Happy Birthday Jesus!

Sadly, Christmas is over. We had such a wonderful time this year. It was low stress, we had great time with family and loved seeing the kids open their gifts...Trinity anyway. Everett wasn't too sure what was going on.

Thank you to our families for spoiling our kids beyond comprehension. Trinity has a ridiculous amount of toys. I hid half of them so we can rotate them. Everett will not need any clothes until he turns one.

We know that Christmas is not about the gifts and have tried to instill that thinking to Trinity this year. We have had a lot of good conversations and great book suggestions that focus on Christ's birth...and the reason for gifts. I think she understands for the most part. In the meantime, she thinks she is a doodlebop with all her new instruments.

For the first time we hosted a holiday event. We have meaning to for years but have always passed it on. I think we used the excuse that no one wanted to drive from the burbs to the city. However, this Christmas Eve dinner was here and all were happy to spend it in the city. Eddie's parents, grandparents, sister and brother-in-law, brother and daughter, aunt and others joined us. Eddie's alternative personality, Chef Entree, came out and joined us. He purchased fresh Cod and Red Snapper from the fish market. He baked and fried with several different recipes. It was delicious. In addition, we served oven roasted squash, potatoes, peppers, etc., cole slaw, shrimp, cheese and plum pirogis, asparagus. I made a pistachio cake and cinnamon apple dessert. After dinner we retreated to the downstairs to open gifts and watch It's A Wonderful Life. We put the kids in their Christmas pj's and relaxed.


Christmas morning we spent at home, just the 4 of us. We took our time getting ready and getting out the door. We drove to my mom's for Christmas dinner: ham, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, corn casserole...yum! My brother made the trip into town with his girlfriend...Yeah! We had a casual, low-key, relaxing perfect time. St. Nick made it to her house too.

This next week we might still be organizing and cleaning up. But most of all, we will be giving thanks.

Happiness

Snow Angel

Trinity helping shovel last weekend...in her piggy pajamas.

One of the things I appreciate most about being a mom is the happiness and innocence that children have. Trinity is at the wonderful age of exploration and imagination. Last weekend when we had a foot of snow dumped on us, I grumbled. I enjoyed the extra calorie burn shovel experience but could live without the ice patches and fear of slipping with Everett in my arms.

Trinity awoke Sunday morning with shock and awe of all the snow outside. She couldn't wait to get out there. We bundled her up and headed out on the sled. You have to get a little creative living in the city. You see, unlike Sarah's neighbors, our neighbors shovel their sidewalks which leaves little sledding room. Therefore, Eddie took her in the alley. Once over a couple moguls and a few spills, she was done with that adventure. She was quite happy helping shovel, sprinkling salt, making snow angels and throwing snowballs at our neighbors upstairs.

The smile on her face totally brightened my grumbling day.

B-I-B-L-E

Trinity attends a bible study with me on Thursdays. While I am studying God's Word, she is in the kid's program. Last Thursday, she was in her first musical. She was "supposed" to sing:

The B-I-B-L-E, that is the Book for me...

However, her introverted personality took over and she sat silent, but looking cute as ever. Her best friend Emma is in the red sweater in front of her. I apologize for the grainy pictures, I had to bring the small not-so-good camera so I could snap yet hold Everett at the same time.

Ho Ho Ho

Trinity and Everett visited Santa today. Trinity has cried and cried at first glance of Santa the past 2 years. We expected the same today but she hopped right on his lap and told him she wanted the new Shrek video. Everett didn't have much to say to him. He almost pulled his beard off when I took him off Santa's lap. I am glad I caught it so I wouldn't have to a) traumatize Trinity or b) come up with a believable explanation.

After the Santa visit, we did our traditional Christkindlmarket shopping at The Daley Center where we ate some good bratwurst. We purchased our annual glass ornament to hang on our tree. Supposedly it is made in Germany but probably is made in China.

We then headed over to Macy's for some shopping, and warmth, and to tour the windows. Trinity called them "magic windows." She was happy to see ballerinas and princesses.

Everett slept through the "magic windows" look-see.

Gingerbread House

We all helped build a gingerbread house. Trinity mostly helped eating the candy and Eddie was rather territorial over his creation. I was allowed to draw some windows and roof tile. We are all working off a sugar high right now.

Note the frosting on the face:

Christmas Tree Chaos

Shortly after Thanksgiving we put up our Christmas tree. Trinity helped decorate it and was so happy to put the star on top of the tree. It was a nice family time.

I have been wanting a pre-lit tree for some time now. As my friend Jill told me, "we are the only ones living in the stone ages without a pre-lit tree!" I have to admit that I wanted one for the sheer convenience of it. In addition, Clark (our cat) always bites the light strings. Eddie has become the master splicer. Not stringing the lights every year has been a dream of mine. Therefore, when Eddie heard the loud crash from downstairs the other day I thought my dream might be coming true. Sure enough, the base of the tree broke and the tree landed on a wooden chair that shattered some glass ornaments. Fortunately, nothing sentimental was broken.

I sent Eddie on an unknowing wild goose chase looking for a pre-lit tree (YES!!!). when he came home hanging his head I realized that everyone in the City of Chicago have raided all the stores and the trees were all sold out. We turned to the Internet and found a nice one online. It is hard to know for sure what you are getting from a small picture online. In addition, it was called a "blue fir." We weren't sure if that was a kind of tree or if the tree would be blue!?!?! For all we know we could be stuck with an Avon inspired, retro blue tree. The shipping cost to return a 70lb. tree would be rather costly.

I am happy to report that it came in the mail (free shipping) and is quite beautiful. I will post some pictures as soon as we find the motivation to decorate it all over again.

Spoiled

Who wouldn't want to sit in a hot tub and watch the Bear's game!?!?

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful thanksgiving this year. We spent it with Eddie's family up in Buffalo Grove. Trinity played with the kids all afternoon / night and Everett was passed around to all the joyful arms that held him. It was really relaxing for Eddie and I.

As I reflect on the holiday and what I am thankful for, I realized that despite the struggling year we have had there are far more great memories than bad. I would be quick to say that I hope 2008 be better only for the sake of the stock market. This is mild in comparison to all the great gifts God gave us this year.

In January we found out we were pregnant year. HUGE blessing!

February: Eddie and I took 3 days and flew to Florida with Breakthrough Urban Ministries. Trinity had a great time with Grandma Bear here and we had a wonderful time with friends, especially The Westrom's and The Wilson's.

March Trinity turned 2 years old. Her Sesame Street party was a great time. She still has a crush on Ernie.

In May Eddie and I celebrated 5 years of marriage. Still praising the Lord for bringing us together!!!

The summer brought many happy memories of water parks, taking Trinity to the park and me floating in the pool.

August we celebrated Eddie spending 31 years on this earth and my birthday 19 days later.

September brought a new chapter of our life as Everett came into this world. Being a mom of 2 great children is too hard to explain. Words are just too small.

Also in September, Trinity was a flowergirl in my cousin's wedding which was a fantastic time.

This holiday season will bring so many more great memories. I am excited to see what God has in store for us. In the meantime, here are some pictures of our holiday:

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So You Wanna Be A Gangsta?!

The Greatest Show On Earth

Light Stick at the circus, $20

---------------------------------- Elephant Snow Cone, $10

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Purple tongue from snow cone, $0

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On a sugar high and having the time of your life...priceless

New Use For Tweezers

Everett has tiny nostrils and it is impossible to get any boogies out of there. That blue bulb they give you at the hospital is worthless. Therefore, I took a pair of tweezers and got those boogies out. I felt like a kid again playing the game of operation. I had to get the tweezers in there without touching the side of his nose so I didn't wake him up. Success! This is my exciting Friday. Maybe I will have a more exciting tale from my trip to the grocery store this afternoon. Stay tuned...on the edge of your seats...

Chunky Monkey

I apologize to my faithful blog readers for my absence. Naps and thank you cards have gained precendence over blogging.I took Everett to the doctor yesterday for a rather personal problem I won't mention here. I wouldn't want to embarrass the little man.
Anyway, since he is over 6 weeks and able to get vaccinated, we went ahead with the routine of the 2 month appt. although he is still 2 weeks shy. This meant 4 shots! I wasn't prepared for it since I wasn't expecting such a thing. Neither was Everett. He was upset, I was upset, it was a mess. He wouldn't even eat he was so mad. He yelled all the way home. I pulled off the highway into a random parking lot to try and feed him again and he wasn't having it. The tune of Bon Jovi in the car and a warm bubble bath at home was the only comfort he wanted. He is perfect today, thankfully.
He is a chunk, as was Trinity at this age. He are his stats:

12lb., 10oz. (90-95 percentile)
23 inches long (80th percentile).

Once I find the time to download pictures, I will post some from my baby boy shower and Aunt Jen's visit from this past weekend.

Visit From Blue

My sister Jen flew in from Seattle for a visit this past weekend. It was fantastic to see her and finally get to spend some uninterrupted time together. She was a great help to me and a fun playmate to Trinity. She even braved gymnastics class with us. It is not everyday that friends and family get to witness Trinity's natural skill on the rings. Hopefully by 2016, girls will be able to compete on such an apparatus.

Photo Shoot

For once in quite some time, I had nothing to do today. So, we had some fun and had a photo shoot.

Everett's first smile on film.

-----------------------------------------------What!?!?

-----------------------------------------------That is Everett under there.

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Giving nosey nosey.

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Ahhhhhhhh Choo!

Big Girl Bed Surprise

Yesterday marked 1 week without the pacifier for Trinity. For the most part it has gone well. She has been acting out a little bit at bedtime. She likes to take her diaper off and play with it. She cries for me to come put it back on so at least I know that it is happening. Tuesday we went for a playdate at a friend's house. She was wound-up and I had concern that she wasn't going to take a nap. Sure enough, I hear the cries for the diaper. I go in her room to find EVERYTHING soaking wet with pee. Yep, she took off the diaper and peed everywhere.I had to take the thousand stuffed animals off the bed, wash the sheets, wash her and change her clothes. Silly me, I tried again to get her to take a nap but that didn't happen. Eddie got home shortly thereafter and I took a nap! The toddler stage is so much fun!

Happy Halloween

This marks Trinity's 3rd Halloween and her 3rd time Trick-or-Treating. When we asked her if she remembered what T&T was, she quickly replied, "get LOTS of candy!" That is exactly what she did. We went to the burbs to visit my parents and Eddie's parents. She was running as fast as she could house to house. I could not even get a picture in focus since she was moving so fast.

She would say Trick-or-Treat and then once she got the candy in her basket she would just stand there waiting for them to put more in. Most were overwhelmed by her cuteness that she would get 3 to 4 pieces at every house. I know that is a lot of candy for a 2 year old but we plan on eating some. We have used it as leverage to get her off her pacifier as well. We are on hour 24 and doing okay.
Check out some pictures of our super kids, Wonder Woman and Superman.

Linda Carter watch out!

Speed Trick-or-Treating