Whatever would posess...

...a person to cut ALL of their hair off in the middle of December. A person who lives in the Northern Hemisphere, with the recent average temperatures hovering around twenty degrees Fahrenheit? It's almost too cold to enjoy the snow. no snow packing activity is possible, but there is sledding! (Even though I have yet to do that with my children yet this year, sad as the case may be.) Not having entirely the appropraite gear to not feel the less than freezing temps is the main problem.

Fortuitously, my Secret Santa from work gives me this wonderful hat. It completely keeps me warm, is totally "my thing" in today's market/looks, and has allowed me to comfortably have short hair during the winter months. So...

I cut it off. I cut it all off. My hair is mostly gone. I actually think my hair is much shorter than two of my three make children. It's called something like a 'pixie cut,' but my cut just stands straight upward in the air. It waves, heck, it SHOUTS hellooo! Most likely, and I am hoping that, it is just the after shock from the difference from the weight of long hair to none with such shortness. See, it has been nearly a week since the haircut and the seemingly-shocked coif is *still* standing straight up. My awesome husband, being the wonderful person that he is, thinks it is great. He tells my I look "fey." In other words, other worldly or elfish or the like.
Too bad that the time I have been considering a hair cut (since Spring) does not factor into the amount of time it takes for the hair to adjust to the cut. If it doesn't calm down the slightest bit, I might just have to highlight it hot pink or something to compliment it. Hm. So: maybe you should look for pictures!

I might have just been better off with a trip to the tanning booth (I know, god forbid!). However, this might be the first time I am having a serious bout of seasonal affective disorder or something...

Boys and "Theatre"

We braved the wintry weather mix yesterday to go to see the Beauty and the Beast at the Cohoes Music Hall. It was a Rotary fundraiser event so we HAD to go with Dan's Dad (just joking). Dan did not go because he really doesn't like musicals, except Spamalot, that is.



There was this handy stage step that was ideal seating for munching the yummies that were offered pre-show as well as well as for a great photo-op!



The boys were able to meet Santa again. However, this time they just knew it was a Santa's "Helper" as it was getting closer to Christmas day and "his beard wasn't real." Gavin gave him a chocolate chip cookie because he might be too busy with the kids to eat. What a sweetie!



The boys especially liked seeing all the costumes of the players. It was a good time and I really enjoyed sharing a bit more of my history with my sons: How I did musicals in high school, traveled to NYC to see Broadway and off Broadway shows, inspecting the sets and costumes... I was practically in tears when the "Be our Guest" number was done! The energy was AMAZING and I loved it!!





The theater manager gave me his card and told me that in the future if the boys and I ever wanted to volunteer there (seating, handing out programs) then we could see the play for free and get to meet the cast afterward back stage!

So, apparently I may be a late-blooming or closet stage-junkie, who knows? :)

Beauty and the Beast and SNOW!!!

Well it has finally snowed!! The house is quiet, not only from the muffling of the snow, but all the children are outside enjoying the wet, fluffy white stuff!

My nose has miraculously cleared over night from the freezing weather and I could not be happier! My allergies might just be gone now for the season(?). I can only hope :)

Tonight we are going to a play in Cohoes: Beauty and the Beast. Dan's Dad, me and my three boys are going. Since it is a musical, Dan and his mom have no real interest. I only hope the weather does not turn mushy with rain instead of snow... With luck we will have a quite uneventful ride there and back.

Loving the snow either way! You can't see me doing the Snoopy Happy Dance, but just imagine it ;)

Dec 5 was Dan's birthday!!

It was not anything like breakfast in bed, but we went to a Breakfast with Santa this morning. IT is something the Saratoga Hospital throws every year - not something we go to each year, and this is the very first year I was able to go since I was not working on the Saturday it was held. My growing up sons visited Santa and had their photo taken. Nthing like waiting in line for a quick word with the man of the hour after lots of greasy bacon, syrupy and fluffy pancakes and scrambled eggs!



My dear husband is a whole 39 years old now! Next year is the big four oh and a party will definitely have to be thrown :)



Part of his present was chocolate fudge with chunky peanut butter smeared in the middle.

My nephew Liam!

Sorry the first is so blurry - Liam definitely does NOT like my camera's red eye reduction red light blinking before the picture is taken. He cries EVERY time :(

But he is a lovey dovey! He has Pete's head and Hannah's eyes.

This is dedicated to my nephew Sharon!

Sharon is so cute, with his little voice and confidence of conversation. My three boys absolutely ADORE him! Every time he leaves a message on our answering machine, we all smile. We still have a message of him on our machine from a month ago because it makes me actually check my messages more often to hear his adorable voice!
"Hello. This is Sha-wone."

This is dedicated to my sweetie Soren!

Here are few pictures of Soren for Kathleen, my sister. We were at the Haviland Cove beach on this day.
Of course he is much older now; I can hear his squealing laughter on the phone and it makes me want to hop in the car and drive to see him!!

more pictures of past fun!

We got a new car during the cash for clunkers dealio. The boys wanted a last picture of themselves with the van. Rael and Gavin took about 50 more juszt of the car, it's parts inside and out. Sometimes Gavin still says he misses "our old
car." Probably b/c they weren't told to pick up their trash when they were in the far back of the van.



And here's another of my sweetie Soren after returning from the hike up Buck Mt. Rael sure loves little ones; he thinks they are SO cute with their tinyness!



And here's Grandpa with his newest grandson, Soren. What an adorable face!



Ont he way to the hike, the boys laughed and had so much fun. It's great how well they get along!



And there's Sharon's protective mom, Kathleen, following a bit too close(?) behind us. :)



I can't wait to see my sister and her family again. I'm currently planning a March vacation in an rented RV again. That was certainly THE way to travel!!