Ah... motherhood

Just now S threw his arms around me and gave me a huge hug.

It was so sweet, until he said "Sometimes I have snot coming out of my nose, and it's like water, so it doesn't stay." My reply, "Well, why don't you just get a Kleenex and blow your nose?"

His reply, "It's not there anymore."

I look down and now I have snot on my sweater.

I looked at him, and he says "told ya."

We Let the Good Times Roll!

Started the morning with Beignets. Powdered sugar everywhere!

Jambalaya and corn bread for dinner. Although there isn't a picture, S decorated the chandelier,

 it was dripping with Mardi Gras beads.

Niece J and S waiting for me to take the picture already and get the King Cake cut! 

I bought the cake at Scott's Pastry in Middleton. 

It was totally worth the thirty minute drive to get it. YUM!

J and B. She loved the beads and her uncle.

Eavesdropping

This was the conversation from the boys coming home from school today.
S: Is Aunt Mary a spy?
J: Why do you think she's a spy?
S: She wears black ALL the time.
J: No she doesn't, sometimes she wears purple. Mama, what are those boots she wears?
Me: Uggs.
J: Yeah, I don't like them.
S: She does too wear all black. She ALWAYS wears black sweatpants.
J: Sweatpants?
S: Yeah, she ALWAYS wears black sweatpants. And she has a tatoo on her foot.
J: Mama, do you know anybody with a tatoo?
Me: Yes, I know lots of people with tatoos. And, I hope you boys will never get a tatoo. And don't date anyone with one.
J: "C" wants to get a cross on her arm.
S: So you can't date her.
Me: Well, since she is nine, I think she has some time to think about it. And, since you are nine, I don't think you need to concern yourself about whom to date for quite a while.
J: Mama, what's sex?
Me: (Sweat appearing on my brow) Why are you asking?
J: I want to know.
S: It's when girls wiggle their butts around.
Me: (inside thinking-- Yikes, where's is this going? Where is a police car or dog or anything to use as distraction?!)
J: That's not it! I'm not sure I'm going to do it.
Me: So, we are having chicken enchiladas for dinner! Won't that be good?!
J: Are you going to tell me?
Me: So, um, how was your science test? Do you feel you were prepared? Wow, how about those Brewers?!

Now, is it five o'clock yet?!

Christmas Season

Scooping out the army knives, lead soldiers and cap guns at an Gurnee Antique Center.

S and Great Aunt Dorothy reading Press Here by Herve Tullet.
This is my new favorite children's book.

My niece, N, wanted a purple robe for Christmas and Aunt Gwennie pulled through.
She loved it and wore it for hours. She even liked the monogram.

All the cousins.

J can't get enough Legos.

My mother just rolled over in her grave.
This is what he wanted Santa to bring him, I tried to talk him into the Packers,
but S insisted on the Cowboys.

S loves anything soft, and he got a sheep skin, and lots of stuffed animals.

J had a grand time opening her stocking...
but couldn't understand why we couldn't start painting right away!
(It makes my knees hurt just looking at her sitting like that!)

In front of the tree.Christmas morning, J and S, and the new HUGE stuffed dog.

We toured the Wisconsin Veterans Museum on the Capitol Square.
It was really interesting, the boys loved it.

Boys in front of the Capitol "Holiday" tree.

Editorial note: Come on, if it looks like a Christmas Tree, and smells like a Christmas Tree -
IT"S A CHRISTMAS TREE!
And don't get me started on the alternate Nativity scene.

" ...in a one horse open sleigh." We spent some time at the Mitchell Domes in Milwaukee.
S loves it here, so we try to take him every season.

We also took the boys to The Nutcracker Ballet at the Overture Center. There would be a picture of them, except an usher yelled at me from several rows away about how no pictures could be taken. I wasn't the only one who thought she was rude. People around us thought it was completely over the top. I was mortified and annoyed. The ballet had not started yet, and I was taking a photo of my kids. Geez. People were taking pictures of their groups all over the
theater, but I got busted.

Merry Christmas!

The inside of our Christmas card. Amy Hall Photography.
My favorite part is the horse racing, jockey Mike Smith and Zenyatta... S insisted on it making his list!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

This song was from my Mom's, and mine, favorite Christmas movie, Meet Me in Saint Louis. We always cried during the scene where Judy Garland sings to Margaret O'Brien. Those huge tears streaming down Margaret face, and ours. This Christmas will be bittersweet, the first without my Mother. But her ornaments are in my house and her recipes will be on my table.
I will be surrounded by family, and appreciate the love of my husband and children, and the health we are blessed with.
I ask everyone to take a family picture this Christmas. Don't put it off. No one will care about extra pounds, braces, hair, or stains. Do it know, you may not get another chance.
Merry Christmas, Gwennie

I'm dreaming of a ....

Rose Bowl win. S fell asleep with his Wisconsin Badgers helmet on. Go Badgers! Go Big Red!

A Christmas Carol

We took the boys to the Overture Center for a CTM matinee performance of A Christmas Carol.

We all loved it, and it had a great twist at the end.
If you are looking for something to do with your family, in the Madison area, it's a must.

They look pretty dapper.

Christmas Tour of the Governor's Mansion

Yesterday we toured the Wisconsin Executive Residence in Maple Bluff.
It was about 24 degrees with a wind, and we waited about 30 minutes.
I had been to the residence about 30 years ago, but B and the boys had never been.
Now I want to find out how to be a docent here.

Built in 1920 for the Johnson Family, the current residence are Governor Scott
and First Lady Tonette Walker.

J and S on the Mendota Lake side. What a beautiful view, state capitol and all. You might notice white at the shore line... that's ice forming!

I love the iron fence.

One of the urns and lions outside the home.

The garland wraps around the entire staircase.

The Ladies' Room, very feminine.

The dining room had hand painted silk wall coverings,
and a a rug with woodland violets on it, which is the state flower.

China by Lenox, crystal stemware by Mikasa and sterling by Tiffany.

The large tree in the reception room, decorated as a Tribute to the Troops.

The Drawing Room had lots of light and plaid. It was my favorite.
The UW-Whitewater Reed Trio played.

The Library, with a tree decorated in the Glow of Christmas Past, in recognition of the significance of Wisconsin's role in the Civil War. The boys liked this room best... it had weapons.

The end of our tour, the Sun Room. It was very colorful and whimsical.
A delight for children.

There is still time to enjoy a tour.
Wednesday, December 14 from 1-2
Thursday, December 15 from noon to 2
Saturday, December 17 from noon to 2
Although there is no charge to tour the mansion, Governor Walker requests you bring a canned good as a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Fallingwater and a Seven Year old

My aunt sent me a card with the above picture of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. My seven year old son came home, noticed the card on the table and proclaims "I love Fallingwater. I think this is his best work." I asked him who the architect was. He rolls his eyes and says (with "Duh" in his voice) "Frank Lloyd Wright...remember he was from Wisconsin." He continues with "I really want Santa to bring me the Lego Fallingwater." He's SEVEN! God love him, he totally cracks me up. Can you imagine what he is going to be like when he is older?!

Happy Halloween 2011

The official "stand in front of the house" Halloween picture. When I was a grade schooler I attended a Catholic school and we were not allowed to dress up for Halloween... we dressed up for All Saints Day, which is November 1. Yeah, like it wasn't hard enough to ride the bus, now I was dressed as Saint Ann. Let's just say the public school kids were not so kind. Where are those pictures?

The kids had a non-uniform day today at school as a reward. This is what S decided to wear, because as he told me he wanted to "impress the girls." He cracks me up.

Halloween at School

S and his best friend, T, went as dice. I painted these boxes in the garage, and a kitty got onto it and left white paint kitty prints all over the garage floor. S hopes they never go away.

J as a clown. He was a big ham in the parade.

Fourth Grade cupcake treats.

Miss N as a pink fairy. She is so cute. Her mom and I have become friends, a southern girl meets a northern girl (who she thought was a southern girl too.)

My niece, M, started at the school this year. It is so fun to see her every day. She was a princess.

The second grade party, making die cut jointed skeletons. The kids and adults loved it.

Visit to Wisconsin State Capitol

No protestors in sight.... time to visit the state capitol. Friday the boys didn't have school, so we went downtown. It was a perfect autumn day.

We have the most beautiful state capitol. We have visited many capitols across the country, and I feel safe in saying this. You also can walk right in... and walk on the grass (or picnic, if you are so inclined.) In the summer the Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra plays on Wednesday nights and thousands of people lay on the grounds enjoying the music.

The doors leading to the Senate chambers. Note the badger above the door.