11

11 years! Happy anniversary Kevin, I am so lucky to have found you and to be able to share this journey together. As I passed Graham's today picking up the boys, I was thinking of the night we met. I remembered the bike race and how you wheeled me up Green Lane in 100 degree heat and humidity after my hip surgery, I knew then, you were the one I was going to marry!

While we have had alot of ups and downs over the years, especially trying to build our family, I can't imagine doing this with anyone else. Thanks for being my rock, for making me laugh and for being such a great dad to the boys.

I love you! Happy anniversary!

Christmas Fun!

It came and went as quickly as always! We had a wonderful and hectic Christmas as always. There is nothing more exciting and fun then watching the kids Christmas morning.
Christmas eve was quiet, we had a dinner of appetizers and then headed to church. Maks was a bit too loud, so he was relocated to the nursery to play. Alek did great, held the candle all by himself and sang. We had one scarey moment when he decide to hold the program near his candle's flame, but mommy quickly intervened and all was well!
After church, we came home, watch some Rudolph and read The Night Before Christmas and Santa Claus is coming town. Alek also wanted his favorite book of the moment, Here's to You, so we read that too. Then it was time for cards to Santa. They carried out his milk, cookies and cards and Alek left his little reindeer for Santa to see. Maks was trying to sneak a cookie or two himself. Then there was a quick check of the fireplace in hopes of a peek of Santa and it was off to bed.
They slept great while Santa went to work. The next morning, we were actually awake and ready before Grammom, Poppy and Meem arrived. Generally they are in our driveway waking us up!
The kids opened their stockings in our room while they waited for everyone to be ready downstairs and then it was their big entrance and the commencement of opening gifts! paper everywhere, Maks went right to his bike, I think he would have sat on it all morning. He loved it. Alek was heard exclaiming, This is awesome, so cool, just what I wanted my whole life, etc.... It was too funny! Grammom and Meem worked on legos and Meem was heard stating, "no toy is going to defeat me!". At one point there were no children in the room and Grammom and Meem were playing with the Legos, I guess we know what to get them next year!
Breakfast was great as usual, due to the amazing chef Kevin!
Round two was quick trip outside to test out the new bikes and scooters. They had a blast and did really well riding them, thankfully it was unusually warm and sunny out, so it was nice.
Round 3, Pop and Noni's visit and more presents! Dinosaurs were a big hit. Pop was asking Maks what he was going to have for dinner, which reminded me that I had to make some mac and cheese! I almost forgot!! Maks then melted down and it was time for his nap. Daddy and Kaiser took a quick rest, while I got ready for dinner. Round 4, Granny and Pop Pop arrived with more toys, Alek was in his glory! Maks was still sleeping.
Time for us all to get ready and head to LaLa and Jimmy's for the dinner feast. It was alot of fun, I ate waayyyy too much. It was another wonderful Christmas day for us. We are so thankful for the boys and the extra magic they bring to Christmas!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Countdown is on

8 days until the Big Guy's arrival, excitement is brewing! We are in full Christmas mode here!

I finally feel like I have a handle on everything, only two gifts left to buy. Alek has been barraging me with questions about Santa, why the santas in his pictures all look different, how does he get all the way around the world on the same night, does he go to Russia too? Magic, that is my answer, it seems to suffice for now.

He also has been full of questions regarding the baby Jesus, where on the map is Bethleham, do you think the hay he had to lay in was itchy, was he adopted?

So it has been an interesting week, I love how his mind works!!

Friday is their holiday play at school. Alek's class is singing First Noel, so he has been practicing alot. Maks is singing Jingle Bells, it is so funny watching him sing and try to get the words out. I am placing bets though, that once he sees us in the audience he won't stay up with his group.

Alek also has a line in the play he is working on. Can't wait to see the performance, it should be so cute!

Both tress are up and decorated. I take care of trimming the living room tree, due to the fragile nature of many decorations. I love remembering all the gifts we got for our wedding shower xmas tree, can't believe it will be 11 years! Alek was a big helper and cut the tree wires so it all opened and he did the honors of placing the star up top, what a great job he did!

Next up was the basement tree and trains. Kevin pulled himself away from his dry wall project and got the tree (definitely a Charlie Brown tree this year!) and the trains all set up. The boys did the tree trimming and Maks had the honor of placing the angel up top. He did great!

So we are ready, well sort of, still don't have any exterior illumination, not sure if I will, I just can't get it together this year! But the inside looks nice.

Sunday, we are having a cookie baking party, I am looking forward to that, although my baking skills consist of slice and bake. I am thinking of expanding into melting chocolate and dipping, we will see how that goes.

The kids are looking forward to it, they love baking with their friends and of course decorating the cookies. Hopefully the weather will be decent and we can head over to the Live Nativity that night at Merrymead. Alek and I have gone the past couple years and it is really neat. He loves the sing a long.

I do love this time of year, I wish I could just get it to slow down a bit!

Relaxed, just in time for xmas chaos!

I am back from my 4 night trip to Mexico. It was absolutely amazing. I cannot believe how relaxing it was. I have never been so lazy in my life!! It was fabulous. We stayed at El Cid Marina and Spa, Riviera Maya.

What a great resort, exactly what we were looking for, smaller, great beach, all inclusive and good spa. The spa turned out to be amazing, we were treated like royalty. Pampered every night! I am going through withdrawal, not having a massage tonight!!

We did nothing but lay on the beach, read, eat, drink and go to the spa. We did rally enough energy to rent a car and drive one morning to Playa del Carmen and shop. It was fun, great shopping and a great lunch. We were back to our resort and on the beach by 1pm.

The boys did great with daddy, I talked to them a couple times a day, they sounded like they were having fun with friends too. Alek filled me in each night of the days activities, he is so funny on the phone, like a little adult!

It was definitely the most relaxing vacation I have ever had. I am glad we did this! The resort was fabulous and we are already talking about taking the kids back there. While it was great for adults, it had so much for kids too. I don't think you could every be bored.

Flight home was a little rough, well mainly the descent into Philly, it was pretty windy. My stomach was flip flopping and I was very happy to reach the ground! I was filled with emotions after going through customs, it was the first time I have been down that hall since coming home with Maks. I remember seeing Alek and our families through the glass door waiting for us. I was definitely teary eyed. I couldn't wait to get home to see my boys. The shock of the cold and the wind was rough! That morning we were sitting on the beach in 88 degrees and sunshine, it was freezing and windy and my windows on my car were frozen! Quiet the difference.

It was great to relax, now it is onto Christmas chaos!! I already feel behind. While I was away, Kevin and the boys went with friends to get our Christmas trees. I was pretty bummed I wasn't there for that, but I know they had a great time. Our friend's daughter sent me pictures and kept us posted on the tree hunt. This is definitely the earliest we have ever had our trees. They did great, the trees are gorgeous!

Our living room was set up tonight and the lights are on. We will trim it tomorrow. The basement tree will also go up tomorrow and hopefully Kevin will get started on the trains too. The boys are getting excited for Santa's arrival. The countdown has begun!

Thanksgiving and Hello December!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We celebrated at our house with parts of both of our families. It was a very nice evening and a pretty darn good turkey if I do say so myself!

Just polished off the last of the leftovers tonight.

Next up, haircut and flu shot for Alek, he had a busy Friday morning. I also saw the doc and got the all clear on my pneumonia, so now I am ready for Mexico! I am packing my inhaler just in case.

The hot tub is in and is working. It is wonderful. We have enjoyed being out there late at night under the stars. I love it!

Christmas cards were ordered and arrived and I already have them addressed! I am so on top of things I can't stand it! Their xmas card photo turned out well only two takes needed!

Saturday it was off to the Picture People, I was ready for the usual chaos, but I was so surprised. What a difference a year makes. The boys did great, they were so cooperative, the pictures turned out great,I was very pleased. I tried to avoid Santa and we usually do that with daddy, but the boys saw him and were begging, so we had to stop. Maks did great this year, no crying, he was hestitant, but did tell the Big Guy he wanted a Big truck. Alek rattled off his list of robots, dinosaurs, and bikes.

I leave on Wednesday for a 4 day girls trip to Mexico, my mother's day/surgery present. I am really looking forward to it, but also have my normal anxiety over leaving the kids. I know they will have a good time with daddy and their boys weekend!

We ended the long weekend with Grammom's 60th bday brunch. It was alot of fun and it was great to see Grammom with all the grandkids, it is very rare that everyone is all together, so I know she really enjoyed herself!

Happy 60th Birthday Mom-we love you and you don't look a day over 30!