Happy Christmas and Yummy New Year's Eve

So I won't say this is all due to global warming, but it's December 27th and 64 degrees outside...did I mention the thunderstorm producing a torrential downpour? Anyway, it's just wierd to hear thunder when you're Christmas tree is still up!

Speaking of Christmas, we've had a lovely one. Lots of family get togethers and yummy food. We got and gave some great gifts: on the receiving end Patrick got scissors (yes, I'm serious-see photo at right), a doctor kit, Hulk fists, Cookie Monster slippers, a stationary bicycle that coordinates with a game on the tv, and about a box truck more of fun stuff. Sam got handcuffs, a gun cleaning kit, and underwear. I got markers, underwear, and some really cool books. Slippers too! I would say the prize for most out of the ordinary gift given was the "poop claw" from Petco that we gave my dad. They seem so ridiculous, but they are seriously awesome.

My BFF Nora is in town for the week: WOOT! I am looking forward to spending some quality time with her soon. Also coming soon is my mom's New Year's Eve Party. It's the yummiest place to be on December 31. If you're not already coming, call me and I'll see if I can get your name on the list!

Emily wrote a year in review post today, so I think I'll follow suit in the next few days...

I hope you all are enjoying this magical holiday time from Christmas to New Year's Day as much as we are!

Patience for Christmas

A few days ago, Sam and I were finally ready to put up the Christmas decorations. Now, this is a feat in and of itself. To begin, we (I) finally agreed to purchase a prelit tree. I acquiesed on this to avoid the annual domestic dispute that occurs at 217 Ladd when we attempt to untangle the Christmas lights.

Well, we found the perfect tree: it has 500 white lights and 500 multi-color lights. This is great for us because Sam and I have a fundamental disagreement on what a Christmas tree should look like: I prefer multi-color lights with fun, family ornaments, Sam prefers all white lights with matchy, matchy ornaments. I bought the tree online because I found a coupon code for free shipping...no hauling this thing home from the store. You see where this is going right?...when we received it, some of the lights didn't work.

A few days later, Sam loaded this tree in my car and I headed off to Target. I got to the parking lot and realized that I had yet to handle this tree on my own. Needless to say, it was a rough, sweaty trip, but I got the thing exchanged.

So now here we are with a mostly functional prelit, mulit-colored and white light Christmas tree. We clean up dinner and commence this endeavor. Eva is content in her chair throughout this entire process. Patrick is SOOOOO excited. We start handing him ornaments and teach him how to gently hang them on the tree. 2 hours and most of my Christmas cds later, the tree is done...and perfect. Sam and I are frazzled shells of our once amiable selves, but very proud of our pretty living room and our excited, exhausted, but determined son. You'll see a pic of me and Eva as well as one of Patrick and I, each with our own pickle ornament.

So this Christmas, we're learning to slow down and enjoy the journey, not to focus only on the end result. I am learning patience whether I like it or not. Don't worry, we're not crazy though...we'll be taking all this down when Patrick is at school!

That for Which I'm Thankful - 2008

I wrote this for Thanksgiving, but I thought it would be nice to share here. -Kate

p.s. The awkwardness of my title is an homage to not ending a sentence with a prepositional phrase.

My Family…
Baby Eva Grace
Patrick Joseph-who knew 2 could be so cute and challenging at the same time?
My main squeeze and daddy of the year-Sam
My mom-I couldn't do all this without you
Gwen-she loves my kids to the moon and back
Libby & Moo-I heart you guys!

Making the list again this year…epidurals
My new car-so great with the kids
Heated seats and remote start
The flexibility of my job
Spending time soaking in Patrick and Eva's babyness…it goes SO fast
Fall in the Midwest
The opportunity to speak at schools and in court regarding driving while impaired
"Pongi!" the official name of Patrick's tribe
The village that helps me raise my babies
My trip to Mexico with Katie last December-it was a good long weekend before Round 2 in the Pregnancy Ring-Thanks Murbie!
The too infrequent, but always long and savored conversations with Nora…I miss you still!
My new-found love of slippers
That Tom and Gwen allow me to crash their party when Sam is working
That mom and dad have grass this winter!
Em and Steve
That Sam stays close with Shawn…sometimes too close (WoW)
Our good friends…they are few, but we love them
No more carpet in my house!
My dad, Andy and Patrick, down at the lake all summer throwing the toy for Dolly
Spending time with Sam-quiet time when we can actually complete sentences
That Eva nurses well…I know TMI, but I really am thankful for it
Mom's front porch
That I got so lucky to have two healthy babies…they're gorgeous too
Dr. Talsky and his nurses
That Sam went to ALL of my OB appointments with me…a good man he is
That I've gotten to spend so much time hanging out at mom and dad's house…I really enjoy being there
Patrick's seemingly boundless love for all things "at the Farm" (lake, Dolly, geese, deer, the loft, the dirt, the hedge apples, walks, etc, etc, etc)
Daycare-need I say more?
Patrick's bike rides with Tom
That even though the housing market isn't great right now…I had my best year yet.
That Sam got to have 6 weeks off work when Eva was born…it was great to have him there through the hardest parts
Did I mention epidurals?
As always-that my list is so long. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

This just in...Hooligan's Enter the Blogosphere

Well here we are! Sam, Patrick, Eva and I are here in the blogosphere. I was going to wait until after the holidays, but I figured there is no time like the present. And why not add one more thing to my "to-do" list every few days?

As the holidays approach, the chaos level in our lives, like everyone's, has increased exponentially. We have lots of family birthdays in December, most importantly, Sam's. He is the big 3-0 this year! To celebrate, Shawn, his BFF, flew up from Dallas Thursday night to surprise him. They've been goofing around the last few days and tonight we're ALL going out to celebrate Sam's venture into undeniable adulthood. I can honestly say that 30 has never seemed so young.

After a very busy and yummy Thanksgiving, we trekked up to Chicago to celebrate Papa Bob's 80th birthday and Christmas with the Hatfield clan. The kids were fantastic in the car and we had a truly wonderful time.

With all this celebrating, we are still getting used to life with 2 children. It makes life with one seem easy. Anyway, Patrick is adjusting well. He still has moments where he will do just about anything to get attention. He really loves Eva-almost to a fault. He really likes to hug and kiss her. And if she's crying, he's first in line to lovingly shove a pacifier in her mouth. He refers to this tool as a "Reba-cier." You see, he calls her Reba, Beba, and sometimes Reva, but never, ever Eva. Speaking of Eva, she is doing quite well. She and I spend lots of time together these days as she is a nursing super-star. She isn't in daycare yet...not until the housing market improves!

Sam and I are taking turns working and taking care of the "hooligans." Thank goodness for Tivo; who has time to watch a show when it's scheduled? Libby and Moo are continuing to rule the roost and defend the homestead.

That's it for now...Kate (the Band Leader)