as a team of second grade teachers surviving one more holiday assembly

in her Santa outfit

scooting toward the tree to check out the lights

her mom made the kid’s personalized capes and had props to play in

with comic book styled fonts

at the local puppet show

free every night in a friend’s neigborhood

crowds full of wonder

with an upside down Christmas tree that continuosly spins around

and this elaborate stage in his front yard

in pajamas

on the night after the Naples boat show

all the lights without all the crowds

people even had their boats out in the canals

at the living nativity

with baby goats and singing angels

with Paul playing endless rounds of “Guess Who?” (thank you India) while little ones are sick

with a game of- Ghost Baby- “look momma, our baby is in the chair.”

on the last day of school for Paul

as the season is in full swing.

are the words that come to mind as I cut a small slice from this enormous, homemade flan a loving mother of one of my students made me

and enjoy my third glass of this

because really there is so much to celebrate (and no I don’t mean the solstice or the end of the world):

today was my last day of teaching until January 7th,

Paul has not been sick at all (even though Henry has pneumonia and the baby has a fever),

Angela and Ben are pregnant, 

Sun and Yulia are getting married this weekend,

many friends are coming to town in the next week (Jen, Kurt, Alton, Judy and Dallas),

Joe finished another semester,

my co worker rushed me out of school and I therefore unintentionally left it all there and will be free to enjoy my break,

I have time to de-clutter my home once again,

I came home to a steaming hot bowl of corn chowder from our crock pot,

Olivine is sleeping soundly right now, 

the boys are singing in their beds together,

and sometimes I have to list it all out to see how truly full my plate is.

LIfe is Good.

Henry is sitting stand by (now asleep) trying to let his tiny body relax. 

Last night we had another croup cough attack and the fear of him having to go to the emergency room haunts me.

We hung up some newly created art thanks to our artist in residence- Paul.

We are filling our house with our favorite sounds.

We are admiring our cards and thanking God for these folks.

We are sending out our own well wishes full of love.

We are embracing a new tradition.

They are more than thrilled to have our own tree, and that sincerely brings such joy to my heart.

He is taking pictures with his own perspective

and putting the very first gift under the tree.

Hope you all are having an amazing sabbath.

she loves this little fish

her bath time includes reaching for it as it swims away

or holding it up as its tail flaps

When she is put on her back she kicks and kicks

I can sit bath side for hours, she is an easy baby!

I went to a fabulous and free training at a local museum.

My two job choices as a young child were astronaut and teacher.

Although I became one of those, I can easily daydream about the other.

So when I heard “certification for moon rocks” I signed up quickly.

Meanwhile, after a little hang out at home time, they went on a bike ride.

He’s ready to be like his father, a bicycle fan.

p.s. He also makes crazy expressions that crack me up.

the mystery virus my baby contracted last week

she had a fever (which we guessed was from teething)

but then this rash appeared

Luckily she isn’t in pain and besides seeming more clingy

she is hanging in there

it looks worse than it is 

the Christmas party last night had a kid’s round and an adult round

we had no idea what to bring

and at the last minute decided each of us would bring a framed, autographed picture of ourselves

and in exchange we made out with some fun stuff:

a new game

a mailbox

and picture frames.

I love the randomness of it all.

Paul was more than thrilled to have the open paths and parking lots at El Dorado to practice.

I find myself cheering them on

Henry on his balance bike (new from his birthday)

and Paul getting the hang of his bike that is bigger and has brakes,

but is not that different than his balance bike.

We walked a good deal

then just camped out on the grass watching our boys go!

A wonderful Sunday afternoon.

to stand like the big boys.

She heads over to their table and it’s just the right height.

to be a queen, with hearts.

(nicer than the one in Alice in Wonderland- the story we recently read with a queen)

to count with legos.

I love the spontaneous creativity.

to keep up with the book.

They are watching Mr. Rogers and Eric Carle read the book together.

by watching him take pictures 

(his imitating is flattering)

by playing peek a boo

in the kitchen

while we eat 

making silly faces

such joy

by the rhyming words they make up at the dinner table

and awestruck at watching him write

the inventive spelling plus drawings are perfect