Thanksgiving

It's amazing how we devote one entire day to making a delicious dinner. I always underestimate how long it will actually take me to make everything. The funny thing is the Turkey takes the least amount of time to prepare. It felt strange to do the entire dinner without my mother here to help me. We had Thanksgiving with our own little family this year and it was great. The kids helped Mike set the table and they made each person a name card. Even Abby got to join us at the table this year and graced us with her version of folding her arms for prayer (hands under her chin). The kids loved the jello, deviled eggs, and my homemade rolls the best. Both Mike and I love it all...especially my rolls and the sweet potateos!! YUM!! We had our traditional lay on the floor feeling fat session after dinner. The kids took advantage of Mike on the floor and convinced him to give them a horsy ride. We were all so thankful this Thanksgiving to be healthy and together. We realized that all we really care about in life is to be together and for everyone to be healthy. If this was all I had...I would be completely happy! It was a Happy Thanksgiving!

Piano Recital

For the past couple of years we have enjoyed watching Andrew during his Christmas piano recitals. The first year we weren't sure he was going to get up and play...but he did. The second year we thought the same thing and he surprised us and did it again and played everything perfectly. This year I was so excited to go and see both Andrew and Peter play in their recital. I was especially excited to see Peter play in his very first piano recital. I wish I could have been there but I had a bad case of the flu so I gave Mike the video camera and told him to tape it for me. When they got home I asked them how it went. Both boys got up and played great. I am so proud of my boys for sticking with piano. They both love to play so much that they sometimes fight over who will get to go first for piano lessons and who will get to practice first. I am ok with that because they always seem to work it out. Playing the piano has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I know it will bless their lives as well.

Disney on Ice

Emma and I went on a little girls night out to see Disney on Ice today. It was our first real girls night out together and we both had so much fun. We even splurged and got the $10 lemonade and popcorn. She loved seeing Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Lightning McQueen and Sally from the movie Cars, the Little Mermaid, the characters from Lion King, and Tinkerbell. I think both of us enjoyed the Tinkerbell portion best. It was colorful, entertaining, and just plain fun. What a joy it was to spend some one on one time with just Emma. Hopefully I will be able to do this with all of my kids. Each one of them deserves special time with mom and dad!

Soccer Season Finale

I have to admit that I am a little relieved that this soccer season is finally over. Both Andrew and Peter loved playing soccer this fall. Both boys had friends on their teams and great coaches. Most of the games this season were pretty dry but very cold. There were many games that were in different locations and at different times. I was so relieved to have help from Mike this season. Last year he was rotating up in Seattle and it was rare to see him at the games on Saturdays. Now his schedule is a little more free for which we are all so grateful. Today it was frosty on the ground which made for a really cold game. Luckily we were prepared with hats and gloves and the kids just had to run faster to stay warm.

Andrew had an excellent game and scored three goals. He played right midfield and did really well in that position. He ran a lot, tried to look for open plays, and was the most aggressive I have ever seen him. I was so proud of him for focusing so well on the game. After the game we were all so cold that we went to the car to warm up before Peter's game.

Peter also had a great game. He also ran hard and scored a couple of goals. Peter was probably the smallest kid on the field but also one of the fastest. I have learned that although Peter is a little smaller than most kids his age, he is also quite tough. He is the one who gets knocked down and pops right back up with a smile on his face. I was so proud to see Peter's improvement this season. I love watching him on the field having so much fun.

Another soccer season down and who knows how many more to go!

New Discoveries

Raising an 18 month old is both exhausting and entertaining. My thoughts are usually turned to the question, "What is Abby going to surprise me with today?" She has been discovering new things and getting into more stuff. Some of her latest discoveries include finding my shoes and trying them all on. One morning as I was getting ready Abby brought out a pair of my dress shoes and proceeded to try them on. It was hilarous and so cute. She even tried walking in them to which I immediately busted up laughing. Who wouldn't laugh at a half naked girl, diaper ablaze with black high heels on? Abby really is a breath of fresh air in our home. I love to see what she comes up with next. The very next day she decided to get some of daddy's shoes to try on. All I could think of was a picture I have of me wearing my dad's shoes at the age of 2. It made me smile to see our connection with shoes at such a young age. I love shoes and if given an unlimited budget and a store that had plenty of size 5 1/2 shoes I would own an entire closet full of fun and colorful shoes. When I find a pair of fun shoes in my size I consider it a miracle.

Some more of Abby's little discoveries include being able to stand on the toy box and turn on and off the light in her room. She can even open all of our doors and since we have french handles there is not much I can do to prevent her from going into any room in the house. Abby climbs up to sit on the big chairs in the kitchen and prefers to sit there to eat her snacks instead of her booster seat. I will more often than not find her standing on the chair which makes me completely nervous. She is constantly hearing me tell her to sit down.

With older siblings in the house Abby hears too many no's from them. Let's face it...she can be a little destructive. Lately the boys have been telling her, "bad baby." I am not too thrilled with this because now Abby can say it and will go up to you when she is not happy, wave her hand at you and say, "bad baby." At first it was really funny and Mike and I had a hard time not laughing. Now the teaching begins. There is now a lot of "good girl" and "soft" being said to discourage the bad baby mantra.

When Abby is not getting into everything she can be found in a corner somewhere doing you know what. When I ask her what she is doing she replies, "baproom." She obviously knows that she is going to the bathroom in her diaper so we have now pulled out the little potty and the potty books. It might be a bit early but she is becoming more predictable and the sooner we can get her out of diapers the better! There are rarely any dull moments with Abby. I am glad she keeps me on my toes and gives me plenty of excuses to laugh and smile everyday!

Blast from the Past

While visiting my mom during our girls weekend we spent one of our nights looking at some classic treasures. My mom still had this little box with her original barbie doll and some of the original dresses, outfits, and accessories. I remember her showing this to me as a little girl and admiring how fancy her barbie was compared to my newer barbies. It was a classic and I am so glad that she kept it. Another box from her closet had a couple of outfits I wore when I was a little girl. Also included in the box was a bonnett and a tiny dress my great grandmother made for me when I was a born. Two of the outfits really popped out at me. They were both bought in Japan when we lived there the first time. I was around 2 years old when I wore those outfits. My mom was happy to let me have the outfits so that I could put Abby in them. It seemed fitting to capture Abby in one of the outfits sitting on my old horse. I just love the dress on her. It was a little short but I guess that is how we used to wear them.

I don't remember being so sentimental as a child over such things. I guess I really didn't start caring about old things until after I had my own children. My mother saved my baby doll cradle made by my grandfather and my wicker rocking horse bought in Japan and given to me when I was 2 years old. Mike's mother saved his blessing outfit, his Peter Rabbit doll, and his rocking chair given to him by his great grandmother Emma with her signature still on the bottom. Mike's parents also had the tradition of getting sterling silver cups engraved for each of their children with their name and birthdate. That tradition carried on to our children and now each one of them have their own engraved silver cup. When talking with my mom and being so grateful that she had saved a few things she mentioned how she was sad she didn't save more. It made me start to think about what it is I want to save to pass down to each one of my children. I realized that the outfits she saved meant more to me because there were only a few. With the few things I have saved so far I have started a keepsake box for each of my children. Their keepsake boxes will only be filled with those few but special items they will want to remember. Hopefully someday I will be able to sit with each of my children and pour over those treasured items from their past.

Last Days of Fall

Too often these days we find ourselves stuck inside the house because it is either raining or just too cold outside. It makes me sad to see the girls looking out the window wishing they could be outside playing. Abby loves to be outside and will actually point and say "outside." Today the rain stopped long enough to go outside and enjoy the last signs of fall. All of the leaves in our backyard have finally fallen to the ground. The girls enjoyed playing in their playhouse and collecting leaves in their buckets and in piles on the ground. Even though we were only outside for a half an hour before the rain started I knew it was just what we all needed. Today was a good reminder to get out more often even if the weather isn't ideal. I guess it is finally the season to start bundling up!

Girls Weekend

I love my mother more than words can describe. She is more than just a mother to me though. She is also my best girlfriend, my sister, my confidant, my therapist, my confidence booster and my mentor. I can't ever recall a time when my mother wasn't there to help me with whatever I needed. The best thing she has done for me is to be a great example. I look to her and know she is exactly who I want to be. I was so fortunate to be able to go and spend the weekend with her without the kiddos. Mike was such a good man to watch all four kids over the weekend so I could go and have a much needed girls weekend with my mom to celebrate her birthday. We went shopping, ate at In-n-Out, ran our 4.5 mile loop up Santa Theresa Blvd in gorgeous weather, drove up to San Francisco to see Wicked, enjoyed a nice dinner and spent the evenings talking in our pajamas. It was the perfect weekend!

As an added bonus I also got to spend time with my dad who I love dearly as well. He even tried to race me up the hill when we were running. It was pretty close but I'm pretty sure he won. He keeps me on my toes and is one of the most brilliant people I know. I was so thrilled to be able to go to church with both of my parents before coming home. They are the greatest parents a daughter could ask for!