Signature Outfit

Found this at Nordstroms.com: True Religion Brand Jeans 'Julie' Skinny Stretch Jeans (New Lonestar). These look just like something I would wear, in fact, those are my legs. (Do they have a leg version of the Belly Bandit?) And they will look just great with the Keenan shirt, thus making it my signature outfit. I can't find a picture of the "Keenan" shirt from Horny Toad online anymore, good thing I ordered it just for kicks a few weeks ago. Who can pass up an item named after themselves? So it is technically a "base layer" shirt, which I think implies that I would exercise at some point. It is a zip up shirt with those thumb holes in the sleeves for those of us who can never find our gloves. Very handy, but not so attractive with skinny jeans... so I may pass on those and save a few hundred bucks (and save the eyes of the Manhattan community). Naming clothing items is quite the trend these days, good luck finding your own outfit!

Four is Good

I went to set up Emily's baptism and when our priest asked if she was our second I told him she is the fourth and he looked a little shocked. Approval from Catholic church to stop having kids granted! The girls keep asking what we will name the next baby. Anna is still hooked on Eddie or Jill, too bad she isn't going to get to fight for that again. Anna would like us to have four more kids and suggested that we just get another van and take both vans everywhere. What fun! Should have started having kids about 8 years earlier then. She has such a complex about being the middle child already, can't imagine that four more would help matters.

We are taking a break from photos for the week, baby acne going strong. Obsessive photographing will resume when that clears up. We are certainly enjoying Emily, even when she is crabby. I don't know how she is sleeping right now, it is truly chaos here with Megan yelling "action", Anna running and jumping on the couch, and Patrick riding his motorcycle into the walls. The Glee soundtrack is pepping them up I fear. Or maybe it is the gingerbread houses that I told them they could eat before I throw them away? Hmm. We'll see if Sean checks this before he heads home... if he has to "work late", then I'll know.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

This may finally end Sean's misguided loyalty to the Buffalo Bills. ESPN is reporting that they are talking to Weis about a coaching job. Umm, go Colts? We were there 5 years, so that makes more sense. Cheering for the KC Chiefs doesn't make sense in the slightest, we won't go there...

Week 2

The girls ask every day if tomorrow is a school day, no matter how many times I tell them they still have a lot of days left. Last night Anna couldn't believe she still had a week left and said it felt like it had been 2 weeks already. Tell me about it. To make the time go faster for them we had an exciting day here.

First I taught them how to fold their own laundry. Megan didn't mind (playing the role of good kid today) as she wants to earn points for the new chore chart system that I have resorted to for our New Year's resolution of getting the kids to help out more (which will be forgotten before the new year starts I predict). Anna experimented with ways to tie her shirts in knots and thought she was hilarious. I suspect I will have to teach them how to do laundry many times as they will claim ignorance in an attempt to get out of doing it. (I had an assistant at my job in Indy who played this same game). I really am just trying to punish Anna for all the clothes that she puts in the dirty clothes that aren't actually dirty. It turns out that wearing 5 different outfits a day can really add up.

After all that fun I let them watch TV while they ate 5 bags of popcorn. In my defense, they are small bags of popcorn... and by timing it right, it can also count as dinner! (Anna just asked for another bag, I may have to put my foot down unless she starts to whine, in which case it is easier to make more than to listen to her).

As for my exciting day, I finally gave in and cleaned the kid bathrooms. It's not so bad other than being pointless because before I can even blog about it a child has rediscovered the joy that comes from combining soap, toothpaste and toilet paper in and around the sink. Anna calls this a bubble party. I really need to redirect her efforts to actually cleaning the sink or else offer her points to do it. I think she might be more motivated by popcorn though. She has enlisted Patrick in her demands for more... fine, dinner it is!

Now at least Emily has been pretty good today. Must be tuckered out from being up all night. No, she actually slept a lot last night which I know because she slept on me, the only way to keep her from yelling all night. She is sleeping in her crib right now so I know she knows how to do it... Hopefully tonight will be better because Sean worked last night so we are both tired today. I'm sure a nice dinner of popcorn will really help his mood!

Stage Whisper

The girls usually go out for some children's service when they do the readings during mass here, but they didn't on Christmas eve so they got to experience the whole thing. After the first reading Anna turns to me and loudly whispers, "Is that true?!". Oh my, I don't even know which part she was referring to, just hoping not that many people heard her. Towards the end of mass Patrick spies his pediatrician whom he is fascinated by, so he starts saying loudly, "I go over there" while pointing at him. I use this fascination to my advantage and often invoke the name of Dr. Meng when Patrick is jumping on the bed or doing something else a doctor would advise against. Emily was an angel during the whole time we were in church and didn't make a peep or demand to eat. Megan was pretty good too, proving the "good kid, bad kid" theory. They were all happy to hear that I won't make them go with me this Sunday to church, giving them the day off in exchange for having to go so early for xmas eve. It will be a break for me also, just get to sit with Emily and not worry about what embarrassing stuff the others are doing...

Noon on Christmas

Patrick keeps demanding more Patrick presents, Sean is trying to assemble a doll house for the girls, Emily is finally sleeping in her crib for the first time since 3:30am, and I am surrounded by mounds of wrapping paper. Merry Christmas!

We didn't kick things off here until 8am, thanks to me for noticing that the girls had their alarm set for much earlier... no need for that to be on. Santa was up until 1:30am putting together Patrick's firetruck, apparently guilt gives you the energy to stay up late for an "easy assembly". He's no fool though, left the doll house assembly for daylight hours. Patrick is screaming that he wants Daddy tools, so he is insisting on helping too.

The stress of being good all year was too much for Anna so she was throwing up briefly this morning. Or maybe it was the image of "Monkey Bread" that put her over the edge? We need to find another name for that. She had dry Rice Krispies instead and Patrick had Goldfish. I imagine Christmas dinner will be similar, maybe work in some of those T.O's from Katie and Mark. Oh, was that some sort of collector cereal box? Yeah, Patrick ripped right into that. Apparently it is delicious.

One collector item that will not be destroyed by Patrick is the autographed photo of Jude Law. Yes, I am serious, amazing what Sean can find online in the middle of the night (while still reading 20 studies an hour and watching a show on Hulu.com). He struck gold at the NBC online store too.... Dillon Football shirt, a mug from 30 Rock (Liz Lemon: Why are you wearing a tux? Jack Donaghy: It's after six. What am I, a farmer?), a Slap Bet travel mug from HIMYM, Jan's Candles from the Office (morning merlot smells just as bad as you think), a That's What She Said onesie for Emily, and a What the what? magnet (which even the girls say now- it is also from 30 Rock). Why yes, we do watch a lot of TV in this house. Actually there are only 7 shows we both like and 2 of them aren't on yet (FNL and Lost). We just enjoy quoting our favorite shows, gives us something to talk about besides diapers.

Sidenote to the Jude Law item: Sean thought that just because I watched The Holiday non-stop for 2 weeks that it was all about Jude. He got off cheap with the photo. I actually watch that movie for the house they filmed at in CA. Next year, buddy. I've got the interior designer's name...

I did not get as creative with Sean's gifts due to his plan to buy himself everything he wants when he wants it in hopes that I give up and grant him another trip to Vegas or Pebble Beach. Nice try but he is all set to run in any weather now, haha! Merry Christmas to the guys at Manhattan Running Store too... I had 10 minutes between picking up dinner and picking up Anna from dance last week so I did some speed shopping. Whatever you've got in a medium, just throw it in a bag guys... Best. Wife. Ever.

Well, now I need to figure out a time when the kids will be so hungry that they will eat whatever I put on the table to make Christmas dinner a success (and by success I mean, throw away slightly less than I served). If this snow and wind keeps up the neighborhood will be happy to know that I have enough ham for everyone for a week a least. Come on down! And don't forget the 4 beers we still have too!

Ready for Santa

I keep thinking I need to get serious about establishing some holiday traditions (and by traditions I mean meals of course), but it turns out that we do have a few things we do every year. The girls have a very good memory when it comes to all things Santa related, so they set out the same snacks every year (carrots are for the reindeer, not a hint for Santa to be healthy) and expect a note from Santa, which Santa better get to work on before Santa falls asleep. Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas to all and to Emily, a good sleeping night!