#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Christmas Eve 2010

December 26, 2010 · Narrative

Some 300 pictures were taken from Christmas Eve morning through today, and that doesn’t include all the ones I deleted to make space – phew! A very busy few days, family, friends, food and fun. What more could you want? As much as I adore the holidays, I also love putting everything back together and resuming normalcy once it’s done. I have off from my “regular” job this week, so the kids and I are going to be enjoying Winter Break together, spotted with a trip down the shore, and a few shorter jaunts with friends in between. And with New Jersey midway through the first (and hopefully last) blizzard of 2010, it seems like the perfect week to take off.

I’m going to break up some of the pictures from the holidays … a perfect way to ease into a semi-relaxing week ahead. Hope your holidays were just as wonderful as ours!

My day started at 7:30 am Friday morning, as Nick crept to the laptop by the side of my bed, trying to turn it on quietly. Logging right onto Norad’s website, he tracked Santa’s movements ALL DAY LONG. I was more than a little tickled to find out that Santa was just leaving New York as I was putting the presents under the tree that night. Couldn’t have planned it better.
Christmas Eve Chillin'As I was feverishly trying to finish everything for our Christmas Eve dinner, the kids watched a Christmas movie. ‘Tis good to be a kid.

Holiday TreatI found a coupon that took $5 off this Hallmark ornament. All the Hallmark stores were long since sold out of the cupcake tin ornament though, so if anyone happens to see it for sale anywhere, please let me know.

Nick Stuffing Madeline's StockingRight before Christmas, my Mom takes Nick out to buy a few presents for me and his sister. He loves that, just as much as he loved filled Madeline’s stocking after she went to bed Friday night. Such a good big brother.

Bedazzled Fence

Beheaded SantaA beheaded Santa *and* I had to use the flash. Bummer. Every year on Christmas Eve, the fire truck goes through the neighborhood, stopping for Santa to give the kids candy-filled stockings. Last year, Madeline slept through the blaring horns and sirens. This year, she was wide awake. Candy is that child’s middle name, after all.

Foie Gras

Christmas Eve Cheer

Gingerbread VillageI put together a few gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate on Christmas Eve. I used hot glue to assemble them, making them more three-year-old-proof. They even survived when Sadie accidentally dropped hers on the floor.

Building Gingerbread Houses

Christmas Eve Activity

Nick's Masterpiece

Sophie's Masterpiece

Madeline's Masterpiece

Sadie's MasterpieceSadie did have chocolate chips decorating the roof of her gingerbread house, but she kept eating them.

Christmas Eve PJsChristmas Eve pajamas.

Madeline's OrnamentI love kid-made treasures. This one is from Madeline and is made with a tracing of her hand.

The Children Were Nestled All Snug in their BedDreaming of Santa. I had to do double-duty that night as the Tooth Fairy also visited us. She was actually two days late. Apparently, as Santa told Nick Friday afternoon, she had to help Santa because he was a little behind with his work. Rumor has it that she will be coming back tomorrow too. Those teeth just keep popping right on out!

Project 365
December 24, 2010, Photo #319

Love from WendysGotta love a heart-shaped chicken nugget.  I would much rather the kids were eating homemade chicken fingers, but in the interest of keeping the troops quiet on Friday so I could clean the house, wrap everything and make Christmas Eve dinner, sometimes I give in.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. claire says

    December 27, 2010 at 12:12 am

    Ooooo…I have that cupcake tin ornament. My mom surprised me! I may go shopping Tues or Wed and if I see one I’ll let you know!

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    December 27, 2010 at 8:02 am

    I love that you let the kids decorate gingerbread houses! A Christmas Eve to remember for sure. Looks like you had a wonderful prelude to the big day!

    Reply
  3. Kris #40 says

    December 27, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Love your photos! Can’t wait to see some more. Looks like a fun Christmas Eve!

    We missed Santa on the fire truck (first time in 17 years of living here) because we went to NYC (spur of the moment trip) to see “The Tree”.

    Reply
  4. FireMom says

    December 27, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    Darling, please don’t forget The Awesome that is eBay. Your ornament is there, and that’s just one. I stopped counting at ten.

    eBay is where I collect all of the firefighter ornaments we didn’t get in years’ past!

    I also love your gingerbread house idea. Stealing for next year!!

    Merry Christmas! (Late!)

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    December 28, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    LOL…Sadie looks mad at her gingerbread house.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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