Turkey Day 2009

Our Thanksgiving Day began with watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...of course. Have I mentioned that Matt marched in the parade back in high school with his school band? Pretty cool, huh! Watching it LIVE is still on my bucket list! Anyway, the kids cuddled up with their Nonnie and watched it on her bed!

After some parade watching and breakfast, we got dressed and took some pictures in front of their house. The kids looked darn cute, if you ask me.

Then, we packed up the cars and headed into NYC for our Thanksgiving meal at Matt's brother and sister-in-law's apartment in downtown Manhattan.

This was their first time hosting Thanksgiving and I think they did a phenomenal job. The food was delicious, the table looked magnificent, and the time with family and friends was priceless. Both of Matt's grandparents were there as well as some very close family friends. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, yams, stuffing, gravy, and a variety of pies for dessert! The kids sat at the kids table (coffee table) and had their own placesettings. Max even got to drink his apple juice out of a wine glass, which made him feel extra grown-up! The great part was that I didn't have to do any cooking myself (but I did help with the clean-up)...however, that won't be the case next year. I hope to host it at our house for the first time!

Once we had dessert and the kids began to get a little restless, we headed back to NJ and to bed.

I am truly thankful for such a wonderful family to be married into! We are so blessed to have them!

We Are Back!!!!

Well, after two very successful plane trips to and from New Jersey, we are home. We traveled on both of the busiest travel dates arounds Thanksgiving and were a little concerned. Not concerned with traveling with two kids under the age of 6 (no, they are pros), no, we were more concerned with the travel craziness that comes with being in the airport/plane with those that rarely travel or only travel on the holidays.

However, we were pleasantly surprised when Wednesday morning, we got to DFW, got a VERY CLOSE parking space, checked our bag and were through security in less than 10 minutes. The airport seemed like a ghost town. Now, we were flying Continental, and that could have made a difference, since DFW is the hub for American Airlines. So, there is no telling what those terminals looked like. Anyway, our flight was on time and actually left a little early to try and get out before we missed the window for being delayed due to weather in the NYC area! Flight was uneventful and we even got two whole rows to ourselves to spread out!

The trip and family time was fantastic. It is so great to catch up with everyone. More to come on that with pictures.

This morning (Sunday), we got up at 4am to leave the house by 4:30 am. Our flight was at 6:40. The kids flew in their pj's as to wake them up as close to 4:30 as possible. The airport was busy despite how early it was, but very smooth. The kids were a little cranky but managed just fine.

We were in our car on our way home by 9:40am (central time). We came home, showered and grabbed a bite to eat. After a weekend full of delicious Italian food, I needed a taste of home, so we went for Mexican. Yummmmm!

Now, we are putting up the Christmas decorations, listening to the Polar Express soundtrack and burning my "Christmas Cookie" Yankee candle!

How was your Turkey Day?!!!

23 of 52 - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our little pilgrim to you!

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Little Pilgrim

Yesterday was Max's Thanksgiving Feast in Kindergarten. As with Cate, I was very eager to attend, but was extra excited because only 5 parent volunteers got to attend, as opposed to all the parents/families as in years past. This was also a very bittersweet occasion because after this year, Max will no longer have these kinds of parties/school celebrations to attend. Thank goodness I still have Cate to enjoy these things with for the next couple of years.

Anyway, in years past, the children have all dressed as Native Americans. However, this year, the kids got to choose...and Max chose to be a pilgrim! He told me that he was an "army pilgrim, you know the one with the gun!" I figured out he had seen pictures of the pilgrims with muskets and he must have decided (in his mind) this meant he was in the army! There were still kids as Native Americans and the little girl pilgrims with their bonnets were so cute, too!

They got to share this feast with their prayer partners. These are 7th graders that are sort of a mentor to them. They sit with them at mass each week during school and various other activities. Max's prayer partner is Thomas and he looks up to him and thinks he is "super cool guy!" The kids also made their prayer partners a turkey card expressing their thanks and appreciation for them!

Outtakes

As you saw a couple of weeks ago, I had chosen our coordinating outfits in shades of blue, grey, and winter white. The first session was a bust as I didn't plan well, the kids and I ended up in tears, and to top it off, our dirty windows and ugly grill were in the picture.

So, take two. We posed for our Christmas card photos again this morning. I decided to do it before church while we still looked nice and early enough to try and avoid tired meltdowns. A little bribery helped, too!

I got some great shots and these are a few of the outtakes. None of these are our actual Christmas card photo...I am saving that for the reveal post when I get the cards made! However, even the outtakes turned out well. And, to think that the shots with the entire family were done with a timer! I gave myself a huge pat on the back for that one, thank you very much!

Now to work on our Christmas letter...

Zebras

The other day was Cate's Thanksgiving Feast at her preschool and parents are invited to share in this class celebration with them. The past few years, we have gone to Max's feast in his school. It is always fun seeing the kids decked out in their Native American headdresses and outfits that they each make out of muslin. So, finally it was Cate's turn to celebrate.

The parents all pitch in to help with the food items which include turkey and cheese cubes, fruit, crackers, tiny carrots, and chicken nuggets. We get there a little early to help plate our child's food and set it on their special placemat. Then, we gather in the middle of the room like paparazzi to capture them entering in all of their Thanksgiving glory! The director had told us ahead of time to wave hello but try to keep your child from running to you so they could stay together in the front of the room for their prayer. So, as Cate walked in, she saw me and I blew her a kiss. I was very proud of her that she followed directions and went directly to a "spot" to stand (they have these rubber dots for the floor).

They put their hands together in prayer and recited the one they have learned and say each day before lunch! It is a sing song prayer that goes like this:

God our Father, God our Father
Once again, once again
We will ask your blessing, we will ask your blessing,
Amen, Amen

Being the ham that she is, she was one of the loudest voices in the group! But it was fun to watch as Max never sang any songs in his programs (he would just stand there).

After the prayers, we joined them for their lunch/feast.

After eating, their teacher called them to form a circle in the middle of the room for some presentations. She brought out a styrofoam turkey with a feather for each child. On that feather was written what each child was most thankful for. As she called each kid one by one, they were thankful for such things as "Mommy and Daddy, or their pet, or their baby brother". However, when it came time for Cate's, she was thankful for ZEBRAS. Yep, you read it right, zebras. Not sure where that came from. I don't know if they had read a book about zebras right before this activity, or if she had just played with little animal toys. But, she was the ONLY one who didn't mention a family member or something in the household. However, no matter what, I will never forget that for as long as I live.

I love this time of year as a constant reminder of all the things we are thankful for...and I tell you what, I am truly thankful for this little ball of energy and all that she brings to my life!

22 of 52 - Thankful

Today was Cate's Thanksgiving Feast at Preschool. The kids were adorable and it truly made me realize how thankful I am for this little cutie pie! I love her more with each passing day!

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Reunited and it feels so good

This is our theme song, and by our, I mean my Disney gals and me!

I met these great ladies almost 14 years ago as well each embarked on one of the best experiences of our lives. I can speak for all of us, cuz I know that is how they feel, too!

We were all on the Walt Disney World College program beginning in January 1996. Four of the five of us were roommates, and the other gal lived just below us! We have been close and kept in touch ever since. We have reunited a number of times, several times being at WDW, the others including each one of our weddings.

This reunion came about when this time last year, I heard that WDW's theme for 2009 would be "What Would You Celebrate?" Since four out of five of us have November birthdays, this would be the perfect time to get together and celebrate together. So, we have been planning it for about a year now.

We had a great time and it is amazing how quickly we pick up where we left off! These gals are some of my best friends. We have shared a lot together and it is great having them to share this passion for Disney with! They understand my passion and drive for all things "Disney" because, well, quite frankly, they get it, too!

We went to all the parks (park hopping as much as we could), saw the Castle Lights on Cinderella's Castle, ate at several new spot (well, new to us), and just had a magical time!







We have a saying when we have such wonderful experiences there...

"That was MAGICAL!"

And that says it all about our friendship...it is MAGICAL!

Potty Time!

Well, not to jinx it, but Cate has gone pee-pee on the potty 4 times in the last two days!

Woo Hoo!

It all started yesterday when I was picking her up from preschool. One of her friend's mom was telling her daughter that she needed to try the potty before they left and Cate said she wanted to go, too! So, I definitely took her, but didn't expect any results.

But, she DID go! We were all excited for her, especially her teachers, who were hooting and hollering and praising her along with me!

Then, she went again before her bath last night. This time didn't surprise us, since she tends to go before baths anyway.

This morning, when I got her dressed for ballet, I simply asked if she wanted to try. She nodded and once again, she went. I praised her and gave her a peppermint candy that I had gotten a tin of at WDW. She was so proud of herself. After ballet, she did it again!

If I had known how well the peppermints would work, I would have bought 2 or 3 tins of them! I may be making a call later to Disney merchandising to have them shipped to me!

I know we still have a long road ahead, but I am just thrilled with the baby steps so far!!!!

Magic - Here I come!

Well, I am off to the most magical place on Earth!

That's right...Walt Disney World.

I am meeting up with my 4 Disney buds.

I met them almost 14 years ago. We were all in the College Program there at WDW.

We try to reunite every couple of years, if not sooner. This time, we are going to celebrate our birthdays since 4 out of 5 of us have November birthdays.

So, I'll see you on the other side with pics and lots of fun stories, I am sure.

Peace out!

21 of 52 - Mom's Birthday

Well, this week, it wasn't hard to remember to get me in the picture, since most of the pictures were of me. It was my birthday on Monday!

Saturday afternoon, the kids and Matt surprised me with my gifts a little early. I got a new toy and some flowers from the kids.

I also got some really special cards! Let me explain...while looking for the perfect card from himself, he let the kids choose their own cards.

Cate chose a sweet Cinderella card which read:

You're happy as a fairy tale, enchanting as a magic spell, graceful as a slippered shoe, Granddaughter, you're a dream come true!

Max chose a very pretty card which read:

For You, Mother

God bless Mother, head held high, shoulders back, hands to the sky,

God bless Mother, portrait of blackness, beauty, grace and love.

Mother, you model the pride of our race, the joy of our spirit, our beauty, our grace. You walk with the Lord, and His glory shines through in each word that you speak, in each deed that you do.

Have a Beautifully Blessed Birthday

(on the back, I noticed that it was a Hallmark Mahogany card)

However, they chose them, so that made them special.

We had dinner that night at PF Changs with my parents, who were in for a wedding, and my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. After dinner, they surprised me with a piece of the "The Great Wall of Chocolate" with a candle. It was a really fun weekend. I enjoyed it all!

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WordFUL Wednesday - Sleeping Beauty

Isn't she an angel?

As a mother, I can never get enough of watching my children sleep.

So peaceful.

So innocent.

So QUIET!

As Cate gets older, she has gotten more independent, which has brought out her vivacious side! Don't get me wrong, I am proud of her independence and tenacity, but boy howdy, is she a handful. So, I sure treasure these quiet moments she gives me, because before I know it, she will be dropping her naps and I won't get these back!

For more Wordful Wednesdays, visit Angie at SevEn cLoWn CirCuS by clicking the button below.

Fall Wedding

On Sunday, Matt and I attended the wedding of some very dear family friends. The bride's father and my mom grew up together. The two families have remained very close all these years. In fact, growing up, we spent almost all of our Thanksgivings with them! They are such special people and just like family to us. The bride's father also happens to be our pediatrician.

The wedding was an outdoor wedding in a town just north of us. It was a beautifully intimate occasion. The coloring and details were all fall inspired. The weather was delightful. The bride and groom have known each other since the 7th grade and you could tell that they just adored each other!

After the ceremony we went inside and got a chance to catch up with the rest of the bride's extended family. They had a bar and passed hors d' oeuvres. Then, we made our way into the reception area. Our placecards were cookies with the monogram of the bride and groom. The tables were beautifully set with fall colors and the centerpieces were tall arrangements of branches and peacock feathers. One unique thing was part of the dinner buffet was a mashed potato bar. You got a scoop of delicious, creamy mashed potatoes in a martini glass, then they had a variety of toppings to top them with. The father/daughter dance was very sweet and a tender moment between them. Another cool thing they did was have a old fashioned photo booth. Guest went in and took silly pictures (they had hats, wigs, silly sunglasses, etc). You got one set and the other you put on a black piece of cardstock with your well wishes to the couple. They were then going to make this into a guest book scrapbook. It was a really fun touch! We didn't take our kids, as Max would have thought it was boring and Cate wouldn't have sat still, but my niece, Madison was there and she had a good time being passed from one to another and dancing on her daddy's knees!

It was a wonderful event and we are so glad that we got to be a part of it.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I'll post more about my birthday festivities in the next few days...but today....I am taking a break!

New Toy

So, yesterday, my hubby and kids gave me my birthday present a little early! It was exactly what I wanted....
















I am having so much fun learning all the features. However, I promised Matt that I would try my hardest not to be "one of those" people that can't carry on a normal conversation without looking or checking it! I hope I can live up to that!

So, do any of you have any cool app suggestions?

I am one of those people

Yep, I am one of those people that plans their holiday cards (ie, style, colors, size) way early and usually has them mailed by the first of December, complete with holiday letter.

Well, this year is no different. I decided on the style of my card way back in February or so, when I saw one that I wanted to try to duplicate. As you may or may not know, I hand make my holiday cards (well, almost always, 2 years I have not, but we still had pictures done for the card). Click here to see last year's card.

So, this year, I decided on a snowflake stamp set and a color scheme that fits in with winter wonderland....blues, grays, and winter white.

So, here are our outfits....you'll have to stay tuned for the picture outtakes and hopefully, by December 1st, I can post a scanned image of my handiwork!

Too Many Scoops....

...sometimes leads to brain freeze.

Yes, this is once again a reference to my "pie and ice cream moments". If you remember, the pie is in reference to life's amazing moments and the ice cream is referring to life's reality! If you have no clue what I am talking about, click the tab above that says "Pie or Ice Cream?"

Anyway, the last few weeks have been tough ones. Not really sure why...just life in general.

• Max had the flu and still has this horrible cough that he can't shake.
• Cate has hit those terrible twos, even though she is months away from turning 3.
• The realization that if I was still pregnant, I would most likely know what we were having by now.
• Too many activities and meetings and not enough time, which has led to very few evenings, of late, with all four of us at dinner and family time afterward, thus leading to stress for all of us.
• Not making the Moms Panel.
• Stressing about finances with both kids birthdays and Christmas all falling within a 3 week period.

So, you get the picture. And I just feel overwhelmed, overscheduled, overworked, and out of touch. I have taken it out on the kids but mostly on the one person that means the most, my husband.

Last night, he read me his testimonial that he is to give at his church retreat follow-up meeting tonight. As he read about how he feels about me and the kids and how his relationship with God has helped him deal with the pressures of everyday life, I felt a bit guilty. I know this wasn't his intention, this was just his truth about how he feels, and he is entitled to that. Very often, he listens to me vent and helps me calm down, but very rarely are the tables turned. And believe me, I recognize this. He has just always internalized things and doesn't feel the need to vent to me. However, he does have feelings and emotions and I need to make sure he knows that I will support and listen to him in his time of need.

It also made me realize that change cannot happen without any effort. I must take charge and recognize that if something is stressing me out, then I need to find a way to fix it or change the outcome, rather than wallowing in self-pity. And trust me, I can be the Queen of Self-Pity!

Ok, so thanks for listening (if you didn't click out of this post by the second paragraph). I just needed to fully recognize the spectrum of what I have heard, seen and felt. By saying it out loud (ie, putting it out there on this blog), I feel that I can make a conscience effort to make things better for my entire family!

Now bring on the pie....pumpkin that is! Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

20 of 52 - Trick or Treating

I didn't have a costume, but I wore my special Disney Halloween T-shirt and Minnie ears. It was a fun night truly enjoying the kids joy and fun through their eyes.

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WordFUL Wednesday - Wink, Wink

This is Cate's attempt at winking! We both got to giggling so hard that it was never going to happen. I just love innocent moments with them in their pajamas, just giggling and happy...not a care in the world. Definitely a pie and ice cream moment!

For more Wordful Wednesdays, visit Angie at SevEn cLoWn CirCuS by clicking the button below.

Halloween 2009

Since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, we got an earlier start. My parents had come into town to have the kids "Trick or Treat" at their hotel room. They decorated their door and room and had a "jewel and doubloon" trail leading to their door from the elevator. We met up with my brother, his wife and my niece in the lobby and made our way up. As the kids knocked on the door (adorned with the treasure chest), they heard the growly greeting of a pirate and gypsy on the other side. They thought this was so funny! We went into their rooms and exchanged goodies. The kids played a little with their treats, we took some pictures then headed back to our place for some pizza before we went out into the neighborhood.

(click on the picture to get a closer look)

After pizza, we walked to our good friends and neighbors' house and took some pictures of all the kiddos, then headed down the street as the kids began to go house to house. The weather was perfect. A slight coolness but very mild and a very gentle breeze. It felt enough like fall, but without having to wear jackets. The kids had a blast. This year, we went a bit farther into the neighborhood. We saw lots of great decorations. One house even had a decorated entrance into their backyard, where they went to get their treats! After about an hour, we got back home and the kids enjoyed some time with their grandparents before heading to bed.

(click on the picture to get a closer look)

It was a fun night of spooky fun! How was yours?