Bemusings: On Turning Corners

As a family, we've had some major accomplishments this year. We've closed some chapters and started new ones. Not necessarily in order, but the following has been achieved/happened:
Complete potty training.
Having our last baby.
Becoming a mom of two.
Losing baby weight.
Crossfit. End of story.
Organizing our home to accomadate said baby.
Starting preschool.
Birthdays.
Hawaii trip.
5th Anniversary.
Family ups and downs.
Financial ups and downs.
Hard work.
Hope.
And many many more revealations, decisions, breaking points, and proud moments. As we go into the new year I find I'm on the fence. Not specifically about one particular issue, but about the general direction we're headed in as a family and for myself personally. The theme of last year seems to have been learning. Being schooled. Day in, day out training literally and methaphorically. I am wondering what theme I'll be reflecting on next year, but I can't help but think I've been training for something. What specifically I couldn't tell you, but I've had that feeling for a while now.
Which can be exciting or scary depending on my mood.
This next year: our baby will turn one, our oldest will turn FOUR, my 10 year high school reunion will happen, Tyler will be in his last year of the 20's, and things will happen I cannot yet predict.
But. I'm curious and hopeful and ready...

Christmas 2010!

Here are my favorite shots of Christmas Eve and Day 2010, hope everyone had a magical Christmas!

Merry Merry!

The Good, The Bad, and The UGLY

Last night was our Crossfit Basic Ugly Sweater Christmas party! So fun to see everyone in their ugly Cosby Christmas sweaters. Have to post three things:
1. Casey should have won...no doubt right? (oh and don't worry: that red eyelet collar WAS attached).
2. I actually saw with my own two eyes our crossfit-crazy, gluten-free trainer EAT a plate full of Andi's mac n' cheese. And yes, it was my favorite thing all night and a bonafide Christmas miracle.
3. Both Ty and my sweaters were women's. I let him choose which one he wanted; he chose birds of a feather...
Fun to hang out with our CFB community!

Snowflake Lane 2010!

This tradition was lots of fun this year especially with Pearson! She LOVED the Snow Princess, Rudolph, and Frosty! Oh, and the drums. She's very into drumming these days so it was a big hit. Harper did not really know what to make of the whole outing. First she was strapped on me and the loud drum beats made her blink a thousand times. No crying though so it must have been tolerable! Here's to next year and a fun time with family (and friends!)

A(u)nte Up

You will NOT believe what just happened to me at lunch today...

Stop reading if you're still eating. Fair warning.

I had my niece Heidi this morning as Andi was at a doctor appointment for Bell Babe #3. She didn't really eat the breakfast given to me for her, BUT she did eat a massive sugar cookie at my girl Katie's house. We were all invited for a play date/cookie decorating session this AM. After some fun at Katie's place we headed to McDonald's for lunch. Let me clearly state after subsequent events I am NOT, repeat NOT going back there for a while. What prompted my hasty departure and possible banishment? Oh, get ready.
After refusing to eat anything (if you know Heidi, you know this is a red flag) I made her take a bite of hamburger. Mistake. Of EPIC proportions. She had the bite in her mouth for maybe two seconds and gives me this look and I think I knew what was about to happen.
Vomit. Projectile. Everywhere.
On Babe H, on the table, all over Heidi, Pea's rain boots, my pants. You name it. I sprang into action like a ninja. I had to ask myself, why are there NO wet naps at McDonald's? An establishment basically catering to children?
I started cleaning frantically. Pea is gagging non-stop. Harper is bewildered. Heidi is crying. Just when I think I know what I'm dealing with. More; one last massive spill of sugar cookies and stomach acid and any surface thinking it was spared was then covered. I can't really explain the mayhem which followed, but it involved:
-Helplessly "wiping" up the girls, collecting stained clothes, calming crying and gagging...
-A kind woman to watch my girls for me while I ran to the bathroom.
-Carrying out three basically naked kids from McDonald's.
-Glares from the poor 16 girl who had to clean this mess.
Sufficed to say, I A(u)nted UP today. Oh, and I think I might crack open the wine Andi got me as a gift...
Heidi, here's to hoping you feel a bit better this afternoon!

Red Cowboy Boots & Cinnamon Ice Cream

You will want BOTH after this post. Brace yourselves. Andi gave me all the wonderful pictures she took of the Holiday festivities this weekend so there will be quite a few! Let's start with Saturday eve's progressive dinner.
It started out at our place with Christmas Martinis & Prociutto Pops!



Then we went to Joe & Taryn's for this AMAZING soup. As stated here, his work is intimidating to say the least, BUT wow was it worth it!

Then on to Andi's for the main course: braised short ribs & goat cheese polenta. Umm, SO good. And I am not a rib eater. Magnific!

Last stop? Shannon and Tim's (in combination with Melissa and Zack) for bread pudding and homemade Cinnamon ice cream. To die, seriously. Little known secret; bread pudding is just about Ty's favorite dessert of all time. He was happy about this!

After a rousing edition of the newlywed game where I had a couple pretty awkward insert-foot-in-mouth moments, we went our separate ways only to meet up again on Sunday at...
The Lang family Christmas! It's quite the affair; complete with skits (our little belles did Rudolph Ella style), prayer, jokes (some inappropriate of course), the Christmas story, and family gift exchange/shouting match. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this year! Can you fathom the little cousin picture next year with 5 new faces? So fun...





P.s. as promised Ty made up for himself this year and having Harp here was the best gift we could have received...