They don't call this place the city of Brotherly Love for nothing.

On Saturday we took the train into the city. Chris's aunt had never been on a train, as I discovered on Friday, so we had to remedy that situation quickly! We took the regional rail into the city, hung out at the Borders, and then came home. It was fun and the just right amount of eventful.

Yesterday, I intended to take the kids to the new and improved children's museum. It was, however, the day after New Year's, and probably the last vacation day for many. One pass by the museum, ogling the enormity of the line just waiting to get in, drove me to formulate another plan quick! Since we were nearby, I decided to brave the zoo. We had Chris's aunt with us, and I wanted to have a fun time and not just go back home. It was a cold, wintry day, with flurries riding the gusts of wind, but we bundled up, and popped from building to building for the zoo's indoor displays. We got to see Ellis's favorite monkeys, and his most favorite of all, the gorilla. The zoo also has this indoor play area, called the treehouse, that we spent a lot of time in, climbing through the tree and the gigantic beehive. The boys had a marvelous time, and we had the benefit of a very uncrowded zoo.

I've barely been aware of the fact that today is New Year's Eve, that tomorrow begins a New Year. In fact, I drove an hour to visit a friend in Wilmington and didn't even think to wish her a Happy New Year, because I forgot that the new year begins tomorrow. But we just attended a nice evening get-together with some friends, leaving early with our sleepy kids, but it helped to snap me back into End of the Year Reality. I could write a reflective end post about the year, where I've been, and where I want to go, but clearly, I have not been in a very reflective state of mind today. So perhaps I'll just summarize briefly. I like to see the quick take on a year.
So without further ado:
2008
January--we found out we were expecting a boy and prenatal yoga became my new BFF.
February--I sewed (a smock, a bag, a shirt). Thought about childbirth and the weather. We had freakishly warm days and our one snow day.
March--Bought a new camera. Continued to find artful experiences for Ellis and enjoyed outdoor time in Fairmount Park.
April--I turned 30. We began our baby preparations and expectations in earnest. And we began our love affair with our local arboretum from flowering spring blossoms to autumnal hues.
May--Baby month. The. Longest. Month. of. My. Life. I thought I would die of pregnancy. But instead, I had Marlowe, and a joyous thing indeed.
June--Ellis turned three. We had nice visits from the O. family and my friend Erica. Figuring out life as a family of 4.
July--We got a new car. I moved my blog to Drupal. We enjoyed hanging out at my parents' new house. Life with a newborn continues...
August--Super awesome vacation to Maine, visiting my friend Sarah on the way and spending a delightful week in Maine with dear friends. Marlowe begins rolling over, both ways.
September--Ellis starts preschool. I got my first wisdom tooth out.
October--Otherwise known as dental month of horror. Got second tooth out, followed by a painful case of dry socket. Also otherwise known as month of Gilmore Girls marathon. My favorite month of autumn. Fun trip to the pumpkin patch and a trip to visit my friend in N. PA. Ellis was the Red Baron for Halloween.
November--Um, ELECTION. Voted for Obama. Enjoyed a visit from E's best girl friend Maddie (and fam) (he asked about Maddie tonight, hoping we were going to her house for New Years Eve), who moved away. Watched a lot of Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. Cooked Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house.
December--Marlowe begins to crawl, situp, and pull up to standing, all by 6.5 months. Worked like crazy on handmade holidays. Sang in a concert. Celebrated Christmas. And now? going to bed.

Cheers, all. Happy new year!!!

We had an exceptionally good Christmas this year.

Christmas Eve I spent the morning finishing a few last minute projects, including Santa hats for the boys, which, in Marlowe's case, ended up looking more like a gnome hat.

Then we went over to spend the afternoon with the ILs and have Christmas with them. We had a lovely time, and everyone was in a jolly mood. Ellis was so adorable and loved his gifts and loved loving his grandparents.

In the evening we went to the home of some church friends where we enjoyed many delicious yummies and their famous Flaming Sock Puppet Show. Ellis, Marlowe, and their little Josie (who turns 1 today!) were the only little kids there. Ellis laughed heartily at the Puppet Show, a gratifying sound, and thoroughly basked in the presence of way cool young adults. We left hours past his bedtime with Ellis signing "fun!" on his way out the door. Bedecked in their Christmas jammies, all set to fall asleep in the car (which they obliged us by doing).

I had thought it would be fun to drink wine and watch a holiday movie on Christmas Eve night while we finished wrapping gifts, but honestly, Chris and I were waaaaay too tired. I tidied up the living room so that it would be reasonably festive for Christmas morning and pulled presents from their hiding places, hoping I found them all. The play dishes almost got forgotten, but I spotted them at the last minute. We had everything wrapped for the morning, but staggering to bed, we decided to wait until later to finish wrapping for the afternoon at my parents.

The kids slept in a bit and we all had wonderful Christmas jammy snuggles. The kitchen department has been woefully neglected this Christmas season. But I made cheater cinnamon rolls out of a tube of crescent rolls I had in the fridge. Actually I felt a little clever about that, because in 12 minutes we had freshly baked cinnamon rolls. We ate a leisurely breakfast in the living room.

Ellis saw the presents under the tree and dutifully repeated the mantra that we've been reciting all December: "Later." Well, later no more, it was NOW. We ended up getting Ellis the ceramic play dishes from Ikea, Melissa and Doug musical instrument set, M and D jumbo cardboard blocks, and C got "Ellis" a little remote controlled helicopter.

And we got Marlowe a little handmade wooden car, wooden shape sorter, and wooden stacking rings--the latter two replacing their plastic counterparts. It cracked me up to see how much little Marlowe-y got into all the hubbub. He did not want to sit on my lap. He wanted DOWN in the paper, playing, chewing on, and digging through his new toys.

For Ellis, though, this was his first "real" Christmas. The first one he anticipated. The first time Christmas was truly a magical, exciting experience. His first two Christmases (when he was 6mos and 18mos) he was still a baby going with the flow, though the latter was more fun. Last year when he was two and a half, he had fun, but it was bit overwhelming. This year, he had fun from start to finish, even if it was a ton of partying and presents.

After we had enjoyed our Christmas morning, finished wrapping presents for the DiBers, and gotten ourselves together, we headed off for Lancaster, making a circuitous route to involve visiting my grandmother, who was in bed not feeling well. We stayed about 20 mins, showering her with pictures, and leaving her to recover from the buoyancy of two little boys.

When we arrived at my parents, I plopped on the couch and didn't move except for going to the table to eat. I am so thoroughly frazzled and exhausted. All my siblings were in one place and everyone forgot their camera. My brother Nick is engaged, but his fiancee is a nurse and had to work. I still haven't met her, their relationship sort of snuck up on all of us. I just found out she existed at Thanksgiving. Anyway, Nick beams and is very jolly. Yay! Sam and his fun GF arrived and we had a fun, loud party, complete with Nick and Sam erecting an imaginary wall between them at the dinner table. Aaah. Siblings.

The gift exchange was probably the most chaotic ever. Gifts just sort of flew around the room. It's a miracle that none got swallowed up in the tornado of paper. Ellis just started opening random presents, until we could intervene with a "Who?!" everytime he picked up a new gift. (To his credit, though, we did wrap some DiBer prezzies with teh same paper that all his prezzies had been wrapped in at home.) My niece and Ellis got a good chunk of entertainment jumping on the couch. And a big cheers to the homemade monsters Sam's GF made for all the kids.

After the chaos died down, we were splatted on the couches, with the urge to watch a movie. Chris and I came up with scheme to allow us to spend the night (him leaving early in the morning for work, and my coming later with my parents) and enjoyed a movie with my sister and our cuddly boys.

The next morning, he indeed scooted home to work, and we watched Elf, got dressed and came home via the Morris Arboretum to see the holiday garden railway.

Today has been spent at home playing with new toys and decorating cookies (finally!).

A lovely Christmas indeed.

Ready for Christmas!

The Flaming Sock Puppet Show. Too good to miss!

See my boy's bright blue eyes? They're perfect. We had this confirmed today by an ophthamalogist. An appointment that I've been putting off for three years. When he was born deaf for no obvious reason (family history, illness, etc), there was a list of tests we were supposed to get done to rule out: an EKG, a urinalysis (for the kidneys), a MRI, an eye exam, genetic consultation. Well, we did it all except for the eye exam. There are some conditions that affect both sight and hearing. He never had trouble seeing, and I kept putting it off. I made the appt a few times, but had to cancel for some reason or other.

But then this little thing came my way that made it impossible for me to put off any longer: the school form. So we made the appointment and this morning traipsed on down to CHOP. Ellis did very well. He was a little nervous at first, but overall enjoyed getting his eyes examined by a cool light much more than, say, the hearing booth, for instance. And the dilation didn't seem to bother him too much either.

We are all tired, though, and came home a cranky lot. A few last minute things to do before we can enjoy the next couple of days. Some things will be put off until next week, like that trip to the post office that was scheduled for last week while I lay in bed with strep. *sigh* We're looking forward to a fun, relaxing time enjoying our families.

It was Christmas Outfit Sunday today.

I finished Marlowe's last night, and I'm so happy with how it turned out. He is the one sitting closest to the camera in the above picture, and you can get a good view of the matching shoes from that angle. The top is a simple kimono and the bottoms are simple elastic waist pants. I used black cordoruy with green cordoruy trim. I'm really happy with how it turned out and feel like I've made a positive step towards Cute Clothes for Boys. I'm in LOVE with kimonos and will probably make Marlowe a gagillion now.

Ellis got fun playdoh and play set from the Wreath o' Fun. It was a bit more elaborate than our usual fare, but it's for the start of Christmas vacation. And it is fun!

Well, the status of Handmade Holidays is little bleak after most of the week succumbed to strep throat. We have about Halfway Handmade Holidays. And the other half? We actually went to the mall today, if you can believe. I enter that place maybe two times a year if that. I really am not a fan. But I will admit the festive atmosphere and decorations did lend a little fun. And then we had a bite to eat.

Ellis saw Santa Claus and all the kids sitting on his lap, and thought he'd like to do that, too. But the line was longer than long. He gave up Santa Claus for ice cream, pretty easily. He doesn't really know who Santa Claus is anyway. He may as well be Lightening McQueen.