On Friday evening Anthony and I went to an "Ugly Sweater" party at Trish's house. I am trying to upload photos of that but its not currently working...more to come on that.

Sunday we received over two feet of snow. We never seem to get snow so this was rare for us. We were literally snowed in all day long. We spent the day baking xmas cookies. We made several different kinds including orange cream cookies, peanut butter kisses, white chocolate coconut cookies ( my favorite), snowballs, baklava and more. The only draw back to baking with Anthony is that he doesn't like to give to many samples, we are working on that...

Jackson spent the day in his jammies lounging around.





The poor guy was getting over an ear infection and spent much of the day wanting to be held.

Last night our friend Erin came down for a visit. While I worked Anthony and Erin went to the mall and to pick up some supper at Mystic Market. After Jackson went to sleep we rented "Julie and Julia" Anthony and Erin fell asleep but I watched the entire movie, it sucked.

Jackson was VERY busy at school today. Not only did Santa come and bring each baby a sesame street book, Jackson also made mommy and daddy an ornament, we love it and hung it front and center on the tree! It has his picture in he middle and glitter all around it. I can't wait till Jackson makes us more art work.

Well off to relax a bit with Anthony and Miss. Monroe. Only one more day of work then on Xmas vacation!!!

This past weekend we took Jackson to the enchanted village up in Mass. The village is something we used to go to as kids when it was at Jordan Marsh. The village closed a few years back due to funds but now Jordan's Furniture has bought it and its back!!!!




The enchanted village is a a sequence of holiday scenes that you walk through, music plays and the figurines move. When the song " White Christmas" plays, it actually snows in the village!!

People have been waiting hours to get into the Enchanted Village this year. We planed well and arrived at 10:15, it opens at 10:00. We were in the village by 11:00!

In addition to the Enchanted Village you can also see the Polar Express in 4D and a holiday light show. Snacks, including the famous Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins are served.


Look who was at the end of the village.... ( Jackson was ready for a nap at this point)



It was fun to take Jackson to a holiday activity that I used to attend!!

HAPPY HANUKKAH FROM OUR LITTLE POTATO LATKE!!!!!

If you look closely his shirt reads " I light up mommy's life"






More pics to come on Jackson's visit to see Santa!!!!!

I love yogurt...




Sorry don't have any more pictures. But soon to come jackson is his new Hannukah shirt!!!!

When I picked up Jackson Friday afternoon I was greeted with his first painting!! It was hillarious. They had the babies down to their diapers all sitting in a row in their high chairs painting. jackson made a beautiful red and blue swirl painting and they took a picture of him as he painted. I love it.

Anthony got home late Friday night from Dallas so jackson was very happy to see his daddy saturday morning when he woke up. On Saturday we headed up to Rocky Hill to visit Anthony's dad's grave and attend Daryl's baby shower. Jackson was such a good boy at the shower letting everyone hold him and talk to him. He was also a great help removing all the plastic table clothes and assisting Daryl and Skerdi open their presents! The ride home to Ledyard was a snowy ride but thankfully Jackson slep the whole way.

Yesterday I got up with Jackson and Anthony slept till 9am!!!! Must be nice..hmph.

Jackson took a very long nap Sunday morning and din't get up till nearly 1pm. At that time we did a few errands and purchased a xmas present for Jackson, I can't say what in case he reads this.

After a dinner of Chicken Marsalla for the grown ups and Gerber Turkey and Sweet Potatoes for Jackson, we played a bit and Jackson had a tub before going to bed.
I then finished my Christmas cards and Anthony and I had smores ice cream and watched the movie " The Ugly Truth" It was cute.

The movie was interupted when Jared called and he and Anthony played voices...there is an app for that...

Some pictures of Jackson exploring the xmas tree. The last one is my favorite, I wish it wasn't so dark....







Jackson's first tooth finally cut through. The poor guy seems like he is in so much pain. Last night, well this morning around 4:45 AM he just wanted to be held and rocked, he ended up sleeping on my chest, you try sleeping with 20lbs on your chest ( insert gross comment here Jared). I feel bad for him, it appears a few more are going to cut any day. He is very busy at school and today got to play in the "tunnel". I love picking him up and sneaking in to see what he is doing before he sees me. His class is all decorated for the holidays, xmas lights were being strung when I arrived tonight. In the next few weeks they will be very busy learning about the eight days of Hanukkah and having a special visit from Santa Clause!! Isn't that cute?

So speaking of trees. I helped organize the Giving Tree this year at work.
We adopted 6 families, each having at least 2 children and purchased gifts for the children and stop and shop cards for the parents. Anthony and I were in charge of an eight year old girl who wanted gloves and dolls. The things the children were asking for were sad, one boy wanted new underwear...

I'll also be purchasing some toys for tots with my "khols cash" tomorrow.

Its very sad all the children that won't be getting gifts from Santa this year. It makes me sad and also makes me appreciate what I do have!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. I have been off of work for a week and it feels like only a couple of days at best. I think it's because I have not stopped since last Monday. The days before Thanksgiving were filled with errands, grocery shopping, getting food ready for Thanksgiving, cleaning the house etc.

Wednesday night the Goldsmith's arrived from their trip from Maine. Jackson was still up to greet his aunty, uncle and cousin. They did not get much time to hang out because it was passed Jackson's bedtime and Kristin and I were hoping he would get a good night sleep knowing he would not be taking any naps during the day Thursday. After the boys went to bed, the grownups played Farmville (Anthony and Amanda) and watched some TV before heading to bed.

Thanksgiving morning we were up early. Jackson was very excited for the arrival of his guests and to play with his big cousin. Daddy Henry arrived around 9:30ish, just in time for the boys to go down for a nap. He was hoping to get some time with them before the crowd arrived but without fail, they slept the time before our guests arrived.

People started getting to the house around 11:30. As usual, we had a ton of appetizer foods before dinner. This year I changed things up and made a different type of stuffed mushrooms from prior years. The change was that instead of making them with breadcrumbs and cheese, I made them with sauteed bacon and onions and mixed with cream cheese before stuffing the mushrooms and rolling them in breadcrumbs. They were definitely a crowd pleaser with not one left over. Some that will not go mentioned told me they preferred the old version. I'll leave that up to the jury to decide. We also had shrimp cocktail, different types of cheese, spankopita's and Leah's Italian antipasto. For dinner, we had 3 fried turkey's that I had brined for 2 days. I did not get to fry the turkeys because I spent much of the afternoon in the hospital with Jackson (story to follow). I addition to all the typical Thanksgiving meal fixins, I made a sour cream herb mashed potatoes and stuffing with Italian sausage and dried cranberries. The stuffing seemed to be a hit this year! Dessert was bountiful with plenty to select from.

Most of you who follow our blog know that Kristin and I ending up having to rush Jackson into the hospital on Thanksgiving. We ended up having to call 911 because Jackson had a severe allergic reaction to something unknown to us and the doctors. Just before going down for a nap early afternoon, he began breaking out in large white welts all over his body. This followed by his skin turning bright red and swelling. His breathing also was wheezy. Not knowing what was happening or what to do, I called his doctor, who called us back and told us to rush him into the hospital. He was brought to the hospital in an ambulance and was treated for an allergic reaction with steroids and antihistamines. We were at the hospital for a couple of hours before being released. The doctor did not know what caused the reaction. It could have been the new formula he was put on (though he had before when he was first born), peaches in his yogurt (again, had before), perfume someone was wearing that held him or from the shrimp on people's hands that were holding him. It's scary not knowing for sure. We are so very glad he is doing well now but it was nothing less than scary.

By the time we got home from the hospital, we had missed Thanksgiving dinner. We got to spend about an hour with folks before everyone headed home. My cousin who I have not seen in years had also come to our house and unfortunately, I did not get to spend any time with her. I felt bad because she was by herself with people she did not know as my mom followed Kristin and I to the hospital. She did call us later that night to tell us she had a great time though Kristin and I were not there.

Later that night after everyone left and Kristin and I cleaned our house which was a mess, Jared, Amanda, Friendly Henry, Kristin and I played our traditional Thanksgiving night Taboo. As always, we had many laughs, compliments of Friendly Henry. The funny thing is that the laughs are never the result of a joke, rather, it is because of the types of clues Friendly gave to Jared. All I have to say about that is "bomp!"

Friday morning, I cooked us up a big breakfast, which consisted of cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, Kristin's hash casserole, bagels and amish bread. After breakfast, Daddy Henry spent some time with the boys before heading home later that morning. Below is a picture of Papa Goldsmith and his grandboys.

After the boys got up from their nap, Amanda and Kristin headed up to Rhode Island to have pictures taken of the boys for Christmas. Jared and I did not go knowing that the crowd would be ridiculous and seeing we have short patience, it was best we did not go. I am thankful we did not go after hearing they waited in line behind a family of 5 who were getting their pictures taken with multiple outfit changes!

While the girls were getting the pictures done, Jared and I picked up Jackson's prescription and headed over to the Vodoo Bar and Grill in Mystic for some frothy beverages. The Vodoo Bar and Grill is probably one of my favorite places to go around here for food and drink. It's nothing special but had great food that's cheap and always plenty on tap. We stayed for a while and got home just as the girls did. Later that night after the boys went to bed, we had pizza for dinner and Amanda's pickle dip. Later that night, we watched Elf (except Kristin who slept on the couch with her shower cap) before heading to bed.

Saturday the Goldsmith's headed home late morning. Kristin and I put some Christmas decorations up in the house while Jackson napped. Last night we went to Tar-jee and Babie'R'Us. We picked up some Panera before heading home to put the rugrat to bed. Our plan was to go to the Mystic boat parade and dinner but we were both exhausted and did not feel like getting dressed up to go out.

This morning we were all up early. Kristin and I spent the morning putting up the Christmas tree. Jackson was in his glory pulling ornaments out of the box and starring at all the lights on the tree. I spent the entire afternoon decorating the outside, which thankfully is all done! Grammie stopped by tonight because she bought Jackson a train set to go under the tree, which I set up for him. He enjoyed watching it though he was much more interested in pulling the train cars off the track, which I spent a while trying to get on.

All in all, it was a great weekend, though jam packed. It was good seeing the family Thanksgiving and to spend time with the Goldsmith's. As I think about Thanksgiving, I am still awed at the fact that both Jared, Amanda, Kristin and I have kids. It's funny looking back at the holiday's prior to having kids and what they are now.

I am not looking forward to the work week ahead, especially knowing I will be in Dallas for 3 of 5 work days this week. I would love to be someplace sunny and warm with a frosty beverage in hand while I sit by the pool right now. Maybe if I close my eyes and click my heals three times it will come true.....must be the glue I am sniffing right now making me delusional.

Below are some pictures I had taken of the boys playing, riding their fire truck Nannie got them and Kristin watching Elmo with Callum.

This is what we woke up to this morning....




He is growing way to fast, I hate it!!!!

Uncle Adam and Auntie Kimba came to visit today. Uncle Adam arrived around 10 this morning and brought gourmet muffins from the Gingerbread Factory ( i think its called). Big gourmet carrot cake muffins, gingerbread muffins, and strawberry shortcake muffins.

Jackson was sleeping when Uncle Adam arrived, but soon woke up as he was so excited to see him!



While we were awaiting Auntie Kimba's arrival, Uncle Adam fed Jackson and watched his new tricks of crawling and trying to stand. When Auntie Kimba arrived we all headed out to lunch.

Anthony had heard about a Mexican restaurant, Ortega's, that was supposed to be good. When we pulled up we almost didn't go in, the outside didn't look so great...but don't judge a book by its cover cause the food was yummy!! It was really great authentic Mexican food. I think we all had burritos of some sorts and Jackson had a bannana....

We headed home and Adam and Anthony went out for a bit and when Jackson woke from his afternoon nap, Auntie Kimba and I took Jackson and Chelsea for a walk.
When Adam and Anthony arrived home we had a surprise birthday cake for Adam's belated 30th.

It was a great day. Jackson was a happy little boy and gave his auntie and uncle lots of big wet kisses!!!!

Here are the godparents with their little monkey.



And our first family picture with Chelsea girl!



Only a two day work week coming up. Looking forward to Turkey day :-)