#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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Food and Life

Santa Visit {2012}

December 11, 2012 · Narrative

Santa Visits 2005-2012
One of my favorite parts of the holiday season are our visits to Santa. It’s that little reminder that magic really *does* exist, and that the innocence of children is right there in front of us. The above is a compilation, in order, of our Santa visits from 2012 (taken yesterday) back to 2005. The only year that is missing is 2008, which still pains me. Madeline didn’t appear in the 2009 shot because after my third attempt to get a picture of her with Santa (you can read more about it here), she was not having it, so it ended up being just Nick by himself. I’m going to have to dig up the 2002-2004 pictures and scan them (I know they don’t exist online yet since I didn’t start blogging until 2005), so I can have everything in one place and add to the collage easier.

For some reason, Nick is wavering on his non-belief of Santa this year. I don’t know why, and, of course, have to be careful how I question it, but I’ll take it. The year before last, he asked a ton of questions about Santa, so I was suspecting that last year would have been the last year that he believed. Then, one day during school last December, another Mom was in his classroom helping the teacher with an activity. And in the midst of a full room of fourth graders she announced, “You guys don’t still believe in Santa, do you?”

He came home, questioned the dickens out of me, and I came clean. As he gets older, I know there is a fine line between letting your kid still believe in magic (as much as I want them to) and them being too old to believe and being made fun of because none of their friends do. So while I was prepared for last year to be the last year anyway because of all the questioning, I wasn’t prepared for the news to come from a careless remark from another mother. There were a lot of parents answering a lot of questions that afternoon, and I was disappointed to say the least.

Whether he believes or not, his sister certainly does. This Santa, and the one that calls our house during the holidays, has long since been designated as “the real Santa,” and all the other ones are “helpers.” We try to go to this Santa every year because I like the consistency in the pictures. And also because it’s run by the Rotary Club, so is a fundraiser for them and very inexpensive for me (as in a $5 donation versus the outrageous prices that mall Santas charge).

Madeline kept peeking in the glass door, while we were waiting for our turn. Once it was, we went into the small, cozy Santa house, and Santa asked them how they had been behaving and what they wanted for Christmas. Nick went first, followed by Madeline. Each of them had clearly practiced their wish list requests, as they carefully recited things one by one. Although very specific, the lists are short. Our visit ended with candy canes, a quick picture, and promises from the kids of an early bedtime on Christmas Eve so Santa could get down to business.

(Christmas Lists coming soon…).

Tomorrow? A review on a new grilled cheese restaurant!
And tomorrow? (Double post!) A new craft box option.
Thursday? A new recipe for Gazpacho Salad!
Friday? A review on a new art exhibit!
Saturday? Christmas Lists 2012!
Sunday? I might skip the Weekend Photos in Review in lieu of the kitchen Christmas tree post. New tree this year! And a few fun new additions to the tree as well.

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Posted In: Narrative

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    December 12, 2012 at 7:23 am

    I can’t believe that other mother did that!!! I mean, seriously?
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple-Marshmallow Cream Filling…for a Virtual Baby Shower!!

    Reply
  2. paula says

    December 12, 2012 at 9:43 am

    This year Dan stood away from Santa who had Nick on his lap. Dan was headed towards Santa’s lap but the Santa staff picked the moment we walked up to be distracted by something else for just long enough for Dan to think about what was about to happen. Dan was chewing on his fingers. We tried to get another picture without his fingers in his mouth but he wasn’t having it. I was just thrilled he was in the picture.

    But, I probably mentioned this before, I am not a fan of the whole Santa thing. Fantasy is fine but keeping up the Santa myth requires too much blatant lying for my tastes. And, as your post illustrates, I am not only required to keep up the myth for my child, I have to keep it up for every other child, until what ever age their parents deem appropriate, which can be 3 or 30.

    Reply
    • Cate says

      December 12, 2012 at 10:17 am

      Agree on the blatant lying. Not a fan of it, but as a long-time reader, you know I like the fact that kids can believe in magic. Harsh reality of the real world will hit them soon enough! Heck, as adults, we could use a little belief in magic too! I think deep down he knows Santa isn’t real anymore, but is afraid to not believe.

      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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