Multiples

Not much to report, other than I have the worlds most beautiful son. We've been hanging inside playing with all of his toys. We've played Trouble about 25 times (thanks Aunt Veronica), Cole has played his computer game about 25 times, he has read his Tag books multiple times (thanks Grandma and Grandpa), and in some small way, I'm ready to go back to work. It's exhausting entertaining and educating a 4 year old. I sincerely admire all stay at home parents. It really is the worlds toughest job.

Jingle Jangle

Merry Christmas! Let's first start by talking about traditions. You all know we go to the Gilpin Cty Fair every year with Rachel and Sierra. This is were we capture the growth of our little ones with ceramic hand prints, to remind us that they were once small.

The next tradition is going to Aunt Donna's for Christmas Eve. I can't tell you how long we've been doing this. I guess since I was little but my memory only goes back until sometime in High School, when my beautiful grandparents were still around. We all meet at my Aunt Donna's house, share baked goodies (I've included a picture of the treats we brought. The best homemade chocolate chip cookies EVER. They were so beautiful I had to take a picture), sing songs, get a visit from Santa, the kids do a craft (which decorate our tree every year), we rejoice in family, love, warmth, and blessings. This year we were treated with some instrumental music by my cousins and it was such a nice NEW treat for the evening.

But before all that wonderment occurred, we changed things up and went early to my mom's since we decided we would spend Christmas at our own house, creating Velez traditions. So, an early arrival, to some appetizers, a Honey Baked Ham, homemade America Test Kitchen - All-Time-BEST scallop potatoes, garlic rolls, and mixed greens with apples, nuts, and cransraisins, awaited us. Glorious!

As you know from previous posts, we do a name exchange so this is when we get to open presents and enjoy each others company. It was such a beautiful night. Maybe I enjoyed it more this year because of Cole or maybe it's because my heart is more open....no matter....it was a wonderful night.

This morning was just an extension of the joyeous evening. Cole woke early and I'm glad cuz I didn't sleep very good. I was too excited! We opened presents, ate Chris' famous eggs terrible (absolutely without a doubt, the best breakfast dish EVER....ok, maybe second to my Dad's biscuits and gravy), heard about how GREAT and WONDERFUL and ALL KNOWING Santa is.

We went to a movie (pretty sure a new tradition for us that will continue on). All three of us rode our new BIKES outside since it's ABSOLUTELY Gorgeous today. There is no way in a million years we could ever wish for anything better this.

We'll wrap up the day with another tradition by having dinner with Uncle Joe, Deborah, and Michael. It's a perfect end to a perfect day.

Well, the two months of talking about Santa have come and gone and we're left with a room full of new toys, all of which had to be opened one right after another, and every game had to be played practically at the same time this morning. It's like a hurricane came in, conquered, and left without a care in the world.

Love to all.

Cream of Wheat

As a kid, my mom would make us Cream of Wheat, sometimes for breakfast and sometimes for a breakfast dinner. Either way it was delicious. Pour a little milk, add too much sugar, eat with buttered toast. YUMMY!

Well, it's probably been 15 years since I ate Cream of Wheat. I saw a box of it at my brothers house (probably to be used as baby food) and my childhood memories came flowing. So, I took myself to the store, bought a box and made it for breakfast this morning. It was just as good as I remember, although for some reason, I think things especially like Cream of Wheat taste so much better when they are made by our moms with love. Don't get me a wrong, I poured some love in the pan because I had high hopes that my little monkey would eat it. But, maybe it just wasn't enough love (or enough sugar) because he only took one bite.

So, for what it's worth mom...thanks for all the yummy bowls of Cream of Wheat you made with love for me!

Proud moments

Cole's first holiday concert was on Tuesday. An early pick up from school, a quick trip to the barber (ok, not the barber because he remembers his first trip there and apparently was tramatized, but Great Clips...close enough), a new shirt (I thought it was suppose to be white, but apparently I can't read since all the other kids were in RED), left over pizza, and off we went with our little singer.

Cole has a tendency to get VERY shy in front of people so we kept talking about not being nervous and just singing as loud as he could and standing still and he was PERFECTION! I'm pretty sure seeing him stand up there in front of 125 ppl, so confident, was one of those never-forgot-as-long-as-I live-PROUD-parent-moments. He was so brave and sang so good and just look so friggin CUTE. Hopefully video to come soon....

Traditions

This weekend we held to our tradition of joining Rachel and Sierra at the Gilpin Cty Holiday Fair. Some highlights:

1. Cole and I decided to ride the bus up to Nederland since I'm such a chicken driving in the snow. This produced unwanted car sickness for me...urgh!

2. When Rachel and Sierra picked us up, it was time for some carrolling by the kids. We love this clip because Cole doesn't quite know all the words so he just puts in some "huhs" to fill in the gaps. And roll the clip:

3. Once at the fair, it's the typical face painting, cookie decorating, Santa visit and hand print printing.

4. We finished up our day with a nice long cozy nap and dinner with Dad.

And that was our Saturday. Hip Hip Hooray!

Fascinations

I'm fascinated by many things (mostly things that I see on TLC):

1. Treeman - must google - discovery channel http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/my-shocking-story/previous-episodes/half-man-half-tree/

2. Lady with the GIANT legs - again, must google - http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MedicalMysteries/story?id=5754738&page=1

3. How bridges are built over large masses of water

4. Obsesity

5. John and Kate plus 8 - I can barely handle one, how can they possibily manage 8

Mr. Wonderful is vying for attention while I try to concentrate on writing my blog. He is reading silly jokes to me. It's hard for me to concentrate....he's laughing in my ear, but I'm trying to remain focused on this blog....it's not working very well.

6. Wolf girl http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/my-shocking-story/episode-guide/real-wolf-kids/

7. Mermaid girl - http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a8e_1191760466

8. Conjoined twins that have been seperated

(maybe I should have been a doctor because these medical rarities are quite fasinating)

9. Single Parents - they amaze me! I'm sure I could do it, but I am SO thankful that I don't have to.

10. I'm sure there is a number 10 but I can't come up with it right now.

For all the Melissa Peterson's

You know what happens when kids come into our lives? Everything else stops. We're consumed by these beautiful little bugs. Our lives resolve around them. Sleep, feed, eat, play. Eventually, they run us ragged and we find ourselves quickly asleep (on the couch watching TV) or on purpose in bed soon after their bedtime.

But what happens to the people around us during our chaotic, exhausting, love filled bliss? The people in our lives, our friends and family, are still there. They support us, mentor us, love us, and WAIT for us. They wait for us to have time for THEM.

So, I dedicate this post to all my wonderful friends and I know they are truly friends because we can pick up exactly where we left off even if it's been two years or two months. I'm calling this the "Melissa Peterson phenomenom". I'm not sure I could count all the number of friends this applies to. But, they've WAITED, just like Melissa. It's been two years since I saw Melissa (we live 20 minutes from each other). I've been on her email threads for funnies or upcoming get togethers, but they often went unreplied to by me. Or calls that I thought about making hundreds of times, but never got around to it. Or visits that were never arranged.

It's amazing how life flies by; how much we take for granted...like all the Melissa Peterson's in our lives. It's also for all the other people in my life that I talk to every two days, two hours, or two minutes. My life is richer because of each of you.

I love you all. Thank you for waiting for me.

Sassy Sappy Signing off.

Christmas Spirit

It's official. We're ready for Christmas.

We've put up the tree and decorated it, with tons of help from Cole.
Mr. Wonderful hung the lights up outside.
Frosty and Santa inflatables are now present on the front lawn.

Cole and I went to the tree lighting ceremony for the City of Broomfield.

Cole and Michael made holiday crafts at the free library craft day.

I celebrated with co-workers at NITA 3rd Annual Holiday Party

*yes, that's right, Ruth's hand IS on Mary's boob!

In the spirit of holiday giving, Michelle treated Cole and I to the Seussical play. Fun!

Next up will be Cole's concert at school. His class is singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

And on a seperate note, we've been wondering all weekend how Grandma Carol and Aunt Darla did in the Las Vegas Half Marathon. Calling them now.....

Love to all.

Christmas Giving

So we drew names on Thanksgiving for who we get to buy presents for this year and the list goes as follows:

Wendy has Mom
Mom has Veronica
Veronica has Cole
Cole has Chris
Chris has Eliana
Eliana has Frank
Frank has Brian
Brian has Derrick
Derrick has Wendy

Happy Shopping!