Merry Christmas!

I know it won't be Christmas for a few more days but as the day approaches so does my panic level and I'm sure blogging won't be a priority until after Monday.

I'm so excited, though! Saturday we're attending a performance of The Nutcracker, which will be Madeleine's first exposure to my favorite ballet.

Christmas Eve will be here with lots of family, and even some new friends with whom I'm excited to share the day. In the evening we'll attend church where Madeleine will play the part of a shepherd and Hank an angel.

Santa stops here on Christmas Eve and after eating our cinnamon rolls, reading Jesus' birth story from the book of Luke and opening our presents we'll head down to Silver Lake to continue the celebration.

But, in the meantime, a little something to get you into the Christmas spirit (it's worth the time):



Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Superdad decided, way back when we put up our very first Christmas tree, that he was going to save a section of the tree's trunk and make Christmas ornaments out of it. As our family has expanded the piece of trunk has had to grow larger and larger (along with Superdad's time, energy, patience and skill) so that he can make one for each person living in our house with the tree. Each child and I have an ornament for each year we've celebrated Christmas together.

Elisabeth received her first ornament this year (made from the 2005 tree, which marked her first Christmas with us).


This was Superdad's first attempt at an ornament, made for Madeleine:


Probably my favorite is the dove, made from our 2004 Christmas tree:


It's hard to tell from the picture, but it's actually white and it's quite lovely.

Christmas

Christmas.

It's a week from today.

Anyone ready?

I'm not. Every year I resolve that next year I'll be one of those people that shops for Christmas presents in July, wraps in August and spends all of November and December gleefully patting themselves on the back for being such smart planners.

Alas, I am never that person. Still much, much to do!

The Other Side of the Ocean

This is such a great blog.

Its author is currently in Italy and when she has a camera in her hand amazing things happen. I almost feel as if I'm traveling alongside her. Earlier this week she took me to Poland.

I hope Ms. Camic doesn't mind me promoting her blog here, but I just enjoy it so much that I thought others might as well.

Golden Globes

I need to get out more.

I have always loved movies and considered myself pretty "up" on what was out when and what was supposed to be good.

Today the nominations for the Golden Globe Awards were released. Not only have I not seen any of the movies, I've never even heard of most of them.

But I can, however, tell you that a new, live action version of Charlotte's Web is being released tomorrow and I know the names of the songs in High School Musical well enough that I can search for them on You Tube.

Oh, for shame.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

High School Musical

I first heard about this movie while in New Jersey over Thanksgiving. My cousin's daughter, Catharine, loves this movie and apparently it's all the rage in Boston with the third grade set. We rented and watched it one night and all had a fun time (mostly watching the kids, led by Catharine, dance and sing along).

I thought the movie would be forgotten after getting back to Wisconsin.

Nope.

We have a fourth grade girl on our block that loves the movie. And a second grader. High School Musical is a countrywide epidemic and all young girls have been infected.

Madeleine ran in last night singing all the songs and was delighted with the videos we found on You Tube. Despite myself, I find that I'm tapping my foot and singing along.

So, these are for you, Catharine and Madeleine:

Wisconsin Cooks

I have another blog.

"Why on earth!"

My stepmom, sister and I wanted an easy, central place to share recipes and discuss local dining. So, Wisconsin Cooks was created.

I'm sure it's most interesting to a select few (like my stepmom, my sister and me...) but I'm sharing the link anyway.

Lots of yummy food posted there already!

Christmas Tree Adventure

Our family has managed to turn putting up a Christmas tree into an all day adventure. It's always very tiring and very cold but, mostly, it's always very, very fun.

Yesterday we woke later than we typically do and were out of the house in full Wisconsin winter performance gear by 9 a.m.

After a stop at a local greasy spoon for pancakes and eggs it was off to the tree farm.

This year the hunt for the perfect tree was shorter than most. I'd say our search lasted less than an hour, which for us is fast. Hank was anxious to help cut down the Balsam Fir we chose.

Everyone (minus baby Elisabeth, of course) took turns cutting.

Carrying the tree back to the car... where's Superdad?

Maybe this Balsam will find its way into our living room in 2017.

Superdad ties the tree to the roof of the van and we're headed home to decorate.

And, we're done. Time to enjoy.

The Fairy Nutcracker: A Post by Madeleine

I like my nutcracker it is a girl
I am going to see the nutcracker at the marcus with mommy and
Ant clo and di! the end

Here it is





From Supermom: Madeleine got this nutcracker from St. Nick.

Superdad, Super Lawyer

Kudos to Superdad, one of Super Lawyer's newly crowned "Rising Stars" .

Apparently the Super Lawyer list is the definitive list, compiled in part by other attorneys, of who's who in the legal community.

Superdad found out a few months ago that he'd been named to this list but it wasn't officially announced until recently.

Here he is in all his glory. His name was also featured on the complete Super Lawyer list, which was published in the December issue of Milwaukee Magazine.

Way to go, Superdad!

Freezing

It's cold here today. Colder than Wisconsin, cold. So cold Hank's nature preschool stayed indoors today. So cold that Elisabeth starts crying the moment the wind hits her face.

Hank, Elisabeth and I arrived home at noon after Hank's morning of preschool and mine (and, well, Elisabeth's too) of errands. Our house was cold. I blamed it on old windows and threw on an extra sweater.

After about an hour I started thinking that it was ridiculously cold in our house, even given the extreme temperatures today. Hank was whining about being "freeeeeeezing" and I wasn't feeling to warm or toasty either.

So, I checked the thermostat. It read: fifty-five degrees. Yep, fifty-five.

Apparently someone nudged the gauge down to fifty-two degrees and the temperature dropped quickly. The kids are all denying any culpability but I remain suspicious.

In any event, the house is back to the sixties now, at least, and my fingers have thawed enough to blog.

Happy St. Nick's Day

I didn't even know who St. Nick was as a child, other than another name for Santa Claus. After marrying Superdad I was duly informed since, apparently, St. Nick's Day is a traditional holiday for many Orthodox Catholics growing up in Milwaukee, of which his mom was one of (although many will argue that its roots are German. Or Dutch. You can decide for yourself by reading more about the holiday here).

Last night, per tradition, we hung our stockings in anticipation of the generous saint's visit.

The kids were easy to rouse this morning. They dressed in half the time it usually takes them and dashed downstairs to see if their behavior in 2006 warranted presents or coal. Thankfully it was presents for all.

To those who celebrate the holiday and to those who don't, I hope you all have as pleasant a day as we've been having. Happy St. Nick's Day!

UPDATE: Superdad informs me that it's impossible to be both Orthodox and Catholic. Superdad's mom is (well, was) Orthodox. Oops.

Top Yahoo Searches

The number one most searched person on Yahoo this year was Britney Spears.

All I can ask is why???

Snowed In

Wisconsinites have been talking about our expected snowstorm for days. Usually when there's so much hype we end up getting about two flakes and rolling our eyes about how catastrophic those who predict the weather make a snowstorm sound. We live in Wisconsin, for pity's sake. We know snow.

But this morning did not disappoint. Weather experts are calling this morning's blizzard the worst snowstorm this area of the state has seen in seven years. Schools were cancelled. Joe played hooky.

Madeleine and Hank threw on their snow gear and were out flinging snow at each other by 7:30, shown here:


They were back in for oatmeal and toast by 9:00.

It's 11:30 now and it's still snowing and the kids are back out, along with the 3,700 other kids on our block. These are the days I especially love living in Wisconsin.