Happy New Year

Well my sweet loves,

This has been an incredible year.  I have loved so many special moments with you, and can absolutely laugh at some pretty terrible times we have shared too.  Another blogger wrote about living in anticipation of the memory.  Others would say we should be present every single moment.  I say, do your best, and sometimes the moment is the place to be, other times, closing your eyes, and hoping that the moment passes so you can anticipate the memory (which is always better).

ANYWAY!  What a few weeks we have had, and I am behind on keeping track of it all.  So tonight, I will say we had such a perfect NYE.

Hudson, you didn't make it to the festivities, so here you were earlier in the day.

Pancakes and iPads for breakfast.

 Buddy, you were "fixing the tree with pliers."  Hudson you worked so so hard.

I love this picture mostly because you remind me so much of you as a baby.  

I can just imagine you as a six month old.  

My girls and your mocktails before we sat down for dinner.

 So, this looks better than it tasted.  We have made it a tradition to have 

Barefoot Contessa Real Meatballs and Spaghetti for dinner. I was reheating the pot just before dinner and apparently turned the burner on high, and then left the room to give Hudson a bath.

Well, I may have BURNED DINNER!  This was just the top of the pot and I found it mostly inedible. Oh well. Next year.

 TWINS.  How embarrassing for me. 

New Year's Resolution, dress in clothes that dad doesn't have.

 Beat the Parents!  Girls, this year we beat you, but it was close:)

 Conferring on one of your answers.

Well my loves.  I will type up your end of the year interviews asap. 

I have loved watching you grow and thrive again this year.  

It is truly an honor to be your mom and this year my resolution is to have more dates with each of you.

Daddy. Taylor. Anna. Hudson.

I can't wait to have dates with each of you.

xoxo

mom

In closing, my annual post:

This Christmas mend a quarrel. 

Seek out a forgotten friend. 

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. 

Write a letter. 

Give a soft answer. 

Encourage youth. 

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. 

Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. 

Forgive an enemy. 

Apologize. 

Try to understand. 

Examine your demands on others. 

Think first of someone else. 

Be kind. Be gentle. 

Laugh a little more. 

Express your gratitude. 

Welcome a stranger. 

Gladden the heart of a child. 

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. 

Speak your love, and then speak it again.”

― Howard W. Hunter

40!

Dear Kids,

This one is for daddy.  We had such a great time celebrating your 40th birthday.  I am still stunned that you are 40, I really keep thinking we are still in our 20s... but I guess the grey hair, transitions lenses (for you) and the aching joints, and lack of ability to hold cocktails should have told me otherwise.

Anyway, we started last Sunday with your first party!  A family day at a beach-side restaurant to celebrate with your brother and family.  It was a great lunch followed by a better time at the beach. 

Best buds:) 

 The Birthday Boys!

The difficult-to-get family photo.

From there, we celebrated again after the girls Christmas Show with a few families.  It was such fun, and nothing says 40 like an evening spent at the kids Christmas show followed by dinner for 19. (more on that in another post).

Bright and early on your actual birthday, we gave you your "This is 40" book!  

We were so so excited about this secret project:)  

I surprised you with a quick trip to Solage in Calistoga, which is one of our all-time favorite places.

There is a little fly fishing spot up there, which had this truck in the driveway, I just loved it.

We had a nice drive up and stopped for an amazing lunch on Bouchon in Yountvile. 

 There is nothing better than a relaxed long lunch with a glass of wine or gin and tonic.  Nothing.

Solage greeted us with a lovely bottle of champagne and a birthday wish!

 After a nice long nap and soak in the hot tub, we headed out for a late dinner.  

Love, it was so so nice to spend the day with you.  

Even better to enjoy a few meals without interruption.

We finished off the day with a white russian at the bar, and their take on carrot cake.  

Instead of cream cheese frosting they had cream cheese icing.

Amazing. 

Next up..... your birthday party.  I am clearly rubbing off on you if your birthday now has 4 events.

xoxo

What I want to remember this Christmas

Dear Taylor, Anna and Hudson,

I feel like there are so many small moments to remember this year and I know better than to think my actual memory will help me do this:

So, first up, your Christmas lists:

Anna, this list is the best!  First, your printing here is so beautiful, I can tell you worked really really hard.  Second, goodness, I wonder if you list includes adding a few hundred square feet to your room because if you had all these things, plus your toys, we would have to find a new space for you and your bed!

You are clearly into "your look" right now.  You love a cute outfit, and prefer to be dressed up over yoga pants, any day.  I went to pick you up at soccer yesterday and you were wearing a plaid wool skirt, and a red wool sweater with sparkly buttons.  To soccer practice.  Dry clean only.  I resisted the temptation to say anything and told you you looked stunning and that I loved your outfit!  

 Taylor, your list is the perfect description of you.  Practical, with a quest for knowledge, but responsible enough to know that asking for too much would probably end with disappointment.  That said, my goodness your list is reasonable this year.  It makes my heart smile to see what an amazing human you are.

Hudson, each day you ask if it is Christmas morning with such excitement.  I can't wait to see what happens when it really IS Christmas morning!  We asked you what you would like this year and you said a toy- a kitty.  We will find the perfect toy kitty for you buddy!

xoxo

mom

Just Pictures

Dear Kiddos,

We are on our way to Christmas and you are all so excited.  

I am so ready for school and work to be over and to have the time to sit with each of you.  

To snuggle in front of the fire.  

To play card games.  

To watch movies.  

To make yummy treats together.  

I am ready for time without a schedule. 

Time to just be.  

In the meantime, I have so many pictures so here are a few:

xoxo

mom