Three holidays and a turkey

 You could say I have a lot of catching up to do. Frankly, many people have. So here goes...

 

Halloween: Oscar was Annie's old costume of a monkey, but how fitting (literally and figuratively). He's constantly bouncing off of furniture and eats more than his fair share of bananas. Annie, keeping with her theme of family pets, was Roscoe, our cat. We went trick-or-treating with Annie's friend and our neighbor, Hayden, and even though Oscar did not nap that day, nothing could keep him from the excitement and sugar awaiting him down our street. Every time he came away from a house, he would look up at me, shocked, and say, "More tindy!!" (aka "candy"). It was so fun watching him try to keep up with the girls and stop to get candy at the same time. 

Birthdays: Oscar is now officially and terribly two. As a result, he's really quite excellent at saying, "no," hitting people, throwing plastic objects, and refusing to eat any and all foods presented to him, even if he asked for said foods. On the bright side, he has a great sense of humor, and his vocabulary has exploded over the past few weeks. I can actually understand at least 60% of what he says now. Annie is five, and despite never watching network TV, she still has an insatiable desire for anything Barbie. She takes after her mother, I'm sorry to say. I even feel myself getting secretly excited when she acquires a new accessory. They were both spoiled rotten for their respective days. Annie got to have a birthday party at a chocolate café and then celebrate her actual day with a cake made with a doll whose skirt was the cake. Oscar missed having a party (I wouldn't say he missed it, he still is excited at believing any occasion involving candles is one for which we sing Happy Birthday to You, even if they're just the ones on our dinner table), but made up for it by having his birthday cohort GranBob (who turned 71 the same day) and the lovely Nana present to help celebrate. He hadn't napped that day either (anyone noticing a pattern, here?), so he was a little out of it for the celebration, but I think he was pretty psyched given how much attention he paid to his icing. 

Thanksgiving: Grandparents Part II. Oma and Papa Joe were here to help us give thanks and to get an early start on our winter weight. Even though there were only four grown-ups present for the meal, we had enough food to feed the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But it was great and afforded us plenty of leftovers (which is really the point of Thanksgiving, am I right?). We had a great time eating (except for Oscar; again, no nap and he's 2), but we took a break to do a few other activities as well: the Mad Cap puppet show at the museum (in which mom had a cameo role), trolley ride down Frankfurt Avenue (a small-business mecca), and some good old fashioned park play and walks to keep said winter weight in check. 

Now, we're gearing up for our trip for Christmas and New Year's. And if you're lucky, you'll get to hear about it sometime in February. I'm trying, people, really.

September and October 2011

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Summer and Early Fall 2011

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The bold and the beautiful

I could apologize for the lack of commentary lately, but that would make me sound like a broken record and let's face it, with the whole mommy dementia thing, I repeat myself enough as it is.

However, I will provide an update on the crazy people who run my life. Annie is a full-fledged reader now. She's sounding out simple books faster than I can give them to her and she's even reading a few to her brother; yes, reading is THAT powerful. She's making strides socially in school and breaking out of her shell a little and for her, that's huge. Even if it's as small as making eye contact with someone who is speaking to her, like her best friend. Now if I could only get her to answer kids who talk to her at the park. Baby steps. 

Oscar... oy, Oscar. He has quickly realized that as the youngest person in this family he better make his preferences known quickly and loudly if he wants to get anywhere, at least that's what he thinks. So, he yells. A lot. At everything. Not angry yelling, just more in the way in which he believes we're all deaf. Even more swiftly, he learned how to say "I don't want to!", "It's my turn!" and "Mama eat it," sometimes in the same breath. What prevents us from going back to the hospital and insisting he got switched with a more sedate child is the fact that he's so stinkin' cute. He cracks everyone up, even himself. Today when he was getting dressed, he pulled his T-shirt over his knees, and realizing how silly he looked, burst into hysterical laughter. Oh, and he's started "school." He's loving it but not nearly as much as I'm loving the two mornings I get to myself every week.

Luckily to bring us all back to reality, Nana came for a visit. She stayed for a little over a week and we had a blast. She was more than fun, she was a worker! She did laundry, emptied dishwashers, cooked meals. She spoils me so. We're looking forward to her eminent return for the kids' birthdays when she's accompanied by the infamous GrandBob. While she visited we made our annual pumpkin pilgrimage/cider-doughnut binge to Indiana (don't be too impressed, it's like 20 minutes away) to Huber's Winery and Orchard. Oscar even picked out a pumpkin from the patch. Granted, it was green and about 4" in diameter, but he was very proud. Annie's, on the other hand, weighed in at a colossal 20 pounds. It was an interesting hike back to the hayride, let me tell you.

And this month, I'd like to add: happy anniversary to my hubby. It's been 6 years and it feels like 60, but in a good way. A really good way.

Summer lovin'

One can never have too many friends, and we have the best, a large portion of whom we got to see in Connecticut. First, we got to chill in the hot sun with the Grant girls (Hastings and Landry or "Baby Landry" as we like to call her) who happened to be visiting with their mom, Miranda, my oldest friend (she's not old, our friendship is), at the same time we were visiting Connecticut as we closed out the summer New England style. We had the girls play together as much as we could and they loved it and each other.

We got to see quite a bit of both sets of grandparents and our close (sadly, just emotionally, not so much geographically) friends and gal pals the Leary-Infantines who made the trek all the way from Boston to hang with us at the Bridgewater Country Fair. Lucia and Annie were pretty much inseparable by the end of our all too-short visit together. It's crazy to think that this was the first time they had met Oscar or we had met Carmen (their two-and-a-half year-old, man that's a lot of hyphens). The last time we saw them was in Boston and Meredith was 6 months pregnant with that little cutie. Hopefully we can make this an annual affair as the girls had way to much fun (and cotton candy) at the fair.

Now the babies are back at school. Oscar, given our trip to the northeast, missed his first two days of school (slacker!), but arrived after all of the other kids had gotten over their separation anxiety so he could really shine with his. That kid loves a spotlight. But after a few dramatic sobs (I listened outside the door), he did great and had a blast. And it must be a really good school, because he's starting to put a lot of words together to form sentences we can actually kind of understand (if the wind is just right and you try to imagine yourself listening under water). His favorite phrases: "Close that door!" and "drink of water?" He still loves the trash and helping to make the coffee and feed the cats in the morning. I'm hoping to have him take over most of my household duties by age 2. Fingers crossed.

Annie is doing two extended days at school now, the same days that Oscar is at his school, so Mama is finally getting some me time. Sadly, I used the first week to catch up on some much-needed deep cleaning, but man, you can eat off my floors (Oscar often does). Annie loves bringing her lunch box to school. She's also started ballet again and with the exciting addition of tap shoes. What a smile patent leather can put on a girl's face. Oscar also started his music class again this week, so my role as chauffeur is back in business. Moms should totally earn frequent driver miles. I'd have at least six trips to Fiji by now.

That's right, we're not from Texas...

... But they are! That's right, our friends from Houston made a pilgrimage to Louisville to reunite us with the infamous duo known only as "Becca-Sara-Kate." We had a great time and were so grateful to a pretty pregnant Rebecca and Sara Kate for making the trek. For the girls, it was like not a day had passed since we left the great state of Texas. They played wonderfully together and listening to their conversations was a source of constant entertainment for me and Rebecca (at one point, they discussed taking a break from talking because they had been talking so much already). For me, it was also great to have my close friend visit. Rebecca and I have been there for each other since the girls were babies, sharing tips, frustrations, and humor as we charted the unknown territory of motherhood. We still are and I'm grateful for it. Jay was a very brave saint and manned Oscar for most of the weekend and stayed home with the kids one night so we could go to a nice dinner. We can't wait to see them again, especially once Sara Kate welcomes her second baby sister. Until then, Annie's going to be honing her Candland skills as I'm sure a tournament is on the horizon.

Lake daze

I think this is the most remiss I've ever been in updating the blog. I apologize, but honestly, two kids make for a busy schedule. Throw in living so close to the central time zone that we can see it from our window, and you've got a recipe for some late and LIGHT summer nights. In the summer, the sun doesn't set until after 9 and as such, Annie has taken a bit of liberty with her bedtime. Granted, she's still IN bed at 7:30, but we hear her upstairs getting out of bed, clearly looking at books, because every now and then we'll hear a loud THUD on the floor as she discards a finished book from her bed. It's a problem. Oscar is lucky (or not, depending on who you ask) in that we installed brown Con-Tact paper on his windows so it's perma-night in there. Makes for a lot easier nap time, I'll tell ya, even if he does resemble a vampire when he wakes up.

Excuses aside, we've had a great summer. The kids are at an age where they're actually more fun than annoying to juggle. Less naps to worry about, Oscar attempts communication in his own special way (he still calls water ee-oh, we don't know why), and Annie likes to sit and play games and is generally fun to have a conversation with. (This morning she used the word "available" when talking to her father about picking her up from camp.) A couple of weeks ago we went to Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and rented a two-bedroom cottage right on the lake. The lake is man-made from a dam so the shore is more shale than sand, but it is huge and beautiful. Let me just say this, Kentucky State Parks rock. They had nice accommodations, things for the kids to do like crafts, mini golf and horseback riding, an indoor pool, and I even got to escape to their indoor gym a couple of times to attempt getting into shape and even out the rest of my body with my scary strong mama arms. Annie practiced her swimming. Oscar practiced his escape artistry. (Twice he got out of my sight and opened the cottage door to escape. Jay found him right outside. I'm an awesome mom.) We got to take a ride on a pontoon boat with me at the helm as captain. Generally, after hammering out the sleeping arrangements (we now know Oscar and Annie can not yet room together and that Jay and I are way past the pull-out couch phase of our lives), we just a had a great time together.

This week Annie starts her last camp before school starts, Diggin' Dinosaurs at the Science Center. Then we're off for one more final escape to Connecticut to visit the grandparents and our friends from Houston, the Pasch-Grants (aka Hastings and Landry, Trout the dog, and their parents and grandparents). We can't wait.

It'll be an interesting transition once we get back as Annie starts school the morning after we get back. Oscar's going to miss his first week of preschool (already setting him up to be a slacker), but will be going two mornings a week while on the same two days Annie goes FULL day to Montessori. This, coupled with the fact that the girl is all big-feet and tall now is really freaking me out. I keep looking at old videos and pictures of her from when she was Oscar's age. Basically what this tells me is that when college comes, I'm going to lose it. Jay should start calling homes. I want one with a view. Preferably on a lake.

Lake Cumberland Vacation 2011

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Case in point

Exhibit A:

Trash talkin'

Woah, did a whole month go by undocumented?! Must be a sign that summer vacation is in full tilt at the Ferrara household. Annie's already completed 3 of her 4 summer day camps. She crafted her way through her Montessori camp (with a rockin' tie-dye T-shirt to boot); danced herself into oblivion with ballet camp; and partied it up animal style at zoo camp (last but not least, "Diggin' Dinosaurs" at the Science Center). Oscar is now attempting full-ish sentences such as, "Iahndis" (read: I want this) and "thrawitawayah" (read: Throw it away: odd, I know, more on this in a minute). None of his new phrases, however, speaks more to my heart than his unsolicited "Thank you" we get when we hand him something, especially something he really wants. It sounds more like "Did do" but hey, we'll take it.

And nothing says summer vacation like a rash of sudden illnesses. ... No? Well, in our house it apparently does. Oscar has been sporting a low-grade fever for almost a month now, then last weekend Annie came down with a high fever and some crazy red throat with spots (not strep, would have been easier if it had been, though; damn viruses!), then she handed the torch back to Oscar and he woke up yesterday with a 103º fever. Scary day, most of it spent at the pediatrician's office.

Oh, and did I mention Jay is on call this week? Give me a straw with that glass of wine, please.

Did do.

Alright, violin gently placed aside, let's get to topic. Oscar is a little OCD, which we've always sort of known. He had a thing with light switches a little while ago and won't eat his Yo-Baby yogurt until you throw the lid in the trash. And here we are: He has a weird love affair with trash. Any trash can he calls "throw-it-away" and gets so excited when he sees one. Any scrap of paper he finds lying around the house, he immediately looks to discard it, including important ones (like today's grocery list... still looking for that one). He takes joy when I replace the shopping bag in our tiny kitchen garbage. He wants to touch every, and I mean EVERY, trash can he sees. I really had no idea that the jokes associating his name with Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch would be so apt. He truly does love trash. I even hate to say that he has brought me more dirty diapers out of his diaper bin than I would like to admit. But, to our relief, Oscar is also a steward for our planet. He takes great joy in his "job" of placing items in the recycling bin every morning. No matter what tantrum he's in the middle of throwing, if we ask him, "Oscar, do you want to throw this in the recycling bin?" he will immediately pop out of it and perk up, "Yes!" Note to self: save recycling material for especially bad days.

And on a final note, because my wine glass is empty (those straws really make it go fast!), Jay's old. Well, not really old, just one year older, and he doesn't look a day over 16. Seriously, it's a challenge with his patients. They think they're seeing Doogie Howser. I keep telling him to grow a beard, but that's neither here nor there. What I meant to say was: Cheers to you, my sweet, I couldn't pass my days with anyone better.

June 2011

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More May 2011

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April and May 2011

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Love, love, love

Somewhere in spring's bloom, we lost a whole month in the blogosphere. I apologize to my one reader for any inconvenience this may have caused. Annie, Oscar and I headed north for a couple weeks to be with my mom during a hospital stay (she's doing great now, thanks for asking), and somehow this break from our usual routine and some really awesome weather made updating the blog a little low on the priority list... but now we're back!

Since our last chat, Annie has had quite the social calendar. I feel a little unpopular around her, frankly. She has had many playdates and wishes they were as frequent as, say, breakfast. She also finished off her semester in ballet and had a performance with the other kid classes at the school. In honor of it, I brought in our neighbor Beverly to secure a bun to that child's head come hell or high water. In the end it just needed a few gallons of hair gel, mousse, bobby pins, and a sacrificial chicken (not really, but I was ready). She sadly inherited her mother's thick yet extremely slippery hair. I still mourn my inability to enjoy French braids as a child. But, we worked through it and she was precious. Papa, Oscar, Beverly and her husband Al (Annie's grandparent understudies) were there cheering her on. Oscar had a snack trap of raisins to help him through the long periods of sitting still. It worked because it's about the only thing he'll eat one at a time. She received two bouquets in honor of her debut and couldn't have been more over the moon about it. She was over Pluto.

Oscar, we've discovered lately, is, how do I put this lightly, a full-on Mama's boy. When we were in Connecticut I left him and his sister with Oma and Papa Joe while I was at the hospital during the day. They both loved it, but wouldn't you know it, as soon as he started having to be away from me for extended lengths of time he started to say "Mama" and actually mean me... and boy, he did so with a vengance. Oscar is also much more of a snuggler than his big sister ever was as a baby (though now, it's her favorite morning activity next to watching Curious George). He actively seeks affection from me, Jay, Annie, even our cat, Roscoe. I am relishing it. It's only a matter of time until he won't even look at me in public for fear of mortal embarrassment, so I'm going to take all that I can get. He's big on saying "Bye, bye" to his Papa in the morning when he leaves for work, and pretty much anyone you ask him to say it to. He does a cute little crunching fist wave to accompany it. His vocabulary is growing though he still talks to us in complete gibberish at times, fully expecting us to know exactly what he's saying. He is quite the ham and has a great sense of humor. He also NEVER LISTENS no matter how many warnings and threats are aimed his way. We hope this will end soon. Did you hear me, Oscar? No, of course not.

To sum up the love fest, Annie is also expanding her vocabulary and her use of metaphors when professing her love for people. However, her enthusiasm sometimes surfaces in odd word combinations like "Mama, I love you to bits of chandelier," my personal favorite.

Summer is just around the corner. Annie's last day of school is in a few days then it's on to camp fest 2011. We have her enrolled in about 4 week-long day camps ranging from dinosaurs to ballerinas. And though I want her to have a great time, I'll tell you, my biggest fear is that she'll make more friends and I'll have to plan that many more playdates. Selfish, I know, but have you seen gas prices lately?

Just say "Yes"

Oscar seems to be a bit behind his sister in his development of language. Don't get me wrong, the kid never stops blabbing. We just have no idea what he's saying. For the longest time he has answered "No" to every question thrown at him. It got to the point where Jay and I knew which "no" meant yes and which "no" meant indeed no. When he wanted something, he would often answer with an emphatic "No!" with a tilt at the end to convey his excitement. Or, he would answer with a "nah-uh," meaning, "Of course, I would LOVE some banana." It was getting out of control. So finally, over the course of four days, evil mom took over and I held whatever object of desire about a foot away from him and would stand there saying, "Do you want this, yes? Yes? Do you want this? Yes, yes? Yes!? YES!!??" Finally, he got the picture. His mother was crazy. Also, he learned to say yes. It sounds more like "sess," but I'll take it. I may have gone a little overboard, however, because I think my Pavlovian training was so strong that now he's answering yes for things he doesn't want. So I guess you can lead a horse to water but you can't understand whether or not he wants to drink.

On a lighter, more spring-driven note, Annie loves her ballet classes and we are often treated to bedazzled performances. I caught the most recent one on tape. It's dedicated to my mom, we all hope she makes a speedy recovery. We love you, Nana.

More March 2011

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Annie and Oscar Jan - March 2011

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Survival of the fittest, or most rested

I would love to report a lot of milestones achieved, humorous mutterings from small people, and amazing accomplishments since my last post, but part of the reason it's been so long since my last post is that there isn't much to report. I know, how can I have a toddler and not have a breaking news story every day? Truth is, Oscar and his antics are frankly frightening, and by the end of the day I just pray to forget most of it by the next day, if only to save me from several more gray hairs. Case in point: the other day, I'm making dinner. I can see the living room from the kitchen, it's all one big open space. Behind our couch is a set of bookshelves that act like a console table with picture frames on top, and behind that is our kids' play table and chairs. Oscar is bumbling about, speaking the language only he understands, when all of a sudden I look over and there's his little head poking over the framed pictures on the aforementioned bookshelves behind the couch. The only way he could accomplish this is by A) ingesting some ungodly amount of human growth hormone akin to the Incredible Hulk or B) climbing the chair onto the kid table and STANDING on it. Guess which one he did? He was SO proud, just beaming at me, with no regard for the danger three feet below him. Pointy edges, plate glass windows, hardwood floors. None of it mattered. It was, indeed, his Everest, and yet another reason for my second glass of wine that night.

The other reality keeping me from reporting more often: my kids are constantly ill. It's winter, Annie's in school (a.k.a., that Petri dish with books) 5 mornings a week, and Oscar has no immune system to speak of. Just tonight, I put Annie to bed with what is probably a raging case of conjunctivitis and a middle-ear infection (we'll find out tomorrow), and Oscar, also with a double hit: teething (with what looks like molars the size of Rhode Island) and a bad cold/stomach bug. I spend most of my days in futility, disinfecting what surfaces I can, trying to remember to pay bills, do laundry, plan (and actually make some) meals and all the other unrewarding tasks of homewifery on about 5 hours of sleep because of said illnesses and the nightwaking they impose. And every now and again I remember to brush Annie's teeth.

Last weekend, I went to Georgia for two days and one night for my grandfather's memorial service. Given that the kids and I have not spent a night apart from each other (believe me, not on purpose) since they were born (other than one from Annie on the night Oscar was indeed born), the separation held some challenges for their weary father. Jay did his best, and I'm sure his best was beyond exceptional, but Annie, regardless of his efforts, didn't go to sleep until 3 am and Oscar woke up for the day a little over 2 hours later. Yet more proof that I can never die. No one would ever sleep again.

Keepin' it clean

The above picture is why folding your laundry in front of a one-year-old is not the most productive idea. Here's an update on Oscar. He can now say "Night, night" and "ball." As of today, I've heard a lot of "Ee-ee" when referring to Annie, so I'm going to go ahead and say that's his name for her. Now why I love this child: He loves to clean up. If he witnesses you putting something away, he immediately springs into action with the assist, even if it's not completely accurate (like throwing books in the trash). He grabs plastic grocery bags when he sees me changing the one in our trash can, even if they're from the drawer where I keep the bags for recycling because they have holes. A for effort, Oscar.

He is also convinced that everything is a phone. Today, while attempting to fold the laundry, he kept putting socks up to my face, and saying something similar to the intonations of "hello." It took me a while to figure out, but I got it, mostly because EVERYTHING has been a phone for him, egg cartons, books, matchbox cars, food, and even the occasional, actual phone.

He's a man on the move alright. He's taken to carrying objects with him around the house, like a briefcase. Not that he's ever seen anyone with a briefcase. But it's very important to him, so who am I to judge? We have this "travel" fire station setup that folds and has a handle. It's now Oscar's attache case. Today he took a handled bucket we keep play-doh toys in and tried to wear it as a hat. With the lid still on it. Again, A for effort... but A+ for imagination.

Annie is becoming more of a big girl every day. Her reading is really coming along. Now, if we could only get some focus and attention span to go with it. It's really an amazing thing to watch a kid "get," though. I don't know how the human brain does it. Her interest in numbers has also taken flight. She tells her Papa on the phone to "Come home at 30:15." Guess she's on some weird cosmic military time. Or, she'll say, exasperated that she wishes she were "2034" so she could do something grown-ups do, like eat candy for lunch. She doesn't forget to be a kid though, and she's good at it. She loves to play "Disney World," which is basically house for any other child. Watching all PBS has crippled this child's pop-culture knowledge and knows not of princesses or Tinkerbell. She picks up a little at school, thus the name of her "town." I feel for this kid when she's older and the numerous clueless looks her friends will have to endure from her when discussing the latest Little Mermaid sequel. Some things are worth the hit, Annie. Trust me.

We're all doing fine though, healing from colds and waiting out the unusual cold that is this Louisville winter. People here just walk around looking confused by the weather. It's not supposed to be this cold or snowy here. Luckily we're from New England so we not afraid of coat chosen for warmth instead of good looks or the unattractive results of hat hair.

A fond farewell

Personally, I find these types of posts to be a little surreal and foreign, but I would regret deeply not taking a moment to remember my grandfather, Ward B. Pafford, a.k.a. Pappy, who died tonight at the age of 99. The fact that he lived far from Connecticut as I grew up made it difficult to forge a strong relationship with him as a child, but in my adult years I realized how much of a kindred spirit I had in Pappy; don't get me started on our mutual love of Nutter Butters. His sheer joy and interest in the world around him continues to inspire me.

Annie (whose middle name, Ward, is his namesake) met him 3 times during her 4 years and Oscar, once. I know the chances of Annie remembering any of their meetings is a long shot, but I have a photo of the two of them on her bookshelf in hopes that at the very least, she can see what a great smile he had around those he loved. So here are a couple of videos of the kids with him (Annie's just shy of 2, and Oscar is about 6 months old). I love how Annie studies him as they both enjoy their Nutter Butters (sorry for the background noise, the air was on, but that's her saying her name is "Annie Ward" at the end) and Oscar's relaxed happiness in his arms. We'll miss you, Pappy. All love.

Doin' the Oscar Shuffle

Promise to post more soon regarding Oscar's OCD behaviors (a man after my own heart) and Annie's inventive game names (such as Disney World, which most would call "house"), but here's some entertainment while we heal from the latest rash of upper respiratory illnesses:

Christmas 2010

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Ho, Ho, Ho geeze

So much has happened since I last posted. Where to begin? How about the stomach virus that crippled us the day before we were to leave for Connecticut? The first time (and many thereafter) Annie has ever thrown up. I lost count for myself. Thank goodness there was a travel advisory for Louisville due to an ice storm and we could delay our trip a day. Jay got it after we arrived, but in a less manacle form, and Oscar may have gotten it, but we've given up trying to attribute his latest crankiness to any one thing. I'm convinced it's a mixture of teething, constantly being told "no" and his body punishing his penchant for beating the sun every morning with what was in Connecticut at 4:30 wake-up call. Book-end Santa's landing with a blizzard, a stay in the Laguardia Marriott, a subsequent return to a blacked-out Connecticut and a week-delayed departure, and you're pretty much up to date.

But for the good stuff: Christmas was great. Santa brought Annie her requested doll highchair and "many different kinds of stickers." Oscar got some new bath toys, and the relatives pretty much spoiled them both rotten. While in Connecticut, Annie consumed twice her weight in chocolate, rode a carousel, visited some farm animals, hold a very newborn baby, operate model trains and witness the passing of another year. We got to spend the holiday with Jay's sister and her family, including Luke (7) and Colin (4), her very much adored cousins. They even got to play together in the snow of the aforementioned blizzard. Oscar enjoyed witnessing all of this, calling 911 (we believe on accident) and feeding my parents' dog Keiser anything from his highchair he deemed unacceptable for himself (we're guessing about 92%).

Jay was able to make it back only a day later than scheduled (he rerouted to Hartford and through some stroke of kismet and dumb luck, made it back to Louisville in one piece). The kids and I stayed on until we could get a direct flight back to Louisville (I can handle flying with two kids, but I would have to be a special kind of crazy to do it with stops), which ended up being a full week later. Our parents were our saving graces. My parents braved the roads to come get us on the Monday after Christmas after it was clear we weren't getting anywhere from Laguardia. Jay's parents took the second baton in the airport relay to whisk him up to Hartford minutes after we got back to Connecticut. For all of this we are eternally grateful. You can go home again, and again, and again.

So as the new year begins, we are gearing up for Annie's triumphant return to soccer, Oscar's solo attendance to music class, and trying to grab a little rest in between (come on Oscar, just this once!). So happy holidays from the Ferrara Family and here's wishing you good health and ... I'm too tired to think of anything else. But I bet it's good.