NYE Is For Amateurs... NYEE Is Where It's At!

Admittedly, I hate New Year's Eve. I have never understood the whole, "stand in line, pay a ridiculous cover to go to a place you wouldn't normally go to, eat a prix fixe menu of things you wouldn't order for double the typical menu price, get dressed up in too short of dresses and freeze your butt off in sub zero temps, wait for an hour for a taxi home just so you can risk your life because some idiot decided to drink and drive, and then puke the next day because you had to order drinks 4 at a time, because the line to the bar was so long."

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my idea of what it means to go out on NYE, which is why I have never, ever, gone out (sans that one year in 2003... which was so awful we choose to erase that one from the memory bank.)

Luckily, for the past decade I have been able to do it up right on NYEE, because not only is it SO much better to go out the night before (see above) but also, December 30th, happens to be the day of birth of my favorite person in the world, my little Sis. In years past she would fly across the county, and grace us with her presence to celebrate her new year, and now that she lives here full time, tonight she is again orced to again spend the night with the hubs and I. I use the term forced, but you know we all wouldn't have it any other way.

So, tonight we will dine at my favorite restaurant 10 Tables, in Jamaica Plain (my others are here, and here) which she has never been to, and I will finally get a chance to break out my Christmas Present (aka the most gorgeous blazer on the planet/ I am wearing this to both my Son's weddings/ I better or my husband will kill me) with a killer pair of heels. We will toast not only her birthday, but another great year at the at the stroke of 8 o' clock. Yes, that's how we do it!

Need a visual?

We will be here...

I will be wearing this...

And drinking this... with my nails painted like this (obsessed)...

With the two (adults) I love the most in the world.

I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year, or to celebrate a girl who has been rocking my world for 23 years now!

Happy New Year my friends, see you in 2012!!!! It's going to be a good year... I can feel it!

Christmas; puke; Christmas; puke.

Oh, Christmas 2011, you are one that will not soon be forgotten.

Last Thursday, baby Gray woke up with the stomach flu. Christmas morning, my Sis and I both got it. Double whammy. Yesterday, my poor hubby, and today the LM.

Is case you lost track that's about a week of puking.

Sometime last night, we decided that Baby Jesus was smiting us non-believers for not celebrating his birthday the way he would have wanted. Either that or we did something REALLY bad in a past life. I'd like to think that squishy little baby in the manger wouldn't have it in him, but after seeing what my own squishy little baby has done in the past week, I believe he can do just about anything.

I saw this on Facebook yesterday, somewhere in between my 20th and 1,000th load of laundry and thought all you other heathens out there would appreciate it.

Okay, now I'm pretty sure I'm going to Hell. And by Hell I mean having to clean up after a family of 5 after they've been sick.

I'll be back after I Lysol my entire house. Then my kids. Then my house again.

Thank You Santa.

Last year, all I wanted for Christmas was a happy (and healthy) little boy. Given that he went above and beyond the call of duty, I was grateful that this year I got the chance to thank the big guy for bringing me the best present a girl could ever ask for.

The little elf, himself, getting in the Christmas spirit.

P.S. Big brother thinks it is soooooooooooo cool that his little bro went to see Santa to make sure he was on the nice list. He said he's even going to  help him to unwrap his presents because "his arms aren't that long." I can't even imagine asking for anything else, when I already have more than I could have dreamed of.

Holiday 2011 Card.

Since I can't send you all our card in the mail (imagine all that envelope licking) please accept this virtual version. 

From our family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays.

With much love and gratitude,

Robin

(P.S. I pinky swear that I picked this design from minted.com before I saw that it was Jenna Lyons pick. Don't think that I didn't squeal with delight when I saw that my style icon was sending out the same card! Of course, she is missing the best part... my two (almost) smiling boys!

Christmas Memories and Proof Your Kid Can't Be Good at Everything.

Ever since the LM was born, I have been dying to take him ice skating at the Frog Pond. Dying. I figured this year he would be old enough to give it a go, and considering he is good at everything he tries, I thought that he would for sure be able to master a little skate around the pond.

I was wrong.  

Really wrong. 

To call him terrible would be mean, but it would also be true. 

There was something about the whole balance and move your feet at the same time, thing, that he just couldn't get. I, myself, am pretty much the worst skater around (why I thought it would be a good idea for ME to teach him is the real question) and just couldn't manage to keep both of us up AND moving. You want proof? Here are the only three pictures where we are both skating err standing. 

Working on lap one...

10 minutes later.... same lap.

10 minutes more, yep, still making our way around.

Despite the sub-zero temps, Gray still enjoyed the show. You know he's thinking, "what are you two fools doing out there on the ice? If you were smart like me, you'd be over here chillin in my sleeping bag where it's warm, AND dry."

I wish I could tell you that he finally got the hang of it, but after our 30 minute trip around the ice we decided to call it a day. Even though we spent the entire time on our butts, I think he had fun. Ah, well, at least we made some Christmas memories (and I got to channel my inner Kristi Yamaguchi*)... so all was not lost.

Guess we shouldn't count on that hockey scholarship anytime soon!

*This is why you need to have  a girl.... where is a mesh tutu when you really need one?

Wanderlust.

Before we had kids, my husband and I prided ourselves on being the kind of people who would travel anytime, anywhere, with little more than a bathing suit, a surfboard and a toothbrush. We have stories that range from being trapped in chest deep snow, while wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top after a 7 hour hike in the middle of the Swiss Alps, to being stranded in a bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere Mexico, while a huge hurricane was heading right our way, leaving us to boil pasta by candlelight for 3 days after the owners left. With what little resources we had, we did as much traveling as we could and would often lay around dreaming and plotting what our next adventure would be.

Then we had kids. 

During the LM's first 6 months we tried to do as much traveling as we could, visiting three different continents in a span of three months, only coming home to pack and re-pack for the next trip. While we all survived, I am pretty sure I aged about 30 years worrying about sleep schedules, layovers, and red eyes. As much as we wanted to be the kind of parents who threw our kid in a backpack, and set off for the next great escape, we soon learned that when it came to going anywhere with our little ones, we are just not that flexible. As in, we travel with 3 noise machines, 5 lovies, a DVD player and a back-up computer for when the DVD player dies, plan everything around nap/bed time, and will only stay if we all have our own bedrooms, kind of flexible (like a board.) For me I live and die by my kid's routines, and I will go anywhere for any period of time so long as that routine can remain almost exactly the way it is at home (oh, and ONLY after the baby is sleeping through the night.) This is why you will often find us in Costa Rica (minimal time change, beach, pool, dark quiet bedrooms for nap) or California (ditto) or visiting friends or family who truly understand what it means to travel with kids in tow. 

Basically we have become boring travelers.... for now. 

Things certainly are getting easier now that the LM is bigger and we are already planning a trip to South Africa with him next year (leaving baby Gray behind, sad face) and I know in just a few short years we will again be able to explore the world without having to be so regimented once both the boys are over 5, and before they are too cool to hang out with us. Until then, I will have to settle for dreaming about being the kind of parent who can just let it all go, who would take my kids around the world, letting them learn from the people they meet, and the things that they see. 

For now, I will have to live vicariously through the Goodwin Project. I found this amazing blog though another local blogger, Sweet Mama Jane. After one click I was obsessed, and I now find myself on their site every day, looking longingly thorough their pages of gorgeous pictures, detailing what is going to be a one year trip around the world. Did I mention they are doing it all with two VERY young kids in tow? Oh, to be that adventurous. Funny enough, the Momma, Dazie, was one of my idols growing up. She was the face of Roxy, and when I was in high school, surfing, I longed to be as cool as she was. Looks like some things never change. 

Just look at some of these images from their trip thus far. (I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite)

I must say I was more than happy to see that we are not the only ones who travel with a lot of "stuff."

Here is a trailer for the movie that they are filming of their journey. Be careful, after you watch this, you might want to sell all your possessions and book that around the world ticket before Christmas. Don't think this thought hasn't crossed my mind more than 1000 times since my first viewing. 

The Goodwin Project from Avocados and Coconuts on Vimeo.

Talk about some serious wanderlust. I'm dying to see where their next stop will be and now am itching for our next vacation. Maybe when I am having a panic attack over flight delays, I will think back to this brave family, and know that if they can do the world... we should at least be able to survive a little more time in an airport.

The Most Expensive Lipstick You Will Ever Buy, and Yes, It's Worth Every Penny.

For the past few weeks, my Girlfriend has been RAVING about this new lipstick by Tom Ford, that her mother had bought for her a few weeks back. She claimed that it was most perfect red/ orange color, creamy, non drying, long lasting, and pretty much the greatest lipstick of all time. Sounds great, right?

Oh, did I mention, it's 48.00$ dollars?

Yes, 48 American Dollars.

Okay, pick jaw up from off the floor.

Normally, I would say "that's some kind of crazy," but after trying it on the other day while we were doing some Christmas shopping, I found myself saying, "that REALLY IS the greatest lipstick ever.... here is my credit card, momma needs something in her stocking too, where have you been all my life, I can't believe I'm buying this but also wonder if I should buy two in case I lose this one."

Yeah, it's that good.

You don't have to take my word for it, I know once you try it, you too will be a believer. The brand is Tom Ford Beauty, the color Wild Ginger, and not everyone carries it, but I found mine at Neimans. Oh, and apparently EVERYONE looks good in orange-red lipstick, or so says Glamour Magazine. For more inspiration, see below.

Source: lh6.googleusercontent.com on Pinterest

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: styleblog.ca on Pinterest

You're welcome ;)

That Was Easy.

The Little Man wants one thing, and (almost) one thing only for Christmas. He has been talking about it non-stop since he saw one at his friend's house, and when he got the chance to meet Santa last week he wanted to make sure he was on the nice list.

Santa: Hello, Little Boy... have you been good this year?
LM: YES!!!! (partially true)
Santa: You have? Do you know what you want for Christmas.
LM: YES!!! I want an easy button.
Santa: (looking at me confused) did you get that mom?
LM: It's a button you push, it says "that was easy." That's ALL I want.
Santa: Um... okay, I'm pretty sure I can handle that one. (having no idea what my kid is talking about)

Yes, my kid want this more than ANYTHING in the entire world. A two dollar, button from Staples.

My response?

That was easy!

Here is the LM looking as angelic as ever. Does this look like a boy that should be on the naughty list?? Never!

.... and Gray saying "All I want for Christmas is to get away from this dude with the beard."

Luckily, for him... a few days later he was able to get a second chance. With a face like that, I'm pretty sure he could get anything he wants. (Which happens to be his bottom tooth that has been trying to pop through for about 3 weeks... poor boo!)

Do any of your kids want anything strange for Christmas? My kid better not change his mind, because not only are the presents bought... but they are wrapped too. This little Elf is done until 2012!

Diagnosis: Perfect.

Yesterday, my baby boy had his 4 month check up. Up until this visit, it seemed like every time we went to the doctor, Gray was in one state of distress or another. First, there were the newborn visits, normal but hectic. We all know how those go. Then at 2 months we went in because he was having trouble breathing from his first cold, which was followed by a trip to the ER. Again at 3 months, he was seen after more difficulty breathing from second cold... which lasted a full 16 days. Then, there was the weight check after I met with the lactation consultant, where I learned he was not gaining as much as he should have been. All things minor, but for a while there it seemed like it was one thing after another. Since then, it has been almost 6 weeks, and with no colds, and a switch to formula, and I was happier then ever to take my little guy in to get a full (scheduled) checkup, head to toe. 

The diagnosis?

He's perfect. 

Like perfect, perfect.

This surprises no one but me. 

I don't know if it's due to the years of anxiety during my "infertile" period, or the fact that he was conceived out of my body, or the fear from when we thought there may be something wrong with him after those false-positive tests results, but for some reason I have been harboring this idea that there just has to be something wrong. I look at my baby, and I see this beautiful little boy, and I still just can't believe he's here, and that he is, in fact perfect. I don't know what changed, but yesterday, for some reason, it was like a flip was switched, and I feel like I can finally can relax, knowing he's here, and there is really is nothing wrong with him. The best part, of course, is that he's all mine... and I don't ever have to give him back. As my Dad would say, he's a keeper. 

Here's my "perfect" little boy at 16 weeks (as you can see, they are no longer concerned about his weight... his thighs alone must weigh 5lbs!) 

Photos courtesy of his amazingly talented Auntie Jaimie, of Jaimie Arnold Photography.