For my mom

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I'll do better photos soon. But here are our new hardwoods. Aren't they beautiful?

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One of the last days for Henry with his doo doo (pacifier) - see below. His mangy dog, Moppett, is at his side.

Doo Doo update

The doo doo (pacifier) fairy visited Henry 2 weeks and 3 days ago - taking his doo doos away while he slept and leaving a present (a pillow pet) in it's place. Henry was not thrilled about this happening - we talked about it many times before the big day and told him when he was 3 the doo doo fairy would be visiting him. The night it was supposed to happen, he wouldn't sleep (because he knew the doo doo fairy would visit when he fell asleep). I got home at midnight from work, and he was still awake. It was almost 2 AM before he fell asleep, and at 5 AM I rolled over (since he was in our bed - wedged between Eddie and I, as usual) and pried the doo doo from his sweet, sad lips.

Fast forward to today (2 weeks and 3 days later), and he STILL asks for his doo doo at bedtime and naptime. He STILL tells me EVERY SINGLE DAY "I can't sleep without my doo doo". Poor baby. Thankfully, he still has his mangy stuffed dog, Moppett, to help ease his pain.

The Polar Express

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Last weekend, we took an outing to the North Pole via the Polar Express. I had to get the tickets in October, because they sell out super quick. We boarded a train in Utica, NY and took an hour train ride to the Polar Express (complete with many elves)- where Santa got on board the train and sent the next hour back visiting with each child.

Henry was SO super excited, and Owen and Emmett had a good time - but probably wouldn't have missed not going.

As for me, I thought it was wonderful, not because the Santa was great (check him out - is that really the best they could do??) or the elves were overally entertaining - but because we spent a wonderful evening together as a family - not at home - where I would have felt an overwhelming need to do laundry, dishes, etc...but confined to a train, where we had a great time laughing, singing, and enjoying one another. It was perfect.

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Emmett, "We're going to see SANTA!"

Henry, "Soon? We are???"

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Me and my middle man....

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Inside the train station....Seriously - is there any resemblance between the two of us??? ANY?

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Henry's golden ticket

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Almost to the North Pole...

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Henry - "I want 2 measuring tapes and some paint."

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Patiently waiting...with his bell in his hand.

Dear Santa....

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At breakfast with Santa, Henry bounded into Santa's lap. In true Henry style - not afraid of anyone or anything - and Mr. Social....he could not wait to sit on Santa's lap. Honestly, I should start counting how many people tell me that he is going to end up being the mayor or president someday....it would be at least around 10 separate people. His preschool teachers mention it all the time.

Neither Owen nor Emmett would sit on Santa's lap.

But this is what they are asking for from Santa:

Henry - 2 measuring tapes. You may notice that he is carrying a measuring tape in this photo. He has, oh, probably 6 different measuring tapes already. But since the contractors have joined us at our house, Henry is never without a measuring tape - he measure things constantly. A big help for the contractors, I'm sure!

Emmett - Nintendo DSI - I hope he's going to be pleased with something else, because since he already has a DS and an Ipod touch - I don't know how Santa is going to feel about a DSI.

Owen - a windshield wiper and scraper, necessary items for an invention he's working on. And, actual field spray paint and the cart that it goes in (for marking his soccer field in the back yard). Pretty sure he's going to be the only 10 year old around to be excited w/ a windshield wiper, scraper, spray paint, and cart under the tree.

Henry stats

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from his 3 year check up. And, a cheese ball smile.

33.25 pounds - 70th %
38 inches - 70th %
BMI - 15.7 - 45th%

My tallest baby boy (at 3) and second heaviest at 3 (Emmett wins that one!).

Here comes the snow......

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Before Sunday our grass was green. The kids could swing. The kids could ride their bikes - even though it was cold. No longer.

The snow started on Sunday night....and it hasn't stopped. Honestly. Today is Thursday morning, and it is still snowing. As of now we have 48 inches of snow. The news folk are now calling this the Blizzard of 2010!

Syracuse is used to snow. They do snow. They know snow. We average 115 inches of snow a year. Lots of snow is not usual. What is unusual is that it has come in such an accumulated clump. It is impressive. It is amazing. It's also getting depressing.......
Believe it or not, the kids have yet to have a snow day. 48 inches in 3 days and no snow day. Monday, there was a 1 hour delay. Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 hour delays.

The kids have played outside most mornings before school, but now it's getting harder. So much snow that their legs sink and they can't walk.

All that snow is pretty and festive for the holidays. After Christmas though, it gets really, really old.

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Measuring up

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This wooden post is one of 4 that lines our driveway. These posts are all over the city this time of year - lining roads as they curve in neighborhoods, huge flags are next to fire hydrants in town....when I first moved to Bville, these flags and posts shocked me! I could NOT believe that they were there to mark landmarks when the snow starts. Can you believe that?

And guess what? These posts and flags are very much needed in our area.

This post that Henry is standing next to lines our driveway, so that our snow plow service (yes, snow plow services are needed also) can find our driveway.

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Celebrating 3

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Our house is under construction. STILL! The week of Henry's birthday there was SERIOUS construction going on. Like the kind of construction that involves us not living in our house - except to sleep. We get up and leave by 830 and come back at 5. Our refrigerator is in the formal living room - next to the piano. The kitchen table is in the family room. Our floors were torn up. We were eating out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (oh, and as I post this my house is STILL torn up). There was NO WAY we were going to be able to host a party at our house.

So..enter 2 super good friends of my mine. My friend, Sheila, offered to host a party for Henry at her house for lunch (the kids had a half day), and my friend, Michele, offered to have us over for a dinner party. How lucky are WE???

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Addison and Logan - Henry's buddies.

Party!

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My dear friend (and neighbor), Sheila, hosted a party for Henry. Sheila watches my boys while I work, and she does day care for some teacher's kiddos. So....these are Henry's buddies (with my kids and Sheila's kids mixed in). Henry always has a great time with these kids. It was a perfect place to celebrate.

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Henry had one friend, Gavin, come to his party. He had lots of "older kid" friends that are my friend's kids - kids that he has grown up with -and friends of Owen and Emmett's. But, Gavin is his friend. Gavin is in his preschool, and is also the youngest of 3 boys. His mom and I have become good friends, and they happen to live only 2 streets down from us! Yeah!