Introducing...

 ... our newest family members Phineas and Ferb! 

Santa surprised the LM with two (female) Guinea Pigs, which of course immediately became two brothers, and my little guy COULD NOT be happier. They are both so cuddly and gentle, and (fingers crossed) they haven't pooped out of the cage yet ;). The only downside is that I've kind of forgotten what the LM looks like, because he is always in his room cuddling with "his babies." 

The look on his face when he first saw them is something I will never forget. This, my friends, is what Christmas Magic is made of. I hope you all had a relaxing and joyful holiday. 

Currently.

 Like most of you, I still can't get the thoughts of what happened in Newtown, last week, out of my head. It's the first thing I think of when I wake up at night, and throughout the day I find that my thoughts are always with those poor babies. Ever since I heard the tragic news, I can't get enough of my kids. Like all of a sudden they are more real, and fragile, and funny, and sweet, and they smell and feel different. I can't stop holding them, touching them, and feeling so grateful that I got to spend this entire week, in beautiful, sunny California, with almost my entire family. I was so relieved not to have to send the LM to school on Monday, and currently he is sleeping on the floor of our room. Knowing that he is only an arms reach away has brought me so much comfort these past few days. Yet, I still feel so much sadness, for those 26 families who never get to see their precious loved ones again. My heart is so heavy, and I am JUST SO ANGRY, and even more so today, after that press conference from the "other side." I don't know what the solution is to forever stop this kind of sensless violence (short of banning all guns, which I am totally in favor of) but I do know that the answer is not fighting guns with more guns. Violence with more violence. No, now, more than ever we need a feeling of peace, community, love, understanding, and infinite time with the ones we love. I hope you all have some of that in your life. 

Here is how I've been spending my days with the boys (when I am willing to let them out of my arms, of course.)

Peace to you all.

Devastating.

 As I sat down to work on today's weekend links, my mother texted me with the devastating news from Connecticut. Considering that I have a kindergarten age child, there is honestly part of me that can't even begin to process what those families must be going through, because even thinking about it simply rips my heart in half. I spent my morning at the LM's school for his holiday sing along, and I imagine that this is happening at schools all around the country, and this is EXACTLY what should be happening.  Not terrified children marching out of school because some coward decided to change their lives forever by walking in to their school, right before the holidays. Not having to live in a country where our top politicians DON"T EVEN TALK ABOUT GUN CONTROL, let alone do anything about it. Not in a place that doesn't make access to mental health readily accessible to everyone and make it a PRIORITY, because if people don't get the help they need, or can't afford it, this will continue to happen. I am just so disgusted, right now Congress is up in arms, debating taxing the top 1% of Americans, and they can't even find a way to make it so their youngest citizens, the future of this nation, can just go to school safely. Every community in America deserves this, and we first need to pull together and grieve for this community that will be forever changed, and then as parents STAND UP to protect our children. Clearly, no one else is going to do it for us. 

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone, everywhere. 

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to let go of my kids today. 

(I'll try to get to those weekend links tomorrow, everything just seems so frivolous, you know?)

P.S. A great article on how to talk to your kids about violent events in the news 

Holiday Card 2012.

Our annual holiday card is in, and I'd like to virtually wish you all the happiest of holidays and a spectacular New Year! Thank you for reading every day!

xx

Oops.

Poor Gray.

Yesterday, while we were running around town, I realized that Gray's hair was in his eyes and he was in desperate need of a hair cut. We popped by my salon, and due to Gray's unwillingness to sit still, and the fact that we were being squeezed in between appointments, a little bit more hair than expected was lost. Make that a lot more hair. The end result is well... see for yourself. 

Oops.

Do you think he resembles anyone?

Gap teeth? Too short of a bowl cut?

Anyone, anyone?

How about this guy?

Yep, separated at birth.

Note to self: Buy hair gel.

Currently.

Well, hello there Monday. Where did you come from... and why do you always come so damn quick? My plans to get my act together and trim down that to do list, were derailed by a 1) mystery fever for Gray, and 2) ear infection for the LM which meant a lot more time cuddling in the rain, and a lot less time running around town. Hmmmm, looking back, maybe this was not such a bad thing? Even though we were dawn a man or two, we still managed to get our tree, and to my amazement the LM decorated about 90% of it. Child labor = awesome. Surprisingly, we even snuck in a family dinner, which is always the highlight of my week. Of course, all that fun comes at a cost, and I'm pretty sure I will be paying it all week, until we leave for sunny (I hope) California on Sunday. Here is a little of what we were up too this past week or two. As you can see we are in FULL holiday mode 'round these parts!

Getting crafty.

BOTH kids cannot stop watching skateboarding. I'm pretty sure they aren't blinking/breathing either!

Date night with Mom, learning how to play hangman (minds were blown)

A little convo with the big guy, Guinea Pigs were the topic of discussion (yep, that's still happening)

 Obligatory cooking making.

... and Christmas list writing. 

Christmas tree shopping in the rain.

Trying out the hurricane simulator at the MOS.

Tis the season.

The two week countdown to Christmas is on... eek!

P.S. Happy happy Hanukkah to those of you who celebrate!