Snow

Last week Riesling woke up to the magic of snowfall.  It really was the tiniest bit of snow, maybe 1/2inch, but she didn't care.  The girl was beyond excited.  The video quality is terrible but the audio is so worth it....

In case you had any difficulty following along, any references to green, Wendy, Michael, John, moccasins or Peter are related to Peter Pan.  Peter Pan needed to get outside so he could fly.  Man oh man does the girl love Peter Pan.

Some of my favorite lines include:
"The snow is amazing!" and "I think the Reindeer are welcome to share one of their carrots for a snowman."  The singing while putting on her boots...also just classic Riesling. 

She just couldn't wait to get out in that snow.  She walked around in her snowpants for a good 20-30 minutes while I fed Winnie breakfast and had my coffee.  She nibbled on a bit of cereal and a few slices of clementines but she was just too excited to really eat.  

Then she tried to rally Winnie in on the excitement...

You want me to do what?!

Those do not look comfortable at all 

 
 

But after a little assistance for Big Sissy, Winnie was all set for her first outing in the snow. Altough still looking a bit uncertain.

Riesling gathered the essential supplies; a snowman bucket, a snowman stuffed animal, and a carrot.  This is a face of excitement.

 And off they go on their snowy adventure.  Not even looking back to see if dear ole Mommy is with them.  They are growing up way tooooo fast.  Next thing you know it is off to school, then dating, then out the door to college.  waahhh

Given the limited amount of snow and the freezing cold temperatures, our excursion didn't last all that long. But, Riesling was happy.  She ran, flew, and shoveled.  We built a teeny tiny snowman.  She ate a ton of snow.  Then inside for hot chocolate.

 "Yuuummm.  Hot chocolate! It does such a good job of warming my inside."

Santa

This is the first year that the whole idea of Christmas and Santa are actually a thing in our house.  I'm not sure that Riesling fully understands what is going on but she at least is catching on to the concept and is really excited about the whole holiday season.  She is loving some of the Christmas movie classics like 'Charlie Brown Christmas' and 'Mickey's Christmas Carol' and adores signing Christmas carols (I am trying so hard to get her on video but of course she always clams up as soon as I started recording).  As for Santa, the verdict is still out.

We went to visit Santa last weekend and her reaction was classic.  She was so excited on the way there (after some disappointment when she realized we weren't going to the North Pole) but immediate panic set in when she actually saw him.  She REFUSED to go near him at first, so Winnie took a turn....

That went well.  

I really wanted to get the girls together on his lap.  I dressed them in matching fleece and everything.  Riesling basically glued herself to the floor and refused to even wiggle towards him. 

So we opted for the family photo approach. 

She was clinging to my neck so tightly I could barely breath.  I couldn't help but laugh.  Santa is actually our neighbor and it just makes the whole thing even funnier.  She did end up sitting on my lap next to Santa for a minute long enough to tell him (or let me tell him) that she wants a soft Elsa doll and books...and Sofee dog wants bones. 

She lingered for awhile in the building and watched some other brave kids sit with Santa but she was sure to keep her far distance.  When we got into the car to go home she suddenly got little tears in her eyes and said, "Wait.  Did I get the stuff I asked Santa for?  Is it in the car?"   Poor girl.  So confusing.  She thought it was Christmas.  Actually makes good sense.  She knew Santa was the one in charge of presents and we did just see him....why the heck didn't she get any presents?! 

A little later in the day she says...."He wasn't as jolly as I was thinking." 

What are you talking about sweet little 2 year old...."Santa.  He wasn't so jolly.  That's why I didn't want to talk to him.  I think he was tired."

Sounds about right.  It is a long trip down from the North Pole.

Riesling's past Santa encounters:
2013
2012

Kids say the darnest things

 

"Elsa texted me on my phone and said it was OK"

"Just scampering down the hall."  I think scamper is one of her favorite words.

 Immediately upon walking in the door from work:  " Hi Mommy. I had 2 little incidents with Sam tonight."Total tattle tale...on herself all the time

Dressed up with fairy wings looking in the hall mirror: "I am looking at my reflection and it says my wings are just a little too droopy."

"Just spending some extra time in the laundry room making sure the soap bubbles are just right."

Holiday Wish List

Just wishing for a few simple things this year:

*New Hoodie:  It's a staple in my wardrobe but I'm due for an update.  I'm not too picky. Right now I'm rotating between a decade old NYCC one and a plain gray one that I picked up at the thrift store for $1.00.  Just as long as it comfy.

*Yoga pants: Another big player in my day to day.  I'm thinking maybe the legging style for a change though, easy to tuck into my black furry boots for the winter too. 

*Protection filter for my Canon.  This is something I've been meaning to pick up for a long while.  It just makes sense to spend a little to save you from a major expense if your lens breaks.  Especially with 2 little one around. 

*A cute camera strap.  They have some really cute ones on Etsy. 

*Digital picture frame.  I have sooooo many pictures on the computer but hardly any printed or displayed in the house.  My in-laws have the digital frame we got them a few years back in their living room and I love seeing all the pictures rotating through when we're over to visit. 

What's on your wish list?
Have you started/finished your shopping yet?  I'm soooo close to being done, just a few random things left.  I LOVE online shopping!

10 Months (and LOTS of pictures!)

Our little Winnie is 10 months old today!  I can not imagine where the time has gone.  She is such a content little gal and very laid back.

 Sweet lil Wyn, 10 months

But, don't let her fool you!  She is an ornery one.  She had been on the move for moves and gets into everything.  She is a climber, which Riesling never was, and gracefully and quietly gets into and onto bookshelves, tables, chairs, sofa, toys.  She always looks back over her shoulder with this little innocent grin just to see if anyone is really watching her.  What a lil stinker! We had to step up our babyproofing game and anchor some stuff to the walls that I had never really worried about with Riesling. 

 It's so funny on their individual personalities start surfaces so early.  I can't wait to watch this little one grow.

She had a big weekend with her first 2 teeth finally coming in and her first 2 unassisted steps!  Today she took another 3 or 4 but mostly seems to be sticking to pushing her wagon around or climbing all over anything and everything.  I know she is just going to take off running one of these days.  Lord help me!

Thinking about chasing Sofee dog

I can't believe we have gone from welcoming baby Winnie....

  1 Month...

 2 months...

 

3 months...

 4 months...

 5 months...

 6 months...

 7 months...

 8 months...

 9 months....

 

And here we are.  My two little gals having a tea party with Minnie Mouse.  Even looking through the pictures I'm not sure how they both managed to get so big.  It's like all the sudden...BAM...

ToDo

 We had a pretty low key but productive weekend here.  The tree is up, the house decorated and fairly clean.  Monday Monday is rolling around again.  Things I hope to get accomplished this week....

*Order Christmas cards.  I feel like I'm a little behind on it this year but hoping if I order them tonight I have a shot at getting them to recipients close to Christmas.

*Pick up random holiday decorations and craft supplies.  Definitely need to get a stocking for Wyn and a holder.



*Work on holiday craft projects. I have a few things planned for Riesling and I to do together...I'll let you know how it goes.  Very hit or miss with her these days!

*Shave my legs.  It is absolutely ridiculous that this is on my To-do list but it's been an embarrassing long time since I've shaved and at this point it will take a little time to get the job done.  I figure I'll pretend it's a spa treatment and even bust out the sugar scrub and fancy smelling lotions.

*Survive the DMV.  I need to renew my drivers license and have been avoiding it for months!  My 60 day extension with the online renewal is almost up so i have to get this done. BOOOO

*Clean the laundry room.  It is an explosion of random holiday decorations, sparkles, and irty socks.

What is on your list for the week?  Are the holidays taking over yet? How do you keep up with the day to day when the season gets hectic?

I Can Fly!

Riesling is OBSESSED with Peter Pan.  It's the funniest thing.  One day back in early September, she jumped up from the couch and started running up the stairs to her room.  "I need to find a green shirt and pants so I can be Peter Pan!"  At that moment I had no idea how she even knew who Peter Pan was, but it was obvious by the very serious gaze straight into my eyes when making the request that this was a real and immediate need for this 2 year old. No time for questions.  Get this girl a green outfit pronto! Somehow I was able to round up a pair of greenish leggings and a shirt and Peter Pan was born.

 watching YouTube clip of 'I can Fly'

It turns out that we have a Peter Pan record, which is how the whole thing started.  It still amazes me that a few pictures on a record album cover and listening to it maybe twice sprung such an intense passion.  We then discovered that we actually have a version of the book in our hand-me-down stash, which I have now read at least a million times, and she most certainly has it memorized.

Her interest quickly grew.  The family was assigned accompanying roles:  Wyn is Tinkerbell, Daddy is John Darling, Mommy is Wendy, and Sofee dog is Nana the St. Bernard.  Don't even try to request a change in character.  And don't break role.  When Peter Pan is in the house she will answer to nothing else and she will only address us as our Peter Pan characters (just tonight she was 98% asleep and started mumbling for some water and addressed me as Wendy).   Jim continues to request a switch to Captain Hook but Peter Pan won't allow it because "he's kinda like the bad guy."

Her obsession led nicely into Halloween so we decided to do family themed costumes again(2013, 2012). Over the month of October Riesling continue to be Peter Pan on a regular basis, close to daily.  I started hunting for more green clothes, green foods, green green green.  I also slowly added pieces in to improve her costume, saving the hat and dagger for the very end.  The look on her face was priceless when she saw us all actually dress the parts.

John & Wendy Darling with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

 "Second star to the right and straight on til morning"

 Tinkerbell

Halloween has come and gone but Peter Pan is here to stay.  It has branched off a bit into a love of the world of Tinkerbell and fairies, an appreciation for mermaids, and dabbling into Jack and the Neverland Pirates.  If it ties into Peter Pan she's interested.  The thing I love most about Riesling as Peter Pan is that it's truly something she loves for all of her own reasons.  

When she was about 10 months old someone gave her a Minnie Mouse doll, followed by several Minnie Mouse apparel items, accessories, cups, etc.  She liked Minnie Mouse but really because she didn't know much else.   She didn't watch cartoons or Tv and didn't have a lot of specific character toys, so Minnie (and puppy dogs) were her love.  But mostly because it was given to her.  Even now her runner up favorite thing is Elsa & Anna and all things Frozen.  I feel like that even stemmed from somewhere other than her own heart.  Her best friend next door had a ton of Frozen stuff that Riesling played with before she saw the movie and seeing the movie just seemed to place everything for her.  She does play Frozen, sing the songs, and dress up but not with the same consistency as she does with Peter Pan.  Elsa, along with all the other princesses, can be forgotten for extended periods, only to resurface when reminded by a trip next door to play with the neighbor girl, a girl at the library with a Cinderella shirt, or spotting Snow White on the book shelf.   

The best part is, she hasn't even seen the movie!  I'm not even sure she knows it exists.  I am desperately trying to find a decent priced copy of the DVD to give her for Christmas, which has been surprisingly difficulty.  I can just imagine her little face lighting up when she sees her Neverland world come to life on screen.  Or perhaps it will be a disappointment to the sweet little world she has created in her own mind.  Maybe I will just let it be. 

Thankful

I really try to be grateful for this beautiful life every day.  A life filled with love, health, family, shelter. It's a good life.   In fact a pretty great life. Hardship and loss earlier in life always seem to remind me that the little things don't really matter.  All the petty things that can really absorb you, fill you with hate and negativity; most of it isn't worth the energy.  And, although I try to stay focused on the big picture today I thought I'd give thanks for a few of the smaller things (in no particular order)....

*Fresh garden ingredients even at the end of November.  The past few days we made juice with garden beets..greens and all (with apples, carrots, and ginger); stir fry with carrots, radishes, bok choy and cilantro; delicious lunch salads with kale, arugula, spinach, lettuce and tomatoes all from the garden! We also have a pantry stock of butternut squash and sweet potatoes.

*My amazingly husband, who brings us heaping bowls of garden goodies in late November.  The man is seriously dedicated.  He spends late nights and early mornings planning, researching,planting, harvesting, pulling weeds, and squashing bugs by hand so we can enjoy fresh organic fruits and vegetables. 

Kale harvest day back in early September

*A 2 year old that asks for more chia sprinkles, kale in her smoothie, and "totu."  Not only is it so darn cute to hear this little words it also gives me comfort knowing that she is fueling her little body with goodness and nutrients. 

*Coos and babble turning into Mama, Dada, and dog; crawls and cruising soon to be steps all on her own.  My sweet laid back lil babe is growing up and changing so fast. 

 

*Six years of wedded bliss. Our anniversary was just last weekend.  It is truly a honor to spend everyday with your best friend.

Lil Ducky

Sometimes while nursing Wyndsor, especially late at night, I browse Zulily. I have found some great gifts and toy type stuff on there. I rarely buy clothes a) because I like to try stuff on b) it's typically nicer brands that I don't buy even on sale. The prices are good but sometimes not that good and you can't return anything.

A few weeks back I spotted these adorable shoes for Riesling. I ordered a pair of sandals for summer and sneakers in next size up. She is a dirty kid when playing outside but I still like to have a pair of "good shoes" for the library, birthdays parties, etc. Apparently I missed the part of the description nothing the special feature...

It wasn't until she had already tried them on and fell in love with them that I realized they squeaked! At first I thought it would drive me bonkers. But the girl was seriously thrilled out of her mind about her quacking shoes that I couldn't take them away, not to mention they were not returnable.  I must say they have grown on me over time. And I always know where she is. 

Sunshine

FINALLY! Spring is in the air. April 13, 2014