1st Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

This year, we decided to throw a Christmas party. It morphed into an ugly Christmas sweater party, and it was so much fun, I think we'll end up doing it every year! Some pictures....

Dan (who won third place) and I

Leesa (whose Christmas cactus sweater garnered her 2nd place) and her husband Shane
The Resetars and Fortinos...the boys plugged themselves in! Mike created the sweatshirts, which had actual ladies under each "Ho".
The Resetar/Fortino girls...so cute!
Team English!

Rocky Ridge Lights!

This year, we decided to head to Rocky Ridge to see the Christmas lights. We took mom and Ron along with us and had an amazing time! Emily was really into the lights and the entire experience this year. Poor Owen spent most of his time in the buggy, but we're hoping next year he's ready to love the lights just as much as Em did.

Mom and Ron showing off the kids:

Emily with Santa. She's still not sure of him, but she was brave enough to go up and ask him for the only thing she says when we ask what she wants: a unicorn Pillow Pet!
She could barely stay on the trail she was so excited about the lights.
Owen...not so much. But he had fun anyway, I think.
Em insisted on giving hugs to certain displays. Frosty almost fell over after her affections!

We like to Potty...

Or at least, we'd like Emily to like to potty. We've been doing potty training hardcore this week. It's time. It's ridiculous. It's embarrassing. She simply doesn't want to use the potty. We've tried other tricks, we've had mediocre success, so this week, we bit the bullet. Our little lady is wearing panties, and I am doing laundry every night.

Yesterday was our best day so far...only one accident. Today didn't start off well. All the poop she's been holding in this week came out. Not in the potty :(

I'm hoping that this will be over soon, and I can look back in a week or so and think, "man, that wasn't too bad." Here's to hoping.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

An actual conversation with Emily tonight:

Emily: Christmas is coming soon!

Me: Yep! Santa Claus will be here soon! He'll want to know if you're a good girl.

Emily: You tell Santa Claus I'm good. Tell him I stay in my bed.

Dan: Do you stay in your bed, Emily?

Emily: Noooooo. You tell him I do.

Quick Update

After only 3 nights in the hospital, Dan came home to us. I think part of the reason for the early release was because he drove the nurses crazy the last night...couldn't sleep, needed a fan, then an ice pack...they were ready for him to go :)

He's doing well...eating regular food for the most part and dealing with the pain well. He has some time off work to fully recover, and I've gotta say, I'm going to be a little jealous when I leave for work in the mornings and he's tucked in cozy in bed!

Surgery Time

I apologize for taking so long to get more pictures and whatnot up here. The past few weeks have been busy...3 weddings in October, Halloween, and now Dan't surgery. I promise to keep up better once he's home!

Yesterday Dan went in for an open bowel resection. Basically, they cut out the right side of his colon and about 2 feet of small intestine, then joined up the remaining "stuff". This is supposed to get rid of the part that was very diseased from his Crohn's disease. We're hopeful that he can stop living in pain and discomfort and start living a more normal life.

Dan's doing well, all things considered. Yesterday after surgery he was in quite a bit of pain, which I think he expected, but I don't think he realized how much it would hurt. He also dealt with nausea that came and went. Luckily, today was better. He was up and walking, he felt better, and his pain wasn't as bad. He's still on ice water for his meals (yep, just ice water) and he had an unfortunate catheter removal experience that gives him the shudders to retell, but overall, it was a good day.

On my end, I now realize that I do not have what it takes to be a single mother :) Being in charge of both kids is exhausting and sometimes downright impossible. My mom has been helping out a ton, which I'm so grateful for, but there have still been tears shed from all three Bilodeaus.

We're hoping Dan gets out of the hospital in the next few days...it all depends how well his body does at taking other liquids and foods. While he still will be out of commission once he's home, I miss just having him around and can't wait for him to be back with us!

New York State of Mind

The first weekend in October, Dan and I went to New York City for two nights. The occasion? One of my friends from Elizabethtown was getting married; it's the only time the four original Etown girls seem to find time to get together, so Dan and I decided to go up early and make a weekend out of it. After battling traffic to get there Friday evening, we checked into our hotel and went to dinner. I must talk about the dinner. I have dubbed it BDE: Best Dinner Ever. The salad...to die for. The main course (baked shrimp with mashed potatoes, some weird corn sauce, and spinach)...amazing. I was so full, but I ate the entire thing...it was honestly one of the best dinners I've ever had in my life.

So Saturday, after recovering from BDE, we hit the sightseeing. Here I am in F.A.O. Schwartz, where I was in love with all the Wizard of Oz stuff. Couldn't resist posing with both the good and bad witches...

Dan and I had croissants in Central Park, then wandered around for a bit. The best part that we discovered was this pond area...so beautiful in the middle of the city!

The restaurant where BDE occurred (Sequoia if you're interested in finding it) overlooks the water and the Brooklyn Bridge. So pretty!

Our hotel looked directly out onto ground zero. We were literally right next to it. In fact, when we checked in, our desk guy told us that construction happens 24/7, so we may need ear plugs or a white noise machine. While they were doing construction, there wasn't any demolition, and it didn't bother us. We were mesmerized, though, by what was happening. Here is the WTC building going up...they were up to 34 stories while we were there.
This is the area with the reflecting pools...the pools are basically the foundation areas of the former towers. The entire thing is very sobering, and it's amazing how quickly the area around this has been built back up.

As for the actual wedding...well, I have no pictures. I forgot my camera at the hotel. However, it was beautiful, it was fun, and the four of us aren't sure how we're going to get together again since we're now all married :)