Because If You Don't Go Griswald, You Don't Do Christmas.

Those were Jeff's exact words.

Tis' the Season for the Clark Griswald in Jeff to come out of hiding. Jeff loves his lights and decorations. He has a giddy smile all December until January when he can buy MORE decorations discounted.

We have always decorated the day of or after Thanksgiving but the folks here in the Valley get a jump start early. We were coming home from errands last night and when the kids and me looked out our back window, we saw two neighbors with Christmas lights decorating their rooftops. I cringed, I knew what this meant. Before I had time to think I turned to see Jeff standing in the middle of the kitchen with his jaw dropped to the floor. "It's on like Donkey Kong" he said....here we go.

No surprise that some of the decorations made their way down from the shelves today. With the kids decorating our ladder in the garage with twinkle lights. The smell of wassail heating on the stove and the sound of Alvin and the Chipmunks singing Christmas favorites on the stereo. I came downstairs from doing laundry to find two sparkly moving deer looking at me through the window, and Jeff heading to the backyard, blowup penguin in hand, singing Santa Claus is coming to town. Fieldin peeked at me and said "mommy, I do deer" with a look of pride. Oh great, Griswald is genetic.

Greta was jumping around in joy and Fieldin was saying"It's Merry MissMas!" "HoHoHo!"

Whenever Fieldin sees anything holiday, he says"I see Christmas!"

So while at Home Depot tonight buying water proof extension cords for our Christmas herd of deer, Fieldin was pointing and shouting like crazy"I SEEEEEE CHRISTMAS!!!! Well, thanks to his daddy, now he (and airplanes above) can see Christmas every evening.

Love you Jeff.

(Fieldin and Greta watching the decorations go up)

**Added**

Fieldin woke up this morning asking to "Blow up Santa". He stood by the window saying "there they go!" and "That nice, Christmas!". I left the inflatables and dear on all day. He loved it. He would laugh while standing at the window..saying"ho ho ho!" and saying "mommy watch deer". He and Greta get so excited about anything Christmas. They both dance a happy little jig.

And Then The Indians Ate Carmel Dip...

Another successful kinder party. It was very fun and the kids were excited to wear their handmade headbands, necklaces and Indian vests. We got the cutest class pic all adorning their vests. After art fun it was the much awaited snack time. I snuck in some carmel dip with their apples so it was fun to see the kids using their fingers to get every drop out of the bottom of their paper cups.. Now it is time to look forward to the Winter party in a few weeks. These Kinders know how to party.

It is breezy today and it is telling me it is time to unpack our scarfs. Winter has arrived.

Happy Friday everyone!

Right Now at 8:30 p.m.

Listening to Fieldin laugh hysterically while watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

(Look at doggy eating turkey...that funny!)

Listening to Greta talk about Pilgrims and Indians and glance at Holiday books (Fieldy says "look Chris miss"

Greta is now talking about the "Mayflower Rock" (plymouth rock..which she has seen in person twice. She doesn't remember."What? when did we see it?") She is telling us " Pilgrims have lots of kids, of course"....

Looking over Jeff's shoulder while he is searching petfinder... and watching my two very cute kids sitting on the sofa, drinking milk together and watching good ol' Charlie Brown. Greta likes Lucy the the best. No surprise there. Good Grief.

A Post Before 8 a.m.?

I am looking at the cuckoo and it is 7:40 a.m. and I have had breakfast. That means everyone got up way too early around here, especially since Gret doesn't have school today. On school days we all get up late and have 10 minutes to get to the bus. Makes sense? not at all.

I thought it was a good time to give updates on the munchkins. Here is what I know about Fieldin at age 2 yrs & 1 mth, Greta at 5 1/2 yrs ( what she's 5 1/2?? wait a minute...really?)

Miss Greta

Is over the moon happy that she has a loose tooth and tells everyone she passes (it is big time excitement for her..big time!), She likes to play great grandma's organ (insert loud noise..."mommy does this sound like jingle bells?"), Her universe revolves around riding the school bus, She is reading extremely well and we are all excited for her, she is starting to take over our computer and is more skilled than we are, she is very competitive at sports(where does she get that from..ahem) she still is always surrounded by books and her dumbo, she loves soccer( I say she is more ball than ballet), She is a great big sister except when she sends Fieldin on her mischief missions for her :), She loves anything crafty and is a wonderful little artist, she loves her scooter and playing outside with friends, She is very social, she has a wonderful imagination, she is a girly girl, she is a tomboy, she loves the ocean, She is obsessed with scooby doo and mysteries, she eats like a 15 year old boy(or maybe even more, where does it all go?), she likes getting mail, she loves stickers and flowers, she is a packrat, she is sweet and kind, she makes up fun songs for her brother in the car, she likes to shop( this she didn't get from me..), she loves fashion, she doesn't like to sweat(her own words), her favorite foods are ice cream and noodles, she loves bugs and snakes.

Fieldin

Loves Batman and his sister, he likes to drive Greta around on his motorcycle, he is silly(I soooo funny, he says), he is in the kitchen pantry 75% of his day and eats little bits of food constantly, he talks 24/7, he loves playdough, the organ, his toys, drawing, bob the builder, the cat in the hat, dogs, books, trucks, retro cars, the ocean & shopping, he loves picking out his own clothes and trying to dress himself, he is a hoot, he sings bob the builder, twinkle twinkle little star, mr. sandman and 15 songs about safety(from a cd) on his own..usually while riding in a shopping cart, he counts to 11 then claps for himself, he sings his abc's, he is a good helper, he has a HUGE sweet tooth, he still has the whitest hair and still likes the ladies, he loves playing with Greta and making messes, he loves holding hands and cuddles, he is independent, he has a hilarious laugh, he pretty much does everything on his own these days, he likes drawing circles and showing them off, he loves babies, when there is trouble he shakes his head, smiles and says"it wasn't meeee!", he loves the bat cube and says " I like!" while we drive, he asks constantly "Greta on bus and school?", "daddy at work?", he wears a backpack filled with a change of clothes, buddy and misc stuff(packed on his own) most places, he loves soccer but hates little movers class, he is a sprinter, he likes trains and watching sports on t.v.

I could keep writing forever on these two but this is just a glimpse of them....

Thankful For...

Last year, I asked Greta what she and we were thankful for. I always find what she has to say interesting. Here we go, Thankfulness by Greta 2010.

Greta: God, Grandma, Gigi, Grandpa, angels, our play structure, daddy and mommy, myself, baby brother(because he is chubby), pilgrims and indians and our computer.

Greta thinks Fieldin is thankful for: His big sister Greta(of course), God, trucks, our backyard, his toy story buddies, books, daddy and mommy and candy.

Greta thinks daddy is thankful for: His mom, mommy, Fieldin and Greta, noodles, God, birds, his computer, underpants and the ocean. (pretty sure underpants made his list last year too???)

Greta thinks mommy is thankful for: Daddy, Fieldin & Greta, Grandma & Grandpa, God, flowers, birthdays, school, love, and teaching Greta new languages.

I always have the most fun hearing what she thinks we will be thankful for. She has also started her thankful book with a few additions to her above list: Sun, the zoo, the childrens museum, and turkeys.

What are you all thankful for?

Because This Made Me Laugh

If and's and but's were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.
-Sheldon

Fieldin playing in playroom remembering a trip to get a burger with grandpa:
(speaking into his play cash register speaker) Age 2 years 1 mth.
"hellloooo. This is Burgerville. You want burger? I want fry" Have nice daaaaaay!"

Greta: "MOOOOMMY! Fieldin dropped a wooden toaster on my foot!"
Me: "I'm sorry. Tell him that's not nice."
pitter patter, pitter patter..little feet down the stairs. Then Fieldin staring at me arms clasped in front of him.
Fieldin" Mooommy? I drop toaster. Greta ok, it was fuuuuuunny!! giggle giggle.

Greta: (playing store with Fieldin) "you sure are good at shopping". "you want to buy these groceries" "it's one million dollars."
Fieldin:"one million dollars?? I get credit card".

I could sit in the hallway outside their playroom and type their conversations for hours. I love how they can communicate now, even if it means conspiring against me. I love them telling each other "secrets"and giggling over a joke together. I've been calling Fieldin "Lassie" lately. If a friend or Greta is hurt he runs for help. "Greta Hurt! Hurry!" he waits for me to follow after and then takes me to the crime scene. Thanks Lassie, good boy. Luckily the "hurt" person has usually bounded back and returned to playing and Fieldin says "you all right?"

Kind of a hodge podge blog post today. Kind of a hodge podge Monday. So I guess that's o.k.

Say What? I'm A Soccer Mom.....

I guess I could be classified as a soccer mom. I now spend time chillen(literally) at an indoor soccer complex . I said it would never happen, forfeiting my beloved Saturday mornings. Yet here I am, with a calendar of crossed out Saturdays and breakfasts on the run(a handful of Pirate's Booty and a 16 oz mocha, is my guess) in my future. At first I will be cheering and smiling with delight at my little prodigies, but as time goes by I will be huddled on a bench with a bag of knitting, magazines, snacks and watching the big clock tick away... Goodbye Saturdays. Hello, up at sunrise on a weekend. I only have myself to blame. I do enjoy it, don't get me wrong. Fieldin watching his big sister play...when he wasn't running up and down the ramps.

Greta and her very high Rockette Goal kick.

The rest of the week has been spent enjoying dads visit, walking among piles of leaves, listening to Miss Greta read and then listening some more, homework, party planning, ignoring dishes, watching football (way to go Cougs! Finally!!!!) , seeing all the holiday happiness in the stores and realizing Christmas is creeping up on me...Quickly!, and making paper sack Indian vests for kinders (thanks to the help of two lovely, patient ladies) that will be decorated by kiddos for a Thanksgiving party. I appreciated the help. My paper vests were looking more Janis Joplin then early pilgrim. We have been enjoying a houseful of guests this month and starting to look forward to the holidays coming our way.

Now it is time to play a little catch up around here and wait for Turkey Day...