Getting our Christmas tree

We usually go get our tree the first Sunday after Thanksgiving and we hit the same tree farm every year. This year we got to do it in t-shirts instead of cold rain although we sure missed Jean and Russ. The boys were so funny as they ran from tree to tree and we got some cider and fresh spice cake as we shopped. Once we got home, the boys donned their gloves and helped Jeff put up the tree. Ethan wants so badly to be helpful and involved in everything and Jeff was so great at having him help. Jason brought his own stool to the party so he could help reach. We so love this season and are pulling out the Christmas books and advent calendar while also reading our bible stories and preparing bags of food for various drives. I am so cautious of them becoming too commercial. There is such a fine line between enjoying the holidays as a child and forgetting the true meaning of giving and honoring the birth.

So what is on the Christmas list this year? Ethan wants a skateboard and I am getitng him a termite complete with hat and pads. Love the board! Jason wants a dump truck and back hoe. No shock there. Santa is going to look for a cool race track and cars for them.

Following Daddy

IBM had a family appreciation day and 5k run today and Ethan trotted off after Daddy early this morning to do the race with him while Jason and I fed horses and came later for the festival part. It had been a rough week since we had to put Pearl, our 15 year old QH down due to lameness and eye problems. I was so grateful to have Jason with me in the barn since it helped temper the loss. I know it has been hard on E too but I was so touched when he saw a shooting star the other night and said, "Look Mommy...Pearl just made it to heaven." He is so incredibly sensitive and wonderful. Please let me remember that on the days he tests us and tries my patience. I don't want to lose that intuitiveness or damage that deep and caring soul.

As for the 5k, Jeff said Ethan did more walking or riding in the jogger than running but they did finish. Ethan then went off to do the kids race and Jeff took some video. When I got there, E was all excited and showed me his medal and how he got one for his brother just because. I was so proud. Ethan told me he fell once but I didn't think much of it until later when I watched the video Jeff took from the end of the kids race. Ethan must have fallen pretty bad cause I can see him in the distance with an adult volunteer holding his arm and walking with him while he limped along. Then he sees the finish line and his Daddy and he starts running and limping as he crosses it on his own. Jeff never noticed but I felt so sad for him that he was hurt and that he had to rely on a stranger. And on the video you see him struggling and walking over to his Dad with his medal and no excitement or pride...just relief he found his family. I wish I could have been there to protect him.

On a brighter note, we had a nice time with all the festivities and enjoyed seeing our friends Tracey and chad with their daughters and Shannan and Ramin with their two children. Ethan rode the carousel with Josh and even Jason ventured a tour.

Tomorrow I leave for a 2 week business trip to India and China and I have left Ethan in charge. Somehow when he is empowered to do things, he handles situations much better. I also bought some cameras for our laptops so I talk to my babies every day. We made chains out of construction paper that we decorated and wrote love messages on. They can pull off one link a day to help them count down to my return. I truly hope this is harder on me than them. Maw Maw and Paw Paw are coming to help for a week and my parents are here but I still hate missing any little thing. You don't get these days back.

Home Depot Rocks

Shannan told me that they do a craft on the first Saturday of every month so today we trotted off to the mall to be handy. The kids had a blast and built firehouse piggy banks that have different compartments for spend, share and save. I primed them with some money and they have carried them around ever since. They even give out these cute aprons and pins for completed projects. Of course neither would wear them although E put his on at the end. They got to glue, nail, and decorate their bank. I can't wait to go back again.

Going to college

So at dinner last night I was asking E about his day as always. What centers did he play in, what did he do for art, did he work on his letters, and the usual chatter. After a few minutes Ethan announces he is going to college in New York City and when he is done he is going to marry me. So I asked him if he was going by himself and he said no, Daddy and I were going with him. Christopher too. However for some reason, Jason was staying here to rep Daddy at NC State.

In other quirky news, my friend is starting to build her house and the boys make us drive by it every morning and night as we leave and come back from school. They are fascinated by the entire process and keep asking each day why it is not done and she can't live their yet. Maybe it is the same reason you can't go to NYC just yet...it needs time to grow. And really, I am not in a rush.

Christina's birhtday party

Christina turned 5 today and I am trying to wrap my head around how she could possibly be started kindergarten. They are not kidding when they say it goes so fast and you need to hang on to every moment.

We went to one of those great inflatable places to celebrate the day with Tracey and Chad and their lovely family. Now not much had changed since we went 2 years ago. Ethan would not touch any of the items since they are plastic. Jason took one look, grabbed Daddy's hand and was like "let's go." Since it is REALLY hard to be shown up by your 23 month old brother, Ethan took a chance and tried it. If they didn't kick us out, we might still be there. They had such a good time together chasing balloons, doing the slides and you couldn't get them out of the bounce house. Come to think of it, we couldn't get Jeff out either.






And here is Jason chasing and thus popping every balloon in the place:

I am a Godmother!

And I can't even begin to express how incredible an honor this is. To have someone feel you are the best person to influence and care for their child is just overwhelming. A little like the amazement I feel when I look at my children and feel that incredible full amazement.

The day was gorgeous and the kids behaved so it worked out well. Terri has been one of my nearest and dearest friends and we threw each other our baby showers. Hard to imagine that Ethan is going to be four soon.

I am proud to introduce Justin Everett Angeli and his parents, Ken and Terri and his Godparents, John Flannigan and ME!!!





And here are the boys looking so spiffy and loveable!

Ethan loves school. More than that, he adores his teachers. There is no better feeling than knowing your child is in a safe and warm environment full of love. Here are a few pics of Miss Shannon and Ms. Brandy with E.




And what is better after a long hard day at school than some good old chocolate pudding? Ethan is helping Jason get the last few spoons out. We need a hose in the breakfast room and a big drain right in the floor.