Thanksgiving 2009

I started out the week anxious because of a small trial I had on Monday, totally blue because I was missing my dad (his birthday, Thanksgiving, all these things I wish he was still around to be a part of), exhausted due to an ongoing sleep deprivation issue on account of the kids, and worn out from a nagging sore throat. Over the past week James cut a new tooth (the total is now 5), Luz came down with a nasty ear infection, Christian caught the sore throat I started the week with, and then we gave Luz a toxic dose of Delsym and had to keep her up until 3 a.m. to make sure she was going to be okay.

That said, we managed to have a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by family in Thibodaux, we picked about 50 lbs of citrus, took long walks, watched the incredible sunsets (and sunrises - at least James and I did once or twice), stared at the trucks going about their business harvesting the sugar cane (James can watch loud trucks dump things into other loud trucks for hours), fried turkeys and twinkies (this is true, really), roasted smores and sat by a bonfire, went on a hayride, had two lovely dinners with the B'ham Browns, and started watching Christmas cartoons 24/7, and it isn't even December yet.

I can be thankful for the highs and the lows. I have to be because I know I cannot have one without the other.

Christian and Luz (in her precious MCB design t-shirt):


Luz, part pilgrim costume:


Luz and Edward, by the tractor wheel:


Golden sunset:


James, grapefruit = ball:


James, first hayride:


Attempting to get just one picture of them together in their Thanksgiving t's:

Dinnertime!

James is finally at the age/stage when he can eat most 'table' food in addition to his canned baby food. Along with this ability comes the freedom to feed himself. I never understood why some moms stymied this developmental milestone and opted, instead, to feed their baby ever meal. Messiness was never an issue with La Luz. She was fastidious and fed herself in the most tidy manner imaginable for a baby. James is the polar opposite, and now I understand why there is a market for disposable mats to place underneath the highchair and why many people opt to disrobe their kids before mealtime. I also have a new appreciation for Loki and his keen ability to lick ground meat stick out of a seat buckle in less than 5 seconds.

I am not kidding, here, see for yourself:

How Bad Can It Be?

I think a conservative estimate is that one night a week we eat soup and sandwiches for dinner and if someone has not made some sort of homemade soup, our 'go to' soup is this one:


Christian and I both share a love for Campbell's Tomato Soup. For Christian it makes him nostalgic for cold, dark Massachusetts nights after hockey practice and for me it is reminds me of early sunsets, Sunday suppers and blts.

Two years ago I read the list of ingredients in Campbell's Tomato Soup and I almost cried when I discovered in had high fructose corn syrup in it. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, what doesn't contain it? For the past two years we have been on a mission to find a suitable replacement and it has been to no avail. We have tried every commercial brand out there and even some of the homemade versions at Whole Foods and other stores and none of them hold a candle to the deliciousness of Campbell's. I guess the fact of the matter is that in some cases high fructose corn syrup is the magic ingredient and I suppose we are just going to have to accept it because I don't think we will ever be willing to give it up. I think there is only one reason why it is so "mmm, mmm good."

New Purple Hat

Aunt Molls brought her latest creations with her to NOLA and it was just in time for this nice cool snap. The first time I learned that Molly could knit was when she made the most perfect, sage green blanket for James. I was shocked. This time her handiwork included a fabulous green hat for the little monster that I can't get him to keep on his head and this gem:


La Luz and her purple "hair"

Molly and Josh both left for the respective home cities today and we are all thankful that they will be back in a month - even though a month for a 4 year old plays out like a year for the rest of us.

Cool Fall Morning, 2009

Here is La Luz waiting so patiently for me to finish my very-rushed morning routine:


I hate that she is always the last kid to arrive at school, that we are screeching around the corner as the carpool line is winding down, long after the NOPD officer has taken off his orange vest and called it a morning. We live less than a mile from school and yet...It seems that no matter how early I wake up and how quickly I move in the morning there is always something that needs my attention, something to delay our departure - a loose hem, a last-minute decision that cold lunch sounds much better than whatever the cafeteria has to offer, the perfect photograph, scratchy socks and forgotten art projects. All of these things make us late but, mostly, it is me and my inability to select an outfit or be satisfied with the silly curl on the side of my head or find the perfect bracelet. I am a mama but still 100% a girl.

Being Thankful

Molly and Josh both managed to perfectly coordinate their busy schedules to spend a week in NOLA. Needless to say, we spent most of the weekend at mom's house visiting, enjoying a faux/pre-Thanksgiving dinner, and watching the Saints take it to 9-0. The house has been loud and chaotic and just the way I like it. There is still, though, the sense that an important piece is missing, one that is impossible to replace. I suppose that there are some things that nobody will do as well as Pop did, but we are all muddling through and trying to figure out how to fill in the gaps. Even more than that though, we are appreciating the lovely things he did that we can still enjoy, like lining the flowerbeds with night-blooming jasmine so that when the air is cool and the windows are open and our cacophony is pouring out into the neighborhood, we are surrounded by what we all agree is the most perfect scent around.

Richmond, Molly & Josh tormenting sweet Jamesy after a long night:

Separated At Birth?

I am calling it a night and settling in to watch my favorite t.v. show, Top Chef. I love this show and I love this chef and he endears himself to me more each week as he continues to be the sweetest, humblest chef around, cook some incredibly sophisticated dishes, and look eerily like my little monster. I know that somewhere along their blood lines these two have a relative in common.

I cannot wait to check out Kevin's restaurant when we are in Atlanta over the Christmas holidays. I have heard great things about it and am totally curious after watching this season of Top Chef. I have been thinking about it since the second episode of the season and will be looking forward to it for another two months.