Happy Birthday, Mama!

My mom turned 65 today (and oh, my, do I hope I am as beautiful, amazing and active as she is when I am 65)!  Last Saturday, my Dad let my sister know he wanted to throw her a surprise birthday party, and, despite being in the midst of a move, my sister made it happen.  I'm bummed I had to miss the actual party (being over 500 miles away), but I am so glad that I was asked to help with the video (it helps that I have the big box of family photos).  I got to spend a couple of hours sorting and scanning last night and Daniel put together the video today, just in time for the family to watch it during their party.  Enjoy!

Our Village

This week, my sister had her baby boy.  An induction and no pain medicine later, she completely dominated labor and we have a handsome, chubby, baby boy (9lbs 9 oz!) to love on the next time we see them.  My sister is a rock star and I'm overflowing with pride for her.  Anni has been singing Happy Birthday to her new cousin as often as it comes to mind (which is often).  

I would be lying if I didn't admit to being a little heartbroken over the fact that I'm over eight hours away and can't snuggle all the sweet boy's chub, or bring my sister chocolate and make her family a meal, or take my other nieces and nephews out for a few hours.  I think because one of my primary love languages is 'acts of service', I don't feel like I'm showing my love as well when I can't go, you know, serve a little.  (And, let's be honest, I'm going to miss that same lovin' when we have our Lil' Bit and my family is 8 hours away... thank goodness for my mama being willing to make the trip out here!)

You know the phrase, 'It takes a village'?  Even eight hours away, we have our village.  My mama and sisters have answered more ridiculous questions from me than I can count, are willing to talk to Anni on the phone, read her books over skype and generally keep us included in family life, despite the distance.  Even my brothers remember to call sometimes, and I have a few treasured letters from my big brother that always lift my spirits when I'm missing them especially.  Locally, I have very supportive in-laws and some amazing friends who are always willing to step in when we need a little extra help.  Blessed doesn't even begin to describe it.

I still wouldn't pass up a cuddle with my brand-new nephew, though. 

The Christmas Post: 2012

Our Christmas was, dare I say, idyllic.  The thing that started it off perfectly was that my mom drove out to see us the weekend before.  While we talk nearly every day and skype often, we haven't seen each other in person in nearly six months, and for a girl that was desperately bummed about missing this year's family Christmas... this was the perfect way to begin a season that is so much about family.

Miss Anni takes a little time to warm up to anyone that isn't Mommy or Daddy, including beloved grandparents.  My mama, being the mama of 6 other kiddos of varying degrees of introvertedness, was patient as can be.  With her, she brought Christmas gifts of lovely, lovely books for Anni.  (If you ever need a good gift for a little one, books are so perfect... you really can't have too many and they take up so much less space than toys).  One of the books became an immediate favorite.  By the time my mom left, she had read Interrupting Chicken at least a dozen times a day and both she and Anni had it nearly memorized. 

I am so grateful that our girls have grandparents that are so willing to sit down, read, snuggle and dance. 

And, I'm ever, ever, every so grateful that my mommy helped me finish my Christmas shopping and food planning.  This year, with my approaching the point that Anni came and not really knowing if my body would decide it was time for this baby to come, we decided to do Christmas at home.  Which meant, I was hosting an important holiday celebration for the first time ever (luckily with only two other -forgiving- adults, but still).  She sat down with me, got my sister's recipe for roast chicken (I only had the vague plan that the chicken went into the oven and hopefully came out yummy) and helped me navigate pre-Christmas store crowds to get everything we needed.

It was hard to see her leave before Christmas, but so fun to be able to send home all of our Christmas love to our family there and be filled up on some mom/grandma time.

 

We spent a little time at the in-laws the day before Christmas Eve, playing piano (Daniel and Anni), taking naps (me, not anyone else) and watching Anni strip her favorite ornaments off their Christmas tree.

Then came Christmas Eve.  We put ribbons on our heads, ate a big breakfast, and spent the day cleaning and prepping for Christmas.  We also ended up going to Mass on Christmas Eve.  It was absolutely packed!  Luckily, we went a little early to see the Christmas pageant (we thought Anni would love seeing all the kids in costumes acting out the story), so we did manage to get an aisle seat where there was a little air.  Anni kept the family next to use amused with her comments.  She was both very worried about where Baby Jesus was and wondering whether King Herod was Santa.  Her only experience with Santa is walking by one with her grandparents in the mall, so it kind of makes sense that she would equate fake white bears with him.  Either way, she did pretty well, considering we were in our seats for two hours (heck, I was hot and a little squirrelly by the time we were done as well).

Oh, and there was random digging into the closet to pull out plastic bags, mommy's stocking cap and "her" new umbrella from Ikea.

After Mass, it was officially Christmas in our house.  Anni reminded us where we had hidden Baby Jesus and brought Him back out into the world.  She told Him He could lie on the couch by her until it was time for Him to "go to bed with His mama."

We also pulled out some last minute gift-crafting as one of our gifts didn't arrive from Amazon on time (it's been relegated to a future birthday gift at this point).

Then, we made a batch of four chocolate chip cookies, because it's Christmas and who doesn't want to wrap up Christmas Eve with a warm chocolate chip cookie as the snow falls gently out the window?

I thought so.

Then, we finished up the night with one of my favorite traditions.   My Dad has read The Night before Christmas to us every Christmas Eve for years (with all our candles lit... though I think that part of the tradition has taken a back seat with all of the grandchildren until they're big enough to leave them alone).  Daniel continued that tradition with Anni, and I love watching her grow and change in each year's picture.  Next year, there will be another little sweetie snuggled up on her Daddy's lap.  I love tradition, and I love having gotten to start them in our own family so that our little ones will always have these sweet memories to look back on.

The next morning, we awoke to full stockings, presents under the tree, fresh cream cheese kolaches, and hot chocolate on the stove.

Anni's stocking stuffer was a set of these little mugs so she could start drinking out of a "real cup" at the dinner table, so she had her very first hot chocolate (and enjoyed it very much).

Then of course, came present opening.  We have a lot of fun picking out her gifts.  We limit ourselves to three (and a stocking stuffer), as it would be way, way, way too easy to go overboard and we don't really want the entire focus of the day to be on presents (I'm not sure our budget could handle it either).  This year we got her a couple of books, a bedding set (with hopes that it would help her keep blankets on at night!), and a doll bed. 

Then came the work.  While I didn't manage to actually get a picture of my beautiful roast chicken, I am immensely proud that it tasted delicious and that everything was *mostly* done on time to eat.  Daniel's mom provided the biggest, most gorgeous fruit salad ever as well as a few other sides, so we had quite the spread.
 

Probably the worst idea ever to take a picture right after a huge meal when already feeling self-conscious about pregnancy weight gain... but at least we took a picture together!

We spent the rest of Christmas in relatively inert stages, opening presents from the in-laws, eating Jesus' birthday cake and a double layer pumpkin pie (cream cheese and pumpkin... oh. my) and reveling in two-year-old enjoyment of Christmas.

We're determined to celebrate the entire season of Christmas, so we still have Christmas music playing, lights up in the apartment and a whole lot of treats to work through.  It's easy to feel festive when Daniel has work off all the way through New Year's Day (thank you, working for a great Catholic organization)!

Now that one season of waiting (Advent) is over, we're starting to see the end of our own waiting period!  What a beautiful thing it is to be pregnant while we remember Mary's pregnancy and birth of Christ.  Merry Christmas, my friends!  I hope that no matter what you celebrate, you are having a beautiful end of the year!

Former Fridays: Firemen's Day

This weeks "Former Friday" is brought to you straight from 1957 and my mom's childhood.  Each year the town she grew up in would have a parade on Firemen's Day and they would all get dressed up for it.  [My mom is the cutie on the right.  I think my oldest niece looks just like her.]

The Epic Post following the Epic Weekend

Despite the lack of snow and really, general lack of Colorado winter weather, this time of year is so magical.  I am so in love with watching Anni take in the world and I love sharing it with you!

Thanks to the kind and gentle ministrations of my dear mother, I entered the weekend recovered and ready to rock some seriously fun times.  The full recovery was necessary in order that I might partake in the conglomerate of delicious meals.  It also meant we got to do a little tree decorating.  The tradition in my family is actually to decorate it on the 24th... but we'll be celebrating with my family by then, so we decided to go for it.

We started the weekend out with a visit to our church's Christkindlmarkt.  It is essentially our winter festival, celebrating the church's German roots and the nearing of Christmas.  While the day was beautiful, the evening was cold and windy!  Little Nugget ended up not only in her hoodie, but spent most of the night cuddled against her daddy in a blanket and Grandma's extra sweater.  She was quiet the whole time, just soaking in the sights and sounds.

And don't worry, we had some seriously unhealthy and delicious food.  Daniel had the brat with all the fixings (onions and saurkraut) and my mom and I both had hot dogs (this is my mom's... I may or may not have eaten mine too quickly before I remembered to take a picture).

Oh, but don't worry.  The fun didn't stop there.  Nope, it got even better.  Saturday morning we had to say good-bye to my mommy (this is not the fun part - I hate saying good-bye to her... but, luckily we'll be at her house for Christmas!!) and I headed off to a photo-shoot.  You'll have to head over to my photography blog to check it out.  Let's just say: 2 year old twins and a 2 week old beauty?  Life really can't get much better.

As soon as I got home from the shoot, I encountered this wonderful sight:

My heart melted (btw, Anni's hat and button flower was bought the night before as the Christkindlmarkt.  You can find more just like it at http://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomz). My family cleans up well, huh?  As quickly as possible, we gathered everything necessary up to head to the wedding of two beautiful people!  Daniel works with both of them at FOCUS headquarters.  It's always different (and relaxing!) to get to go to a wedding and not be working.  So, I just have a couple of pictures from our baby section (back row of the church and upper deck of the reception - perfect!)  This wedding was especially neat because they tied in Anand's Indian heritage for some awesome dancing, food and several other unique traditions. 

Oh, and don't worry, there was choreographed dancing.

And we got to hang out with some wonderful friends (who adore Anni, by the way... it's so fun to watch :)).  

It was a wonderful night!  And following the party, we decided to stop by a spectacular display of lights by our house.  Two houses across the street from each other have every light imaginable up and even string them across the street.  It was a really fun way to introduce Anni to Christmas lights... because she couldn't miss the spectacle!  She grinned and touched as long as I'd let her... then I quickly bundled her back to the car out of the chilly night (and got the cutest little shiver and "brrr" from her - blanket was then tucked even tighter).  Oh, happy weekend!     

Our Sunday was definitely a day of rest.  We went to an early Mass and then declared it pajama day.  What a beautiful thing a day of rest is after a day of being away from our beloved home.

PS Happy Feast day of St. Lucia!  Every year, my oldest sister wears a white dress (her wedding dress, actually) and brings braided bread to my parent's house.  I love this tradition and hope I can be in town someday again when it comes around!

The Grandma Days...

A week ago, Daniel had a business conference in Baltimore. This was the downside (the cloud, if you will). However, the cloud had a bright, golden lining filled with chocolatey goodness. My mama came to town! Days with my mom are always filled with joy, organizing (I make a mental list before she comes of things I know I need desperate help organizing), yummy food (especially fruit - my favorite!), extra sleep and lots of lovin' for little Miss Nugget. After the first uncertain night (we had to have Daniel talk to her over the phone before she would sleep; he is normally the one to lie her down for the night), Anni made sure my mom fit in lots of good baby things. She added new noises to her repertoire (a grunt that scared me the first time and a new level of squeaking/screeching and other high-pitched happy noises). She started to shake her rattles, compare them, pick them up on her own, and even switch hands with one at a time. So, while she's not huge on her gross motor skills (sitting up still escapes her, although tummy time is getting better each day), her fine motor skills are sky rocketing. Yep, grandma brings all kinds of good things with her. (Did I finish a whole bag of chocolate yogurt covered raisins within two days of her arrival? Yes, I did.)



And one thing I looked forward to were the walks. We only made it on one walk all three of us, as the other days were way too cold and windy for the baby girl. However, we traded off on the cold days and I got to see a lot more outdoors than I do otherwise.

The day of our walk together was definitely summer's encore. The sun shone down on fall colored trees with a gentle warm breeze. mmm, it was so good! We even gave Anni her first leaf experience. I think she liked it :).

Oh, yes. There's a new realization of the tongue, too. I love it!




So, for all the good things that come with Grandma, we can't wait until they come again!

ps Happy Election day! Hope you voted... even I made it out!