We're BAAAACCCKKKKK!

So happy to finally be home for a while. We had a fabo Christmas--arrived in Chicago Christmas night and stayed there until January 2nd . . . came home . . . started back into our exciting and thrilling daily routine . . . .and left again for Breckenridge less than two weeks later. I have, miraculously, found a way to read three books between the trips. LOVED one of them and ehhh to the other two. If you haven't read Devil in the White City, go and buy it today. You won't be able to put it down. Such an education for me--I adored reading it. The fact that it was set in my hometown of Chicago didn't hurt matters much, but it is probably the most engrossing non-fiction work I have ever read, period. I decided to read Atonement before I saw it in the theatres so I could sound ever so sophisticated at the movie's end and say, "Oh, the book was so much better because . .. blah blah blah." Haven't seen the movie yet and now don't know whether or not I will. I don't like paying money to be depressed . . .and the book was a definite downer. Eat, Pray, Love was the first of the three I read. Liked it--laughed out loud in parts, but I had a hard time with her spiritual leanings . . . .especially when she woke up chanting at 3:30 a.m. in India for a four month period . . . it was a little out there for me. I much prefer talking to Jesus from the comfort of my own home and have had experiences where I felt like I was sitting in His hand without being completely sleep deprived and brain washed--but that's just me.

We're settling back into our routine slowly but surely. Arriving home to an exploded hot water heater made for a thrilling return last week. We finally disassembled our three year old's crib (yes, I know it's pitiful, but she was the BABY after all!) and have moved her upstairs with her big bro. They are sharing a room (he has two twins) until we get her fixed up and painted. And does anyone know what to do with an arched window? My husband and I are both trying to get way too creative with our ideas, but we can't arrive at the same idea, which is totally frustrating . . . .of course, my intitial vote was to pay for the custom blind, but he, of course, knows we can make something up cheaper. . ..time will tell. She may be in her brother's bedroom until she's 18 at this rate!

When I'm not so tired, I'll have to go into detail about our trips. Our son has decided that he "never ever wants to go back to Colorado" which will be a problem for my in-laws who have decided that our family will have an annual ski trip, even if only they and their son like to ski. So much to tell, but I'm fading fast . . . .

Old Friends are the Best Friends

I just spent a delightful evening with a precious friend of mine that I have, sadly, lost touch with over the past several months. I had forgotten just how much I enjoy being with her and how much fun we have together. We bonded when our sons were under two (okay, just barely under two) and we were both going insane with our strong willed boys. We were shocked and delighted to learn that we were neighbors the first time we met--crazy that such a wonderful person was less than two blocks away, yet I had never seen her. We've shared many a glass of wine, many a walk with our boys in strollers (to avoid alcohol and chocolate consumption at 9 in the morning) and many a story through the years, but have both gotten so caught up in our separate spheres that it's been a while since we've been in touch.

She called earlier today to ask if we could carpool to a Junior League social tonight (which was such fun, by the way) and then afterwards, we went to a restaurant and each had a yummy Grey Goose Appletini. I have GOT to do a better job of being a friend to my friends! I get so caught up in the family and everyday craziness that I forget to take time to spend with people I so enjoy and miss. Thanks for a super fun night, Steph! I have MISSED you and we have to do this again SOON!

Annual Santa's Brunch

So we attended the Annual Santa Brunch today at the club, as we do every December. It's a fabulous tradition that enables us to traumatize our little ones as much as possible. One of my favorite pictures EVER is from the Santa Brunch two years ago--I've included it below for your pleasure. There's our son, cool as a cucumber, going over his long list of wants. . . and then there's our daughter. . .ah, the beauty of being almost one . . . .

Here's the thing that makes me feel old and a little bit sad. . . today, there were NO tears! She did her cute little hide from Santa thing at the beginning of the brunch and I thought we'd be ensured of a fabulous show, but NO--the little doll ended up warming up to Santa (who had red makeup all over his cheeks and nose) and even hugged him goodbye at the end of our meal! I've included a picture of the event below, just so I can prove it to the world--we are growing up!

Of course, the reason she warmed up to Santa was to let him know what SHE wants this year--one thing and one thing only: a puppy. Which is, quite sadly, NOT going to happen. We keep trying to explain to her that it's not going to happen until the spring because God hasn't MADE any puppies for our family for Christmas, but she's bound and determined that if she tells everyone she sees about her desire, someone will guilt mom and dad into biting the bullet and getting a puppy at the most inopportune time of the year. Of course, she then has the share the story about our last puppy: "I really really miss my Belle Belle--she was hit by a car and now she's in Keaven." It's enough to make your heart break . . . IF you didn't know how totally destructive and insane this Belle was. . . but I digress.

So, we're going to put this one in the books: our first tear-free Santa Brunch in six years--it's hard to believe.