Hubby and I aren't big time New Years celebrators. I know, usually our big family celebrate pretty good on holidays. New Years just hasn't been a big one for either of us growing up and we kind of carried on the tradition. However, this year we decided to at least do a little fun something with just us.
So, the Norris Ranch rung in New Years with a front room slumber party. Hubby went and got treats and snacks then set up the airbed for us. The teenagers piled onto the couch and the little guys made a toddler nest on the ground out of all the blankets.
Over pizza, taquitos, salad, and sodas we watched movies until 11 pm. At 11 we turned to watch the celebration on television. And at midnight --the toddlers already asleep -- we all wished each other a happy New Year.
I don't know what's in store for us in 2011. The last few years have been a pretty mixed bag, but overall the kids are healthy, our marriage in going strong, and we have work and a roof under our heads. All the other struggles in life will come and go, with new things replacing them. As long as we continue handling them together I think everything will be okay and the bumps will be manageable. (Crossing fingers.)
Hope you all have a happy 2011 from the Norris'!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
My Peeps
Loving this Sunday evening. I look up from my book to see Holy Terror at my feet playing with his motorcycles and cars. Super Wy is halfway between the living area and kitchen creating his world through Legos. Drama Queen is listening to music on the computer and chatting with friends. And my oldest, Parkour Boy, is playing Star Wars on the Wii next to me. Occasionally, one shares a thought or funny comment with the others and there's giggling or growls and a response.
It's a comfort to sit and relax with the sounds of fake police sirens and burning tires. The chatter of Super Wy making dialogue for his people in Lego land. The clicking of my daughters fingers to the keyboard and the grunts and whoops and hollers of my son to the background of Star Wars music.
These are my peeps and even though we're all doing something separate, we're a unit.
It's a comfort to sit and relax with the sounds of fake police sirens and burning tires. The chatter of Super Wy making dialogue for his people in Lego land. The clicking of my daughters fingers to the keyboard and the grunts and whoops and hollers of my son to the background of Star Wars music.
These are my peeps and even though we're all doing something separate, we're a unit.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
True Meaning of Gifts
Holy Terror puts the last strip of tape on his gift to Parkour Boy. It's crooked as is the wrapping paper and bulky folds. The gift is one of the perfect the little boys have done and the favorite gifts I like looking at under the tree. With a kiss and a pat on the butt, I send him out and call for Super Wy to come back, so he can wrap his gifts.
As I wait for little man to join me, Holy Terror comes in with an old shipping box. He sets it very carefully on the bed and gives me a conspiratory grin. "I need some tape, please."
I hand it to him and he starts pulling off a too long piece.
"What's this?" I ask tapping the box.
"It's another gift for Super Wy." He shakes off the tape from his finger and opens the box flaps. There inside is one of Holy Terrors most treasured fire trucks. Super Wy comes running down the hall and Holy Terros hurries to close the box and we tape it up together.
Super Wy stands next to Holy Terror and looks at the box. "What that?"
Holy Terror smiles down at him. "You'll see on Christmas. Its a secret."
They giggle. I expected Holy Terror to let it sit a few hours before reopening it and taking his toy back. A few hours later, after the kids were put to bed, I went out to the front of the house and there under the tree was the box. Written in rough pen was "Super Wy".
This is the true meaning of gift giving. To give a little something of yourself to make someone you love happy. I can't wait for Super Wy to open it Christmas morning and know that Holy Terror thought enough of him to give up one of his toys.
As I wait for little man to join me, Holy Terror comes in with an old shipping box. He sets it very carefully on the bed and gives me a conspiratory grin. "I need some tape, please."
I hand it to him and he starts pulling off a too long piece.
"What's this?" I ask tapping the box.
"It's another gift for Super Wy." He shakes off the tape from his finger and opens the box flaps. There inside is one of Holy Terrors most treasured fire trucks. Super Wy comes running down the hall and Holy Terros hurries to close the box and we tape it up together.
Super Wy stands next to Holy Terror and looks at the box. "What that?"
Holy Terror smiles down at him. "You'll see on Christmas. Its a secret."
They giggle. I expected Holy Terror to let it sit a few hours before reopening it and taking his toy back. A few hours later, after the kids were put to bed, I went out to the front of the house and there under the tree was the box. Written in rough pen was "Super Wy".
This is the true meaning of gift giving. To give a little something of yourself to make someone you love happy. I can't wait for Super Wy to open it Christmas morning and know that Holy Terror thought enough of him to give up one of his toys.
Monday, December 20, 2010
See? It's Christmas!
"Mom, it's Christmas!" Super Wy comes up to me, bouncing excitedly.
"Not yet. A few more days," I reply.
"No, no! It IS Christmas. Come see!"
He pulls me up and leads me into the kitchen where on the frig is the Christmas calendar. I look closely and notice a yellow color pencil line is drawn through the rest of this week...stopping at the day with the face of Santa on it.
"See! It's Christmas!" He dances in the kitchen, wiggling his booty and twirling his arms.
"Honey, it's only this day," I say pointing at today's square. His smile turns into a frown. "But look, only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 more days! That's not very far away."
He smiles -- not as bright as his earlier one -- and nods. "Yeah. Not so far." His little chest fills with air and he lets it all out in a big, disappointed sigh before moping his way out of the kitchen.
Poor guy...if only marking days off a calendar would make the fun days come faster.
"Not yet. A few more days," I reply.
"No, no! It IS Christmas. Come see!"
He pulls me up and leads me into the kitchen where on the frig is the Christmas calendar. I look closely and notice a yellow color pencil line is drawn through the rest of this week...stopping at the day with the face of Santa on it.
"See! It's Christmas!" He dances in the kitchen, wiggling his booty and twirling his arms.
"Honey, it's only this day," I say pointing at today's square. His smile turns into a frown. "But look, only 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 more days! That's not very far away."
He smiles -- not as bright as his earlier one -- and nods. "Yeah. Not so far." His little chest fills with air and he lets it all out in a big, disappointed sigh before moping his way out of the kitchen.
Poor guy...if only marking days off a calendar would make the fun days come faster.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday Relaxation
Last day of the holiday vacation. Tomorrow it's back to reality. It was such a wonderful week. I'd upload the photos, but Holy Terror accidentally broke our camera earlier in the week and we had to use a disposable...so, I'll post them once we get them back from the processing center (ha ha, as soon as I get them TO the processing center). It also means Hubby and I are shopping around for a new digital camera.
We spent two wonderful days in Bodega Bay. Then we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. To read about that, visit the Desert Breeze blog where I did a Thanksgiving Guest Blog. Friday and Saturday were all about hanging with my crew.
Tonight we put up the Christmas decorations and begin the last days of 2010. My nostalgia is in full gear, so prepare for the yearly sappy blog posts to start hitting...sorry y'all.
We spent two wonderful days in Bodega Bay. Then we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. To read about that, visit the Desert Breeze blog where I did a Thanksgiving Guest Blog. Friday and Saturday were all about hanging with my crew.
Tonight we put up the Christmas decorations and begin the last days of 2010. My nostalgia is in full gear, so prepare for the yearly sappy blog posts to start hitting...sorry y'all.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Battle before Chores
The little boys hold their mini hockey sticks like rifles (the ones I bought in a misguided purchase to be the cool out-of-town mom). They crouch at the breakfast bar peeking around the corner and whispering to each other.
"Boys, I told you to pick up your dinner plates and put them in the sink."
They afforded a quick, serious look back, and then continue their whispering. I obviously don't know the importance of this mission.
"ATTACK!" Super Wy yells.
They step out from the breakfast bar wall, aim their rifles and spray the kitchen with imaginary bullets. It's war. There's bloodshed. Holy Terror is wounded and from the looks of his agony while rolling on the ground, it might be mortally. Super Wy continues the battle, moving along the kitchen opening.
Near the far wall he falls, hit by his enemy. It's an ugly death as the rifle flies out of his hand and he sprawls out, wiggling and then staring blank towards the living room.
"Dinosaurs win?" I ask. He nods, still sticking his tongue out (cause that's what dead bodies do). Holy Terror sighs in defeat from his position. "Well, now that you're both dead, why don't you guys pick up your dinner plates."
"Okay."
"Boys, I told you to pick up your dinner plates and put them in the sink."
They afforded a quick, serious look back, and then continue their whispering. I obviously don't know the importance of this mission.
"ATTACK!" Super Wy yells.
They step out from the breakfast bar wall, aim their rifles and spray the kitchen with imaginary bullets. It's war. There's bloodshed. Holy Terror is wounded and from the looks of his agony while rolling on the ground, it might be mortally. Super Wy continues the battle, moving along the kitchen opening.
Near the far wall he falls, hit by his enemy. It's an ugly death as the rifle flies out of his hand and he sprawls out, wiggling and then staring blank towards the living room.
"Dinosaurs win?" I ask. He nods, still sticking his tongue out (cause that's what dead bodies do). Holy Terror sighs in defeat from his position. "Well, now that you're both dead, why don't you guys pick up your dinner plates."
"Okay."
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Stupid Dog
"Super Wy, get out of the kitchen!" I order from the front room.
"Kay, Mom!" he replies, irritated at being busted.
I hear the food cabinet open, doggie nails clickety clacking on the hard floor, then a long pause.
"Uuuuhhhh...no, that's mine," Super Wy whines under his breath.
"Super Wy!"
"Okayyyyy!"
Another long pause, more doggie toe tapping, then another pause.
"Noooo Connor...that bread is mine," Super Wy whines a little louder.
"Super Wy!"
"Okay...stupid Connor."
Super Wy slams the cabinet and stomps out and into the back of the house with his fists clenched at his side. Connor doggie trots after him, still chewing on the bread.
"Kay, Mom!" he replies, irritated at being busted.
I hear the food cabinet open, doggie nails clickety clacking on the hard floor, then a long pause.
"Uuuuhhhh...no, that's mine," Super Wy whines under his breath.
"Super Wy!"
"Okayyyyy!"
Another long pause, more doggie toe tapping, then another pause.
"Noooo Connor...that bread is mine," Super Wy whines a little louder.
"Super Wy!"
"Okay...stupid Connor."
Super Wy slams the cabinet and stomps out and into the back of the house with his fists clenched at his side. Connor doggie trots after him, still chewing on the bread.
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