Radio City Christmas Spectacular

We hadn't planned to go this year, but Freddie asked, and so there was no way we were going to skip.  He told everyone we ran into "I'm going to see the Rockettes."  The folks in the elevator just stared, the doorman chuckled, and his friends were clueless.   I love his excitement. 

Refusing to pose.  Little stinker.

Getting there went down just like last time: wanting to jab my eyeballs out as I got everyone suited up for the performance and onto the subway during rush hour to meet Charlie.  Once again all of the tension left my body once we emerged from the subway and Hans began saying "light, light, light" and Freddie became absolutely giddy over the holiday decorations everywhere. 

I told the boys Santa arrived in NYC tonight for the show with the Rockettes, so now we can pay him a visit at Macy's.  This Santa stuff is fun.

I was afraid Hans was at a tough age for it, but he LOVED it. He spent the first 45 minutes on my lap munching on popcorn and bobbing his head, and the second 45 minutes he spent standing at the railing waving to everyone on stage and dancing up a storm.  He pointed and named animals, the bus, and the "choochoo." 

I'm not quite sure Freddie picked up the story involved in the production, although he tends to surprise me with these sorts of things.  I know he enjoyed the "event":  organs, orchestra, costumes, tap dancing, clapping, popcorn.  I'm sure this year sealed our attendance as a yearly event.  A tradition.

Some notes:

• This year I bought a little after tickets were released and was able to get tickets at half price ($23 in the balcony).  More deals came along, lots more deals, but I am glad I purchased early as having the first row of the balcony makes it so much easier for the boys to enjoy.  They are able to stand and don't have to worry about seeing over an adult in front of them.  
• We were there earlier in the season, and the show was more crowded.  Last year we went in mid December.  I wonder if this is because the seats get more expensive as Christmas approaches.
• I didn't bring the stroller, again, for fear of a huge wait to pick it up after being checked.  I'm not sure I'll need one next year because Hans will be older and able to walk, but it looked as the each level had a separate stroller check and the lines weren't so bad.
• We went to the 5pm show and the boys were in bed right after 7pm.  Although that did mean they had popcorn for supper.  Expensive popcorn.
• Freddie was bummed we didn't buy any ornaments or trinkets this year.  I wanted one too but we spent all of our cash on snacks!
• Next year I'll get a photo of the four of us.  Or spring for the Radio City photographer to photo us with the Rockettes and Santa. 

For St. Patrick's Day

M:  Let's make the cake green for St. Patrick's Day.

F:  Yeah!  St. Patrick is going to be so excited.

Merry Christmas

Our holiday cards should be in mailboxes and on mantels by now.  Happy Holidays!

Dying Eggs

Saturday evening was spent dying eggs, of course.  I love hearing Freddie walking around the house talking on and on and on about "Eash-ter eggs." 

We set up on the floor which worked well since everything was within his reach.  I think I need a plastic table cloth for next year? 

Can you see his tongue poking at his cheek?  It really gets wagging when he's concentrating on a fine motor skill.

We only used 4 of the nine color tablets, and that was plenty.  We had 14 eggs, but I should have boiled all 3 dozen.  He could have done this for hours.  I imagine Charlie would have easily put away 3 dozen hard boiled eggs turned into egg salad or deviled. 

When we were kids we'd just place our dyed eggs into our baskets that we left out for The Bunny and the bunny would add goodies to the basket.  Charlie said his dyed eggs would be left around with plastic eggs for them to find in the morning.  This year the eggs just went in the fridge.  I'm still trying to figure out some Easter traditions for us and some explanations of Easter and The Bunny.

I loved dying eggs as a kid, and I'm pretty sure this was a hit with Freddie.  I imagine next year may bring attempts of something fancier than Charlie's "LSU" egg. Although there is a lot to be said for keeping it simple!

 

Christmas 2010

4 feet of tree
3 strands of lights
1 ornament
1 advent calender
10 minutes to "pack it all up"
2 feet of stocking filled with treats for Freddie
1 hour to warm up to the present opening routine
3 flights
3 airport potty visits
1 airplane potty visit, complete with a pantsless return to the seat
3.5 hours nonstop returning
30 minutes in a holding pattern
30 minutes to Dulles as blizzard diverted us
2 days until available flights to NYC
0 hotel room supposedly available in Dulles area
70 dollar cab ride from Dulles to Union Station
410 dollars on train tickets
0 naps
4 hour Amtrak train ride
1 subway transfer
3 suitcases to manage
3 carry ons to manage
1 stroller to manage
24 inches of snow to walk through with all of this stuff to get from subway station to home
10 gifts still to open
25 pictures taken (bad mommy)
1 holiday trip still to come

Happy Holidays

Hoping our holiday cards are in mailboxes by now.  Last year I hoped to be more creative this year, and it just didn't happen.  I had hoped for a few photo ops in early December, but that never came to be and I just didn't have the energy to carry out a few creative ideas.  So I cropped this photo of us in Central Park right under the fall leaves.  Oh well, there's always next year, right?

I love getting holiday cards.  Freddie has really enjoyed them this year as well, spending time each day looking through all the pictures of friends and family. 

If somehow we missed you please message me your address! 

Holiday Cheer

We skipped the tree lighting last week because it was a cold, rainy evening.  So we decided to head to Rockefeller Center Sunday evening to see the tree and ice skate.

It was packed with people, and very windy and cold.  Needless to say, Freddie was not happy.  

So we quickly called it and went for burgers and fries with lots and lots of ketchup and pickles for the little man.  My southern boy is going to have a hard time this winter (along with his Mama).  I am trying to figure out exactly what we need to keep him warm and cozy this winter, right after I book our month long Caribbean getaway.

Thankgiving

 

Full bellies, fresh out of the bath, and snuggling.  

So thankful.

The Mama and her Boy

Happy Holidays

Our 2009 holiday cards should be in mailboxes by now and hanging on refrigerators, so I think it is safe to archive them here.

Made the cards with iphoto and was happy with the double sided card. Hoping to be inspired with something a bit more creative for next year.

Please let me know if I need to add you to our list for 2010. After deleting my address book accidentally I have had some trouble getting everyone's information current.

Vail, so far

I just love those eyelashes

• Both guys have colds
• Freddie ain't sleeping
• 2 days skiing (for me, 4 for Charlie)
• A bulb syringe for his nose, yuck
  
• 1 long hike
• Not enough snow
• New Years cards mailed (and received I believe)
  
• A birthday celebration (Happy birthday, Eoin!)
• Hardly any photos
• "Beer thirty" observed daily
• Balancing large meals with large salads
• New ski socks with pink stripes
  
• Helmet heads all around
  
• People magazine-athon
• Cousins
• 2010 planning
  

It's all about The Daddy today

Not only is it Fathers' Day, but it is also his birthday.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

Love doberge cake!

His requests were simple:

• Up early and go for bagels at 7:00 at the bakery
• Lacrosse, at field by 8:30
• Meet me at the gym for a swim with Bug
• Go for sushi lunch (hopefully Bug sleeps)
• Hang out at home and have homemade shrimp fettuccine for dinner
  
• Doberge cake from Haydel's

See why I love this man?


My perfect kind of day.


And for the record, Bug did NOT sleep through sushi lunch even though he was worn out from his swim!

Mother's Day

• an afternoon nap
• a new onesie for Bug
• wild cherry snowball
• long walk in the park
• iced mocha
• pedicure
  
• morning snuggles

My Valentine

Coffee and the paper this morning waiting for the rain
to let up

He's in need of a haircut and a beard trim, but all in all, he's a pretty good valentine. I love him almost as much as the iphone he gave me...and I know he'd say the same about me!

Deck the Halls...

This is it, our little Christmas "something or other" to decorate the house. No tree this year. No lights on the house. No wreath on the door. Just a little something or other to make the house smell a bit festive and to look at during dinner.

With only two weekends before heading out of town again, one of which I had initially planned on being out of town for (Happy Birthday, Jen! Sorry I missed you.) before Charlie got sick, we decided it wasn't really feasible to get the house decked.

I have had tree envy as I drive home in the evenings and see people's trees glowing in the windows. To make up for it, we've planned a few Christmas themed dates around town before we leave, so that should be lots of fun, and a lot less work.

We're Decked

It wasn't as "Americana" of a night as you might think, but Bordeaux Street is decorated for the holiday.

The lights are up...

Why is it that we can never remember how we put them up the year before, and we end up short one string? After some problem solving and "discussing", it's done.

We're also enjoying pine bliss. The tree went up this afternoon. Once again, I backed out on the 12 ft. tree due to sticker shock and settled for the 8 ft, $50 frasier fur from Lowe's.

I did the lights, 13 strands, and Charlie helped with the ornaments...


Hanging old...


...and very old...

My ornament from kindergarten.

...with the new...

Our newest ornament from our summer trip. We try to get one from each place we visit.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to find one in Vermont.

The tree pretty much looks the same as last year,


with the addition of a new tree skirt!


I got the monogrammed skirt after Christmas, bargain priced, from Pottery Barn last year. Hoping my watch list for this year makes it to the holiday clearance.

Only a handful of gifts under the tree, as most have been sent off to their final destination already. A few left to ship and cards to mail. So that means I have lots of time for some holiday baking!

We'll have some hot chocolate tonight, with lots of marshmallows, as we enjoy the tree and the 70 degree New Orleans December temperatures.

Thanksgiving on OKC

We made the drive to Oklahoma to visit with family for the holiday. I didn't do very well taking pictures and documenting the week, but I am sure you can imagine...wake, eat, rest, eat, rest, play, eat....you know, just like any other holiday with the family.


We celebrated Aidan's birthday...

with a yummy dinner and moose shaped cake that later lost his M&M facial features to the chocolate bandit and her blond sidekick.

We watched him open his gifts that provided entertainment for the little boys and big boys.




We loved seeing Charlie's nephews, Rhys, Aidan, and Eoin. We're not able to be together nearly enough.


They've changed quite a bit since we last visited with them.

Eoin loves M&Ms! It was the decoration of choice on his turkey cookies.

Thanksgiving dinner was yummy, complete with turkey and all of the traditional sides.


Thanks everybody for cooking! The only thing Charlie and I did was show up and eat!

I got a new holiday place card courtesy of Aidan.

No Thanksgiving holiday would be complete without football. And in Oklahoma, it's Boomer Sooner! Even in the cold, with wind and snow flurries.


I never thought I'd be sitting in an outdoor stadium, wearing 5 layers of clothes and freezing my buns watching college football.

Charlie said it was practice for Broncos games.



I survived the game, an OU win against OSU, but the Broncos better have an indoor stadium before I get there!

We're looking forward to more of the same at Christmas.

Thanksgiving

So, I'm a few days late, but better late than never, right?

If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice.
-Maurice Eckhart

We love Mutts. It's the same sentiment each day during the week of Thanksgiving. It's a good reminder for me that I wouldn't trade my life with anyone. Really.

And with that, I give thanks....

• for pooches who keep the floors clean while I cook
• for the sound of the fluttering wings of bees in the angel trumpet blossoms
• for glittery coconuts on a Tuesday
• for zinnias blooming through the fall
• for walks to Casmento's and Creole Creamery
• for sunrises in Audubon park as we walk together, sometimes in silence and sometimes chatting, but always content
  
• for the scent of night blooming jasmine as I step out the front door
• for cochon de lait poboys
• for Tuesdays on the couch watching "House" together (soon to add 24 and America Idol!)
• for fish fries at the lake
• for the latest nickname, "Tons of Buns" aka "TB"
  
• for purple and gold on Saturdays and black and gold on Sundays
• for half and half in my coffee and bagels at Laurel Street
• for unconditional love