Where Paige is an only child

Bear is in Florida with week with my in laws. He is having a glorious time swimming, soaking up sun, and yakking it up with Mickey and Minnie. This is the first time P has had Matt and myself's undivided attention for longer than an hour (well we did spend a lot of alone time in the hospital when she was first born but it doesn't really count because she was sleeping a majority of that time). P soaked up our attention like L is with those rays. It is truly amazing how much P has to say. Bear is a natural gabber, he always has been (I can remember him babbling at eight weeks while driving home from YiaYia's). P not so much, or so I thought. This week she talks and talks- real talk. Like complete sentences. And she loves conversing with us. Let's hope she continues when the Mayor comes home.

Haul Out the Holly

After dinner was cleared Thursday night, I had Matt and Dan Wiener bringing up the Christmas totes. The Holiday season has arrive at 19 School Street. Thursday night- stockings, center pieces, bookcases, and tv stand. Friday- outside, inside garland, Zoo Lights. Today- tree,as in real this year- as in we cut it down ourselves. OK- as in we tried to cut it ourselves but then we flagged someone with a chainsaw.
Our Elf on the Shelf has return- McQueen the Elf made his first appearance of the 2012 Holiday Season. He started out in our bathroom sink with some elf poop (mini marshmallows). Then made a ruckus in P's upstairs stockings. Today- trouble arise when McQueen was kidnapped and tied to train tracks. Pictures to come when I am not so cold and lazy to get my phone.

Thanks

I cannot believe Halloween was over a week ago. I am always so sad at the beginning of November. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays I never know how to decorate for but with a little help from Michaels and Pinterest, this year I am up for the challenge. Dinner menu planning for Thanksgiving will happen this weekend. As our usual- I will be in charge of apps and desserts, Matt in charge of sides and main dishes (my mouth is watering just thinking of the possibilities.

Facebook is riddled with the 21 days of "Gratefulness." Sweet- yes but not for me. My status are reserve for L's bathroom shenanigans. While I am totally grateful for my amazing family at Otto's house, here is a mini list of these I currently could not live without:
What am I grateful for:
Aquaphor- because without it, my skin would be shredded to ribbons
Super mom blogs- thanks to them- we can have Thanksgiving on my floors (our you in awe- I work full time)
Modg Blog- there are super moms then there are snarky super moms
Jon Hamm- He is gifted or what? I seriously think we can be besties in real life
November 23rd- when I can get my Christmas on

Pure Fall Pleasures

I love the cold weather. Sweaters, puffy vests, UGGS, pea coats, fun hats and mittens- are just some of the nifty things I love about autumn / winter in New England. This week the weather takes a turn for the colder and as I bundle up the pug for an evening constitution- I reflect upon some of simple pleasures of fall:
Listening to the heat come on in our house: we have radiators and while many find it annoying, I rather love the hiss- very vintage.
Hot cider- Usually proceeded by apple picking
The kiddos fleece lined sweatshirt- Not too bulky but still helps keeps them toasty on those brisk days
None of Your Bee's Wax lip balm by Lush- Helps with the fall chapped lips
and...
Otto snuggles- He is much better than a heating pad
What are some of your favorite things about the fall?

Everyone was Kung Fu Fighting

Those cats were fast as lighting...

School and Shoes and Indian Summer- Oh My!

Oh how time gets away from us. That- and all these other 2.0-3.0 tools we can play around with instead of writing.
Summer delightful but fleeting has past. Matt and I have been back at work for three weeks and can honestly say it feels much longer. I know I have no right to complain just coming off of a twelve week vacation but is it mid June yet? Positives- Logan and Paige enjoy being back at Best Friends so that makes this work thing a little easier. That plus my sexy new Dansko Mary Jane shoes (and rumor matching sparkle Toms for P and me- remember just a rumor).
So as usual our fall is shaping up quite nicely. We are planning to go apple picking in the next few weeks. We have picked out our Halloween costumes. Fall clothes have been washed and organize and waiting to take its place in our closets next week. Harvest decorations will probably come out the last weekend in September. Next weekend is dedicated to Matt's birthday. Aside from eating- we are still deciding how to celebrate (maybe a Segway tour or a movie).
Logan's current obsession is karate. He has started taking classes at Bruce McCorrey's on Rt. One. Logan LOVES it even though he has just taken two classes. He insisted on wearing his headband to bed on Tuesday night and he became upset when we told him he could not take it to school (we did cave but it was an one time thing and he was to put it in his cubby after circle). Logan has already made some friends that hopefully will attend the same school as him next year. Unfortunately (or not, depending on the Bear) one friend is encouraging him to sign up for pre hockey skate. At first Matt and I felt guilty- we didn't want to disappoint but we do not want to overextend ourselves but after looking at our schedules and classes- Logan probably can do the 2nd round of skate in December in place of swim.
My current obsessions:
Fun socks- in place of bi weekly pedi's- I'm sporting some funky socks (that look so cute with my Danskos).
Lush Tiny Hands hand lotion- Tiny Hands where have you been all my adult life? Made with no nuts, you leave my hands soft and supple and smelling like flowers (just the faintest).
Books about Edwardian England- Or anything to do with Downton Abbey. Waiting until January is just cruel. People under the Union Jack have it made (ahem, Jessica Gagnon). But at least I have my Kindle app and Overdrive.

Happy Father's Day

LOP Love wants to wish all the dads out there a Happy Father's Day. We especially want to thank Matt Dangerously for being an amazing father.

Official start of summer

June 21st maybe the date for the summer solstice but the real start of summer in Otto's House begins when DMB comes to town. DMB, or Dave Matthews Band, is a staple in Otto's House. Dave can soothe jangle nerves, lull a child to sleep, as well as perk up us non morning people (but who is a morning person at 5 AM). One member of Otto's House almost made their first appearance at a Dave concert in the summer of 2008.
Last night Matt and I left the kiddies and made our pilgrimage. This year we opted to see him in Hartford (the two nights they play in Mansfield this year are in the middle of the week). Acoustically- Comcast in Hartford is amazing. The sound was crisp, clear and loud without being deafening. The encore carry over our mile walk to the garage. However- the clean venue quickly turned into a beer luge as thousands of Dancing Nancies litter, puke and pee all over the place. There definitely was a sad Native American man standing by the stretch of highway looking over the parking lot this morning. Crowd control also not the best- Yay Dudes everywhere. And the center had many entrances but only wanted you to exit out one gate (which would have added another mile to our hike but we lucked out and found a hole in the fence).
The flaws of the venue did not overshadow the experience- the band played an amazing set. They did a great variety- some old, some new, sadly no covers. Dave started out solo with the song "Sweet" then "Grace is Gone." It turned up when they played "Don't Drink the Water." The band played for three hours. It was probably one of the best sets I heard in awhile.
And- it wouldn't be a Dave concert without the usually cast of characters. This years characters- a middle age woman who past out before the opening act Carolina finished their set; three Yay Dudes that dance mainly with each other and one at one point relieved himself on the lawn; our new friend Mike and his lady friend that informed us that they did not make it to the concert last night because they made some "poor choices (but don't we all);" and finally the sad girls that smuggle their weed in a maxi pad and remain sad even after they smoke all six of their jokes in a matter of ten minutes. New friend Mike tried to score some off of them but one of the sad girls told him sadly "no."
When Matt and I return this morning- a very livid Bear claim to be old enough to go see Dave. Not even a t shirt cheered up this lad (but his own Dave cd and Matchbox turn that frown upside down).

On Mothers and loves

Happy Mother's Day. This marks my 5th year celebrating this glorious holiday. This year was a first- Mother's Day Tea at Best Friends. The tea ended abruptly when P-Cakes pitched a fit because mommy would not let her have a second piece of pound cake. In retrospect- I should have let her have the extra cake (she is eating us out of house and home which suggest growth spurt).
Actually Mother's Day has been lovely... slept until 7:30 with the Bear and Pug snuggles, Matt cleaned the bathrooms, and lunch at Panera. I have been fighting a cold and PB had the soup that I like. The day was low key which was perfect because again I am not 100%. We did manage to go to Home Depot and purchase a new and desperately needed law mower. However I did spend the day with my cherubs.
New loves
Currently loving my (drum roll please)... My be iPad. No seriously, this was the 2nd best gift Matt has ever given me (only second to my children, including the pug). I gave Matt one for our anniversary and between Logan and him- I never had an opportunity to play around with the device. A few weeks ago, Matt asked if I wanted my own and after hemming and hawing I said yes. And boy am I glad that I did.

Also loving the return of the biweekly pedicures. My tootsies needed them after a winter of Uggs. New loves this year- the ladies at Lady Nails and Spa on Rt. 114- hot stone pedis a mere 35 bucks (a treat for my well wore feet) and the Cupcake joining me for a scrubbing. Again, the ladies are wonderful and they adore P. The little miss has be to the salon twice and she loves soaking her tootsies. We can get pretty in less than 45 minutes.
Lastly- my hair. Love the color. Love my new powder. No- nothing new but it's newly highlighted it this weekend.

And I won't try to slow you down- But I've got to get there first or be buried

Lady P turned nine months on January 11th. It is hard to believe that this little lady has been on the outside more than the inside at this point (thanks to my "The Bump" weekly emails. So what of these last nine months:

*Lots of laundry- more than I would have ever anticipated but we've always managed. At least we have never ran out of undies

*Photo books galore- Easiest way to manage the many photos this proud mamma snaps

*A new appreciation for Netflix and Netflix streaming- worth every penny; do you know how many Thomas videos are out there

*Love for Logan's preschool teachers- I cannot believe how much the Bear learns daily; currently the students are learning to sing "Wonderful World." If that doesn't make you shed a tear, you have an iron soul.

These nine months have been the busiest of my life but I cannot be happier. Talks about the Diva's big birthday bash have been the works.

                                                              Someone loves her new boots

                                                        Did I mention that she is 9 months
Current PDid stats- 20 lbs; 28 inches (nice and plump)
                              Teeth- 4 (two on the bottom and two up top)

Future Scholars

This past Tuesday I was pleasantly surprised  to see art work for both Logan and Paige from this past Holiday season in their cubbies. Not to be a cold mommy, after looking over each piece I throw out the work. GASP. I DO take picture of each piece and include the picture in their yearly books.

We just really like 2011

No really- we do! I am tired of seeing so many negative post on FB about what a terrible year 2011 was. Are you telling me your whole year was terrible? Not one great thing happened in 2011? BLAH.
Our year was AMAZING. It was chalked fill with delightful tidbits. Such as:
*An amazing family trip (with Otto) to Vermont
*The addition of the beautiful Paige to our family
*A new car
*A rocking 3rd birthday party at Monkey Joe's
*A summer filled with sandy beaches and tans for everyone (except for {Paige)
*Paige's first family vacation (sans Otto)
*The COACH was born (GO MATH)
*One year completed on our thirty year mortgage
*Trick or treats with not one but THREE costume changes for the Bear
and...
*A weekend get away to the North Pole (AKA Santa's Village)
Good Bye 2011- you were a fantastic year.

Now enter 2012- and already we have a lot to look forward to:
*Our 5th anniversary
*The Cupcake's 1st birthday
*Otto's 5th birthday
*Finally completing our AFI project.
And who knows- maybe some surprises will come our way. Treat us well 2012- even though we always make the best of what's to come.