Christmas Eve

We had a busy Christmas Eve. Daddy was kind enough to keep the kids entertained so I could make lasagna, meatballs and gravy for dinner...the pics don't do it justice, it was SOOO good!

The boys went shopping with Daddy and to the dreaded mall play area, much to my chagrin. They also made a gingerbread house. It snowed most of the day but really picked up towards the evening. The pics I took out on the patio aren't great but I was sure no one would believe we actually had snow here. A White Christmas here is almost impossible so everyone here was very excited!

I slipped away for church and then we had a very nice dinner before we left out cookies,carrots and milk for Santa and his reindeer. Jon and I enjoyed some champagne while he put together the train table from Grandma and Papa.

Christmas is SO much fun with kids, but PHEW it can be pretty tiring!;)

Evan and Luke's Christmas Show

These are the boys in the Christmas Show finery...Luke's little reindeer vest was a hand-me-down from Ms. Holly and we loved it!

Jon is going to have to add his videos here from the show and our trip to the Trains at Northpark afterwards. We went to have lunch and then see the trains followed by a trip to yet another mall to see Santa because the NPark Santa is popular and the wait was several hours. Luke was less than enthused about Santa and cried and picked his nose at the same time if you can believe that.

We had a yummy cookie with Daddy and walked around the mall...it was a fun day! And.....no vomiting at our Santa visit this year, so we were THRILLED!

Check back for Jon to upload the videos...soon he promises!

So This Is Christmas...

Aside from the Holiday Party at school, the boys are officially out of school for 2 weeks. Let the manic craziness begin! I love them to death but 2 weeks together is a heavy dose even for doting Mamas.;)

Today, I joined the Y down the street so I can at least exercise my way to a little personal sanity without having to push 80 lbs in the jogging stroller.

I have decided that 2 of the worst traits you can have as a Mom are:
1) Lack of patience
2) A Type A personality

Unfortunately, I have both. They served me well in my former lives as a very successful student and career woman but not so well when dealing with totally non-rational beings who depend on you for almost everything.

I am hoping for my most coveted Christmas gifts to be delivered: peace, patience, brotherly love, as few tantrums as Santa can manage and perhaps if I super lucky a large delivery of wine to my front door by one of the elves!

Luke's 2 Year Check-Up

Well, the little guy had his 2 year check up last week...a month late, I know.

He was officially about 28.5 lbs. I cannot remember the number for his height, but he is 40th percentile for weight and 65th for height. He is growing on a steady curve and is going to be my string bean. Evan was 30lbs at 1 year. He was not amused by the 2 shots or the blood draw but otherwise he is growing well. Developmentally, well he is just fine. His verbal skills are out of control. My pediatrician asked if talked this much all the time...yes he does. Just today he told me:

Mommy, I talking so much that I getting tired.

That's the story of my life right now. His big thing is "Why?" and "Mommy, I don't understand".

We need to get out the little potty, but I dread the process. I would rather go through labor again than potty train but he is interested so I need to get on it.

Still, a HUGE Mama's boy, but I can't complain. He comes to bed with me almost every morning and he is by far the best snuggler in the house!;)

Mark Your Hutcheson Almanac Folks!

So if the stomach virus is not awful enough on its own, what if you get it the same weekend 2 years in a row and everyone...yep, all 4 of us...get it at roughly the same time?! I mean, should I have bought a lottery ticket as well? We were all sick this past weekend starting with Evan this time ( the vector as we call him!!!). It was rough, but we persevered and we are ready for our next round of Guess What Illness You Get Next?. You must have a sense of humor or else you will go crazy!

The pics are of my puny kids during the bought...aren't the handsome?!;)

Did I mention that the Bears and Bengals got spanked this weekend as well!

The Boys

Some recent pics...most involve pizza making. I am not sure why they are lying in a plastic box in the one picure...pretty sure Daddy was in charge!

Hutcheson Happenings

Well, more blog slacking for me, but in my defense there have many "to-do" lists that I have been checking off. We haven't been up to too much except enjoying the holiday season...the boys (and me) love all things Christmas. We have made lots of cookies...store bought dough as I take any slacker out I can..., Christmas music, books, The Elf On the Shelf and lots of talk about presents.

I have made a major effort this year...I should have done it long ago so don't judge;)...to really include Jesus and the Christmas Story so the boys can begin to understand why we celebrate this holiday of gifts and gluttony. They are like sponges and love talking about the Christmas Story and Jesus. We also adopted an angel from church and included the boys in that.

It has been really cold here...like the 30s...and I have for sure realized I am now a weather wuss. If Jon got a job tomorrow in Arizona , I would be game for warm temps. I spent almost 20 years spending time in frigid temps and that's plenty.

We will be here for Christmas, but we will be sharing the day with our friends. If we can't be home, there is no better place to be than with friends sharing laughs, good food and of course good drink!;)