Snow What Fun!

Winter in New England just isn't winter without snow. And as luck would have it, we had a Nor'Easter this past Monday. It really wasn't too bad in our part of the state - we got a few inches of heavy, wet snow. But it was all the boys needed for some winter entertainment.


Jake and Justin had a blast watching the snow on the deck.


Even Sophia join in the fun.

Jake said it looked "brr cold" outside, so he wanted to be all bundled in his blue blankie.

I figured the boys would want to play with the snow, but it was too wet to go out. So I brought the snow in! Justin wasn't too sure what to make of it. First he poked, then played, then ate!

Little Drummer Boy

Think he's got some natural talent... Watch out, UCMB Drumline!

Freezers, Babyfood, and T-Rexes - OH MY!

How else can I link 3 totally seperate ideas together?

Thursday we became the proud owners of a Fridgidaire upright freezer. It was a Christmas present from my parents - our "Santa gift" as mom and dad say. I suppose I've now hit "housewife" status when the arrival of the freezer was the highlight of my day. I had to ensure proper preparation and initiation of the freezer by stocking up on food Wednesday night. I took full advantage of the sales - how can you pass up buy-one-get-two-free sales on chicken breasts, pork chops, and pork tenderloins? By Thursday night, that little Frigidaire was kickin' out the cold air - and freezing all that meat rock solid. Since then, I've been dreaming of all the goodies I can buy, cook, and preserve with my Food Saver for eternity. God forbid we ever decide to put a car in the garage - where will we put the freezer?

Friday I made my first batches of home-made babyfood for Justin. He'd eaten thru the few jars I had bought, and I didn't have the chance to run to the store. So I broke out the rocket blender I got for Christmas and blended up some leftover butternut squash. I set out some fresh mush for Justin to try, and poured the rest into ice cube trays to freeze. It was so easy! I was instantly addicted - rummaging through the cabinets for other things to blend. Justin loved the sweet orange goo - I can only imagine how much better it tastes! Jake was slightly afraid of the whole process - not sure if it was sound of the blender or the look of glee on my face as I watched a can of pears whizz around. But our freezer is now filled with Ziploc bags of frozen mush cubes - quart bags of pears, peaches, squash, pears, beans, all labeled so no one mistakes them for ice cubes.

Saturday was the day of the T-Rex. Jake got a book for Christmas from his Grandma and Grandpa in St. Louis called "Gigantosaurus Numbers". It's a counting book with dinosaurs, and we read it at least once a day. His favorite part is the T-Rex page - we'll stare at it forever, noticing their faces, teeth, eyes, colors. After our third go-round on Saturday, Jake decided it was art time. So up to the kitchen we went, and while I made lunch he drew. As I'm squeezing the pouch of scary orange cheese onto the macaroni, I'm presented with this drawing on green paper. "Here mommy, this is for you!" "Oh, it's lovely!" I say, having no clue what it is. "It's a T-Rex, mommy - just like the book".

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today's my 32nd birthday. I admit I started the day with some dread - I mean, is there anyone out there the enjoys getting older? But as the day winds to a close, I'm grateful to have one more day under my belt. As my mom said to me, "If you're not getting older, you're dead." Ain't that the truth!

In the grand scheme of birthdays, it's been pretty low key - and I guess that's the best kind. I got to sleep in till 9:00 - and by the time I got up, Jake had been fed, Justin had been fed and changed, and the coffee was fresh and hot. After repeatedly telling Steve I didn't need anything special, he insisted on going to the store - and came back with the cutest card, a cookies and cream cake that should be illegal it was so good, and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". The first thing that popped into my head was "This will be FANTASTIC to read at the spa!" I was able to take a shower in peace - and even eat lunch at lunch time! While the boys napped I took an hour and ran a few errands - and when I came back, I enjoyed my birthday dinner of leftover mac and cheese (before you roll your eyes, it was homemade mac and cheese - that I made - and I totally give myself a pat on the back - it was W O N D E R F U L). After some goofing off with the boys, Jake and I played "Chutes and Ladders" while Justin romped and listened to Steve play his guitar.

And here I am - 8:30 at night. Both boys are in bed - and I've made the executive decision that "It's my birthday and I won't do any chores if I want to!" - so I'll be sitting down under my heater blanket with some hot cocoa and a movie. I'm sure there are more glamorous things to be doing on one's birthday - but in my world, a day with love, smiles, happy memories (and some decadent chocolate cake) is all I need.

Hooray for gluten free!

Although Justin hasn't been officially diagnosed with any wheat/gluten allergy/sensitivity, I've decided that I'm going to avoid those foods until he's at least a year old. So I made the trek to the Green Market in town to see what they had for the little Pork Chop to snack on. I picked up some bread sticks and animal crackers - both wheat/gluten/soy/milk free - and as unappealing as they are to me, Justin LOVES them! The breadsticks are nice and crunchy - perfect for him to gum his little teething mouth on. And the animal crackers are a good treat now and then. Jake loves to help feed his little brother - and has taken on the task of teaching Justin how to sign "more" when he wants more snack!

Our Holiday

When I was little and I'd ask my mom what she wanted for Christmas, she'd always say "I just want you kids to be happy." I thought she was full of it - I mean, who doesn't want anything for Christmas? Who would be content to spend time with friends, see the joy on the faces of their children - who'd be satisfied with a living room full of paper and plastic and utter chaos, or a belly totally overstuffed with breakfast goodies and Polish treats?

Now I know my mom's had it right all along. Yes, I got some wonderful presents - but the best gift was a heart full of love and a mind full of memories. Can't really put bows on that.

Our fun started on Christmas Eve day, with lunch at Jade Garden with the neighbors. It's becoming a yearly tradition for us all to get together for Chinese food - and it was wonderful! Jake was thrilled to be sitting next to his "girlfriend" Mercy, sharing chicken nuggets and fries, while Justin was busy trying to grab anything and everything within reach. We all exchanged gifts - giggled at our fortunes from the cookies - and headed home.

We weren't home for very long before my parents appeared with a Mazda packed to the gills with presents. It was a bit of a challenge to keep the boys from plowing into the gifts - but we somehow managed to distract them long enough to unload and settle in. Dad went to check into their hotel and mom spent time with her shadow (aka Jake) while Justin slept. Steve and I headed out to church for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. It was beautiful - - - there was even a baptism of the cutest twin boys! Rosie, the neighbor's daughter, noticed the look on my face and whispered "Kirsten, don't get any ideas...you just had one!"

Once Steve and I got back, it was time for Jake to hit the sack. So we got out a plate and left 2 cookies for Santa (as Jake said, we don't want him to get "tummy sick") plus some apple for the reindeer. After he was settled, we devoured pierogi that my dad brought - and while Steve brought up the rest of the presents, I got a breakfast casserole ready for the next day. Mom and dad headed to the hotel for the night - and we settled in as well.

Although Justin woke a few times for a bottle, there were no 3am pleas to open presents. And thankfully, the stocking full of goodies left by Santa was enough to keep Jake occupied until mom, dad, and Dana arrived. Here's Steve and Jake playing with some of those sponge-capsule thingies...

Here's Justin playing quietly before opening...

And here is the carnage after...

We all recieved wonderful presents. Among the goodies we recieved, Steve got a mini fridge and TV for his "man space" downstairs. Jake got his Click Start Computer that he asked Santa for, and Justin got some clothes that fit! I got a gift certificate for the Norwich Spa, and a tin punch Dana made. It's the Watch Hill, RI lighthouse, where Steve proposed.

After the gifts were open, we sat down to brunch - Egg Nog bread with Pumpkin Butter, Breakfast Casserole, Apple Bread Pudding, Kapusta and Kielbasa with Rye Bread, fresh fruit. It was all so delicious. Dana headed out around 2 to meet up with his girlfriend's family - and seeing as mom and dad were jetting their way to NC for the Car Care Bowl, they left shortly after. It was different than we've done in the past but still nice.

So there's our day! Like I said before - gifts are nice, but the fact that we were all together - happy, healthy, and loving - was the best present of all.

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas!

Sending warm wishes from our family to yours!!

(once I finish finding my home in the chaos that is Christmas with 2 small kids, I'll fill ya in!)