The Final Word(s) on 2005....

As occasions go, New Year's Eve deserves an honorable mention around here. Joe and I met on New Year's Eve 1997 and talked for 3 hours until it was well past 3 a-m. Fast forward to 2005 where it is safe to say we won't be awake at 3:00 am thanks to the runaway freight train that filled our lives with marriage, children and a few houses to boot!

So instead of talking into the night at a party -- we settled for a treat Joe only gets once a year.




Oh STOP it -- I am talking about steak! I made dinner for all of us that included New York Strip pan-seared and then sauteed in a Cabernet Reduction. This is how big a deal beef is around here. The butcher let Joe come in the back with him as he made the cuts and trimmed the (?%$^#$) fat. (The whole thing makes me queasy.)

Our side dishes included green beans with bacon and pimiento (did you ever meet a Southerner who didn't add bacon to the green beans???), hot baked pineapple, Fettucine Alfredo (Joe's family tradition), biscuits and kid-friendly Brownies for dessert.

The girls were certain it was a holiday because we ate in the dining room. Joe is POSITIVE it was a holiday because there was a big slab of red meat on his plate in his own home.

May all of your dreams come true in 2006!

Farewell to a Friend

In the midst of all the holiday happiness there is some sadness in my extended family. We have said good-bye to "The Coach" (formally known as "Frank and Robin's Coach Ernie Pantuso" if memory serves me correctly).

Coach was a faithful friend and football fan for Frank and Robin for what must have been 14 years. He passed away peacefully yesterday after a fabulous lifetime. (He might say adopting Janet and Chrissy was a bit of a bump in his highway to happiness -- but that turned out okay.)

This picture of "A Boy and His Dog" is dated July 1995. They were thinner, had more hair, and were lighter on their feet. Both Frank and Coach. Pals to the end. Frank and Coach.

Goodbye little friend -- and say "Hi" to Satch for me.

More Christmas....

For those of you afar -- here's some of what Christmas morning looked like here.

More to come...

Musings on Christmas Past....

It's been a whirlwind -- but we're back -- Christmas is over -- and it was back to work for me today at Dark Thirty in the morning.

Here are just a few of my thoughts on the past week:

-A flight attendant who carries your stuff off the plane must be in a real hurry to get somewhere.

-Eight children 3 and under can do some damage to 99 cent Chick-Fil-A meals (not to mention the Chick-Fil-A itself...).

-95% of our little ones are scared of Santa.

-Grandpa is still the final voice of authority on when it is time to stay in bed.

-Eggnog laced with coffee, chocolate and brandy is a good thing at 10.00 in the morning -- when the guest list includes 20 children!

-It's a wonderful thing that every Southern family owns at least one pick-up truck.

-You really love Nemo pajamas when you strip down in front of a crowd to put your brand new ones on.

-"Coco" is more than just a beverage -- it's a relative.

-Not every family can pull off a "Happy Birthday Jesus and Gammy C Party".

-It takes some getting used to when your nephew is a dead ringer for your brother, your other brother and your Father.....

-Bonefish Grill is a grown-up place to eat and relax...

-But don't call Gammy and check in ...

-The Polar Express will cause 2 year olds to hear bells at every turn.

-Note to self: Don't lose the claim check to the car -- they've changed the phone number you've always known.

-Note to Manny's : Thanks for preparing those awesome crab cakes for Christmas Eve.

-You don't actually need 7 fishes -- one will do if you serve enough homemade Mac and Cheese and wine.

-It is good to keep spare boxes of new ornaments in tubs in the garage -- then you will always be able to make last minute Christmas place card holders.

-If you put on your Christmas jammies and close your eyes tightly Santa will arrive.

-You will get lots of new things but you will still prefer your sisters' gifts.

-You don't have to be in Mexico to have Mexican for Christmas dinner. (Try Creamy Tacos, Fritos Scoops, Salsa Rice and Refried Beans.)

-A Red Velvet Cake is extra festive with crushed candy canes and sparkles on top.

-If you say you didn't get me anything for Christmas, so I agree I won't get you anything, don't go and slip David Yurman earrings into a stocking I already filled for myself!

-Christmas isn't anything... if Christmas isn't love!

There are just too many pictures to post here -- but I'll publish a few this week....

We are Santa's Elves ....

Santa's biggest elf has arrived from The North Pole -- er.... North Carolina. And of course he's done nothing but work!

Anyway -- the Christmas Prep here is finished. Our bags are packed.. we're ready to go....

Not Much Sleeping...

There never really is when it's a sleepover -- especially when it's your first one.

If you look carefully under this pile of blankets and sleeping bags you might see 3 silly girls having a fun time together. Fionna came over so her Mommy and Daddy could go to a wedding. Lots of laughs and giggles, but not all that much sleeping.

And now we know (in case we were wondering!) what it's like to have a 1 year old, a 2 year old, a 3 year old and a 4 year old underfoot.

To quote a very wise Mother who gave birth to me :" You have two, good for you. Raising three, no different than raising six!"

Ho, Ho, Ho -- There They Go!

Christmas must really be close now because the North Carolina presents have been boxed up and Joe is going to UPS them tomorrow (UPS seems to work as both noun and verb!).

I'll miss those packages because they have filled up the space under my little dining room tree. And I am also liking the package tags I made this year. They are stamped with the recipient's initial (Stampin' Up Tall Tales Alphabet) and full name (some cheapo set I bought at the Nature Company ten years ago).

I promise the cards will be mailed next.....

Because One Pink Picture Deserves Another....

Here are the girls with their buddy Ryan at my office Christmas Party for children. Thank goodness Aunt Hillary was there with her super cool camera to catch a few shots. I had to balance Gabriella on one hip the entire time while securing hot dogs, pretzels, and drinks -- not to mention keeping up with all those hats! Thankfully, Aunt Hillary was also on potty patrol with us --

The girls are all wearing their new pink snowman sweaters that Daddy selected at the store. You would be surprised just how much holiday stuff you can find in pink!

It Snowed .... Again.

A few more inches on Friday. It seems that this is going to be the December of inconvenient snows. And a messy kitchen floor. So I try to corral all the shoes in the corner by the back door so we don't track snow and mud and salt everywhere.

We have a busy day ahead. I'm taking the girls to my work for the Children's Christmas Party. And Sophia has a birthday party at 5:00. I hope to finish the trees today and I still have to finish the cards. I've got other gift/crafts drying all over the kitchen counters.

Falalalala -- lalalala.

I'm certain December should have 51 days.

I'm also pretty certain we like pink shoes!

Snow Day!

Not a lot of snow today. Just a few inches. Not enough for me to have to work on a day off. Just enough to slow life down.

The bundling up process today seemed to take FOREVER. For some reason 30 degrees and snowy is soooo much colder than 30 degrees and no snow. This isn't a meteorological phenomenon. It's a "Mom-enom".

The drive to preschool took 15 minutes longer than usual because no one takes back roads on a snow day. And the trek across the lot with all 3 was particualrly icy. As we walked along Francesca was determined to jump into every little pile that had been shovelled off of a sidewalk. She walked in endless circles just to see what her footprints looked like. She stopped and cleared the snow off of every wheel well we passed. I tried to hurry her along so we could get to all those unending errands before it was time to go back for Sophia. But she couldn't be bothered stepping up the pace. She turned to me and exclaimed "Isn't this a great day, Mommy?".

Yes, dear -- you are right -- it is a geat day you little snow angel you......

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like....

Well, December, actually.

There are 2 things to note in this photograph. The dining room Christmas tree is up. (One down, two to go!) We also awoke today to a little bit of snow. Enough to turn everything white. But thankfully, not enough to have the driveway plow people over.

At such a very hectic time of the year both the tree and the snow reminded me to slow down and enjoy these moments when the girls are little. They are oohing and aahing over the tree simply because I snapped on the lights. And waking up to snow on the ground -- Francesca came running downstairs asking if Santa brought the snow with him from the North Pole.

In the midst of the shopping and crafting and wrapping I hope to help my kids make magical holiday memories. Memories to BELIEVE in......