Christmas Friends & Family

Expect a big Christmas post after this weekend, but I wanted to take a quick moment to wish all of my lovely family and friends a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for making my days brighter and my worries lighter. We're headed to mass and Cincy tomorrow, Christmas morning at home and then Pittsburgh for the weekend. Can't wait!


Remember the Christmas card outtakes? Here's the final picture I used (I cropped it a little and fixed the color some in a different version on Shutterfly, but I'm too lazy to go find it.). I also realized today that I missed some of the usuals on my Christmas card list. Gah!! Sorry! A whole page was missing. I've been such a ditz the last few weeks - running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

I had a really fun weekend. My friends Corey and Rob - my brothers in the Evans Scholars house at Ohio State - came down Saturday and went to Mike's game against Dunbar with the kids and I. The 'Cane lost, but we had fun. Came back to the house after the game and had a few cold ones while talking about the old days. The Scholar house was such a great place - I miss being able to walk 100 feet and see my friends (and without even changing out of my PJs!).

My boy-eezzz.

Sunday, my dear friend Joanna came to visit. We always have such a good time and just talk and talk. Back in our single days, Joanna and I would get so annoyed when gentlemen callers would interrupt our sometimes deep, sometimes silly conversations at any Mount Adams establishment. The kids love her just as much as me.



Jeanne, Popo Mahoney, the Worm and the Pear. Funny stories behind all of those names. :)

Joanna brought presents. The kids were waaaay excited.

This picture makes me laugh. The look on Champy's face is classic.

We also had our first snow of the season. We bundled up (yeah, that is so not fun x3) and headed out. It was perfect snowman snow! The kids had a blast and cried when I made them come in almost two hours later.

Patton the Snowman...

Michael looks like the kid from "A Christmas Story". He refuses to wear a hat, so he has to endure the hood.

I have got to get some sleep! Presents are wrapped and we're ready to go. Hopefully tomorrow will be a fun, stress-free day!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Pear Stats - 2 Years

In about another 90 minutes, my darling little boy turns 2! Hard to believe that the Pear is already/only 2 years old. He's such a blessing in my life. Able to charm an entire room, incite laughter from the grouchiest of souls and send the masses into hiding when things aren't just right in Pear world. Michael is happy, cute, loud, smart, funny, loud, physical, stubborn, loud, sweet and well, loud. No doubt that he's inherited the coach's voice. Sometimes he can really get my blood boiling, but the little stinker already knows that all it takes is one of his little crinkly-eye smiles and I'm mush. We're having a lot of fun these days.

Michael had his 2-year well check today. Here goes:

Height: 36" (90th percentile)
Weight: 29 lbs. 2 oz. (50th percentile)
Teeth: 19 1/2; Can I get an "hallelujah"?
Diaper Size: 5
Clothing Size: 18 month pants still fit his waist (actually a little baggy), but are becoming a little floodish; 2T or 3T in tops - he's long waisted
Shoe Size: 7 1/2, 8 or 8 1/2, depending on the shoe
Recent Milestones: Talks in three-word or more sentences; jumps off both feet (as opposed to skip jumping); sings (soooo cute)
Favorite Toys: Teddy Bear Blanket, blocks, Elmo doll, Fisher Price Garage
Favorite Foods: spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, peanut butter, pears, applesauce, McDonald's fries and chicken nuggets (sparingly), apple slices. Notice the lack o' veggies?
Favorite Drinks: All milk, all of the time.

Click here to compare stats from last December. He's growing up **sniff**!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

My Boy Likes to Party All the Time

The Pear's much anticipated 2nd birthday party has come and gone. Taylor has been planning this thing for weeks. It made this Type A mom just glow watching her walk around making lists and mapping out where decorations should go. She was determined that her little bro have a fun day.



I got up at 6:30 to finish decorating two dozens Elmo cupcakes. I'm not a cupcake master like my friend Lauri, but they did turn out pretty cute. A few Elmos look a little drunk and others may have suffered a stroke, but nothing the Pear noticed. He was thrilled with them!





Blowing out his candles. He's been practicing the "phewing" all week.

Tasty, too!

The Worm agrees!

So cute.

I decorated before Michael woke up, so he'd be surprised when he came downstairs. He loves Elmo, so it was a no-brainer what kind of decorations we'd use. We all also wore red - Michael's favorite color (undoubtedly because of the E-man).

Yes, we all match. Isn't that special?

That was not planned! Mike's players always watch film at our house on Saturday mornings. One player (and one of our favorites), Nyles, was sporting an Elmo shirt, too. Michael didn't want him to leave!

The Pear was spoiled with lots of cool presents - Little People (the Fisher Price toys, not dwarves), Elmo stuff, blocks, big doggies. A nice prelude to Christmas.

Tay-Tay hugging Michael after giving him an Elmo book.

He played with this garage for hours.

Taylor testing out the Pear's new plane.

Some more party pictures. Blogger is driving me insane, so I'm going to group them all down here.

Michael was sitting under our Christmas kissing ball. She couldn't resist.

My handsome little man.

Climbing on G-Pa.

The Pear was very pose-y on Saturday. Where was that when I was trying to take that Christmas card picture???

G-ma T and G-ma N. They look far too fine to be grandmothers. :)




Mike with his Mommy.

Mike giving Michael a "fireball". Michael stands in front of him, and Mike flips him completely over his head and down his back. If he had done this to Taylor at 2, I think she and I would've both had heart attacks! Michael loves it, as you can see.

Alright back to Christmas crafts and baking. Just call me Martha.



Until next time,



Mommy Kel

Christmas Card Photo Out Takes

I've been waiting for the Pear's Christmas sweater to arrive, so Christmas card photos have been put on hold. Time is ticking, so despite a crabby teething little boy, I gathered myself and decided that after a package arrived today that tonight was the night. After nearly two hours, half of a box of Teddy Grahams, a dose of Kiddie Motrin, a shot of Jack (okay, not really), a handful of mumbled profanities and multiple meltdowns, I came away with two pictures that I really liked. Order is in and cards are on their way. I'm spent.

Here are a few of the shots that didn't make the cut. They're funny now. At the time, not so much.

The Worm and the Rear.

Hey, at least he's smiling.

Pear, are you crying because I made you wear a moose sweater?

Don't mind Taylor there, Michael.

Mouthful of Teddy Grahams.

Let me tell you how I feel, Michael.

Classic!!! I almost used this one. One thing to point out - poor Taylor cheesed through the entire two-hour photo shoot. But here, she's hit a wall and is so annoyed at Michael! Is that a Kellie look or what?

A solo picture of tonight's good child. Just kidding! I still remember the Worm's 2-year photo shoot. It was awful and I think the photographer almost wept.

I'll give the Pear a break tonight. He's on teeth numbers 19 and 20. Remember back when his first couple teeth were coming in and I'd give the countdown - 3 in, 17 to go, etc. Taylor was a rough teether, too. Let me tell you, WE have earned each and every one of those 40 teeth. I think when they start losing teeth, I'm going to drill holes in them and string them into a necklace. I'll wear it with pride, like war medals.

Speaking of teeth, Taylor had a checkup today. She did great and all is good. A couple of teeth are a little loose, so I might be getting started on the necklace sooner than later.

Have a great night!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Birthday, Pops!

We celebrated my dad's 69th birthday this past Saturday at the Olive Garden. I jokingly call him Old Man and have for years, but let me tell you, he's one strong, young looking and acting dude. He still works six days a week, outside doing manual labor as a foreman on a lumber yard. His work ethic is unbelievable!

My favorite Old Man.

The Pear tore up the kid's spaghetti that was probably portioned for the average 12 year old.

My blue-eyed cutie.

Mother.

Remember the kitty that found us a few months ago? It's living a happy, pampered life with my mom. Look how big she's getting.

One last cute picture of the kids.

I'm so behind on freelance work. Gotta run!

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Christmas Decorating

The carcass of the Thanksgiving turkey has barely been picked over, but we've already moved on to our next holiday. Truth be told, I actually started Christmas decorating last weekend, but didn't want to share until T-Day got its proper respects.

We started with our outside lights. Once again, the Worm was a huge help getting the lights straightened out and put on the bushes. We do a mix of white lights (my preference) and colored lights (kids' preferences), plus our lighted reindeer. Michael calls it "goat" and repeatedly tries to pet it.


The Worm, the Pear and the Goat.


Some of our lights. The picture from the street was too dark.

Next, came the Christmas train/village. This is Mike's project and I just love how he gets into it. The kids love watching the train go by.

Have I ever mentioned how much Michael loves his Teddy Bear Blanket? He sleeps with it, naps with it and drags it everywhere. It truly is his security blanket. Well, Taylor - in true big sister fashion - likes to grab it and run. Here's how the scene unfolded yesterday:

Is there any more joy than that found when teasing a sibling?

Blanket recovered. Kicks to the back administered for punishment. I had to intervene shortly after.

Ahhhh, that's better. (Elmo sticks around a lot these days, too.)

Alright, back to decorating.

The tree and inside decorations spanned over a few days. I HATE incomplete projects, so it just drove me nuts until it was done. Taylor and Michael had fun decorating the tree and I suppressed my inner neat-freak because they were having such a good time. Taylor liked to group ornaments together because Hello Kitty needed a doggy and a Christmas tree and a bell...Michael prefered the round glass ornaments because they sailed the most like balls when he threw them. We survived.

I love this picture! Guess Michael thinks he's No. 1.

He looks like he knows what he's doing.

The Worm creating a grouping.

Mike, mesmerized by the tree's awesome beauty.

All of us. Taylor and I even look alike when we're squinting.

Kiddos and I.

No partridge; just a Pear and Tree.

Michael loves all of the musical/animated Christmas things we've accumulated over the years. He'd line them up and take turns pushing each button.

Michael telling me he will be 2 on his birthday (in just two weeks!!).

Taylor annoyed with my picture taking. Had to share how long her legs look though. She's getting so tall.

Off to pick up the girl from school.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel

Happy Thanksgiving!

How was your Thanksgiving?

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving this year. Somehow, over the last 36 years, I've avoided hosting Thanksgiving dinner - until this year.

I don't really do meat. I'll sometimes eat chicken if it's disguised under a bunch of stuff or really processed turkey breast. Meat on the bone - ew, NO! My mom, who has always known my quirks, offered to make the turkey; Pops brought the pumpkin pie and cakies for the kids and I took care of the rest.

Taylor helped me get the table ready.

Pops carving the bird.

All of us. Sorry for cutting you out a little, Mom!

There's Mother!

My sweetie girl.

My cutie boy.

I love to play games and I'm so excited that Taylor is getting old enough to play, too. Mike's not a big board game kind of guy, so I took advantage of our crowd to get a game of Yahtzee going. Taylor played for the first time and got a Yahtzee on her very first turn! She beat us all that game and the next.

Just call me Yahtzee Queen!

Us.

Father, all giddy after rolling a Yahtzee.

Now, time for random pics:

Taylor, after ballet practice, enjoying a turkey cupcake made by my work buddy, Iris.

The kiddos after Taylor's Thanksgiving class party. Her teacher made them all Indian shirts.

The Pear insisted on this getup to drop off "Tay-Tay" at school.

Must get some sleep now.

Until next time,

Mommy Kel