Saturday, December 31, 2016
Stuff Katie Says
Tonight, we were watching a New Year's eve special on a news network about all the people that died in 2016. Katie watched the program intently. When it was over, Katie turned to me and said, "There are a lot of people in the world. If that's ALL the people that died, that's pretty good."
Friday, December 30, 2016
Christmas Eve Church Service Adventures
I can't believe that Wife and I just celebrated our 10th Christmas in New York City. Ten years ago, we were newlyweds, living in a studio in Greenwich Village, enjoying our "brief excursion" in Manhattan while I finished my formal education at NYU. On Christmas Eve of 2007, we wanted to attend a Christmas Eve church service, but our church wasn't having one. Wife and I searched for a church in the City that had a Christmas Eve service, which was surprisingly difficult, but we finally found one that we wanted to attend. Attending that church's Christmas Eve service, and following the service with a walk down Fifth Avenue to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree, has become an annual tradition that we have followed for the last 10 years.
The service is very well-done, with probably in excess of 500 church-goers attending the service. It is a family event, with parents encouraged to have their children sit with them. Announcements are always made reminding us that this is a family service, and that loud children are a welcome aspect of the service's tradition. The service always includes singing Christmas carols, reading the Christmas story and a message from the pastor. Everyone is given a candle, and the service always ends with the lights in the building shutting off, the candles being lit, and the congregation singing Silent Night together.
This year, the pastor decided to do something that they haven't done in several years (at least since we have had children that were not infants) - the associate pastor who gave the message this year invited all the children to come on stage and listen while he gave the sermon. The associate pastor seems like a fine gentleman, but public speaking is not his primary responsibility and he looked a bit nervous and stiff. Enter our little girls on stage with him.
Well, let's just say that we had one child who sat like a perfect angel and listened attentively through the the whole message. I'll call this child, Child A. The other child...well...while she wasn't "bad" per se, she may cause the pastor to rethinking inviting children onto the stage with him. I'll call this child, Child B.
Child B doesn't have a shy bone in her body. She will say anything to anyone at any time. Usually, it's appreciated ("Hey, lady, I like your dress. It's so beautiful" or "Sir, your dog looks very nice. Can I pet him?" or "Thank you Mr. Police Officer for keeping us safe"). Other times it causes us some consternation ("Hey, man, you have a lot of wrinkles. Are you a grandpa?" or "Hey, Dad, something smells really bad on the elevator. I think it's that man right there").
Child B demonstrated her outgoing nature on the stage on Christmas Eve. Child B is pretty good at following instructions. If the pastor had given instructions, such as "Everyone sit down, and put your hands on your lap and don't talk while I use you as my props," I'm pretty sure Child B would have happily complied. But no such instructions were given. The pastor just started talking...to the children...and at least one of those children interpreted this as an opportunity for an interactive discussion.
As soon as the children came up, the pastor started talking, and, unfortunately, his talk involved quite a lot of rhetorical questions, which Child B insisted on answering. If you know Child B, you know that she refuses to be ignored. She'll start with her hand in the air. Then she'll jump up and down with her hand in the air. Then she'll just say what's on her mind. Then she'll say it louder. And louder. And louder. This will continue until she is acknowledged. A couple of times she had to get right up to the pastor's face before he was willing to acknowledge her.
Some questions were not rhetorical and really were directed at the children. For example, the pastor held up a manger from a nativity scene and asked the children what it was. Child B jumped to her feet and announced, "Baby Jesus' bed!" The pastor said that wasn't correct, which infuriated Child B. He was looking for the answer "a feeding trough for animals." No, Child B insisted. They are both right. So, she loudly told the Christmas story of Jesus being born and put in a manger BECAUSE IT WAS HIS BED. "Jesus was born and they put him in a manger to sleep, so it WAS SO his BED, pastor man."
The pastor told the children how wise men came from the East, and he asked them, "Does anyone know which direction is east?' Child B raised her hand and jumped to her feet again (I'll be honest, she was on her feet more than she was sitting). The pastor called on her and asked her which direction is east. Child B, without missing a beat, immediately turned to the audience and yelled, "Hey, Mom, Dad...which way is east???" The crowd roared.
Throughout the message, Wife and I desperately motioned for Child B to sit down and be quiet. When Child B could make us out in the large crowd with the bright stage lights in her eyes, she gave us a huge smile and a big thumbs up. This caused the entire congregation to roar with laughter, some to the point of tears. And Wife and I to slink lower in the pew.
And all the while, Child A sat quietly and motionless, listening intently - with a few notable exceptions of when Child A pleaded with Child B to just sit down next to her and be quiet.
So, it's been a good run attending Christmas Eve services at this church for the last 10 years. We'll see if we can show our face there next year. Or if they will let us in the doors.
The service is very well-done, with probably in excess of 500 church-goers attending the service. It is a family event, with parents encouraged to have their children sit with them. Announcements are always made reminding us that this is a family service, and that loud children are a welcome aspect of the service's tradition. The service always includes singing Christmas carols, reading the Christmas story and a message from the pastor. Everyone is given a candle, and the service always ends with the lights in the building shutting off, the candles being lit, and the congregation singing Silent Night together.
This year, the pastor decided to do something that they haven't done in several years (at least since we have had children that were not infants) - the associate pastor who gave the message this year invited all the children to come on stage and listen while he gave the sermon. The associate pastor seems like a fine gentleman, but public speaking is not his primary responsibility and he looked a bit nervous and stiff. Enter our little girls on stage with him.
Well, let's just say that we had one child who sat like a perfect angel and listened attentively through the the whole message. I'll call this child, Child A. The other child...well...while she wasn't "bad" per se, she may cause the pastor to rethinking inviting children onto the stage with him. I'll call this child, Child B.
Child B doesn't have a shy bone in her body. She will say anything to anyone at any time. Usually, it's appreciated ("Hey, lady, I like your dress. It's so beautiful" or "Sir, your dog looks very nice. Can I pet him?" or "Thank you Mr. Police Officer for keeping us safe"). Other times it causes us some consternation ("Hey, man, you have a lot of wrinkles. Are you a grandpa?" or "Hey, Dad, something smells really bad on the elevator. I think it's that man right there").
Child B demonstrated her outgoing nature on the stage on Christmas Eve. Child B is pretty good at following instructions. If the pastor had given instructions, such as "Everyone sit down, and put your hands on your lap and don't talk while I use you as my props," I'm pretty sure Child B would have happily complied. But no such instructions were given. The pastor just started talking...to the children...and at least one of those children interpreted this as an opportunity for an interactive discussion.
As soon as the children came up, the pastor started talking, and, unfortunately, his talk involved quite a lot of rhetorical questions, which Child B insisted on answering. If you know Child B, you know that she refuses to be ignored. She'll start with her hand in the air. Then she'll jump up and down with her hand in the air. Then she'll just say what's on her mind. Then she'll say it louder. And louder. And louder. This will continue until she is acknowledged. A couple of times she had to get right up to the pastor's face before he was willing to acknowledge her.
Some questions were not rhetorical and really were directed at the children. For example, the pastor held up a manger from a nativity scene and asked the children what it was. Child B jumped to her feet and announced, "Baby Jesus' bed!" The pastor said that wasn't correct, which infuriated Child B. He was looking for the answer "a feeding trough for animals." No, Child B insisted. They are both right. So, she loudly told the Christmas story of Jesus being born and put in a manger BECAUSE IT WAS HIS BED. "Jesus was born and they put him in a manger to sleep, so it WAS SO his BED, pastor man."
The pastor told the children how wise men came from the East, and he asked them, "Does anyone know which direction is east?' Child B raised her hand and jumped to her feet again (I'll be honest, she was on her feet more than she was sitting). The pastor called on her and asked her which direction is east. Child B, without missing a beat, immediately turned to the audience and yelled, "Hey, Mom, Dad...which way is east???" The crowd roared.
Throughout the message, Wife and I desperately motioned for Child B to sit down and be quiet. When Child B could make us out in the large crowd with the bright stage lights in her eyes, she gave us a huge smile and a big thumbs up. This caused the entire congregation to roar with laughter, some to the point of tears. And Wife and I to slink lower in the pew.
And all the while, Child A sat quietly and motionless, listening intently - with a few notable exceptions of when Child A pleaded with Child B to just sit down next to her and be quiet.
So, it's been a good run attending Christmas Eve services at this church for the last 10 years. We'll see if we can show our face there next year. Or if they will let us in the doors.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Katie's Letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
For Christmas, I want a cat or a dog please. If you are real, you got to prove it.
Thank you,
Katie [Last Name] in New York.
P.S. Tell Mrs. Claus hi for me.
For Christmas, I want a cat or a dog please. If you are real, you got to prove it.
Thank you,
Katie [Last Name] in New York.
P.S. Tell Mrs. Claus hi for me.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Things Elizabeth Says
Years ago, the girls received a stuffed animal of the "Grinch," which has always terrified Elizabeth. Elizabeth calls it "the green guy." Recently, she announced:
"I am not scared of the green guy anymore. I just say 'I got my eye on you, Green Guy' and that makes him scared of me instead."
"I am not scared of the green guy anymore. I just say 'I got my eye on you, Green Guy' and that makes him scared of me instead."
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Elizabeth's Introduction to Star Wars
This weekend, I (Husband) was resting in the bedroom, and Star Wars (the 1977 film) came on t.v. Elizabeth came into the bedroom, and was very excited to see some of the movie that she has heard referenced so many times by her friends. Elizabeth absolutely LOVES superheroes. We watched a few minutes together, and I tried to explain the story to her. This led to two results:
First, it dawned on me how the entire premise and story of Star Wars is absolutely, utterly ridiculous.
Second, once Elizabeth repeated the story of Star Wars to her mother, the entire Star Wars series is now banned from our home.
First, it dawned on me how the entire premise and story of Star Wars is absolutely, utterly ridiculous.
Second, once Elizabeth repeated the story of Star Wars to her mother, the entire Star Wars series is now banned from our home.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Beginning the Season at Macy's!
Monday, November 21, 2016
Believe?
Apparently,
it's Christmas time in the city. Our first visit to Holiday Lane at
Macy's in Herald Square in 2016, and the girls wrote letters to Santa.
Katie's letter said, "Santa if you're real you've got to prove it."
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Trademark Expo
 |
| On our way to the Smithsonian we were stopped by some people handing out fliers. The New Yorker in me kept on walking but thankfully Husband listened to what they had to say. Across the street they were having a trademark expo and there were supposed to be some great activities and information. We decided to make a quick stop and the girls were so glad they did. They received so many free goodies. Thankfully their manners were in full force that day and I think because they were so thankful and appreciative when someone gave them something, they usually ended up getting extra. Here were are posing with the Idaho Spud! |
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Cousins are the best!
 |
| This is so Elizabeth! A princess dress with some army gear on the side! |
 |
| My cousin. We hadn't been together since we were kids! |
 |
| My Aunt - (My mom's sister). |
Friday, November 18, 2016
Tree climbing in the suburbs
 |
| We aren't in the city anymore, kids! Katie explained to all of us that we live in the city, which is an urban community. They live in the suburbs. However, given all the trees and nature, Katie began to wonder if the suburbs are more rural. Elizabeth just wanted to play in dirt! |
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Washington, DC
Husband had a symposium with some high ranking official from the IRS,
Treasury Dept. and DOL to discuss various policy issues and some
upcoming legal changes in Washington DC. The girls and I decided to join him for a couple days and take in the sites as well as see some family. Katie really appreciated the sites since she is starting
to learn about history and presidents, etc. Elizabeth didn't
understand why she could just go into the White House and say hi to
Obama. We all loved visiting with my aunt, cousin and her two children. The girls haven't stopped talking about their cousins since. Katie is really beginning to get into History. I have say that it makes this history nerd quite happy!
 |
| View from our hotel room |
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Teaching the girls about Civic Duty
We performed our civic duty and voted. No, the girls didn't vote, but the election worker pitied them for standing in line for an hour and gave them stickers. To quote Elizabeth "Mommy, that line was longer than Disneyland!" We had to teach them the importance of voting. In fact, they have accompanied us in voting for every election since birth. I remember the first time I wore Katie because she was just a baby. If I recall correctly, she decided it was time to eat right about the time I was trying to fill in the ballot. Good times!
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Riding the waves with Daddy.
 |
| Katie had a blast riding the boogey board. It is amazing how quickly she caught on for her first time. Maybe she has some surfer girl in her after all! |
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Moonlight Beach
 |
| Our last day in San Diego was spent at Moonlight Beach. I cannot even begin to count the memories I have of this beach. I have had more bonfires, more volleyball games, built more sandcastles and played in the waves more here than anywhere else. It was surreal to come back and watch the girls play here. It was so wonderful spending the morning with my best friend and her family. |
Monday, October 17, 2016
Chocolate Shake for Breakfast?
So the girls were really excited because they saw someone order chocolate milk the day before. I told them that since we were on vacation that this morning they could get chocolate milk instead of regular milk. Hmmmm. Well somehow there was a language barrier and instead of chocolate milk they were delivered two HUGE chocolate milk SHAKES! Ice cream for breakfast? It is vacation after-all!
Sunday, October 16, 2016
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