Nibble

Tonight we had movie night - a fun evening in the Lippman house where Lexi usually complains about the movie we choose up until thirty seconds into the movie when she is so enthralled she forgets to eat her dinner, and Zach, while seeming to enjoy the movie, will ask us every ten minutes if it's over yet, or why we're laughing.  It's always a fun night. 
This evening's selection was "Horton Hears a Who", previously vetoed by Lexi who believes she is too grown up to watch anything even slightly funny, so we had to trick her into watching it...i.e., just don't tell her the title until we're safely thirty seconds in. 
The cartoon movies often drive me crazy because I can recognize the voices of the actors, but often have trouble placing them, and tonight was no different.  The kangaroo in the movie made me nuts.  I could swear she sounded like Carol Burnett, but for some reason I didn't think that seemed right, so I kept trying to figure it out.  When the movie was over I came to the computer to find out, and when I saw that it actually was Carol Burnett, I commented, out loud, that it was amusing.  Lexi wanted to know why it amused me, which lead me to tell her about "Annie", my all time favorite childhood movie.  To show her who Carol Burnett was, I pulled up a youtube video of her singing "Little Girls" from the movie.  If you've seen it you may recall that she sings, "I'd like a man to nibble on my ear..." and is quite drunk during the scene.  About halfway in, a minute or so after the nibble line, Zach turned to me and said, "Mama, did a man bited her?"  I tried to stifle my laughter and said, "No, honey, no one bit her."  He paused and said, "Oh.  Well, why is she sad then?"  I guess three might just be a little too young for "Annie".  Although, after watching those scenes again as a mother, I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate for a six year old either, despite the fact that I fondly remember watching that movie and loving it at Lexi's age.  Either way, we all have "Annie" fever now, and have already decided that it's the next movie on deck for movie night.  I can't wait!

Party Pants

While Ahren and I were away in the Virgin Islands for nine days (it's coming...we took 600 pictures so you're going to have to be patient) Gigi and Poppy took care of Lexi and Zachary for us.  It was wonderful for all of us (especially Ahren and me) and I know the kids had a blast!!  On Sunday, Gigi was trying to get the kids ready to go over to the hosted run.  She sent me this conversation that she had with Zach that morning:

Trying to get ready to go. 

Gigi:  "Zachy, here are some nice pants."

Zachy:  "Well, those are my pants for when I go out."

Gigi:  "We are going out, to go to the party."

Zachy:  "Well, those are not my party pants.  Oh, here are my party pants!"

I had no idea he had party pants, although I'm not surprised.  That boy loves to party!

New Years 2012

2011 was a good year.  We all faced some frustrating challenges throughout the year, but I believe we are  coming out on top.  Sometimes I can find it difficult to not dwell on the tough parts of life, but this year especially I have tried every morning to be thankful for everything I have.  I'll tell you that when you start your morning out saying "Thank you for..." and creating the list in your mind of everything you feel grateful to have in your life, it's hard to think of a reason to be sad.

Lexi reminds us to have the right attitude

We spent New Year's Weekend in Vermont with my parents this year.  It's the perfect way to celebrate - fun, but quiet and relaxing and surrounded by family.  It was the first chance we had to get out on our skis this year, and the kids had a blast again.  Lexi's confidence is growing, and after quite a few runs down the bunny hill, she was almost skiing by herself.  We were all very proud of how hard she worked all day - all with a huge smile on her face.  Zach enjoyed a few runs, but was feeling a bit tired, and didn't want to ski as much as his sister.  No one felt sad about sitting in the lodge drinking hot cocoa with him.

Whose got two thumbs and is ready to ski??  This girl!!

Zach was ready for a nap

Ski bunnies

A lesson from Poppy

Mom takes the reigns

We only skied one day (Gigi and Poppy skied one day before we arrived) but that was plenty for our first trip out.  In the morning Dad and I got in our now traditional New Year's Day run.  We ran the same loop we ran the year before, but in reverse.  I complained the entire way that this way was hillier.  After five miles of trying to explain to me that it would be impossible, Dad seemed to agree with me while he struggled up the last hill.  ;)  It was a great run, and a perfect way to start off a new year.  Ahren and the kids took to the hill once more for some sledding and snowman making, before we hopped back in the car for our 3 hour drive home.

Lexi made a snowman Mom, Dad, Gigi, Poppy, Lexi and Zach

It was a wonderful and refreshing way to start 2012.

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions for two reasons.  First is that I think that winter is a very hard time to stay motivated, and second I think that if there is something you need to improve in your life, there is no better time than the present, and no need to wait for a random day to come along.  I spent a lot of the past year trying to focus on small things that were bothering me, and fixing them, or working to improve them, one by one.  So at the end of the year, and facing a brand new 2012, I feel ready to continue tackling the small things, and enjoying the big things - our amazing family and friends, our community, our home, all of the things that we've worked hard to get, and the things we're not sure we even deserve.