A Special Holiday

I apologize for being a bit absent this last week.  Christmas happened...

and then the day after that, well---this happened...

I am a very proud Auntie to a perfect baby girl.

More on both special days soon!

And a big congratulations to my sister and her newly expanded family!

Goodbye to My Dad

In the last few minutes my dad became a retired man.  He had half of a day to work today, and then he was done.  After thirteen years of being a protestant chaplain at a maximum security prison he has just left those walls keeping so many in forever, never to return again.  But as he climbs into his vehicle and drives away he will not come back to our little town.  He will not stop at edge of our county.  He will not hesitate at the state line.  Because today he drives on and leaves not only his work, but his life here behind.

My dad is headed to Tennessee.  Joining my stepmother in her hometown.  He starts a life as a retiree in a warmer southern state.  The place that he has vacationed for over a decade now.  That has the bluegrass music that speaks to him.  The lower taxes and insurance rates that appeal to his frugal ways.  Where he will be one of the crowd in the vivid orange of the Tennessee Vols, instead of a bright spot amongst the winter New York landscape.  

My father is a pastor.  The Reverend Sir, as my college boyfriend would forever refer to him.  I live in this area not because of generations of family before me, as many of the locals here.  But because this is where my father was placed upon completing seminary.  He pastored a small country church for the better part of a decade.  Then he became a part time pastor while going to work for the state.  First as a probation officer and then moving over into family services in the prison system.  Thirteen years ago he was able to marry the two, state employment and ministry, when he became the protestant chaplain.  

He has loved the work.  He has found it challenging and yet rewarding.  He would update us on how services were going, stories of redemption and forgiveness.  Things that quite frankly challenged our own faith, those of us outside the prison walls.  Men who had done horrific things giving their lives for the Lord.  He was fiercely proud of his flock.  Learning to be fathers through letters and phone calls.  Learning to praise and worship.  His updates on their progress and how far they had come often included, in his trademark humor, that they were in fact a "captive audience" to his teachings.  But the inmates had to make the decision to come to the chapel, to ask him for counsel, to actively engage in the practice of faith.  And my father left proud of their growth.  I am proud of him.

Truthfully, though, the last few days have held lots of tears for me.  Never before has the physical distance between us been so great.  Thirteen grueling hours by car.  Many, many miles.  For most of my life my father has been within a few miles of me.  I will miss his profile against the chain link fence watching the boyz play little league.  The Halloween parade through town will not be the same without my dad standing on the first road throwing candy to the kids on the float.  Birthdays will be a smidgen less special without our token helium balloons he brings for each of us.  Camp each year will be missing a visitor and his recounting of memories from decades before.  And although red carnations will undoubtedly still arrive on Mother's Day, I will miss his hand delivery.

So today life changes forever.  It is a division in time.  His life here with us because a Remember When or a We Used To.  He sets of on a new life.  Hopefully calmer.  Not likely quieter.  Us Stigliches are loud stock.  I wish him happiness.  

We will look forward to his biannual visits.  Our clan will learn to trek south for an occasional voyage.  He will learn to Skype.

Undoubtedly I will miss him.

Saying goodbye last night.

Our Christmas Trees

We are finally finished putting up the Christmas trees.  Yep, that was plural.  Here at the Desrochers house we do two Christmas trees.  To understand why I must go back to when I was in college *ahem* 13 years ago.  For my 20th birthday in the first week of December my roommate and I decided to have a tree trimming party.  We had our first apartment and after two years of lack luster dorm celebrating we were ready to do it up big.  We went to Walmart and bought the $19.99 special.  A scraggly 6 ft tall tree.  But it worked.  We tied gold ribbons on the branches, people brought ornaments and we topped it with a big gold and white bow.  It was a fabulous night of stringing cranberries and popcorn, cutting snowflakes and a feeling of a family away from home.  I will always remember my friends Mai and Amanda making sugar cookies in the long, thin kitchen.

Fast forward a couple of years and I was married and had a little guy.  We were still putting up that Walmart special artificial tree.  The branches were filled to the max, laden with my sons first ornaments as well as his first crafty creations.  And yet interspersed were the gold and white ornaments that had started in that little Albany apartment.  I had added one or two every year.  And although I loved my son's handiwork, I missed my tree.

The solution came in the form of a big 7 1/2 foot tall tree covered in rainbow lights, some flashing.  Circled in red shimmery garland and dotted with sprays of circle sequins, topped with a star.  I even scoured the internet and added bubble lights that I had seen as a little girl on my Aunt Diane's tree and was fascinated.  The ultimate kids tree.  It sits in our living room.  Covered in ornaments that mark milestones, the boyz favorite character of the year and their precious handmade creations.  This is the tree that we gather around to open presents on Christmas morning.  This is our family tree.

Although the $19.99 tree has long been retired, I have my tree as well.  It used to sit in the dining room, but as our new dining room isn't finished, this year it sits in my kitchen.  Covered in cool white lights, draped with gold beads and wrapped in gold and white ribbon it is my secret joy of the holiday season.  Gold and white ornaments from all the different stages of my life.  Hand painted ones by my mom's sister Aunt Nancy.  Hand me down ornaments that were my Grandfather's, given to me out my dad's sister Aunt Nancy (yep, I have two!) that same year I held that birthday party to start my own tree.  Warm.  Sparkly.  Beautiful.

This year I added my favorite ornament yet to my gold tree.  A glittery gold key to commemorate buying our house.  Finally, after all of these months, this house feels like home.  Unpacking the ornaments and hanging them was a trip down memory lane.  Remembering where I came from.  Rejoicing in where we are now.  Home.

Hoping that you have Home and Family this holiday season, and wishing you Joy.

Gabriel's Hanukkah Wish

The boyz attend public school.  This time of year they do a whole series of lessons on all of the holidays celebrated by different religious and cultural groups.  Last week was Hanukkah week in the first grade.  Gabriel came home brimming with new found information.

Over the weekend we were planning the cakes for the cub scout competition.  He asked if everyone would make Christmas cakes.  I said that there might be other holidays or just winter and snow themed cakes.

"Mom, what would you make for a Hanukkah cake?  A menorah?"

"Maybe" I replied, "or perhaps a dreidel".

"Oh, I know what would make the best Hanukkah cake EVER!" he excitedly chirped.  "A latke cake.  And applesauce.  If you've got latkes you have to have applesauce".

"Gabriel, I would love to see a latke and applesauce cake."

"Mom, Mrs. Barbuti (his teacher) makes the bestest latkes.  Even better than McDonalds".

I laughed, but did not correct him.  I am curious to see if he will now refer to the occasional McDonald's hash brown as a latke.  And if you are wondering, alas the cake competition did not have a latkes and applesauce submission.  Disappointing, I know.

Daddy D's Holiday Wishes

Daddy D, the mailman, likes me to make postcards for him to hand out during the holiday season to his customers.  Throughout the year he chats with many of the people on his route, and often they will talk about his boyz and what they are up to or how they are doing.  

It has become our tradition now to take a photo of the boyz with Daddy D and put it on the postcard so that all of those people who are kind enough to keep tabs on our not so little family get a chance to see them growing up.

Now getting that photo, well that's a challenge.  We often joke that it will be years before we will ever get a picture of all four of them looking at a camera and smiling at the same time.  It just doesn't happen.  But we make attempts.  Not only that, the boyz do get a kick out of wearing some of Daddy D's postal gear to get their picture taken.

This is this year's card.  All five of my special guys.

and I can't resist adding this Eli post-photo shoot shot...

On a side note, I cannot wait for when we get around to painting our living room.  The knotty pine paneling is beyond dark and making picture taking near impossible!  I will be sure to show you before and after shots!

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season with your family!

Agloves Winner

The winner of the Agloves giveaway is comment #28

 Julie said...

I would give this to my daughter so she can text on her cell phone
thanks for the giveaway

The winner has been notified via email and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Winners are chosen using Random.org

Tonka Strong Arm Garbage Truck Review & Giveaway (Ends 12/29)

Growing a house full of boyz means lots and lots of trucks!  Our absolute favorite, go-to brand for toy trucks is Tonka.  We have many, many Tonka trucks and we love them all.  So we were very, very excited to receive the Tonka Strong Arm Garbage Truck to review.  I couldn't get it out of the box quick enough!

This is a great large truck. It is hefty, sturdy and lots of fun to push around on the floor.  But the best part about this truck is that it is kid powered!  Using the strong arm lever you can rev the arm, creating sparks in the arm window and a rumbling noise.  Then pull the handle and then lift the lever and the bin on the front of the garbage truck lifts up and dumps in the hopper.

Nate was so kind to oblige with a little demo...

Our thoughts?  The little boyz adore this truck!  Originally I gave this to Nathan, our four year old, to try.  But Eli jumps in and plays with it non-stop.  Although 2 1/2 and slightly under the 3+ recommendation for the toy, we supervise his play and he is easily able to work the levers and maneuver the truck himself.

This is a fun, exciting and durable choice for your favorite little boy.  It retails for $24.99 at Toys R Us, but also can be found in many toy sections and stores.  There are four other Strong Arm Trucks to try, in fact we will have a fire truck under our Christmas tree!

Love it?  Funrise Toys has agreed to give away a Tonka Strong Arm Garbage Truck to one Momma D and Da Boyz reader!  To enter the Tonka Strong Arm giveaway visit the Funrise Toy website and tell me what other Strong Arm truck you would like to try!  You MUST do this or all other entries won't count. Please be sure that your profile has your email right on it, or be sure to leave your email address in your comment. This contest is open to US residents only.

To get additional entries into the giveaway you can do the following:

1. Follow me! If you become a follower of MommaDandDaBoyz, or already a follower, leave a comment for an additional entry.

2. Follow me on twitter and comment back here for another entry.

3. Tweet this giveaway on twitter. Comment here with a link to the tweet for an additional entry. You can do this once a day for the duration of the giveaway for added entries.

4. Grab my button and post it on your blog. Comment and put the link to your site.

5. Blog about this giveaway! Comment here with a link to your blog entry for 2 additional entries. Be sure to label your comments #1 and #2.

6. Add our Facebook Page! Come back and comment here.

The Tonka Strong Arm Garbage Truck Giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on December 29th.

Big Boyz and Cub Scout Cake Competitions

Last night was the annual Cub Scout Cake Competition.  This year we had not one, but two cub scouts competing.  Last year was a bit difficult for Seth, but thankfully this year was prefaced with an announcement that the kid's should be doing the decorating.  We googled pictures and ideas.  Seth, the Weblos 2, decided on a 3 dimensional tall Christmas tree.  Gabriel, the Tiger, chose a gingerbread house made of cake.

They went to work.  One night of cake baking and one night of decorating.  Hours and hours of work.  Seth learned how to using an pastry bag and icing tip.  He spent forever covering the tree in little green strings.

He added red Twizzler Pull n Peel garland...

and some fabulous candy decorations

topped with some powdered sugar snow...

finally added the white chocolate star on top and his was good to go...

Gabriel helped coat his cake in a beige tinted peppermint vanilla buttercream (Seth used the same holiday inspired homemade icing).  He then roofed the gingerbread house in Necco wafers...

he learned to make special decorations using a chocolate mold...

and decorated with lots and lots of candy

His final product, fabulously executed for a six year old!

Now on to the competition.  My cub scouts with their creations on the judging table...

I loved that they learned new things.  I loved that I got to share some tricks of the trade, having done lots of cake decorating myself.  And I was so very proud of them.  They spent so much time and hard work.  When other kids started saying that their mom must have made them, I was happy to see them defend their work and tell them about the things that they had learned to do.  Seth saying that you squeeze the bag, press, stop squeezing, pull away.  Gabe giving one parent a tutorial on chocolate work.  They had learned well, and had followed the rules.

How did it all turn out?  I am tempted not to share.  Gabriel, right before the judging, turned to me and said "it doesn't matter if I win, right?  What matters is I had so much fun doing it".  I smiled and nodded yes.

But alas, I will be a beaming momma and say Gabriel, as a tiger and the youngest cub scout group, walked away with a ribbon for Best Decorated of all of the cakes.  And Seth, well sometimes things are sweeter the second time around.  Seth Mason won Best Overall of the entire competition!

Agloves Review & Giveaway (Ends 12/14)

Welcome bitter cold to the northeast.  Actually, I'm not really happy that it is suddenly freezing cold out.  But winter weather is here, a long with the boyz first two hour delay on Monday.  And Daddy D is hoofin it the 13 miles a day and freezing his tukus off delivering everybody's holiday packages from the US Post Office.

Because it is so cold I know that it will take Daddy D an extra long time to find his phone in his coat, get it out and then take off his gloves to answer it.  Which takes, you know, forever.  I usually have to call at least twice.  Mostly because he upgraded to a smartphone with  me this past summer.  The thing is, those nifty high-tech touch screens need a finger to move them.  Gloves, even those thin, stretchy, dollar store specials don't work.  You have gotta have some skin on screen contact.  Or so I thought.

I was sent a pair of Agloves to try out.  They have silver fibers woven throughout the soft knit gloves.  Problem solved!  The fibers make it so that I can use my touchscreen on my Android phone with no problem.  You can use them with any touchscreen device like the iPad, iPhone, etc, etc.  Daddy D is definitely jealous and wanting a pair as well.

I love these!  Want to try them as well?  One Momma D and Da Boyz reader will win their own pair of Agloves!  To enter the Agloves giveaway please tell me what tech device you would use these on.  You MUST do this or all other entries won't count. Please be sure that your profile has your email right on it, or be sure to leave your email address in your comment. This contest is open to US residents only.

To get additional entries into the giveaway you can do the following:

1. Follow me! If you become a follower of MommaDandDaBoyz, or already a follower, leave a comment for an additional entry.

2. Follow me on twitter and comment back here for another entry.

3. Tweet this giveaway on twitter.

      Comment here with a link to the tweet for an additional entry. You can do this once a day for the duration

of the giveaway for added entries.

4. Grab my button and post it on your blog. Comment and put the link to your site.

5. Blog about this giveaway! Comment here with a link to your blog entry for 2 additional entries. Be sure to label your comments #1 and #2.

6. Add our Facebook Page! Come back and comment here.

The Scribblish Giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on December 14th.

Agloves provided me with the product, information, and prize through MomSpark Media. 

PBS Kids Webonauts

In a recent national online survey 49 percent of parents plan to buy electronic devices for their children ages 12 and under.  That is an astounding number!  In that same survey 89 percent of parents agree that teaching internet safety starts at home.  So what is a parent planning on placing one of those cell phones, ipads or computers under the tree to do?

PBS Kids has a new online game called the Webonauts Academy that teaches children about how to be safe and respectful online.  Gabriel and I were able to learn more about this program at an event held last month on the Intrepid Air and Space Museum.

Gabriel, who is six, had a great time navigating the Webonauts world, enrolling in the academy and playing the games.  All the while he was learning about the tenants of the game, Observe, Respect and Contribute.

In a short period of time he learned to not reveal passwords, how to deal with online bullying and the like.  He loved the game, although he is a first grader and needed me to read the instructions and conversations to him. He was also super excited to receive his Webonaut Academy certificate upon completion (you can print yours at home)!  

When Gabriel got home he couldn't wait to show his brothers the new game that he had played.  As a mom I love that they are learning in such a fun interactive way.  And as an online kind of mom, I love that they are learning early how to be safe in the online world.

The Webonoauts Academy can be found for FREE at the PBSKIDSgo.com site, the PBS Kids for emerging readers.

Thank you to PBS Kids for inviting us to the event and for the great experience!

Another Year Wiser

Today is my 33rd birthday.  After your 21st birthday most loose the sparkle and excitement.  Aside from the decade celebrations there isn't the flurry or angst involved.  But it does become a time to reflect.  To mark time.  Remembering what has and hasn't gone on in the last year.  This is probably compounded by the fact that my birthday falls in the month of December, infamous for festive feelings, reminiscing and nostalgia as well as the end of the calendar year.

This year I can do these things and mark my 32nd year as the year I grew up.  I know, seemingly I had already done that.  But this year was different.  Special.  Beautiful.  I came into my own.  I may have been the mother of four and a wife for a decade, but this year brought truly significant change.

In many ways I became independent.  Attribute it to marrying at 21, or becoming a mother a year later.  But the truth of the matter is that I have always had loved ones around me to lean on.  My life has been about taking care of them for some time now.  Schedules to keep, homework to check, uniforms to have laundered, doctors appointments to make.  And after a decade of staying home and making that my job it was comfortable.  Safe.

Blogging changed all that.  It opened doors.  I had invitations to events and places.  Up until this year Daddy D always accompanied me.  I did not drive in the city on my own.  I did not venture to parties solo.  This year taught me to go it alone, without Daddy D's hand in the small of my back, pushing me into a room.

Thirty-two.  A wondrous year filled with being on TV on the Martha Stewart Show, being on a Honey Nut Cheerios box, fabulous parties, my first solo trip, BlogHer '10 in New York City, and simply wonderful experiences.  I got to hear my first name more than I had in years.  I learned that I could do It, It being anything that I wanted.

And yet it was a beautiful year for many of the personal, family related reasons.  I was here and present for so many of the milestones in my sons's lives that makes it so rewarding to be a stay at home mom.  I love that I get to keep that job first and foremost in my life.  From elementary school graduations to first days of preschool I got to bask in the moments that make life beautiful.

This year will always hold a special place in my heart.  The year Daddy D and I bought our first, and hopefully forever, home.  So much hard work finally paying off.  So many beautiful memories I will never forget.

I look forward to 33 with open arms.  Already some amazing moments on the horizon to look forward to.  My sister will have her second baby in a matter of weeks, another niece for me to dote on and dress up.  This will also be the year that I will say goodbye to diapers, after eleven years of changing bottoms.  Blog wise I am already looking forward to the great opportunities that this coming year brings, highlighted by my first cross-country trek next August for BlogHer '11!

If 32 was any indication of what is to come, bring it on 33- I like this getting older thing!

I Won in the Elmer's Can You Top This? Challenge

I'm happy to announce that I was chosen as a winner in the Elmer's Can You Top This?  Challenge.  I made a display board for the artwork the boyz bring home each day.  You can see the full project here.

I got the email this morning and did a happy dance!  Thank you to Ellen of Confessions of an Overworked Mom who hosted the contest where I won, and to the other bloggers who also hosted the contest as well.  And congratulations to the other winners!

Body After Baby Challenge Kickoff!

I've been meaning to make a plan to lose the weight I gained with my pregnancies for awhile now.  Yesterday while I was on Twitter I saw that Samantha at Mama Notes was starting an eight week journey to lose her baby weight and asking others to join her.  Granted her baby is newborn and mine is, well, two years old now...but I guess that means it is finally time to get to work.

So on Tuesdays every week I will be posting about where I am at since the previous week.  There is no specific plan you have to follow or method everyone is using.  It is about trying to lose the weight and make the best decision for you.

My plan is to be conscious what it is that I am eating.  All too often I am grabbing food on the go, eating too much of whatever is left on the kid's plates, etc, etc.  Not only that, I have inherited my father's propensity for a nightly heaping bowl of ice cream.  Hopefully by not just grazing on whatever it is that the kid's are snacking on or tickles my fancy in the moment it will jump start the weight loss process.

I am lucky in that I don't really gain weight, I maintain where I am at.  I weigh the same now as I did two months after Eli was born.  I can trace all of my weight gain back to each of the four pregnancies.  But thank God I made the effort and lost 40 lbs. between boy #3 and boy #4.  I know that I can do it, but it means that I have to make the effort and buckle down.

I plan on adding breakfast to my routine.  Usually I don't eat it, but then make poor afternoon snack choices as a result.  So my goals for this week is to incorporate breakfast and drink more water throughout the day.  

As far as the fitness aspect, that's where it gets tough.  I need to work on finding something that I can do effectively at home.  Raising four sons, many of which have activities like scouts and band, makes the schedule definitely crazy.  Add to that that Daddy D is a mailman and entering the busiest time of the year, including mandatory overtime and working days off, time for myself is few and far between.  I'll aim low this week and try to get two days worth of activities in, just to get started.

So there it is.  My rough, off the cuff plan for this week.  Like Samantha suggested I will take a before photo, but I won't be sharing right now.  Hopefully in eight weeks there will be progress to show!