About the Elf

 

Clarence and Candy Elf
Smugly taking all the Christmas credit - again.

     I had planned to chronicle our elf story in greater detail than what is written here but sometimes it's best to get to the point. Also, it's the holidays and I'm sure that you, like me, have a lot of Christmas stuff to do (like caroling, and cookie baking, and cocktail making). So, here goes - these elves are the bane of my December existance. The bane. Why oh why did I ever begin this tradition? They set me up for failure every single year. This year for instance, Clarence and Candy blew right through their expected Thanksgiving weekend arrival date and didn't show up until December 11th which means that they had to bring a BIG gift - you know, because of the guilt. And moving them around the house every night? I need an app for that. Here's my advice about this whole holiday elf tradition . . . if you want to make the magic of the holidays go on and on, get yourself an elf or two. Trust me, the Christmas season will seem neverending.

Keeping it Real - The Christmas Lists

 

TOMS

   This year my children spent Thanksgiving weekend working on their lists for Santa. We (Joel and I) laid the ground work early by telling them to write down a few things they really want but stressed keeping their lists on the shorter side.  The reason behind this suggestion is rooted in the fact that they already have so much and Santa Claus may need to focus his gift-giving efforts on the less fortunate this year.  In all honesty, that talk wasn't really aimed at the kids - it was aimed at their mother.  I am the guilty party in the overindulgences of Christmases past.  Me.  All me.  It's one of the areas where my only-childness really shines through. As for their lists, they both did a great job of keeping them short.  They were even open to editing and reducing their requests when we went over them.  For example,  Sarah asked for a pair of sparkly TOMS this year.  I am not a big fan of TOMS because I think the resemble schlumpy house shoes. When I realized that TOMS cost $42 (plus tax and shipping) I couldn't justify paying that much money for these shoes, even if they do promise to give a like pair of shoes to someone in need with my purchase (give me two pairs for $42 dollars and then I'll buy your shoes).  Fortunately for me,  the thing that my daughter liked most about the TOMS was their silver sparkliness so she was more than happy to substitute the (very cheap) sparkly silver shoes we found at Target and take the TOMS off her list.  She's calling her new shoes BOBS.



BOBS
They're nothing like TOMS 
at a fraction of the price.

 

The Christmas Card Edition

Earlier today I asked the children to

put on something match-y and Christmas-y 

so that I could take a photograph 

for the Team Vallejo Christmas card.

They were thrilled to help me out.

Doesn't she look excited?

And this is the child who loves to have

her picture taken.

I really don't want to speculate

what he's thinking, but it probably begins

"My mother is so . . ."

Nothing says "Merry Christmas"

like two disgruntled children

glaring at a Christmas tree.

Ho Ho Hum.

They pulled themselves together and

smiled appropriately for this photo 

(which isn't terrible) but there's

no joy in their faces - not really.

I look at their faces and see

"will you please hurry up because we

have important television to watch downstairs."

After dinner, we gave it one more shot.

They were in a ridiculously silly mood - 

mainly because they were excited about

decorating the Christmas tree.

We had a great time and I finally

got a few shots for this year's

Christmas Card which means that now I can

cross "order Christmas cards" 

off my list of things to do this month.

"joy, merriment, and mirth"

coming soon to a mailbox near you

Life's A Happy Song

     Team Vallejo saw "The Muppets" at the theatre over the long Thanksgiving weekend.  This was not my original plan (for all of us to see it).  My original plan was to send Joel and the kids to the movies so I could do some on-line Christmas shopping but Joel insisted (insisted) that all of us were going because it's "The Muppets" and the "The Muppets" are all about family and fun and good memories.  We fandangoed tickets for the Friday matinee but when we arrived the theatre had no power. Since we were early for the movie we decided to hang out in the car and after a few minutes Owen exclaimed from the backseat, "I SEE LIGHTS!  THE POWER'S BACK ON!! WE CAN SEE THE MUPPETS!!!"  Yeah, he was super excited about the movie.  We walked back in and bought popcorn and drinks and found our seats just in time for the "Coming Attractions" to begin.  We listened to all of the coming attractions (note I say "listened" and not "watched") and then the sound cut off and a young man came in and announced that the power outage had damaged the projector and we weren't going to be able to see "The Muppets" after all. He went on to to explain something about getting a refund but I didn't hear that part because the lady sitting behind us completely lost her mind.  Lost it. Completely.  Over not being able to see "The Muppets." She was clearly not happy and let everyone in the theatre know it. So, we left the theatre, got rainchecks for the Saturday afternoon matinee and took ourselves and our  $27.50 worth of popcorn and drinks and went home. 

      On Saturday afternoon we headed back to the theatre.  We bought more drinks and popcorn and found our seats and just before the previews began, Scott Hamilton (the 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in Men's Figure Skating) walked into the theatre and sat down right in front of us. It was very cool. So, me and Scott Hamilton and a whole bunch of other people settled in to watch "The Muppets."  I don't think I'm overstating it when I say that the movie was pure Muppet magic from beginning to end.  It had it all - the funny songs, the corny inside jokes, the obvious plot line with the token sinister bad guy ("maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh") vs. the naive small-town optomist all leading up to a last minute save-the-day performance followed by a rousing encore to end the show movie.  As the final notes of "Mahna Mahna" faded into the darkness, people in the theatre started clapping. It's been a long time since I saw a movie where people clapped at the end.  I may also have been crying. 


 
 As I said earlier, it was Joel who insisted that our family see "The Muppets" together and he was right (why yes, I did put that in writing).  The world feels like a dark and cynical place these days full of sinister people and maniacal laughter. Spending the afternoon with my kids laughing at the antics of Kermit and Miss Piggy was worth the two trips to the theatre and the ridiculous amount of money we spent at the concession stand so we could make a happy memory.  And how nice that the Muppets are back with their catchy songs and corny jokes.  I think the world needs them now more than ever.


"Life's a happy song when there's someone by your side to sing along!"

Happy Halloween

I wasn't a big fan of Halloween when I was little.  I never really liked dressing in costumes or walking up to strangers houses and asking them for candy, or roaming around in the dark and the cold, or seeing witches and skeletons and gravestones in peoples' yards.  But, now that I am all grown up and have children of my own, Halloween has become my favorite holiday.  It's a day that's just all about the fun - no big meals to cook, no presents to buy, no overblown expectations of my children that will end in tears (thinking of every single BIG birthday party I've thrown for them).   Joel and I have been celebrating Halloween as parents for a decade now and I've loved each and every one.

Halloween 2001
Dawn & Pumpkin Katie, Heather & Pea in a Pod Zoe,
Amy & Bumblebee Tyler, Julie and Hershey's Kiss Owen.
Looking back on it now, it's funny that Owen was a "Kiss"
considering he hates chocolate.

2002
Dr. Owen didn't get to go
trick-or-treating because he had an ear infection.

2003
Thomas the Tank Engine

2004
Halloween Party with
Will, Anna, Tyler, Katie and Owen

Also in 2004
 Sarah celebrated her very first  Halloween.
She was the tiniest cutest little ballerina ever!

2005
Power Ranger Owen and Dr. Sarah

2006
Cinderella Sarah and Ninja Owen
This Halloween has become the stuff of legend
at our house because of Sarah's enthusiastic
"HAPPY HALLOWEEN, LOLA" video.

2007
Owen "The Flash" Vallejo & Supergirl Sarah Grace
The only year I could ever get the two of them
on board with a Halloween theme. 
It was superheroes (in case that's not obvious).

2008
I honestly don't remember this Halloween.
This was days after Joel's mom passed away.
The Bart's took wonderful care of us and
made sure my kiddos had a fun night.

2009
Good Witch Katie, Owen as Anakin Skywalker, &
Anna and Sarah Grace as the cutest cats ever.

Also in 2009
Stacey and Brayden and Cooper and Victor had moved to Nashville.
And Joel had transformed himself.

2010
Owen was Ben 10 and was so proud of the costume he and Joel made.
Sarah was a Flower Child.

2011
"Bat to the Bone" Sarah G. has gone Girly Goth .
Pink Skulls are her thing right now.
Owen is dressed as "Superboy Conner Kent" from
the "Superboy" Comic Book Series.
He is NOT Superman.
He IS dressed in a costume.
He's the coolest 10 year old I know. Truly.

It's an oft repeated saying, but it's true - that the days are long, but the years are short.  Happy Halloween everybody.  I hope you made some wonderful memories.

Chocolate

    I'm sitting in the Nashville airport waiting for a plane to take me to Atlanta and then on to Harrisburg, PA. Lordy, but I hate to fly and I really hate to fly solo. Everything about this trip is a bonus though, so I'm going to accentuate the positive as I head off into the (I hope) friendly skies. I'm going to have a drink here at the bar and then another one on the plane and when I land in Harrisburg I'll be meeting up with three of my favorite people in the whole world. We're spending the weekend at the Spa at the Hershey Hotel to celebrate Kelli's 40th birthday. The best part was that the trip (a birthday gift from her husband) was a total surprise to her until about two hours ago. I love helping surprise people I love - even more than I hate flying (and I hate flying a lot).

Hershey Update: In Photos

Me on a plane!!!

Chocolate Bars at Check-in

At the Iberian Lounge
where we drank & watched the World Series

Chocolate Martini!! Crazy Good.

We woke up to snow!!

Inside the Spa.
They said no cameras were allowed.
No way I was going in without a camera.

In big fluffy robes, ready to relax.

Waiting for my appointment. . . 

in the chocolate bath. Heavenly.

Lunch Cocktails then on to more relaxing.

Dinner.

Me and the Birthday Girl!

Last is a Place

Owen is the child in the red shirt.

Kindergarten Cross Country Meet

Fall 2006



      Our lives this fall have revolved around Cross Country.  Joel is coaching and Owen is running and Sarah and I are attending the meets and cheering on the team and helping tote and schlep and do whatever else we need to do to try to keep the Sunday afternoon races running smoothly.  My main job has been to stand under the tent and yell at kids to "cut it out." It's a multi-purpose phrase that works well in a variety of situations. This is Joel's first year as the head coach of the cross country team and Owen's fifth year running.  Owen is doing great this season and finished his last one mile race with a PR of 7:21.  Joel has done a fabulous job coaching and attributes all of his success to "setting low expectations."  (Those are his words, not mine).

     Owen first participated in cross country when he was in Kindergarten.  He was five years old and looking back on it now it was kind of ridiculous that we "encouraged" him to run.  He wasn't ready.  He hadn't found his competative spirit - heck, he couldn't even tie his own shoes.  But, encourage we did and Owen finished his first CC meet in something like 36th place - right in the middle of the pack.  By the time his third CC meet rolled around, Joel and I were kind of hopeful that Owen was getting the hang of running and competing.  He started the race with the rest of the pack and as he disappeared over the hill, we (Joel and I) were left to wait anxiously until he came back into view again to run towards the finish line.  The minutes dragged by and while hoards of other children reappeared and crossed the finish line, there was no Owen. Eventually, we saw him pop up over the top of the hill.  He was run/walking in sort of a zig-zag pattern across the course and he certainly didn't seem to be in any hurry to finish.  Joel and I started cheering for him but he was still so far away we knew he couldn't hear us.  As he meandered toward the finish line, kids continued to pass him.  Joel and I screamed for him to pick up the pace . . . he slowed down.  As he got almost to the finish line a wave of relief washed over me because there were still three kids behind him and I took some comfort in the fact that at least he wouldn't finish last.  And then Owen stopped running.  He just stopped.  While he stood there - only feet from the finish line -  those three kids that were behind him ran right past him. Only then did Owen start jogging his way across the finish line.  He finished in last place.



Sarah. The day her brother finished last.
She didn't care.

As we rode home with a fairly content Owen in the back seat (and oymygosh how could be content because he just finished last!!!), Joel and I were wondering what the heck just happened out there on the cross country course?  How had Owen managed to finish in last place?  What the two of us didn't know was that Owen had finished in last place on purpose - because "last is a place" he explained to us, just like first is a place.  He knew from the moment the race started that he wanted to finish in last place and he worked really hard to make sure that happened. Of course, we all look back on this now and laugh - even Owen, who no longer thinks that last is the place he wants to be.