Happy New Year!

The view from here:

I used to have more interesting New Year's Eve nights.  I remember parties with friends, big dinners, some drinking, and very late nights.  Well, we did have a nice, big dinner tonight, but there will be no partying, there will be no drinking, and hopefully there won't be a late night tonight.  But, there are comfy pants!  And, silly Christmas socks!  I'm okay with that.  I'm really okay with that.  Why?  Because I have 3 beautiful boys sleeping soundly upstairs.  One who loves to run on his tip toes and play choo choos.  One who loves babies, and thinks he is the silliest boy around (he really is).  And, another boy who is so big and mature for his 8 years on this Earth.

So, there will be no big parties tonight.  We're watching one of Robin Williams' stand up shows and laughing out loud.  Although, my ears aren't used to hearing all these swear words!!  I had a wonderful vegan dinner, mopped my floor, washed some of my dishes (my sister washed most of them) and picked up the living room.  So, it will be a "normal" evening.  We're all comfy and enjoying our time together.

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Christmas

Merry Christmas!!  We had a very nice Christmas this year.  My sister and her 2 kids have been living with us since the week before Thanksgiving.  Her husband is deployed, and she wanted to spend the holidays with family, so she chose to stay here.  We've had a fabulous time:  watching Christmas movies, finishing up sewing projects for Christmas, eating ice cream (ahem...) and talking.  I don't know what I'm going to do when I can't see her and her adorable kids (ages 2 1/2 and 7 months) everyday...all day.  Okay, I must not think about it.

Christmas was extra special this year because we're spending it our new (to us) home, closer to my family.  My Mom didn't have to drive 8+ hours to spend the holiday with us.  My brother was able to come up from downstate and spend the night with us.  The time we spent together this Christmas was the most I've spent with him in years.  We are closest in age, between the 4 of us siblings, so being with him is a lot like reliving my childhood. 

Since my brother was arriving on Christmas Eve, my goal was to get all the wrapping and prep work done so we could spend the night visiting and playing games, instead of him watching me wrap like a mad woman.  And, guess what?!  I did it!  I was done by the 23rd!  I know, those of you who know me are finding this hard to believe.  I'm quite the procrastinator, but I was determined, and I succeeded.  Yay for me!

So, what did we do?  We played Euchre!  With my 8 year-old son's Star Wars playing cards!  And, I drank his beer that he made.  It has been years since I've drank beer...and even longer since I've played Euchre.  I had to relearn the rules.  That was reminiscent in and of itself.  We had a great time, even though he and my hubby's team won...big time!  Oh well, I guess I need a little more practice.

This is my professional cookie decorator.   I'm wondering what's with his hair??

 And, someone was very interested in what was going on up where he couldn't see.

Big brother was doing a good job protecting the "goods".

The fruits of our labor.

The two youngest table stagers I've ever seen.

I'm finding it difficult getting a good picture where all boys are looking nicely (yes, I'm settling for them having a "not horrible" look on their faces).

Whoops, can't quite see boy number two's whole face.

Now boy number three isn't quite looking at the camera.

Someone has a case of the sillies.

We're getting there.

Okay, I guess I'll have to settle for this.

It took us most of the day to unwrap gifts.  We would pause to put toys together, eat breakfast, play...

My niece's ice cream cone set was a hit with everyone.

And, we spent most of the afternoon resting and putting together Legos.  That's a Mom of boys for you!

All in all, it was a great Christmas where we could all be together.

And, were all tuckered out at the end of the day.

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

All or Nothing

A friend of mine, Jessica, is a diet and fitness buff who writes a blog (http://swimbikerunmama.blogspot.com).  She also includes cute (and sometimes not so cute!) stories about her family and raising 2 boys.  I can identify with a lot of her parenting methods and challenges that she faces.  Plus, she is a great motivator to get my body moving!  Recently, she got a little personal, and blogged about some of her struggles with weight and body image.  You can find the posts here and here.  Then, the other day she talked about "all or nothing" when it comes to diet and exercise.  I can completely relate.

If I set my mind to it, I can give up any food item.  Becoming vegetarian didn't result in this way though.  I became vegetarian because I identified the animal with the food I was eating and was extremely grossed out.  I never really liked meat so becoming vegetarian was an easy change for me.  Becoming vegan (of which I often fall off the bandwagon...that darned Moomers ice cream!!) was a decision made to better my health.

But, when I attempt to change my eating habits by cutting down on sugar (my only vice anymore...but it's a big one!) it's either all or nothing for me.

Crazy, huh?  I should be able to eat sweets in moderation, but I can't.  I've given up all refined sugar and white flour before, just before I became pregnant with my second son.  I wasn't vegetarian then, but I watched what I ate, exercised regularly.  I looked and felt great.  So, why did I change a good thing?  Because I thought I could have one little something and that opened the flood gates. 

I then try to convince myself that those sugary foods are just empty calories.  Why would I want to put all that artificial junk in my body and create more work for me to burn those calories?  I don't know.  I think I feel like I'm rewarding myself...in some strange way.  Other family members (who shall remain nameless as they did not ask to go public with their personal struggles...hee hee) have expressed the same thought process with me about how they view sweets.  I've heard of some people rewarding themselves with exercise, that's what I should do.  That would be the smart choice.  But, I don't.  But, maybe I will.  I could change...maybe. 

I've not been writing very personal posts before this one, but I really admire Jessica's honesty with her struggles with weight and mommyhood.  So, I decided I'd share one of my struggles with the blogging world.  Maybe next time I'll share something else I struggle with.  Hmmm, I'll have to choose one of the many!

This wasn't so bad afterall.  And, if you feel like sharing some of your shortcomings with me, feel free!  We can bask in the glow of imperfection together!