The Spirit of it All

Tomorrow we return to work and school.  We've been off since the 24th and I know that tomorrow morning will be a rude awakening.  Over the last couple weeks have have managed to squeeze in so much and capture the joy, meaning, and spirit of the season.

Charlie and I began our holiday break with an early morning snowshoe.  Bliss.

This year we were a part of two caroling parties, one on our street, and the other a couple streets over.  I loved every minute of both parties and so did the kids.  Henni surprised us by knowing just about every word to every Christmas carol.

A wonderful surprise was finding this Letter to the Editor in the local paper.  This letter not only speaks to the joy we can bring one another (so easily) and the true spirit of the holidays, but also to our neighborhood.  I've said it 1,000 times, but I will say it again - we are so lucky to live where we do.  We now have 32 kids under 15 on our little street, amazing parents, and some amazing friends.

Oliver's note to Santa included a treasure map.  The treasure - whoopie pies.  The reason why Santa's treats needed to be hidden away - Charlie.

Oliver awake at 5:00 Christmas morning, ready to open presents.  The combination of a small house and a full house - we took to the only empty room - the bathroom.  After turning the kids into a prune (don't you want to stay in longer?!), I held him off a little longer by having him watch his favorite show (Top Gear (UK, of course)) with Papa and LeLe.  By 7:30 he couldn't take it anymore, so we headed downstairs and tried to stave off present opening until Henni woke up - 8:30.

After Christmas we headed north.  The snow at the Snow Bowl was incredible and it was open from top to bottom.  We spent 3 days skiing and I am beyond impressed with how was both Oliver and Henni are doing.  Both have improved significantly.

While Henni loves skiing, she also loves apre ski.  A huge thanks to Papa and LeLe for being her lodge buddy so that Davis, Oliver and I could ski longer.  This year Henni was thrilled to have her cousin Quinn join her in the lodge.

Henni LOVES babies and is the most amazing mom.  She hovered over Quinn and catered to his every need (real and perceived).  She also took great joy in copying everything Elizabeth did with Quinn.

For some reason Oliver buried his camera in the backyard.  Unable to find it we borrowed the most hysterical metal detector.  While it was fun (and funny) we, unfortunately, did not find the camera.

On New Years Eve Henni fell asleep at 5 leaving Davis, Oliver and I to party on our own.  Sparkling cider and a rousing game of chomp was the perfect way to ring in the new year (at 8).

We decided to start the new year with some exercise.  Henni was extremely helpful in terms of raising the level of difficulty.

And, of course, New Years day is the Polar Plunge.  22 degrees (much colder with windchill) and water in the low 40s.

Davis and a couple of his other crazy friends splashing about in the water long after the others had run back to their clothes.

And of course there is friendship.  These two girls are such great friends.  Selfishly I hope they will be friends for a long long time and will look back at this time together - happily.

Happy holidays!

Tis the season

Somehow it is December 18th.  I have no idea how this happened and how Christmas can be, literally, next week.  I sat down with the intention of writing about how sad I am that life has been so busy that we have done little to get in the holiday spirit except for to drag that damn elf out and play Christmas music.  But, as I looked through recent photos I realize that we have, in fact, been getting into the holiday spirit.  Perhaps we need to play the music a little louder, start our Christmas shopping, and slow down a bit - and the magic of the season will descend upon our house.

The great Christmas tree hunt.  So fun, so cold.  So fun.

Making gingerbread trains with friends.

Riding bikes to school on the first snow.  Smiles all around.

Cookie making (and eating) with friends.

Spending hours with friends at the climbing wall.

And today was the Peace Festival.  I love the Peace Festival.  Every class at Oliver and Henni's school chooses a song about peace, love, and/or friendship to sing at the festival.  The little voices are beautiful, and I love when the whole school comes together each year to sing "This little light of mine." While Oliver kept rolling the little lights across the floor, and Henni kept lifting her dress up over her head - the magic of the festival made these things cute.  The festival (and so many other things about their school) make me want to keep them in their little bubble forever.

Post-peace festival things were not very peaceful at our house.  New snow, sun, and lots of energy - we spent the afternoon snowshoeing.  Everyone got (a little) energy out.

As an aside - that damn elf.  He has decided the best place to be.  Rather than move around he day he has positioned himself in one spot.  The kids haven't even noticed, and I sleep better at night.

Three

Last Friday Henni turned three.  How this happened - I have no idea.  Wasn't it just yesterday that Davis and I were driving back and forth to Beverly Hospital while Henni was trying to make up her mind when she wanted to make her debut?  All the while me in tears because I felt so horrible that Oliver was no longer going to be the only child - and we hadn't given him any say over the decision?

Henni's decision on when to make her debut ended up being smack dab on her due date.  That decision - that stake in the ground - is very defining in terms of her character.  Henni is stubborn, she is strong willed, she knows every rule - and holds everyone accountable.  She also is known for muttering -"Oh no, we are going to be so late!" whenever we are trying to make our way out the door.

And three years on, Henni and Oliver are best of friends.  Yes, they do have their moments (ones where I am surprised one or both is still alive once the dust has settled), but overall the two of them love each other to pieces.  And Henni - she cares for Oliver - completely.  She picks out clothes for him, will do errands for him, asks to buy him presents... she is extremely thoughtful.

Her thoughtfulness is largely due, I believe, to motherly instincts which seemed to have skipped me and gone - double - to her.  Henni feeds and dresses her babies in the morning, cares for them and takes the for walks during the day, and refused to go to bed until her babies have been put in their jammies, read to, and eaten.  The other day it was cold out - she refused to leave the house until her babies put on jackets and sweaters.  Being such a good mom must be exhausting!

I've often commented on Henni's sense of style.  The other day we were in a vintage clothing store and Henni - she was in ecstasy.  She wanted to buy everything there - despite the fact the clothes were for adults and not three year olds.  And several women commented on Henni's sense of style and projected that she would become a fashion icon one day.  To say that Henni was beaming is an understatement.

Now my little fashion icon is in an interesting phase right now.  She is wearing dresses, sweaters, tights, and button down shirts to bed.  And for school and daytime fun - she is choosing to wear jammies - accessorized with purses, rings, headbands, and necklaces - and the occasional skirt over the jammies.  I asked her what is up with this.  She replied - "I need to be be comfortable - and look good."  Of course.

Henni is not amenable to bribes and is not gift-hungry (like others I know (Oliver)).  When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she replied - "Nothing.  I have everything."  The joy of those words - and how much they speak to her personality!  But since we were not going to let her birthday go by present-less, Davis built her a dollhouse.

Henni had a very specific request for her birthday celebration - she wanted to go to dinner at the place in town that has a kid's room - that is, a room where kids get to go and play and eat while the parents are in the main dining room eating.  Her birthday wish was to go there with her good friend Lucy, Oliver, and Lucy's brother Max.  At first I was a little hurt that she didn't want to have her birthday dinner with me, but then I did have to applaud the brilliance of her plan.  So yes, she got to have the birthday celebration she wanted - and Davis and I got to go out and have an adult dinner with Lucy and Max's parents (and with baby Owen), with whom we are friends.  It was perfection.

We then had a second party for Henni with our friends Carragh and Maeve.  Pizza, a movie, and chaos.  Also perfection.

Happy birthday Henni!

The very best day of the year

Halloween ended in tears.  Both Oliver and Henni had such fun playing with their cousin Quinn, getting dressed up, running all over the neighborhood in the rain, consuming way too much sugar, and staying up way too late at a neighborhood party - that when we finally laid down they collapsed in tears - Oliver sobbing that "the very best day of the year" had come to an end.  We really did have a fantastic day (although three days later we are still feeling the sugar and late night...)

Henni was in heaven because she could play babies with Quinn - and he happily agreed to be one of the babies (go figure).

 Once Quinn got in his monkey suit Oliver agreed to hold him - the first time Oliver has touched Quinn (although he loves babies, he has been hesitant about Quinn)

Henni was a mommy.  And Oliver...he was very confusing.  He decided to be a ski racer.  He wore a GS suit, number, and helmet.  Then he walked out the door and decided he wanted to be a ninja.  One would think that this change would result in a change of costume.  But no.  He didn't want to change, he just wanted to be a ninja.  So he wore the ski racer costume and, very confusingly, told everyone he was a ninja.  It was very awkward.