Christmas Recap, Year-end Review

Well, this is it! Tonight we bid farewell to 2009 and ring in a whole new decade!

I have spent the week of Christmas (and, frankly, every other week in December) sick as a dog...so this is a late post-Christmas recap.

This year, Christmas was a little more low key than usual - because of this crazy sickness, whatever it is. Christmas Eve was beautiful, we had Chinese for dinner (an annual thing...) and went to the beautiful mass. McKinley was so good sitting through the hour long service, and as usual, he loved going up to receive communion with Cary and I. This time, he even REALLY got into kneeling! It was so cute.

After Church we came back home for some egg nog (for McKinley) and coffee (for me and Cary) and drove through Deming Park's annual Christmas in the Park display (along with everyone else in Terre Haute). The LONG wait in bumper-to-bumper-at-a-crawl traffic was made magical by McKinley's audio book of 'The Polar Express'. It was wonderful.

We made it home just in time to finish decorating Santa's cookies. So we set out Santa's plate and cup (complete with those yummy cookies and milk) and threw in some PREMIUM M&M's for the reindeer. Do you know that the reindeer ate ALL of those M&M's? Santa ate everything too...clearly they were all hungry! Santa only left a few crumbs! We read "The Night Before Christmas" as we do every year then sent McKinley off to bed so Santa would come to our house! The bearded-one really came through. McKinley scored!

Plasma Car, Power Wheels Jeep, puzzles, DVD's, games for his clickstart computer, Shake n Go Race Cars, a guitar and microphone, an RC car...there was so much I can't even name everything! Soon, Nonna came over to visit and we were all playing the Wii. We spent the day being low key, which was so nice, and ended the day with the most precious Christmas Concert performed by McKinley. He played his new guitar and sang into the microphone a myriad of Christmas and Children's Classics: Jingle Bells (with a very rock and roll twist), ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and The Itsy Bitsy Spider to name a few.

I'm sure McKinley had wonderful dreams of Santa and his reindeer delivering all those wonderful presents. What a lucky boy. What a beautiful day to spend with my family.

Merry Christmas!

This time, my year end review is pretty simple. I'm still not feeling well and I've got much to do to get ready to send off '09 in Vernon Style. So, this year I just want to say how amazing it has been to be a wife, a mother, a daughter and a friend. I am thankful, so very very thankful, for everything and everyone who touches my life. This year our family has grown and changed in wonderful ways, met obstacles head on, and grown to love one another even more - if that's humanly possible.

I look forward to what a new decade brings our way.

Farewell 2009!

Lynn

Merry Christmas!

Celebrations & Santa

Tonight we had an impromptu Christmas GTG (get together) with our good friends, The Semmler Family. We always have so much fun with them and when Savannah and McKinley are involved no one can have a bad time!

The kids were on their game tonight! We learned that neither Cary and I nor Robin and Rick can share with our children any future plans to get together. If we do, total chaos ensues. I love that Savannah and McKinley enjoy being together so much and look forward to nuturing their friendship as the years go by.

This evening we started out at the mall with a BANG! The kids went to see SANTA! Both McKinley and Savannah had already spent some time with the jolly old elf (we've even got TWO pictures already!), but this time was even more fun because these two characters were together. As we stood in line, McKinley & Savannah leaning on the 'fence' to get a better view of Santa, McKinley stepped down, walked closer to Savannah and put his arm around her waist! This may have caused some heart palpitations for Rick, but it was a good laugh for everyone. It was just McKinley's sweet little way of being affectionate - something Cary and I are thankfully on the receiving end everyday.

After Santa we hit the famous mall money-suck...THE RIDES. I think the kids rode that merry-go-round 4 times total. Each time they switched their method of transportation between the boat, the train and the DOG-cycle (???). Each time they would make a pass around the parents they would giggle, smile and push their horn button things a zillion times. It was hilarious!

Later we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse...a nice LOUD establishment. PERFECT! I particularly enjoyed watching McKinley share his stickers with Savannah, then Savannah sharing her with McKinley, who immediately (and strategically) placed them on my sweater. They were perfectly matched to my sweater and looked like a little corsage! These two sure do play well together.

After dinner we exchanged gifts and took some pictures. I meant to take one of all six...er 7 including Baby S...but got so caught up in the utter cuteness of the kids that I forgot. Regardless, we had a great time with The Semmler Fam!

Lynn

Time to bake the cookies!

As a little girl I looked forward every year to baking and decorating cookies with the women in my family. I can remember those cookie cutters, the dragees we used (which are like trying to find a needle in a haystack these days...because they're METAL! lol), I remember how my Grandma's kitchen smelled and how much I truly enjoyed everything about that tradition. I've missed that so much over the years.

So, this year McKinley is SO ready! Today we donned our aprons (my super cute Christmas 'Kiss the Cook!' apron, courtesy of Jodi, and McKinley's funny little 'Baker in Training' apron) and we set out to make us some yummy good sugar cookie dough. I stepped out of the box a little and opted for Martha's famous sugar cookies instead of my Grandma's. Maybe next year, I wanted to see how good this would be! I'm proud to report that as the time went on, we made two batches of dough and McKinley was a pro at adding the ingredients right along with me! His favorite part was my own pride and joy --- my coveted KitchenAid stand mixer. I remember the day we registered for that thing on our wedding registry...oh, I digress, but I so love that thing! It made me feel all grown up!

Anyway, clearly it does the same thing for my son as he ADORED all of its functions. Hilarious! We mixed and measured and sifted and sugared and soon we had four discs of dough resting and cooling in the fridge.

Later, I rolled and cut them (by this time, McKinley was napping) and we will decorate them very soon! Unfortunately, I am quickly becoming very sick...for the 2nd time this month, so I'm not sure if we will be able to finish the cookies. Instead, we may make a fresh batch. For now, I have some pretty cute pics, two flour-covered aprons and some fun memories with my boy.

Here's to our own traditions!

Lynn

Christmas at the Zoo!!!

We've just gotten back from an awesome night at the zoo. Man, I love that place! We all do! And much like Zoo Boo, our beloved zoo again did not disappoint!

Cary was privledged to have the entire weekend off (a nice rarity) and we had been itching to find time in our little packed schedules to make a wintry trip to the zoo. So today, on a whim, I boldly suggested we head that way --- and so, we did. Much to my surprise, as we were finalizing plans, Cary discovered that actors from my favorite little guilty pleasure, Days of our Lives were going to be there hosting some special events. Even better!

Soon we were on our way, with a car load of extra items to bundle us up for our cold venture. Even in the daylight the zoo was seriously something to see, you could just feel the warmth of Christmas in the air. But when the sun set...WOW. Magic. Obviously, McKinley's favorite thing was riding the train, and again the zoo had it goin' on with the attractions. There were gorgeous light displays through the entire ride - elephants, little houses, giant snowflakes, even the tunnel was dressed as the most gorgeous castle. It was stunning. I held McKinley close to me as we wrapped up in our blanket (the same picnic blanket used for our fall picnics, and the same one we all huddled under to keep warm at the midnight Toys R Us Black Friday sale! That thing seriously comes in HANDY!), our ride was nothing short of magic. And McKinley grinned from ear to ear the whole time!

Though most of the animals are vacationing for the winter, we still got to see the seals, sea lions and polar bear, who obviously thrive in this weather. The indoor animals were fun, and a really great way to warm up too! And bless those male seahorses...they were still there, giving birth!

Aside from the small number of animals we could visit, the zoo again provided some cool things to do, as always so age appropriate! In Santa's village we wrote a 'wish' on a red ribbon and a 'blessing' on white and tied them to one of the beautiful live Christmas trees. We purchased a sugar cookie just waiting to be decorated - which I must say that Cary and McKinley did a bang up job on the decorating. Heck, Santa was even there to visit and take pictures with all the children!

Santa's Village also played home to the two actors from Days of our Lives, who were so happy to sign autographs and chit chat with fans. I had fun standing in line with some great people and enjoyed meeting the two actors who play Chad & Melanie on Days. They were very kind and even offered to take a picture with me. Rock on! McKinley and Cary sat this one out, though I still say McKinley would have stolen their hearts. I'm not sure who has the Days of our Lives connection in Indianapolis, but someone does because a Days actor is almost ALWAYS at the Indy 500 and making other appearances. I always admire a celebrity who takes the time to be with the 'little people' and is still gracious and kind. That speaks volumes.

We wrapped up the trip in the warm refuge of the White River Gardens, which were breathtakingly beautiful decked in the flowers of the season. There were so many varities of poinsettia and narcissus, and others I wasn't familiar with but were SO gorgeous. We played a little scavenger hunt (provided by zoo and gardens staff - for which we got a cool color changing pencil for finishing) and we even visited a real reindeer!

I cannot say enough about the zoo, it's such a gem! We had a wonderful time, but we were seriously famished so we headed out to Buca Di Beppo...yum! The wait was forever, the crowd was insane and we were all so tired but it was well worth it when that bruschetta shimmied up to our table. OH YEAH! I think McKinley's favorite thing there was no doubt the adorable little gelato cone - in chocolate, of course! It was by far the yummiest way to end this awesome day.

I love days like these, beautiful sights, my favorite company and a happy ending!

Merry Christmas, Zoo!!! Oh my, how we love you!

Lynn

Those 'Little' Moments...

Gosh, those little tiny moments get me every time. We've had a lot of those lately. Not sure if it's the time of year, the fact that I'm headed back to work, or the fact that our son is just so stinkin' sweet. Maybe a combination of all of the above! Lately these moments have rendered me pretty speechless as McKinley's speech expands further into full, recognizable conversations and thus making for some cute sayings and sweet little things he does that just make us smile.

On that Black Friday jaunt (see Thanksgiving post), Cary and I purchased a beautiful Christmas Train with TWENTY feet of track. This thing truly is huge, but it's intended purpose was to adorn the bottom of our Christmas tree for years and years to come. We knew when we opened it that McKinley would be beside himself, and he did not disappoint! McKinley ran around the house saying, "There's the TRAIN!!! There's the CHRISTMAS TRAIN!!!!!!". Once it was set up beneath the tree, I walked into the living room to find McKinley sprawled on his belly watching the train go round and round, Christmas Carols and Train noises to boot. He was in complete awe. Cary had the lights turned down so only the tree lights and the big train headlight were seen. I love this picture.

Below are a few more that 'get me'...baking cookies together, our holiday tradition of 'The Ugly Ornament Throw', and our boy sporting Mommy's boots and looking like a pirate! Special times!

Lynn

Four Years...

Today marks the four year anniversary of my Dad's passing. I'm feeling sad of course, but also reflective. I'm reflecting over many things...my childhood and funny moments with Dad, my adolescence and mending our relationship, my adulthood and how he enjoyed being with me and Cary, being with Dad as he died.
I'm also reflecting on how my life has changed in these four years since...how I rode that roller coaster of grief, and perhaps only now am I really seeing just how deep my hurt and anguish was. I'm still picking up pieces from things I broke...and learning. I'm so beyond thankful for what I still have - a beautiful family, extended and related by blood. I'm am wordless in my thankfulness for having McKinley, how he has blessed our lives and enriched it further than I could have imagined. Today I am thinking of what I have learned, how I've grown and how I've grown UP. I relish in the fact that I had 27 years with my Dad, yet I feel unbelievable pain in the fact that my son, nor my other children will ever have my Dad on Earth to share in something as simple as a dinner together, a high five, or birthday cake.
As I look back today on the last 365, where I was at the 3 year mark, I think I've come to understand and appreciate how different my big, yet-never-together-in-one-place family is and how we love one another. I also recognize that I've come to learn these things in the face of Dad's death. How he truly taught me that each day is precious, unpredictable and a gift from God...all taken away in a short time. This makes me savor each and every moment with McKinley - yes, even the two-year-old-tantrums...and thirty-one-year-old-tantrums as well. I also think this past year has made Cary and I into kids again, in an adult manner, if you will. We enjoy all the new things we are fortunate enough to introduce to McKinley, and we see them much in the same light.
And in this last year, as McKinley has grown by leaps and bounds I was forced to make a decision (something I desperately NOT good at) as to how to bring Dad to life...to McKinley's life. I don't even know what Dad wanted to be called as a Grandfather. It was something we rarely spoke of...he knew he wouldn't be here, and I did too, I think I just never wanted to face it. So as McKinley's speech developed like wildfire I knew I had to come up with something. He was used to seeing this man's face and perhaps used to me telling him that this was my Dad and his Grandfather...but who WAS he??? I did some research, not really finding a good fit for me...then one day, not very long ago, it came to me; we keep doing what we've been doing. THIS is what works for us: celebrate Dad's life on his special days, bring the pictures back (the pictures that were all too painful to see for so long), keep him as a permanent fixture in McKinley's life and he will come to understand the truth. I began calling him Grandpa Z. I don't know how Dad would feel about that. He LOVED being known as The Z Man, so I know I've got the Z part right. However, I called HIS Dad Grandpa Z and the two were absolutely nothing alike. I'm not fully committed to the name, maybe it's just a matter of McKinley finding his OWN fit, I'm not sure. For now, my Dad is loving referred to as "Grandpa Z in heaven" during our nightly prayer, lead solely by McKinley. I adore that.
So, on this evening, despite a few tears and lots of sadness we will celebrate my Dad and his life. Cary, my wonderful, thoughtful, kind husband suggested we go to Carosi's tonight...in memory of Dad. It was his very favorite place to eat, a place where we shared many meals together with family when I was a child, and with my Dad and my husband later in my life. It was perfect. Hopefully, a new tradition. Thank you, Cary, for suggesting something right up Dad's alley. You are a rock.
To my Dad, I miss you so very much. I miss you for McKinley too. I cannot believe I've made it four long years. Four long years ago this day was unfathomable.
I love you.
Lynn