Halloween at IBM

2010 marked our third year of trick or treating at IBM - our favorite! It's our entire Halloween celebration.

We have roughly 70 costumes in our house that I've picked up on clearance and at garage sales. Therefore, Sam chose to wear the same costume he wore last year. It just about killed me. Matilda was a very excited puppy.

Thanks, Grandpa Mark!

Aiden Is Four!

I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to figure out how old Aiden was when I met him. I am really, really bad at this, but I think I've figured out that if he turned 4 in July 2010, he turned 1 in July 2007. I feel like Karen and I became friends in the fall but I've always thought I met Aid when he was 10 months old. Well, no matter if he was 10 months or 14 months old, he was a teeny tiny thing. I will never forget the little jeans and flannel shirt he was wearing when Karen came over to our house for our first playdate. He was sooooo cute!

That cute little dude is four years old now. Four! All grown up and calling me "Mrs. Mom." Sam and Aid have gone from diapers and naptimes to preschool and dinosaurs, but they have a relationship that knows no bounds. People at Aiden's birthday party were even commenting on their infatuation with each other. They LOVE each other.

(Speaking of that party...it was at 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon. Eric was on call and that is dangerously close to bedtime. I was 50% sure we would be going. Then Karen, that rat, said, "I asked Aid what he wanted for his birthday and he said, 'A bucket of dinosaurs, a bucket of dragons, and Sam.'" How could I not go to the ends of the earth to make sure Sam was at Aiden's party?!)

Karen took these pictures of my kids at the party. It was a huge backyard blowout and my kids were naked for most of it. It was awesome! Sam couldn't have been any more excited about Aiden's presents than if they were his own. What a great party!

We LOVE the Bures family!!

31

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday deeeeaaar Errrriiiiic,
Happy birthday to you!

You're the best part of our day, every day! We love you!

Samuel James Is Four!

My dude is four years old. Since the day he was born that kid has delighted me more than I could have ever imagined. He's so smart and funny and kind. He's gentle and goofy. He's the most incredible little person I've ever met.

Sam, you are the light of our lives. Happy birthday little man.

Aldrich Valentine's Party

Sam and I spent this morning at the Aldrich Valentine's party. Sam was a willing participant and I was a volunteer. The party was planned by the head of the personnel committee (my committee!) of the Board of Directors. That woman did not mess around.

Five classrooms were used. Two parents stayed in each classroom. The kids were split into groups of 15. Each group had two parents assigned to them. Those parents took the groups from room to room and helped the room parents with the different activities. Each activity was allotted exactly 17 (!) minutes.

I was in the room with Winnie the Pooh. A lovely little teenage volunteer sat in a rocking chair wearing the most terrifying Winnie the Pooh costume I've ever seen. We helped the kids decorate picture frames and they had their pictures taken with Pooh. I was surprised that only about five of the kids refused to have their pictures taken.

I can't believe how exhausted I am after wrangling little people all morning. I left feeling like I had been beaten. Sam left with a bag full of craft projects and cookies.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Recovery

We had a quiet day yesterday and it was wonderful. I'm trying to do the same today. We are back on schedule, eating healthy food, and spending quiet time together. Even with all my efforts we're still kind of dragging. We can't go an entire month feeling like this:

...and expect to feel normal right away.

Thanks to Uncle Andy for getting this picture. It really captures the elated hysteria we have all felt for the last few weeks.

Christmas

The Best Christmas Ever is officially over.

Yesterday we had our final celebration. It ended nearly 14 straight days of food and presents. Oh, the presents. I don't know what happened this year. The stars aligned in such a way that determined that the Dailey family was going to receive every last thing on our wish lists. We are deeply grateful - and more than a little excited about our new toys - but I am feeling overwhelmed. "Gluttony" has run through my mind more than once.

I am truly looking forward to taking down our decorations. I need my house back. Last month as we strung garland and decorated the tree I didn't think I'd ever want to take it all down. Today I'm tempted to just release a fireball through my living room in an attempt to empty it out.

My kids need our lives back, too. It's all too much. If I could make it so we just celebrate on one day - Christmas (what a concept!) - I don't think it would be so overwhelming. But the fact of the matter is that we are part of a big, ever-changing, growing network of families. We are lucky to be so overscheduled in December.

Eric has to go back to work today (booo). I have to clean and run to Target. Things are getting back to normal. We are slowing down, taking a few breaths, and resuming our happy little life.

Merry Christmas, friends.

Matilda Is One Year Old!

Happy birthday to Matilda!

I've alluded to how horrible 2008 was for all of us. I honestly don't think I could ever go into the specifics. Imagine the worst thing you can and multiply it by 6. When I found out I was pregnant with Matilda I was more shocked than anything else. I wanted her so badly but all I could think about was how in the world I'd be able to fit a baby in with everything else going on. I knew I was pregnant for over a week before I told Jackie - THAT'S how upside-down everything was.

Jackie was immediately thrilled. She knew our situation better than anyone else and knew I felt overwhelmed. She waved away my fears. "This baby is going to save us all," she said.

I never could have imagined how right Jackie was. Matilda has changed everything. It sounds like I am being dramatic but it is true: we are better people with her in the world. Every day since she has been born has been better than the last.

Happy birthday, Matilda Jane, my strength-in-battle baby. You are so loved.

Matilda's Birthday - The People

Last Saturday we celebrated Matilda's first birthday. Almost all of our families were able to come. The house was crowded and hot and it was a lovely afternoon.

My dad took all of the pictures of the party!

I was going to pretend I was posting this to show Matilda's cute pink cheeks but the truth is I want everyone to see my new hair.

Grandma Joyce, Jackie and Mike...this is so darling of Grandma and Jackie but I don't think Mike got the joke.

Bret, Lisa, Miranda, Eric, Sam, and I look totally bored as Grandma Susan shows Matilda her new cars.

Papa was singing along with Matilda's new Musical Dora book from Grandpa Mark and Grandma Tina. Matilda was shocked. Actually, we all were.

Matilda's Birthday - The Presents

We looooove Little People in our house!

She's in the middle of a happy, side-of-the-face hug with her puppy from Grandma Joyce.

Bags are as fun as the gifts! For a moment or two she had this one completely over her head.

Who cares about clothes? Matilda wants the hangers!

Sam and Matilda were desperately trying to get her baby from Grandma Colleen out of the box. WHY do manufacturers make that so difficult?!

Matilda's Birthday - The Cake

Matilda does this when she's feeling nervous or embarrassed. She knows something is coming but she doesn't know what.

I help her blow out her candle...

...she gingerly picks at the cake...

...and discovers what all the fuss is about.

Yum!

Blasted Calendar

Eric and I have been maniacs trying to get everything done ahead of time this holiday season. I wanted to enjoy December and make sure to have time and energy for Matilda's birthday. Our house is completely decorated for Christmas and all of our presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree downstairs.

I see Sam every day - we live together, in fact - so why did I completely forget about him during all of this planning? He's so excited for Christmas he's going to explode. He can't handle looking at the presents under the tree and knowing some of them are for him. He is in a constant state of almost jumping out of his skin. Every time I start to go downstairs - EVERY time - Sam leaps to his feet. "NOW it's Christmas??" he asks.

This morning Matilda was crabby about something or another. Sam knelt down in front of her. "Tidda," he said. "Tidda, it's almost Christmas! Tidda, Santa is coming. Santa! Yes! Christmas is coming and Santa is coming!"

(I don't know where this Santa stuff is coming from. He gets more from books and movies than I realize. We don't "do" Santa in our house other than acknowledging that he is a very fun part of many holiday stories.)

And so begins what will be the longest 25 days of my life.

Thanksgiving 2009

My mom and Doug are in town. Grandma Colleen spent Monday morning with the kids. Sam spent most of yesterday with Grandpa Mark. Last night Eric and I were able to go to a birthday party for a friend I love dearly. Today we're spending the day at Jackie's house along with Mike, Miranda, James, Grandma Barb, Grandpa Doug, Grandma Joyce, Bret, Lisa, and Dale. We're going to eat until we're sick and I imagine that at some point Jackie and I will make each other laugh until we cry.

I am thankful for so many things - the theme of my life lately has been gratitude - but more than anything I'm happy for my kids. I'm thankful their norm is a busy, happy Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. I'm thankful they don't know what it's like to live without that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na...Halloween!

We celebrated our second Halloween in Rochester with another visit to IBM's trick-or-treat event. It really is fantastic. It was very cold this year and we were able to stay indoors and enjoy ourselves. Sam made out like a bandit. There was definite weight to his pumpkin bucket by the time we were done.

Grandpa Mark met us outside. The costume doesn't have the full effect without the eye mask and covered by his coat.

I had to fight Sam to get him to wear this. I finally convinced him to wear it for 10 seconds so a few people could see it. He shocked me by wearing it the rest of the day, even when it slid down so the eye holes were over his cheekbones. He could only see by tipping his head all the way back.

Matilda was, of course, mildly annoyed. Her shirt says, "I'm skin n' bones...NEED MORE CANDY!"

When we were done trick-or-treating Sam played on Grandpa's phone. It is Sam's favorite thing in the world.

Meanwhile...Matilda continued to be mildly annoyed.

Thanks, Grandpa, for another fun Halloween (and for taking pictures)!

The Big Red Dud

Sam spent last Saturday with Grandpa Mark and Tina. I had heard that Clifford was going to be at a local storytime and thought Sam would love it. We read (and watch!) a lot of Clifford in our house. So Grandpa and Tina were here early Saturday morning to whisk Sam off for fun.

As it turns out...it wasn't that great. Clifford WAS there, and Sam was impressed when he saw him come out. But after that - nothing. Clifford didn't do anything. He sat in a chair and some other woman read a Clifford story.

Sam is trying to make sense of all of this.

Whether the show is good or the show is bad, my kid is front and center. Way to get involved, Sambo!

After storytime they all went back to Grandpa and Tina's house. That was MUCH more fun for Sam. They had lunch, did puzzles, played a fishing game, played with cars, played UNO, and decorated a Halloween gingerbread house! No wonder Sam preferred that half of the day!

Sam is taking his jelly-bean placement very seriously.

Ooooh...spooky! (This house is now on my kitchen counter. I'm taking bets on how long it will sit there. I will be THRILLED if I can get rid of it by Thanksgiving.)

Thanks, Grandpa and Tina, for another fun day!

Fall Festival 2009

Last Saturday the four of us went to Quarry Hill for the Fall Festival. It was over 80 degrees so it was a little difficult getting in the mood for pumpkins and changing leaves. Again I left with some of the worst pictures ever. I don't know which is worse - forgetting my camera, which happens 75% of the time, or bringing it only to be disappointed when I look at them later. Oh well.

Sam, distracted, shows his pumpkin. He spent 2 seconds coloring on it and became bored.

Matilda, foot up, whining in her stroller.

Matilda, foot up, still whining in her stroller, one hour later. Really.

Hee hee...okay, this picture makes me happy. There's something about the way Eric is looking at me with a slight tilt to his head. I can't look at it without laughing. (Just me? That's fine. I know Eric will get it.)

Hooray For Mother's Day

I truly hope all of my momma friends had as great of a weekend as I did.

On Friday night Eric dumped piles of money and gift cards into my lap. That meant I spent most of Saturday shopping - by myself! I got a bunch of new cake decorating tools and some new clothes. Then I went home and got ready as Mara and Gina were picking me up for a girl's night. That was so needed and so very fun. All I remember is each of us complaining aloud about how weak the margaritas were and then suddenly having to struggle to stay upright. We giggled and ate too much and ended up having to take a cab home. A perfect night!

Yesterday Eric took Sam with him to visit Susan and Colleen. Matilda and I stayed home and watched an entire season of America's Next Top Model while eating leftover pizza. Fan. Tastic.

It was the perfect mother's day weekend - spending almost no time at all with my kids!

Happy Birthday To Eric

Well, it's all over for the man of our house. Today Eric turned 30 years old.

I am not sad or worried about turning 30. I am looking forward to it. But I am honestly a little weirded out about Eric turning 30. He was just a kid - 15 years old - when I first fell in love with him. He was a thin boy who wore a Charlotte Hornets starter jacket. He was terrified of speaking in front of people and was always nervous about going to school. I decided he was the one for me and I got to know the real Eric - the kind, loving kid who valued family above everything else. And he was funny. Oh man was he funny. No one before (or since!) could make me laugh the way Eric could.

He's getting better with age. I really like 30-year-old Eric. Just as kind and loving...and as it turns out, he is a really, really great father.

Eric, I love you. You work every day to make it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom. I will always, always be grateful to you for that. Thank you for making me laugh when life is crap. Thank you for being so wonderful to our babies. Thank you for being my best friend.

Happy birthday!

Egg Hunt, Part Two

We spent Easter afternoon at Papa and Grandma Susan's house. The weather was beautiful and all of the grandkids got to do an egg hunt in the backyard. Papa, who takes his grandpa duties very seriously, was rumored to have started hiding eggs at 5:00 am. The eggs were color-coded so the older kids knew to pass by Sam's easy-to-find blue eggs.

Sam had so much fun, found all of his eggs, and was allowed to eat a piece of candy out of each one. Each one had cash in it, too! I certainly don't remember earning money with my Easter eggs...