Merry Christmas!

Unfortunately I do not have time to write up a thought-provoking post on the wonders and joy of the holiday season.  So, short of that, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May you take time to lock all the stress in a room and just enjoy being in the presence of family and friends!

Being Thankful

Every Thanksgiving, for as long as I can remember, my mom would proudly announce that during dinner we were going to go around the table and say what we are most thankful for.  And we would all sigh and say "oh mom, not again - this is so silly". 

But I have changed my thinking on this "silly" exercise.  Thanksgiving is such a great holiday because the main purpose of it is to have a fabulous dinner and think about all of the things in your life you are grateful for.  I could come up with an endless list but here are the highlights:

• I'm thankful that my sister-and brother-in-law are expecting a baby next year and we will have a new life joining our family.
• I'm thankful that my little nephew is growing and thriving and talking and gaining lots of weight!
• I'm thankful that I have a strong relationship with my family and that we love going home to MI and MA for the holidays.  The older I get, the more I realize that many people are not close with their families.
• I'm thankful that my family and I are all healthy.  I have a friend whose sister just spent a week in the hospital with pneumonia and my friend reminded us that we can have money and nice cars and lots of toys but we can't do anything without our health.
• I'm thankful that I was able to spend a fabulous weekend away with my cousin - something we have never done just the two of us.  So many great memories from that trip!
• I'm thankful that I have friends who love and support me both here in DC and in MI.
• I'm thankful for our two beautiful, kind, confident and fun little girls.  They bring sunshine to our lives.
• I'm thankful for my supportive and loving husband who makes me laugh and is such a talented cook!

The list is really endless.  I am so incredibly blessed.  There are certainly days that I am stressed or think I have too much on my plate and it as at times like that when I try to really think about how truly thankful I am for all the wonderful people in my life.

What are you most thankful for?  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Halloween Candy is Gone

Well, I am much-belated in writing this post about Halloween.  I know that because all of the candy is gone (well, almost).  This year, Grace's Brownie troop decided to collect candy for the troops.  A local mom started an organization called Treats 4 Our Troops.  She collects donated candy and ships it to soldiers overseas and to those recovering at the local Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  We have been donating our own candy for a couple of years and last year I was able to encourage my co-workers and others in our building to donate.  And this year, I was so proud of Grace as she brought an extra bag to "trick or treat for the troops"!

Bruno and I had fun dressing up as pirates for our friend's annual Halloween party.

The girls had so much fun dressing up. Grace was a sweet angel and Abby was an adorable Minnie Mouse.

I love Abby's face in this next picture! Not sure what she was so ticked off about - ha!

And just some fun in the fall leaves!

Brownies

No, not the delicious, ooey-gooey brownies that I usually like to think about and bake.  These are the Girl Scout Brownie kind.  Somehow, at the end of the school year last year, I found myself volunteering to be a Troop Leader for Grace's Brownies.  It didn't sound so bad... there were three other moms would said they would help.  We all have our strengths - I volunteered to be the organizer, another mom is the money person, another mom is the "cookie leader" and another mom actually runs the meetings.  We make a good team and while it has been a lot of paperwork, registrations, coordinations, I think we are finally getting in a routine.

I was in Brownie's for a couple of years and it was fun.  I remember the Brownie promise and the "Make new friends but keep the old" song.  I think Grace is enjoying that I can be a part of something she is involved in and I know the day will eventually come that she will want nothing to do with me being within 100 feet of anything she is involved in.  So, while I may complain about it sometimes, it is worth the smile on her face and the pride I see in her that her mom is one of the "troop leaders".

Last weekend we had the Girl Scout kick-off at her school.  Each troop sang a song in front of the group.  Our troop sang my favorite, "Make new friends, but keep the old...".  It has rung true for me throughout my life.  But one troop sang a song that I just absolutely loved.  It is called "Can a Woman?"  and I am reprinting the lyrics below because I think they are so powerful. 

As they were signing, I sat there thinking how far we have come from the days when women could only be teachers, nurses, secretaries or nuns -  when girls played half-court basketball (my mom did in high school) because I suppose the men thought girls couldn't "handle" to play full-court, and when women never dreamed they could break through the glass ceiling to be on an equal playing field with men.  I feel so blessed that Grace is growing up in an era when we can honestely tell our daughters that they can be whatever they want - as long as they study hard.

One of Grace's friends recently told her mom that she wants to be a judge.  When her mom asked, "why?", her daughter said "because I want to change the law so that women can be priests."  She is in second grade - wow!  I have a feeling that the next generation of girls are going to be very powerful and strong women.

Can a Woman?

by Iris Hirsch of GS Central Maryland

Tune: She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain

Can a woman fly an airplane?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman build a building?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman fight a fire?
Can a woman change a tire?
Can a woman lead a choir?
Yes she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a lawyer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman fix an engine?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a drummer?
Can a woman be a plumber?
Can she play ball in the summer?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman be a doctor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!
Can a woman drive a tractor?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Can a woman lead a nation?
Can she run TV station?
Can she head a corporation?
Yes, she can, yes she can!

Just you wait until we're older
Then you'll see! Then you'll see!!
We'll be women in tomorrow's
History, History!

As we grow up through the years
We'll sing out loud and clear
Can we start the process here?
Yes, we can, yes we can!

Girls Getaway Weekend 2011

Many years ago, my friends and I decided we needed to start planning "Girls Getaway Weekends".  Our lives had become so busy that we needed to set aside a special weekend to catch up.  Gone were the days of spending hours on the phone talking (even when it cost extra money to talk long distance) because we had nothing else to do.  Hour-long phone calls became lengthy emails which have more recently become texts.  I know we would all love to spend hours on the phone again, catching up on everything but we no longer have "nothing else to do".  There is always a litany of things to do.  We all have kids, jobs, husbands and other family and friends who keep us very busy. What can I say, it is just a busy time in all of our lives for a variety of reasons.

So what better way to put an end to the "busy" and set aside three days and two nights once a year?! We usually start planning months ahead and it is always something we look forward to.  This year we met in Ann Arbor, Michigan - which was a little hard for the Spartans among us!  But we had a fabulous weekend - great food, drinks, shopping, staying up late talking, waking up early and talking.  We always pick up where we left off and we never run out of things to talk about and catch up on!

There is a sincerity, comfort and calmness about being with friends who I have known a lifetime.  There are no pretences, there is no hiding your feelings - they know everything about me.  And while we have formed new friendships, we will always treasure our time together. 

I shed a few tears when my friends dropped me off at the airport - I always do when I say good-bye.  I never used to be a "crier".  But it seems the older I get, the more I realize the true depth and meaning of life-long friends.  Here's to you, my chicas!

Happy Birthday Abby!

 
A couple of weeks ago, our little baby turned three years old!  How is this possible?!  We had a birthday party for her this past weekend and she could not have been more excited.  She wanted a Minnie Mouse-themed party so that is what we had!  We had streamers, hats, plates, napkins, etc.  Since we already had her Minnie Mouse costume for Halloween I asked her if she wanted to wear it and she said, "oh, yes!" 
As we were decorating, she kept saying, "thank you, mama and dada for the beautiful decorations!"  And she was very happy with her cake too!

We are blessed with a very healthy little girl - 50th percentile for weight and height - and she couldn't be happier.  She is always smiling and sweet and sometimes a little shy.  She is the light of our lives and we love her so much!

Here are some more pictures from her special day.  I have also added some that I took recently of the girls!

Summer Fun and Back to School

A little catch up post here.  Bruno bought me fabulous tickets to see Wicked this summer.  We both absolutely loved it and it's by far one of my most favorite musicals.  Great story, wonderful acting and fabulous songs!  I knew as soon as I saw it that Grace would love it.  So I shopped around and found some relatively reasonable tickets.  We went with my friend Nicole and Grace thought it was so good!  Oh wait, actually she told me she didn't like... she LOVED it! 

Here is a picture of Grace and me on the roof of the Kennedy Center.

Grace posing next to Glinda's costume.

I also had to share these pictures of the absolutely adorable dresses my sister-in-law made for the girls.  I think Grace wore hers several times a week throughout the summer and Abby wore hers tons too.  You can't see all the detail work in these pictures but it is incredible.  I have NO idea how she finds the time in her day to sew but she does and she does amazing work.

And now that the summer fun is over, it's back to school time!  Grace started second grade and is very happy with it so far!

Grace not looking very thrilled so I told her to be excited (see below)!

Now Grace is excited!

And then it was sweet Abby's turn to start preschool.  I already wrote about saying good-bye to Ana and Rosa but it's just hard to believe Abby is ready for preschool.  She did great the first few days and then a few tears this week but all in all she seems very happy with her school!

I told her to put the sign down a little and smile big! See below.

Then I said "be really excited" - see below.

So excited!  Even with a wrinkled shirt - ha!



Hard to believe it has been 10 years

This weekend will mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.  Bruno and I were talking about it the other night and saying that in many ways it seems like yesterday because our memories of that day are so crystal clear (see my blog post from 2009).   But in other ways, it does seem like it has been ten years.  So much has happened - most importantly, the birth of our two beautiful girls.  Ten years ago, we could sit in front of the television for hours on end watching the coverage.  Now I find myself turning the tv off as soon as they start any coverage of it because I don't want the girls to see.

A couple of days ago, we were talking about how we should talk with Grace about this.  Living in Washington, DC, we knew that there would be a great deal of tv coverage, flags flying everywhere, people reflecting and praying about that day.  I looked on-line and found some interesting information and some good posts. But none of it seemed just right.  I wanted to tell her the basics without scaring her or having her worry every time we fly on a plane.  But what are the "basics" of the most tragic day in our most recent history and a day that so many of us lived through?  I somehow came up with the following.

Yesterday, Grace came home from school and said, "Did you know that 9-11 is an important day?" I asked what she learned about it. She said one of the teachers told their class that she had been working at the school then and could see the smoke from the Pentagon. I asked her "what else did she tell you" Grace said "oh nothing else really..." She asked me if I could see the smoke.  I told her I could not but that her dad did when he left work early that day and drove by the Pentagon.

So we talked about it some more. I basically told her that there were some very bad people who wanted to hurt Americans. And that they damaged the Pentagon and two very big buildings in NYC and a lot of people died. (I didn't get into the planes...) She asked, "Why would people from America want to hurt other Americans?" I explained that they were not from America and that they didn't like that people in America had so many freedoms.  They thought that there should be many more rules. She asked if they were in jail for what they did. So I told her that they had died trying to hurt Americans. She said how strange that was that someone would die trying to hurt someone else.

I told her that we are all much safer now and that she doesn't need to worry about anyone hurting us. I told her that she may hear a lot of different stories about what happened that day but that she should ask me or Bruno if she ever wants more information or has any questions.

Then she asked me, "If you were born on Feb. 29, do you only celebrate your birthday every 4 years?" She is a master at changing uncomfortable discussions : )

September 11 is a hard day for all Americans, but especially those who lost loved ones.  And for those who were living in NYC or Washington, DC.  We drive by the Pentagon all the time and we see the memorial that is now in place.  I clearly remember driving by and seeing a gaping hole in that building for months.  And so we pray for those who lost loved ones and for those whose familes are currently serving our country.  We will never forget.

Saying Good-bye to Ana and Rosa

About eight years ago, when I was pregnant with Grace, we knew we needed to find the perfect daycare.  It was overwhelming to think we could find a place to leave our precious yet-to-be born baby.

I toured lots of daycare centers.  I liked how they provided you daily, written reports on how the baby slept, how much they ate, how they played, etc.  I liked that you had to put booties on over your shoes so that you wouldn't track in any dirt.  I liked that they had security cameras at the door and you had to be buzzed in.  She'll be safe and in a clean environment, I thought.  I put her name on so many lists and left $50 deposits with multiple centers.  And I waited.  And waited.  As it got closer to my due date, I kept calling and they would tell me "it's hard to know how long the wait list will take."

So I started asking friends about where they sent their kids.  One of my coworkers told me she had sent her three kids to an in-home daycare and absolutely loved it.  I went to look at the place and to meet the women, Ana and Rosa.  I still wasn't sure.  The daycare was filled with lots of toys, highchairs, and cribs.  The women seemed very nice and the children were having fun. But was it the best fit for us?  I didn't know.

Shortly after Grace was born, I was really stressed about where she would go.  And then I got a call from Ana and Rosa telling me there was a spot open.  I asked Bruno to come meet them and see what he thought.  He liked them right away.  He said he could tell they would be very loving and it would be a great place for Grace.

And so Grace started there and spent 3 1/2 years.  There are people who made comments like "oh, I could never leave my children with perfect strangers all day.  Once I had kids, I just knew I had to stay home." Well, we could not have been more blessed to have shared our little Grace with them.  And when I found out I was pregnant with Abby, they were the first people I called.  Just to make sure we could have a spot for Abby to go there.

Last Friday was Abby's last day after 3 years.  I wrote them a nice card, gave them a gift, and took a great picture of the Abby and Grace with them.  We all sobbed.  I can't even put into words what these women have meant to me.  We trusted our most treasured loves, Grace and Abby, in their care.  Every single morning for the combined 6 years we saw them, they greeted us with welcoming smiles and hugs for the girls.  They never appeared to be tired and frustrated.  Can you imagine - with 9 kids every day not even appearing to be tired!? They played music, they spoke Spanish to the children, they played outside with them more than I ever would have.  And they loved them as if they were there own.

Every day, these women change countless diapers, feed hungry kids, put down 9 kids for a nap at the same time, apply endless applications of sunscreen and bug spray, and give so many hugs.  When Rosa's flight was delayed coming back from vacation last week, she told me she was so sad because it was two less days she would be able to spend with the four kids who were leaving this week to go to preschool.  How many people do you know who would be sad to have two extra days of vacation?!  Not many.

Ana and Rosa didn't ask you to put booties over your shoes - they encourage the kids to play in the dirt and explore the outdoors. And their place is certainly cleaner than my house!

Ana and Rosa didn't provide me a daily, written report. Instead, they spent the day taking care of the kids, teaching them about kindness, sharing and having fun. And somehow they always kept track of when Grace or Abby's last bottle of the day was.

Ana and Rosa didn't have a security system but my children couldn't have been in a safer, more loving environment.

I honestly could go on and on. But the bottom line is that our children were blessed to be in their care and we were blessed to be a part of their lives for the past 7 1/2 years.  Thank you to Ana and Rosa for opening up your home and your hearts to our girls!  We are eternally grateful!

Michigan Vacation

We were all very ready for vacation this year.  It came a week later than we usually go and we were counting down the days!  Vacation isn't what it used to be - before kids.  It used to mean sleeping in, having late lunches, late dinners, reading books, taking naps, sitting by the beach.  Vacation used to equal relaxation.  Not so much anymore!  But what vacation is now is a change of pace, change of scenery, no rushing to be anywhere, and most importantly, quality time with the family. 

This year we were fortunate to be able to spend 10 days at my parents house that they just finished renovating on a small lake in Michigan.  The house is so perfect - they did an amazing job renovating it.  It has a beautiful view of the lake.  They have a wonderful boat and there is a great beach on the lake for the kids to play.  The week really couldn't have been any better (aside from the rainy Saturdays at the beginning and end of our trip but the rest of the week was gorgeous).  We spent time with Nora, Len and Ryan and Erin and our adorable nephews.  It was fun, busy and so enjoyable.

Bruno and I were also lucky enough to get away to Chicago for a couple of days.  The girls stayed with my parents and had their special time.  We had a great time seeing the sights of the city and eating fabulous meals.  It was so relaxing! 

And Grace was able to spend several days with my mom and dad after we left on Sunday.  Her cousin Owen also stayed over for a few nights so they were both excited to spend time hanging out, catching fish and swimming off the boat.  Grace went to see a play with the ladies, my mom and Aunt Nora, and both Owen and Grace went on a dune ride at Lake Michigan - among many other fun activities! 

Here are a few pictures from the week!

While it may be hard to see, there is a little fish in there.  I caught it with a net.  The kids were delighted.  I was very proud of my accomplishment!

A little downtime after the beach - dueling iPads!

We celebrated Nolan's 2nd birthday - he was very excited with his gifts!

The most fabulous hotel I have ever stayed in with a great location in Chicago.

Chandelier in the hotel lobby.

The gorgeous bathroom.  There was a tv in the bathroom mirror!

Yep - that's a glass floor - 103 floors up in the Sears Tower.

At the bean in Chicago.

By the end of the week, Grace was driving the boat by herself (with Poppy's help of course)!

Abby loved jumping off the boat - that child has no fear!

Owen's catch!

Grace's first catch!

This makes me smile - true bliss just running down sand dunes!

Grace on the sand dune ride.

At Lake Michigan

There are a lot more pictures and many more stories.  Like the day we lost power and made shadows on the wall by candlelight.  Grace said she never thought losing power could be so fun! We had such a fabulous week.  We are blessed to have a wonderful family who we enjoy spending time with - that alone is truly a gift for which we are grateful.  Thank you, mom and dad, for all the help with the kids and for sharing your fabulous home with us.  It was a true vacation (and even a little bit relaxing)!