snowed in...send wine!

After getting close to two feet of snow of Friday and Saturday, bringing the region to a grinding halt, we're supposed to get another 8-10" tonight and tomorrow. Can someone explain to me where we are supposed to *put* more snow...'cause here are pictures from Sunday.

Notice the snow behind A? That's the pile of snow generated from shovelling the drive earlier that morning!

Uh? Timber?

The view out our front porch...please note how long our driveway is. Never buying a house on a pipestem again!

Not going to lie...trying to balance trying to work with both girls home from school has been overwhelming to say the least. Luckily, we discovered that E can go to A's school on a daily drop-in basis, which we put to use today (and will likely do later this week, too)! And I have to give Nonna (and Pop-pop) mad props for continuing to offer their help!

More pictures of this next round to come soon!

And, in case you were worried, the title of this post was just being cutesy. Our wine stockpile was replinished (thankfully) today by John, who stopped by Wegmans to pick up the essentials...beer, wine, bread and milk. But, if you want to send me wine, feel free to!

earning their keep

Yesterday was a "Snow Day" for E. It was kind of ridiculous...sure we had gotten a few inches of snow, but the roads were pretty clear by the time we got up. It should have been a 2-hour delay at most.

Anyhoo, the girls were home and Nonna came over to watch them so I could get some work done (because work-at-home moms? how the hell do you do it?!?!?). The kiddos wanted to go out and play in the snow...so I had them put in a little manual labor while they were out there.



And before you get all "Child labor laws!" on me, please note that they only had to do the front walk...the driveway was totally clear. And it wasn't all work and no play. They also built a mighty fine snowman, too.

And, I must give one more huge shout-out to Nonna for coming over. She's wathced the kiddos TWICE this week -- yesterday and on Monday, which was a teacher workday. Without her help, I probably would have collapsed in a heap of stress and worry on how I was going to get all my work done.

conspiracy theory

I'm pretty sure the only reason Groundhog Day is still a big deal is because preschool and elementary school teachers love all of the craft possiblities.

have girls, will travel

One of the things that I love about John is that he has never been intimidated by taking the girls places. He was the first of us to fly solo with a kid. When A was a newborn, he took them both to Cracker Barrel so I could get a few extra hours sleep. He's taken them to Knoxville and Charlottesville for football games, and done some sightseeing in DC solo.

The other week, he took A down to Charlottesville for a basketball game. It was a mid-week game, so we figured A would be a better companion...since E has real school, can't nap and generally doesn't fall asleep in the car. E was understandably bummed, despite my efforts to have a little date night ourselves.

Virginia had a game last night against VA Tech. We had already considered letting E go to the game because of it being so close to the weekend (and hey, maybe we could get her to sleep in on Saturday)...but our rough week here kind of sealed the deal. The only problem was that A knew that there were fun times to be had with Daddy...so not taking her was out of the question.

Most people might have bristled at the idea of taking 2 kids 5 and under to a sporting event solo. Heck, I don't think I would have done it. But, John?
No problem. (Now if only I could get him to take flattering pictures, he'd be perfect!)

some things never change

A's school is doing some sort of space curriculum right now. Or at least I think they are, because the other night when I picked her up she pointed to the moon and told me she was going to fly there in a rocket ship when she grew up. And, yesterday, she pointed to a picture of Earth on a bulletin board at school and said,

"Mama, dat's the planet we live on. Dat's Earf."

The ride home from school was thens spent discussing the planets in our solar system.

The girls were totally cracking up that there's a planet named "Pluto." And I thought to myself...one day, Pluto won't even phase you. One day, you'll be in your 30s and you'll be driving home with your own kids. And despite your full-on adult status, you'll still giggle at a planet named "Uranus."

Or at least I still do.

winter doldrums

So the entire Slacker family is in a bit of a funk. I don't know if it's the winter weather or what...but all of us are sort of blah right now. E, especially. She's even pulling some old shenanigans when it comes to SAC. And, guess what? A big ole helping of Mommy Guilt isn't really helping make me feel any better.

On the bright side, we had a good weekend last weekend, including going to a fantastic brunch with some good friends. Today, E didn't cry at all this afternoon! And, we've got a slew of visitors coming to see us this weekend, that the *whole* family is looking forward to. So, hopefully things are on an upswing.

Let's hope so. 'Cause these winter doldrums really suck.

men are from mars: little people edition

This weekend, I tried to organize the girls toys a bit. I got a couple of bins to store the rapidly expanding Barbie collection, and tried to tackle The Black Hole of Crap Toys (aka, the toy box). While I did make some progress in my efforts (some relic baby toys did get moved downstairs and some cheap-o and/or broken toys got the boot altogether), I was stymied by the fact that my girls rediscovered their love of the toys that I was trying to remove from the family room...Little People.

I felt like we were kind of over the Little People. We have a dollhouse and all those damn Barbies now...I feel like these three types of toys overlap. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. There was whining. And begging. And sure enough, the girls have played with the Little People pretty much every night since I tried to banish them to storage.

Last night after dinner, the girls broke out all of the Little People, and in an effort to get out of any further post-dinner cleanup John joined in on their game. Except rather than just grabbing a figure and start talking in a silly voice (you do that too...right? right?!?!!?), he decided to implement a Little People Draft.

For the next 20 minutes, the three of them had different selection rounds, including one for Little People vehicles. Poor John didn't fare so hot...he ended up with several Little People knock-offs (think: My Little Pony happy meal toys) AND the crappy school bus with all the doors broken off. Alas the three of them had tons of fun, and he taught them valuable life lessons for when they are old enough to join their own fantasy football teams.

Strangely enough, they finished up playing just as I put the last dish away...

boys vs. girls vs. babies

In what will hopefully become a more frequent than annual event, the girls and I spent part of our day off yesterday at a playdate with my old New Mom's Group from when E was born. Just like last year, everyone had a good time. What I found interesting about this time is that the kids naturally segregated themselves this year.

The boys immediately went off and played legos and Wii together. The older girls (E, A and Julia) were dressing up, playing with baby dolls and playing doctor among about 100 other things. The younger girls kind of played by themselves

But, Here are all the kiddos in attendance. (I didn't take this picture...since I, of course, forgot my camera. Thanks, Kelly, for passing it along!.)

christmas 2009: the recap

So, Christmas was a huge success! This was the first year that each girl had definitive ideas about what they wanted. E wanted a globe that played games and a Barbie. A wanted a pink car and a Barbie. For a while we had *no* idea what kind of car A meant -- for her or for her dolls -- lucky for us she was talking about a doll sized one. We also got the girls bikes. But,when the dust had settled and the presents were opened, the early front runner for favorite gift were the mini-Slinkies the girls got in their stockings. Who knew?

The other big gift of the holiday was the Beertender that my mom got my husband. 'Cause nothing says "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" like a ice cold beer at 10 in the morning.

It was also Baby AJ's first Christmas, which was fun. Sure, she had no *idea* what the heck was going on...but she sure was cute!

 

harder than herding cats

I finally got around to uploading my pictures from Christmas, which means two things. (1) Christmas was totally omitted from my 2009 Year in Review collage. Bummer. (2) Expect a series of Christmas Recap posts...starting now!

On Christmas Eve, we went to my parent's house. Some of our family friends came over and good times were had by all. We also attempted to get a picture of E, A, and AJ in their matching Christmas Eve outfits. The best we could do was a blurry picture with 2 of 3 smiling, 0 of 3 looking *directly* at the camera, and it appears that A is looking to swipe AJ's bottle.

 

We're lucky their cuteness totally makes up for it all.

2009: the year in review

2009 was a great year. We went to Disney, graduated from preschool, went to the beach, turned 5, started Kindergarten, and turned 3. We got to hang out with family and friends. And we captured it all in pictures.

 

Yes, 2009 was a good year. I hope 2010 is even better.

coming attractions

For some reason, I cannot sit down long enough to actually write any of these blog posts...but rest assured, the following posts should be forthcoming:

• A round-up of the Slacker Family Christmas (Also titled: If You Give Your Kids Bikes for Christmas, Make Sure You Don't Do it When There's a Sub-Arctic Cold Spell or You Will Either Freeze Your Ass Off OR Have to EndureConstant Whining about Wanting to Go Outside and Ride Them)
  
• The Slacker 2009 Year in Review (Also titled: Damn, These Kids are Cute Year-round!)
  
• Slacker Mama's 2010 Resolutions (Also titled: The BeerTender My Mom gave John for Christmas Will Likely Kill Any 2010 Weight-loss Goals)
  
• I Was a Picky Eater as a Child...Karma's a Bitch (Also titled: Seriously, What Kind of Freaky Kids *Won't* Eat Sloppy Joes?!?!?)

So you have those to look forward to. Let's hope "No cussing" is not a Slacker Mama resolution, because I think this post pretty much killed that dream.

the times they are a changin'

Ten years ago today I was in New Orleans, celebrating The Millenium with my then-boyfriend, John, and a bunch of friends. We had rented a carpool van and roadtripped down from the DC area...a move that seemed like it would be fun at the time. However, 23 hours in a van is just never as great as you'd think it's gonna be.

Today, I spent some time in New Orleans as well. If by "spent some time," you mean caught the matinee for "The Princess and the Frog" (which I totally do). It got me to thinking about how different my life is now then it was back then. I mean I started out this decade a single party girl living right outside the city. Now? I'm a married mom of two way way way out there in the 'burbs.

To that end, here's all the major milestones I've reached in the last 10 years. Kind of crazy, huh?

In the past decade, I...

• got engaged.
  
• got married.
  
• got laid off.
  
• got a new job.
  
• broke my arm in a freak ski lift accident, requiring surgery to insert two steel plates.
  
• bought a house.
  
• got pregnant.
  
• had E.
  
• turned 30.
  
• sold our house, and moved to a new one.
  
• got pregnant (again).
  
• got laid off (again).
  
• got a new job (again).
  
• watched my sister get married.
  
• had A.
  
• missed watching my brother-in-law getting married (because we just had A).
  
• became a SAHM.
  
• went back to work.
  
• started this blog.
  
• gained a few pounds.
  
• went to Ireland.
  
• lost those pounds (plus a few extra that were hanging around from A and E).
  
• went to Disney World.
  
• became an aunt of a niece.
  
• became the mom of a kindergartener.
  
• turned 35.
  
• became an aunt of a nephew.
  

Certainly it was an exciting decade, and I can't wait to see what the next one brings.

Happy New Year to you all!

'twas the night before christmas...

And the Slacker hosue is all a-bustle. Kiki, Uncle Steve and AJ are visiting. Most presents are wrapped (except for Santa presents, as is the tradition in our house). We're headed to my parents for Christmas Eve, and then they are heading over here for Christmas Day. Should be fun!

Hope you have a happy holiday!

 

regifted

"Mama, I drew you a picture!" E said to me.
"Oh, wow, E. That's a beautiful fish," I replied.
"Yes! And I wrote your name on it so you know it's yours!" E said.

 

"Hey...wait a minute! Isn't that A's name under that black scrible?"
"Yes, mommy. I was going to give her the picture, but she broke a crayon and made me mad. So, I'm giving it to you!"

shovelpalooza

So, we had a bit of snow this weekend.

And, by bit, I mean we got about 19 inches. It was INSANE.

John's parents and brother came in on Friday night. The weekend was spent eating (shrimp and grits! beef tenderloin!), drinking (beer! Wine! hot cocoa!) and playing in the snow. E is our snow bunny...she went out for 3 rounds on Saturday. A...not as much. She went out twice, but was in earlier. In her defense, by noon the snow was up to her knees, so basic mobility was an issue. The fact that she was bundled up like Ralphie from A Christmas Story didn't help, either.

John's family did get out okay on Sunday morning (apparently our HOA fees do pay for something! private plowing!). We were able to finish digging out thanks to our neighbor who had a snow blower!

School's out today (and many districts around us have canceled through the week). I've got Kid Duty, so I thought we'd make a healthy breakfast of Sweet Pea Chef's Whole Wheat Pancakes....except we added 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips to them.

We're probably going to hit up Target and Wegmans, and do some playing in the snow, too. Thank goodness we finished up our Christmas shopping last week...'cause I have a suspicion that sneaking things into the house will be a little tough to do this week.

battle royale

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is playing Ornament Wars with my sister. You see, my parent's tree still contains many of our crappy homemade ornaments from when we were little girls. Kiki made a really cute sleeping mouse in a walnut that always gets prime placement. That same year, I made The Christmas Turd, which is supposed to be a brown mouse in a Santa hat, but even I can admit it wasn't my finest work.

But the ornament we play Ornament Wars with is a construction paper wreath with a glued on bow and sequins...with a picture of Kiki circa 1983 in the wreath hole. Yep...smack dab in the middle is a picture in her Dorothy Hamill/bi-level glory in an outfit that involved a monogrammed sweater and blue corduroy KNICKERS (seriously! I couldn't have made it up if I tried.)

To play the game, once the tree is decorated, Kiki moves the ornament to the front and center of the tree. And, I move it to the way way way back of the tree that faces the wall. Every time we pass the tree, we perform our little cat and mouse game. We try to be stealth, but usually break out into the giggles before it is rehung. It just wouldn't be Christmas without this little game we play.

And, last night, I found I had a worthy competitor at home. Even though the girls are young, they have amassed a large amount of crap ornaments already. One of A's is from last year...it's a triangle frame made of tongue depressors, with some faux gems on it, and in the middle is a picture of A...wearing a Halloween t-shirt. Because, really, nothing says Happy Holidays like an orange shirt with a witches hat and black cat (which are *clearly* visible in the picture). It's also huge.

So as we decorated our (still taking water and not dead yet!) Christmas tree last night, I moved it from the middle of the tree to a more...ahem...out of the way location. A few moments later I heard,

"Mama, I moved my ornament to where I could see it!"

Sure enough, it was back up front.

The master has become the student, indeed.

a well-deserved retirement

Dear Blue LL Bean coat,

When I bought you back in Winter 2005, I was excited. E needed a winter coat and I stumbled upon you. You were on super sale. You were blue, which meant you could be passed down to a baby sister or brother, should we have one in the future. You arrived just in time for the first really cold day and I bundled up my toddler in you. I liked you so much, in fact, that you made the 2005 Slacker Christmas card.


E wore you again in 2006, but since I had an itty bitty baby A around, I didn't get any pictures of you while E frolicked outside. I guess the picture-worthy frolicking was kept to a minimum.

In 2007, you were passed down to my now-toddler A. (E got a newer, bigger and pinker coat!) She looked just as cute in you as her big sister did.

And last year, A wore you yet again. We got snow that winter and you helped keep her toasty warm.

 

But a few weeks ago, I had the girls try on their winter coats. Your sleeves did not make it all the way to A's wrists and we had a hard time getting you zipped over her potbelly. And E had outgrown her coat, too. So, I placed an order for a new (purple! not pink! can you believe it!?!?!) coat for E...and A gets the pink coat now.

You did get one last hurrah before your well-deserved retirement. It snowed last weekend. Since the new coat hadn't arrived, A put you on to play in the snow. You did great out there, and I'm *sure* that she wasn't the first one in because her forearms were cold. (I'd show you pictures of A wearing you, but I've already bemoaned how the camera battery was dead.)

So thank you, blue coat. I have so many fond memories of you! And I'll try not to dwell on the fact that neither of my babies are small enough to wear you any more.

the day the camera battery died

We had a fun-filled Friday night. I took E to a birthday party for a classmate at local Pump It Up! (Feel free to say that in SNL Hanz and Franz style: PUMP (clap) IT UP!.) During that time, John took A on a Daddy date. We regrouped at home, and after the girls went to bed, John and I watched DVRed episodes of "Castle" (which is just AWESOME...watch it!) while drinking Layer Cake wine.

On Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early to head out to A's Holiday Program. And by "bright and early", I mean we had to be there by 9AM. Seriously. The one day a week we can sleep in, I had to set the alarm to make sure we were out of the house on time. Ugh.

Anyhoo, A wasn't at all nervous, and E was super-excited to see all of her old friends (most of her friends are still there because they are young 5's who missed the cut off). So, I get out my camera to commence the video and picture taking. And as I turn it on, I get this gem of a message.

Battery is empty.

So, I have no pictures of my Sweet Baby A in her winter hat and mittens shouting at the top of her lungs singing "First Skaters Waltz". She was totally unphased by the audience and was so adorable. And, except for a few fuzzy pictures John took with his Blackberry, we have no photos. Sigh. So...take a look at the pictures from E's show last year, but pretend that A is E and E is A. Also notice how both kids love them some limelight. I have no idea where they get that from.

After the show, we realized that we were about to get snowed in. The forecasters had been all over the map about the totals...but it was really coming down. So we headed to Wegmans to get provisions for the day -- fixin's for chili, ingredients for PB Kisses (inspired by Jersey Baby) and beer before heading home.

The rest of the day was spent playing in the snow, making (and eating) chili and cheddar cornbread and having some mother-daughter bonding while baking the cookies. I'd show you pictures of the fun but...

Battery is empty.

Yeah. Looks like I picked the wrong day to let that happen.

on the ball

This morning I had to stop into Target on the way into work to get dishwashing detergent and a present for a birthday party E is attending tomorrow. Lo and behold, the One Spot was chock full of Princess crap that makes wonderful stocking stuffers -- lip balm, pencils, pads of papers, crayons -- so I grabbed it for the girls. I also picked up a game that a friend of mine raved about playing with her daughter the other day.

I walked out of Target feeling so on top of things. Stocking stuffers! Presents! And it's only December 3! And, then I realized I was really was Santa Claus-ing it up. As their mom, I would have never purchased some of that stuff -- I hatehatehate when the girls have lip balm (because they apply it every 27 seconds and cake it on and get it everywhere) and I've already talked about my intense dislike of the board game. So, gooooo me!

I also finally pulled the trigger and ordered my Christmas cards. I'm super excited to get them. If you want to see our past card photos, here they are. And, to string you on just a bit more, here are a couple more shots that were *not* the money shot! Aren't you just dying to know what awesomeness surpassed these beauties?!?!?!