aftermath

It is a mess out there. Mounds of snow piled taller than I am. Streets that, three days later, still haven't been plowed (in some cases because during the height of the storm, cars were abandoned in the middle of the road in a way such that snowplows can't even get through). Intersections that are impossible to cross because not even a decent footpath has been created. Large sections of subway throughout Brooklyn that have been entirely shut down, and bus routes -- nearly every one of them -- that are still not running.

One friend in our ward put it this way on Facebook: "Day 1: Beautiful; Day 2: Awful; Day 3: Painful," and that sums it up pretty well. We had to do laundry yesterday, and just getting down three blocks with our laundry bags was a bit of a nightmare. Because travel, both of short and long distances, has been rendered nearly impossible (or at least more of a headache than it's worth), we had to cancel our plans to spend time with my extended family in New Jersey this week.

The city has been heavily criticized for their slow response to the clean up after this storm, and justifiably so. Like I said before, it is an absolute mess out there, and a lot of the problems we're experiencing could have been avoided, or at least lessened. Going outside is an ordeal that takes me inordinate amounts of mental and physical preparation to face. But I realized today that the stress is worth it. Why? Two words: cabin fever.

Sickness forced us to spend the entire week preceding Christmas indoors. Another round of illness over the Christmas weekend continued to keep us inside. And then the blizzard, in combination with some residual recovery from still lingering colds and stomach bugs, has kept us homebound again this week.

But enough is enough! And so today we braved the deep snowy and wet aftermath and trekked to the Brooklyn Children's Museum for an afternoon where Garrett and Caleb could release some pent up energy at a place other than our little apartment. Getting there took a little creativity and a lot of patience, but in the end we had a great time. Sometimes it is so nice not to be home!

buried

The paralyzing blizzard that swept up the East Coast yesterday has buried Brooklyn in eighteen inches (update: apparently it was closer to twenty-four inches) of wind-blown snow and massive snowdrifts.

"How is it out there?" I asked Blake after he returned from taking our dried out Christmas tree to the trash.

"It looks like Indiana," he replied.

And so it does.



I think it will be a little while before we completely dig ourselves out of this one.

christmas vignettes

Preface
Historically speaking, the days preceding Christmas have a tendency to drag on and on, and the night before Christmas is one of the longest nights of the year. The days and nights preceding Christmas 2010, however, were longer than any I experienced during my childhood. Early in the week Garrett caught a stomach bug and spent the next three days throwing up. Late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, just as Garrett was recovering, Caleb came down with the same virus (only, thankfully, involving less throwing up). He was feverish and absolutely miserable for the next 24 or so hours but woke up feeling a lot better this morning...just in time for Blake to take his turn. Today we're all home from church, trying to nurse each other back to full health so that the rest of our Christmas holiday is not soiled by sickness. All illness and misery aside, though, we have been able to have an enjoyable Christmas. Here is a little of how we've celebrated:

Walk Around Dinner Party
On Christmas Eve we invited a few other young families in our ward to join us for our annual dinner of appetizers and treats. The party started just as Caleb was taking a turn for the worse, so I wasn't expecting to have much of a good time. In the end, though, it turned out to be a lot of fun and a needed reprieve from caring for sick children. The white elephant gift exchange we had was particularly hilarious. The rules were that the gift had to be something random from your house that you were willing to wrap up and part with, no money could be spent. Blake and I came away with a vintage wooden shoe mold and the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.

Christmas Morning
Santa Claus came, as did packages from far-away family, and Garrett and Caleb made out like bandits. Garrett got the toy toolbox he hoped and dreamed Santa would bring him, while Caleb cleaned up in the Lego department. Blake and I gave each other new winter coats. It was a magical morning, from the moment Garrett peeked into the living room until the last gift was unwrapped.



Photography Skillz
Mostly because my arms have been occupied snuggling with sick baby Caleb, I haven't taken too many pictures this Christmas. Luckily Garrett was given a children's digital camera and, when he wasn't building houses with his toy tools, he was brushing up on his photography skills. (From the top: computer screen just before a Skype call; Caleb's Legos; his new toolbox; the Christmas tree; Caleb)

He's hilarious with that camera, with his way of walking up to something and announcing, "I take picture of [fill-in-the-blank]. Okay...one...two...three...cheese!"

Candy Cane Duty
Meanwhile, Caleb took it upon himself to make sure that the candy canes Santa put in each of our stockings were put back up onto the Christmas tree. "Uh-oh," he'd say when he saw on one the floor. He'd then bend down off my lap to pick it up, make a wobbly attempt to stand up, then somehow toddled over to the tree to try to place it back on a branch. It was almost painful to watch him him stumble over toys and stray gift wrap en route to the tree, but he was determined. And nothing, not even a raging fever, can stop Caleb when he's put his mind to something.

Skype
My missionary brother, Scott, was allowed to make his Christmas phone call home over Skype, and of course the rest of us wanted in, so we set up a video conference call and siblings in Provo, Colorado, Ohio, and Brooklyn all talked with the elder in Des Moines. There were technical difficulties, so it didn't last long, but it was awesome see everyone in my family for Christmas, even if we couldn't all physically be together.


Christmas Dinner
I cooked a traditional Brooklyn Christmas lasagna dinner (well, traditional if you're of Italian decent, which we're not, but whatever). We invited the sister missionaries as well as two members of our ward who didn't have anyone to spend the holiday with. The food was delicious (if I may say so), and it was nice to have company.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
This was our first Christmas spent in Brooklyn. One of the highlights was hearing Christmas carols chime from the bell tower of the Catholic church down the street.

I'm Dreaming of a White ... Boxing Day
No snow in Brooklyn for Christmas this year. But a doozy of a snow storm is working its way up the coast and by the time all is said and done, New York City is expecting to get up to 1 1/2 feet of snow. It's starting to come down now and will get heavier as the afternoon wears on. Garrett has already requested that we go outside to build a "noseman."


And that, my friends, has been our Christmas. With any luck, we'll completely beat this stomach bug and be back into the full swing of things in the next day or two. In the meantime we'll probably be on the couch, working our way through the Toy Story trilogy we got ourselves for Christmas. Merry Christmas!

burned

I spent the weekend following breaking news from my hometown of the tragic loss of the historic and beautiful Provo Tabernacle, which was devastated by fire on Friday. Like many people from Provo, I loved this building. It stood majestically in the heart of downtown, and was a gathering place for residents all over the Wasatch Front. Several times a year I'd sit in the pews for religious services and community concerts, and it was from those rather uncomfortable benches that I'd let my eyes wander over the intricate and loving details in the design and architecture.

The Provo Tabernacle, as seen in better days.

image source

And now it's gone. The windows are blown out. The roof collapsed. I cried as I watched this footage of the main balcony as it crashed down in flames. The inside has been reduced to piles of rubble. John Curtis, the mayor of Provo, said after he entered the building during an initial inspection that it "looked like World War II." After pouring over the images depicting the fire and its aftermath, I'd say that's a pretty accurate description.

In flames.

image source

Devastated.

image source

I need to stop looking at those images, not only for the sake of my broken, aching heart and to keep my mascara from running, but also because this is what Garrett drew on the back of his nursery handout yesterday at church:


"It's a fire," he told me, accurately portrayed using red, orange, and yellow crayons. He needs to go back to drawing portraits. Pictures of fires -- of this fire -- are too painful.

In his statement, Senator Orrin Hatch summed up nicely how I think many of us feel about this building:

The Provo Tabernacle was about more than mere bricks and mortar; it was an enduring symbol of the city and of the faith and fortitude of those early Utah pioneers. Fire may have destroyed the building, but it will never tarnish their proud legacy. It also will never diminish the cherished memories of those of us who were privileged to assemble there and feel of its special spirit.

It's too early to say if it can or will be rebuilt. But its spirit and its legacy will no doubt live on in the hearts and memories of those who have been privileged to assemble there. I know it will in mine.

two boys lately, continued

Here are a few more:

Garrett...

- grasps the concept of time enough to always request "two more minutes."

- is finally interested in learning how to dress himself. In this regard he has suddenly become fiercely independent, and always wants to do it "by mysel." Judging by how often two legs end up one pant leg, his independence does not always equate success, but it's a start.

- his favorite articles of clothing to put on and wear are mittens, pajamas and slippers. Even at 3:00 in the afternoon.

- has started drawing people. The first is a portrait of his friend, Elizabeth. The second is a sketch of Santa Claus (notice the hat, which is what makes it distinctive).



- thinks the ideal place to freak out about something is in the middle of the road while we're crossing the street.

- is quick with a compliment. His favorites to dole out are, "That's so cute!" and "I'm proud of you."

- always fixes his hair in front of our building's lobby mirror before we head outside.

- is still terrified of houseflies and screams like a girl when one flies near him. The other day one particularly obnoxious fly somehow survived the below-freezing temperatures, sneaked into our apartment, and wreaked havoc on Garrett's anxiety levels. He was so scared of it, he continually tucked himself into bed for a nap, making sure his bedroom door was securely closed, and wouldn't get back up until he'd called out, "Mama -- bug gone?"

- is always singing -- preschool songs, Primary songs, TV show theme songs (Veggie Tales and Shaun the Sheep are current favorites).

- is a self-proclaimed "good helper." But seriously, he can be a really good helper (emphasis on can be).


Caleb...

- is a boy who knows what he wants.

- will stop everything for a good head rub. Back scratches are also welcome, but he is most affected when people rub his head and play with his hair. (He is definitely my child.)

- has started to develop a bit of a violent temper. My efforts to teach him that it's inappropriate to hit people and throw things at them have not yet begun to sink in.

- is obsessed with closing doors and keeping them shut.

- grins and waves to himself in our building's lobby mirror.

- flies food to his mouth like an airplane, and even includes sound effects.

- loves having his teeth brushed.

- tries to put on his own clothes. Socks and shoes are his specialty.



- is quick to smile.

- is a tease.

- every day after Garrett goes to school, he voluntarily puts his brother's blanket away on his bed. Caleb can be a good helper, too.

santaland

Their tag line is no joke -- Macy's really is magical, and especially so during the Christmas season at the NYC flagship store. I took the boys this morning to the 8th floor Santaland to visit Mr. Claus himself and everything, from the make believe train ride to the North Pole and the toy-filled tour of Santa's neighborhood, to the most authentic Santa Claus I've ever seen, was absolutely enchanting. (And I especially loved the fact that, because it was a Tuesday morning with wind chills in the single digits, we were in and out in about a half an hour -- it takes magic of a very special kind to make a line move that fast in New York.)

Last year Garrett freaked out when it was his turn to sit on Santa's lap, so this year we practiced. Our role plays paid off: Garrett willingly climbed up on his knee, and, when prompted, told Santa his name. "I'm Garrett," he said (though when he says it, it sounds more like I Gahyett). When Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he confidently told him "toy tools," which was perfect because that is a gift I know Santa will be bringing. Their entire exchange was pretty adorable, and I wish it could have lasted longer.



Caleb, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with that strange bearded man in the red coat. The second he was placed on his knee, he worked hard to wiggle away, which was right on par with what I expected him to do. Santa kept saying things like, "Hurry and take the picture -- he's getting away!" He never cried, but he definitely started to panic.


So apparently the magic isn't perfect, but perfection isn't a requirement for a delightfully good time. A Christmastime visit to Santaland is becoming a tradition I'm discovering I can really get excited about (especially if it's on a bitterly cold short-line-creating Tuesday morning).

window shopping

Yesterday afternoon, for the first time in a long time, Blake was home and everyone was relatively healthy. It was a rare window of opportunity, and so of course we used it to go look at windows -- 5th Avenue holiday windows, that is. The weather was perfect, a balmy 40ish degrees, which unfortunately meant that five million other people were out doing the same thing we were. The crowds were at times unbearable, especially at Rockefeller Center, which was like trying to wade through Dante's seventh circle of hell, and which led me to vow that next year we either skip this tradition altogether, or do it on a day when the weather was a little less cooperative.

The best windows were Tiffany's, Bergdorf Goodman, and Lord and Taylor. Bloomingdales didn't do much in the way of windows this year (unlike their awesome SNL tribute last year) and the Saks windows were definitely not worth waiting in line for. Their new snowflake display, which was a projected light show instead of actual lights, was also a little disappointing. Garrett and Caleb, however, were completely mesmerized. Though we started our trip at Macy's, the crowds kept us from sticking around for too long. We'll get a better look at their windows later this week when I take the boys up to see Santa.

A definite highlight of the excursion was a stop at the Transit Museum's Annex at Grand Central to see the Holiday Train Show. It was the most amazing model train display I've ever seen -- Garrett was in absolute awe. Seriously, if you're ever in the area at Christmas time, this is worth the trip to see.

The tree at Rockefeller Center. We got real cozy with all those people during our walk (ahem, slow shuffle) up the plaza.

Tiffany's -- simple yet striking.

Bergdorf Goodman -- always so elegant.

Lord and Taylor -- their attention to detail is pretty impressive.

The new Saks snowflakes. I liked them better in previous years.

The Holiday Train Show.

(Click for Part 1 and Part 2 of the video sequence.)

o christmas tree

Last night we went to a nearby tree lot, conveniently located on the sidewalk outside the Rite Aid, and picked out a Christmas tree. Because we're almost always traveling to spend the holidays with family, and subsequently borrowing their Christmas trees, we haven't had a tree of our own since our first Christmas together five years ago. But we're staying in Brooklyn this Christmas, and a Christmas in Brooklyn most definitely needs a brightly decorated tree.

We picked a small tabletop tree, but it fits perfectly in our little apartment. We decorated it this morning, doing our best to cover up a few naked spots with ornaments. I think it looks lovely. And it smells even better!


Most of the ornaments we have were given to Blake as he grew up, but my favorites are the small handful that we've collected since we've been married: the miniature Ball jars we got in Muncie; the cup and saucer from my favorite New York City store, Fishs Eddy; Garrett and Caleb's first Christmas ornaments; and a Metrocard, which was this year's addition.

The boys are rightly excited to have a Christmas tree in our home, and they've made sure that they've been a part of its existence every step of the way. Garrett loved helping to fit each ornament on a branch, and Caleb loved helping to immediately pull them off. I know I have my work cut out for me this year in order to prevent any tree-related disasters, what with two hands-on, curious little boys in the house. (Caleb, I'm mostly looking at you.)


But, for a face like that, it's a little extra work I'm willing to take on. And after all, Christmas only comes once a year.

two boys lately

With their beloved silky, blue blankets.

Garrett...

- is a pro at mood lighting, and is constantly adjusting the lights in the living room.

- believes that wearing socks on his hands after a bath will cure water-wrinkled fingers.

- won't stop talking (and I think it's wonderful because suddenly I can understand most of what he says; it's like I finally have a little window into his brain).

- when he accidentally wets his pants, he shrugs his shoulders and says, "I'm sorry -- it just happened."

- loves hot chocolate, which he finds tastes best when sipped through a straw. The promise of a glass of it at breakfast has become his new (and so far, quite successful) incentive to stay dry at night.



- can finally say Caleb's name! Before, no matter how hard we tried to teach him otherwise, he always called him "Baby." Now he calls him "Cay-buh."

- is currently addicted to Monsters, Inc and Shaun the Sheep.

- calls snow "nose" and snowman "noseman." (Snort!)

- can count to thirteen -- most of the time.

- can correctly identify all of the triplets by name: "Char-ee, Eh-ee, and "Wucy" (also known as Charlie, Eddie, and Lucy).


Caleb...

- can put garbage in the trash can, dirty clothes in the hamper, and toys back where they belong, though sometimes he gets them mixed up and I find toys in the trash can and garbage in the hamper.

- has been cutting teeth like a maniac. The only fingers that can safely go into his mouth are his own (which he still sucks on religiously), so I can't tell you exactly how many he has now, but he has sprouted enough molars to make meals a little easier for me to prepare and for him to eat.

- loves stacking blocks into towers.



- still has freakishly awesome hair.

- his newest word is "tickle," which he says as he tickles himself.

- spoon feeds himself.


- likes to throw things, and does so with a dangerously good arm.

- his favorite place to sit is on my lap.

- is intrigued but freaked out by petting zoo animals.

- is the most determined child I have ever known.

Watching something apparently very engaging on Netflix.

signs that winter has arrived

- The bitterly cold winds blowing off the harbor have picked up considerably.

- I'm no longer rushing to open a window and let in a cool breeze when the radiators turn on.

- The sun sets at 4:30.

- My hands are dry and painfully cracked and always so cold that my watch and wedding ring are suddenly two sizes too big.

- Garrett and Caleb's cheeks and chins are chapped pink.

- The boys have become more desperate for variety in their indoor play. For example, the other day Garrett pulled every book and nearly every toy off of his bookshelf and moved it to a pile in front of his closed bedroom door. It was a not-so-pleasant (though, I'll admit, secretly hilarious) surprise when I discovered I couldn't easily open that door.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

Last night for Family Home Evening we pulled out our small collection of Christmas decorations and set to work stringing holiday cheer around the apartment. As I unwrapped each fragile figurine, Garrett and Caleb quickly grew overjoyed at the prospect of "new toys," subsequently disappointed when I explained that they weren't toys but rather decorations, and ever resourceful when I attempted to move them out of their reach.

Both of the boys were helpful decorators. Caleb, of his own accord, set to work removing books from the bookshelves, which I can only assume was to make room for the Christmas books. Garrett, meanwhile, took it upon himself to rearrange the nativity.


Christmas may very well be about Christ, but I guess you've got to squeeze Santa in somehow.



After everything except the tree decorations (the tree is coming later) had been displayed throughout the house, we gathered in the kitchen for some mugs of delicious hot mint malt. As we sat down around the table, Garrett picked up the two ceramic striped candlestick holders that had made their appearance with the rest of the holiday decor and, apparently thrilled by their novelty, happily started clapping them together as he shouted, "Look, fun toys! Fun toys!" Much to his dismay, we stopped him before anything shattered. I suppose it's a good thing that in Garrett's world, hot chocolate can cure just about anything.

Hot Mint Malt

6 chocolate covered cream-filled mint patties (I used one box of NECCO/Haviland Thin Mints)
5 cups milk
1/2 cup chocolate malted milk powder
1 tsp vanilla
Whipped cream or marshmallows for serving

In a crock pot, combine mint patties with milk, malted milk powder, and vanilla. Heat on low for 2 hours. Beat with an electric mixer until frothy. Pour into cups; top with whipped cream or marshmallows. Makes 6 servings.

for the (baby) birds

Now that they have been gifted to my sister-in-law, Chelsea, I can show the rest of you the toys I made for the baby girl she and my brother are expecting next month.


Using the pattern found here, I made three birds. One is filled with beans, another is filled with cotton batting and a small jingle bell, and the last is stuffed with a crinkly plastic grocery sack. The fabric came from the collection of scraps my sister Katie gave to me after she sewed the crib quilt for baby Garrett just before he was born.

They are very simple to make, and fun to rattle and chew on. I hope their baby girl likes them as much as I do.

is that so much to ask?

On this year's wish list:

- For my family to all be healthy -- and to stay healthy for longer than 30 seconds. The last six weeks have been a never-ending cycle of runny noses, hacking coughs that just won't die, sinus infections, and high fevers. Currently it's Caleb who's down with a case of bronchiolitis (UPDATE: and, after a follow-up visit to the doctor this morning, strep throat, too). He feels miserable and sounds miserable, but thankfully is taking his nebulizer treatments (and amoxicillin) like a champ.

- For peaceful dinners where Garrett actually eats what is served to him. A more firm crackdown on his already limited afternoon snack intake has been helping, but we still have a long way to go.

- For Caleb to stop spending so much time courting danger. If he doesn't learn to control his daredevil antics soon, I will die young, completely broke and of a heart attack.

- For Garrett and Caleb to get along. Deep down I know they love each other, and I occasionally witness them playing happily together. Those are beautiful moments for sure, but right now they are a little too few and far between.

Gosh, this list sounds like what my parents would say when, as a child, I'd ask them what they wanted for Christmas. So to lighten things up, I'll throw in a few more things I've sort of been hankering after lately.

- A car -- so long as it comes with a driveway to keep it on and stores with parking lots to shop at.

- An in-house washer and dryer.

- And while we're at, maybe also a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, and enough counter space to house the Kitchen-Aid mixer I someday hope to own.

and speaking of reading...

This morning I walked out to the living room to find this extremely pleasant scene:


Both boys quietly and comfortably reading. Perhaps their parent's love of books and reading is rubbing off after all.



Also, the other night Caleb was quite drawn in by the latest edition of The New Yorker. Every time Blake would try to put it away, Caleb would hop down off his lap, retrieve it, climb back up onto his lap, and continue to thumb through the pages, happily commenting on its contents as he did so in his own babbling language.

the seventh five

32. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott

I read this book on my mom's recommendation and, like her, while I didn't always agree with Lamott's lifestyle, I did find her insights very thought provoking, not to mention beautifully written. I appreciated, too, how well she notes that a firm faith in God can mend even the most broken-down life.


33. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradly

While the plot line of this mystery was hardly original, it was nevertheless an incredibly fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is told from the point of view of the young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist and novice detective, whose character I got a real kick out of. This is apparently the first of a series of Flavia de Luce mysteries. I liked this one enough to try reading more.


34. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This was a re-read of an old favorite. Oh, how I love this book! And oh, how I laugh out loud over and over each time I read it. Seriously, if you have not yet read this classic, please do. The characters are delightful, the themes and commentary on the time period and social customs are fascinating, and the humor is awesome.


35. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I picked up this book and briefly skimmed through it one day while browsing in an Anthropologie; my interest was piqued enough to find it later at the library. While I don't think I'm Type A enough to be as organized about so grand a personal happiness project as Rubin was, I do think that it is beneficial to evaluate my own happiness and make resolutions and adjustments to my life in order to increase it. I especially liked how all of her happiness resolutions focused on changing herself rather than those around her or her situation. It was wise and timely counsel for me.


36. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

This is a children's novel, and a darling one at that. It's set in Texas in 1899, and the heroine is, of course, Calpurnia Tate, the middle child and only girl in a family of brothers who discovers that she has something wonderful in common with her grandfather -- a love for the science of the natural world. It is beautifully written and fully deserves the Caldecott Honor it received.