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.

Stop It. And Some Wonderful Things (After Some Not So Wonderful).

An assortment, from years gone by. It doesn't get much better than that feather turkey wreath from Leo's (I think) first grade.


This weekend, down came the Halloween decor and up went theThanksgiving paraphernalia.

Then Amy pointed out to me that if it was time to decorate for Thanksgiving, then it was also time to acknowledge Hanukkah (which, for the first time in our lifetime happens to fall on the same day).

Hannuskiving?

Thanksgivingmacka?

I don't know what to call it or what to say except Stop This Year. Just Stop It. You are going by too fast. And Stop My Favorite Season From Rolling By.

I know that time is one of the most boring subjects but it's all so true, every single word of what "they" say about it. This is all just whizzing right by. This weekend I sat in the backyard with the twins while they burned off some late afternoon/time change crabbiness and we watched the planes fly overhead from the Newark airport. Harry flapped his little arms and ran around the driveway like a miniature 747, because really there is nothing more interesting than watching the planes fly overhead and then pretending to be a plane. These little people. Two years ago they were sitting on the deck strapped in infant seats and buried in little winter suits. And now?

Now I manage to get Harry to sleep a full hour later than Lucy (Hello, 5:15 a.m. on time change Sunday!). Lucy and I have a rare hour to ourselves as the house remains quiet with everyone else still asleep. And when I hear Harry stirring, go upstairs to get him and present him to Lucy, Look who I found! I joke to Lucy, who is drinking her morning milk and grazing on cheerios and pumpkin bread.

Oh thank you! I like Harry! Hi Harry! Lucy says, her face, an explosion of happiness and glee.

Of course, the irony is not lost on me that "Stop It" is also a phrase that has been coming out of my mouth quite a lot these days (and yes, it's pretty much always directed at the twins). Stop It! Stop stealing Harry's toys! Stop it! Stop screaming! Stop it! Stop throwing open the refrigerator doors and stealing apples and packages of string cheese and then running, celebratory through the house (Yes, this is my life).


I found this oldie but goodie this weekend. From last year: "A Turkey, in the Rain," by Leo.

***

A few weeks ago Leo had to get a tooth pulled. It was his first time (thank goodness!) and it was also a baby tooth (another thank goodness!). It was just a rotten little tooth that the dentist said hadn't been worth filling but it was finally in bad enough shape to pull. We all know Leo has finally overcome his dental issues, which is why it was perhaps even more traumatic to have to hold him down while he had that little tooth pulled (a parenting first that I hope to never repeat).

Oh he was medicated and numbed and even nitroused up. But he saw the tools and even without pain, I guess there is no mistaking the "force" of having a tooth extracted. Bless our dear Dr. F who was cool as a cucumber as he had to do some serious acrobatics during the procedure, practically turning himself upside to accomplish the task. But he could not have been more patient with Leo (or me). Did I mention his daughter has Down syndrome? He gets it.

And when it was all over, I felt teary, for Leo and for the fact that we are so fortunate to have some wonderful people in our little village, including our dentist.

As he always does, Leo recovered very quickly. There were no hard feelings toward Dr. F, only fist bumps and high fives. A hug may have been attempted too.


After the trauma (for both of us), I did what any guilt-ridden mother would do. I took Leo out for the biggest donut I could find.* And I bought myself the largest pumpkin flavored coffee available (I also may or may not have quickly eaten ten pumpkin Munchkins in the car).

I ran into Dr. F at Ellie's school Halloween parade (his kids go to the same school). There he was, in his Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume. It was two weeks after the tooth pulling ordeal but all he could ask me was "How's Leo?"

It doesn't get much better than that.

*Don't worry. Leo brushed his teeth when we got home. :)

Gratitude Weekend

So very Thankful.













And thankful to you, for coming here when you can, to let us share our little world with you.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Scenes From Thankfulness

We went to the City for breakfast, in our Thanksgiving finery (see Ellie) and brought our own centerpiece of course (see Leo).

I'd like to say we hit the Parade, but I'm not quite that brave, yet (though it's on my To Do list when the kids get a little older, but not too old that they don't want to be seen with us). Speaking of the parade, we recorded it this year and watched it when we got home. This is the way to watch the parade, fast-forwarding through all the commercials and annoying celebrity interviews. This was the first year the kids were actually into the parade (and not just the Sponge Bob and Kermit balloons). Ellie was very interested in all the "girl dancers," particularly the act from "Priscilla Queen of the Desert." Yes, that was an interesting little conversation.

Spotted on Spring Street: Pilgrim boy.

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving with a baby(ies) without a good turkey bib: "Mommy's Little Turkey"--I'll say.

Best way to emerge from a turkey coma: story time.

The kids went to bed early and then I ate a lot of pie, which is the way every day should end, I think.

Thankful. Grateful.

What Leo is thankful for, November 2011.

My cup these days, runneth over. WAY over.

I'm aggravated and exhausted and impatient and spread thin as a fine crepe. But amidst the laundry that never ends, the dishwasher that's always full and the claustrophobic house (two of everything baby-related, do you realize how much stuff that is?) oh, do I know how good things are. This is where I need to be right now. There is no other place.

Even when I'm so sleepy I can hardly see (did you know this is possible? I'm learning that it is), I'm truly grateful. I am.

I'm thankful that the number of times per day that I think to myself I Cannot Do This, This is Too Hard, seems to be decreasing.

Grateful for Erin, who has an uncanny ability to sense just when I'm about ready to walk out that front door and not tell anyone where I'm going--this is when she wisely somehow finds a way to make the early train. Sometimes she even brings me pastries. She works incredibly hard and so far, professes to love me no matter what kind of mood I'm in (and believe me, there have been some moods lately).

Grateful for a little boy who tells me "I love you Mommy." Thankful for that little boy who, when he falls down, shoots his thumb up in the air and exclaims, "I'm OK!"

Grateful for a little girl who asks "Am I doing a good job Mommy?" and perhaps my personal favorite, "Can I just have a snuggle?"

Collectively, they often make me want to beat my head against the wall, but they also make me laugh every day (thank goodness!). To wit: yesterday Ellie, wearing her most earnest expression asked me if I knew that "milk comes from cows bottoms?" (I did not.)


And although a year ago the prospect both terrified and bewildered me, today I'm grateful for our "bonus baby," that we went for #3 and got #4 too. Just don't ask me which one the bonus is, because I can't imagine life without either one.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

A Bunch of Turkeys

Poor Lucy.


Such a shame her big sister isn't head over heels crazy for her.

Kidding, of course. That Lucy has Ellie wrapped around her finger already, this much is clear.

And since Lucy doesn't believe in naps, she was front and center for Ellie's little turkey project yesterday.

I have a hard time keeping Ellie occupied some days. A lot of days, really. She's been in daycare full-time since she was six months old. This time at home has been an adjustment for everyone. "I just want to go where you go," she says to me when I go downstairs to switch clothes from the washer to the dryer or...try to go to the bathroom. Alone.

This little turkey project came to me in a panic when I could not say no to TV again nor could I fetch another snack. "How about a Thanksgiving project!" I suggested, in my most energetic voice. "Yes!" Ellie agreed wholeheartedly.




I'd say it was a hit for all involved.

Ellie was so excited to show Leo her "project" when he got home from school. He immediately wanted to make his own turkeys.

He busted out with these, tracing his own hand all by himself, without even being told how to do it.

He's clearly a veteran of Thanksgiving crafts, having been successfully indoctrinated on the delicate ins and outs of turkey hand tracing.