Things I Never Expected to Say, Part 6

I figure there is no better way to end the year than with my most popular series: The things said and heard in our little house of crazy. 

(New to the series? Click here and Here to catch up)

Here are some of the phrases that keep us laughing, in retrospect anyway

(Cullen-isms are highlighted in green):

Bubs! Wake up! It's SHOW TIME!

Are you really going to sleep in your closet tonight?

Dude, did you actually eat any?

I swear he hits his head on purpose.

I don't think we need a bath tonight. You can just smell me if you want to check.

When they are teenagers, it is going to be all fish sticks and Hamburger Helper. We won't be able to afford to keep them full otherwise.

Remember when we could do whatever we want, whenever we wanted?

Mommy, you have 3002 things to do today. Here, I made you a list.

B's teachers told me that he started a full on toddler dance party at school today.

If you're tired, you can go lay in my bed, Mommy. It's super comfy.

Good job eating your breakfast all gone Bubs. He didn't eat it, Mommy. He gave it all to Frankie.

Me: I feel like I just got off the Oregon Trail. 

Kev: Dammit, we lost Tommy to dysentery again.

Mommy, quick, come smell my poop! It's like cherries.

Bennett, stop playing with plugs.

It's like they are on a mission to break all the Christmas things. I'm pretty sure one of them just threw the crystal Baby Jesus.

Cheese Balls: Snack of Champions.

That didn't sound good, but I don't hear tears...should we check?

Can I sleep in your bed for like 10 hours tonight?

Bennett closed his eyes and pretended to sleep today when I asked if he had a good day at baby school. This can't be good for his teenager future.

Bennett, gross, stop licking the cart. 

B chipped his tooth head butting me. Then laughed. 

That gap was not there two weeks ago...

We should get Frankie a real backyard for Christmas

Hey. Behave. Santa and Jesus are watching!

Mommy, we cuddling and I am making sure Ben-Ben doesn't have any bubbles in his belly.

I didn't just take a nap, I'm pretty sure it was a mid-afternoon hibernation.

Don't think I won't write Santa and tell him to take all this back if you can't share.

Only in a military community do you find this guy.

By 'Christmas Cocktail' I mean I am going to make the vodka red.

Daddy, don't eat anymore, your belly will 'plode!

When will we ever 'have the money'?

My most searched post this year was Jenn's That Time I Was Forced to Wear a Bikini. A lot of people are googling "force to wear a bikini"...what is that all about?

No wrestling in the shower!

Bennett the mixologist, hard at work.

Kev: Want a Mentos?

Me: You bought Mentos? Random.

Kev: Bennett took them off the shelf and started eating them. I had no choice.

*****

And there you have it, my friends. I hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve. 

See you in 2013!

The Christmas Post

There are 21 pictures in this post, just so you know.

Christmas has come and gone, but we are still celebrating in our little corner of the world: time with each other, making traditions, going on adventures and the awesomeness of two little boys in sweaters vests.

 Christmas was a little odd this year, in the 6 years that Kev and I have been together, this was the first one where we had no where else to be. We missed our families and the hustle and bustle of the holidays (although were very grateful we were just on the East Coast for Thanksgiving) but also enjoyed a our time at our own home. We were able to skype with both our families, and that helped ease the strangeness of not actually being with them.

It has been raining like crazy in Monterey this month and it cleared up on Christmas Eve just enough for the boys to play in the mud. I would be a terrible, terrible mother if I didn't let them play in this.

 After mid-afternoon baths, we cleaned up as best we could and headed down to Carmel for Mass. C was not too thrilled about going to church two days in a row (especially when he found out there were no doughnuts after Christmas Church).

After a wonderful reminder about the Jesus coming to help us be good', we were back home for dinner, another bath, new PJs and cookie making for Santa. Cullen was beyond hyper at this point. Bennett just wanted to eat the dough.

 The boys went to bed without a hitch (although C wanted Kev and I to go to bed right away too so Santa would come) and the morning was just as magical as we hoped. The first words out of Cullen's mouth? HOLY MOLEY!

 The first present. I love this picture because Bennett so often look to his big brother for guidance and it was such a pleasant surprise to catch it on camera (I will likely eat those words when they are 18 and 16).

 Santa's leftovers.

 Leave it to Bubs to find them. 

No one is stopping me from eating this cookie for breakfast, Best. Day. Ever!

 Bennett got Cullen new bath toys. Cullen loved them. This picture kind of makes me want to cry.

 The ever-giving child, Cullen wrapped some of his trains up for his Teddy so that Teddy wouldn't be sad on Christmas. We all had to watch Teddy take his turn opening gifts as well. (C is also the one who remember to get a gift for the dog.)

 If you have been around here for a while, you know how much my boys love to help me cook. This play mixer was the end of B's Christmas. He stopped opening gifts after this and practiced making cookies the rest of the morning. C was totally okay with this because he got to open everything else, 9/10 gifts he had been waiting for his whooooole life!

 This is my morning face, I apologize for that. But look at those sweet dimples. The joy that C exhibited all morning was so sweet.

 B on the other hand was too busy for cuddles... 

Leave me alone, I want to find more cookies. And besides, all I wanted for Christmas were more bottom teeth.

The big finale: a kitchen (Thanks Nana and Pop!)

 Which ultimately, was how Kev spent the better part of his Christmas morning.

 But they sure do love it. 

 After Christmas naps, we had two families over for Christmas dinner. I didn't take a single picture, but luckily, my friend Traci did and I stole them off of facebook. 

1. Festive table with my china

2. Bennett and the ladies, Charli and Alivia

3. The kids table

4. Christmas cocktails

And so ended our Christmas celebration.

Wednesday we left the house to go out to lunch, and that was it. Bennett spent the morning like this:

And today we ventured out to Salinas and went to the National Steinbeck Center and to Five Guys (Five Guys may have been the catalyst behind the trip). Unfortunately, my camera isn't staying charged (left my good charger in VA) so I don't have any good pictures from that, but it was a neat museum and my little bacon cheeseburger was everything I wanted it to be. 

Hope your holiday week has been amazing. I am slowly working my way around all the blogs I didn't read last week and I look forward to reading about your celebrations.

Now, go make the most of the last few days of 2012!

'Twas the Week Before Christmas

And all through the house...

And we have been busy!

On Tuesday night, we decided to trek up to Gilroy Gardens to their Holiday Lights display. We went all in and bought the tickets for the park and the dinner and play with the friends from Charlie Brown. The boys' eyes lit up before we even crossed the entrance to the park. (I could have stopped right there. Wonder in their eyes is one of the best parts of parenting.)

 Linus is C's favorite character because they have matching blue blankies, so you can only imagine his excitement when 'big Linus' was carrying his blankie around the park.

 Bennett, on the other hand, was a little unsure of the new friends.

 We had to take the opportunity to play in the snow machine (it is the best snow we will be seeing this winter!)

 The park was nearly empty and we were able to go on every ride as many times as we wanted, leading to Cullen proclaiming 'This is the best night of my whole life.'

 Then it was dinner and a show, by now B was loving Charlie Brown and Lucy.

 Enthralled by the show

 We spent another two hours walking around the park, enjoying the lights and rides. It was the perfect family adventure.

We also tackled a lot of baking this week: Gingerbread house (ok not baked, bought at Michael's, decorated by boys), shortbread cookies for teachers' gifts and a red velvet cake for Christmas Cocktails and dessert with our next door neighbors.

And then there was the picnic at Lover's Point in Monterey

And finally, we spent Thursday morning as a family, picking out Christmas gifts for the children we adopted from our church's tree. I was so proud of Cullen as he strolled through Target with such purpose. He never asked for a toy for himself and insisted that we get his 'friend Ethan' all the things on his list, and when I said to pick him out a shirt, he came back with pants too. As a parent, it makes me so proud to see him understand the concept of giving as well.

And so we head into the weekend, ready to celebrate with friends Friday night, go on a date Saturday and start our own family traditions on Christmas Eve and Day. This is the first year we won't be with our families and we will miss them, but I can't wait to soak up every moment of the holiday with my sweet little family.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

P.S. Congrats to Beth Ann for winning my good karma giveaway! I will mail you something good next week. Thanks to all who entered!

I Was Going to Send Christmas Cards This Year

But...

 We couldn't decide which picture would make the cut. 

Maybe I'll take a decent picture get my act together for Easter.