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!

THE Parade

While Noah's family was in town, we took off to the city to watch the THE Macy's Thanksgiving's Day parade. Two things to note if we do it again:

1. Take EVERYONE'S advice and get there early, so that you can see. Try as we might in our alley, we could only see the ginormous ballons glide by. No Floats. Lucky for us, we were so busy keeping an eye on our kids, trying to keep them happy that we hardly realized that there was anything out there. Even luckier - - - we only got one decent pic of the floats: our dear favorite Sponge Bob. And you get just as good of a view as we did. 2. Don't stand next to the vent. My friend Mary Pack was right. Standing beside the nasty, stinky subway vent will ruin your parade experience. We moved after we noticed that stank. And no, I'm talking about the purple boots.Despite the imperfections, it was perfect! What's better than seeing your babies smile? What's better than laughing with your friends and family for a couple of hours? What's better than having this once in a lifetime experience in the city?

I can only think of one thing: coming home to Thanksgiving Dinner already made. Thanks to Boston Market and Cathy and Shaf.

I (heart) my life.

It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like Christmas

Chances are that if you know me you have received this as a Christmas gift. What can I say? Noah and I are pushing thirty, and we're still hitting school hard. We don't do fancy pantsy Christmas gifts.

Unless you are really special and one of our parents. Then you might just score a subscription to National Geographic.

For all of you others out there, here is a nice little potpourri recipe. For a gift, just put the ingredients (except the water, I'm sure they can get their own) in a basket or tin or whatever gift holder you choose with a recipe card of this recipe. It's thoughtful, smelly, and way easy on your budget. Whether you are poor college students, sufferers of this current economic crisis (which I'm still trying to fix, please be patient. I've got my friends on Wallstreet working overtime), frugal, or currently disabled from a motorcycle accident and low on cash, then this might be something you're interested in.

You can just make it for yourself, too. We do quite frequently during the holidays. Just make sure that you refill the water because if it burns down it starts to not smell like Christmas and more like burnt toast. But maybe that is what Christmas smells like to you. If it does, just skip the water altogether and burn the ingredients to the bottom of the pan.

Without further ado.......

Here's a nice little recipe for you blog readers:

Holiday Potpourri

1/2 orange
1/2 lemon
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
10 cloves

Place ingredients in a pan with about 4 cups of water and simmer. Let the aroma fill your house and then hum your favorite Christmas song.

Gobble Gobble

An exercise in post-modern poetry writing by Yo Mama, dedicated to The In-Laws in an effort to verbalize and memorialize a killer weekend.

Thanksgiving.
One visit stretching Wednesday through Sunday.
Exciting. Each Moment a mix between vacation and easy street.

Emily.
I would sit up until 2 a.m. with you any morning.
Searching. To understand just what our vampire powers would be.
At least we can be sure that yours would be that of a skilled fabric stapler.
You have a gift.

Use it wisely.

If you liked it, you should have put a ring on it.
One hour in a laundry basket.
Laughing at Beyonce and Justin Timberlake. (Click Here if you want in on our joke.)

Mimaw.
The boys are still crying at the mention of your name.
You did too many dishes and brought too many gifts.

Pipaw.
Wyatt never sat so still during any treatment as when he sat on your lap.
So still.
What skill to tame the youngster's asthma.

Nathan and Joelle.
The nomad sleepers.
Thanks for the bread.
Your choice of pancake was sublime.

Synopsis: A successful Thanksgiving with Boston Market Turkey, homemade sides, and P.I.E. We were blessed because no one left their underwear on the counter and everyone got at least one nap. Sometimes two.

Happy Halloween!

Love,

The Twin Batmen

Happy Birthday Wyatt!!

What a guy, that Wyatt!! He turned 2 on Halloween. We had such a fun day. We woke up, he opened presents, and then as Calvin went to preschool Noah and I kidnapped Wyatt and took him to a free Halloween Festival. He had so much fun, and we loved being able to focus on him and savor his big day. After an evening of trick or treating we gathered at home with a few close friends for cupcakes and milk. I did an interpretation of the good ole' hostess cupcake, which was pretty tasty. Here are a few fun shots of the good times and a few things that we love about him:

1. He is always happy and spunky. It is rare that he is fussy and cranky, and when he is you know something is wrong.

2. He is very clever. He can always figure out how to get up into high places, where the candy is hidden, or how to get what he wants.

3. He loves his "puppy" a blankie he received from his great-grandparents when he was born. Just the other day I caught him giving puppy a drink from his sippy cuppy, while saying, "Thirsty puppy?"

4. As we were trick or treating and he was climbing some high stairs he had to walk by some flowers, and I overheard him say, "YUCK . . . flowers. I no like flowers." A true boy.

5. He loves to crawl up into Calvin's bed and lay beside of him.

6. He loves to give big, fat juicy lippers (kisses right on the lips).

7. He loves to be the center of attention.

8. He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Cheese. Yeah baby.

Pumpkin Patch-ing: The October Blog Staple

As with most other bloggers, our family hit up the pumpkin patch this past weekend. Our boys loved having room to roam. Noah and I loved the overpriced pumpkins and having to explain to our kids that they had to pick the smallest one they could find. Lucky for us they liked the tiny ones. Phew. Price gouging averted.

Wyatt wore himself out trying to pick up the ginormous pumpkin.

Calvin l-o-v-e-d this tiny "perfect" pumpkin. The hay ride was a real treat. No one fell off and we were serinaded with off-key Beatle's tunes from what I suspect was a crazy lady. Calvin got the best seat on the hay ride.
Wyatt didn't care much for the sites of the hay ride, but he sure did like the taste of his hand.

Happy Birthday, Calvin!!

Calvin turned 4 on Saturday. It was a fun-filled superhero party with lots of friends, cake, and happiness!!

Calvin Waited Expectantly For the Other Superheros

Then he took a moment to give a solemn glance towards the camera.

The kids played with the new train table (thanks to both sets of grandparents for the collaborative success).

A snap shot of the superhero crew. From Left to Right: Super Ian, Batman, Batman, Batman, Spiderman Venom, and Princess Girl. (not pictured: Kira Girl)

Calvin tired of his Batman outfit because it was too hot. He stripped it off, but on his way upstairs to put on something more comfortable, paused to show innocent Edith his Tow Mater underwear.

Batman showed up again, but this time on top of the cake. Just to clear things up, it is not a hat cake, but a cake that mistakenly looks like a hat with batman on top.

Wyatt could barely suppress his glee after he finished his cake and found himself all alone with the train table. Oh, the joy!