Christmas 2012

Looking back at my pictures from Christmas, 2012, I realized that I took less pictures this year but lived in the moment more.  Less documenting.  More enjoying.  Here are some of the pics:

a staged kiss under our mistletoe

Christmas with the Whiffens

Auntie Carole brought us donuts!

 

making Christmas cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve morning

we even made T-Rex cookies for Santa!

spreading the Reindeer food on our front lawn in Christmas Eve

 

Christmas Eve dinner with the Whiffens at Bamboo - Zach touching cousin Sam's head

Zach having fun with cousin Connor

Gabe at at the big kids' table!

and then he & Zach played underneath the adult table

back at home on Christmas Eve, decorating the cookies for Santa

love that shot of Gabe!

Zach, of course, enjoyed eating the cookies more than decorating

all ready for Santa to come!

Santa came!

a Zach-flash, checking out his new train!

the boys on Christmas morning

Zach didn't even open his stocking until yesterday (December 28) - he was too excited to leave his train

look at Zach's body language - he's thrilled with the train

opening up Nini & Papa's pirate ships!

 

Pure Joy

Yesterday, December 28, 2012, my boys played beautifully together.  You see, Santa brought Zach a Polar Express Train for Christmas.  We had to put the train in his bedroom, since it takes up too much space downstairs.  On and off all morning yesterday, Gabe & Zach played with the train.  Of course, there were skirmishes and fights; but for more than a solid hour (or what seemed like more than an hour), my two boys played so beautifully with that train.  Honestly, it was the first time in our little family's history that these boys have played so well together.  They were really playing and pretending and working together.  I was puttering upstairs and listening to their little voices, and life just felt so right.  And it brought me pure joy.   

Thoughts On Newtown, Connecticut

I can't stop crying for the children and families whose lives were torn apart last Friday by the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  An elementary school.  How can it be?

And for the survivors, I can't stop thinking about the violence that was forced upon those young, innocent children in a place that is supposed to be safe.  

I'm grateful that my boys are too young to know about this horrific event.  I don't even know how to explain it to little people.  I've thought so much about my sister, who has an older daughter.  How has she been able to process the events with her?

I do know that my life as a mom has been rocked by this event.  So much innocence.  So much heartache.  So much violence.  So much fear.  I just want to wrap Gabe and Zach up into a titanium bubble and keep them there forever.  For Gabe and Zach, I pray that you may never know tragedy such as this.  I love you both so much.  I am so lucky to have you.         

This Planet

We all know that Gabe can be dramatic.  Yesterday, he took drama to another level when he proclaimed in a very angry tone:

"I don't even want to live on this planet anymore.  I'm going to go so far away that I won't even live on this planet.  I won't be on Earth anymore."

Oh, and this outburst occurred because he didn't want to eat grilled cheese for dinner.  Truly.

Oh, Man

Gabe is too smart for me.

We were talking about my feelings today---how it felt for me when Gabe was speaking so rudely to me.  Gabe replied, "but I'm not you.  I can't know how you feel."

When Gabe wasn't listening tonight, I reminded him that he needed to turn on his listening ears.  He replied, "I can't be a robot.  I can't just do whatever you say."

A Mustache

Gabe's upper lip (the part underneath his nose) is a little red and chapped from his runny nose this week.  Yesterday, he asked what it looked like (it looks like a red Hitler mustache, but of course I didn't say that).  I told him that it looks red and sore.  He then asked, "Do I have a mustache now?"  Gah!  (he kind of does...)

With Bananas On Top

Last night Gabe wanted mac 'n cheese for dinner.  Surprise, surprise.  He'd just had mac 'n cheese for dinner the other night.  Surprise, surprise.  Anyway, when he asked for the mac 'n cheese, I gave him a look that said, "are you kidding me?"

In response to my facial expression, Gabe replied, "Pretty please?  With bananas on top?"

Evidently he needs a tutorial on request sundaes...

Cathing Up: Photos

It's been a while since I posted some photos.  In the past week, we've seen Santa, taken a ride on the Polar Express, eaten at the Rainforest Cafe, and decorated our Christmas tree.  The boy are getting very excited for Christmas, even though they are under the weather (fevers, coughs, runny noses, etc.).  'Tis the season.  Argh.

on our way to see Santa

I can't wait to see Santa!

waiting in line to see Santa - now we're getting excited

eating at the Rainforest Cafe

checking out the animals in the cafe

telling Santa what we want for Christmas

Merry Christmas!

on our way home from seeing Santa

lunch play date with Joseph & Jonathan

Zach fell asleep on the couch after our lunch play date

gah!

he looks like such a big boy in this shot!

our first attempt at taking our Christmas card photo

I bumped my chin

holding the ice with two hands

at the Christmas tree farm, visiting the reindeer

here's our tree

Gabe holding our wreath

it was "Newfoundland Day" at the tree farm - this one was pulling a cart with a tree on it

 

decorating a gingerbread man

 

thanks, Momo!

tree decorating!

 

second and final Christmas card photo shoot

cuties!