Thursday, December 31, 2009

Notable New Year's

We are spending a quiet New Years Eve three doors down at our neighbors, the Thornburgs. Jason is always on call beginning at 5pm on New Years Eve through New Years Day so our options are limited...not to mention the three little sweeties we have making any other plans difficult. I thought I would whip out the scrapbooks and scan photos from three New Year Celebrations from the past that stand out in my memory.

NEW YEARS EVE 2000
My sister Katie came to visit us when we lived in New York and we had grand plans to celebrate in Times Square...it was COLD. We had no intentions of lining up at 5:30PM...it just sort of happened that we walked near the area and realized we better get a good spot. We stood for hours...no bathroom, no dinner...and no warmth. We were lucky enough to be right in the thick of it all outside MTV Studios and just 15 feet away from where the button was pushed by Muhammad Ali and NY Senator McCain to drop the ball. Watching the ball drop and the blizzard of ticker tape fall was absolutely amazing...a once in a lifetime experience!We thought if we wore silly hats our parents would be able to spot us on tv...ha!



NEW YEARS EVE 2002

Jason and I took the train into NYC and the subway up to Central Park New Years 2002...Jason knew I always wanted to run the Runner's World Midnight Run in Central Park...so he patiently stood in the cold with all the other crazies while I ran in 20 degree weather in the dark. Instead of water stops, the race had champagne stops...which were treacherous as there was lots of frozen champagne to slip on. Once finished, we loaded ourselves back on the subway (ummm...scary that time of night when NO ONE is around but for one pan handling musician playing Danny Boy on a violin in the dark, smelly bowls of the city). Ah...the memories.


NEW YEARS EVE 1992
My parents were gracious enough to scrape together funds to send me to London through the World Sports Exchange when I was a junior in high school...waaaaaaay back in 1992. I and a group of other runners spent New Years Eve at the Park Court Hotel across from Hyde Park to usher in 1993 followed by a 10K race on New Years Day in Hyde Park sponsored by the Serpentine Running Club (in which we were served minced meat pie and malt wine upon completion...mmmmm....gross).



HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Snowy Christmas 2009

Definitely one of the least traditional Christmases in years past!

We left for Clinton last Wednesday evening ahead of some expecting wintry weather...and unfortunately it interfered with our yearly holiday plan of going to Eudora to be with Jason's extended family Thursday afternoon/evening. We chose not to risk blizzard conditions we were sure to face on our way home...a very good choice according to family members. We opted to attend Catholic Mass with family Christmas Eve at the Benson Center in Clinton instead and returned back to my parents house to get the kids all settled down for bed (ha!). As frustrating as it was trying to get the boys to sleep, it tickled Jason and I to see them so excited!

The adults opened our gifts Christmas Eve (and cuddled in our Snuggies courtesy of Katie) and we then sorted the rest of the children's loot in preparation for early Christmas morning. We were sad that Katie could not be with us this Christmas as she and Mark headed to St. Louis to be with his family this year. This was the first Christmas I have not spent with her and she was sorely missed...although we had her on Skype on the laptop Christmas morning so she could watch the kids open their gifts. God bless technology! Our littles were sleepy, but excited nonetheless, to see the snow on the ground Christmas morning...and to see what Santa and all the family brought them.

Due to the poor road conditions, many of our extended family could not be there for Christmas Dinner, so the group was small and intimate (My parents, Tommy & Nataliya, Jason and I, Grandpa Mac and Uncle Mahlon)...but by golly, I pealed and mashed all 15 lbs of potatoes anyway! (I like potatoes..must be the Irish in me).

So as non-traditional as this Christmas was...it was most certainly memorable. Jonathan and Nicholas constantly broke out in song with Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Kate did her best), we caught the boys playing "Santa's Sleigh" on the coffee table Christmas Eve, Nicholas couldn't get enough sugar cookies (neither could mommy), and of course, it was always LOUD!
































We actually use these...everyday. :)

Monday, December 28, 2009

We think it's all behind us!


She thinks she can hide from Dr. Gatti





Kate had another appointment today at Children's Mercy for a renal ultrasound that indicated reduced swelling in her right kidney since the last visit in May, and since surgery back in January. YEAH!!! This means we should be in the clear...although we will go back in a year for another scan just to be sure.

Snowplay Part 2

I honestly can't remember the last time it snowed this much...over 9 inches total in Liberty according to meteorologists. What an amazing "White Christmas"! Jason is off this week so we are taking advantage of the chance to play outdoors. :-)
















Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Countdown Continues!


First thing Jonathan does every morning is change the number on the
"Days until Christmas"
plaque in the kitchen!
We are almost there...the anticipation is in the air...the crazy behavior, the wildness, the sleepless nights!
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Program-Stepping Stones Montessori






He's a little shy...and a little annoyed by his uber long sleeves. :-)

Is he really 3?

Nick turned 3 today. It seems like just yesterday I was having what I refer to as my "spa birth"...only 5 1/2 hours of a well medicated, relaxed and beautiful labor experience. Nicholas joined the world the afternoon of December 21st, 2006. Our tiniest of all three, placed in a giant red stocking before being returned to me by the nurses, he turned in to a very colicky baby. This was absolutely no indication as to his disposition later in life. He is by far, the most sensitive, affectionate, meek and mild little boy I know. Although small, he has done things early...just this year he ditched the binky, learned to ride his little red bike all around the culdesac with great speed, and to use the potty all by himself (since September). His passion still lies with Thomas the Train but he loves to dance, cuddle and play chase. He has become a great friend and playmate to both his big brother, Jonathan, and his little sister, Kate. We love this little boy with all our hearts...his big blue eyes, his sweet coy smile and adorable sense of humor.



Happy Birthday little Nicky!

All Aboard!

We celebrated our big guys 3rd birthday Saturday! Here are a few photos of the celebration.