So Lame..

Every time I sit down to write on this blog, I feel incredibly lame for how little I post. Time is just something I have very little of these days..
Not much exciting has been happening either, I guess. Which leads my pathetic little blog to sit and collect virtual dust.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving, at my in laws. I made a ton of pumpkin and chocolate whoppie pies and some butternut squash. I spent the rest of my day listening to my youngest son begging me for a mohawk (which he now has). Giving in is just much easier than the whining, and really, it's just hair, and unfortunately, it fits him to a tee.
I got to see a beloved cousin of mine last week. I hadn't seen him since my wedding eleven years ago. He's been in the peace corp for the past 10 years, and has married, and had a baby girl this past April. It was as if no time had passed, and like the best of friendships, we picked up right where we left off. He was like a brother to me growing up (the brother I would have preferred over the loser I got stuck with). He's coming back in a year with his wife, and baby, and I can't wait to meet them both.
Last weekend my sister went to New York for her sister in laws wedding, and I had her boys. From Friday, to Monday. Naturally, it went way better than I thought, and despite the exhaustion that comes with having 6 kids in your house, I was happy to have done it. The boys were great, and even my husband had fun with all the chaos, and on the last morning, before he left for work, he went in to get them up, and say good bye.. it was sweet.
Big news with my girls.. They are finally off the bottle! I know.. they are almost 3 and a half, and should have been off of the bottle years ago, but it was their crutch. Their blankie, binky, whatever. It was something I dreaded for months and months, but knew I had to do it. On Thanksgiving morning, after much discussion over the previous week, we wrapped up their bottles in pretty Christmas paper, and gave them to their little baby cousin.. someone who really needed bottles, unlike themselves who were clearly too old for them.. They have not had a drop of milk since (they hate the taste of milk out of a cup.. weird I know..) but are instead drinking lots of water, and eating more food than I thought they were capable of eating. There were a few meltdowns, but only for one day. Of course it was easy. It's always easy once you've just done it. I was thrilled today while at the grocery store only buying 2 gallons of milk, instead of 4. (our normal consumption for milk was about 5 gallons a milk.. cha-ching!) Now we're going to really focus on the potty training.. can't wait to save money on diapering two kids!!! yee-ha!
Yesterday I spent the day making my house look like a winter wonderland.. It looks so perty (if I do say so myself). With this being our first Christmas in our new house, I had so much fun decorating.. I even gave up some control of the tree this year, and let the kids put whatever they wanted on it. And then later, moved a bunch of their shit to the back of the tree.. no one noticed, and Mommy was happy. What's more important than that??
Well, this is getting long.. and as I type, I am trying to ignore the noise coming from my sons' bedroom (sleepover with two of their friends). One of them is named Jimmy. He's a nice kid, and his first time at our house. Every time I hear this kids name, I can't help but think of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine dates a guy who constantly refers to himself in the 3rd person.. "Jimmy likes Elaine" "Jimmy thinks Elaine is really cute" (meanwhile she thinks he's talking about another guy that she thinks is cute) Anyway, it amuses my husband and I to no end..so when Jimmy wanted ketchup with his fries tonight, I couldn't help saying "Jimmy wants some ketchup. Jimmy likes ketchup"  I'm a dork, I know.. Anyway, I'm sure to have more to blog about after seeing my most favorite homosexual tomorrow.. It's never dull with that one!

Getting Ready..

I've already started my Christmas shopping, in fact, I've already started wrapping presents. This year is much different than last year. We were in the middle of trying to sell our house, and pinching every penny. I didn't have the time or the desire to get ready for the holidays. It feels so good to be on a more relaxed schedule. I'm taking my time, and trying to enjoy it all.. This past weekend we put up Christmas lights.. I know. It's early for that. But we only lite them for a bit, and we'll wait til after Thanksgiving to keep them lite and get the rest of the decorations up... the lights do look pretty though..

I also started making some new tree ornaments, and I've had so much fun doing it.. when did I turn into such a dork?? Not sure..

I'm also gearing up for having my 2 year old twin nephews stay with us this weekend. My sister, brother in law and niece are heading to NY for my brother in law's sister's wedding. I hope they have a great time.. my sister is going to meet someone famous there.. this couples son is going to be the ring bearer, and  my niece is going to be the flower girl. I told her to get LOTS of pictures with the husband of the famous couple.. the wife of this duo is filming a movie, and won't be there.. but the husband will, and him and his wife had twins this past summer, so they'll have plenty to talk about!!

Anyway, here's a pic of the ornaments I've been making..

Say Cheese!!

Today I went back to Sears, for more pictures..
My husband moaned a bit two weeks ago, about the "twin pic" my sister and I had done, because we hadn't had a family picture done since my 9 year old was 18 months.. I guess we were due.. but really, knowing my husband, I thought he would never want a family pic, and never bothered asking.. But after his complaining about the twin pic, I scheduled a family pic, and today was the day. Of course he tried to get me to cancel (it was raining.. and why, we just might melt) But I'm glad we went.. the girls smiled this time, and finally, we have a picture of the whole big ass family!!
I also must add, that the last professional picture we had done of the kids, my youngest (who was 3 at the time) had a huge scab on his forehead, from stiches he got after falling down the stairs. It was only fitting that the next professional pic we had done, he was wearing a cast.. He could have taken it off (because at this moment it's only held together with velcro) But why would we do that. It is afterall, a snapshot of US. And what would we be, if he wasn't battered or scarred in some way??

Anyway, here are a few of the shots we got..

Party in the Back...

Someday I will convince one of my kids to sport the classic mullet... til then, I'll just post pics of them in a gnarly mullet wig..

Another Twin Pic..

My sister and I brought our twins to the mall this past weekend, for an updated twin pic. It had been about 18 months since the last one, and the only difference was the fact that the kids were a little bigger. Even though we had decided that we wouldn't get an iced coffee in the mall after the picture, we did. And just like last year, we got a few stares, but unlike last year, my sister's boys weren't in a stroller, and were totally mobile, and totally hard to contain. They did have a ton of fun in the middle of the mall at a ramp. Three sets of twins hanging out in the  middle of the mall.. good times. Not everyone that noticed us, noticed that my sister and I were twins too, but they sure noticed the two younger sets. It was pretty funny. My sister wants to go to Twinsburg Ohio at some point for their twin weekend.. I'm pretty much all set with that. Sure, I'm all on board with the coolness of the whole twin thing, but spending an entire weekend with a bunch of over the top twinners seems less than appealing. Anyway, here's a copy of the pic we had done.. it's a little grainy, but you get the point..