Lazy Christmas Vacation Morning

"The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called the [Daddy]."

- Sam Levenson

What a Doing?

This is what I hear all day: "What a doing, Mama?" (Meaning, "What are you doing"). Eighty five billion times today, I counted. OK, not really. But it's close, I swear. I sit down to eat lunch, I hear: "What a doing, Mama?" I turn on the water and start washing dishes: "What a doing, Mama?" I burp Mary after nursing her: "What a doing, Mama?" I sit down to check my email: "What a doing, Mama?" I sometimes get the question twice right in a row. He gets excited that he already knows the answer, I think. Once in awhile he switches it up on me and puts the Mama first. "Mama, what a doing?"

I knew the "why" question was in my future at some point, I've heard about the poor parents who tear their hair out over it and I'm already prepared with the "because God made it that way" answer that Jeff's cousin cleverly came up with when her first daughter was going through the phase. I have to say I was starting to envy those "why" question parents because the "what a doing" question is pretty repetitive and boring. At least with "why" you have an interesting answer.

But then this afternoon I was standing at the fridge thinking about which meal I planned to cook today for dinner and, of course, I hear: "What a doing, Mama?" When I said "I'm thinking, Nathaniel" he asked, "What's thinking, Mama?"

Ummmm. How does one explain "thinking" to a two year old. Hmm. Can we go back to the "What a doing" question, Nathaniel?

Tiny Tiara

This picture is a week old now, but I've been waiting for the opportunity to blog about it and today I finally have time. Just after Thanksgiving my sister Colleen and I went to a bridal store looking at bridesmaid gowns and we decided to peek at the flower girl section since Mary was with us. I couldn't resist plopping this tiny tiara on top of her head for a picture! I'm usually somewhat resistant to the whole "my girl is such a perfect little princess" idea but just look at how much Mary loves wearing that little tiara! Maybe a tiny bit of princess paraphernalia isn't such a bad thing. ;)

The Letter of the Law

Me: Nathaniel, please bring your milk to the kitchen if you're done with it.

Nathaniel:

Some Pictures From Turkey Day

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful holiday, with our traditional dinner at my parents' house followed by visiting with Jeff's extended family. The big drama this year was that my Dad decided to mash the sweet potatoes instead of baking the pieces and drizzling them with brown sugar and butter. Several years ago my Mom was greeted with outrage and shock when she decided to leave out the green bean casserole. And then a few years ago she attempted to introduce a new dish - a broccoli salad. We ate it, reluctantly. So changes made to the Thanksgiving dinner in the past have not gone over well. However, I am happy to report that the mashed sweet potatoes were amazing! Nathaniel sure gobbled (ha ha) them up!

Nathaniel is used to helping me in the kitchen anytime I cook, so he would not be left out of helping with the Thanksgiving dinner! He dragged a chair over to the counter and was put in charge of handing Auntie Colleen the green beans for chopping.

The official chefs of Thanksgiving.

The food!

Mary sleeping through her first Thanksgiving dinner.

Jeff and I enjoying our meal.

Grandma Joann and Grandpa Ray eating turkey!

A family pose. Not sure why Nathaniel is winking!

Mmmmm pie!

Happy Birthday To Us

Thirty years ago today, on my Grandfather's 52nd birthday, his first grandchild was born in the middle of a blizzard. That grandchild was me! So, yes folks, that means I turn thirty today. THIRTY! Where does time go, really? Jeff and I were at a restaurant two weeks ago and the wait staff sang "Happy Birthday" to a kid at a table next to me turning 15. I said to Jeff, "He's half my age"! Don't I sound old just saying that? When I was little I imagined my 18th birthday, and my 21st, and I imagined in my twenties I'd get married and have some kids. But I never imagined my thirtieth birthday. My imagination just couldn't stretch that far! But now that I've officially arrived there, the reality is that thirty is wonderful! I learned a lot of life lessons in my twenties and wouldn't want to go back a decade to do it all over. It feels good where I am - with a wonderful husband for 7 years, and four beautiful children (two in heaven and two at home). Everyone is healthy and happy. I am truly blessed.

It's always been special sharing a birthday with my grandfather. While in Chicago this past weekend we all celebrated together and my parents made my favorite birthday cake, which we figured out has been a tradition for the past twelve years. Nathaniel sang all the words to "Happy Birthday" and helped blow out the candles. Mary giggled for twenty minutes at the balloon bobbing up and down in the air (guess which two year old was holding the string!). Life is good!

My Grandpa turns 82 today, and as soon as I finish this post I'm going to call him and say, "Happy Birthday to us"!

Happy Advent!

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