Living in Munchkinland

We are in the middle of a two week vacation to Taos. We left Friday afternoon and drove late through dark, rainy, icy north Texas arriving in Lubbock at the Homewood Suites very late. We liked the hotel as it was quiet, not too expensive and included a hearty breakfast buffet. We left the next morning and drove on. The drive went quickly as we listened to "A Wrinkle In Time", interspersed with lots of kindle time and Clone Wars for the boys. We stopped for lunch on the old Route 66 and arrived in Taos around 3:30pm. We unpacked and made supper and waited for Katie, but Soren was in lots of pain from an ear infection and after an urgent care visit in Santa Fe, they arrived after midnight. Sunday we had so much fun. We lunched at Gutiz and then Katie and I did the Grocery store run. We sat around making wedding plans and catching up. I never run out of things to say to Katie and I love her so much. Soren and the boys played happily and Michael enjoyed us all. We dro...

I went and got some steroid injections in my back at the day surgery center on Tuesday afternoon. I couldn't eat or drink all day because they were putting me under. I felt like a kid again as mom and dad had to drive me. I was nervous, but it wasn't too bad. I felt drunk for the evening and slept just fine, but I woke up in excruciating pain on Wednesday. They said this might happen and that it could take up to five days to work, so I sucked it up, took a pain pill and hobbled through the day. I did so much yesterday too. I packed up all the presents and all our clothes for the trip. I went to hobby lobby and the grocery store and made sugar cookies for Davis' class party and the kids and I made 22 orange pomanders with cloves and red ribbon and individualized handmade name tags. I made dinner and did laundry. Then Michael came home and I collapsed. Mom and Dad came over yesterday and gifted the children with their christmas presents. They got snowboarding less...

The kids had their last soccer game of their season on Saturday. They lost again, but Davis had a great game. He was very speedy! They had a good time and each got a trophy! They were so pleased. We came home and baked cookies and played Qwerkle and watched Home Alone 2. Sunday was Davis's first piano recital. He and Sadie were the only two children in Mr. John's piano studio, but they did very well. Davis was very disappointed as both sets of grandparents bailed at the last minute and only the two sets of parents were in attendance, but we all dressed up and clapped and made a big deal and I think he was very proud. I was too! My buttons were bursting. Mr. John had made a program and they bowed and played at the grand piano and it was all very important and formal and wonderful. Davis and Sadie were so cute and talented! Okay, enough gushing. I hope he sticks with piano even though he hates practicing, because he has a good ear and I think one day he will thank ...

Friday night Mom and I hosted a Naughty or Nice Christmas Cocktail Party. I got a new outfit and got my hair done. Michael bought a new candy cane striped tie. We bought almost $500 in booze. We made two signature cocktails, a "morally ambiguous gingered rum cocktail" consisting of rum, Canton ginger liquor and pineapple juice with lime and an "elderflower champagne cocktail" made of Prosecco and St. Germaine with raspberry and mint garnish. Everyone brought a naughty or nice heavy appetizer to contribute. The food was amazing!!! Mom had decorated the house beautifully. All of our friends looked fantastic! We had food, played a white elephant gift exchange, sang happy birthday to Lilly, drank lots, sang Christmas karaoke and had an all around amazingly good time. This was my favorite party I have thrown yet. Yay, book group! Yay, great friends! Yay, being best friends with my mom! Yay, Christmas!!!!

Dear Diary, I've been so busy since I got back from NYC. It's like there are not ever enough hours in the day. Life keeps moving forward, though. I'm still feeling very introverted. I just want to stay home and quiet with my family as much as possible. I don't know what set me into this phase, but it seems I am firmly intrenched here for a while. We had ranch happy hour by the fireplace at my mom's house on Friday, which was lovely and then we played Ticket to Ride with the kids at our house, which was fun, but Michael was grumpy and we got in a spat and then we talked and made up, which was good, because communication is good and making up is good, but the arguments are never fun. Saturday we cleaned and wrapped presents and then took the kids to soccer (they lost again). Then I got my hair done while Michael took care of the kids and the house. That afternoon I wrote all our christmas cards and baked a cake with Sam and worked with him on his growing cry...

We had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday. We rented an apartment through Airbnb that turned out to be perfect! We were one block away from the Museum of Natural history and it had two bedrooms, one of which was a children's bedroom full of toys, free wifi, a big screen tv. It was freezing, freezing cold. Way colder than usual for that time of year, but we bundled up and did just fine. This was our family foundation trip and so we went as a whole family and had such a great time. It truly was a trip of a lifetime. I loved spending the time with my sister and her family. Kade and my boys are at a magical age where they all get along so well. My sister makes me laugh like no one else. My mom and dad are always such a joy to travel with. My dad struggled a bit with the big city, but he did so amazingly well. He is so brave and loving. His character shines through and I love him so. The boys loved the whole trip, though I know without question that their favorite thing to do...