And Here's What You Missed, Last Time on Mothers Goose...

Basically, our entire winter. Which consisted of Christmas, skiing and Carmen's birthday. So in an effort to catch you all up, here's all of it at once. Enjoy.

Another Year, Another Toilet Bowl...

Once again we enlisted the help of our Seattle people to help us play football, cheer on the Patriots and cook a big dead bird. It was a chilly day for the annual Toilet Bowl "game"... which if you've ever tried to play sports with 4-6 year olds you know it's really just chasing them around the yard. Luckily, we had things like fires and adult libations to keep us warm-ish. Dinner was particularly tasty this year, largely thanks to our Director of Operations, Uncle B... and also thanks to him, we now we have a brining bucket... sitting in the garage waiting for next year.

We also had another reason to "give thanks" this year when an incident after a school assembly took 10 years off our parenting lives. When leaving share day from L's school (where each student talked about his/her holiday celebrations) we were all walking in a line to the car, on the sidewalk next to the building, when we heard a massive rumble, and whoosh the entire snowy/icy contents of the school roof came crashing down on the sidewalk. It missed EVERYONE except for poor Carmen, who was caught smack dab in the middle of the avalanche. She was scared out of her wits (as were mamas and Luce) but remarkably fine. Of course that didn't stop the police/firetrucks from showing up on the scene to make sure everything was OK. Lama, lama holiday drama. And that's how we started our Christmas vacation...

Climb Every Mountain...

Ford every stream. (seriously, who says ford?!? Silly Austrians).

Anyway, here's what happened in the first half of November. We had a SEVEN year old's birthday party at a rock climbing gym. It was great... once we got past the part in the beginning where the birthday girl emptied the contents of her stomach all over Mama Mer. Uff. However, showing her true colors as my daughter, Luce rallied like Tom Brady doing a 2 minute drill in the 4th quarter and finished the party strong. Whew.

Fank you Rocktober! Goodnight!

Ok, so this is what happens when you wait to take the Halloween pictures AFTER trick or treating. So I didn't get many great shots, but this one is kinda fun (with super fun friends) and this one really encapsulates how I felt this week after many late night playoff games and a WORLD SERIES VICTORY with the Sox. Good sweet Lord almighty I am tired. Also, Carmen was adorable in her class play about a pumpkin... she played a cat (of course) and owned it.  So yes, while I am not sad to see 2013 Halloween come to an end, I am wistful that this could be the last year one of our girls wears a Dorothy costume... I think we'll keep it on hand just in case.

Don't Fall On Me...

For the Mothers Goose... fall means lots of good things: football, (and this year Sox in the Series!) sweaters and of course corn mazes with the Troutmans. This was our third year braving the maze and suffice it to say it is "old hat" to these kids now. Fall also means amazingly beautiful weekends in Maine goofing around with friends and of course, getting older... but we don't really talk about that. No, I'd rather discuss the fact that the Mothers Goose exchanged matching anniversary cards. Guess that's what you get for knowing someone half of their life. Crazy, right?

September Whiplash...

Right, so school started and our kids looked like this. One was returning to a familiar pre-K classroom, and the other was venturing into THE FIRST GRADE. Her feelings on the subject were captured here. We are a few weeks in now and both seem to be loving life... but to be fair, they love life quite frequently. And why not? They have awesome parents who take them places like this and this with fun people like this. As all parents of school-aged children know, September is swirling emotional cauldron of frayed nerves and exhaustion (and that's just the moms)... luckily, the girls know when we need their support. And on the really tough September days, when we just don't think we'll make it to Friday, the Mothers Goose can pull up this blog, watch something like this, and know that we only get 'em this way for a minute... and that even these rough and rocky Septembers will be gone all too soon.

Fairy Tales Can Come True...

It can happen to you...

When spend a fabulous weekend at a wedding in Lake Tahoe! 

Ok, so the verse needs work but the sentiment remains the same. The Mothers Goose wrapped up the month of August in grand style by traveling to our dear cousin Heather's wedding in Lake Tahoe, CA. And as you can see, our girls were lucky enough to be in_the_wedding... more excited flower girls have never before existed in the history of time, I promise you. Our journey there was a long one with airport layovers, shuttle delays and car rental waiting but the girls (and Nonne!) were rock stars the entire trip and upon arrival were all smiles... and with scenery like this, how could you not be? We were smart enough to arrive early in order to squeeze in some extra family time which we greatly enjoyed. Mountain top swimming, cocktails and hot tubs? YES PLEASE! 

On the day of the "big event" the girls loved getting all dolled up (Carmen kept asking, "are my curls still there?") and I have to say, they were off the charts on the "awwwwneesss scale" (what, that's not a scientific measurement? well it should be!). The wedding itself was beyond beautiful and the happy couple set the tone for the entire weekend... family, fun and foolishness. Or maybe it should read funny foolish family? Say what you will about my clan, but whenever the extended group gathers you are guaranteed laughs (belly), drinks (copious) and happy tears (buckets). How lucky are we?