Nonno

This post is dedicated to my Nonno, who had a stroke a few weeks before Christmas. He is ok, and with some physical therapy he should be back to doing some if not most, of the things he did before. I just wanted to put it out there how glad I am that he is ok, and that he got to go home today, New Years Eve, after more than two weeks in the hospital. My dad has done a lot to prepare his home for everything he needs. I know my Nonna is better with him there. We all are. Take care Nonno, I love you.

Just some left over Christmas shots

Christmas, Part 2

The couple who didn't read the memo.

Just a mugshot.

Nothing like getting drunk with your mother-in-law!
This is a before and after the whiskey toast (round 5).

The "Uglies"

The winner! And yes, that is a giant penis on his sweater (it's why he won!).

There is no way to describe what comes next other than to say that Mitch and I totally missed the memo on this one (otherwise we would have been ALL OVER IT). Look out next year cause I am ALREADY SHOPPING! Do they make ugly sweaters for one year olds? Christmas night at Uncle Bob's became the annual "Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest" and let's just say that the event lived up to its name. Here's to my brother-in-law Jeff, for having the most hideous sweater of all, and taking first prize, a GIANT bottle of Jack Daniels. Second prize was a smaller bottle of Jack, and then there were individual tiny bottles of Jack for ALL participants. There is never a shortage of Jack Daniels at any Weathers event, a tribute to Mitch's grandmother Thelma Weathers (School Bus Gramma). The whole family always takes a shot of Jack (and then some), to honor her. This year was no exception. She was an amazing lady and I feel lucky to have known her.

Hangin' out with Grandpa JW

This is where Vivienne spent most of her time on Christmas morning while we all opened gifts -- with her Grandpa Jim, hamming it up and playing. She does love her grandpa (I think it's mutual)...

Santa Baby

Cuteness

Me and my babe on Christmas morn...

A scowl,

And a stretch!

Christmas, Part 1

Uma and Choo-Choo Xmas

Marley meets Santa (Viv fell asleep)

"Zeo" Leo (my baby bro)

Dad, the turkey in a bag KING!

Back at Grandparents Weathers house

I am going to attempt to post some pictures of our Christmas this year. When I say "our" Christmas I mean the three separate occasions we had with my dad and stepmom, my mom and stepdad, and my in-laws (Mitch's parents). We actually did have our own Christmas as well -- the morning before we left town, so in all fairness, we had four Christmases. Wow! When Viv is of age to appreciate this fact, I imagine a statement from her that goes something like this: "Sweet mom! Four Christmases? NO WAY!" While all her friends are cleaning up and playing with their toys, she will be just getting started on the next family. This is what I tell myself as we are packing up for a week of travel to Sacramento -- that the many events and people to see and parties to attend will be a positive thing for her one day. That she will appreciate all that her poor parents go through each time we have to travel with her. Can you hear the violins in the background?

The thing is, we had a blast. Someday it will be too much to see everyone. But for now, while she's young, and while we're too stupid and too willing, I feel thankful that we got to see her entire family. We made it!

I told you she can laugh!

I finally caught it on film...the cutest thing IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

Cousins (thanks dad for the photo!)

Notice the cute little newest addition on the left ;)

This is the only way to keep a pacifier in her mouth.

My Babes

Two people I would jump in front of a bus for....

O Christmas Tree

The picture that SHOULD have been our xmas card.

And, the ever present, always inevitable mug shot!

The Babysitter

This chair (aka, "the babysitter") provides hours of entertainment for Vivienne and allows us to do extraordinary things like, oh you know, shower, brush our teeth, EAT. It even has her eyes!!

Just some adorable pics of the fam

The Napping House

If you've ever read the story, The Napping House, by Audrey Wood, then you will know what I am talking about when I describe our night last night. First of all, I absolutely adore that book and find it hilarious and beautiful -- but I never claimed I wanted to LIVE in it!

Our house, since we've had Vivienne has become a jungle at night. Our two cats, Sam and June, have suddenly become complete holy terrors at night. If they aren't running around full speed all through the night, crashing into the table and chairs, scaling the sofa, making it sound like an earthquake is going on with the epicenter in our living room -- if they AREN'T doing that -- then they are SCRATCHING at all of the closed doors. Yes, scratching. Our cats are officially nuts. They sit and dig on the hardwood floor as if they are going to tunnel their way into the closet, or the baby's room, or the BATHROOM CABINETS. WTF?? Seriously, they are completely out of their minds, CUCKOO. Then, if they aren't doing those things, Sam is pacing the house MOANING. When I say moaning, I mean howling like a dying hyena all through the house. Ear plugs are no match for him. If they are actually sleeping, they are sleeping on our faces or ON TOP of our legs (usually Mitch's). All of these things were sort of eccentric and funny before Viv arrived. Now they are completely and so utterly and any other word that could describe it, ANNOYING. A typical night at our house goes like this:

Mitch: Goodnight...

Me: Goodnight...

Mitch: Sleep good babe...

Me: You too...

Mitch: F@*@!! June is on my legs and she's doing her creep up the bed thing. Damn it!! I just want to sleep!

Me: Ugh...just kick her off. Use the squirt bottle.

Mitch: No, it's ok. She'll settle down.

Me: K, Goodnight...

Mitch (20 minutes later): Babe, can you use the squirt bottle on June, PUHLEASE!! Vivienne's gonna be up and I haven't even slept! Ugh...

Me: Ugh, yeah I got it...

Me (30 minutes later): omg Mitch, wake up. Sam is digging at the baby's door. If he wakes her up I will skin him alive. (long drawn out sigh)

Mitch: Ugh, (throws covers off), (runs around the house in underwear whispering), God bleep it Sam!, bleep!, bleep bleep bleep!, you better get the bleep away from that door!!

Me: (whispering in a loud repremanding tone), DON'T kick him!!!!

2:30am: both of us wake up with a jolt

Me: omg, earthquake!

Mitch: Those F@#$%^&(()()(_@#@#@# cats!!!!! I'm gonna kill them.. (throws covers off, runs around house in underwear with squirt bottle making kicking motions with his legs). (Cats FLY downstairs making the house shake. Baby stirs).

Me: If you're going to get that mad, we should just give them away.

Mitch: Fine with me, I'm done. Give those F#$#%$(*)$%^ cats away!

Me: OMG, I can't believe you just said that! (in a high pitched girly tone)

Mitch: (disgusted sigh)..ugh, goodnight!

30 minutes later...

Me: Babe, if Sam doesn't stop moaning I'm going to kill him! I haven't slept at all! WHY DOES HE DO THAT!!???!!

Mitch: Thank you for waking me up to tell me that. He does that because he is bleeping PSYCHOTIC!! I'll go open the garage door so they go in there and explore and leave us the bleep alone!!

Me: Thanks...

5:15am: Vivienne crying....

And there you have it, a typical night at the Weathers house. And I did not include the baby feedings, where the cats are all up in our grill. Go and read that book, it is so so so us. And sometimes Viv is in bed with us, which makes the jumping up in your underwear part harder. So just imagine Mitch laying there with a sleeping baby on his chest, whispering to me: If I wasn't holding Vivienne, that cat would be DEAD.

Me: Seriously...

Shake, Rattle, and (almost) Roll!

A little Vivienne talent for your viewing pleasure.

Silly Faces

Alotta Pink

So, before Vivienne was born we swore we would hardly ever put her in pink clothes, and that she would be one of those babies who wore "universal" colors that didn't scream "I'M A GIRL". Well, that was before we found out how stinking adorable she looks in pink. When she wears pink we end up fighting over who gets to hold her. That's how good she looks in pink. I KNOW!

Peek-A-Who?

One of Vivienne's favorites right now. I can't wait to read her everything on her shelf so many times that I know ALL the words by heart. Granted, the words aren't too hard to memorize at this point!