oasis of calm. My shrine of sanity. And not only that, it was mine (well, it felt like mine anyway). The only thing that was truly separate from the kids, the house, it was just my little world, where I could be me, and an independent person.



But as another dear friend wrote to me recently, "Nothing is ever permanent, in the best possible way." That little time, that specific office and job title, is gone. It doesn't mean something like it won't be mine again, it just isn't, for now.

Three to five times a day, as I attempt to change the diaper of a toddler who is rigid and squirmy (yes it's possibly to be both) or as I am simultaneously trying to help Leo with math, bounce Harry on my knee, cut up oranges for Lucy and somehow convince Ellie that I am watching her draw ponies, I must think to myself (or mumble, between gritted teeth): This cannot be done. I cannot be home with these people for one more moment, get me to the nearest office. Stat. I will lick envelopes. I will sharpen pencils. Anything. 

In the morning after I drop Ellie at school and the twins and I are en route to some appointment or store, I sometimes pass the 8:55 a.m. express (I use that term loosely) bus to Port Authority. It was the bus that I took to work nearly every day. And part of me is relieved that I don't have to get on and brave another mind numbing commute and be apart from the kids for another nine hours and part of me feels a stinging, aching, longing. To just, go.

And then at least seven times a day, I think, I can totally do this. This is awesome. And not only that but I am rocking this being home thing. I'm making homemade chicken stock from bones! We never run out of homemade pumpkin bread (the twins' favorite). I'm replacing (well, picking them out at Home Depot) porch light fixtures we lost in one of the many blizzards. I'm helping the big kids with their homework (which, when it's good, it's very, very good and I think: I missed my calling! I should have been a teacher! And when it's bad: I'm back to pining for that envelope licking and the interminable bus commute). 


Whatever you do, don't tell Harry his "cymbals" are really pot lids.

The kids and I have wonderful, hilarious conversations (Ellie tells me on St. Patrick's Day that Lucy is "kind of  like a leprechaun. Because she's small and she gets whatever she wants.")  Leo, who has been anticipating the DVD release date of his beloved "Frozen" with complete reverence, announces that I "need to text his teacher" to tell her he won't be at school today--the release date--he'll be too busy watching "Frozen." (In case you're wondering, Leo did go to school).

We laugh. A lot. We dance to Pharrell's "Happy" in the kitchen on repeat (we did these things before of course, there is just more of it now--the days are, as they say long, but they really do go by quite quickly.)



So yes, there are good days and bad days. But really it's more good moments and bad moments.

Good thing I have these little people, for now, as the anchor to my days.

We're all adjusting to the new routine around here. And by "We" I really mean me. (Note Harry's expression: "I'd rather be napping.")

It never ceases to me amaze me how quickly the days at home pass by. Before I know it, it's 2:45 and I'm waking two babies up from naps to go fetch Ellie from school. Harry is usually the less pleased of the two. Nutella sandwiches eaten in the stroller on our six block walk help ease the pain. Running the stroller over speed bumps ("Like a roller coaster!" squeals Lucy) also helps. The sidewalks are just recently not completely snow and ice-covered and we can begin to find them again, can you believe it?

Yes, the snow is melting. Some days are warmer than others. We even braved an actual playground yesterday.



With the time change, evenings come later and we've been privy to some especially remarkable sunsets. These days I see them through our living room window, instead of on a bus stuck in traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike.



And life, as they say, well it does go on.

Lately

It's Wednesday, which means, time for another blizzard.



Let's shake things up a bit and make this a Nor'easter, shall we?



We walk the snowy, ice laden street of our neighborhood and the twins are (understandably) captivated by the icicles. They are incredible--many of them don't even look real. "Elsa (from "Frozen") made that!" Harry observes.


Today, I was the mom who brought three kids to the wine shop (remember, it's the day before the blizzard).

Hey, at least I didn't t bring all four.


Grandma and Grandpa sent us a box of art supplies, fueling our fire for watercolors.


Harry might be a bit more interested in the "water" part of watercolors.


Leo diligently addressed all his valentines this weekend. He proclaimed every female in his class his "girlfriend."


Lucy and Harry have fallen in love with Leo's bed (his room is on the main floor of our house and since it also holds the Lego table it's pretty much everyone's favorite place). They can often be found snuggling and "sleeping," until they are found, upon which they dissolve into fits of giggles. They better not be getting any big ideas about big kid beds. I guess they didn't get the memo: They will be in cribs until they are thirty, as all good children should be.





I have a new favorite quote, which I'm hoping will carry me through just about anything:





Peace.

The Epic "Break," Holidays and a New Year

Happy New Year!

The only thing you can do when you are horribly behind is just jump right in, right?

Right.

Winter break was wonderful. See also: Exhausting, dizzying, frustrating and hilarious. Everything that life at our house is, times infinity, full-time.

I look forward to the "break" all year long, even if it hardly lives up to its name.



The excitement on Christmas Eve? Oh. My. Goodness. I felt like I spent the last half of my day/whole evening scraping children off the ceiling. The anticipation was palpable. But eventually they all did fall asleep which meant…Erin and I got to put together toys and wrap seventy-nine presents! Weeeeee!

Photo below snapped at approximately 10:48 p.m. Christmas Eve. By the way, thanks Sweetie, for making me wrap presents a few nights in advance, rather than saving it ALL for Christmas Eve. That was a very, very good call (we wrapped 79 presents, rather than 219). Did I mention I've become a terrible procrastinator in my old age?


Note the tidiness and organization. Short-lived, trust.

Is there anything like that moment where you've finished wrapping everything and you're sitting there in your pjs, watching the final minutes of "It's a Wonderful Life" in front of the twinkling Christmas tree, thinking to yourself, yup, it really is just that. Wonderful.  Note: I'm usually drinking a glass of Bailey's at that moment, but I wasn't this year--it says a lot that I didn't even dip into it this year (sweet Erin even bought me the "big" bottle). Too. Tired. To. Drink. The hard stuff. I know.


Aaaand the next morning. It must have taken them about three minutes to open all 219 packages.


Absolute chaos. Like always.


New art supplies from Santa = momentary calm x 4. Did I mention no one asked to turn on the TV until about 3 p.m. on Christmas Day? I think we set a record.


These new stuffed animals were a favorite gift.




No Christmas breakfast would be complete without bouche de Noel (or, as we dubbed it this year, "Christmas Cake.") And yes, the twins instantaneously both learned to say "More Christmas Cake." Clear as little bells.

And if all that Christmas excitement wasn't enough, the Oregon grandparents came to visit, two days after the sugar/new toy high had begun to wear off.

We filled our days with watercolors, neighborhood walks, trips to the playgrounds (weather permitting), more new toys and books.








They also brought a little piece of Oregon with them, both in spirit and in the form of Ducky slippers from my sister and brother-in-law.


Artist Ellie paints a portrait of Artist Grandpa.


Harry and Grandma.


Playing ball in his room with Grandpa = Leo's Most Favorite Thing Ever.



Our now (so I've proclaimed-we've gone two years in a row so it's official!) annual New Year's Eve trip to our little local zoo was memorable as always. I love it for many reasons, one of which being that it's always freezing and we're always one of approximately two families there. It's like having our own private zoo and the twins can run crazy free to their hearts' content.


Looking for penguins. Right after I took this picture it started snowing, graceful, tiny flakes. Not going to lie. It was magical. 


Twins being penguins. Because, of course!




The walk home from the zoo. It was as cold as it looks!

The big kids were overjoyed to be able to take Grandma and Grandpa to the movies on a rainy Sunday morning, sharing their passion for "Frozen" (and I was not so secretly pretty excited about seeing it a second time, myself). We concluded our day in suburbia (a novelty for G&G but nothing but the "usual" for us), with a late lunch at Leo's beloved Five Guys, where Leo and Ellie taught Grandpa about the intricacies of the fairly amazing Five Guys soda machine.


It ended up being the "break" that kept on giving. The kids went back to school last Thursday, only to get a snow day on Friday.


Four (almost) snow angels. Or, someone's always gotta go rogue.

Some like the snow…




…a bit more than others (PS. I know, I know, he needs better boots and gloves. That will help. Lucy inherited all of Ellie's old snow gear and Harry pretty much got the shaft. Placing an order today, Hair-Man. Promise!).


After purging the house of ALL chocolate and bakery items and vowing to eat nothing but brown rice and steamed tofu for the rest of the year, I MAY have run out of things to do to keep the children busy and agreed to help Ellie make cupcakes for her teddy bear's birthday (See: The loooongest winter break ever).



And now, the holidays are over. It's a new year. I won't lie. The next few months have to be my least favorite. It's cold (5-degrees this morning, to be exact).  The tree is horizontal and naked on our curb looking forlorn and dejected. All that build-up and excitement and it's all just over. I mean, of course the holidays can't go on and on (then they wouldn't be special! I find myself trying to explain to the kids). But I'm secretly grateful that many of my neighbors seem to be holding on to the spirit a bit (see above). I always think of my mom though, when I see people with Christmas lights up, far into January and February. She used to grumble about giving people "tickets" for keeping their lights going past the season.

But the best thing about the holidays (if it's possible to pick a "best," which of course, it isn't, but I will anyway) is that they come every year. And every year you get the chance to have the Best Christmas/Holiday Season Ever. This year, the holidays were pretty darn fabulous, full of all the wonder and joy I could have hoped for (yes, in spite of Lucy's wails mid-menorah lighting). Nobody cried at Santa this year (a first!) and I even got to lay on the couch for a few minutes on Christmas Day.

It's a wonderful life. Yup, it really is.

First Snow Storm and Christmas Cookies: Nailed It!

Saturday was our first "real" snow of the season. Thank goodness it happened on a weekend when we could enjoy it and not worry about trying to get to work or how we'd manage to pick up big kids at school in the snow with two toddlers in tow.



Ellie fulfilled a lifelong dream of finally ice skating.

Sort of.


This is so often how it goes. Ellie, Leo and Lucy plotting something (in this case a rousing snow ball fight) while Harry says "You know what? I'm gonna just go over here and play with my helicopter thankyouverymuch."


A yard full of snow to play with, half a dozen kid vehicles and she has to stand On Top of Him. This really sums it up (don't worry, the second I managed to snap this, I rescued Harry from her clutches).

Regarding the snow: Let's file this one under "Reason 979 why Big Kids Rock." Can I just say how fabulous it is to have older kids who can put on their own snow boots (mostly) and gloves and hats and coats? I really had forgotten how maddening it is to try and put miniature gloves on tiny, uncooperative fingers. And then they look at you all cold and pink and furious when they take their gloves off and they can't figure out why it feels like their fingers are going to snap off.


See? No gloves on this one. Seconds after this shot was taken she would announce that her hands were cold and "Where are my mittens?" (over there in the snow where you pulled them off in a moment of fury, Lou).

At some point in the middle of Saturday's snow storm I found myself saying, Let's make Christmas cookies! Because, clearly I've lost my mind.


Harry gave the unbaked cookies a good poke and promptly sampled some raw dough. Whoops!

I grew up making these cookies for the big Christmas Eve celebration with my step mom's family. This is the first time I was able to pull it off. It's not like it's so hard, it just takes planning, as does pretty much everything in our life. I had a minor freak out in the beginning when the dough was very sticky and none of the cutters were working but then something clicked toward the middle/end, sort of like how the first few pancakes in a batch are always terrible? Maybe it had to do with the dough temperature or something. Regardless, we rallied and they came as close to perfect as something in our house can come.

My stepmom sent me the recipe, which is from The Joy of Cooking (by the way, you can reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup--they are still plenty sweet and if you frost them like we did, they are definitely sweet enough).



These cookies actually taste really good (I know, just what we all need this time of year, more cookies that taste good). But so often Christmas cookies look good but end up tasting...not so much. Anyway, fair warning: Delicious buttery cookies.



At one point, all four were doing the same activity, which always warms my heart. Now that the twins are getting a little older, that's happening more and more and it makes me soooo happy.



OK, so Harry might have also been watching "Star Wars" and eating all of the cookies he was supposed to be decorating.

No matter.

All "Frozen," All the Time

We are, shall we say, a tad obsessed at the moment. 

With "Frozen."

Have you seen it yet? The big kids and I went last weekend. I broke the news that we'd be going around last Thursday and anticipation began mounting immediately. 

Last Sunday morning, around 7:00 a.m. Ellie started asking to watch [YouTube] videos of all the songs from the movie. I'm not sure two people have been more excited to see a movie, ever. Ellie also got dressed (at 6:30 on a Sunday) without being asked to (unprecedented) and went to bed the night before, exclaiming "Tomorrow is the day I get to see Frozen!

See? A little excited.

What can I say? The movie has it all. First of all, it's absolutely stunning visually. It's warm (which might be surprising, given the, ahem, title), it's funny, it's sweet, it's sad and it's poignant. Without giving away anything, there was also a nice and refreshing twist on the whole "Find a prince and everything will be Fine" which I think we can all agree we are finished with.

And did I mention the incredible music? We started downloading songs from the soundtrack in the parking lot of the theater after the movie was over. Wait, I lied. I bought the "theme" the day before and the big kids and I listened to it in the car on the way to getting haircuts on Saturday afternoon (to get them in the mood for the movie because, clearly that was needed). Ha.

Ellie asks to listen to the soundtrack in the car on the way to school. Before I've put the key in the ignition. 

She calls upstairs while I'm getting dressed in the morning to "bring my phone downstairs" so she can listen to "Frozen."

And perhaps one of my favorite moments  came last night when she sang herself to sleep. With songs from "Frozen." I kid you not. 

Ellie got a little set of figures of characters from the movie for Hanukkah and that was a huge hit--such a huge hit that Leo burst into tears when he didn't get the same set. Oops. (When am I going to learn that I should always just buy two of everything--and soon enough, I guess, four). Oy.

Last night Ellie and Leo spent their post-dinner/bath time sketching each of the characters from the movie. Before that, Ellie built a little "stage" for them from a small discarded box. And when I was upstairs putting the twins to bed, Leo and Ellie took it upon themselves to stand on chairs and get the tin foil from the top shelf above the refrigerator (you know, tin foil = ice= "Frozen"). The kitchen table looked like a craft room had exploded (scissors, tape, construction paper) and in the background, the music from the soundtrack blared: 

"Let it go, let it go…Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway."

This is the best song. I mean. Idina Menzel? Are you kidding me? I pretty much have it on repeat. And I'm using it to further my brainwashing of Ellie into full-blown Broadway show tune nerdom: I told her she's one of the witches from "Wicked" (which Ellie is very interested in after seeing a poster for it when we were in the city and hearing one of the songs from the show on the "Glee" soundtrack).

But on to the art. I think the Disney animators would be proud, don't you?

Olaf, the snowman.

Olaf, the sun loving snow man, By Leo.

By Ellie.

Sven, the reindeer.

Sven, by Leo. 

When we first started listening to the music, Lucy, in her usual, characteristically oppositional manner screamed "NO FROZEN!"

But we won her over soon enough. The music is irresistible, even to an opinionated two-year-old. Now we are all dancing around to "Fixer Upper" and Lucy is demanding that I "Dip her."

It's not that often that the kids and I are "into" the same things, but you know, DISNEY. They know how to do it (there's a reason plenty of adults without children visit the Disney theme parks). I am, however,  pretty sure I'm one of the few adults rocking out to the "Frozen" soundtrack during their morning commute (true story). Yup, I'm a proud and self-proclaimed fruit ball, what can I say. 

And this morning, on my way to work I may have stopped at the Disney store on the way to my office to look at the "Frozen" paraphernalia again (Hanukkah is over and Christmas is coming!). I may have had my headphones on and switched them off, only to realize that the Frozen soundtrack was also playing in the store. Pfew! I didn't have to miss a moment of "Frozen." 

We're having fun. And I'm not sure who's enjoying all this more, the kids, or me. 

And Just Like That, Two Holidays (Almost) Down: The Epic Thanksgivukah Post

Well, nothing like Thanksgivukah to really rush you right through the year, right? Sheesh! And then I panicked a little when I looked at the calendar this morning and realized we only have three weekends until Christmas.

Wait, WHAT?

But in the spirit of Living in the Moment:

We lit the candles the first night (which fell the night before Thanksgiving, making Thanksgiving technically the first "day" of Hanukkah. Leave it to the Jews to make it confusing, believe me). And this is what happened. It's a little hard to make out Lucy's expression. But I think you get the idea.



I definitely could not have predicted Lucy's reaction to the menorah in all its glory. This year there was a lot less wonder and awe and a lot more screeching, all from Lucy who demanded to "Get down!" so she could "Blow out the candles and sing Happy Birthday!"

Let's contrast the above photo with the one below (from last year). Such sweet darlings, right?



Before I got all Pity Party about how much harder everything is lately in the land of Twin Two Year Olds, I recalled this little gem:


Ellie was the exact age that the twins are right now. I think you get the idea.

Someone is always mad about something.

Ha ha ha. Kidding.

Mostly.

Back to 2013: Everyone eventually (mostly) calmed down and we finished lighting the candles.

Earlier in the day, I attended Ellie's first grade thanksgiving "feast" and then picked her up from school and we did a bit of shopping for our feast.


Along the way, we were excited to see all the Hanukkah displays. You know those giant blow-up holiday decorations you see all over the suburbs? They now make Hanukkah versions (and no this is not necessarily an endorsement, just an observation). And you know, I've lived in the New York/New Jersey area for over thirteen years and this kind of sight still slays me. Growing up, I always felt like the odd man out who celebrated Hanukkah and now it's just the norm (this photo was snapped at Bed Bath & Beyond).

Ellie and I had such a fun afternoon that Thanksgiving Eve/first night of Hanukkah. Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying age six? Oh sure she still has her unreasonable moments but she is just maturing so nicely, has such a clever sense of humor and fun disposition. Being out with her is almost like being with a friend-a young, short friend. Anyway, I think you get the picture. Her thoughtfulness really impresses me too.

To wit: We spent a good amount of time in the Target toy aisles trolling for last minute Hanukkah items for her siblings and she genuinely wanted to get everyone something they would like. She would have stayed there all afternoon shopping for other people if I'd let her. Only once or twice did she point to something she might like, but it was very casual and off-hand and not at all insistent or whiney or Buymethatrightnow!

And thank goodness I did have Ellie with me because I am pathologically indecisive and pretty much a horrific shopper. I over think everything. Ellie however, is no-nonsense and was full of wonderful suggestions about Matchbox cars (Harry) and Spiderman action figures (Leo). Lucy is the real question mark this year, as she doesn't really play with toys as much as she plays with people. And since we all know she's going to steal anything Harry likes, maybe I should just get two of everything I get Harry and call it a day? (Kidding of course.)

Not until we were driving home did Ellie wonder aloud if she was getting a Hanukkah present. Darn it! I KNEW there was something I forgot to do! I teased, smiling at her playfully in the rear view mirror. She played along. She knew better.


Up went the decorations this weekend, and the return of Harrystoptouchingthelights!


Thanksgiving Day dawned early as they always do. It quickly turned loud and crazy (don't be fooled by this relatively calm scene).


I got it in my head to make a Toll House Pie this year (it's basically just a giant chocolate chip cookie inside a pie, how can you go wrong?). Ellie heard the words "chocolate chip" and was immediately on board.


Best Thanksgiving Pie. Ever. The End.




I always look forward to watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and this year did not disappoint (yes, that's a few of us watching the parade, in case you were wondering-you can see they're all riveted, although I also think I managed to catch it during a commercial (of which there were many). But really, each year the kids seem to be more and more interested in the actual parade which is fun. Someday, we will all go.


Ellie set the table.


The Meal. The great Thanksivukah mash-up.


Surveying the spread. Harry gave those mashed potatoes a good poke.

Right before the meal, we went around the table and asked everyone to say what they were thankful for. With no prompting whatsoever, Harry said he was thankful for Lucy and then Lucy said she was thankful for Harry. And you know what? It really doesn't get any better than that.


And here is something else to be thankful for. A cheese plate from one of New York City's finest restaurants, eaten in the comfort of my own home. In fact, I think I was in my pajamas when I finally got around to enjoying this little beauty. Talk about grateful.

There are so many things to be grateful for this year: Health, happiness, our extended family, friends, our home and of course a wonderful family of my own that I never in a million years imagined having. They overwhelm me every day, and yet they bring me more joy than I've ever known, to say nothing of all the laughter. Those are fair trade-offs to me.



Here's hoping your Thanksgiving (or Thanksgivakuh) was a great one and that you have plenty to be thankful for too. Wishing you a holiday season full of light and love.

These Days

Breathtaking fall mornings.


Leo has always loved playing in the leaves.


A chilly morning, but still perfect for playgrounds. And again, with the amazing, gorgeous leaves and sky. This weather, these days, this beauty. We are spoiled.


It's true: there's always someone to play with at our house. That makes up for the incredible amount of noise!


Perpetual racing buddies, these two. Also Lucy and her new favorite hat. She's the only kid I've had who actually wants to wear a hat. Asks for it. Figures. Also, I love how these two at some point made dibs on their respective little cars. Lucy always uses the purple one and Harry always uses the yellow one. No discussion needed.


Dirty Harry. Have we talked about Harry and his love for dirt? The kid eats it. Seeks it out and scoops it up like it's a delicacy (and before you start asking about pica, it's the only inappropriate thing he eats so... ). Oh and now he laughs at us when we chide him or try to redirect him. He's taken to calling himself "Dirt Man."


Just when I think no one plays in this (what WILL the backyard look like without giant plastic things?), Lucy goes and "drives" this age-old boat for thirty minutes (I guess it's more fun when filled with leaves. Then again, isn't everything?).


Coffee and croissant date with my boys.


I just can't get enough of these eyelashes. And therefore you can't either.



A few Saturday nights ago, we let Leo and Ellie stay up a little later than usual because they were playing together so nicely. They were downstairs in the basement playroom for a looong time.


This was the result.


Lastly, I forgot how much fun a simple balloon is. This was at breakfast the other morning and this is also what you call Cheap Thrills. In other news, Christmas and Hanukkah gifts have now been simplified and streamlined. Balloons for everyone!

Believe the Hype: Halloween 2013

I'm happy to report that Halloween 2013 exceeded expectations.

After its two year hiatus, how could it not?


Witch Vogueing.





Harry, admittedly, may have been less than pleased with his costume. Or, the wearing of a costume in general.


Can't you just hear Lucy saying "Cheese."

Lucy on the other hand, was SO excited about dressing up that she ended up wearing two costumes, starting out the day as Tinker Bell and ending her day as Clifford the Big Red Dog (Harry was so annoyed with us all by this point, he couldn't even show his face and was happy to trade his earlier Clifford look for a different dog costume, not that you can't tell from this picture).


My little chain gang and me. A few people who saw this picture didn't realize I was wearing a costume (I won't take personally the fact that the sight of me in an orange jump suit apparently seems de rigueur). I will however, take this opportunity to shout from the roof tops in my nerd-fan glee that not only was my costume that of an inmate, but it was a real jumpsuit from the costume closet of the show "Orange is the New Black" (which, by the way, is one of my favorite shows of all time, if you haven't seen it yet, run, don't walk and sign up for Netflix). Yes, I may have been a bit excited.





By the time we set out for trick or treating, Leo was DONE. I'm impressed that he agreed to join us at all, since he's not a big Candy Guy (like, at all). That explains his subdued costume choice (for the school parade/party he went as Michelangelo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. By afternoon, it was all he could do to don an old cape and his Spidey Web slinger. Hey, whatever works.


First-timer.

At point point while we were trick or treating, Erin was holding Harry and she said to me, Is there a reason Harry isn't wearing a diaper? I looked at her in horror. I mean, I do forget stuff but that would definitely be up there in terms of pretty remarkable screw-ups on my part. Oh wait, she said. It just fell off. Here it is just slipped down around his ankles. Of course! I reached for him to fix his diaper and that's when I realized his shoes were on the wrong feet. Because, of course! (Gee, that might explain why he was not enjoying the walking aspect of trick or treating). Sorry, buddy.


Haul.

As is always the case in our house (so far), the handing out of treats is even MORE exciting than the getting of treats. At one point Erin had to break up an almost fist fight between Leo and Ellie about who got to hand out treats first. Yes, the two of them had a gigantic brawl, with tears and everything, in front of some unsuspecting neighbor kids who stood on our porch with mouths agape, as if to say, We just wanted some M&Ms but is this a bad time?


Waiting for begging for trick-or-treaters. And yes, at one point Ellie stood on the front porch calling out to random people walking by, are you trick-or-treaters? Oh and of course, Ellie's sitting on a baby potty. Only in our house.

I carved a pumpkin for the first time in three years.

Of course I forgot to take a picture of it.

With all the festivities, the babies were up a little later than usual. Lucy had an epic meltdown/tantrum of extraordinary proportions (I really don't think I've ever seen her so upset and that's saying a lot) for the simple reason that she wanted a candy bar.

And so I did what any responsible parent would do.



I gave my two year old a Hershey bar.

Hey, it was a miniature.



So, I think Lucy might like chocolate?

Happy Halloween!*

*Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Hanukkah to plan in just 28 days. Wait, WHAT?