It's a family affair

The whole fam-damnly. Very nice.

Despite the icy rain, we got a couple nice family pictures in front of the tree & in the back yard. It was so foggy, the background almost looks fake.

The kids all got ice cream. Grandma said it was to celebrate Mike's birthday, but I'm pretty sure they would have gotten the cones regardless. :) They are also aloud to blow bubbles in their milk & eat popcorn on the bunk beds. All pleasures I didn't have when I was a wee one:).

I think Papa might be getting the new baby bug...

Aunt Jenn also looked like she was getting the "bug" again... She's halfway to the baseball team Grandpa always wanted!

Although we typically open presents first thing in the morning, the bad weather kept the krewe home, so we didn't go Christmas Crazy until right before dinner...

Papa hates presents, but he was a very good sport & helped Alexander open his presents from Aunt Jenn, Santa & Grandma.

Ethan also did a fabulous job helping Alexander! E hit a wall at the packing tape, but I guess that's why they made Mamas?

Aunt Jenn hit the mark with A's first Christmas present; a donation to the World Wildlife Federation.

Papa might hate opening presents, but Mama hates the idea of spending money giving thought-less, un-necessary presents and the commercialization of Christ's birth in general. So, our nearly gift-less Christmas 2009 was perfect. Although we said no presents, Mama & Papa were the only ones who kept the promise. But we can't complain, because the surprise presents we extra thoughtful & all necessary in our daily lives.

Thank you my darlings.

If you are wondering about Sarah's crazy laugh... Grandpa taught her the K-rated version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer... "Grandma's Underwear" anyone?

Note for posterity... Baby Alexander is cutting 4+ molars & 2 K9 teeth, still has a snotty nose & is pulling at both ears. Oh, and he has a terrible cough. Baby Charlotte has an ear infection. Sarah has strep throat. Ethan is still on steroids for whatever bronchial infection he has. And Norah is on antibiotics for an otherwise undisclosed infection. Yet the crying, drama & overall Christmas Chaos wasn't too bad.

I'm thankful for you all. XOXO

Christmas @ the Santa Claus & his old lady commune

"One of those big sleds, y'know? And he used ta have it pulled by some reindeers, y'know, like, reindeers?

Y'know. He used ta hook them onto da sled and then he used ta stand up inside da sled and hold on to da reins and then call out their names, like, "On Donner! On, Blitzen! On Chewy! On Tavo! C'mon, Becto!" And then, the reindeers used ta take off into da sky and fly across da sky, man!"

Alexander may not have bonded with Santa at the Mall, but that didn't stop him from pulling on his red hat & celebrating at the "Santa Claus & his old lady commune," AKA Grandma's house.

Babushka gave us a little suit for the babes when he was born, a 2T. I thought I had some time before he outgrew it... but after a quick scan of his closet last week, I realized it was already a little too small. So, Christmas attire it became!

Poor little Baby Zane finished up his 10-day antibiotic on Christmas Eve, the same day he developed a nasty, croupy cough. Oh, and an aversion to sleeping the night or taking even the shortest daytime nap... And of course, the doctor's office closed @ noon Wednesday & won't reopen until Monday morning...

Anyway, after a sleepless night & a cranky Mama, Papa woke up early Christmas morning with the snotty babe & let me sleep in. At 7:30 Papa & our little Christmas caroler woke me up with the best rendition of Jingle Bell's ever!

Did I mention that after Alexander met Jolly Ol' Saint Nick, his fear of Grandpa melted away like a snowball in June.

Aren't they so cute now? Birds of a feather flock together!

Unfortunately, the fear of Ice kept us @ Grandma's Christmas morning. To make everything all better Grandma made her Christmas Supercolosal & grandpa passed sugary bites under the highchair to Alexander like D sneaks tuna to Peanut. He wasn't fooling anyone!

Because we're a Weather Channel obsessed family, we made an extra special Christmas Eve party @ Aunt Jenn's. Shrimp, spinach dip, pigs in a blanket, cookies, dips, cheeses, the whole shabang. And we all go to open presents (Although this was supposed to be a present-less holiday???) at exactly 3:31pm, when Sarah woke up from her nap.

Baby Norah spotted Alexander's new JB special as soon as we came in Christmas Eve, and refused to take it off; not even to eat...

Of course all the kiddos were sick, and half the old folks too, so we called it a night early so we could all hit the hay & wait for Santa!

Over the river & through the woods stories from grandmother's house

Each day Alexander & I woke up early. Headed to Aunt Jenn's to get everyone some Peanut Butter toast, Ethan off to school and the chores complete.

But each night we went back to Grandma's to play with Grandpa & Guiness (the recently Smith-adopted doggie).

Norah is still in love with Alexander, and she wanted to make sure he got his daily antibiotic for his sinus infection. Of course, her dedication propelled her to race around the house with a medicine dropper in hand.

And we went out for the running of the children.

So, while the kiddos were running wild @ Target while we waited for yet another prescription on antibiotics, a super-nice guy in a racing wheel chair pulled up to race Sarah. So funny!

Unfortunately, we also made some time for baby torture... I really didnt mean to make the little man hate snow, and thank goodness, the fear melted quickly...

But not before Ethan had the chance to show Alexander how to make a snow fort & eat snow!

But we always ended up playing back @ grandmas house... well, with grandpa too!

All Washed Up

After a long day, well, 5 long days, Alexander is still going strong. Hamming it up for Grandma & Grandpa in Carlisle. What a cuteso!

Nora Elizabeth McMahon

When I was a girl, I had to write an essay about the person I admired most. I chose my cousin Nora. She had cancer when she was little & she survived. More than survived, she thrived. And grew up to be, probably, one of the most caring, sensitive, thoughtful & loving members of my extended family.

We called her Little Nora, because when she was born in 1979 we already had a Big Nora.

She always sent us Christmas presents, although we only saw her once or twice each year.

Nora & my Aunt Bubba traveled the whole way from Rochester, with a backseat full of healthy snacks, to celebrate Alexander's arrival with us & then turned right around to make it back to go to work the next day.
Nora was the last off the dance floor @ Jeff's wedding in October. I danced with her & stood with her to watch Andy & Colin flapping all around dancin' like fools.

And this morning she passed away.

It is sad that Alexander won't get to know her when he gets bigger. But we can be sure that she's made it to Heaven & will be watching down on us. Sending us Christmas presents each year.

I love you Little Nora.