Our Life: December Week Three

December Week Three

December 18-24, 2011

What a week!  We crammed a lot in!

Remember... we started Sunday in San Diego with a sick baby, but you've already heard that story!

 Monday, December 19th we had an ugly sweater/progressive dinner/Christmas party.

I was supposed to host the main course (lasagna) at our house.

Noah was sick the day/night before, so I took Kelley up on her offer to host... I still made the food, but it meant I didn't have to clean and get plates, etc.

Making three lasagnas was more work than I expected, but not too bad.

Some friends stepped up and took care of the rest.

(Becca's bread was amazing! yum!)

Pete had today off from work so we were going to go to the party together, but we had to split up... he went to the first couple courses while I watched our sick kids, then we switched.  I came home early so we could actually spend an evening together at home which was also nice.

Tuesday, December 20

Cookies & crafts with the VerVeldes and DeYoungs--

between the 3 families, there's a friend for everyone!

two 8 year old girls, two 6 year old boys, two 4 year old girls, two baby boys and three mamas happy to have some time off teaching to spend with our kiddos.  (And three daddys at work.)

{The photo is Em and her BFF Jocelyn.}

Noah playing with our Advent calendar at home.

 Wednesday, December 21

More cookie baking and decorating at Grasmeyer's!

(Becca & Jo)

 (Emily)

 Wade (Em's new love), Em & Isaac

Thursday, December 22nd

Pete took today off from work so we crammed the day full of family Christmas fun, starting with a trip to South Coast Plaza to see Santa!! 

We ended the day with our annual sleepover under the Christmas tree!

 Emily got to stay up late with Mom & Dad and play games, drink hot chocolate and read lots of books.

 Friday, December 23rd

We had a Mommy & Me Christmas Crafting party at our house while Dad was at work.

Everything was great, except that while I was cleaning the bathroom beforehand, I was in a hurry and not paying attention, and I stood up under the medicine cabinet and hit my head REALLY hard... unlike anything I've ever done before.  Ouch!

Anyway, after the pain (and muscle spasms) subsided, I finished setting up and we had a fun afternoon.  

 Christmas Eve we all went down to San Diego for Pete's job.  

I played with the kids and after the show we drove straight to church.

We made it (barely) for the Christmas Eve service and then came home.

At home we ate a late (but yummy) dinner {Gotta love the crockpot!}

Then the kids each opened their one Christmas Eve gift (Noah opened his pjs, but since Em has so many pjs, she was happy to get slippers!)

Cookies and milk for Santa? {check}

Carrots for reindeer? {check}

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Our Life: December Week Two

December Week Two

December 11th-17th (well, the 18th too!)

Tuesday (12.13) was my final Christmas concert of the season.  I'm so glad to be done!

We have 43 concerts this month between the two of us.

FORTY-THREE.

43!  

There are only 31 days in the month...

but we are managing to play and/or conduct 43 concerts (I think 37 of them are Pete's), raise 2 small kids, and I have a full time teaching job on top of that.  

It's crazy, I tell you.

(...and we are TIRED.)

I LOVE this boy! 

Happy 30th birthday to me!

Amidst the crazy schedule though, Peter and I both took personal days today and the kids were at school/daycare so Pete and I got to spend the morning out and about together just the two of us :) and then spend the afternoon and evening home as a family.  Perfect.  :) 

Check out Emma's expression in this photo... ha!

("Why are we taking a picture during dinner?")

Bathtime-- one of his last baths in the sink... time for the tub! 

 Friday was a half day of school and the start of our break.  Yipee!

I received an unprecedented number of gifts from my students which was also fun and unexpected!  :)  

(side note: this photo is from Saturday... pre-fever... no, I wouldn't put my kid in hot jammies like that if he had a fever!)

After school (at noon) I picked up the kids, came home, fed them lunch, packed our suitcase, loaded them up in the car and drove them (through AWFUL traffic) to Riverside to pick up Pete from a gig.  Then we drove through more awful traffic to San Diego, dropped Pete off at his next gig, went to the hotel, only to find out that they didn't have our reservation!  Fortunately it all worked out anyways, I got dinner for the kids and myself, played lots of games in our hotel room, and put them to bed.

San Diego was fun... we spent the weekend there with Pete at our favorite hotel (Seriously, we love this place!) and since we were in San Diego where Pete's show is, we saw a lot more of him which was the whole point!    :)  We spent our days swimming and playing in the hotel until Sunday morning when Noah woke up with a fever.  (Boo.)  I drove home with Em & Noah on Sunday afternoon while Pete stayed to play another show.

Sunday night while Pete was still at work Noah's temp was 103.8 degrees and I was on the phone with the nurse (who said not to come to the ER until it hit 105!!!).  Thankfully, our friends John & Kelley were able to come over for an hour or so while I tried to remain calm, talk to the doctors, bring down his temp with lukewarm baths and such, and put Emily to bed.

Emily made this handprint Christmas tree at school and wrapped it up as a gift for us.  :)

Her teacher helped her write "For Mommy & Daddy  Love, Emily" on the back.

Simple, sweet & perfect!

Our Life: December Week 1

December Week 1

December 4th - December 10th

 Sunday, December 4th

My dad was here and we all drove down to San Diego (taking two cars) after church.

Emily and I went to see "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and she loved it.

I love that our little 4 year old is getting exposed to good music and a variety of cultural experiences from an early age--and I love that she truly enjoys it!  She was absolutely fascinated.  I think I spent almost as much time watching her as I did watching the stage!  :)

During "The Grinch", Peter played a matinee performance of his show, "Some Lovers" and my dad took care of Noah in the park. 

After the shows Dad drove back to Long Beach with our kids so Peter and I could go out for dinner and then I could stay to watch his show.  Thanks, Dad!  I really appreciated it!! 

Also noteworthy-- before "Some Lovers",  Peter took me backstage and I got to meet Burt Bacharach!   What a fun day.  :)

Emily--loo--who  holding hands with the other Whos around the Christmas tree in Whoville :) 

"Da who dorae, ya who voray welcome Christmas, Christmas day..."

Well, neither child is really looking, but I still like this photo.  :)

Happy 30th to me!

On Saturday night I threw myself a birthday party.  I thought it was a lame idea at first, but then decided since I love to plan and host parties, and since celebrating birthdays and entertaining are not really my husband's strong suits, I should just do it myself; and I'm so glad I did!

As the photo above shows: "...brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things" we had a "favorite things" party (as found on pinterest!)

...complete with piñata!

I had a great night celebrating with friends :)

...actually, that's an understatement--it was amazing.  I am so blessed. 

Our Life: November Week 5

November 27th-December 3rd

 Back home in Long Beach, we let Emily hang the ornaments on the tree.

 Pete is working every afternoon and night.  It's exhausting for both of us.

Tonight I tried to get the kids to cooperate with some photos, but no luck.  I even let them play with these crazy headbands.  (Noah has little Santas on his headband and Em is wearing antlers.)

 On Saturday we tried to take a family photo for our Christmas cards,

 but this one (above) was the best we could get today.

Our Life: November Week Four

November 20-26, 2011

On Sunday, November 20th Noah was baptized at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, CA.

Surprise, surprise... it rained.  :)

It rained on the day he was born.

{ It rained on the day we brought him home from the hospital.

It rained today, the day of his baptism.

Even in Southern California, it seems to rain on the most significant days of his life.

His future bride should just be prepared for a rainy day wedding.  ;)

Fitting, I guess, for a baby named Noah. }

Noah was hilarious, looking up at Pastor Ken while he spoke.

He made the whole congregation giggle.  :)

Afterwards we had a luncheon at our house.  

(A few more people came than are in this picture, but we snapped a quick photo before Pete had to leave.)

This boy is happiest when he's either eating, or n@ked.

... he gets those traits from his father.  ;) 

Monday & Tuesday: David stayed here with Pete, Noah & me.

Emily went to Palm Springs with Grandpa & Grandma.

I had ACSI Convention during school hours.

On Tuesday, David, Peter & Noah went down to San Diego together.

In the evening we pulled out the Christmas lights & decorations and went out for a yummy dinner at my fav restaurant--Roman Cucina!

On Wednesday, David, Noah & I drove to Palm Springs.  (Pete was working in SD.) 

Mom & Dad (aka Grandpa & Grandma Sasha) got condos for all of us and we had a fun few days hanging out together.

Pete joined us for Thanksgiving and after dinner we all went to see his first appearance in a major motion picture... The Muppet Movie!  ;)

...and we could see him!   (For all of 2 seconds, but still, it was fun and a great movie too!)

Happy Thanksgiving!