Polar Express

Last weekend we took the kids on the Polar Express.  It's a local fundraiser where they transform the commuter line for the kiddos.  The trains are decorated and filled with "elves" who do all sorts of fun things with the kids.  They sing Christmas carols, hand out chocolate milk and cookies, give "tattoos" and more.  Halfway during the train ride, the train stops and they read the book Polar Express to the kids.  Then...as the train starts to make it's way to the station, Santa Claus himself walks through every car handing each child a silver bell.  The boys had a blast.  Wearing their PJ's and hanging with their pals, they enjoyed all the decorations, treats and probably the train ride most of all!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

We had a great birthday celebration for Kevin today.  The boys were so sweet...and REALLY excited that it was daddy's birthday.  They made a gingerbread house for him with Nana during their sleepover this week.  (Kevin and I escaped to NYC for a quick getaway.)   And today we baked him a gigantic "brownie/cookie" in the shape of a heart.  We had a "fancy" dinner in the dining room, blew party horns and the boys sang him songs (Twinkle, Twinkle and ABC's) while we ate dinner.  It was really cute.

After dinner we had our special cake which spelled out "DAD" in red frosting.  Cole took the opportunity to take a blob of red frosting and rub it on his nose.  "Look!  I'm Rudolph!"  He said proudly.  :)  Such a ham.

Happy birthday to my best friend and the world's greatest daddy!  You make everyday fun...we love you so much!  Let the weekend of festivities begin!!

Camera's in the shop !

Well it's another photo hiatus.  We dropped our camera a few months ago and broke a little wheel on the camera.  It's under warranty until the end of the month, so it was time to end the procrastinating.  Looks like the repair might take two to three weeks.  Thank goodness for those protection plans!  Best Buy was amazing...they've replaced this camera once already.  And even though we dropped it?  They'll fix it!

So while we may be dry with photos for awhile, we should have it back in time for the holiday.  And if not?  No worries!  Santa bought us a new digital SLR for Christmas, so we'll be sure to get some good shots Christmas morning.  :)

I still have some photos to upload from our trip on the Polar Express last weekend.  So stay tuned for those.  And during the hiatus, I'll be sure to update you with detailed accountings of the boys antics.  :)

Our Gingerbread House

The boys are VERY proud of the gingerbread house they made at Nana's house yesterday.  It was their special surprise for daddy when we walked in the door to pick them up.  "Surprise!" Tommy yelled.  He was SO excited for us to see it...and even more excited to eat all the candies off of it!  Here are my proud little artists with their gingerbread creation.

Emotional Nesting

I've been getting ready for the new baby for awhile now.  The nursery is painted and decorated.  Clothes are almost done being washed and baby gear is pulled down, washed and ready to go.  Tonight - for some unknown reason that could only be hormonal - I started cleaning out my email inbox.  This is something I never do.  As a result, I got caught up reading emails dating back to 2006.

So many memories came rushing back.  Buried in there were emails between Kevin and I when we found out we were pregnant with our first.  Followed by emails from family and friends when we made the announcement...then again when we found out there were twins!  Even one that I sent the morning of my delivery to my best friend.  I was terrified and excited at the same time...and knew life would be forever changing.  (Holy understatement.)

As I sifted through emails congratulating us on the birth of our boys, I came across one from my cousin.  It had a simple poem in it about being a mom.  It just really hit home and made me well up.  My boys are my universe...and this new little guy is going to add a whole new dimension to that.  I can't wait to hold him...breathe in that sweet smell...and lose myself in this perfect little person we created.

As the weeks are winding down and my due date fast approaches...I can't help but feel nervous and excited all over again. Here is the poem.  For all those mommies out there...enjoy!

---

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or remembered words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't
want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my
life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me
feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to
make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the
wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.