Chuck D & Mr. T

The girls and I went and had lunch with Kitzy Cat Gran and Grandpa john. Kitzy Cat have the girls stickers to play with at the little table and a pink foul Christmas tree. Nelly admired it but within minutes both girls has decided in an unspoken agreement that the tree was mostly Scottie’s. Nelly complimented it, hoes Scottie carry it and watched it in the car but figures it was Scottie’s. It now decorates their room.

I also took them to Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus to shop for the holidays. It is so much fun shopping with them because they are excited about everything. Everyone who encounters them comments on how adorable they are (I hope it does go to their heads but I don’t think it will because they are too down to earth).

Monday was a big night-Charlie, Alvaro and Casilda had their jury performance at Levine. It was amazing. Maria and I were really hoping they would do well and enjoy it and they did. Despite lots of dramatic protesting during practice, they played perfectly and were so polite and friendly to the judges. Charlie said right away “Hello judges” and at the end when they asked “Is there anything you want to say” Charlie led the others and said “Thank you. ” it could not have gone better. Maria threw a lovely little party for them with pizza and a movie of a Christmas Carol and she have them flowers and chocolates. Their au pair decorated with paper chains. And best of all Charlie said to be “I feel proud.” Charlie, I feel proud too I told him.

I’m so happy to be writing Peace Out: Living Mindfully, Joyfully and Lovingly with Children, my guide to being peaceful. I really want to share this peace that I’ve practiced getting. I’ve been reading lots of Ticht Nhat Hahn and thinking. Today I spoke with Ms Hundley at school about starting a weekly program for parents and that seems like such a nice idea. I just need to write more.

I lived snuggling the children as they go to bed.

Charlie is so excited to be going to Camp Winaukee this summer and I’m so excited for him. He is going too be making new friends, having some independence, playing sports and being a camper. They send him a box of sports socks that he loved and I overheard him telling Teo today “This summer I’m going to sleep away camp. It’s all boys. It’s a brotherhood.” He is going to be a great camper. It’s going to be so great when Teddy can do it too. Teddy is so patient about having to wait to do things. It must be so hard to see Charlie do things and not be big enough yet. All this camp talk has the girls talking about going to MiniGroup at the West Chop Club every day.

The children were beside themselves when they saw the construction outside Cactus Cantina and feared sown thing was wrong at their favorite restaurant. Luckily they were just installing new awnings.

Leftovers on the head, at the bar, selfies during dinner…I love going to restaurants with these people.

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The girls have been going to a Frozen-themed ballet class this week.

A tornado hit the gingerbread houses while my back was turned. At least it struck at the counter. Tummy aches… Scottie said “All I have left is the backyard”

The children are having so much fun with the holidays.
Saturday we made gingerbread houses with all the cousins at Deirdre’s and both boys had their first basketball game and we went to see The Gift of Nothing at the Kennedy Center and the kids loves seeing their friends Giovanni, Simmone, Sofia, Guilia and Paolo there and dancing in the halls of the Kennedy Center and browsing the nutcracker shop.
Sunday we went on a winter hike.
Monday I went to Teddy’s class to talk about Hanukka and read stories and give out gelt. Then I went to Charlie’s class for Roots of Empathy and have those students gelt and candy canes.
Tuesday I went to the girls class to talk about Hanukka and read and hand out gelt. Then we had Johanna, Birdie, Barquito and Lbeth over with Carol for a Hanukka dinner of latkes, kugel, haricot very with shallots and beef bourguignon. We have the children an air hockey table, an iPad mini and nutcrackers for the girls who hadn’t gotten theirs yet.
Yesterday I got to help serve pasta at the first grade holiday pasta lunch-the children are so adorable and so polite. Last night we had our annual Fifth Night of Hanukka party at sprinkles cupcakes (even though it was the second night). It was so much fun with so many friends who were so nice to come and so generous to give gifts and as always I love hostessing it with Nicole.
Today I took gifts to everyone at the barn and everyone at the boys school-I LOVE giving gifts. It is such a small way to show people how much you appreciate them and like them and it brings so much cheer. This afternoon we had the children pick Secret Santa names from a hat and then take turns shopping with MJ in Sullivan’s to buy a gift for the sibling whose name they chose. It was hilarious the way they wanted to tell each other so badly who they had and what they were giving. We had dinner, light the candles and Scottie gave Teddy a Pokemon set, Charlie gave Nelly a Frozen necklace and Olaf doll, Nelly gave Scottie a Barbie, and Teddy have Charlie football figurines and cards. It was soooo cute. They asked to do it again and I can’t what to have them do it again next year-I think their gift exchange is my favorite part of the holiday. I love the way they are so thoughtful about what to give and so grateful to receive. I try to teach them to show appreciation for gifts and to practice by saying something nice about everything they get.
More tomorrow with Charlie’s punishing party, Teddy’s silly dress movie day, And holiday parties in the evening at school friends house and Alix’s party at the Jefferson.