Our Christmas

We spend the whole month of December preparing and celebrating. We read and sing Christmas and winter related songs and stories every morning. We hand made gifts for the kids in our lives (a few still still have to be mailed or delivered): we made animal soaps and little stories about Jove's beans that he grew accompanied by a little bag of bean seeds. We watch all of the old Christmas specials and listen to a lot of Christmas music. We had a gingerbread playdate with our expanding homeschooling group.

We had a big snowstorm the Friday before Christmas which was perfect timing. Jupiter got a much needed snow day, we got to build a snowman and go sledding. Jove played for many hours in the backyard in the snow and has decided that in the next snowstorm he will build a snow fort.

This year we were very lucky to have my brother here with us. Jove and Miranda were very excited to get to spend a lot of time with their tio and Miranda started calling Jason tio soon after he got here. Jason brought Jove some special minerals which Jove was very happy about and they were promptly added to his magic pebble collection.

We went into Santaland at Macy's in Manhattan on Christmas Eve day. It was very hectic, but worth it of course. Jove asked Santa for a toy robot and stained glass (we have some hanging in our front window made by Heather's sister and I always tell him what a special gift it is). He got the robot in the form of Rock'em, Sock'em Robots. It is basically a two-player, mechanical boxing toy where two robots duke it out until one of their heads pop up. I had my reservations about it, but Jupiter was convinced it was a great idea and it was.

On Christmas day, two of Jup's cousins came over with their families. We both said afterward that is was so relaxed and enjoyable. I had made almost all of the food ahead of time, so I got to sit and chat and enjoy the day.

Jove and Miranda were very excited to open their presents. Santa brought Jove tinker toys and Miranda got a baby doll carriage. They got some cool art supplies in their stockings. Of course, they were completely spoiled by presents from my brother, their Grandma, Grandpa and Abuela. The big hit for Jove was a lego seaplane from his abuela and Miranda loves her farm from her tio. My brother patiently helped Jove build the lego sea plane.

bittersweet

I have weaned Miranda and it has been a very emotional week. Nursing her was a very special part of our life together over the last 20 months and our relationship seems different now, not less connected, but definitely changed.

I received some brilliant advice from a good friend of mine regarding weaning and it really worked. Obviously once a child is a toddler they are able to understand that they can no longer nurse and you have to make them okay with that. So, my friend says to make the child think there is something wrong with the breast by using something bitter or otherwise distasteful on them or telling them that they don't work. I did both, but Miranda definitely bought into the idea that I had a boo boo and couldn't nurse her. She hardly mentions it anymore and I am sure it will fade away all together.

So, she's fine and I am a bit of a wreck.

photos at last

I have been a little remiss when it comes to blogging as of late, partly due to having our much loved Heather staying with us and partly because I have had no access to pictures due to computer issues. Heather has left town (insert weepy sigh) and Jupiter performed some computer
magic to allow some photos to be here. So here goes.... photos.

So, it is almost Christmas and I want to write about Halloween. Indulge me, please. Miranda was a ladybug, which made a huge impression on her and it really seems like she remembers her costume. Jove was a fireman in a firetruck for the second year in a row. We go every year to an awesome Halloween Street Parade in another town and Jove was battling the big kids for the candy that was thrown from the floats. He wanted to go after a jolly rancher in the middle of the street, but for his own safety we advised against it.

I had an awesome thirty-fourth birthday which involved time with my kids, time alone in nature, a night out with my love and a gift of many headbands and beads from Jove. We are modeling the headbands in one of the pictures. I also got a ton of chocolate from Jupiter and tickets for us to go to the Chocolate Show in Manhattan. We took Jove with us and it was so yummy and fun.

So now it is chillier and we have settled into our late fall life: trips to the Botanical Garden to see trains and gingerbread, hanging out at home reading and having dance parties in the living room and we have just started the Christmas frenzy: singing, decorating and reading all about Santa, oh and how could I forget as many cheesy Christmas specials as possible. I am kind of cheesy all of time, and very cheesy in December. I blame my mom, completely. She made Christmastime so fun and exciting for my brother and I when we were little. I want Jove and Miranda to feel that way too.

I feel like this is a shameless, scrapbook style post. I can't help it.