{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. (well actually last week) A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishes for a beautiful weekend to you!

Santa

I've done a lot of thinking about Santa since Curtis was born 6 years ago. When I was a kid my parents told us children about Santa and then pretty much let us go with our imaginations. We saw Christmas movies and shows and read books and pretty much grew up with the basic North American Santa Claus beliefs. I remember writing him letters and leaving him cookies with such a feeling of wonder and excitement each Christmas like most other middle class children in New Jersey did at the time.

What I don't remember is when I found out the 'truth' about Santa. I can say, as a very sensitive person with a good memory for pain, that I did not feel lied to or misled by my parents when I did find out that it was them providing all those toys under the tree and eating those cookies that I set out each Christmas Eve. In fact my memory of the event is pretty foggy at the most and I am thinking it may have been the kind of realization that happens over a course of time.

Now, having said all of that I completely understand all of the arguments against Santa. I don't want to lie to anyone ever, let alone my kids. I also don't like the fact that most of what kids do believe about Santa has to do with consumption and greed. I try really hard not to label my boys, so the thought of a 'naughty' or 'nice' list sends shivers down my spine....However, there is something just magical about Santa.

I have come to the conclusion that I will allow my kids to believe whatever they want when it comes to Santa. As long the story of Santa continues to bring them such joy, then I see no reason for me to burst this bubble. After all I believe in lots of things that I cannot see or feel or prove, so maybe Santa is just another human practice in faith on a more elementary level. Without some magic and faith in our lives I personally believe that this earth would be a very depressing place to live. So in these last days before Christmas I say a very jolly Ho Ho Ho and a Merry Christmas to you!




PS - It was a nice mild December day when we saw Santa at the neighborhood festival. Unfortunately the weather has taken a turn for the worse and we are all bundled up and enduring the few weeks of cold that Florida gets each year. Warm wishes to all!

Birthday time!

It's that time of year again...no I'm not talking about Christmas or Chanukah or Kwanzaa or any other holiday...I'm talking about my two sons birthdays! It isn't always easy having two boys with birthdays right smack in the middle of the holiday season (did I mention my husband's b'day is in January?), but we know how to focus on the positive in this family and have really enjoyed celebrating this year.

Since my boys birthdays are less than a month apart we have successfully thrown a joint party for the past two years in a row. Our party this year was held this past Saturday and I am so glad that the beautiful and mild weather held out for us. Tough times have called for a more scaled back party this year, but their closest friends and family came to celebrate and my boys were showered with tons of love and presents.

This year Curtis asked for a Lego themed cake and party. After watching many a tutorial online I decided to make two lego block cakes so each boy could have his own theme.

Here you can see the Spongebob themed Lego cake for Clark.



And here you can see the Star Wars Lego cake for Curtis.




And here they are blowing out the candles.




Tomorrow my first baby will turn 6 and I can't help but to feel nostalgic. I cannot wait to see what is in store for these two wonderful sons of mine in the future and I will love sharing every minute of it with them!

Happy Birthday Curtis and Clark!