A good day
Today we took Josh and Caroline to see their first broadway show. They chose Mary Poppins. It was wonderful.
Mark and I are firm believers of waiting until children are age appropriate to spend a lot of money on a form of entertainment. We also believe in divide and conquer...splitting up the kids and parents depending on the activity. Luckily we had grandma and grandpa in town to stay with the little boys. We had good front row balcony seats. The music was wonderful--a lot of it familiar from the movie, and some of it new. The staging/scenery was amazing...Mary, Bert, etc. Caroline was especially mesmorized.
I remember my first musical...Annie in San Francisco. My mom took my sisters and I and we met Dad at his office and then went to the theater. I was enchanted. I loved it. My sisters and I spent many happy hours making up dances and singing to the Annie soundtrack afterwards. Good times.
We went to dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square afterwards. Mark had received a gift card from a client, so we were able to use that. Note to self: Don't go to Times Square the day before new year's eve. It was quite crowded.
Definitely loving this week between Christmas and New Years--we are vacationing from home! Tomorrow they go to the Big Apple Circus...Sam and I stay home. I can't wait to hear about Matthew's reaction. He could be in the circus, with all his tricks and climbing and acrobatics!
Our Christmas in Pictures, Part Two
Love these smiles!
"Mark, I need a new profile picture for Facebook!"
Today's activity
Look what Santa brought!
My favorite--kids in new pajamas on Christmas Eve
Our Christmas in Pictures, Part One
I am serious about being Mary.
I am serious about my milkshake
SNOW!!
SNOW!
Can't keep my eyes open any longer reading my favorite Christmas Book
Rarely disappoints...
...New York City.
You go in, and you know you will have a good time. You may spend through a wad of cash real quick, but you will have a good time.
After my traumatic week last week, when I posed the idea of taking Josh and Caroline into the City yesterday afternoon, Mark happily obliged and stayed home with the little boys.
We went to the NY Theater Ballet, and saw their production of the Nutcracker. I had read that it was 1 hour long and specifically geared for children, and in a small space. For $25 a pop, we got second row seats (which at Lincoln Center would have found us in the Fourth Tier nosebleed, etc.)
We could see them sweat, literally, the ballerinas. It was a wonderful production and the kids loved it...just their speed. It was preceeded by windows at Bloomingdales and Dylan's Candy Bar. Afterwards we ate dinner at Junior's in Grand Central where they loved their tall chocolate milkshakes. Yeah, we blew threw some cash but had a good time doing it. And it was just so pretty with the snow freshly fallen and the lights and all that New York is at Christmas.
Another day, another dollar
I am sure everyone is TIRED including me of hearing about my battle with strep. But it rages on. The latest antibiotic started making me sick to my stomach, so after 8 days of being on that antibiotic, I stopped taking it. That was Tuesday. Wednesday morning, I started itching. Went into the bathroom to discover I was covered from head to toe with an itchy, red rash. (And no one in my family wants to see it!) It's everywhere. When you are having a 'health issue'--it really does consume you! Josh had thrown up, Matthew had a cough, but whoa all of that's on hold because I have a major rash.
So I freaked out for a bit, did some internet research, called my mom at 6:30 a.m. her time, cried a little, etc. Called my Doctor and she said she wanted to check out the rash, so I went in that afternoon. Turns out I had an allergic reaction to the medication which has caused the rash. Now I am on medication to help my rash go away (a steroid) and a new antibiotic to continue the strep battle. (Those who have been reading for a while know of my battle with Sand Fleas from the Bahamas and bed bugs from North Carolina...so this is my 3rd time in less than 3 years to be itchy and scratchy everywhere.)
I am a mess to look at, even my friend Mary told me so this evening at mini-course registration. Not just externally, but internally too! I seriously need some spa time or something. I did buy two pairs of boots today in an attempt to begin a transformation (thanks Santa!)
After taking some things to some friends tonight, we stopped by pizza hut to pick up dinner. As I got out of the car, I tripped in a pothole, and fell flat on my face. Literally. Oh well, picked myself up and continued on...
When I stopped in at Starbucks by the train station to get some napkins for our pizza so we could eat in the car while waiting for Mark to get off the train, I saw our neighborhood homeless guy in Starbucks. I have seen him around town for many years. I went back to the car, got 2 slices of pizza, wrapped them in napkins and went back in to offer them to him. Maybe I embarrased him, but he turned me down. Then I burst into tears. (not unusual these days).
So yeah, a cup of hot cocoa, some Must See TV and some Trader Joe's microwave popcorn is definitely called for tonight. But none of that can happen until I stop writing and get some kids in the bathtub. Yes, the last 2 days I have felt a little beat up. But at least I didn't have an eye removed like our dear Sister Dorio, who we stopped by to see this afternoon.
Tomorrow should be better. Our school has already been cancelled due to the 6 to 8 inches of white stuff predicted. On the schedule is making sugar cookies and cleaning up, as well of lots of cuddling and stories and games. Hopefully minimal crying (on my part) and fighting (on theirs.)
Marching onward...
Putting last week's misery behind me...
Onto better things!
I can't wait for the kids to be out of school. Only 3 more days and then 2 weeks off. The first week--of course--features Christmas! The second week features a visit by the outstanding parents/in-laws of America, Tim and Peggy. So excited to see them. Matthew is too. "Santa comes and then next day Grandma and Grandpa come!" What more could a little boy want.
We had a fun morning recently at Macy's in the City seeing Santa. Seriously, this is the best overall Santa experience. I am not going to the Mall again. We love it there. As Mark says, we get in and get out. We were parked in the garage for less than an hour.
On Monday, we will all go in to see the Rockefeller Tree and to do the City thing. Can't wait.
We even had a brief snow this morning, along with the raining, freezing rain, sleet and ice. It was pretty.
We had a wonderful ward Christmas party last Saturday. Josh did a great rendition of Jingle Bell Rocks on the piano. I love to watch him perform.
Found a way to display our beautiful pictures from our friends and family...a sweet garland in the dining room. Caroline and I had fun putting that up today. We love getting your Christmas cards.
Lots to be grateful for and lots to look forward too.
The machine broke down...
It happened again. Several of you already know this. Back in bed with what I believe is strep throat (can't get my test results yet, missed my Drs. call last night and haven't heard from her yet today) for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday--mindlessly functioning through Wednesday and Thursday. The ENT confirmed severe tonsillitis. Aaaah! I just want a nap today!. It's so rainy and cold and miserable. But Mark was wonderful and helped me pull through. Only 2 more infections like this then I can have my tonsils removed.
Today has been a good day for playdates. The ideal playdate for me makes my job easier--It's easier to have that child here than to not have that child here.
Alex from preschool entertained both Matthew and Samuel for a full 2 hours earlier this afternoon. Only a couple of interventions needed. I would have cancelled this due to the above mentioned illness, but we had scheduled it nearly a week and a half earlier. So it went on. Unsha the Hungarian nanny came to get him not long ago.
Caroline's friend Alissa is here now. Yeah! Easy easy.
At 2 p.m. I told my mom it was too many hours until bedtime. Okay, time to pull it together. And change Sammy's pants from frolicking in the puddles!
