Mischief Nance Style

This year I went way overboard with the Leprechauns. As a preschool teacher, we have been preparing for the Big-Green-Day and have planted some pretty fertile seeds into our little students’ brains. For two weeks, every mischief, every mess, every mystery was solely done my those little green men. As for my own children, I had to run with the same idea and I have a feeling that they are sort of Leprechaun experts now. To start with, we baked rainbow cupcakes. As for the final result, it was a complete waste of three hours of time and ingredients. I made home-made sponge cake that was super weird. But as far as the fun part ... it was quite a good time spent with my children. They all mixed the colors (which was a nice little art-science lesson on its own) and filled all the cups. Only few licks of that batter, elapse of about 3 minutes, and they all turned super silly ... as it is shown on this picture. The cupcakes - in spite of having a horrible texture - went fast and caused some serious alarm next morning at the potty - way too much food coloring).

We made magnifying glasses to look for Leprechaun dust and the three of them knew that some serious trouble will unfold the night before St Patrick's day. They went to bed suspicious; the boys even put their swords next to their beds. 

Well, next morning there were signs of visitors everywhere. The living room was a mess: the Leprechauns turned tables around, scattered books and the strangest thing ever .... they went pee in our potty. Now this concept was very fascinating to all the children ... very fascinating.

For morning project they made Leprechaun traps. The children were sure that the troublemakers will return and they were determined to catch one. They decorated a big paper box and set it up before nap. No luck catching one but the wild giggles were priceless when they found green pee in the potty again.

Imagination is so amazing, I am so grateful that my children have it and we can play with our minds and live a life that is full of fun and mystery. After all we all know rule #66 .... don't take life too serious. And how can we when our bebes are fully convinced that Daddy used to be a pirate ...

Love-Bugs

It has became a tradition in our house that if it is holiday of some kind, upon awaking there are presents on the table. It was no different on Valentines day either: Kennel Corn, Apple Sauce and a few toys (I know, I am a bit lame about the treat part but the children always insist on eating them right away so I try to make it semi breakfast worthy).

Biggest smile for this long-wanted car.

 Still a bit sleepy but breaking in his new shades.

Lutza had a Book-Character themed celebration for Valentine's day and she decided to be Lily from Lily's Purple Plastic Purse (by Kevin Henkes). She totally rocked her new '70s sunglasses and the cow-girl boots.

Family Pictures

Our first every family pictures ... I am not sure why we haven't done this before.

The reason for all ... I looked in his eyes just like this 9 years ago. "Do you think we are going to fly over the North Pole?"

Major 'cheese'
The brothers ... joined at the hip

I absolutely adore this picture!!!

Beautiful little Lutza!

My Silly Boy!

Yes .... this is the spot Bendeguz would go but he was cutting some big-boy mollars and refused to get his picture taken.

The joys of motherhood

Snow-week

Oh, the joyous news ..... 'it is going to snow' ... is just about as strong on the anticipation level as 'Santa is coming tonight'. This snowstorm had been labeled as the worst for two decades ... I would say NO-NO. It was the best of the past two because it came and it fell and it fell and it fell.

I am not sure how it happened but all three of the children were up at 6 am on that day, and by 6.20 we were outside trying to make the best of a pathetic 1/4 inch snow. If you know what is the like to have snow in Seattle, you would understand that you better get while the getting is good because this perfect hint of whiteness can be gone in an hour. So that being the practice around ... we were heading out before it disappeared.

Luckly, however, it kept coming down and it got cold enough that we got to build a nice snowman and totally enjoy the perfect slope of our driveway (which is a meatgrinder on a normal day).

Guzie learing to roll his snowball.

This is not Lutza's first rodeo though.

Snowman and his wife, customized by our lovely Lutza - they swaped hats for this shot ;o)

Vidor ... totally loving the sleds. Last year he refused to sit on one, not even with me. This year he would run from the top of the driveway, tummydive and not even stop till the end of the cul-de-sac.

One whole snow-week. Complete Bliss.

Historic Moment

Thanksgiving was a historical moment in our family's life. Jeff and all of his children were in one place . It was a crazy love and laughter filled few days with lots of emotions and ohhhh so many personalities. Lutza is surely one special little girl among all those boys ... and she loves it to the fullest. I hope they will all know and love each other for the rest of their lives.

Merry Christmas

Christmas was very quiet this year. The big brothers all went to Hawaii so it as only our little family sharing the joys of Christ's Birth. I anticipate Christmas more and more every year now because of the children. It is just so funny to watch them make plans for Santa's arrival and can't wait to get out of bed on Christmas morning. Last year I complicated the whole Santa-Baby Jesus concepts, trying to fit in my my Hungarian traditions into the holiday. This year we just took it as it came. Mikulas (Santa) was late again (shame on me), just like last year ... I guess he had a long way to come on December 6, all the way from Hungary. And then, surprise-surprise, he came again on Christmas Eve and made a mess of our house. The rain deers scattered half chewed carrots all over the living room and Santa did not drink his milk again.

These are some of the joyous captions I managed to make on that morning.

Lutza trying on her new cow-girl boots .... fancy needlework and a shiny toe.

Vidor finally finding something that had his name on ... a joy on its own.

Guzie and his new tow-truck

I didn't get to take a picture of all three of them sitting together and actually looking.

3-2-1 Blast off Birthday Party

Turning three is a big deal ... at that matter turning a year - any year - at our house is a big deal. Turning 3 was a big deal, however for Bendeguz because he finally understood that he is having a birthday and he truly was the center of all the festivities.

Since he has been 'traveling' to space as long as he can talk, we thought it would be well suited to have a birthday party honoring his passion. We celebrated his special day by a space themed party filled with lots of fun.

He got this adorable shirt just a few weeks before his third birthday: it had a space ship tie on it ... perfectly appropriate for the occasion ... as it is clearly visible from this prideful and 'totally-cool' look he had when we took his personal picture. The space ship pinata (a last minute find) made a perfect decoration along with his banners.

All of his little guests had to pass the astronaut training test ... games like walking in a straight line after being spun on a swivel chair, knocking out aliens with balls, and jumping high on a mattress. His friends were all rewarded with official metals for his great accomplishments.

My favorite part of birthdays is to capture that face, that joy, that happiness, that excitement, that love in my children's eyes when all their friends circle around them to sing 'Happy Birthday'. I love cool cakes, and this happy moment needs to have that specialness, a one of a kind sweet creation that they will see only once in their lives. Bendeguz's spaceship cake had rich chocolate filling with raspberry jam - just as he requested.

Now, that is the face I want to catch!!! It is just all about him for a few minutes. .... I might have to correct that: it is all about him a lot since he is our 'baby' but this time all eyes were on him.

We adore this little boy so much I don't think we have words to express it. He is the funniest, silliest little man, so sharp and has such a great sense of humor. He is all boy - head to toe - and he is all lover from inside out. You think you need hugs and love ... he is the one to turn to. He has those two cute dimples above his simile that are the signs of true happiness. I have loved seeing those dimples the past three years ... may many more of those years come!!!