Better late than never...

Nearly two months...I know...and I didn't even post around Thanksgiving. What the eff is wrong with me? You'd think I have a couple of kids and a full time job, and a house full of kitties and puppies...and not even enough time to pee when I get home at night...or something like that.
Anyway...Happy Holidays to anyone who reads this...may your days be merry and bright...and so on. And I truly mean that because I just plain love the holidays. I think that my favorite time of year just might be that handful of weeks that run from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It's pure magic. I might even be just as excited as Sammy this year...and that's saying a lot!
So here are some snaps from our Christmas (plus a few random shots that I love from our year)...just a handful but I think they say it all...family is what it's all about...we are rich in love and very very lucky to have each other.

Sammy in his power suit (all his idea) on the way to a Christmas party...he was the best dressed there and pretty darn proud of that fact.

Christmas morning with the big kid...he looks so grown up to me in this shot. Pokemon cards and Ugly Dolls have been replaced with itunes cards, shaving cream and a razor in this kid's stocking.
Oh my heart.

A happy Christmas morning smile from the bean...I just love that silly bed head boy.

Merry Christmas Kiko...

and Merry Christmas Casey.

Patiently waiting for Evan and I to grab coffee before opening stockings.

A boy and his dog.

We couldn't get over how very careful and deliberate Sammy was with his gifts this year...our little guy is growing up.

Sam's very own kid friendly, ipad-ish type thing...I think he likes it!

Observing his little brother's excitement.

Our little Harry Potter fan...dressed as Harry.
Look out Halloween 2012.

"You're frozen Miles!" That was the most popular Christmas morning spell.

A little bubble bread before breakfast...our first shot at it and it was delicious.

Sam's present from M...one word...perfect.

Merry Christmas my littlest love...I can hardly wait to see what new adventures you find this coming year. You make me smile and laugh, daily and I love that so much.

Merry Christmas my teenager...you seem to grow more every day and I am so proud of who you are...and to be your mom.

Merry Christmas love of my life...you are my partner in every sense of the word and I am so happy that we're together on this journey. I feel lucky every day to have you three guys in my life.

A belated Merry Christmas and happy wishes for a wonderful New Year.
2012 is going to be a good one...I just know it.

Bucket list...

As I near my 40th year, it's high time that I put it in writing...at least the start of the list anyway.

And away we go...in no particular order.

1- Learn to play the violin.
2- Finish my nursing degree.
3- Go to the sundance film festival.
4- A " do over" honeymoon...Hawaii maybe ( I got food poisoning on the original.)
5- Take our kids on a trip for a couple of weeks...somewhere we've never been.
6- Career change...I want to help people by working in the healthcare profession.
7- See my kids graduate from college.
8- Travel with Evan...France, Greece, Italy...
9- Take dance lessons.
10- Grow a garden in our back yard.
11- Learn to use a sewing machine and to knit more than just scarves.
12- Make a giant book of photos and memories for each of our boys.
13- See our boys find the loves of their lives and hopefully experience
parenthood.
14- Get another tattoo...or maybe even two.
15- I want to see my first born baby girl who I placed for adoption, when I was 16.

Bigger shoes and less teeth...

So big doings around our house in the past week or so. A lost tooth, bigger shoes and pants, lots and lots of really loud singing (Sammy)...time stands still for no mama. These boys of ours have hit their growth spurts at the same time...Miles in particular. The kid is officially on his way...so much so that the size 7.5 sneaks that I just bought him in May, barely fit now, thus calling for an occasion to hit the town in search of bigger...well...pretty much everything. I love having a little time...just M and I. I mean...I love this kid more than I can ever possibly say...but I really LIKE him too. This time is fleeting...I can literally feel it speeding past me. For example, a recent conversation with Miles...

Me...Hey, next weekend we should snazzy up your room a bit. You know...hang up some pictures and things that you like. (We just moved everything around in his room recently and the walls are still kind of bare.)

Miles...Why? I'm not going to be here much longer.

Me...What?!

Miles...College.

Me...Ohhhh...right...college. Yeah...that's in four years...I think there's still plenty of time left for you to enjoy your room.

Punk. And in a way, he's right...so I soak up the moments that I get to spend...just my big kid and I. And I try not to let my chin hit the table when he inhales 1.5 steamed pork buns and a gigantic bowl of noodles, wontons, chicken and veg at his favorite Malaysian joint. Holy crap...pure insanity, I tell you.

Below, some snaps from a pretty low key, all around lovely weekend...and try as I might, I just can't get the hang of how to post a video here. Alas...Sammy singing opera, while sitting in a laundry basket, will have to be put on hold until I figure out what the hell I'm doing. Ugh.

Men's size 9. Last year he was wearing a boy's 6.

That pesky tooth has finally left the building...Sam was waiting for us with a big toothless grin when we came home from shopping.

The kid has yet to give up a tooth to the fairy. Letter written by daddy, as dictated by Sam. Tooth...duck taped to the letter.

Orange Boy is super excited about Sam's missing tooth...he's just too chill to show it.

Saturday morning...a lazy start.

Little Casey M Bone.

And Kiko...the world's sweetest dog.

Even the kitties were feeling lazy.

A Sunday morning game of Sorry.

Lap dog.

Kiko supervised...

...while Orange pretty much just sat there, looking annoyed.

See this monkey right here?

Well he is just a little force of nature...constantly, thinking, doing, moving, rolling, bouncing, singing and unless he's asleep, he is constantly talking. Really...he never ever stops.

Raaawwwwrrrrr!

I love this picture. Sometimes in the midst of Sammy overload, Evan and I just look at each other and start laughing...until tears are involved. Good tears I mean...that's what's going on here. Our kid is awesome...and really really chatty.

Oh and look...he totally won...beat us both fair and square.

Home sweet home.

Monday morning...this is what I see every morning when I get out of the shower.

And this is what I see every night when I go to bed.

My own little pug entourage.
Life is pretty sweet when you have two snorty little dogs who follow you everywhere and think you're just plain awesome.

Happy Halloween...

Although it feels like I should be saying Merry Christmas with the foot and a half of snow just outside my window. This is certainly one for the books! I think it was maybe '87 the last time we got dumped on in October? At any rate...it's a bit early for me, but it's actually kind of pretty out there and it certainly didn't spoil our Trick or Treat plans. It was a stellar year indeed...mainly because the four of us were together. The past few years, Halloween has fallen on a weekend, so M has been in CT with his dad and family and Evan has worked so my sidekick and I have gone candy hunting on our own. (Always in Grandpa and Regina's hood...hands down, the very best place for Trick or Treat!) This year we were together though...all of us...and it freaking rocked! This teenager of ours...what a great kid...he just really is. He's right on the cusp of being done with trick or treating and tonight he was seriously torn between hanging out with his friends and making one last candy round with Sammy. Visibly torn...he actually headed out and then came back. And you know...both Evan and I would have been totally fine if he had chosen to stay with his buddies but in a genuinely awesome moment of big brotherhood, the kid chose Trick or Treat with his little brother. I get a lump in my throat when I think about it. I love the way that these two adore each other...needling, wrestling, squabbling...all that aside...they would do anything for each other. I feel so, lucky, proud and downright privileged to be mothering these two. Ok...insert tissue here...regroup...and on we go to some shots of all things (with the exception of snow) Halloweeny.

Well hello there Mr. President. A little pre holiday fun at the Halloween store.

This guy always freaked me out when I was a kid...yeah...and he pretty much still does.

Pumpkin carving party with my three favorite guys...accompanied by a little Monster Mash and Time Warp.

The skeeter bug.

And the teenager.

Serious business, pumpkin carving.

Sammy screaming the word "guts" at the top of his lungs.

Both of us screaming "guts!"

Oh look...guts.

Two little pumpkins.

Almost done.

Several eyeballs, and one big scar later...

Pumpkin by mom.

If you give a teenager a pumpkin...
Seriously though...he worked on this for an hour and I think it's brilliant!

Three days before Halloween.

Beautiful

Exploring

Little black dog and little black pj's.

October 30, 2011

Two buried cars.

Red Ninja...ready to get his Trick or Treat on.

A good way to hide your identity while Trick or Treating with the two yahoos below.

Why Grandma...what big teeth you have!
Happy Halloween peeps!