Harlem Globetrotters...NOT!

I love basketball. My dad and I used to watch all the Bulls games together. The '90's were the best- two threepeats, and it doesn't get any better than Michael Jordan. I've always wanted to see the Harlem Globetrotters, and the opportunity presented itself in an odd way.

I needed to get new glasses and contacts, and Jaime recommended I go to America's Best to do one of their deals and get 2 pairs of glasses. So, I did that, and in the process, I got a pair with transition lenses. When I did that, I received a voucher for 2 free tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters while I was on Christmas break. I called my mom and booked her to babysit so that Ryan and I could go to the 2 PM performance.

My mom came from work on Monday, and both kids really enjoyed having her at our house. I was very excited to go see the Globetrotters on Tuesday. Tuesday morning came around, and I got up. I felt like I had been beaten up. My head throbbed, my joints ached, I couldn't breathe out of my nose, and I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.

Needless to say, we did not go see the Harlem Globetrotters. Instead, Ryan and Grandma took care of the children, and I slept on the couch and was miserable. Oh well, maybe I'll get to see them one day.

Here are some pictures that we took of Grandma and the kids, plus, a few I took today, when Noah decided to have me build a large railway complete with a nativity and zoo (we re-enacted the Polar Express all day).

An Excellent Christmas...

We started the Christmas festivities on the 23rd. Noah helped me bake Jesus' birthday cake, and then we made some cutout cookies (they didn't turn out so well, but we had fun anyway).

On Christmas Eve, it was very icy out. Our backyard was a sheet of ice, and the dogs had to walk slowly and carefully every time they went out. After both kids' afternoon naps, we opened presents. It was fun to watch Noah's excitement. He jumped up and down each time we gave him a present to unwrap. He even unwrapped mine and Ryan's gifts.

On Christmas Day we went to Jaime and Bill's house to open more presents. Noah and Liam were so excited (Rori Rose was too). I think Noah's most prized present was the book, "The Polar Express", that he got from Grandma and Grandpa. He has slept with it every night and brings it everywhere. He also really liked his new Thomas the train pajamas, and had to put them on at 3:00 on Christmas. It was a really nice day, and Auntie Val and Uncle Randy also stopped by for a visit.

I don't have any pictures from Christmas Day (hint Grandma Vicki), but I do have some pictures from Christmas Eve.

From The Mouth of Two-Year Olds Part II...

Since Eric's accident, I have avoided using the entrance of our subdivision, as that is where the accident occurred. Yesterday, I wasn't thinking and took that way home. Noah said, "Look Momma, crosses!" I started to cry. Noah said, "Why crying Momma?" I told Noah that Momma's heart hurt. Noah said, "Stop car Momma. I kiss heart and make better." What a sweetheart, right?

Later that afternoon, I noticed Noah studying Finchy. He pointed at Finchy's boy parts and said, "What those, Momma?" So, I told him, to which Noah replied, "Finchy has peanuts?" I laughed so hard.

Special Babysitters...

Last year for Christmas, my sister Jaime got us 2 movie tickets and a movie giftcard to go on a date. They would watch our kids while we went to a movie at the theater by their house. Well, almost a year has gone by, and Jaime said they would like to watch our kids so Ryan and I could go to a movie for Ryan's birthday. I asked her if she was sure; it's not that I don't trust her with my kids, it's just Juliana can be pretty high maintence if she's having a bad day- there are days here and there when we can barely handle her.

So, what did her offer involve?

This is Brendan, my newest and mellowest nephew. Isn't he cute? He's 2.5 months old. I think he looks like Jaime.
These 2 characters are Liam and Rori Rose. Rori is the oldest at 4 and Liam is 2.5. Isn't Liam the cutest Darth Vader ever? And Rori's the prettiest Jasmine around!

And you've met my two children already. Juliana 7.5 months and Noah 2.75 years.

So, how many children is that? Five. How many are either 4 or less? Five. How many are 2? Two. How many are under the age of 1? Two. Is my sister nuts? No, but she has a good heart.

Shortly after we left, my cell phone rang. It was Jaime. I was sure either Noah was melting down or Juliana was freaking out because they were trying to feed her a bottle. She called to say that Noah asked for us, but she explained to him that we had to leave for a little while and he was going to stay and play with them. He said, okay, and went back downstairs to play with his cousins. Not even a tear.

Did I mention that when we returned to their house (after seeing New Moon- Ryan's choice, not mine since I had already seen it), we were greeted with the wonderful smell of apple dumplings that Jaime had time to bake while we were gone? Talk about Super Mom. Then, we went downstairs to see everyone. They had gotten Juliana to take a nap, and as we came down the steps, Noah took a flying leap and tackled Bill to the ground (he's going to be sore tomorrow).

So, thank you, Jaime and Bill, for watching our children for us. We knew they were in safe hands and knew they would have fun. In fact, both kids were sound asleep before we got on the expressway to go home.

Oh, and the apple dumplings were delicious. Jaime even sent some home with us, AND she baked Ryan brownies for his birthday. I know, she's nuts (in a good way, of course, Jaimers).

Penguin Baseball...

Here's an addicting little site for you if you are ever bored:

Penguin Baseball

Basically, you are the abominable snowman, and you click the mouse once for the penguin to slide down the iceberg, and then click the mouse again to swing the baseball bat and hit the penguin. I learned about it at school- our media center does stressbusters at Christmas time, and we had a competition during our lunch periods to see who could hit the penguin the furthest. Enjoy!

It's So Hard To Say Good-Bye...

One of the hardest things about being a teacher is when you lose a student. Last Friday, one of the nicest kids I've known was killed in a car accident. I've lost 4 students in the 9 years that I've been teaching. 3 of them have been to car accidents. I've gone to all of the wakes. No one should ever have to bury their own child.

Last night, I went at 7 PM. I got into the long line of faculty, friends, and family to pay my respects. He was on the bowling team. Bowling teams from our conference came to pay their respects. It was amazing. I didn't get up to say good-bye to him until 8:30, that's how long the line was. I lost it when I got up to his casket, just like I did a few years ago when I lost another young man to a car accident.

It's so hard to say good-bye. Rest In Peace, Eric. I'll miss you.

I Hate You Friday, December 11

This morning I was so excited that it was Friday. It has been a very long week. Things were going well today.

At the end of second period, I opened an email from the assistant principal of discipline. In the subject it said, "For your eyes only". We usually get these if someone has written a threatening message in a bathroom, or if they need us to identify a student in a picture. What I read was not something like that at all.

A former student of mine that I had as a sophomore, was in a car accident this morning on his way to school. He didn't make it. He was a senior. He was a nice kid. One of the nicest kids I've ever met.

I just realized that I keep typing was. This is so hard. I hate you, Friday, December 11. This is the 4th student of mine that has passed away. I hate you, Friday, December 11.

Here's a link that will tell you about his accident. He was a good kid. Please pray for his family, friends, and the students and teachers at my school.

Daddy's Little Girl...

Juliana has definitely become a daddy's girl. When he got home from California, she immediately stopped crying in my arms, lit up in a smile and proceeded to babble loudly at him. I imagine that she was yelling at him for being gone for a week, and to never do that again.

Last night, she was screaming in my arms, and Ryan walked into the house, and immediately, she started to smile, and then the following pictures were taken (I had to stand to the side, so as not to make her angry). How is that fair?!?

Daddy-Daughter Date...

Every Thanksgiving, Ryan and I watch the mini-series, "Band of Brothers". Every Christmas break, I read the book, "Band of Brothers". I'm a huge World War II buff. So much so, that I one of the people I would love to meet is Major Dick Winters, who lead Easy company that "Band of Brothers" is based off of. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should.

My dad is also very much into World War II. In fact, he has actual pictures of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, framed and hung on the wall. My dad's uncle worked for an admiral of the US Navy, which is how my dad got the pictures. His uncle was able to pull strings to get my grandfather pulled off of a boat heading to the Pacific and stationed in Honolulu instead of being shipped to Guadalcanal. When I was in 5th grade, I did a project on Hawaii, and my dad allowed me to bring the pictures to school as part of my project. That's how I first became interested in World War II.

When Jaime and I were younger, and living at home, our parents would take us to the Mariott-Lincolnshire to see different plays. We saw Peter Pan, but my favorite was South Pacific. I love reading about World War II, and that's a common link my dad and I share. This year, Ryan was gone over my Thanksgiving break, and I was disappointed that we wouldn't have our marathon watching of "Band of Brothers".

My dad found out that "South Pacific" was coming to the Rosemont Theatre, and got 2 tickets for the two of us to go see it. Needless to say, it was AMAZING! We went to the Saturday matinee, and had really great seats. The man who played Emile Debeque was a well-known opera singer, and I honestly don't think he needed to have a mic on him. I could have listened to him sing forever. Since we went to the matinee, we were surrounded by many older people (like my grandma's age). It was interesting listening to them talk about their memories of World War II. A younger lady mentioned that her father was stationed on the USS Arizona, and had gotten shore leave the morning of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and was unable to get back to the ship before it was sunk. She said he was never the same after that, and felt guilty that he didn't die with the rest of his "brothers".

Thank you, Daddy, for taking me to see it. I had a wonderful time :-)

Out Of The Mouth Of Two Year Olds...

I think that out of the ages that Noah has been, I have enjoyed this age the most. He says the funniest things! For example,

1) This morning, I was talking to him about being a good boy and he said, "I not a good boy. I Noah, momma!"

2) Ryan's been gone since Thanksgiving night, and I told Noah that Daddy was on an airplane, so at least 7 times a day we have this conversation: "Momma?" "Noah?" "Where Daddy?" "I don't know, where is Daddy?" "Daddy on airplane!" "Is he coming home today?" "No, momma! He flying now!"

3) A couple months ago, I smelled something foul and told Noah we needed to change his diaper. "No change diaper! I got gas!" He was wrong.

He cracks me up!