Weekends

I live for weekends these days.  I don't get a break from homework, which is kicking my butt daily this semester, but the girls have more people who love them and want to hang out with them.  They spent all of this past weekend with Meema, who they adore.  And she them, obviously.  They had a great time, and Steven and I headed into Boston to meet up with some friends of mine for dinner.  It was a great (late) night, and everyone had a great time.  The girls were happy to see me (and Heather) yesterday morning.  However I seem to have picked up whatever bug they've been passing around, so now I'm congested with an insanely sore throat.  And of course Biology and Algebra wait for no one.

Sick

Somehow there seems to be more sickness going around this winter than last.  Hannah's sick (still or again, not sure) with a horrible cough.  She's barking and miserable.  I don't blame her, coughing is no fun, and worse at night.  Fortunately for her it doesn't really wake her up much, she mostly coughs in in her sleep.  It only disturbs other people who can hear her.  I'm starting to be able to sleep through it.  She's old enough now that she'll come get me if she needs something.  Steven can't always though, and boy he complains like there's something I could do about it.  I mean, if she's had albuterol, cough syrup, and vapor rub on her chest, there isn't much more I could do.  She keeps a water bottle in bed with her, and drinks if she needs it.  I really think all the bases are covered.

In other news, school started for me this week.  I'm feeling ridiculously dumb because the algebra isn't making any sense.  I swear I studied for 2 hours tonight and finally was confident enough to attempt the homework assigned.  And by tomorrow I'm sure I will have forgotten completely.  Sad but true I'm thinking.

Norah is her hilarious little self.  She's started talking funny, and I'm not sure why.  No one says "Cay UHT" instead of "Cat" here, well except her.  But she's goofy and fun, and I'm glad.  Even when I want to send her to the moon.

Busy

While I've been enjoying my winter break from school, life has paraded on as normal.  Chaos reigns, but in a good way.  We've just been really busy.  The first week back to school was rough for the girls, but it got a bit better last week.  Yesterday Hannah had the day off, so after I got home from work we just stayed home and relaxed.  We needed it after our weekend.  Thursday Norah was running a fever of 103.  Weird for her, since she rarely gets sick.  I ran out for something to bring it down, and sure enough an hour later she was cooling down nicely.  She woke up hot again, so more meds brought it down to normal, and she was off doing her normal thing.  Fortunately Saturday she woke up cool, and stayed that way all day.  I still don't know what it was, but it left in enough time to have some friends come over for dinner as planned on Sunday.  We got to snuggle a little baby and spend time with friends we don't get to see often enough.  There was a total of 17 people here for dinner, and the house sounded every bit of it.  I love that kind of happy noise, it's my favorite.  All the kids got along well, as usual, well except Magi and Norah.  They always have issues, you'd think they were sisters.

So hopefully we're back to normal and virus free.  No one else got sick with whatever it was Norah had, and I'm pleased to say that.  We've got some snow, some of the first of the year following the freak Halloween storm.  Nothing major, just enough to make stuff messy.  I'm hoping this is how the winter will be.  Next week I start back to school, and hopefully I can balance everything as well as I did last semester.

Happy New Year!

We had a very quiet, peaceful New Year's weekend.  The girls were dropped off at Grampy and Mimi's on Friday after lunch, so I spent a few hours home before Steven got back.  I took down all the decorations, and packed everything up neatly.  All we had to do Saturday was take the tree down and put it away, and of course vacuum, because even plastic trees shed needles like you wouldn't believe. 

Saturday Steven did some work on Amanda's car, and then we took mine to the tire place to fix my nearly flat tire.  I had a screw in it, so it was leaking.  But we had a snack at Dunkin Donuts and then finished up our grocery shopping.  After that we did a little shopping with our Christmas money, and then had dinner out courtesy of a lovely gift card.  Our peaceful evening was interrupted around 11 when Steven got called into work.  So he left, and I went to sleep.  He slept in late on Sunday, then we cleaned and did some more shopping before the girls came home.

I had to work today, as did he, but the girls are still recovering from their long weekend.  Norah slept in until 8, and only woke up then because we had to leave so I could go to work.  Hannah is exceptionally cranky today, and I'm hoping that an early bedtime will remedy that.

Weekend

For some people, the holidays falling on the weekend means two long weekends in a row.  That isn't the case here as both Steven and I have to work regular schedules, but it does mean that the girls get to have a whole weekend with Grampy and Mimi, and maybe Auntie Angie if she's not working.  They're super excited, and so am I.  Steven and I haven't had a weekend that was completely kid free in almost three months.  So we're going to do some of the things that are easier to do without kids, like take down decorations from Christmas and go grocery shopping.  We can probably manage dinner out I'm thinking too.

It was Great!

Christmas was fabulous!  I couldn't have asked for a better day.  The weather cooperated, everyone came, we ate and drank too much... It was just a lot of fun.

Christmas Eve we headed to church with about ninety million other people.  The building was so crammed that there were people standing in the aisles with twenty minutes still to go before Mass started.  It was a nice service, and the girls hand delivered a christmas card to Father Bill on our way out.  Then we headed over to Meme and Grampy's house to have dinner.  Once the girls got their dinner out of the way they headed to the tree for gifts.  They both got adorable pajamas that fit them very well, some new games to keep at Meme's for when they're visiting, and best of all for them, their dolls!  They were so happy and excited to get them, it was fantastic!  Norah carts hers everywhere, and Hannah is almost as bad.  Then it was time to head home and open one gift from us.  Since I knew they were getting the dolls on Christmas Eve, I got them pajamas with a matching set for their dolls.  They were so happy they stripped in the living room and put them right on.  Then it was off to bed.

Christmas morning started around 6:30 with stockings opened.  Then we made breakfast.  Pancakes, potatoes, and bacon filled them up enough to open gifts.  I think their favorites are still the dolls, though everything seems to be getting played with.  Steven liked his gifts, and I can't wait to start cooking out of my new cookbook.  The best gift of all was the card from Sara and Zach telling us that the girls will be expecting a new cousin come June!  About 9:30 Meema came with her entourage, and once Uncle Donny showed up, we got the party started for real!  Drinks and gifts and stockings were passed out to everyone, and I think that everything was a hit.  No one seemed to be disappointed by anything, which is always a sign of a great Christmas.  My favorite gift were my Never Ever Boring salt & pepper shakers that Donny gave me!  They make me smile every time I look at them.

Then it was on to lunch, clean up, and a round of dancing with the Wii.  After all of that, Grampy, Mimi, Nana, and Papa came.  There was lots of chatting, some gift opening, and then more eating.  We had turkey with all the fixings and lots of desserts.  The girls had a fabulous day, and are thoroughly enjoying all their gifts.  I'm still finding room for everything, but slowly we're putting the house back to normal.  The end to their fabulous vacation week includes a weekend spent with Grampy and Mimi at their house, and I get to go out with my husband alone for NYE.  I couldn't have dreamed up nicer holidays.

Christmas is coming!

And it's going to be a busy one!  I'm in the busy stages of getting the food planned out, since we're having two big dinners on the same day with separate parts of the family.  I wanted to make red velvet pancakes for the girls in the morning, but I think I might go with regular pancake mix, since we're having lasagna for lunch and a turkey dinner with all the fixings for dinner.  Gifts are nearly all wrapped, though I've debated wrapping all the stocking gifts also, to prolong the gift opening joy.  I'm just waiting on one last thing to get here for Hannah and I need to wrap their two last books I got them Friday.

I wish I had unlimited money at Christmas, I love buying gifts and making sure people truly love what they're getting.  I think this year will be a good one, but I guess I only have six more days until I find out.