The Phantom Moon

Andrews and Dickens

Before the hub-bub of Christmas is officially over, I wanted to share a few pictures of some Christmas related activities that I did with my second oldest niece.  I love her to death and she asked me a few months back to become her sponsor for Confirmation.  I was more than happy to oblige and my sweet niece was confirmed in November.  Her class was so well behaved that they were chosen to be a part of a set of video recordings for the Archdiocese to assist the deaf and hearing impaired.  Before the taping that day, I accompanied her class to Macy's to see the Macy's Light Show and Macy's Christmas / Dickens Village.

The last time I saw this show was at least 10+ years ago and it was just as enjoyable today, especially since Julie Andrews is now the narrator of this fantastic light show.  Her voice will always remind me of one of my favorite films, The Sound of Music, and as a bonus they even included some of the tunes from the movie in the light show.  How fun, right?

As you can see, each "show" really packed in a crowd and the people in attendance ranged from little kids, to kids on a field trip and even to people who had snuck out of work for some last minute shopping and squeezed in a peek of the light show before rushing back to work.

After that we all headed to the 3rd floor and visited the Christmas / Dickens village.  It was based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, of course.  

I'll be honest, other then remembering Scrooge and the three ghosts, I didn't really remember this tale so it was great to walk through the "village" and read the little signs near each vignette which explained parts of the original story.

This was definitely a classic worth revisiting.

All in all I think both attractions are a Christmas treat if you are in the Philadelphia area during the next Christmas season (and bonus: both were free!).  I'm glad that I got to enjoy both of these shows with my niece, plus spend some quality time with her that is sometimes few and far between since all of our lives are so hectic these days.  Hope you're all still enjoying a lazy post-holiday week.

This Child Of Mine

I love my sweet little girl so much it's crazy.  She's completely changed my life and I am grateful for her.  She is my miracle baby and even though she drives me completely bonkers sometimes, I wouldn't have it any other way.  Here are just a few ways my little unique honey bun makes me smile:

* When she loves you, she loves you like crazy and would do anything for you.  Unless she doesn't feel like it.  And when that happens you might as well try riding a bull as if it were a docile horse (and you know that ain't neva gonna happen!).

* She moves to the beat of her own drum.  And sometimes she has no rhythm.  Which was witnessed by all at Chuck E Cheese when my child was dancing like Elaine (just like her momma).

* She sometimes speaks with a British accent or uses British words like: trolley (not shopping cart), stabilizers (not training wheels), ring (instead of call someone).

* She is so creative and can practically entertain herself with some crayons and an empty toilet paper tube.  Trust me, I have a stack of seven empty rolls as I type this in case the need arises that Mommy needs 2 minutes to herself.

* She is an excellent story teller.  Granted, most of the stories are pretty much impossible and have loops in them the size of a giant hula hoop, but that's what makes them fantastic to hear.

Every day I think God for bringing her into my life and I pray that she'll thank God as well when I show her future husband pictures of her in her princess gown (aka her pajamas) and tell him stories of her when she was a little girl.  Now pardon me as try and get some shut eye before she wakes me up at night for a glass of water, or some chapstick.  You never know with this one ...

Happy Anniversary, Husband

10 years ago today I married my sweetheart and my other half.  No, not Duncan Sheik, Bill Nighy or Christopher Walken.  I married my darling husband who is snoring like a trucker beside me.  We live a charmed life for sure.  And he's the lucky fella who was woken just a few minutes ago out a sound sleep by a drive by tickling from yours truly.  What can I say, I get a little crazy at 2am.

Thank you darling for...

• Letting me sleep in late even though it's a bear trying to get me to wake up.
• Making me lunch / dinner when I can't make up my mind on what I want to eat.
• Playing video games so I can watch them like my very own movie (but cooler then a movie since I can interact - holla!).  And for not getting upset when I fall asleep halfway through your playing and ask you to re-do everything after I wake up.
• For playing Lego's with BB so I can catch up on work.  Or sleep.  Or whatever I'm watching on Netflix.
• For not getting angry when I forget to make you coffee, even after you've reminded me about 200x before that.
• For giving me a wonderful daughter who upon occasion makes me want to join a convent, or pull my hair out.
• For a wonderful 10 years that have been a blast.

Happy Anniversary, sweetie!  Here's to 100 more!!