Papa-Palooza! -- Dad's 60th Birthday Party!

I have been dying to share this...for months we have been planning a SURPRISE party for my dad's 60th birthday!  My brother Steve, sister-in-law Adrienne, Shikhar and I have been in cahoots with my step mom Teresa for weeks to pull this off...and I can't believe we did it!!  We kept him totally in the dark up until the moment he walked through the front door! 

We had a lot of fun preparing for this fiesta, and in the end our little get together went off without a hitch!  Nearly everyone we invited was able to make it including my dad's parents, siblings and several of his closest friends. 

Adrienne did all the cooking for the party and she totally out did herself.  She served up a delicious Italian dinner, complimented by her totally gorgeous desserts. 

It was so much fun to watch my dad as he laughed and enjoyed exchanging memories with some of his favorite people.  It's amazing the stories you hear when you get a few drinks into your dad's brothers and oldest buddies!

It seemed like everyone had a great time...including the babies!

In the end, it just felt great to organize an event for the sole purpose of celebrating my dad and the life he has lived.  A small gesture of gratitude for all he has done for us, I hope this party will serve as a reminder for him that he has so positively touched so many lives and that there are so many people in this world that truly and sincerely care about him.

He's an amazing person...and I hope he had an amazing time!

Happy 60th birthday Papa!!

A breath of fresh air...

For the past few weeks we have been battling "the crud" at our house....snuffling, coughing, sputtering, fevering...with some GI pyro-technics thrown in for good measure.  Just as I thought we were in the clear, poor Shikhar was laid flat by a nasty virus leaving him out of commission for the past 24 hours.

This is the time of year when I start to imagine the "toxins" building up in our house.  I get the urge to disinfect everything, to open up all the doors and windows...to, you know, let the germs out.  But with the sun out and temps up into the 70s yesterday, it felt like spring was finally here.

While my sickly sweetie was holed up in our bedroom tryin' to sleep away his illness, the boys and I took the party outside to get some fresh, clean March air into our lungs.

My pal Ashli brought her two adorable boys - Barrett and Jonah - over for a play date.  We were able to catch some rays while the boys played in the grass and climbed on the swing set.  While the outdoor adventure didn't last long, thanks to my little fair-weather friend Sonu (it was "too windy to play pirates!!"), it was still refreshing to feel comfortable outside -- no jacket required.

Gorgeous.

It seemed like everyone was out...neighbors were in the streets with their kiddos in wagons and strollers.  I even ran into more friendly faces than usual at the grocery store.  It felt like a reemergence into the world after a winter of hibernation.

I'm not going to fool myself...this is Nebraska which means a blizzard or two may still be lurking around the corner.  But after the past few weeks, this girl would much rather the high temps be outside than emanating from the feverish bods of her family members.


 So, here's to spring...and hopin' it's here to stay---I'm ready to get out and play!!

The best things in life really are free...

It sounds cliche, but I have been thinking about this a lot lately.

Now, don't get me wrong...expensive stuff is fun too.  I love traveling, spa treatments, new clothes, a nice car...and give me the green light and I could have a fabulous time running up an impressive credit card bill.  And I know it's not as simple as to say the best things in life are free --as it's certainly easier to enjoy said "free" things when you aren't worried that you won't have the cash to pay your rent or feed your fam.  I get that. 

In the realities of adult life and parenthood, one can't help but think about money on a fairly regular basis...Are we spending too much?  Are we saving enough?  Do I work too much?  Should I work more?  Where in the heck did I put that Pampers coupon???

I think it's easy to get caught up in the mentality that money equates with happiness.  I am oh so thankful that my husband and I come from supportive families that have helped and encouraged us as we pursued our educations. And, subsequently, that we have been able to get jobs that allow us to live comfortably doing something we enjoy.  But, even with all this, we still worry.  I am fairly certain there's no income that can totally alleviate this stress...I mean, even the B.I.G. had to lament his "Mo' Money...Mo' Problems" situation. 

But when I look back on my day, the best parts are usually those that cost little or nothing at all.  I think it's important for me to acknowledge these times and even to seek out free (or almost free!) fun for our family.  For me, this serves as a reminder that although it's certainly important for us to be very conscious of our finances and make good choices to help alleviate stress...to a point, more money doesn't necessarily mean more happiness...because we can have an awesome time without spending a dime.   

Here are just a few of the cheap laughs we've had over the past week...

Sonu, the comedian, seeing how many pairs of underwear he could wear at one time.



Super Hero Day at the public library...a totally free experience where Sonu could let out his inner Bat

Home made popsicles -- tastier, healthier, messier, way more fun.

Living room dance party...they had to rock the shades.

In two weeks I will be transitioning from full time to part time at work.  I am excited about my new schedule as I think it will provide me with a better balance ---still doing the job that I love but also able to spend more time with my little munchkins.  Although this change may mean a little less coin in our pockets...I know it's definitely worth it to have more "free" time at home with my guys. 

Any other ideas for good, cheap, family fun in the Omaha area?  Now taking suggestions!

 

Happy (belated) Forced Affection Day!

Ok,  I promise I'm really not one to say "bah humbug" to romance.   For me though, really, the whole V-day thing is just too much.  It seems too pressured, too forced...and the idea of trying to make dinner reservations on the same night as every single other couple in town...ugh...why can't we just go there next Thursday??? 

I don't need a holiday to enjoy canoodling with my hubby and I've always thought the idea of extravagant gift giving was confusing when you have a joint bank account. 

Truth be told, last week I received the best gift a gal could ask for.  While sitting with my boys watching TV, a commercial for a jewelry store came on.  In this ad a guy is shown gifting some fancy bauble to his lady friend. Sonu leans over to his daddy and whispers..."let's get that for mommy!".  Better than diamonds.

Now, I'm not totally against the idea of Valentine's day...I will go along with pretty much any excuse to have fun and show appreciation for the ones I love.  I just prefer to celebrate it the way I used to when it required decorating a shoe box the night before.

So... here's how I roll on what I very lovingly have termed the annual F.A.D. (Forced Affection Day!)

Gifts for the kiddos...

Breakfast:  Heart-shaped raspberry pancakes and PINK milk!!

Making Valentines!!

Baking cookies...with a few helpers...

After enjoying some delicious ribeye steaks for dinner, we put the munchkins to bed. 
Then, it was time for relaxing with daddy...and this tasty treat...

 

Perfect.  Happy (belated) F. A. D.!!

Half Time!! Sonu -- 3 years, 6 months

Today marks Mr. Sonu's half birthday!!  I don't usually make a big deal out of acknowledging half birthdays, but it seemed like a good excuse for an update on what The Noon is into these days...


Batman.  Whether dressing up in his Batman costume, spending hours (literally!) rearranging the pieces in his ImagiNext Bat Cave, or making "Bat Houses" out of cardboard boxes, this boy has bats on the brain.  The best part is the pure innocence of his super hero play.  In his world the Joker and Penguin just hang out with B-man and Robin deciding which snacks to eat and getting ready for parties.  He understands who the villains are, but as he has informed me, "when they're in the Bat Cave, they're all friends." 

The iPad.  He pretty much owns the thing, as most of the apps on there are somehow Sonu-related.  Whether it's Angry Birds, Super Why, or Team Umi Zumi, I'm amazed at how fast he figures it all out.  Sonu loves to veg out and lounge on the couch with his games (like father like son, I suppose)...and lucky for him I can justify it by telling myself that most of these activities have some educational value and are at least a little more interactive than a cartoon. 

Underwear.  If it were up to him it's all he'd wear, all the time.  He likes to maintain a pants optional policy at home...and usually he opts out.  Apparently clothes are just too "sweaty" to wear inside the house. 

"Naughty" drinks.  Most mornings begin with a request for "kid coffee" -- a little concoction consisting of coffee creamer, a splash of mommy's coffee, and a whole lot of skim milk.  Besides this "legal" drink, he also loves SNEAKING sips of Pepsi Max or Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade) when mommy and daddy aren't looking---partly because he likes the taste...mostly because he LOVES getting caught!

Family Togetherness.  Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree on this one as Sonu clearly shares his parents' love for cohabitation.  He clearly is happiest when ALL of us are just hanging out at home.  He's king of the family hug and the best welcoming committee you could ask for after a long day at work.  It amazes me every day that a little guy I love so much can, in turn, make me feel so genuinely loved. 

And although this Half Time post didn't feature a performance by Madonna or Cee Lo, I'm hoping the second half of Sonu's third year will be even more exciting and fun to watch than last night's Super Bowl game.

Happy (Half) Birthday Snuggle Bug!

Snow Day!!!



Ever since the term snow day quit being an excuse to skip school and instead became the reason why it would take twice as long to get to work in the morning, I'd have to say I haven't been a huge fan of the white stuff.  So, in the midst of what has been an unusually temperate (amazing!) winter, I was not excited when the buzz among my patients' parents (my main source of news...) was the crazy snow storm coming this weekend.

Well, snow it did.  But, instead of being a total drag, today was a snow day to rival all others.

The day was complete with a snow man, hot chocolate, and my hunky hubby blowin' snow. 
With no where to go, nothing to do, we battened down the hatches and cozied up for a great day in.



It seemed like a good day to spend some time in the kitchen.  Noonie helped me grate veggies and we slow cooked ourselves a meaty marinara sauce.  I made homemade granola bars that the kiddos (and me!) can snack on all week.



We PLAYED --- hide and seek, Sponge Bob Yahtzee, Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  The munchkins splish splashed in the bath 'til they were good and pruney.  And the boys set up a race car ramp in my kitchen. 



We finished the day with movie night --- Mr. Popper's Penguins.  A real cute flick that Sonu absolutely LOVED.  Pretty much the perfect ending to a perfect day.

I guess the snow did succeed in slowing us down... but sometimes that's just what you need.  Although a snow day no longer means I get a free day to lay around the house and do nothing, it seems sometimes the snow can do a good job of whiting out the rest of the world and offer up an opportunity to just focus on being a family...and that's even better than missing a history test.


+

Shaan- 13 months

It's hard to believe our baby is already 13 months old!  He is getting big so fast and his little personality is shining through more and more each day.  He is a man on the move, loves an audience and has a grin that can light up the whole room! 

As he completes his thirteenth month, here are a few of Shaanie's favorite things:

Vacuuming.  His latest obsession is definitely his new Dyson.  He vacuums incessantly and occasionally even appears to get frustrated by this never ending self-appointed assignment.   If he hears the actual vacuum turn on, he's front and center trying to take over the job!

Blueberries.  He's not the chow hound his older brother was at this age, as evidenced by his very un-Sonu-like growth parameters (18 % for weight and 78 % for height!).  A finger food fella, he does not want to be fed by mommy.  Although he's certainly not a picky eater, he tends to eat just a few bites before he's begging to be released from his high chair. 

The exception? Berries...particularly, blueberries --he will eat as many of these little gems as he can find.  At least he picked a Super Food--- so I will keep buying these little guys by the case!





Tunes.  He's got the moves like Jagger, and he doesn't mind showing them off.  His fave beats are I Wanna Rock with You by M. Jackson and the Hot Dog Dance by M. Mouse.  We always listen to the Playhouse Disney CD when we're getting the boys ready for bed, and he will definitely let you know if you fail to get the dance party started on time.

 

Talking.  Given the verbosity of his older bro, I thought Shaan may be my quiet child.   Wrong.  Although his repertoire of understandable utterances is mainly limited to "Mama", "Dada", "Papa", "Did it", "Ta-da!", and "This", his little lips are always moving and he is clearly telling us things we just can't decipher.  He can sign "all done" and shakes his head "no".  He waves "bye bye", points to what he wants, claps, and loves to give high fives! 

Dental Hygiene.  Man loves to brush his teeth.  He prefers to do this by himself but will usually let mama take a few swipes at those 7 little chompers.  He will gripe until I turn on the sink so he can rinse his brush and (sometimes) will even put his brush away in the drawer.  If he sees you brushing without him, he will throw a fit until he gets to join in. 

Whatever Sonu is Doing.  The little monkey is constantly interested in the activities of his big brother.  This occasionally leads to a tug of war over a toy or a frustrated Sonu as Shaanie destroys a block tower or swipes a car off the race track.  But, more and more, they have been spotted actually "playing" together.  They love to pull the cushions off the couch and climb all over their home made obstacle course together.  Rarely, he's even invited to touch the beloved Bat Cave (though this usually ends with Shaanie running away with the Joker!).