Road Trip

The kids and I had to take an unplanned trip to Reading, PA. My uncle passed away on Thanksgiving night so today we find ourselves hanging out in a hotel room.

Uncle Wes left yesterday, and Uncle Andy left early this morning. Wes will be flying to Philly to meet the family, but unfortunately Andy does not have enough leave time to make the trip. With Pete unable to get out of a work commitment (he did offer but I told him I would be fine) it was the kids and I off on another road adventure.

Other than me unable to find my way out of our OWN city, our drive could not have gone any smoother. We left our house just before 9 am and arrived at 4:30ish. I had planned to leave earlier, but some of the surrounding schools were either delayed or closed and I didn't have to get here by a certain time so I didn't want to be on the roads if they were slick. With Pete not using his GPS I was able to snag it and let me tell you that thing is a lifesaver! I haven't liked using it in the past, but I never would have made it through the D.C. area without it.

The kids and I only made one stop in what was an 8 hour drive. I think the drive took more like 7.5 hours though. We stopped once at McDonalds for ice-cream for the kids (they ate lunch that I packed), lunch for me, and a Madagascar toy for the kids.

We are staying at the GREATEST hotel. I got the kids and I a suite because it will work better for sleeping babes. Included in our price is a buffet breakfast and buffet dinner. Tonight for dinner we had pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and bread. Then cookies for dessert. The best part is that you can also get wine or beer for $.10 a glass. How fabulous is that? Right now I am sitting in my room, typing up this blog, and having a glass of wine.

Here are a couple pics...

I had to get creative being all on my own and getting the luggage and kids up to the room.



Izzy taking control of the remote.


Playing in the sleeper sofa.


Watching a show. Honestly, they have been SO GREAT today. But it is now 7:30 and I am getting ready to take them to my aunt's house when really they should both be in bed.


Tomorrow I need to have us all up, dressed, fed and to the church by 9am. It will be a long day for my family, but even longer for my kids. I have my fingers crossed that they will bring comic relief when needed. I am also hoping they choose to listen to me when it is really important. I am nervous that because today went so well, tomorrow won't.

...my biggest concern is that I have hopefully explained death to Izzy on a level that she understands at age 3.

Dude, Where's My Gift?

Pete and I took the kids to see Santa on Saturday. I am happy to report that they both hopped up on the jolly old guy's lap and no tears were shed!



Here they are waiting in line. Drew wasn't so sure as first.


Both were more interested in ornaments. Why do they have to put the breakable ornaments by the line for Santa? I know they want you to buy them but come on...




The best way to keep them still and out of trouble was to feed them


Getting closer...and more excited


Here I am trying to make sure I get in some pictures every now and again.



Izzy is well aware of how the Santa gig works. This was the first year that she sat on his lap without any bribery from us. We did see a Santa at another mall last weekend but she did not sit on his lap. I didn't push the issue either. I knew she would eventually...and this visit she did. She was so serious! She got up on his lap (he actually lifted her up, which was HUGE for her as in the past this would have brought tears) and told him what she wanted all the while smiling ear to ear. She asked for: a baby that pees on the potty, a barbie castle, and one other thing? I will have to ask her what it was. Up until yesterday she was only requesting a baby doll that pees on the potty.




Onto Drew. While in line I explained to him that he needed to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. This made no sense to him. I said, "Do you want to tell Santa you want some Batman stuff?" and he said, "yeah, and how bout Joker stuff too!" Okay, so he was quick to catch on.

Drew did not cry, but was not as confident sitting on the big guys lap. If it weren't for Izzy being with him I suppose he would have cried.

Santa asked Drew what he wanted and he said a Batman Castle (I think Izzy had just asked for a Barbie Castle). So when Drew got off Santa's lap he looked at us and said "Where Batman Castle go?" with his arms in the air. He walked away and kept asking where his castle was? Poor kid thought for sure he would get it immediately. Ask and you shall receive IMMEDIATELY is how Drew would like it to be.

Once we came home we broke out the Christmas tree. Izzy desperately wanted to be involved in every aspect of decorating. I let Drew and Izzy put on some ornaments, and they all ended up on one small section.





Then Izzy had the honor of putting on the tree topper.





Now we just need to get the rest of the house decorated.

Mommy You're My Friend

A while back I posted this in one of my blog entries:

Setting: Izzy is in bed already. Pete is on one couch while Drew runs around "nakey". When I came downstairs from putting Izzy to bed, Drew had stripped himself naked so I grabbed the video camera and started taping. At one point our conversation went like this:

Me: Drew, are you a boy or girl?
Drew: I a girl.
Me: No, you are a boy. Izzy is a girl.
...Hey Drew, what are you?
Drew: I is a girl.
Me: What is Daddy?
Drew: Daddy is a guy.
Me: What is Mommy?
(long pause by Drew)
Drew: You are my friend. I wub you Mama. I really wub you.

Sweet sweet Drew. I am his friend and he wubs me. He really really wubs me. I am so glad I got it all on video.

This morning Pete uploaded the video for me. Here it is...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Really, how stinkin cute was that? Really :)

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a wonderful day here at the Swyt house. My brothers, Wes and Andy came to visit for the holiday and we are so happy that they joined us!

Our day started off nicely with Izzy sleeping in until 8 and Drew until just after 9. Pete and Izzy made a special holiday run to Starbucks for mochas and a newspaper. While they were gone I got started on the turkey. Everyone else enjoyed coffee while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.





And Drew enjoyed the "top" of his pumpkin scone.


Izzy was my little sidekick all day long. She really got into the holiday spirit. Here she is making place cards for everyone. Each person got a card with their name and a pumpkin on it.



While the guys watched football, and Izzy helped me in the kitchen, Drew entertained himself.

He read books


Played in the cupboards (Drew and his yogurt got in a fight earlier and the yogurt won...hence Drew has a different shirt on)


And was just his cute self


Izzy helped me with everything from setting the table, to making the gravy. The guys joked that next year she would be making the entire meal.







Here is the gang (minus Pete) settling down for our feast. Izzy even said our Thanksgiving blessing. It was cute because she gave me the choice of three to choose from. At school, whoever is the leader for the day gets to choose the blessing and I guess there are three to choose from.



Izzy and Uncle Wes


Uncle Andy


After a great meal we all have very full bellies ;) The guys watched some football and the kids and I headed outside to ride bikes. Once back inside it was time for dessert and bedtime. The kids snuggled up with me and we read some books.

...with the Thanksgiving meal over, it was only right that we broke out some Christmas stories.


We hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving...we certainly did.

Wordless Wednesday

How I wish I could remain "wordless" but I can't. I feel that I need to explain this picture. ...guess it defeats the purpose, huh?

First full night with both brothers in town.

They went out drinking.

Heard a loud thud and I felt the house shake.

Woke up this morning to find this hole at the bottom of my stairs.

Both boys deny doing it.

Great.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Singing at the Feast

Izzy sang this video for me a few weeks ago in preparation for her performance. We just so happened to luck out and be seated almost directly in front of Izzy.

Earlier this week Izzy told that she was going to have to sing really loud because the music teacher was losing her voice. She doesn't disappoint - I am just surprised that in playing back the video we hear her as clearly as we do.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Izzy's Thanksgiving Feast

I decided to keep with my new routine and get up at 5:30 and head to the gym. This was especially hard on me due to the fact that I had been up twice the night before with Drew. Once I got home it was time to get moving.

Izzy had her Thanksgiving Feast at school today. The kids got dropped off at 9 and then the parents were to come at 11:30 to see the program and enjoy some yummy food. I was to take a vegetable, and while getting Drew out of the car my dish fell out and it spilled all over the parking lot. Rats. ...thank goodness it wasn't a dessert.

Here she comes...


Standing with her class getting ready to sing


Drew was so happy to see Izzy when she finished up


We tried to get a family picture


This was the best we got


I had to leave the feast a few minutes early so that I could take Drew to the doctor. Since it is highly unusual for Drew to wake up once he got to sleep, let alone twice, I suspected he may have an ear infection. My mad mom skills led me to believe this after he fianlly slept through with a dose of motrin :)

Sure enough the poor guy has a double ear infection. You wouldn't know from the way he acts though...


Drew and I came back home and because of his 30 minute snooze in the doctor's waiting room he was not going to take a nap. Darn! So the kids and I played before we headed out to pick up Uncle Wes. Both kids were super excited to see him.

Uncle Wes treated us to a very nice steak dinner before it was home to get the kids ready for bed.