Merry Christmas from the Palizzis

The wrapping paper is finally gone, the boxes thrown away, and all toys assembled. The boys are finally coming down from there permanent sugar highs. We hope that you had an enjoyable Christmas season. We sure did. From oreo balls, to train tables, to millions and millions of legos.

On Wednesday, the boys had their holiday concert. It was ADORABLE! Seriously. Julian was such a ham, such a performer, and not shy at all! it was amazing. Gabe? Well he was his normal preschool self. He didn't do much, but he sure looked cute standing up at the front :) It's so weird that he's so bubbly, and full of personality at home, with friends, but at preschool, he doesn't ever talk. I think now it's a battle of wills. He has both my stubbornness, and Barry's, so I think he just might win. He's showing his stubbornness in his reluctance to potty learn!

Meet Buddy. He's our Elf on the Shelf. Super cute, and original name. Right? They love the movie Elf, so Buddy was the natural choice.


Gabe, before his concert. SO cute.


Julian singing the Reindeer Pokey. So cute!


Baby Owen listening to the concert by the preschool children.


And Gabe just standing there, not performing :)



Here's a video of the Reindeer Pokey <3


We took the boys to see Santa. Julian and Gabe talked big, and said they would sit on Santa's lap. In reality? Julian stood about 5 feet away, and yelled what he wanted to Santa, "Lego City Airplane" and Gabe stood closer, but whispered, "Brogan has, chugga table." His friend Brogan has a train table, and that's what Gabe wanted! Only one of my boys was brave enough to sit on Santa's lap.



We got their school pictures. Juilan's was really hard to choose from! He was cheesing in ALL of them!


Gabe's? They looked exactly the same in every picture, like 9 of them.


We got a nice little snowfall on Christmas Eve. It was so nice to have Barry home, so I could play with the boys outside!

Gabey playing in the snow!


Jules trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue!


Our mini snowman! The snow was gorgeous, but not very packable, or maybe it was just me?





We have a family tradition, each person gets jammies on Christmas Even night. I ordered the boys' way back in July, from baby Gap. They were having a great sale! And man I'm glad I did. How cute is this picture?


The LOOT!


The boys seeing the stuff that Santa brought for the first time!


My Christmas baby


Enjoying his train table!




Sorry for the picture dump! I haven't blogged in a while! But that's one of my new years resolutions. Blog More. Take more pictures. Work out. And wear makeup again. Maybe eat a little better...we'll see about this one :)

Friday's Appointment & My Mother's Day

Well my appointment was Friday. Any hopes of guessing the baby's gender were dashed the minute the tech pulled me into the room. "You know it's WAY too early to tell the baby's gender." I nodded, a little disappointed. However, the baby looked great, just the right size, a round little head. I'd sent a picture message to Barry, to show to Julian. This was the picture that I sent to him.


Julian looked at the picture for a little while, and said, "Aww, my baby sister." And then Barry showed him the baby's head, hand, etc. After identifying all available body parts, Julian said, "Yep, that's a girl alright." He cracks me up!


Just one more picture of the little babe.



And here's my 14 week belly shot.


We are giving talks in church this week, so I've been falling asleep thinking about what on earth I'm going to say. I think that's led to some pretty crazy dreams. Last night my mother-in-law was in my dream, and talking to me about baby names. I told her the boy names we were considering were Avery and Brett, which aren't names we've considered, ever. Brett as a possible middle name, but never as a first. Ironically the girl name was spot on.

My Mother's Day was wonderful. We'd gone to breakfast on Saturday, with intentions of going to church on Sunday. Perkins, is SO good. So Sunday morning, we woke up, and both boys had slight fevers. And Gabe has a loud cough. And I wasn't feeling too hot either. So we stayed home. Had Panera bagels for breakfast (I'm thinking that the boys and I will have to stop there before finding End Of The Year Teacher's Gifts, today!) And Barry worked on his mancave/office. He managed the boys while I took a bath, and just soaked. I got to knit a little, and figure out what I'm going to knit next. It was a good and just chill out day, which was much needed.

We also found out that our old crib, which we haven't been using since moving here, was recalled. Not the tubular recall, but some other one. The spindles can break. So I spent part of the day filling out the paperwork, taking off the hardware, and getting it ready to mail into the company. They'll then send us a voucher for Babies R Us for a new crib. I'm so thankful to my friend Jackie for telling me about this. I was just going to throw it away! So now I get partial credit for a new new crib for the baby!

Well, I should attempt to get my boys dressed. I want to figure out the end of teacher gift things quickly, and stop off for a bagel :)

Goin' Home...

...Yay! Thanks to my wonderful In-Laws and my good friend, Heather, we, the Palizzi family, are going home for Christmas! My in-laws had frequent flier miles through Alaska Airlines, and my friend Heather, gave us some of hers from American Airlines! We are so extremely excited and thrilled and so thankful for the generosity of our friends and family. Julian, Gabriel and I fly out on Dec. 13, and Barry flies out on the 20th. Wish me luck as I fly with 2 boys BY MYSELF! Also, please pray that I have kind seat neighbors :)

So it was brought to my attention that my house is not infested with kind, almost cuddly lady bugs, BUT ASIAN LADY BEETLES. They apparently pinch or bite. Fun. I am in the process of vacuuming those suckers up. I have to do it sneakily though, because Julian doesn't understand!

So I have some questions for you, in the blogging world. What the heck should I get my kid for Christmas? I want to get the boys one big present, like a train table, or a kitchen, or even a dollhouse. I just don't know!! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I already know Julian's getting a kid tough digital camera from my parents, and I think a Tinkerbell DVD?! Who knows. He does want Sleeping Beauty.

He's got a bike, 12 inches. He's got a trike. Gabriel has a 'new to him' Music Table, and so many clothes it's ridiculous! I just don't know what to get for them!