Joe usually says grace

while our squirmy ones try to calm themselves and baby girl sits munching. She has been eating her dinner earlier so that she goes to bed earlier (asleep by 7 pm).

Tuesday was my first day back at work and all that work made my hungry for some home cooked enchillidas (my mother’s recipe) with rice and beans.

Hope your dinner table is full of yummy food and good conversation.

I can happily report I am not sick but did play hookie from work today so that I could find out about Henry’s hives. They are most likely an allergy but could also be viral. I am suspicious after Joe had a fever and now Paul has a fever. Baby and I have been staying away, and I am headed back to work tomorrow.

Today I took Henry to get a haircut.

Then we spent time outside getting some Vitamin D.

I must say I love these socks!

She sometimes feels like a real-life doll. Such a cutie pie.

Paul was learning how to use his new bike bell today.

While Henry was going fast and practicing crashing into stuff.

Joe made pizza for dinner while I helped Paul with homework.

We are slowly getting back into the routine.

there’s a breakfast bagel I often make for Joe that reminds me of the Atlas Cafe in SF 

little boys playing with slime

a gift picked out all by Paul at school, with the joy of bringing it home for his little brother

they stretched, rolled, and smelled it but did not taste or fight over it (yay)

and a variety of cake balls being prepared

as a happy new year’s gift for some folks I love.

These hives have been coming and going on my little Henry.

I just want my kids to be healthy.

They insisted on licking the bowl.

We think her appetite is finally making a come back.

This hat is one of my favorites for obvious reasons.

I am dreading going back to work on Monday and want to stay home with these little ones.

All that time in the hospital means there have been requests to create an elevator

remembering that they are going upstairs to floor number 4 to visit the baby.

Then there was tonight with an evening full of Santa play

complete with his hat and beard (from his gnome costume), 

a tie (I have no idea why),

a pillowcase full of toys to deliver,

and I was even coaxed into setting out a plate of cookies for this Santa character.

The other night (during the same game) Henry was Buddy the Elf (yes we showed him the movie Elf) and their bunkbed was the sleigh.

from the moment we woke up (some of us slept in)

I was looking forward to a morning spent outdoors

with friends

at Mother’s Beach

because sixty degrees in the sunshine with a breeze

is one of my all time favorite types of weather.

Paul insisted on wearing this Buzz Lightyear Costume to the playground

which meant when we went for frozen yogurt afterwards he was still in costume.

A secret love: tart flavor with chunks of cookie dough and fruity pebbles with a little chocolate syrup.

By the time we got home it was nap time.

Today was an ideal Friday!

Every so often I manage to take out each of the kids on their own “date.”

This morning Paul and I held hands on the way to the bagel shop.

We went to get his haircut

and these moments are to give individual attention that is sometimes needed in a family of five.

I really love going out with my oldest little man

even when he asks a seemingly endless stream of questions about Ninja Turtles living in the sewer, climbing into manholes, and visitng river bottoms.

is hard to come by around the holidays with hospital stays 

whether that is because we had been sleep deprived or craving home cooked meals

but tonight I finally felt settled into our routine.

Bath time remains one of my most cherished routines.

I find myself wanting to somehow bottle up and save their laughter.

Tonight it was all about giving the baby a “towel hat” and watching her shake her head to get it off. It was giggles all around.

I am amazed that all three (for this very short time) squeeze into one bathtub together.

I know it can’t last forever.

some of us were able to stay up until midnight to celebrate

this is the first time in years.

Happy New Year!