Gingerbread

True confession: I don't like to bake cookies. I think it's messy and at the end of the day I always eat way more cookies than I'm planning to which leaves me feeling bloating and bad. With the busyness of December and my said feeling about baking, I never got around to making Christmas cookies. Thinking of the dozens and dozens of holiday cookies we made growing up, the metal tins we'd store them in, and keeping them in the walkout freezer (the porch); I couldn't help but think I was robbing my poor children of Christmas memories. Laura just wrapped up a unit in gingerbread in preschool so I decided on January 10th (better late than never, right) to make gingerbread cookies with the kids. It was messy but the kids were eager to help and taste! I had already put away my Christmas cookie cutters with the rest of the Christmas decorations so we used stars and hearts cutters instead. Laura and Sam used toothpicks and their imaginations to turn the hearts and stars into people. They may have eaten their weight in cookie dough too, but we were making memories. 

The things the kids said while we were making cookies were so much more delicious than the actual cookies themselves.

Sam: Oppees, not again! (when a cookie would fall apart).

Laura: Be careful, Mommy! She's fragile.

Sam: Can I eat this?    Me: No    Sam: Can I just lick it?


And to think, I almost didn't make Christmas cookies this year.

Colorado

I don't care how well you've planned, the location you are going, or the number of gadgets you bring along, vacations with kids are a lot of work! Nevertheless, the kids are what made the vacations memorable. We had a great time in Winter Park, Colorado and the kids are skiing machines now. I can't wait for the day to come they're going down blues with me. (Or maybe I can wait, I can't decide.)

Grandma Green

My top ten list of what will always remind me of Grandma Green

10. Special K Bars

9. Pleasures perfume

8. Toliet paper on seats of public bathrooms

7. Solitaire 

6. Homemade applesauce

5. Beanie Babies

4. Gold Coins

3. Stamp collections

2. The smell of perm solution

1. The song, "Unforgettable" 

Advice

I've been coughing all week long. One day as I has hacking in my bathroom getting ready for work Laura said, "Mom, if need to cough, cover your mouth so you don't spread germs. And if you need to throw up...(sigh)...just swallow it."

If you need any advice, just ask Laura. She's full of it.

Long Grove Christmas

My sister, Heidi put together a little video montage of Christmas in Long Grove and I can't top that. See below. Here are the top 5 things I will remember about 2014 Christmas in Long Grove.

5. Sam packing his clock and toothbrush 2 days before heading to Long Grove.

4. Sam and Laura's squeals when they recognized we were in Long Grove.

3. Laying in GG's bed watching Toy Story  3 with GG.

2. Getting sick and thinking to myself, When was the last time I puked at Mom and Dad's house?

1. The kids playing in GG and Papa's bedroom and wanting "privacy". 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg1dQDgVMMA

Joseph and Julia

Eric and I have season tickets to the Civic Center Broadway Series. Five Wednesday evenings a year we have "date night" and go to a show. This past Wednesday we had tickets to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 1994, Joseph was my first Broadway experience when Heidi, Cousin Shane, Aunt Judy, and Grandma Julia saw it in Chicago starring Donny Osmond. I was excited to see it again even if Donny Osmond wasn't in it this time.

THEN...

On Wednesday at 2:30pm I received this text from our babysitter:

"Hey Heather, I am so so sorry for the short notice, but I think I am coming down with something and I do not feel good at all. I'm so sorry for the short notice, I feel terrible." 

I frantically called and texted other babysitters looking for a quick replacement and they all had church, dance, or were ill. I was coming to the conclusion that Joseph wasn't in the cards for me. Then an unavailable babysitter sent me this message:

"If you still need someone you could call my friend from church Julia 515-XXX-XXX!"

I felt like an insurance salesman, but I made the cold call and church friend, Julia could do it!

We went to the show and the music, lights, costumes, and set took me back 20 years to the Chicago Theatre, It was everything I remembered and a little more.

Grandma has been gone 6 years now, but on Wednesday she was with me. I was reminded of that when I took Julia, the new babysitter, home. 

Three

Sam is three! He spent the weekend at Papa & GG's which is his favorite place on earth. He drained Power Wheels' batteries, played with his cousins, hung out with Papa, ate tractor birthday cake, and said good-bye to wearing diapers. Life is good!

One of my favorite conversations as we were getting ready to go to Papa & GG's.

Laura: I'm going to play with Maisie and Molly when we get to Long Grove.

Sam: I'm going to play with Papa.

I don't have many pictures of the weekend at GG and Papa's, but my sister put together a slide show from the weekend which captures the weekend perfectly. http://boydbabes.blogspot.com/2014/11/squirrel-hunt-2014.html

Below are some pictures from Sam's birthday party at our house with one of his favorite gifts, the fireman's outfit!