Reunited and it feels so good!

After the stuff yourself full day on Thursday I spent the rest of the weekend in reunion mode. First at the cocktail party Friday night of the mom of a good friend of mine. That was like "reunion lite" and a good gear up to my actual reunion last night.

There were a lot of people that couldn't make it that I would have loved to have seen, but it was great seeing the crew who did make it. Here's a small sampling of the pix. I do have some really fun pix of Deb dancing, but love her too much to post them (though it's a series of very flattering shots of your posterior). All in all it was a fun night! Continuing it tonight with a few more folks that don't have to head back to their home states quite yet.

My new "must have" music

http://www.joshuaradin.com/

Ok, maybe I'm late to the Joshua Radin party, but you must find the means to acquire this man's new CD "Simple Times". Then, after you listen to his rich, folky voice (with what sounds like a hint of Irish influence) and his mello guitar sounds, read his story.

I love that he took a stand against the big music machine, sooo gutsy and risky (being a long time underwriter, I am risk-averse and therefore totally envy his intestinal fortitude). I hope he's the next household name and that big music scores this one as a huge loss. Seriously, Columbia/Sony thought there was no top 40 hit here? Sheep need not apply.

I need to go listen to "One of Those Days" again now...

Sturbridge Tournament

Spent last night and today at the karate tournament in Sturbridge. Julia's been practicing night and day b/c she was determined to get a "big" trophy this time. Now, this was only their 2nd tournament ever and the competition tends to be fierce. The kids did an AMAZING job. They both knew their "1 Kata" cold and used all the practice and techniques they've been learning. They each got participant trophies today which is great because they definitely earn them getting up in front of all those people to do what they do! (But I still think Julia got hosed in her division. Just saying.)

Judge for yourself...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...!

Yes, to me Christmas has officially begun. It started when Neil and I compiled our buying list on Saturday and I started wrapping on Sunday. I've spent the week shopping, re-ordering Christmas cards (long story) and generally getting into the Christmas spirit.

We have started some new homework rules, for those of you playing the home game, and one of the perks is a periodic celebration. The kids are left largely on their own to complete homework now (which is going REALLY well according to us and both of their teachers in conferences this past week) and when you complete a long term assignment you get a celebration. Devin had both a book report (# 2 of 10 due this year) and a Current Events topic which is written and an oral presentation to the class. Coming on the heels of those we told him he could pick a dinner out tonight to celebrate. He chose Olive Garden (shocking) and they both wanted to go see Santa (yeah!!).

Our mall Santa rocks. They import him from South Carolina every year. All hair is his own. He is my hero every year. This year our mall adapted last year's theme (reusing snow globes and the like - yeah, recycle!!) to be something to do with the Polar Express.

Happy memories of tonight - being in the snow globe, watching the snow fall on us and seeing Julia's face full of joy and wonder as she looked up at the snow. It was almost like a movie that played in slow motion. I'll never forget it. I was wiping tears away when we got to Santa.

When we got to Santa he amazed them with his recollection of their names (though later they both confessed they thought we told the workers their names - busted) and although Devin chose to sit "next" to Santa rather than on his lap, I was thrilled that, at age 9, he's still wanting to see him. Julia chose the "lap" option which made me glow. She's still my baby, after all.

They had a great chat with Santa, and I caught his eye on the walk away and mouthed "Thanks." Thanks for one more year of wonder, belief and the joy of being a kid. Thanks for that early Christmas gift for me, which I'll not soon forget. It will be only too soon before they shun the notion of the mall Santa and the real one, for that matter. I for one, still believe.

So, yes, it's Christmas time for me now.

P.S. Our mall did a brilliant thing this year and teamed up with Shutterfly for the pictures. Shutterfly sent me a $10 off coupon for the mall Santa pix. For $23 I got a reusable flash drive with our picture loaded on it and a $25 Shutterfly card-maker coupon to make prints of the photo. Such a deal!!

Nine? Continued...

A few more pix from last night...

a big Happy Birthday shout out to Oompa too! Devin and his Oompa have the same birthday, how cool is that?? Birthday boy # 2 in the red sweater!!

Nine?

Well, the last single digit birthday for Dev has come and gone. Hard to believe my "baby" is 9? He'd be horrified if he heard me call him that. I'll also share another funny story from Halloween. I was on the door while Neil and the kids trick or treated. Three girls rang the bell, cute costumes, candy handed out etc. When I hear..."Tell Devin we said hello!" I looked a little harder at the girls and realized I knew 2 of them from Dev's school. A few giggles followed as I stood stunned at the door. Has this already started?? Ack, I just sprouted another gray hair.

But, back to the birthday boy...we divorced ourselves from the whole election night and held his family party last night. It was really a lot of fun. It's the kind of night that I hope my kids will remember from childhood. A whole mess of family sitting around a big table, laughing and enjoying each other. Devin was in his glory. My Mom ordered the BEST cake for him. It's an Indiana Jones cake with the boulder that actually rolls down. Little frosting "vines" were swirled all over it. It could be the best birthday cake I've seen. Devin even had a few bites, which I consider tremendous progress for the boy who's been having some allergy related anxiety over food. All in all a great day!

Spooky Oookey

Happy Halloween! The kids were Hannah Montana and a gory Grim Reaper this year. Dev's costume had a blood pump in the chest. There was this little voice in my head that knew it was going to break and there would be fake blood all over him at some point. This concerned me a bit as I discovered it seemed to stain and he had brand new jeans on.

Well, of course it broke and there was "blood" all over him. And in my zeal to wash the clothes I forgot to take a picture of them!! Duh! It was kind of funny though, and the blood came out, go figure.

Julia had her diva act down. Papa and Aunt Bet came over to see them in their costumes and I couldn't resist taking a picture of the "paparazzi" in the kitchen too! As soon as they asked Julia for a picture, she struck a pose so naturally it was hysterical! She made a fabulous HM. The wig kept freaking Devin out though. He said it "didn't match her eyes". Hee hee.

We ran out of candy by 7:40 and had to turn the lights off. LOVE this neighborhood on Halloween!

Hopeyou all had a good one! Boo!