Christmas Day 2009

On Christmas Eve, before the children went to bed, we gave them strict instructions that they were NOT to open any presents before we were all up and ready to do it together. Of course, Asia has just turned two years old, so we were dubious as to how much she understood, she kept telling us 'Birthday! Birthday! My Birthday' as it was so fresh in her memory. We tried to explain that it was Christmas and that everybody was going to get presents, not just her, to which she replied 'No! My birthday'.

Amazingly, when we got up (earlier than we would have liked, I might add), not a present had been touched, I was so proud of my little pumpkins. They did so well this year, as well, with taking turns opening their presents and watching to see what each other got. In between opening presents, Asia would jump up and say 'More...more!' as she would do a little happy dance.

They all had such great attitudes. Arran had told me a few days before, that if we got him flowers, that even though boys do not really like flowers, he would still be grateful for them. Needless to say, we did not get him flowers and he seemed to genuinely love everything he received, telling us it was just what he wanted and had been hoping for.

Bryttain, of course, is always enthusiastic about everything, it is just her personality, everything is 100% and nothing less. We just have great kids!

Hurray for the sun

At the beach with Auntie Caridad, despite his sullen look, Arran did have fun!

Yesterday was a beautiful day, so we headed out to Bodega, to Salmon Creek Beach. I had us all bundled up in plenty of layers, but it was the clearest, I think, I have ever seen it. We can go out there in the middle of summer, in the blazing heat and get to a windy beach, shrouded in fog - but this was the perfect day; barely even a breeze and sunny. We were soon peeling off layers.

Auntie Caridad had the great idea to take the kids to the inlet, to look for fish, so we did end up with some wet children. There were no fish to be found, much to Arran's disappointment, but he still had fun, chasing the seagulls. There was some sand digging, some sand flinging (which had to be addressed and let to some trauma) but all in all it was a fun little outing.

Our little ballerina

Tuesday was a whole day of ballet. Bryttain had ballet portraits done in the morning, before her class, then it was home for a quick lunch, naps and by the time all the kids were up again, it was time to get her in costume and hair done for her little recital.

She had been so excited and looking forward to this day and she totally looked the part, well as much as a three year can. She was excited that we were all coming to watch, that auntie Caridad was here to see, that she was going to be on the stage, with lights! She was about as cute as she could possibly be.

There was no flash photography allowed, so forgive the grain in the following photos, I had to send my ISO skyhigh to get anything.

Starting and ending pose for 'Baby Swans' the rest of the dance kind of got lost with the shock of a live audience.

I'm a little teapot ballet-style

Bryttain with her cousin Michaelanne, who recently joined her class.

Bryttain with one of her best friends Abi, her cousin and their teacher Miss Zourra

She is just so precious and loves that she has something that is hers and I, of course, am a very proud mummy.

Just the two of us!!!!!!!!!!!

James and I had not been away together, alone, without children, since Arran was born. That's almost six years. We love our kids dearly, we love to be with them, to be a family, but sometimes it is easy to forget that we are still a couple, independent of being parents, of being a family.

Would we have gone away sooner had the opportunity arisen? Maybe! Who knows? The opportunity has never arisen as we have never had anybody to leave three children with (that is a hard one to ask of anyone outside of family really). But with my sister here, ready and willing and able, it was finally time. Sunday was the day to head off. It was just one night, as everyone had to be broken in gently, but it was a much needed and welcome first.

Leaving ended up being a little traumatic, with Arran clutching at our clothes, begging us not to leave, resulting in James in tears as we drove away. Fortunately, we soon got a text to let us know that he had pulled himself together and was happy that we had gone.

We drove up the coast to Mendocino and stayed in town, at the Mendocino Hotel.

We weren't in the hotel itself, but back in the Garden Suites area.

We checked in and unloaded our gear. I was so excited, we had eaten at the hotel in the past, but never stayed there before and it looked like it would be perfect. We had made sure to get a room with a fireplace and a bath, as James loves to soak...but I have to say, I was actually pretty disappointed.

The room was OK, but really nothing special and the bathroom was barely even average, it could have been a bathroom in any apartment complex or, maybe hotel, in California. I tried to just deal with it, telling myself to not be a brat, that the main thing was that we had time alone, away, together. We decided to go for a walk around town, to figure out where we would eat dinner and get a bottle of wine for later.

Then it started to rain! We were not wearing waterproof gear, we did not have umbrellas and I just felt like everything was going wrong, as I traipsed along, feeling like a drowning rat. When we got back to our room, I told James how bummed I was. I had just wanted it to be special, this was our first time away in almost six years and we certainly were not staying in the cheapest place in town and I had just expected more.

He said he would call the front desk to see if there was anything else available. Sometimes I wonder if it is my own introverted nature, or British reserve, or if it is something to do with my upbringing, but why is it that I hate to be a nuisance so much? Why do I worry about what people might think if I complain? Well thank goodness that James does not suffer from any of those feelings or sentiments, he called and asked if there might be something with a nicer bathroom and the end result was that we got upgraded to a lovely suite.

Our separate living area, bedroom through the door.

Our much cosier bedroom with a seriously high bed that we had to climb into. A much improved bathroom - to my right was also a shower and behind me a toilet behind another door.

It was like night and day and the upgrade changed our whole outlook, we were finally able to relax and enjoy our time. We went out for a lovely dinner and came back to a cozy fire and bottle of wine. It ended up being perfect.

The next morning, after the luxury of not being woken up by little ones and not having to get up to take care of their needs, we headed to the hotel for a leisurely cooked breakfast, with a view of the ocean.

After checking out and a final wander around town, peeking in various little shops, we headed back home.

It felt so surreal, yet perfectly normal at the same time. I am so glad I am married to this man and as much as I would never wish away these precious years with our children being so young and sweet and wanting to be with us, I look forward to the time when James and I will have more time together again. It was good to be reminded of each other again, free from distractions.

Goal for the coming year is to figure out a way to do a weekend away together.

A special day

Jenny Weaver, our lovely ex-babysitter is no more....she recently got engaged and moved away to go to school and today was her wedding day; she is now Jenny Bjerke!

I had the complete honor of taking photos of her getting ready (which you can soon see a sneak peak of over on my photography blog). Then our whole family came back for the wedding itself. She was radiant, and beautiful as ever. She is such a special young lady, so giving and genuine with a love of people and especially children. Our children love her and miss her now that she is no longer here. We miss her too and need to find a new babysitter!

I had bought the girls their first ever matching dresses yesterday and they looked adorable. Bryttain was so excited to get to dance in her pretty dress and see Jenny in her princess dress. We even managed to get a friend to take a family photo of us, which we were in dire need of as the last photo we had of the five of us was before Asia was even six months old.

Christmas is coming

I am so far behind on my blogging. My sister has arrived and we are busy trying to get ready for Christmas. The children are all so excited to have their auntie here to visit (and at this stage, fully expect to see her at Christmas time). They are constantly asking where she is and what she is doing (even when she is in the bathroom!). They tell her she looks like me, and me that I look like her. Sometimes they pretend to get us confused, then giggle.

Last week we finally went out to buy our tree, but it was too late to decorate it that same evening, so the next day the children wanted to set to work. They were just giddy with the anticipation and excitement. I kept suggesting that we wait until daddy got home, but they were so eager to get started, that start we did...and finish!

There was a part of me that was sad that it had not been a family affair, but then James ended up having to work late into the night anyway, and they would not have lasted another day without decorating the tree. They worked so hard and really put a lot of thought and effort into it and I really did not have to do an awful lot of re-arranging so it all worked out well. James came home later that night after the children were all in bed, to a beautiful tree and all he had to do was lift it on to the table.

Not the best shots in the world, but this is our tree, before being put up on the table in the corner and having the tree skirt added...we like it. The kids LOVE it.

Now if only James could somehow find some time to put a few lights on the house!

My Girls

Weekday mornings are girl time; daddy is at work and Arran is at school.

I love to see the relationships between all of my children. Arran and Bryttain were such good buddies before Asia came along and they still are, but now Bryttain and Asia are best friends too. Of course, they both adore their older brother and are SO excited to see him when it is time to get him from school, but their own bond since he has started school has grown so much stronger. They play 'Mommy and babies' together, sometimes with their dolls, sometimes with Bryttain being mommy whilst Asia is the baby and I think Bryttain really does think of herself as Asia's second mom! Yes, at all of three years old, she tries to take that role upon herself.

Yesterday morning I was able to snap a few photos of the two of them. I finally have a decent flash and it has been too cold to venture outside too much so it is the perfect time to be practicing. (Disclaimer: Bryttain styled her own hair).

They are too precious and just continue to take my breath away!

Birthdays

Last week was Asia's and James' birthdays. I still cannot quite believe that Asia is already two years old. She is my baby, but each day there is less and less baby left. She is my little sweetheart and blesses me beyond belief. My heart swells with joy when I am around her, she is just so fun and sweet and affectionate and her little personality shines through more and more each day. She is saying so much and can communicate pretty much anything she wants to now, even if in some cases we have to find a work around.

Of course she is still a little young to understand the concept of a party and certainly had no expectations, so we were able to keep it low key, although her brother and sister had other ideas. We decided to keep it simple with pizza and invite the two families with her two best buddies over. I went to the party store to pick up a few balloons at least but Arran and Bryttain were expecting much more, so party hats and blowers were added to the basket.

I love my girl. She spent the whole evening blowing party blowers.


And another blower.

One of her goofy little friends, being a little goofy :)

James scored some interesting beers from his friends and an octave mandolin from his ever loving wife, although, seeing as he earns all the money these days, I am not quite sure how that works. Asia has her very own tricycle now and doll stroller and a Hello Kitty tin purse which goes everywhere with her, plus an adorable teddy bear.

It was not really before, but "Mine!' is now firmly implanted in her vocabulary. These are not hand-me-down items, but her very own, although with a little encouragement she is very good with her sharing and knows all about taking turns.