Damien Turns 36!

My Husband.  Amazing.  Funny.  Caring.  Cute.  Strong.  Smart.  All Mine.

Yep, my hubby is another year older and another year more loved!  It has been quite the birthday week for him.  First, gifts from my family.  Then, a party and celebratory breakfast in Healdsburg, and now- a night at Dave and Busters with the kids and his childhood friend Derek and his wife, Lindy.

We had the greatest time at Dave and Busters!  It has been years since we have been there and this was the first time the kids have been there (at least since they can remember).  If you have never been there, it is basically a video game/ carnival game heaven!  Skee ball, horse races, pop-a-shots, air hockey, classic video games and so much more!  There is also a restaurant where you can get some pretty good food!  The kids went from game to game and had smiles on their faces the whole time!  Michael won a 500 ticket jackpot, our entire family played six person Dayton 500, Emily managed not to seriously maim anyone while hurling the Skee balls sideways, while Matthew and Claire battled each other at the horse races.  It was so much fun!!!

Back in college, Damien and Derek used to battle each other in Street Fighter.  I have heard more stories about it than you can imagine.  Seriously, more stories about Sagat, Ken, Chun-Li and the other fighters I know absolutely nothing about but nod my head in agreement that they are so cool!  Well, Damien and Derek found a Street Fighter game there and the battle was on.  Two grown men, staring at the screen without blinking, intense looks on their faces, while they moved their hands on the controls faster than I thought was humanly possible.  This only stopped when one of them would let out a HUGE scream, turn to the other, pump their fists, and rub their victory in the other's face.  I loved it.  These two, suddenly fifteen years younger, transported to their dirty college living room, procrasting a ten page paper only to have Sagat take down Ken in a dominating fashion.  Yep, that about sums it up.

After dinner, we came home and had some of Damien's favorite cake and opened some gifts.  We celebrated New Years based on east coast time, threw Pop It's in the backyard and fired off a few fake fireworks before we sent the kids to bed and enjoyed some adult time with our friends. 

Happy Birthday, Damien.  You are loved by so many.  You sincerely brighten the lives of more people than you know.  You are a hero to our kids and continue to love us in all ways we didn't even think possible.  You are my best friend and I love that I could hang out with you for days and never grow tired of you.  I hope the year ahead brings you continued health, many blessings, and much laughter from your kids that love you so much!  Happy Birthday!!!

OLE! Damien's Family Birthday Party

Today is our last day in Healdsburg.  We are heading back to San Jose in the morning to spend Damien's actual birthday at home!  Damien was so happy that a lot of his family was able to join us for his birthday dinner at Chevy's!  My kids loved seeing their cousins Megan, Catie, and Pascale and enjoyed wandering around the table to talk with their aunts, uncles, and grandparents. 

We shared a lot of laughs and enjoyed celebrating Damien.  He touches so many of our lives so deeply and tonight was a chance to celebrate him and all that he means to us!  Happy Early Birthday, Damien!!!

Emily's Black Eye

My wild, crazy, awesome, dare-devilish, stunt loving daughter took a nose dive at Damien's parent's house today.  It's not uncommon that Emily falls since she is always doing crazy things- but it's unusual that she actually hurt herself!  Apparently- Damien was standing right by my sweet little girl when she tripped on the carpet and fell face first into the door jam.  Emily didn't get her hands out in time and smashed full force into the door.  I happened to come upstairs right after and saw her crying, okay screaming, with Damien.  Naturally, I grabbed her and looked at her face.  I got that kind of feeling where you want to yell 'Oh my gosh!  That is terrible!' but instead you say 'You're okay!  It's not that bad!   Seriously, I felt so bad for her.  She was wailing and that is unlike my tough Emmy.

I did convince her to put ice on her eye which I am sure helped it.  It's just that it sure didn't look like it helped it!  It looked awful!  The swelling got worse throughout the day and I was worried her eye was going to swell shut.  Luckily- it got close but didn't swell all the way.  It became discolored almost immediately and I had the hardest time looking at her without feeling so bad for her!  My poor Emily.  I hope this gets better soon!

Christmas in Healdsburg

We spent one evening at home in San Jose between our trips to Kirkland and Healdsburg.  This left me a few hours to unpack the eight bags (yes, eight bags) of dirty cloths and gifts.  Believe it or not, this was such a good thing for me.  It forced me to get everything organized- otherwise, I might have tried to ignore those bags for weeks! 

The drive up to Healdsburg was a pleasant one.  Maybe our best yet!  We got there in well under the customary two hours and all the kids were happy and quiet!  Damien's parents were so happy to see us.  They had everything waiting for us.  The presents were stacked neatly by the tree, there were goodies out on the table, and everyone was in good spirits and ready to have some fun!

Papa had this adorable sleigh that he used with all of the grandkids for a holiday photo shoot.  I love the way this turned out.  It looks so childlike and whimsical.  Marlene had given the kids all hats as part of their Christmas presents and I think they look adorable in them!  The style of Matthew and Emily's hat slayed me. 

We had a wonderful time celebrating with Damien's family.  The gift giving, crab feeding, laugh inducing, too-much-dessert-eating, fun was fabulous.  We're looking forward to celebrating Damien's birthday in a few days.  Merry Christmas, Headlsburg style.

Emily's Dora Kitchen

I am writing this just as PROOF that Santa did indeed make two separate trips for our family this year!  Christmas morning, Emily received a picture of the Dora Kitchen in our front room in San Jose!  She asked Santa for this awesome toy and he came through for her!  Santa knew that if he gave this Kitchen to Emily in Washington- she wouldn't be able to get it home.  What a smart guy!  He made a special trip to San Jose, came down our chimney, and delivered the Dora Kitchen to our little lady!  When we came home today from the airport, Emily burst through the front doors and saw her special delivery!  She shouted, "Du-Dora!!!"  (She says Dora's came like this because of the way it's sung in the theme song.)  She couldn't be happier right now.  Thanks Santa!!

Merry Christmas 2012

We had tried to set some wake up limits for the kids on Christmas Eve.  We told them that they couldn't get out of bed until 7:30 a.m. in the hopes that we all might actually get some decent sleep.  Who are we kidding?  You can't tell kids to wait on Christmas morning!  I awoke just after 7:00 a.m. by a nudge from a sweet little ten year old who was begging me to let them go upstairs to see if Santa had come.  'Of course you can!'

Damien and I were exhausted.  We knew we would have to drag ourselves out of bed or we would never forgive ourselves going forward.  Emily was still sleeping so we opted to leave her in her crib and let the big kids go explore their new goodies!  As expected- they were beside themselves when they saw all of the goodies Santa had brought them!  Michael and Claire found their stockings and presents first.  Claire searched through her things and was so happy that she got the digital camera she wanted so badly! 

Michael was in complete shock that Santa had brought him an iPod Shuffle and a camera.  He didn't say much.  Just checked it all out in silence!  Matthew was so happy to have his Mario DS holder and his new DS games.  He ripped right past those and went into this stocking to see what other treasures he got!  Emily was not the happiest of campers when she woke up.  I think she was a little confused that Santa had finally come and brought her toys!  We have talked about it for so long that she really couldn't process that it had actually happened!

Emily got half way up my Mom's staircase before she started crying and needed to be carried the rest of the way.  We walked her over to her new pile of toys.  There was a baby doll, the much-demanded gum, and a photo of her Dora Kitchen which Santa so cleverly took in our living room in San Jose and then brought up to her in Kirkland.  It took some time for her to warm up to it all- but once she did, she was in heaven!!!

Before we opened gifts, I made breakfast for the whole family.  All fourteen of us had all spent the night at my Mom and Dad's on Christmas Eve.   We feasted on cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, and this delicious egg casserole that we have been making for years.  It was yummy!

Opening gifts was really fun.  It is so interesting to see what people get for one another.  This year- everyone was again spoiled with such amazing gifts.  But to be honest and risk sounding cliched- it was be surrounded by so much love, good fortune, and many wonderful people that was the greatest gift of all.

Before we knew it- the speakers were blasting some great music while an impromptu dance party had broken out in the kitchen.  Laura singing karaoke into a wooden spoon, a puzzle on the table which had not yet been completed (maybe because Gina had eaten a piece of it the night before), my Mom talking into her new iPhone and having conversations with Siri, Jill and my Dad enjoying some coffee on the couch, Michael, Claire, and Gina on top of the counter dancing (all true), Gina and Laura wearing Mrs. Bieber and I LOVE Nick buttons on their shirts, Natalie running circles around the kitchen island with a hysterically laughing Emily on her shoulders, Matthew playing his new Sponge Bob fishing game with Damien, while I looked around and thought about how much I love this incredibly amazing madness. 

I hope everyone had the most Merry of Christmases.  We sure did.  Much love to my beautiful family who made me feel so blessed this year.  Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Cookies and Milk

After we left my Aunt Carol's house, we came home and put on the Christmas pajamas my Mom bought us all.  The kids looked adorable in their matching outfits and my sisters and I thoroughly enjoyed our sweatpants from Victoria's secret.  Once we were all comfy, the kids gathered all of the necessary ammunition to fill Santa's tummy when he came down our chimney! 

Laura is the best.  She was front and center with all of the kids and made sure she played a pivotal point in the cookie and milk process!  In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, my Mom helped all the kids make their own cookies for Santa.  They all were thrilled to be able to put some of their very own homemade cookies out for Santa. 

A few (okay, like eight) carrots for the reindeer and a tall glass of milk- and we were ready!  All of the kids settled down to sleep pretty soundly.  They have had a packed couple of days so they are exhausted!  We all can't wait to see if Santa comes in the morning.  Good night everyone!!!

Christmas Eve

I absolutely love Christmas Eve in Kirkland.  It is one of those days/evenings that brings me right back to my childhood.  It's the friends and family that we celebrate with, the smell of the seafood feast being prepared in the kitchen, the bowls of gummy bears throughout my Aunt Carol's house, the excitement in the air as we wait for Santa to come down the stairs and give everyone a gift.  For me, this evening holds the most nostalgic power over my senses.  It is the closest I can get to being a kid again and I eat up every dreamy minute of it.

Mass this Christmas Eve was wonderful.  Usually, the church is packed and there is only room to stand.  This year- they decided to hold two simultaneous masses and it really made a difference.  We were able to hear everything the priest said, we were able to be more pensive and ever present in the notion that Jesus would be born in the morning.  It grounded us all in our faith and Jesus' birth which is the real reason we celebrate Christmas anyway.  It was simply a wonderful Mass. 

Off to Aunt Carol's where the smells tickled my senses and made Damien's senses go on over drive!  He is not the biggest fan of the seafood feast.  He wants his turkey and he wants it now!  Well to that I say, 'Better luck next year!  Let the calamari, butterflied prawn, shrimp pasta, salmon fillet eating party commence!'  Truthfully, I feel for him.  It's not what he associates with Christmas Eve and that is a hard thing.  However, when I am down in California for Christmas and eating turkey- it doesn't do it for me either.  At least one of us is happy every year!

I loved catching up with my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.  It is so crazy to see how many little kids there were running around!  As a family, we have produced A LOT of kiddos!  This year, there were five kids all within one year of each other.  Five little four/five year olds . . . in addition to all the other kids.  One funny thing that happened this year was that Gina organized a small group of the kids to rap a song.  It had hand motions and everything.  Raise the tree, Ring the Bell, Snow Angel, Cut the Tree- chop, chop, 1-2-3 Happy Holidays!  My kids loved learning the song and doing all of the motions. 

No sooner did they finish performing did all the kids go to the window to see if they could find Rudolph's nose!  Somehow, every year- Laura manages to find it first!  While they were looking they heard sleigh bells and then Santa came down the stairs!  It was pretty hysterical!  All of the screaming, all of the jumping, all of the joyful signs that Santa was finally here! 

We all received our presents, we finished off the night with a Christmas carol or two, and said our goodbyes. As we left, the little cousins wished each other luck that Santa would hopefully visit their house's in the middle of the night.  I heard a few of them say to each other, "Please let me be on the good list!"  We'll just have to wait until morning to see if he came!!  Merry Christmas Eve!!

Jolly Old Saint Nick

My Mom has a picture of me with Santa from the time I was a newborn until I was 25 years old.  While I am quite certain they were different Santas, I have always had my picture taken by the same Santa Company.  I love looking back at the Santa pictures from when I was little.  It shows the evolution of our family as Santa's lap became fuller each time I got a new sibling!  We love looking back at the outfits we were wearing and then seeing the same outfit on another sister a few years later.  It is absolutely classic. 

I, too have started the tradition of getting my kids picture taken with Santa every year.  I always take them to see Santa for a picture when we are up in Washington and either do it when we are there for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  The kids were so excited to see him this year.  Matthew was nervous he wouldn't remember everything he wanted, Emily repeated the words Dora House, Gum over and over on the car ride over.  It was almost like she was rehearsing so she wouldn't mess up.  Claire and Michael were cool, calm, and collected and helped their little siblings bridle their excitement.

We try and go mid day so there isn't a line.  Sure enough- we were able to just walk up and see Santa!  Emily was a bit hesitant at first but she eventually warmed up and sat on his lap.  I love the pictures in the past where one of the kids are crying.  Not because I enjoy seeing them cry- but it speaks volumes about the age/maturity level they were at at the time.  Sadly, I think I am beyond the crying pictures.  All four kids were able to smile on cue and we got a great picture! 

Santa really took his time to talk to the two little guys.  He asked what they wanted and thankfully, they both successfully asked for the right things!  He told them to listen carefully on Christmas night to see if they could hear the reindeer hooves on the roof.  He also told them that he gets very hungry and thirsty so a cookie and some milk would be wonderful.  Lastly, he said that the reindeer would need some carrots for energy.  The whole exchange, with Matthew and Emily really taking everything Santa said to heart, was amazing.