2 Important Topics

1. How Well Do You Know 'Yo Mama?

Can you guess which of these greasy diner dishes is mine? How about Noah's? If you know Nathan and Joelle, you can guess them as well.

A. The Nachos

B. The Flounder Sandwich

C. The Meatloaf Sandwich
D. The French Toast

When you come and visit me, remind me to take you to Edison Diner, just over the bridge in Jersey. You will eat, and then cry, and then eat some more, and then try and give me a large sum of money for introducing you to the best diner on the 1 & 9. I'll refuse, even though it's tempting, because this just what I do. I am a giver.

Also, look at this piece of banana cream pie. Uh-huh, you know this baby was good. And aren't the little hearts on the side just lovely. I love you, pie. I really, really do.

2. Luxury Items

For whatever reason I have these items that feel very splurgey to buy. In reality they aren't, but for some reason when it's time to shop for them, I feel guilty buying them and usually only buy a small quantity if I buy them at all. Do you ever do that? Here are few of my "luxury" items that are just tooooooooo fancy to buy:


1. Batteries. You don't even have to say anything, but they just feel so spendy, especially the AAAs. You will never find an extra battery at my house. They are all currently engaged and run down.
2. Fabric Softener. I don't know. Really, when has soft, static-free clothing really been only for Donald Trump and Angelina?
3. Hair Rubberbands. When I go to buy a big pack of them, I can't help but think, "Do you REALLY NEED a ponytail?"
4. Any kind of deodorant with the word "platinum" in the title.
5. Any hygiene product that is not Suave or Equate.
6. Straws. I am almost over this one. I find that they feel spendy (at $ .99 a pack), but worth it because my kids will drink more milk with them.
7. iTunes. Maybe this is because it really is fancy. You don't get much more fancy than apple projects.
8. Beach toys (buckets, shovels, sifters, etc.) Maybe because it's seasonal? I think I could feel better if I knew my kids could potentially play with them longer than 3 months.
9. Poptarts. Can anyone argue that these are not the height of primo living?
10. Oven mitts. And really, this one is crazy. You have to have them when you are cooking. There's no way of getting around taking a casserole out of the oven if you don't have them. But still, I only own two, and every time I go to the store to get some more, they usually end up on the checkout aisle pile of 'changed my mind' items.

"I Know You Would Never Do That Calvin" AND What I Found When I Came Home Tonight

Yes, Calvin, I do believe you. I really believe that you were not the one who wrote on the hardwood floors in green (your favorite color, BTW) magic marker. Thanks for putting your hands over it, so that I wouldn't be upset to find it. You'll have to help me think of some elaborate punishment for Wyatt. Not the current, still-learning-those-fine-motor-skills-Wyatt. I'm talking about the future, time-traveling Wyatt that went back in time and wrote your name on the floor. Don't worry. He'll get in trouble for it. BIG TIME.

AND

This

Is

What

I

Found

When

I

Came

Home

Tonight

Cute. Yes. Heart warming. Of course. But I can't help but laugh when I see these boys all piled up like that. It always happens when Noah is left to his own defenses in putting them to bed. I always imagine them holding him hostage and telling him, "You're going to let us sleep in your bed OR ELSE." And let's just be honest, if you were being held hostage by two coercive children, you might fold too. I wouldn't want to know what the OR ELSE would be. No way.

He's the best Dad.

Never Leave Your Lunch At The Bus Stop Unattended

On Friday I brought my Mommy A-game. Calvin left his show and tell thing at home, and when he burst into tears on the way there, I knew I had to bring it to him. I dashed home to get it and sailed in just in time to give it to him.

Phew! Crisis averted.

I was so glad to do it, especially when he gave me such a sweet smile and 'I love you' eyes. In the pic you'll see Calvin in the car after preschool holding his goods. He needed his Lightening McQueen lunchbox full to the brim with pennies, nickels, and dimes for show and tell. Too cute.

Rescuing Calvin reminded me of a time that my Dad rescued me.

While Rachel and Austin and I were waiting for our elementary school bus, we were too busy playing to notice anything else. Then the bus came, and we picked up our lunches and hopped on. Very quickly I noticed that my brown bag lunch was wet.

Immediately I knew the problem. The rogue dog wandering around the bus stop PEED ON MY LUNCH!!!!

What the? What had I done to that dog? I wept sincere tears. I wept for my appetite, which was gone. I went for the brown bag that was now soggy. I wept for my future 30 minute lunch, which I was sure was going to be miserable as I would be hungry. I wept for the loss of my youth. I had to grow up prematurely. I had to accept that into everybody's life a little rain (or pee) must fall.

At school, I had a brief visit with my teacher, who tried to convince me to just eat the lunch as the items in the plastic baggies were dry.

Ew. Come on. Yuck. I'm still grossin' over that one.

Luckily, the tears were working for me because she sent me down to the office to call my Mom. There was more weeping, a little wailing, and probably some gnashing of teeth. My Mom gave me such sincere comfort. She understood that I was hurting. Really suffering. And she promised to bring me a new, non-peed-on, fresh, lunch.

This consoled me, and I was able to complete my multiplication tables without another tear.

You can imagine the happiness I felt when the secretary paged me to the office. I knew that I would find my Mom down there with my new and improved lunch. But as I rounded the corner, I didn't see my Mom. Instead I saw my Dad.

And he had that smile on his face. If you are a parent, I think that you might know "that smile." It was the kind of smile that says, "I'm trying not to laugh at my child." Or in his case, "I'm trying hard not to laugh because a dog peeing on your lunch is so funny, but I love you so I'm going to just send you a big smile and dancing eyes."

I loved the smile. The new lunch was pretty awesome, too. He had stopped at the gas station on the way to the school and bought me a King Size Baby Ruth candy bar. That is a man that knows his daughter. There has never an emotional issue so big that a King Size candy bar couldn't cure it.

Now I have two smiles that I love to remember. I loved seeing my Dad's smile when he brought me the lunch, and I loved being Calvin's Mom and seeing his smile when I brought him the lunchbox. Ahhhh, the little stuff. It's the good stuff.

***** Side Note *******And seriously, if you see a dog circling the bus stop, watch him closely. You do not want a peed on lunch. It's gross. Bad gross.

Battle for Sleep

Wyatt

Vs.

Katie

May the Best Man Win

Timeline of Sleep Annihilation

10:30 - Noah and I hit the sack and begin our crossword/novel reading routine.

11:00 - Noah bails for the recliner downstairs due to a stuffed up nose.

12:10 - I finish Wuthering Heights, turn out the light, and mull over whether or not I believe Heathcliffe has a single redeeming quality (and as a side note, I believe that he has only 1).

12:30 - Asleep. zzzzzzz

2:10 - My foe stands next to the bed and awakens me in preparation for battle. Wyatt wants "a dink." Code for drink.

2:11 - I drag myself out of bed and oblige as I am not suspecting his plans for the night.

2:12 - Lead him back to bed.

2:12 - I get into bed and hear, "Moooooommmmmm, sleep in your bed?"

2:13 - Disarmed by my own sleepiness, I admit the enemy.

Here begins the real war for space, pillow, and blanket.

2:30 - Wyatt, "I want the soft pillow." This happens to be my pillow, and the only one on the bed. I agree to share. Until. I. Smell. His. Breath.

2:31 - I make Wyatt go get his own pillow off of his bed.

2:45 - Wyatt begins a conversation about Lightening McQueen. And I use my greatest weapon to thwart him. The Fake Sleep. He falls for it, and I lay very still.

2:50 - I lay still until my right arm goes numb, and I have to roll over. That was a mistake. Wyatt now knows that I am awake and sits on top of me, and says in a sing-song voice "You awake?"

2:51 - I use my super Mommy strength and move him to the far end of the bed and begin fake sleeping again.

2:51-3:15 - Silence.

3:15 - I can't sleep!!! And I realize that he has taken over my side of the bed.

3:16 - I switch places with him and put him on Noah's side of the bed.

3:16 - 3:30 - More Fake Sleeping.

3:30 - Wyatt says, "I want a dink." And I respond with a lie. It was my only defense. "There isn't anymore water anywhere. It's all gone."

3:30 -3:40 - Persistent whining. I fold being as I am weakened by his sophisticated techniques.

3:40 - I acquiesce and get him a "dink."

3:45 - He offers an olive branch in the form of a chubby arm around my neck and a sweet kiss on my cheek. I surrender and snuggle.

3:50 - Wyatt snores. zzzzzzzzz

3:50 - 4:30 - I lie awake in the dark wondering how one dink turned into a 2 1/2 hour battle.

Messages from My Kitchen

Things I have learned from my kitchen:

1. I do not need to buy any more frozen bell pepper strips. I went to make a veggie for dinner and found nothing except for three packages of those things. It's like I live in fear of never knowing when I will have to make a ginormous emergency batch of fajitas or breakfast burritos. Seriously, Yo' Mama, let it go. Start on another vegetable. Broccoli never gets enough lovin'.

2. A quote hanging on my fridge: "[When things are stressful, remember that] the joy of motherhood comes in moments." I knew that already. I must confess that I knew already that child rearing isn't one continuous blissful moment, but rather an gathering of wonderful experiences. In fact, I learned that early on when I realized that a newborn was running my life and he and I had different plans. He just wanted to eat and poop, and I just wanted to sleep. We have since met in the middle and are enjoying a nice treaty in which he (and his brother) gets a lot of what he (and his brother) wants, and I just try and impart profound wisdom and guidance as needed.

3. You should always clean up a mess when it's wet. It doesn't matter what it is, always remember, it is much easier to clean up wet than dry. Trust me, I know. It's true for juice, milk, water, oatmeal, barf, and even blood.

4. The best way to cheer anyone up is to offer them their favorite cookie. The best way to cheer up your kids is to let them help. The best way to cheer me up is to buy me a store made cookie cake with lots of frosting on it. You could never disappoint me if you brought me a cookie cake. Even if you were there to tell me that my house was on fire, I would embrace you with open arms.

5. Don't let V-8 fool you. Even though you are getting a full 2 servings of vegetables in each glass, it is still gross.

6. Good Food + Good Friends and Family = Heaven On Earth

7. If you husband is making a strange concoction of eggs, peas, and cheese, don't take the can of peas that he just barely opened and throw them out before he adds them to his dish when he has his back turned because you are mindlessly cleaning anything you can get your hands on. They hate that.

The Way It Should Be

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

--- Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I love this quote. Jaime posted it on her blog today, and it gave me a moment to pause and think.

Laugh At . . .

This.

Revealed to Me in New York City

Yes, Noah and I went to the city with some of our good friends tonight, and I learned a few things:

1. They call it "bitter cold" not because the wind is bitter, but because you feel so bitter after you have been out in it.

2. When I get really cold my nose makes TONS of snot. And what am I going to do about it? With those big gloves on I can't really take a swipe at it. And honestly that's gross. What do you do with no tissue and a runny nose and big, fat man gloves on? I just did this fake fix thing where I leaned my head way back, like maybe the snot would just migrate back up. No Dice. It just ran down a little. And I pretended that it didn't. And then I sniffled a lot. Yeah, yeah, gross. I know, but I wasn't about to take those gloves off for anything.

3. I married a gentleman. Even after trying to convince me to take a hat and gloves, he still took his off and gave them to me as he froze. Then he gave me the real cherry on top with the sweet looks and laughter at my recycled jokes. He even took a picture for me of the strange man/woman sitting beside me on the subway who had crafted his/her own jewelry out of paper money. {sigh} He melts me. I think i want to do something special for him for Valentine's Day. I'm thinking maybe even a second Man Pit. It's sort of like a vacation home. His second man pit might be somewhere such as under the couch. You catch my drift.

4. New York Burger Company does make a good burger. Try the thousand island on it. You won't regret it. Seriously. I don't even like Thousand Island. To be honest I don't even know what Thousand Island is supposed to mean or even imply. A thousand delicious islands? A thousand years on an island? Thousands of islands? I don't know, but it sure was tasty.

The Repercussions of Denying A Boy of His Cheese

For Jaime

Valentine's Gift Idea

I know those of you who are on the ball are already thinking of what to get those hubbies. I saw a great idea on this cool blog. You should check it out. I gave one to Noah about 6 years ago. It is a Man Pit.

Here's how you make it. Just designate an area of about 6 feet by 2 feet to him. That's it! No scissors, no glue, no glitter, no paper, no sewing. You might want to put a sign out since this is a gift. You know, something catchy like, "You are amazing! Have This!" or "Isn't this what you've always wanted?"

Then you just let him fill it up with whatever he wants. Noah likes to keep his extra clothes, crossword puzzles, and pens in his Man Pit. It is the one area where I don't clean. If he wants to he can, but he never has to. I even help him decorate his Pit by adding items of his that I find throughout the house.

Now run along and make a Man Pit. He'll love you for it.

# 26 of 30

I took the boys on a ride around Staten Island via the bus. Public transportation is so fun!! A little bit germy, but still so fun!

I know. I know. With a su-weet ride like this why would I ever venture out in anything else? We all know the two-tone hood is in. It screams, "Next time I won't turn around to answer a hey mom when I'm driving."

But back to the matter at hand. Me. The boys. The bus.

Silly to you maybe, but a grand ole' time for us. We loved every detail from the gum on the floor to the regulars giving us crazy looks for taking pictures. Our only regret is that we didn't cruise around longer. I was afraid, however, what might happen if I went too far without enough snacks in my purse. Hungry children strike fear into my heart. I don't leave home without at least a baggie of goldfish. It's just too risky.

Here are the boys waiting for the bus. I actually didn't even go. I just gave Calvin the metro card and told him how to get home. He's so mature for his age. KIDDING! I didn't send them out by themselves. I paid the bum on the corner to ride with them. KIDDING!

Nothing says love like hugging a transit map pole.
I know this looks like he is in pain, but he is actually giving me the biggest smile that he could. By this moment he was so excited to be on the bus he could hardly stand it.
Do you like my glossy lips? It's just some nude colored gloss from Clinique. It's too bad that I can't say the same for the glistening blob beside Wyatt's nose. It is, in fact, snot. Yes. I'm just glad that he didn't lick it before I wiped it up. Simple pleasures.

The Mall

I took Wyatt out while Calvin was at a birthday party.

We roamed the mall like we were in middle school.

We rode up and down the escalators eight times just because.

We rode the overpriced train and crammed into the engine for the best view, but had to share it with an overly chatty tween. ugh.

Then we perused the toy store and found that we could enjoy it without buying anything.

The candy kiosk begged us to buy a sucker, so we obliged. We even bought the begging tootsie roll. And shared it.

We tried on pants at the Gap. Well, I did anyway. He just licked the mirror.

We washed the sticky sucker hand in a complimentary cup from Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, but didn't eat a hot dog.

We almost shop lifted from The Disney Store, but managed to rein ourselves in and return the Lightening McQueen before we got too far.

And last, but not least, we were fooled by the over sized basketball goal in Foot Locker. We really thought that we might find a giant basketball to go with it. No dice.

Then we cried.

But just for a second.

Then we were happy to just be together.

BINGO, GNO, and PALS

Gotta talk about a couple of things left over from Tennessee. First and foremost, BINGO. As mentioned, those Crazy Cruzes love BINGO. We are going on our 8th year of this being a family tradition. To sum it up: We play Bingo on Christmas Eve. We tuck all of those ga-zillion pesky kiddos in bed and party it up. With prizes.

In years past these prizes have been donated my Mom and Dad and have included, but are not limited to: jumper cables, lint removers, kitchen gadgets, money, gift cards, candy, knives, etc., etc. You know, just the stuff your heart has been longing for all of your lives. In recent years, there have been a few grand prizes including various versions of ipods. Needless to say, it gets serious right after the jumper cables and candy are won, but when the lint remover is still in play.

However, once my Dad, the Official Bingo Ball Selector, announces, "This Round is the Grand Prize," many things occur: everyone grabs a couple of cards each to up their odds, sweat starts pouring, brows begin furrowing, and silent prayers get muttered. Here are few candids from this years BINGO game. And no, I didn't win the grand prize. Rachel and Terry cleaned house with a nano and and itouch.

I'm a caught here in what looks to be mid-sassy comment. I'm sure it was one of the usual BINGO jokes. You know: B4, before what? I 25, Dad you're not twenty five. You wish. (feel free to fill in your own version now)

Awwwww SNAP! Yeah, I won this necklace. Jealous much? You probably wish you had it, along with the neck freckles.

Secondly, GNO. The stars aligned for me in a couple of ways: lots of gratuitous babysitting and a meeting of long time girlfriends. These are ladies I hadn't seen in a quite awhile, and it was so much fun. It's true that everything and nothing changes. We were all the same, but totally different. It was interesting to me how easy it was to slip right into conversation, like we just saw each other yesterday. Thanks for the lunch gals! Let's do it again. We'll all go to the city and eat sushi. Okay, we can eat something else. I'm not committed to sushi. Italian? You pick. Let's just get together again.

And lastly, PALS. Seriously folks, with a building like this do I really have to convince you that they have amazing greasy food? The hot dog, hamburger, and fries are ginormous!!! It's the kind of food that will send you right to the treadmill. It's worth every step and more. I have had quite the love affair with this drive-thru. Many, many hard earned Chick-Fil-A dollars spent here.

I have a confession: I rarely get to eat here. It is in Kingsport, and I almost never down there, but I was already in town for our GNO lunch. I was ALREADY FULL from this said lunch when I drove by PALS, I actually flipped a U-TURN and stopped by for a burger and shake. Despite being full already, I was groaning in ultimate satisfaction.

Let's go there sometime. We'll sit in the car and tell jokes while we eat frenchie fries and chipped ham and cheeses. Then you'll probably say something like this, "Katie, er, I mean 'yo mama,' that was so good I could kiss you." To which I would respond, "No, I'm not comfortable with that." Unless it was Noah, and I would say, "Yeah baby. Just a sec, let me finish this bite of chipped ham and cheese though. And make it quick 'cause these fries are gonna get cold." Kidding. I would never rush through a Noah kiss . . . . but, I do get to go there so seldom . . . . no, no, I wouldn't rush through it.

30

5 months and I'm toast. I'll be kissing my beloved 20's good-bye. In honor of 3 su-weet decades, I'm checking off items on my "30 Things To Do Before I Turn 30." I'll post a few for you because I'm sure you will be waiting with fevered hearts to see just what I MUST do before I become a REAL adult.

Cu-check. Read Othello. One of the few Shakespearean tragedies I had never read. Much like I expected: miscommunication and treachery leading to turmoil, heartbreak, and death of innocent and guilty alike. That Billy Shakespeare is quite talented. He was working me overtime. I admit I had to sit next to the dictionary and fill my margins with notes as I read. And yes, one of my notes says, "He talks a good talk, but he's full of it." That Iago is a punk. A real piece of work.

Potato Head Superlatives

It's graduation time at our School for Potato Heads. They have learned much and are ready to go out into the world and build up their community. But we cannot forget their many talents and gifts, which Calvin and I feel must be shared with the blogging world.

Ms. Skeezy VonSnap
Most Likely to Win a Beauty Contest

Simply, Radiantly Stunning. Breathtaking. Her Face is so symmetrically beautiful.

Mr. Charlie Kookin

Most Likely to say, "Ahh Cha Cha Cha-Cha"

Ms. Gretchen Forbodden

Most Likely To Purchase Rogaine and Shortly Thereafter Take A Nap

Ms. Petunia Peabody

Most Likely to Plant a Garden, Cross-Stitch a Picture of the White House, and Drink Her Tea With Her Left Pinky Raised (Considering that she only has her left pinky. We're sorry for your loss, Petunia.)

Mr. Gershwin Kookin, brother to Mr. Charlie Kookin
Most Likely Be a Spokesman for Teeth-Whitening If He Would Just Hack Off That Crazy 'Stache

Group Photo

Class of 2009, Winter Semester

**Thanks for the props, Mimaw Caffy. We had a delightful morning potato-ing.

Christmas - - - - a la Shafer

All on our own here in New York we have started a few Christmas Traditions. They have become a mixture of Cruze and Shafer traditions plus a little of our own imagination. We'll share a few with you. Santa came to our house a little early, before we went to Tennessee. It was a magical night.

New Jammies

Of Course. I think this is everybody's tradition, but it's a good one.

Of course. (Not pictured: Noah, his are green plaid)

Calvin is rocking the Lightening McQueen pj's.

Oh mama was Wyatt excited about these Thomas pajamas. He cries when I try to take them off.

Yo mama in Old Navy haute couture jammie pants.

Christmas Eve Feast

This tradition is 1 part Cruze, 1 part Shafer, and 1 part gluttony. Noah and I like to have the items we grew up with PLUS whatever is so delicious and fattening that you just think you might die if you don't get it.

Calvin had to have pumpkin pie.

Noah loves him some banana pudding.

I'll spare you the pictures of the hot wings, pigs in a blanket, and other various items. I imagine that you know what they look like. If you haven't seen hot wings, email me and I'll send you a pic.

Christmas Fort

I'm ashamed that I don't have pics of our super awesome su-wwwwweeeeeeet fort because it was so cool. My husband actually has a contracting license in Christmas Eve forts. It was the Taj Mahal of sheets. The boys loved it, and we all slept in it...........until 3 a.m. when Noah and I woke up the boys to unwrap presents. We're some impatient parents. I'll just leave it at that.

The Nativity

When I was growing up my Dad read the story of the Savior's birth each Christmas Eve. Noah's family acted out it out. We decided to retell it in our own words to the boys. When they are so little, it is hard to get them to understand the magnitude of that event. But I don't necessarily think that is even the point. I just wanted them to understand that it is an important day to remember Jesus Christ, that He was born, that He lived for us, and that He died for us. I love the story of the Nativity. I love to imagine what it would have been like to have been there and see the baby Jesus in the manger. What a beautiful thought!

It Happened Again.

Perhaps you remember this incident. You know, the renegade nostril in the group photo? It quickly turned into my worst picture ever. Here's a reminder in case you forgot.

Go ahead. Laugh. I am. Also, doesn't it kind of look like in this picture that I have one long, stiff grey hair? Weird because I don't. Unless it just made a special appearance for this particular picture. Which if it did, I wouldn't be surprised. It would just be my luck that a crazy nostril and strong-will grey hair would unite at an inopportune time.

But anyhoo. I have some more news. . . .

The nostril struck again!

This time it was at a Panera with Mom, Rachel, and Mandy.

I've got to get this orifice under control. Until said time, I will be looking for my lone grey hair so that I may brush and groom it.

Back In Action

Did you miss us Shafers? We were on the road visiting the fam in Tennessee, and now we're back. Accents and all. A few highlights from our trip:

• starting our trip with a new battery and alternator courtesy of the Sri Lankin mechanics on the corner. Nothing says excitement like a big, fat repair bill.
• spending the night in a motel and hearing a tired Calvin say as he awoke in a strange place, "Mom, is this where we live now?"
• playing B-I-N-G-O with those Cruzes. Those silly, bingo lovin' Cruzes. Thanks for the memories. and the battery powered lantern, cute necklace, and chance at an ipod. LONG LIVE THE IPOD!
• Going out to lunch with friends, relatives, husband, and kids. A lot. The pants don't lie, and they're telling me that I ate out. A lot.
• hearing a dear old friend remind me that I once got mad at her for copying my mixed tape. I actually said, "You can't just copy someone else's mixed tape." Ahhhhhh, the unknown rules of adolescent friendships so easily broken. Thank goodness we managed to mend the relationship and move forward.
• making cream puffs with my Mom. I love you, Mom. I love you, i love you, i love you.
• listening to Wyatt cry and wail, "Rico is my BEST FRIEND!!!!" as we drove away to New York. Mind you, Rico is a small, brown wiener dog that he had met only five minutes previous. But what can I say? One canine best friend is worth a million mediocre, human ones. Needless to say Noah and I were laughing silent, parent giggles while solemnly trying to comfort him with, "It's okay. I know you love Rico. You'll see him again."
• Continental Breakfast.
• all of the warm weather days that afforded us the time to play croquet, shoot baskets, throw the football, visit the tire swing, jump on the trampoline, and ride bikes.
• a 2ND Thanksgiving Dinner. A real Thanksgiving Dinner, made for the second time. Jealous?
• one visit to Chuck E. Cheeses when the adult to child ratio was 6:2. Noah and I were in hog heaven, eating cheapie pizza and letting aunts, uncles, and grandparents help the boys spend the tokens.
• and last but not least - - - every single moment.