Christmas Updates

My family...

I truly enjoy my children.  I have gotten to an age in life where the gifts I receive seem meaningless compared to the ones I give.  I still love stuff, I an not any less materialistic, I just prefer to buy whatever I want and then focus on overspending on my children.

Some of the highlights this year:

• Casey didn't complain about his gifts and said it was his best Christmas ever.  Compared to other years in which he threw himself on the ground crying over receiving books, this is a big deal.   
• Bridget as usual loved every gift she got and was excited over the smallest thing.  She just loves to be excited and also loves to scream things at her little sister over property ownership (which has been in full force for everyone this year).
• Gillian has taken her brother's place as the eternally unsatisfied.  As we have already been through this with Casey, I am hopeful that it is a phase.  She has, however, been very sweet with her Baby Alive Doll.  Which, btw, is an annoying gift because it actually wets diapers and apparently you have to buy a diaper refill kit.  No WAY am I shelling out a single dime for fake diapers when we still are buying them for Megs.
• Megs... poor little Meg, who honestly continues to be the most delectable little girl... looked like this for the majority of the holiday--she threw up anytime she got anything in her system and she didn't ever even open her presents.  We were looking forward to seeing her yumminess and excitement in opening those presents, but it literally never happened.  Finally toward the end of the day, Gillian volunteered to open up the presents on her behalf so we never saw it happen.

Megs, looking like this:

I myself was highly satisfied with the gifts I received and intend on spending some more dollahs in after Christmas sales.  

I hope your giving and receiving was as enjoyable.

Nueva York

In case you missed it, I had a great opportunity to last minute head to NYC for a work thing.  It was awesome.

I won't go into detail about the actual work part, but the touristy part, now that was amazing.  

We were working from 8-6:30 on the first day and by the time we were finished with dinner and debriefing it was 9:00 pm.  Considering the fact that my flight was delayed coming in to NY the night before and I didn't get to sleep until 2:30 AM, I was wiped out.  

BUT, not to be daunted, I did play the tourist bit until around 11:30 or so.  My previous post was of the outside of Saks 5th Avenue and their really cool bubbles and snowflakes digital wonderland.

A few other pics that really don't even capture the amazement of the city:

The Tiffany's window display after hours:

I took a gazillion pics of all the cool window displays done up for the holidays:

And of course, the most awesome entrance into an Apple store ever.  The real estate of the window front alone must be astronomical.  The store inside is just like any other Apple store only bigger.  You see the artistry of the Apple in the Big Apple, right?

More lights--the stores all just try to outdo each other...

I won't bore you with more, but honestly, if I had even the slightest chance of getting my husband to agree to it, I would totally be down with living there for the next stint.

I suppose Utah is alluring.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Turn it sideways. Sorry, lame PC.

Gratitude Part II

Wednesday I had to be in Los Angeles to support a school.  It was one of those Savage Inequalities moments in which the most amazing teachers were trying to fundamentally change the culture of at-risk students and all the world has to offer them is a set of dilapidated buildings and crappy technology.  While my heart was breaking for them, I am pretty hopeful the kids are going to get the heck out of that place because the right people are there to make a difference for them.

So Steve decided to make a Disney date and come down with the kids to meet me in Anaheim after work.

It was one of my "work perk" moments in which I felt that, even though I missed Casey's karate test (1000 punches and 1000 kicks!) and singing during winter program for Gillian and Bridget, and watching Meg while Steve helped the cub scouts cut out their derby cars, I did my best to leverage my work benefits to buy their love.

Thank you Hilton Honors, for the opportunity to use free points to stay in a double room Queen suite walking distance from Magical Kingdom:

Thank you also for the cookie at check-in, hot and warm, one for each of my little family members (thanks for the one for Meg, it was too much for her and we really enjoyed finishing it off)

Thanks to some colleagues in Washington, D.C., who sent me a professional gift complete with refrigerated packaging and making me look like a hero to my kids:

A few other thanks here and there, but those will come next week after my trip to NYC.

Happy work perks to all!

Gratitude

For my husband who worked his hardest to give me and my children the most amazing day today.  Thank you also to Walt and Mickey and the rest of the cast.

I feel satisfied at my life and wouldn't change a thing.  Even the stinky smell in the kitchen.

Dessert Contest?

So we finished our official dessert contest last year over 6 months ago and Steve has proposed that we start up again.

Here are our reasons for considering doing it again:

• The first place winner moved across the country freeing up her slot
• The second place winner is withdrawing from the competition
• There are a few families that moved in since our last competition who we think could bring it
• It is a good way to celebrate our last few months
• The trophy is so cute, really it is

What is your vote?

What you would have gotten tonight

If you lived next door...

Second runner-up

You may remember when I posted about the most inspiring keynote ever, Wynton Marsalis.

Well, I saw someone who matched him: Bill Strickland.  So many ways to improve urban education yet so few make it happen.  If you saw Waiting for Superman they show him (for like two seconds) driving by a prison and he talks about most of his peers from high school are there now.

Indiana Winter

I tried to capture the chill in my bones but it just looks normal.  But seriously, Midwestern winter is freeeeezing.

High Schooler Gratitude

Saw this on the tree of gratitude hanging in the hallway at a school today.  Take heart parents!

Joys of Unpacking

The last 24 hours...

Steve's advisor:   So... I think you should stay here until March.

Steve and Lee:  Uh.  We already have started planning our own going away party.

Steve's advisor:  Well, okay.  But I am making a case for you to stay, take this great job as a TA to enhance your resume and we can make sure you are really focused on your dissertation before we send you off into the wild yonder with all those Mormons.  Also, I think you should apply for this awesome fellowship that you don't actually quality for.

Steve and Lee:  uh....

Bridget:  No, I want to move!!!

Lee:  I want a washing machine

Steve:  I like the Mountains

Friends at dinner last night:  The most important thing for you is relationships with faculty, but if you feel like you have been around long enough to establish those relationships, then good for you.

Steve:  Uhhh....

This morning:

Lee:  I hate the cold. Plus Lisa Nicholes is awesome.

Steve:  I like to run here.  Plus I can make some money.

Bridget:  I better get some ballroom dance classes if we are staying here.

So friends... we are delaying our move to Utah until March.    Mainly because I want to hold an "Ides of March" going away party.