Merry Christmas!

Tommy

Santa's little helper.  6 months old  : )

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa Visit #2

Today we attempted another Santa visit.  This time we went to a local department store where Santa is the same Santa I used to visit when I was a little kid.  He always made a special appearance at our family Christmas parties at my grandmother's house, so it was nice that we got to take the boys to see him since this is the first year without the party.

Tommy was smiley and passive.  Just like many 6-month-old babies are.  Ben was excited to see Santa and to tell him what he wants.  (Now it's a guitar, no longer a car...)  Even when Santa came in the room, Ben was excited and smiling.  But, when it was our turn to go sit on his lap, he got very clingy to daddy!  I put Tommy down on Santa's lap, and Chris put a now screaming Ben down and we ended up with a classic Christmas photo.  : )

Merry Christmas from the Cali Family!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Ben, Meggie and Santa!

This weekend Meggie and I took Ben and Tommy to see Santa at a "Santa Breakfast" event that was put on by their school.  It was a big meeting room at a church filled to the brim with little kids and their parents.  A guy with a guitar singing kids Christmas songs to warm up the crowd, and a lot of coffee for the parents.  Then, Santa made his entrance!  Ben was loving it until he got close to him, then the fear kicked in!
We had practiced what to say to Santa when Ben sat on his lap.  "I want a car for Christmas, Santa" was the line.  But, by the time it was our turn to meet Santa Ben was so nervous he couldn't even shake his hand let alone sit on his lap. He just stood back about 5 feet and shouted at Santa, "CAR" over and over again.

HAHAHAHA!  Maybe next year we'll get it right.  Hey, at least he didn't cry.  : )

Ben and Meggie rockin' their Santa hats

"CAR!"

Before Santa

After Santa

He-llo ladies!

Sitting Goose?

Not a sitting duck, but close.  Here is Tommy (AKA, Goose) sitting up.  He's growing up so fast!

Santa's Little Helper

Ben is learning all about Christmas.  He knows that you have to be a good boy to get presents from Santa, and that Santa lives at the North Pole.  So far that's about all he knows.  We are working on the rest of the story...  Although, he does seem a little confused since he told me that he is going to be a fireman for Christmas and that Tommy is going to be Superman.  Like I said, we are working on it!

In the mean time, he is loving his Santa hat that he found at Nonnie's house. : )

Boys will be boys

Back to normal this week.  The boys are back at day care and Chris and I are both at work.  No one is traveling and the weather is holding up.  It's getting dark at 5pm, but I'll take what I can get.

Ben and Tommy are both growing like weeds and changing every day.  I am constantly amazed at how sharp and perceptive Ben is.  He hears everything and can recall information amazingly well for a 2 1/2 year old (I think...).  Tommy is Mr. Smiles most days.  He is a great sleeper and he is very chilled out for the most part.  He adores his big brother Ben, and laughs as just about everything Ben does.  What more could a mom ask for?!

Post haircut ride on the motorcycle

This is where I found Ben after he shouted, "Mama, come find me!"

Cutest Martin Sexton fan ever!

Big boy!  Tommy sitting in his high chair for the first time (5 months)

Hurricane Sandy Week

This week has been hard for everyone on the East Coast.  We are very lucky that we didn't lose power.  Many people in our area lost cable, power, heat, even their homes.  However, we did have to get creative once the boys started going crazy not being on their schedules...  It's been a tough one!  Things are getting back to normal though.  Many schools will reopen on Monday, including the boys' day care center (woohoo!), trees are being cut down and cleaned up and power is steadily being restored.  If we could all just stop going crazy for gas, things would be good!

Here are some pics from the week of Sandy:

Nana Suzy taking care of Tommy during the worst of it on Monday night

Tuesday morning - tree on a neighbor's house!

Awesome post-storm rainbow

Cars, Cars and more Cars.  We love Lightening McQueen!

Visit to the doctor on Wednesday

"Happy Halloween!" says Ben

"I go get gas and go to Meggie and Papa's house"

Down the slide at Chrissy's house

Working on his motor skills

MORE time in the baby Bjorn outside!

After a nice warm bath on Saturday night

Morning of a Hurricane

Hurricane Sandy has made it's way to the tri-state area.  Although we are lucky to still have power and cable, who knows how long that will last?  All the schools are closed so we are home with the boys, hunkered down inside for the next 48 hours, at least.  So, what to do?

Play in the activity table

Make goop and play with it (make a mess!)

Do some coloring

Laze about in a swing

Play in the jungle with your bro'

Take a nap : )

The Evolution of Halloween

Superman Tommy!

Fireman Ben!

Adorable boys

"Kissing" (read: headbutting) Tommy

"I am so funny!"

"Hey Goose, you want to wear my fireman hat?"

"Here ya' go"

Ben rules ; )

Enjoy Every Moment

So I just can't stop thinking about this horrible tragedy that has happened to a family in Manhattan.  Mom, dad, three kids and nanny- all getting along well and enjoying a privilaged life in NYC.  Dad goes away for business and leaves mom home with the kids and nanny.  Mom takes 3-year-old out to a swim lesson and comes home to find that her nanny has taken the lives of her 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.  And then tried to take her own life, but survived.  I mean, seriously - it's THE worst case scenario ever.  Dad was met at the airport by police officers who told him the news.  Those parents have lost their two children, yet they still have to love and care for their third child who still requires their full love and attention.  It just doesn't get any worse. 
I can only hope that this family is able to speak with their nanny from her hospital bed to find out WHY she would ever hurt their children.  HOW could she take their innocent lives?  NOTHING is ever that far out of control or painful that you have to take your life or the lives of others.  I am just praying for this family that they can have some peace and possibly some closure to all of this chaos.  We have to remember to enjoy every moment with our family and friends.  Even when our kids drive us crazy, they make us smile.  Take a breath, ask for help, do what you need to do - but always end with love. 

What we have been up to

The boys got matching PJ's.  Never thought I'd do that...but when they're on sale for $1.99 you buy 'em!

Goose played with Legos and watched TV at Papa's house

Ben sat in Papa's chair as soon as he had a chance

Tommy tried out a Halloween costume.  He decided to go with Superman, not a skeleton.

Ben got a new hat when we went to MA last weekend. 

But he was still brave enough to wear his Yankees hat at the playground in MA!

He ran around the park with Mimi : )

We went to a Touch a Truck event - Ben was super excited to drive the garbage truck!

And sit in the digger...