Artistes

The kids had a really fun (and wild and crazy) playdate with Katie's preschool bud (Peyton - 4-years-old) and her younger bro (Nicholas - 3) this morning/lunchtime. When the kids were really focused on something, as in their drawing in this picture, all was tame and controlled. But, once they tired of that, they sort of went wild. At one point, their au pair (Sarina) and I found them yanking stuff out of the linen closet (beach towels, sheets, toilet paper, etc.) and throwing it all down the steps. Needless to say, it was an exhausting clean-up process. Oh well, this is what happens to kids over Christmas break, right?

The Healthy Ones

A very merry belated Christmas to all of you! We have returned from our trek to Pennsylvania, and we have survived to tell the tale. Truth be told, our trip did not start well. After a relatively uneventful drive northward, we noticed that Michael was getting warmer (feverish) and grumpier. By Christmas Eve morning, he was posting a 102.3 degree temperature, so we had no choice but to take him into the local urgent care clinic (located in Wal-Mart, for God's sake!). Traci had much fun waiting in line with the little sick-y, and then having to wind around Wal-Mart again and again while we awaited the antibiotics for Michael's double ear infection. (Note sarcasm here....) The little guy remained sick enough throughout the day that Traci and Michael had to skip Christmas Eve mass, in lieu of cuddling up in jammies in front of the TV. The beautiful posted picture showcases the healthy, lucky ones that actually got to take in the church services.

Although Michael was not 100% by Christmas morning, both kids had a blast waking up to find that Santa had arrived! (Unfortunately, Katie thought that 5AM was a good wake-up time, but she had to wait through 2 hours of torture to open her presents.) And Michael...oh, Michael. Whereas he was still a bit clueless about present opening last year, he tore into it without any abandon this year. In fact, if he spotted a present that he wasn't allowed to open within his radius, he threw a tantrum. (Can't wait until Katie's birthday next week...) Anyway some favorite gifts included: Barbie vacation home, horses and dolls for Katie and lots of trucks/helicopters for Michael.

We got to spend some wonderful quality time with both sides of Traci's extended family, and we look forward to seeing everybody again...this time, with another bundle of joy in tow. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well!! Please feel free to look at our Christmas photo album to the right.

St. Nick

Katie would like to remind everybody that the true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

OK, so the photo is a couple of weeks late (from St. Nicholas Day at our church), but the message is a good one in lieu of the typical roly-poly red-suited American symbol for merry holiday festivity and commercial activity...

(Pay no attention to the very commercial Disney Princess that is front and center in Katie's clutches)

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

To say that our kids are obsessed with local kids' rock band, Rocknoceros, is a complete understatement. If they are not listening to their CDs in their bedroom or the car, they are watching their videos on TV or the computer. Traci and Mike like their music well enough (catchy tunes and clever lyrics), but...for God's sake.... Anyway, we decided to surprise the kids with an early Christmas present by taking them to see the band's annual Christmas Sing-a-Long. The kids had no idea where we were going, just that it was a "BIG SURPRISE"! Well, each was over-the-moon in his and her own way! Katie was so excited when she recognized the venue and pretty much stood front row for the entire concert. Afterwards, she "talked" to each of the band members (see her with Willie Bob in the photo) and gave them high-fives.

As for Michael, he started out strong before tiring toward the end. Pre-show, he went right up to the stage and checked out all the instruments. He then went exploring everywhere, danced a few jigs, and finally settled into his parents' arms for some rest.

All in all, it was a great start to the kids' Christmas week! Happy holidays, here we come!!

Reading Nook

What better place for a gathering of our little pre-readers than up on the top bunk? Each had their own books, reading quietly, each in their own ways. Most peaceful 10 minutes of a play date ever.

Trains, Jungles, and Jewish Dancing!!

In response to yesterday's traumatic day, we decided to surprise the kids with a trip downtown to see the National Botanic Garden's Seasons Greetings display. The conservatory, located on the National Mall next to the Capitol building, pulls out all the stops with its model trains, poinsettias galore, and live music. As much as the kids loved watching the intricately decorated trains and model villages, they delighted even more in dancing along with the live klezmer music (think traditional Jewish music). The band even gave the kids a few shout-outs! (See the groupies in action above.) Finally, as the evening wound down, we got the kids to explore the rest of the gardens, and they enjoyed pretending to be Dora and Diego in the jungle conservatory. They've already asked to return next year - hooray!

Damn You, Washing Machine!!!!

For your pleasure, let's recap our most wondrous day:

1.) Traci is doing last-minute prep to get the kids out the door to school when she starts to hear a water gushing sound. Then, she hears Michael yell, "UH-OH!" She turns around to see water spurting out of EVERY opening of the washing machine. The water is gushing like mad and does not stop even when she turns off the machine. The kitchen floor and all surrounding areas (hallway, dining room, coat closet, etc.) immediately fill with at least an inch of water. Finally, she shuts the main water valve off...phew. (In retrospect, we are extremely lucky this didn't happen five minutes later, as Traci would have been out the door for at least a couple of hours!)

2.) A 25-week pregnant woman is now faced with the daunting task of clean-up, while also keeping her two kids at bay. (Thank God for television.) Just imagine her slogging around with at least 12 towels and a mop. Both kids ventured in and slipped and hit their heads at least once. Mass sobbing all around ensues.

3.) Knock-knock-knock...it's the neighbors downstairs! Guess what? They already have two buckets-full of water coming through their ceiling. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

4.) A plumber arrives and determines that he can do nothing because it is obviously appliance-related, rather than plumbing-system-related. Cha-ching...$60 for the house call and no help.

5.) Call in to Maytag...oh yeah, we can send somebody....on TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK!!! (Waaaah...do you know how much new laundry was created by this disastrous mess?)

6.) By this time Mike has come home, and he and Traci have agreed to split the necessary errands of the day. Mike and the kids drop Traci off at the laundromat while they attempt to send out presents at the post office and get the car's oil changed.

7.) Five minutes after drop-off, Traci realizes that she brought the clothes, but no detergent. Mike and the kids must turn around...

8.) Meanwhile, at the long-lined post office (it is late morning at this point...close to Michael's nap time), Michael starts to throw a grade-A-sized tantrum as Mike tries to keep him from ripping through the box and tube bins. Mike tries to send out three packages while simultaneously holding a squirming 2-year-old and having a four-year-old wrapped around his leg.

9.) Mike decides to just stop at a fast food place to pick up lunch since everybody is already under duress. The people at the drive-thru get his order completely wrong...the actual order literally does not come out to their waiting car for another 10 minutes.

10.) By the time Mike gets the kids back home, Michael is so out of his mind with tiredness and hunger that he literally rips through any open drawer in the house, leaving quite a tsunami in his wake.

11.) While cleaning up from lunch, Mike drops a big vat of taco soup which spills everywhere inside and underneath the fridge.

So, yeah, forgive us if we just want to curse our washing machine, go to bed, and never wake up again....