A Different Kind of Productive

January has been a joyful month for us so far; Roman has a new job, Braeden is getting a handle on reading, we've been doing lots of sledding and things have been going along nice and smoothly. I haven't taken many pictures at all because life has been rather status quo, which is great, but doesn't create a lot of picture taking opportunities. Jen and I decided to take a couple of months off of sign making before we go nuts getting ready for the spring craft fair season so I've found myself doing something fairly unusual these days.. watching tv. Not only have I caught up on some of my DVR'd favorites, but I've watched complete seasons of a couple of different shows that I had heard about but never seen.

I saw so much buzz on Twitter and Facebook a few weeks ago when the third season of Downton Abbey was about to premiere that I had to see it for myself. Roman and I started watching it and were instantly hooked. We watched seasons 1 and 2 in two weeks and are now caught up to the episodes that are currently airing. What can be better than smug British Aristocrats who deplore people who violate old traditions and traitorously go to the United States? The grandmother on the show is worth watching for; she is hilarious.

When Jen and I were working before Christmas we would sometimes catch up on On Demand episodes of Revenge that she had missed. I had never seen it before and it is definitely not a show that you can jump into in the middle. There are way to many plot lines and characters to not have the background from the start of the series. I'm almost caught up to current episodes and I can't get enough. I don't watch soap operas during the day, but this is certainly close to that with lots of rich people, murders, alcohol and deception. Makes for some interesting watching.

My last new time-consuming activity isn't a tv show, but sure is addicting. Erin told me about Candy Crush Saga and oh my goodness do I spend far too much time playing this game.

I have made it to level 30 so far and it's a pretty mindless way to pass the time. Thank you January for giving me the chance to veg out a little and take some down time. I wouldn't really call what I've been doing productive, but it's been entertaining and helped me to catch a few deep breathes that I had been desperately needing. 

Another BIG Day in Our House

Tonight before bed Braeden asked me to read him the book he had taken out of the library at school this week.

I know he's been working hard learning to read this year so I asked him if he wanted to read it to me instead. Usually he says no because he gets frustrated trying, but tonight was different. He agreed and then READ ME THE BOOK!! I had to help with some of the bigger words, but he followed the story with his finger and sounded out the words that he was unsure of. Oh my goodness! I am so excited for him. He has always been a big lover of books, but now a whole new world is beginning to open up for him since he will be able to read the early reader books to himself. Even if he doesn't know all the words, he will understand the general idea. Yay! What an exciting week we're having. I am a very proud Momma tonight.

Great News!

Roman is starting a new job next week! To say we are excited about this turn of events would be the biggest understatement. We are elated that he is finally going to be fulfilling his dreams as a high school math teacher. It's been a long road to get here, but his persistence has paid off and he will be joining the faculty at Franklin County Technical School on Monday. For the last few years he has been working in a neighboring town as a teacher assistant. It kept him in the school environment while he continued his search for a teaching position. I am so proud of him and I know it will do enormous things for his confidence and self-worth. We're looking forward to the many changes that will come from this transition.

Go Eagles!

Hello 2013

Anyway you look at it, whether you are happy 2012 is over and looking forward to a new start or hoping for even better things in the future, 2013 is here! It's so hard to believe that another year has come to a close. I feel like we were all just curiously waiting to see if anything would come of Y2K. Well, it's officially 13 years later and we're all still here. I for one enjoyed 2012 as a year of new experiences and successes. While not everything I had hoped to accomplish came to fruition, I did put a lot of building blocks in place for the future. For that I am incredibly thankful.

I don't like to make resolutions because I feel like it simply sets me up to feel like a failure when I don't achieve the success I thought for a fleeting moment that I might. Lose weight? Yeah sure, that's a great goal, but it's not something I can bang my head over because honestly if I wanted to seriously commit to that, I would, no matter what time of the year it is.  I could resolve to give up certain foods, but then I would crave them the minute the statement was out of my mouth. I'm pretty sure that would help me GAIN weight.

So as we wander into a new year, I plan to try to focus on certain things, but not commit to 100% success because we all know that is an invitation to feel inadequate. Here goes:

1. Maintain last year's momentum of building myself into a more out-going and happier person. Last year was wonderful for me with lots of new friendships made and a much busier calendar for everyone in our family. It was hard sometimes, but wonderful for my soul.
2. Kick PPD's butt once and for all. I have been stumped by the control PPD has had over me this time around. While it was severe before I became aware of it with Braeden, it has been persistent this time and I'm hopeful that in 2013 I can say goodbye for good!
3. Gain control over the out-of-control feeling that is floating around me all the time. This includes getting a better handle on my house, our schedule and the consistency used when dealing with the kids. My guess is that this one will be the one out the window first..
4. SLEEP MORE. Please Lord, let me get this one right! I know I need more sleep but I have a terrible time getting myself to go to bed before 11:00 because I like the time while the kids are asleep to breathe and not be climbed on for a while. I've been trying to get to bed by 10:30 each night and I can already feel a difference in my energy in the morning. 

Here we go 2013. Let's see what you've got!

Christmas 2012

Christmas Day was pretty laid back for us. Roman and I got to bed at a fairly decent hour the night before which is good because we had Braeden jumping up and down in our bed starting at 5. I am all for getting up that early on Christmas, but convincing my other two that it's a reasonable waking hour is an entirely different story. We let Braeden go out and check to see if Santa had come and open a couple of his presents while we, not so quietly, waited for the other two to stir. He did a pretty good job of occupying himself, but it's really hard to wait when you can see everything right there in front of you!

We let him give Daddy the gift he had gotten him because he could hardly contain himself any longer. Braeden was totally into the spirit of giving this year. It was wonderful to see him delight in making other people happy. 

While we waited for Evan and Maggie, he and Daddy played Daddy's new gift, Battleship.

By six o'clock we could wait no more and went to wake up the others. Even Evan who does NOT appreciate being awoken before he is ready, willingly got up to see that Santa had visited during the night. 

They were excited, but a bit groggy still.. 

And then the fun began. Even Maggie was all about opening her own gifts this year. She's not as fast as the boys because, well she's 1, but she held her own. 

Then it was on to my parent's house to open presents with them and my brother's family. 

 These are the birdseed birdhouses that the kids made for my mom. They turned out awesome and are super easy to do!

It was a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated with friends over the weekend and then spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family. I think the kids had a great time without being overwhelmed. I was able to relax and enjoy it all which was fantastic. 

Our Christmas Eve 2012

As the kids get older, Christmas is becoming as fun as I remember it as a child. All of the anticipation, excitement and pure joy of childhood is contagious and really brings the magic out for all of us. While we certainly do talk about the fact that we are celebrating Jesus' birthday, it's hard to not find ourselves mainly focused on the gifts and the imminent arrival of Santa. Between the shopping and the cookie making and all of the wrapping and exchanging of presents, it's hard to breathe for a few weeks, but when it all comes together beautifully and the giggles and shrieks break out, I always know I wouldn't want it any other way.

We are fortunate in that we don't have to travel for the holiday. My in-laws are non-practicing Jewish so we don't have to try and juggle both families for holidays. We actually still do exactly what I did as a kid on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It's worked for 35 years, why change now right? Roman and I have often discussed staying home on Christmas Eve, but even though it's hard to feed our kids at the traditional meal that my grandmother is in charge of (it's all white except for the jello my mom brings), we keep going back because it's tradition. We always attend Mass with my parents and then proceed to one of my mom's siblings houses for dinner.

Braeden and Maggie after my Aunt's cat

Evan and Aunt Stacy

My Grandmother blessing each person 

My Mom and her Mom

Mag's first pierogi

Boys being silly in front of my Aunt's tree

Santa Grampa

Maggie's new book

Jason and Roman

Me and my Mom

After we have dinner and exchange a few gifts with my mom's family, we stop at my dad's parents house on the way home for dessert. My grandmother always makes peppermint pie with hot fudge on Christmas Eve especially for me (so she says anyway). When we had little babies we sometimes skipped dessert, but now our kids can all handle staying up later and being off schedule so we fill our bellies with sweets and then head home to quickly get ready for Santa's arrival and head off to bed. We made cookies with our friends a couple of nights before so we left those out with some eggnog, read a few books and headed to dreamland to envision sugarplums dancing in our heads. 

A Very Merry Christmas

A very merry Christmas was had by all in our house. I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves and over indulged in family, love, and the true spirit of the holiday.

Merry Christmas!!