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To all those mom’s, mom’s to be, grandmothers, great grandmothers, Happy Mother’s day. Our job, though far from easy is the most rewarding way I can think of to spend a life.
I find myself asking this question a lot and I’m sure I will only continue to do so. Where does the time go? Mr. Kieran is four months old! He’s rolling from tummy to back really efficiently. He prefers to sleep on his tummy. He’s up 2x a night most nights. Its that 3:30 or 4am feed that are the kicker, he goes back to sleep around 5 and Conor is usually up at 5:30…ick. In other words, sometimes Josh and I are up from like 4:30 on. But this is about Kieran. He spends his days watching his brother, sister and dog go by.He lights up when he sees Claire. With Conor there is a bit of trepidation. He laughs now though GiGi is the only one who can get him to do it. He has also started to grab on to toys and such. One of his favorite games is pry the pacifier from his mouth.
I’m not that into Valentine’s day. Never have been really. Its one of those holidays that can have so much expectation around it that sometimes its hard to live up to the dream. But I think its a great opportunity to make sure the ones you love know how you feel.
I am thankful and very blessed to have four Valentines under my roof. Only three are pictured below, sorry Josh.
Josh was commenting yesterday afternoon how he missed his school days when he had at least two weeks off to soak up the Christmas season.As a stay at home mom I’ve had the privilege of fully indulging in the Christmas spirit since…well since Thanksgiving weekend when my mother in law helped us get the decorations up. Chalk up another pro check in the stay at home mom category. The kids and I watched Christmas movies, played by the tree, made cookies, walked around the neighborhood enjoying decorations and made Christmas cards – well Claire made Christmas cards for the family. In light of that fact, it should not have been surprising to me that Christmas has come and now gone and we move towards a new year. This isn’t the case however. On Friday I was marveling at how it was already the 23rd and we were preparing for our weekend of celebration.
My favorite memories of this Christmas season? Making cookies with Claire, dancing to Christmas music with the kids, watching her delight in making and handing out Christmas cards to our family, listening to both the kids ooh and aaah over Christmas lights (when we’d drive around looking at them). I loved Christmas eve with Claire and starting some new family traditions. The kids and Josh opened the last advent door and heard the conclusion of the birth of our savior, Jesus. Claire helping me lay out the stockings (couldn’t keep them out before because Conor kept yanking them off the mantle), setting out the cookies for Santa, choosing shoes for her and Conor to set by the fireplace for St. Nick to leave treats in, and sprinkling reindeer food out on the lawn. Conor at this point was a wreck, it was well past his bedtime and he had croup so while Clarie and I enjoyed the preparations, Josh wrestled with Conor in the house getting him settled for bed.
My favorite Conor memory was Christmas morning when he unwrapped his present, we got him a smart trike and before we could even get the bag off of it, he was climbing onto it. For the record he test drove it today and was so happy about it, he didn’t even mind wearing a hat (which he usually never does).
‘let me feed you this Christmas cookie!’
all this Christmas celebration is wearing me out…
‘I think I’ll wear this today.’ (nothing more suitable for a 3 year old than mom’s maternity sweater).
a visit from Auntie B and Eleanor.
more Christmas cookies and what better place to eat them than in front of the tree?
I was laughing at Conor running around in diaper and socks but when I went to get the camera, he plopped in front of the tree and declared “CHEESE!!!”
And so, our family celebrations this year were low key and filled with laughter, family and good food! This year we also had the pleasure of Meme’s theme park to entertain the kids. I have a feeling this will also become a new tradition. We ended Christmas night with a ‘picnic’ in Meme & Pop Pop’s backyard, turkey soup and cornbread, popcorn for the kids, the train, the rollar coaster and tee ball. It was a lovely way to bring Christmas to a close – sort of.
Though the rest of the commercial world will be getting on with the next holiday, we’re still on Christmas around here. The tree and decorations are going nowhere. Though the radio stations have moved on from Christmas music, our house will still ring with the sounds of the season. The Smith family will keep Christmas going until the inlaws arrive sometime next month to celebrate the arrival of baby boy #2. So Merry Christmas!
just brushing up on my newborn skills, thanks Ellie for helping me out.
I think this picture sums up how Claire felt about this gift.
Claire has developed a passion for re-wrapping gifts…rolls of tape beware!
two Christmas campers a little sleepy from all the excitement.
Tree has been up for two weeks, no ornaments broken – yet. Conor is learning the finer points of look but don’t touch or touch but don’t take off the tree. He’s catching on but still likes to bring us ornaments and say “no! no! no!”
Christmas on first street and appetizers at Vino Paladini. Appetizers were delicious and the gazebo full of kids toys was a complete bonus!
hanging out with Lola (apparently she was cold)
and yes, there is Conor, standing in his chair, no pants with the portable potty seat – that’s all I have to say about that.
this picture Josh and I look at and wonder, how did Claire get so stinkin old?
check out the pouty face!
Josh gets to meet Ellie!
Conor and Uncle B just hanging out.
The Christmas Parade on 1st street.
The morning ritual of the advent calendar!
With Claire entering that age of appreciation for all things Christmas, it has been a fun opportunity to take full advantage of all the Christmas things to do with her out there. The challenge has been to help educate her about why we have Christmas in the first place. At church today she was invited to join the other children on stage for a special song time but that was a no go. She was content to sit in the front corner on Josh’s lap and just listen although a few times she admonished the choir for being too loud.
I don’t know what we’re going to do when the season is over. The development we live in goes all out for Christmas putting every manner of large lighted decoration in the common park area. Almost everyday we walk there and Claire introduces whatever stuffed animal she’s toted along to the decorations. Each night she asks to go see Christmas lights.
In town December kicked off with a Main Street holiday thing. We enjoyed dinner at Gi Gi’s before walking up and down main street seeing old friends and new. That’s one of those things about a small town, I saw people I haven’t seen since junior high, people I grew up going to church with, people that have known me since I was Conor’s age. Good thing I kind of fixed myself up to be presentable that night.
It was a sea of people on first street.
Claire was allowed her first cookie and became thereby inseparable from it.
Claire and I posing in an old fire truck. We coaxed her up there by saying, “like caillou in the fire truck.” Still she was far more interested in her Christmas cookie. This was a replacement cookie because daddy helped himself to some of Claire’s first cookie and she was overly distraught that she wouldn’t eat the rest of it and demanded a new on.
Given her recent obsession with Mickey Mouse, she was thrilled to pose in front of Santa Mickey.
The following weekend brought the Main Street Holiday parade. It doesn’t have anything on the Disney parade but we’ll take it.
The Middle School marching Band.
The High School marching Band.
Then there’s Holiday in the Park at Discovery Kingdom. (I told you we’re all about the festivities).
Katie and I taking in the lights and GIANORMOUS Christmas tree at Discovery Kingdom.
Saturday we were supposed to take Brieanne and Brandon to Discovery Kingdom but the gloomy weather compelled us to stay indoors. We managed to enjoy the indoors.
Grammy and Conor checking one another out.
Claire and Pop Pop
Walking through the Christmas lights at this home in Glen Cove…its seriously Clark Griswold on steroids.
And the best part? There’s still a few more days til Christmas for us to soak up some Christmas cheer! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The Smith family has been blog post dark for a little bit for a couple of reasons. On the first of the month Josh had hand surgery to have a bone spur like thing removed from his hand. We’ve been treated to two weeks at home with him. We’ve had our ups and downs but its mostly been up. The other deterring factors had to do with our computer (only two years old) dying…again and my work load with the company I contract for.
Claire is now 26 months old and ALL about Christmas. We decorated the tree together, made Christmas cookies, do Christmas Crafts (more about that later) and go and look at Christmas lights every night.
Some of my favorite quotes from Claire this month:
“what’s so funny mommy/daddy” (in response to our cracking up at something she did or said and then renewed by her question)
“don’t be afraid trains, go see christmas lights, God is with you.” (in playing with her toy trains)
“oh little man, its ok.” (when Conor cries)
“Claire talka Grandma, go see Shouka, go see Christmas lights Unca B, T B.” (in telling her grandparents about her upcoming Discovery kingdom trip with Unca B and Auntie B).
“I need peanutbutter.”
“Teddy Bear, this is pigwit (piglet). Pigwit is a little baby.”
Claire’s sleeping habits have returned somewhat to normal. I am happy to report that at present its not taking hours to put her to bed and she’s been staying in her bed until about 6am.
Her favorites this month are anything Cinderella (although we’ve stopped letting her watch it because the mouse chase scenes with Lucifer the cat seem to be a little too intense for her-she yells at the TV for the mice to run away and NO KITTY NO!), Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh especially piglet who she calls Pliglet or Pigwit. She’s recently comandeered my sister’s piglet watch and piglet stuffed animal from my parents’ house. Every morning she runs to the kitchen, grabs the apron and insists on making biscuits. She makes a great sous chef stirring the dough and cutting out the biscuits.
Conor, our almost six month old little man, is allowing his emerging personality to stand out in its own way in our family. His current pastimes include watching his sister, playing in the exersaucer, practicing sitting up and eating. We have started giving him some solids a little earlier than Claire after he started trying to grab at our plates, cups, utensils – anything related to food.
It seems at this time that his least favorite thing to do is sleep at night. On a good night he will sleep until midnight and only be up most of the night after that. On a bad night, crying by 10:30 and doesn’t let up until 4am. No, he’s not crying the whole time just most of the time unless he’s held. update on Conor’s sleeping This may go down as one of my bad mom moments. We have moved a small space heater into Conor’s closet and he’s now only waking up once to eat. Poor little guy, he just wanted the room warmer – why didn’t I think of that earlier?
Smith Family high notes of the year:
1. Conor joining our family in June.
2. Having really quality time with both sides of our family.
3. Celebrating Five years of marriage.
4. Getting to connect with good friends.
5. Josh’s cycle around Lake Tahoe.
Observations/Lessons learned from 2010:
The Lord is faithful and true to His promises.
We have been overwhelmed by the love and generosity of family and friends.
“But the Angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid for I bring you good new of great joy which will be for all the people. for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10 & 11
Merry Christmas!
If family and fellowship were the overarching themes of the holiday weekend, this image would sum up everything else.
Lots of relaxing…while entertaining Claire and Conor.
There was turkey…
and gingerbread house making…
and general silliness.
and Conor learned to sit up.
and then of course, the SNOW! There was at least three feet of snow before we arrived and we got another foot while we were there. It was stinkin cold the day we arrived, the high didn’t get out of the teens and the low was below zero! Sheesh! So the kids were layered up a la Christmas Story but they didn’t seem to mind. Once we got the fire going at the cabin, it was gloriously cozy. Knowing that the warmth of the cabin awaited us, we plunged into snow fun. We attempted snowball fights and snowmen but the snow would not pack. Josh and Claire were successful at a snow fort.
trying to eat snowflakes.
The snow stopped Saturday night so fortunately for us, the roads were clear on Sunday. We enjoyed breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Smith at one of our favorite places, Firesign and headed home.
I love Christmas, I mean, I LOVE Christmas but this whole Christmas displays after Halloween is getting a bit ridiculous. So there is poor Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday that in my humble opinion gets overlooked because there isn’t candy or gifts necessarily associated with Thanksgiving. I guess its not a holiday where the consumer spends oodles of money so it gets pushed aside. Well, not from me. I heart you Thanksgiving. So this post if for you Thanksgiving!
I love being with family on holidays. I realize this is not the case for everyone but I count myself as very blessed because Thanksgiving is a hoot be it with my family or the inlaws. This year was a White Thanksgiving. We bundled up and hunkered down and spent Thanksgiving in the frigid mountains of Lake Tahoe wading through feet of snow while enjoying all the Thanksgiving fixins. YUM YUM! Both kids were actually asleep for the Thanksgiving meal, heaven for me. I got to enjoy a meal without having to wolf down my food, worry about crying or food flinging or being pulled at (not that I really mind those things BUT – well you know).
Thankful: a feeling or expressing of gratitude. (dictionary.com)
As 2010 draws to a close I am thankful for:
My loving, adoring, patient husband. This man works hard and dreams big. He’s a wonderful dad and I’m thankful to do life with him.
Our family. We have a wonderful, healthy family that we actually love being around.
Claire and Conor…need I say more about these two?
Friends. I have loved spending time with new friends and old friends, friends in the same lifestage and friends in different life stages.
A roof over our head and food on the table.
Having a job that pays the bills.
And most of all, I’m thankful for my savior Jesus Christ who is the giver of all that I have. Thank you most of all for my salvation.
Halloween weekend kicked off with a bit of unstable weather but by Sunday it was an absolutely beautiful fall day.
Josh had class again on Saturday but with the assistance of my parents we got the kids dressed in costume and downtown in time to participate in the Benicia Main Street Trick or Treat Stroll. My sis and I participated in a similar event when we were kids. This was a wonderfully hosted event and I was reminded once again why I like living in a small(ish) town.
our reluctant garden fairy getting her first taste of candy.
Our “roaming” Garden Gnome getting a few winks.
The highlights of the stroll were Sailor Jacks who handed out peanutbutter covered pretzels in this darling witches shoe, very creative and not your average trick or treat goodie. Coldwell Banker handed out popcorn and temporary tattoos, Claire enjoyed both especially the tattoo. A couple of other clever merchants handed out magnifying glasses and bubbles. As a parent who is conscious of her child’s sugar intake, I really appreciated that.
For some reason she really wasn’t crazy about her wings…ah well.
Hanging at the end of first street with Meme and Gi Gi.
Hide and seek with Meme.
Despite the look on her face, she really did LOVE her spider tattoo and remarked as much again and again throughout the day.
driving Meme’s car.
Sunday we joined up with some friends and trick or treated in a cute neighborhood in Martinez. Holy cow, this neighborhood handed out whole giant size candy bars and such…wow. It was great! I was conflicted because prime toddler trick or treat time fell right in line with Game 4 of the World Series but many households had the game on and were all too pleased to share the most recent details of the game. Claire even got an extra handful of candy from “the bishop” because her mommy had a giants shirt on.
Getting in the spirit to Trick or Treat.
Hanging with her buddy Davis.
Conor and Landon hanging out.
The one moment she was too distracted by Davis to realize she had her wings on. It lasted all of four seconds.
Buzz Davis Lightyear and his dad with Fear the Beard Krouse in the background.
So I became the “Giants Fairy.”
And we ended the night with the last few innings of the game and celebrating a Giants victory.
