Happy Thanksgiving

A little late.

We had a nice day, and I think Oliver had a happy first Thanksgiving! When we all got up, Jon made breakfast (His eggs are better than mine, but don't tell him that), and Natalie watched the parade while we got ready.

We headed over to Mitz and Pop's house around 11. Natalie and Mitz finished watching the parade, so they could see Santa come to town. Mitz kept on in the kitchen, and we all visited and ate (I brought crab dip) until dinner. Uncle Mike and Aunt Jamie (my step-siblings) were there, as well as our friend Cindy, AKA Auntie Cindy, AKA Auntie Lush (I came up with that. Not sure why, it just came out. She doesn't even drink all that much).

Dinner was fabulous - Mitz is a great cook! We had turkey, mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing, corn/squash/carrot succotash, green bean casserole, gravy, cranberry sauce and rolls. In keeping with tradition, I had an all-white plate - turkey, mashed potatoes and a roll only. For dessert, we had pumpkin pie, real whipped cream, apple pie, and Gooey Pumpkin Cakes. Oliver tried turkey, mashed potatoes, squash and a roll - he couldn't shovel the squash in fast enough. I don't think he's going to be eating baby food too much longer. He's back to getting angry when we eat - this time because he wants some of what we are having!

After dinner, Aunt Jamie and Auntie Lush took Natalie and the dogs to the park. We hung around for another couple of hours, then Natalie and Auntie Lush got out the Poker set. haha! As we were leaving, Natalie announced she was staying at Mitz's, and fortunately for her, Mitz and Pops thought that was a good idea! Apparently after we left, Natalie was using the poker chips to "buy" things around the house (this should bode well for the cash register she's getting for her bday) - I hear Mitz needed lots of new lamps and rugs. Mitz started teaching Natalie the card suits, and then she and Pops taught Natalie how to play Go Fish (and she won!).

Had a pretty quiet weekend. Natalie and I got our hair cut. Jon hung lights. He did such a nice job - this is our nicest display yet. We had one minor snag - we use transparent red C9s over clear icicles, and ran out of C9s. Between the two of us, we hit every conceivable place that could have them, and no luck - the only red C9s I found were opaque. So Jon went out, bought some strands of clear C9s, and spent a lot of time switching out every other bulb - so we have red and white C9 strands. It looks great! Our neighbor really liked it, and actually thanked US!

I decorated the house last night (we'll get a tree next weekend). You'd think Natalie had never seen our decorations before - she's in awe. And driving us both crazy. The year Natalie was born, Mitz went a little crazy and bought us a bunch of singing animals - Rudolph, the Abominable Snowman, Santa and Frosty. Natalie has always been scared of them, but not this year. It hasn't even been 24 hours, and I'm ready to pack those things away. I called Mitz to "thank" her, and got her voicemail - I set off all of those suckers over and over again in her VM. :-)

I'll get pictures up a little later.

Pre-school program

Natalie's pre-school Thanksgiving program and feast was last Tuesday. Mitz watched Oliver so Jon could work, and I could help out at the school prior to the feast and program. Then Jon, Mitz and Oliver met us at the school. Each class sang a couple of songs (the kindergartners memorized a Bible passage and recited it). Natalie and her class were dressed as Native Americans. They were all so cute, and did such a great job! They sang two songs, complete with motions, and took a bow after each number. The still pictures turned out blurry, but we got video for posterity.

The feast was nice too. Lots of families there, and the kids all made special placemats for themselves.

After the feast, Mitz was holding Oliver, and he throat-punched her. LOL. And I miraculously captured it in a picture.

I can't believe my baby is old enough to be in school programs!

The little girl on the left is one of Natalie's favorite friends.

Lost and found

So, Jon's wallet went missing yesterday. The last time he had it was Sunday, when he went to my parents's house to help get down their Christmas decor (AKA brownnosing before Christmas.. I kid!), and then stopped by Lowe's to get some clips for our lights.

He thoroughly searched the house and car, still couldn't find it today. Mom had to drive him and Oliver to Natalie's pre-school program today (LOL and more on the program later), since he didn't have his DL.

This evening, after I put Oliver to bed, I had Jon call Lowe's, check our accounts in case he lost his card and someone decided to go shopping, made Natalie some popcorn and told her to sit tight while I helped Daddy search the house/car for his wallet.

N -"OH! His wallet?"
Me - "Yes, Daddy lost his wallet, and I have to help him find it".
N - "I know where it is!"

Damned if she didn't go running into the living room, right to one of the end tables, and came back with his wallet. *stunned* We praised her for finding his wallet, then put 2+2 together (his wallet is kept either on the island, or on his desk).

Me - "Did you take Daddy's wallet?"
N - "I did, I just wanted to see"
Me - *started to say something*
N - "I promise I didn't take his cards! I just wanted to see."
Me - "That's fine, just don't do that again. It's like Mommy's purse, you are welcome to see it, but you have to ask first".

That little stinker!

Captain Natalie

Oliver just crawled under my desk, in search of some wires on which he could chew. Natalie took the opportunity to start yelling:

"Seize that boy! Seize that boy, Daddy, and tie him up and put him on the pirate ship!".

Email to Santa

Natalie is very worried that Santa won't bring her Whoppers in her stocking (I've got her covered), so she asked me to "send a letter in the 'puter". Here it is:

Dear Santa,

Would you please make sure you bring Natalie some Whoppers in her Christmas stocking? She loves them, and she loves you.

Love,

Jennifer Z

The following is Natalie's contribution

I love you Santa.

Love,

Oliver, Jon, Natalie, and God and Jesus

The addict and the enabler

My children. :-)

Oliver is addicted to these Gerber snacks called Veggie Dips - like mini-Cheez Doodles without the cheese. As an aside, they have onion powder and give him horrible breath. He will start fussing in the middle of his meal if he wants them - you think he isn't hungry, then give him some Veggie Dips to keep him in his chair, then he's happy as a clam.

While I was getting ready this morning, Jon said Natalie kept going off to the pantry; Oliver was in the highchair. After a couple of trips, he realized what was going on... She was getting him Veggie Dips.

They are already in cahoots!

Natalie had a special helper in class today

Mitz took one of my volunteer shifts in Natalie's class today! Natalie got to spend the night with Mitz and Pops last night (and we all got treated to Mitz's wonderful fried chicken), and then Mitz took her to school and stayed with her.

It sounds as if they had a great time! Mitz got to see Natalie go about her day - she had Show and Share today, and was the Calendar Helper. Mitz also helped me by getting a picture of the class, so I can put it on mugs for the teachers this Christmas. She also had all the kids at lunch convinced that there were monkeys under the table, trying to eat their food.

Natalie told me Mitz was more fun at school than I was, so I'm going to have to kick it up a notch the next time I volunteer. Humph! :-P

Polar Express

We went to Williams, AZ this past Friday to go to the North Pole! Natalie and Oliver went on their very first train rides!

We boarded at Williams (Grand Canyon Depot) and had a quick trip to the North Pole. The train was very old, which was cool, decorated with garland and Christmas lights all throughout. Each car (we were in the first car, which was neat!) had its own Elf and Chef, who served cookies (hard as a rock) and hot cocoa. They piped in a narration of the Polar Express, and the Elf walked the aisle with the book so the kids could see the pictures. As we approached the North Pole, we saw lots of lights - they had an area set up with one-dimensional lit buildings, to look like a Christmas village. Santa was on his sleigh (complete with realistic reindeer, an enormous bag of toys, Naughty/Nice list and another elf) waving to us as we came in. Then he boarded the train, and gave each child, including babies, a beautiful sleigh bell. Natalie was in awe! Oliver fell asleep on the way up (after having his nose plastered to the window for a bit!), but woke up when Santa arrived.

On the way back, we had a carol singalong, which was great until one family took over the mike. All four of them screamed Deck the Halls. And I do mean screamed.

The whole Depot area was really nice too - all lit up for Christmas. It was a wonderful trip, and one we are sure to repeat! OH! Before we boarded, I took Natalie up to the front of the train so she could see the engine car (I'm sure there's an official name, but whatever). The engineer rolled down his window and said hello! She was thrilled!

On the way home, we stopped at Montezuma's Castle and Montezuma's Well, so you'll see those shots as well. We also stopped in Flagstaff so we could see Aunt Jamie's apartment, and go to lunch with her. Natalie loved seeing Jamie!

I'll get pictures up in a bit.

We have such a thoughtful daughter

Seriously.

For the last week or so, I keep noticing the flip-flops I keep by the sliding door, piled on top of one of Natalie's play chairs. Last night I asked her if she was doing that, all set to tell her that shoes on chairs and tables are bad luck (they are!), when she told me she does that so Oliver won't find them and suck on them. Is she not the sweetest big sister ever? I don't even notice her doing it - just now I noticed my flip-flops and the shoes I'd been wearing earlier on one of her chairs - she just quietly does it.

Busy past 24 hours!

Natalie had her crab challenge yesterday afternoon. She sailed through with flying colors, so we can add crab back in her diet. Let me tell you, the poor kid missed her crab. I brought too much with us, and we took the remainder home. She asked for it as soon as we got in the car. By the time we got to the end of the block, she had scarfed down all of it, and drank the juice (gross, but whatever floats her boat!). Then we went home and I made crab cakes. :-) She's allowed lobster now too - we were going to do a separate challenge for that, but since she had a few bites not too long ago, and did well, her allergist is comfortable with that. Natalie loves "yobster" too!

Oliver got a new tooth sometime between last night and this morning! He was up a couple of times last night, which is unusual, fussy but not screaming in pain. Jon and I had just been talking about how his upper teeth are coming down - you can see the outline in his gum, but nothing's broken. Then I noticed a flash of white on the bottom! He got #2, the left lateral incisor!

He's extraordinarily fussy right now, clingy, spitting up a lot, and screaming (which is how he was the night his first two broke through), so I think more are on their way. I hope they break through soon, for his sake. The poor kid is miserable.

And when I picked up Natalie today, she had me in stitches, although I shouldn't have laughed. We were walking out to the car from her school, and she asked where the car was. I flippantly told her I gave it away. She stomped and yelled (with this guttural inflection that made it even funnier) "OH DAMNIT".

Oops. Halloween

Completely forgot to link pictures. I'm going to do that after I type this out!

We had a great Halloween! Natalie was Snow White, I was the Evil Queen, Jon was the Magic Mirror, and Oliver was an apple. Natalie and I hit our 'hood for some trick-or-treating, and had a nice time! Jon and Skeezix stayed home to pass out candy. There were tons of kids around, which was nice! After ToTing, we headed over to see Mitz and Pops. They hang out at their neighbor's to pass out candy (and Mitz had some booze in a cooler :-P). We're going over there next year. We live on a wash, and are kind of isolated on our street a bit - one block over was rocking, but not so much our street.

Other than that, not too much else is new. We're taking the kids to Williams this weekend to the Polar Express (!!) - I'm so excited. I'm going to be a crying fool, I think. Jon saved a news clip on DVR for me, and I was all teared up at that. Better get some waterproof mascara. On the way home, we'll stop in Flagstaff to see Aunt Jamie! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures!

Oh, here's a Natalie funny. Her nap was a little shorter than usual today, not too bad, but I said to her "That was a shorter nap" - just to make conversation. She very seriously told me "I wanted to spend time with you". Awwww! And how the hell does she think of this stuff?

Skeezix PULLED UP

Hold me. I'm not ready for this! He pulled himself to a standing position twice this afternoon. He's very wobbly and fell over after a bit, but he did it! Damn, he's doing this stuff faster than Natalie did - she crawled and pulled up at 7 months.

Time to drop the crib.

"Barack Obambambama went to the rainbow"

"He plays Candyland just like me. We are the winners".

So says Natalie this morning.

We are thrilled about Obama's win over here - I've been in tears off and on since last night - what a momentous, historical occasion for this country. I can't describe the hope I feel for the future - that goes beyond just being happy that my particular candidate won. Obama is inspiring.

The elation is tempered with disgust and sadness that hateful legislation such as Prop 102 (called the Marriage Amendment until after the election, how convenient) and other similar measures in states across the nation, were passed. I hope I live to see the day when bigotry and discrimination against anyone, regardless of race, color, creed, or sexual orientation comes to an end. Call it what you want, but anti-gay marriage/civil union legislation is discrimination, period. And it makes me sick.

And how cool that my children will grow up thinking having an African-American president is no big deal - nothing new under the sun.