To Santa

M colored a picture to Santa and wrote the words "To Santa" on the top all by himself.

How cute!

Ready or Not, Here I come!

We moved this cabinet into the playroom.

So much for good storage.

M, L, and O think it is a good place to hide while playing hide and seek.

Ski Roundtop

Recently we took a trip to Ski Roundtop to see what was going on and when they thought they might open. They were blowing snow in full force.

The kids absolutely loved it. It was the first time L touched snow.

M and L are ready to go skiing.

M got to be Big Daddy who offered to take him and M2 on a ride in the Snow Cat. M (and M2) are so excited.

Warm Weather Holiday Season

For being the last weekend before the holiday, it was pretty layed back.

We started Saturday off by going to Picture People for M, L, and O’s Christmas picture with their cousin, T.

All I have to say is thank God I don’t have four kids! O was a terror, L decided to play grumpy guy, M was good (thank you for giving us one) but T did not want to be held by anyone but Mommy or Daddy. All that being said, the picture turned out good. I know my sister didn’t like how scrunched T looked but I thought she looked cute.

Sunday was such a great day! We made 5 different kinds of Christmas cookies and a Gingerbread train. The train was a kit that a friend gave the boys for a gift. It turned out cute and was very easy to do.

After all the baking and sugar consumption these kiddos were more than ready to run a race. We headed to the playground. How lucky are we to have 60 degree weather in the middle of December?

Matthew fell asleep on the couch last night at 6:30 watching an episode of Cosmos on the Science Channel.

Trashman Santa

So remember that just yesterday I was telling you all the questions M and L have been asking about Santa?

Life just threw us a HUGE curve ball!

How in the WEERLD is Santa riding on a trash truck and collecting the trash!? Oh yes he was! Right there in downtown New Cumberland.

And last year on Christmas Eve (and the boys do not forget anything) he was riding on a fire truck down Bridge St. as we were driving home from Mass. How can he be doing that when he flys around the world on that night?

I need to talk to the Boro and tell them, they are really throwing a wrench in all the answers I give as to how Santa may conduct his life. Don't they understand?

How are you?

How are you? It seems like forever since I posted something here. The kids do fun, crazy things all the time and I just can't keep them all in my pea sized brain anymore. I have to figure out some kind of recording system so that when I sit down at the computer to "blog" I don't go "Hmm, what did they do today that was cute (or not so cute)?".

In the car right now we are listening to a station that plays all Christmas music, all the time. The other day the song "The 12 things at Christmas that are such a pain to me" came on. They were on number 10 or so and Luke says "That man (the one rigging up the lights) is really angry. He needs a time out to settle himself down!"

This weekend we went to a state park that does a path with all kinds of lights and stops along the way in the pavillions with popcorn, trains, a Santa and other kinds of Christmas-y things. The kids really had a blast and of course this silly mommy did not bring her camera. I felt lucky that I remembered all three kids : ) Luckily, my good friend and her family went as well and she took pictures. When I get them from her, I will post them.

We are knee deep in questions about Santa. How does Santa get all the way around the world in one night? If we don't have a chimney how will Santa get in the house? Don't the reindeer get tired? Can the reindeer spend the winter with us? Aiy, yi, yi! There are so many more just like that. What's a mom to do? I get tired of the questions and just say "You will have to ask Santa when you sit on his lap." Matthew realized the other day after he sat on Santa's lap that he forgot to ask all his questions. Guess we will have to go back for another visit.

Last night my Dad watched the kids for a few hours while M2 and I went to meet with the builder. When we got home he said that Olivia had him take off and put on her shoes "90 zillion times". Already she has the womanly shoe bug. She really does love them.

Pluba

Last night we were looking at this website www.pluba.com. We were looking at the cute little puppies. (No, we are not crazy. We are not ready for a puppy.)

I asked Luke "Aren't those puppies cute? Wouldn't you like one someday?"

He said "Yeah, them are cute. I don't want one. I'm electric to puppies."


He, he. I figured the answer I would get would be "no" because he is a little afraid of dogs. But I did NOT expect him to tell me he was electric.

Sleep

O is the first one of the three little rugrats over the age of one to fall asleep on me.

I am shocked that she did.

She is always moving, always.

From the time she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed at night, she is moving.

She was able to sit on my lap and relax enough to fall asleep.

I can't tell you how good it felt.

Star light, star bright

M really wanted a star for the top of the tree this year. We were able to find a nice one at Target. He picked it out. He insisted on picking it out. Lucky for him he had good taste. He also insisted on putting it on top of the tree.

Who. . .

left their pizza on the potty?

Going forward

From now going forward the little ones will only be referred to as M, L, and O. Their Father will be M2 and all others will be named as the opportunity arises.

Is that Spanish?

Tonight Matt was trying to get Matthew to say "Don't pahk your cah in Hahvad Yad."

You know, being from Massachusettes he really needs to make his kids familiar with the lingo up there.

Right after Matt asked him to say that Matthew said "Is that Spanish?"

No!

You should hear how Olivia says "No".

I feel like it should really make me angry but it makes me smile EVERY time.

She says it like 100 times an hour (no exageration).

She says it in answer to every question.

Very seldom does she say "yes" (only when it has to do with food).

She says no and then looks at me with this smile that just says "I could answer any number of answers but I know this one will make you smile."

She will, without a doubt, be the most difficult to discipline.

Oh Christmas Tree

On Sunday late afternoon we had to make a run to the store. On the way back home we decided to follow signs that led to a Christmas tree farm. We weren't planning on getting a tree. We really just wanted to price them.

Matthew was really begging to get out of the car. Matt went up and checked with the person working there and the deal was cut your own, any tree on the farm, $28. That is a deal compared to the farm right up the street where the trees start at $40.

So we decided to just take a walk through the farm and see what the trees looked like. They were great trees!

The boys were having such a good time just running in and out of every tree and yelling about cutting down each one, "Oh, this is the perfect tree, let's cut it!" and the same to the next tree.

We decided to walk back up to the barn and grab a saw. They took checks (we never have cash). So we were in good shape.

The next half hour involved us stopping at every tree and deciding if it were going to become the new member of the family. Could we envision this tree in our family room for the next month and a half.

We finally all decided on a tree and Matt cut it down and dragged it back to the barn. I kept saying for us not to go too far because he was going to have to drag it back. He never did admit that I was right but judging from the way he was breathing, I knew he knew ; )

Of course in a spontaneous tree cutting there is no camera involved but I did take a picture of it when we got it home.

Enjoy!

In the hack!

Luke's new favorite thing to say:

What is that. . .in the hack?!

Translated as:

What in the heck is that?!

Grass Fed Cow

We have been busy doing Thanksgiving-y things and having just a general good time with Daddy-o home from work. Our Thanksgiving was great-the best we have had since the kiddos were born. Everyone was well behaved, no whining and crying about anything. They had their good little Pilgrim boys and girl hats on. The food was unbelievable and I ate WAY too much! The company was nice also. Thank you, D'Amico's for hosting such a nice day for us.

There is a cute little picture of the boys above. It was just a touching moment with the two of them standing there with their arms around each other. I had to catch the moment. As I was taking the picture Matthew (who else?) says "Look Luke. They're taking a picture of our bums." He must think I ALWAYS want a picture of his bum or something, LOL.

We get these mailings every so often that are just an envelope full of coupons for local businesses. I saved one in particular. It was for a dairy farm not too far away. They advertised to come see how our milk is made, get milk in old fashioned glass bottles, the cows are all grass fed. . . you get the picture. So the weather has been great and we worked so hard yesterday in the yard we figured we needed a day to just do fun stuff with the kids. We decided it would be fun to "go see how our milk is made!" I will not mention the name of the dairy farm because I will never suggest anyone I know go there. It smelled soooooo bad BUT that I expect from a dairy farm. It was impossible to find BUT we found it. We all get out of the car (not an easy task) and file into the building. There sits a young girl at a table inside a room that has a window where you can see a few pieces of machinery that may be used to "make our milk". There is nothing there to explain that that is in fact the case. Luke walks in says "where are the cows?" so I ask the girl if there are cows we are able to see and she says we might be able to go up on the hill to see the cows. She walks out with us to show us where to go. After we tramp through the cow patty mud to where the cows are a few come walking over to us. We stare at them and they at us. Matt asks the girl what they do here and she says this is where they eat and rest they can't go out in the field because it is too muddy. WAIT, I thought they were "all grass fed!" So enough complaining. It just wasn't what we were expecting. My thought is don't claim to be a place to educate on how "our milk is made" and then not have anything educational. It was a disappointment but we still got some yummy glass bottled milk!

The Russian Spy

You know, the one who got poisoned and has been in the news. Matthew saw his picture today and said "Huh, that guy, with the buzz cut, he didn't wash his hands, and looked dirty. I'll bet he got the flu. He didn't wash his hands. I will always wash my hands. I never want to get the flu because I don't want to get another flu shot. They hurt."

The Story of the Pilgrims

I was reading this story tonight to the boys. It is not the first time they have heard it. For the first few pages Luke was talking a lot. I told him if he knew the story so well, maybe he should tell it. He happily agreed.

Luke:"Everybody do this" and he wiggles his fingers. The picture shows them getting off the boat and walking up the hill.

Turn page

Luke:"Everybody fixes." They are working on their huts.

Turn page

Luke:"Everybody in snow."

Turn page:"Everybody. . .Mommy can you tell me?"

Mommy:"Is there anyone special on the page?"

Luke:"Ah, yes, Jesus (pointing to a pilgrim).

Mommy:"Anyone else?"

Luke:"Mommy, can you tell me?"

Mommy:"Samoset"

Luke:"Yep, Samoset"

Turn page

Luke:"Look, there Samoset again!"

Mommy:"That is Squanto"

Luke:"Yep, Squanto. . . .and Samoset"

Mommy:"Do you think I should read the rest now?"

Luke:"Of Course"

Love that kid. He was quiet as a mouse the rest of the story. Great storyteller. : )

Milk and Cookies

So, a wrap up of the weekend. . . . I will just hit the highlights, don't want to scare anyone away.

Matthew got to go to a birthday party of one of his best buddies. It was great fun for him to see a lot of his friends away from school. The party was even educational because the mom did such a great job incorporating all kinds of cool games about the planets. One of the funnier things that happened at the party-J (the birthday boy) was opening his presents and he got a cool Yoda pillow from one of the kids at school. J showed great excitement at receiving this gift and Matthew yells out so everyone can hear, "J! You really like I. (the present giver) now don't you?!" Do you think he really thinks that like and dislike and how strongly you feel about someone is based on what kind of toy you give someone at a birthday party?

We also brought all three kids to go grocery shopping today. It just seems like it will be so much more fun if I have all the kids and Matt with me and we can all help to make decisions on what we will bring home. Matthew was the first one to want to get out of the cart. I eagerly let that happen thinking it would be great to have him walk along with me and help get items off the shelves. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! After the 10th time of telling him "No" to something, he runs yelling "You don't get anything I want!" So bad that the man stacking the chip shelf actually comments "You don't get him anything he wants! I have to laugh at that one!" Yeah, funny, that is EXACTLY what I was thinking. Throughout the rest of the shopping trip, Luke wanted out but only wanted to walk with Daddy and then Liv wanted out but only wanted to walk by herself. She made us go out with a bang by screaming her lungs out while we were at the checkout.

We did end the day on a positive. We played out in the yard and although it was pretty cold we had fun. Headed in for a nice warm tubby and then polished off the night with a cookie and milk. How could a weekend be bad when it is ended with a cookie and milk?

The Remind Picture

Matthew asked me why I was taking this picture. I told him it was to remind him never to color his fingernails with dry erase marker again. Later that night I was showing Matt the picture and Matthew said "Oh no, are you showing him the remind picture?"

This is what happens. . . . .

when you don't help a four year old who is in a hurry put his underwear on.
He wanted cake!!!!!

Cudding

I should really make a list of the funny things these guys say. Last night we had Luke's birthday cake. It was a Boston Creme Pie (his choice). As he was eating it he said "This is the best cudding I ever had". He really thinks it is cudding. We tried to tell him it is "P"udding and he argued with us. Too funny!

Never Seen

Luke sitting on the potty last night, me on the stool in front of him.

Luke:"Mommy, that is the biggest big toe I have never seen."

Mommy:"Hmm, thanks?"

Well, I'll be. . . . . .

The kid wasn't kidding! That was where he wanted to get his picture taken. They turned out so well and he was such a happy, smiling little guy.

Lesson learned in Motherdom-It is not ALWAYS the best idea to try and save a dime. Sometimes it is just more important to get the shot.

I am trying to find a way to link to the Picture People albums online so that I can share the pictures. Let's see if this link works

http://smilestore.picturepeople.com/pn/tpp/sharealbums

UPDATE: Turns out you need my email address and password to get into our "smilestore" account. I don't really want to publish that here. If you are interested in seeing the pictures that we got, email me and I will give you the info you need to get in.

Comfort in Pictures

Luke is turning 3 on Sunday! We went today to get his pictures taken. We had an appointment at Sears Portrait Studio. We usually go to Picture People but I thought we would give somewhere else a try because I had a coupon and had heard Sears does a nice job. We went and signed in and sat and waited. They ran about 15 minutes late. When we finally got into the studio the girl asks me, "How does he do with pictures, he doesn't cry, does he?" I said "No" because he has always been a big ham in front of the camera at the studio. Well, wouldn't you know. . . he cried! Stuck his big old thumb in his mouth (not a thumb sucker) and cried! Refused to get in front of the camera. So we left. We walked down the mall to get Matthew and Olivia a pretzel. We get in front of Picture People and Luke says "That's it, there is where I wanted to go for my pictures!" Oh why did I think I should change where I have ALWAYS (never gone anywhere else!) gone for the kids pictures? We have an appointment there tomorrow. I'll give the kiddo another try : )

In the beginning

In the beginning there were three little kids who were absolute angels. There names were Matthew, Luke, and Olivia.

Matthew was the oldest child who was always in need of attention. He wanted Mommy to see his every move and to praise him for every accomplishment. Although he was high maintenance he was loved very much for his sense of humor, intelligence, and his cute little chubby cheeks that his Mommy loved to pinch.

Luke was the middle child and was the polar opposite of his older brother. Unlike Matthew, Luke could spend a decent amount of time playing by himself. He loved toys. Not to be misunderstood, he loved attention too. He just could also do well without. Luke was a fun loving, spirited child with very little hair (even at the age of 3).

Olivia was the youngest princess of the three and a very good mix of both her older brothers. She also has very little hair and is being considered for a trip to the ear piercer because she sometimes is mistaken for a boy. She can be very ladylike at times and at other times can be very much like a bear. Although she has a very strong personality, she is most loved for her big hugs and wet kisses.