Just Kickin' Around

Circus, Circus!

Nick heard through the grapevine at work that Ringling Brothers and Bailey Circus was coming to Nashville!  Once we secured a babysitter for the babies, we jumped on what few tickets they had left for a Saturday matinee.  The kids were wide-eyed and mesmerized by all of the excitement!  Emmy loved the whole show, from start to finish.  So much so, that as we were leaving, she asked if she could stay for the next one.  Hannah loved the elephants, but didn't have quite the same stamina.  We had to push hard with snacks to get her to intermission, which helped to re-fill her tank a bit.  But, partway through the second half, she was begging us to leave.  We were able to rally, but made a pact that we wont attempt to take all of the children to the circus until the twins are at least three. :-P  It really was such a special outing with our big girls!  

California Get-A-Way

My dear husband gave me the most loving, thoughtful, generous Christmas gift that I could have ever dreamed of.  My gift was a childless long weekend at home with my parents and my sister.  There are not words to describe my appreciation.  I don't think Nick knew what to make of my show of gratitude (and that of my sister and my parents;) the joy derived from this trip was far-reaching.  Getting back to California is very difficult these days, and we hadn't spent any time together without children in the nearly two years since my dear Grandma's funeral.  I love my babies desperately, but I don't think that I've had a coherent, complete conversation in just as long.  We practically skipped everywhere we went and CHERISHED the quality time.  The only two goals of the weekend were rest and family time.  We did our very best to meet both (as much as one can do while still pumping 7 times a day.)

After a zen travel day, spent intermittently napping and devouring a new book, Mom, Kris and I all converged on the curb at SFO on Friday afternoon; arriving within minutes of one another!  The timing was perfect!  It was just foreshadowing all that was to come!

We raced home to Dad, who was waiting for us with an open bottle of vino as we decided on our dinner plans!  We decided to go to Mom and my favorite jaunt from my single days, Chinese Paradise (which was an even greater treat because Nick doesn't prefer chinese food and we don't eat it much!)  By the time we returned home, our beds were calling us...I can't even describe how incredible it was to sleep through the night without interruption.  HEAVEN!!

Saturday started with us girls chatting over tea in the kitchen (and pumping...) for hours.  When we finally decided that we needed to get out (since we could!) We headed over to Blackhawk Plaza where we found a walk-in salon for Kris and I to get hair cut and blown out (gosh that sounds so FANCY!)  My poor, neglected hair!  I felt like a shampoo model in a commercial when we finally emerged!  What a pick-me-up that was!  We wandered around the Plaza, grabbing a bite to eat and milling in and out of the swanky stores without a care in the world!  For dinner that night, Dad took us to an amazing Italian restaurant, Il Fornaio, in Walnut Creek...He thought of everything (including to reserve a seat for my pump, an offer I politely declined. :-P)  We sipped Prosecco and feasted on the most incredible food.  Not having to cook or clean up afterward confirmed it's standing as the most spectacular meal I've had in recent memory!

The next morning, we rose early to head over to my Grandpa's house for breakfast.  I feel so sad saying that I couldn't remember the last time I'd been there.  It's been years. :(  But as I walked through the front door, it felt as though no time had passed at all.  What a gift to spend the morning hearing Grandpa's fantastic stories and taking a very special walk down memory lane.  I'm not going to lie, it was hard to leave.

We then paid a visit to another Team Horn!!  Ben and Eliana, so graciously invited us over to their new home and spoiled us rotten as soon as we stepped inside.  They are expecting a precious baby girl any day now, and while I would give anything to be there to celebrate when she arrives, I was beyond grateful to be so close to her when I could!  We are out of our mind excited for Ben and Eliana and our expanding family!  I was thrilled to be able to see Grant, as well as meet his love, Camilla.  I told Nick later that it felt so incredible to be seated around the table sharing a delicious meal and laughing together.  Just like home.  If only my Nick could have been there...

When we finally pulled ourselves away, we ran home to regroup before we went to visit with our beloved Landgrafs.  We absolutely crashed their sweet boys' bedtime, but I am secretly so grateful that we could see them...How they have grown since our last visit!  If only my girls could have been there, too.  I crave the day that our kids can play together while us grown-ups sit back and catch-up.  Kris and I way over-stayed our welcome, and didn't actually leave until almost 1 in the morning, and we still barely scratched the surface...It was such a gift.

Luckily, we didn't have an early morning flight the next day!  We took our time packing up before heading to the airport.  I hated to leave (HATED IT!) but it was time to get back to my babies.  Lucky for all of us, they barely noticed that I was gone, as Nick and his parents had been devoted to loving on them for the weekend!  Everybody won!!

We used to play on this rock all the time in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard.  

Grandpa and his ladies. :)

This photo is precious to me...

...and so is this one.

Grandpa sharing his "binder" with us...He keeps all of his most treasured photos and notes inside.

Grandma kissing Jamie. :)

All of us grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa.  We'd have huge Christmas Eve celebrations every year.  I miss them.

I'd never seen this photo of Grandma and Grandpa, Mom, Auntie Jackie, Auntie Joanie and Uncle Michael before.  I wish I could know what they are laughing about...They all look so happy.  Makes me smile just looking at it. :)

My handsome grandfather back in his Navy days. :)

Mom, Kris and I have joked about how I need a painting like this in my house...:-P Only with another baby and a couple of needy dogs.

We used to have fantastic dance parties at our family gatherings.  Someone would turn on the radio and it'd get rowdy.  We are a bunch of a Italians, after all. :)

My fortune at Chinese Paradise...I sent this to Nick, who was deeply immersed in our lively family at the time. :-P

Grant, Ben, Eliana (and Baby Girl!) Me, Kris and Mom!

Camilla, Grant, Ben, Eliana, Yours Truly and a space to photo shop Nick in!

We Help Each Other, Part 2

Tonight, Nick was working late so I was flying solo for dinner, bath and bedtime.  Over the last several months, I have been trying to come up with the best way to streamline this routine by myself.  With MUCH trial-and-error, I have made strides, but it's still an exhausting, grueling process, that is emotionally-charged with over-tired children and, who are we kidding, mama, too.  I decided that tonight, I'd try bathing the babies while the girls' were finishing their show and their dinner was cooling.  The poor babies would go down for the night an hour earlier than they do, if I could manage it, but dinner prep and pumping fill the hour before dinner, so my hands are tied.  Anything to get them down earlier...As I was wrapping up bath time, round two with Juju, I could hear the show ending (19 minutes goes fast!)  I ran downstairs to find the girls sitting together at the dinner table eating their now-cool meal.  They had moved their dinner plates from the counter to their place settings (well, Emmy's, Hannah seated herself in my chair) and were eating their dinner quietly.  I felt as though the wind had been knocked out of me...Tears, once again, stung my eyes as I witnessed my "bigs," who, to me, are still so little, pitch in to carry some of the load.  My heart may well burst from love and gratitude.

Before they saw me.

They both exuded a special new confidence.   Feeling very grown up. ;)

We Take Care of Each Other

Last week, I was overwhelmed with the chaos around me.  "Quiet time" had just ended abruptly while I was plugged into the wall pumping and everyone needed something all at once.  I went to a happy place to block out the noise so that I could buy an extra few minutes to have enough milk to satisfy the babies before I took off running upstairs to start retrieving children one at a time.  I dumped a now diapered and clothed Hannah and her 15 baboos on the couch and thrust a bottle of milk in her hands (she's like a caffeine addict who can't start their day without a cup of coffee, only with milk, and it happens in the morning and after naptime.)  Attempted to soothe a whiny Emmy, plunked a screaming James in his jumperoo and went after my Juju. Finally, after grabbing the fresh milk bottles, I sank into the couch to start feeding Juju.  It took me a second to realize that the house now felt calm.  I looked over to see Hannah sitting before James in his jumperoo, and they were just looking at each other contentedly.  Under his chin rolls was a balled up burp cloth.  He's known for having eyes bigger than his stomach and spits up with great regularity.  I called to Emmy, who was now immersed in her legos, asking her if she'd wiped Jamesy Boy up, with the intent of thanking her for her help.  To which she said, "No, Mama, that was Hannah."

Even typing those words just now, tears well up in my eyes.  My baby taking care of her baby brother.  My Emmy has such a nurturing heart, and is constantly helping me care for her siblings, whether it be running to get things for me, offering a bottle to the babies when they are crying before I can get there, or sitting with them, making them laugh, when they wake up and I am busy tending to something else.  Now my Hannah, saw an opportunity to help her little brother who couldn't help himself, and stepped in without being asked to do so.  One of the greatest prayers I have for our children is that they have a servant's heart, and it's moments such as these where I am overcome with gratitude knowing that God is molding our babies to do His work.

Luckily for me, my camera was within arm's reach.  I want to remember this moment...