Cabin Fever

We've been inside more than out since Christmas. This Polar Vortex ebbs and flows and has given us cold-cold days, kinda-cold days, snowy days, icy days, wintry-mix days, and a lot of grey dreary days. Thank goodness our house looks like a Toys R Us - there's always something to do! 

We were able to get out the weekend before Valentine's Day to a little event at the mall where the boys got to decorate Valentine's pictures

And make and eat their own cookies.

The day before Valentine's Day we had dinner at my parent's house where the boys got gifts from grandma and pop pop. These TMNT cars were a hit!

Valentine's Day brought a ton of snow. School was cancelled for two days in a row - and with it all the Valentine's Day parties that were planned. The kids won't get to celebrate until next week some time (after our well-timed "Winter break").

The boys also got giant sticker books from my parents which have kept them occupied for some time.

And when all else failed, I found some cardboard boxes that they colored and pretended to drive for a bit.

Thank goodness for Netflix - we have filled many hours with Phineas and Ferb marathons.

Now we sit and wait for all of this to melt.

And we are doing our best to stay friends while "stuck" together for so long!

And that my dear friends, is February in New York.

Yuck.

Six more weeks??!!

Punxatawny Phil, Staten Island Chuck, and all the other little rodents around the country predicted six more weeks of winter the other day. And while I don't put a lot of faith in those buggers, it seems they may be right. Does this look like an early spring to you??

In between snow days and ice delays, we've been trying to get out as much as possible. Nothing too exciting - venturing out for things like haircuts

and breakfast-for-dinner at the diner.

There have been plenty of days where we've just been plain stuck in the house.

We've done all the crafts, all the coloring, all the playing. It's getting old!

But at least we've been able to finish the 47 Valentine's Day cards for Matthew's party next week. Assuming it isn't snowed out!

Surprisingly, there's no delay for school today, even though the news is warning of the black ice dangers. So for at least the next few days it looks like we're on a "regular" schedule. Until the next storm moves in!

After Christmas stuff

It's10 days into the new year and I **think** we're kinda sorta back to normal. We had a heck of a Christmas vacation though.

Caught up with Santa on his annual candy cane run again this year.

Hosted 30 people for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner party.

Santa came and he did not disappoint.

He brought just about everything on their lists.

I heard no complaints from this motley crew.

After Christmas at home, the celebration continued with Christmas #2 at grandma's house. Santa stopped there as well.

Then it was off to MD for Christmas #3 with granddad and nana.

The boys were excited to get in and find out if Santa had been there too.

He had. And we spent 3 days keeping Christmas alive.

Then it was back home and back to work for Matt. But not before making sure to play with every single toy Santa brought.

Now we're riding out the polar vortex by watching a lot of movies, playing with toys, making crafts...

...and of course, school.

Back to the same routines, just a new year. And that's okay.

I know I'm late, but Happy New Year everybody!! Hope you're all "back to normal" too.

Christmas Vacation

Today was Matt's first day of his Christmas vacation. He'll be home with us for the next two weeks (after which I'm sure he'll be more than happy to go back to work!). The mania started early today with a second round of cookie making at grandma's house.

Noah ate more sprinkles and chocolate chips than he used on the cookies.

Then we hit the mall to run a few errands. These little guys were on sale at Hallmark and I had a coupon, so even though Santa will be here next week with a ton of stuff, we caved and let the boys pick out two favorites each. They love them, and are currently snuggling with them in bed as I write this.

Noah, for as cranky and stubborn as he is, can be really sweet sometimes. He insisted on holding Matt and Matthew's hands as they walked through the mall today. Add in the fact that Matthew was belting out Christmas carols as they strolled and you've got a pretty cute little scene. As I walked behind them I listened to people walk by and "awe, how cute!" at them.

Speaking of Santa, Matthew has asked me to take pictures of the things he wants so that we can email them to the big guy. That's how we roll in 2013 - we email Santa! On his list:

Everything Angry Birds Telepods

Everything Monsters U

Everything TMNT

The entire Swap Force team

Despicable Me 2 stuff

And the Disney Infinity collection

Santa is bringing a lot of this stuff next week. Because he's generous like that.

Friday is Matthew's holiday play at school, and then we join Matt on official Christmas vacation. If I'm not back before the 25th, have a Merry Christmas!

All the Christmas stuff

With such a late Thanksgiving this year I feel so rushed with all our Christmas stuff. But we're managing to cram it all in!

Our house has been decorated inside and out. My new favorite - these lighted stars from Ikea.

Our nativity is up, complete with Woodstock as baby Jesus.

Snickers the Elf has been hanging around. Sometimes literally.

We've done a ton of little craft projects that I bought on clearance last year at Target.

The boys got an early Christmas gift from grandad and nana - each one got a Nabi 2.

And no Christmas chore list would be complete without "take dogs to see Santa" checked off!

Matthew's holiday play at preschool is next week. Then it's Christmas vacation time until January 2nd. Woot!

Busy Busy Busy

We've been busy lately. We spent a lot of time putting together Operation Christmas Child Boxes and dropped them off to start their journey to children in need. The boys really enjoyed doing this and we're going to make it an annual tradition.

Matthew has a lot of school activities going on, including Monday afternoon soccer. So me and Noah sneak off to Starbucks while we wait for him to be done.

You know that saying about the hardest to work with are children and animals? It's true. My photo stream is filled with Christmas card picture fails of these two bananas.

We started decorating for Christmas last week and have been progressing a little each day. Our tree will go up tomorrow.

We're on school break until next Tuesday. We ended the month at school with a little play where Matthew played Squanto's father. He was fantastic.

And since we're really into Snoopy this year, I thought this was a fitting way to end this post.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Why do the long weekends always feel so short?

Sure, we crammed a lot into these three glorious days of freedom, but I feel like there's no way it should be over already. There's more to do!!

Tomorrow is back to work and school. But I think we accomplished a lot of what we wanted to do this long weekend. Like see Santa (yep, he's at the mall already! Great if you want to get a head start on your Christmas cards).

Lunch at the mall, post Santa.

A lazy Sunday morning at Starbucks enjoying our beverages of choice.

Contemplating life in between bites of bagels with cream cheese and sips of hot chocolate.

And even though it was pretty cold all weekend, we managed a little outdoor time.

Now it's off to bed, then back to the grind tomorrow. Friday feels so far away...