Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas!

It takes a very manly baby to rock pink pj's!  On Christmas, no less!  Tommy managed to unwrap a few presents--much more than Dani or Tori did...
 And Santa showed up and left cool stuff for the kiddos!
 They had a blast.
 We had Christmas dinner at my cousin's.  It was hard to get the kids to be still for a photo op!
 Dinner at the kiddie table rocked!
 And the tree--my little cuties.
Happy holidays all!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Twas the night before Christmas

Everyone is in bed.  Big Man will be headed to work in a few hours.  Time to get things set up and make it look like Christmas.
 
 
 
The girls are so excited.  We baked cookies for Santa.  Bites have been strategically taken from them.
The house is set up.
Santa even left the kids a note.

 I can't wait to see their little faces in the morning.
Merry Christmas, my babies.  Mommy Santa loves you!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Silly, silly, silly!

 Funny things said this week.
Last night at dinner, Dani told us her tummy hurt and she didn't want to eat any more (after not eating much).  Big Man gave her the talk about not eating dinner meant she didn't get to eat dessert later.  I asked her what her tummy felt like.  She replied, "It hurts, and it feels like it's mad at me, and it feels like it's mad at my whole body."

The night before, we were sitting at the dinner table and Dani said something to me, and part of my response included calling her "honey".  As soon as I said it, she asked, "Why did you call me 'honey'?"  I responded something along the lines of she is my little honey, acknowledging that I usually call Big Man honey.  "Can we just stick with Dani?" she replied?
Meanwhile, Tori found a left over set of vampire teeth from Halloween.
And Tommy loves to put the girls' dress-up outfits on his head and play Chief!

They are counting down to Christmas.  Only one chocolate left in the advent calendar.  

Monday, December 17, 2012

Thank God, I've never known.

This week has been filled with talk of violence.  A terrible tragedy occurred in Connecticut, minutes from where I grew up.  Many of my cousins attended school in Newtown, and are thankfully grown.  I've read dozens of facebook posts from friends who have been so shaken by the news, even though they live hundreds or even thousands of miles away.  I've struggled to figure out why I wasn't more affected by it on a personal level.

I can only say that I am thankful.  Thankful to not really have felt the pain or fear that so many of my friends have felt just from watching the news unfold.  Someone mentioned to me in court this afternoon that, with kids at the ages mine are, I must be terrified.  My reply seemed to surprise those in the conversation, no, I am not afraid.

Perhaps it comes from having a spouse in law enforcement.  Every night, he leaves, off to a dangerous place where bad guys have guns, knives, are high on drugs, and people act out of desperation, anger, or just because they are damaged souls.  If I ever really let myself think about what Big Man deals with on a daily basis, I'd probably never sleep, as I would be filled with worry.  So I don't worry, I can't let myself worry.  I kiss him goodbye each night, tell him I love him, and think of other things.

One night the doorbell rang at around midnight.  It was then that I worried.  Called out of a sound sleep by the doorbell when your husband is a cop is the worst way to wake up.  I watch TV--they only come to your house to give you the kind of news you can't deliver over the phone.  It was the longest and most horrible trip downstairs I have ever made.  Every possible nightmarish scenario ran threw my head as I unlocked the deadbolt, tears in my eyes.  And then I saw a man with a pizza carrier walking across my driveway to my neighbor's house.  It was then that I sobbed.  I called the Big Man, crying, professing my profound fear, my utter love, and my thankfulness that it was just the wrong doorbell.  I hope mine is always the wrong doorbell.

Perhaps it is because I've never had to leave my children anywhere.  Sure, we've got the twice a week sitter, but she only watches my children in her home.  I've never needed a swiper card to get in, or had to provide a list of authorized people to pick up my children.  I've never had to leave them somewhere where the doors locked automatically behind me.  I've never had to worry about the place and the people that are caring for my children.  I am thankful.  Thankful because I can't imagine what it must have been like to know something terrible was happening in a place my children were, in a place where dozens of safety measures, and locks and cameras, and adults were, but couldn't keep them safe.

Because like every parent, I love nothing more than to see the sunlight through my son's hair.
To have a silly family dinner with all three of my little monkeys.
And to see how happy it makes them when they receive unexpected gifts.
Thank God, I've never known.  Thank God, I'm not afraid.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Christmas Card Outtakes.

It's that time of year again!  Time to herd cats try to get my kids to (a) sit still; (b) look at the camera at the same time; and (c) make some type of smiling face.
We begin with the kissing of the baby brother, and his "help me" look.
 
 Tommy tries to flee.
 You can make me sit on this couch but you can't make me smile.
 Dani decides to sing some karaoke.
 Meh.  We will not smile.
 This is utter torture, Mommy.
 My foot says, "Merry Christmas!"
We took 65 photos.  Four were passable enough to make it to a photo upload.
Ho, ho, ho!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Dani turns 4.

Dearest Dani, how can you be 4 already?  I swear, just a few days ago, you were just a little bitty bit, red, and screamy, an angry little newborn.  And you were angry, probably, because your mommy had no idea what she was doing.  Yours was the first diaper I ever changed.
And the time has just flown, my little sweetie.
You were, and still are, our cautious child.  You crawled until you could walk without falling.  None of the stumbling, falling, figuring-it-out that new babies do when trying to walk.  When it looked hard or too far away, you crawled.
You weren't quick to speak.  Again, you were figuring it out.  Sure, there was a word, here and there, but they were slow to come.  I used to joke that you'd have your Helen Keller moment where language would just make sense to you and you'd start talking.  And you did.  And now you never stop talking.  And your words amaze me.
You are loving and kind.  You are the friendly child at the store that says hello to everyone and asks their name.  You are happy to help, always.
You've picked me a thousand dandelions, because you think they are beautiful.  I think they are beautiful because they are from you, wilted, and with short stems, handed to me by a little cherub whose nose is yellow with pollen.
You are a master of disguise.  Always game for a costume or an adventure.  Many days you whisper to me, "Mommy, I'm not Dani," and you wait until I can guess what character you've assumed for the moment.
 
Your first reaction is to be afraid of the unknown.  From the spider on the web, to the hairball under the couch, your first reaction is retreat, rather than bravado.  But you face your fears.  The cat, who I know secretly terrifies you, is met with a stubborn smile, and a "Hello kitty, I love you," as you pet him.  And then he moves his paw too quickly, and you can't hide that it's scary, but still you sit, and assure him that he's a good cat and he's your friend, as you are internally assuring yourself that he is indeed, and won't hurt you.

You usually tell the truth.  Other times, you blame Tori.  She doesn't seem to mind--and will often apologize for the things she didn't do.
You love to be the focus.  As Tori began to stumble through the alphabet and counting, you saw our encouragement.  You were right along side her, saying it perfectly, not to help her, but so you'd hear our praises too.  Sometimes, it's got to be hard to be the oldest.  There's always someone who is just a little bit more needy than you, so we have to tell you to wait.  And you do, usually with a smile, because you know we'll have some special time just for you, a little bit later.
 
Yesterday, when we were driving to the store so you could pick out your first Christmas ornament, I told you that we would get one every year, so that when you were a big girl, you could have them all for your first Christmas tree.  You insisted that you would not--that you would always want to live with me, and have the same Christmas tree as me and Daddy.  As much as I know that answer is because you are four, it made me intensely happy, as I know the inevitable day it is no longer your wish will cause me intense sadness.
And you are bright, so bright.  It never stops being overwhelmingly wonderful being your mommy.
Dani, you are my light.  You bring us so much joy my four year old girl. 
Happy birthday.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Party time!

We had a little birthday party for Dani's 4th yesterday.  I won't wax nostalgic tonight, as her real birthday is next weekend.  Suffice to say, we had a lot of fun!
 You know it's a party when Big Man puts on a party hat!
 
 And Tommy can rock a tiara!
 Tori says, "I'm too sexy for my party hat, too sexy for my party hat, so sexy it hurts."
 
 
The birthday girl had a lot of fun!
 
And each kid got a candle in their cupcake!
Tori, getting her festive on.
 
Happy (almost) birthday, Dani!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The things they say (and the cute ways they say it)!

 Sometimes is the mispronounced words that are the cutest.
Tonight, at dinner, Tori was telling us, "It smelled like a stinky stunk."  Dani kept correcting her, saying, "No, Tori, it's a skunk," to which Tori would say, "no, it's a stinky stunk".
 






And Dani is just downright conversational these days.
And. She. Never. Stops. Talking.
Tonight, as I was changing after work, she came bounding out of my bedroom saying, "Mommy, I put chap-stick on my face so it wouldn't get cracked up."
This morning, we were driving to Miss Ruth's house, listening to nursery rhymes.  "This Old Man" was on.  Dani yells out, "Mommy, stop the music!"  I mute the sound and she exclaims, "Mommy, knee sounds like three!  You can turn the song back on now."
 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

It starts with a turkey.

 A big turkey, deep fried with love.  Well maybe not love, it was mostly deep fried so the oven was free for ham and other yummies.  But damn, it was tasty.
 
Add a side of grandma and grandpa, and after the turkey, you just NEED a nap.
And, don't forget grandma--she's good at snuggling too!
 
 And cousins, even though you don't see them often, there is just an intangible bond.
 Not to mention, a bitchin' 'fro to check out.
 A pause for a group photo of most of the kiddos!
 A little time for telling secrets.
And woosh, it's over.  Everyone heads out and says goodbye.  But, when they return, it will feel as though they never left.

And then life gets back to normal again.  We feast on leftovers and pack up table leafs, until next time.  And we go back to the day to day.

Some days, like today, just start well. 
I was having a conversation in the kitchen this morning with the Big Man, and he just interrupted me.
"Doll, you look so pretty," he said as he put his arms around me and kissed me on the cheek.  (He's super sick, so no real kisses.)  I smiled all morning, literally.  Too often we are headed in different directions.  I walk in the door, attacked by kids, and the "I'm home" kiss that was always for Big Man, never makes it to him these days, because I can't make my way through the cries of "Mommy's home!" and running and hugging little people.  I hope he knows, I'm kissing him in my mind, even if I don't make it to him.  He's still the guy that gives me butterflies in my tummy, and makes me feel like the prettiest girl at the ball, even if there's no ball, and compliments are rare.

It's the little things, folks.  In every thing you do.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

We blink.

"We blink so our eyes don't get frozen'd," says Dani.
"Can we get a pet goldfish when Scrubbie cat doesn't meow anymore?" said Dani.
You can't make this stuff up.
We had a busy week. 
Getting ready for a houseful of family for Thanksgiving was a challenge.
Tommy challenged Daddy to a stare-down.
 
 And, I tried to get a group shot of my little turkeys.  Tori is all, "WTF is this", while Dani sings some opera...while Tommy is mister, oh yeah, baste me.
 And in typical Tori fashion, she smiles while everyone else is distracted.
 Dani, famous for her "crazy eyes", finally convinces Tori to just hide.  Tori's had enough.
 But WAIT!  Three little kids, in three silly hats, all looking at the camera at the SAME TIME?
 And Tommy is all "Screw this, I posed long enough.  I'm out."
Christ on a cracker, I'm going to need an intervention for the Christmas photo!