Christmas Update, First Installment

Although our routines are back to normal, we are still finding scraps of wrapping paper here and there and are looking at hundreds of photos.

 

We spent the days leading up to Christmas keeping up with Zippy the Elf's hijinks. He hid in all kinds of places and got into various predicaments.  Finding Zippy's became a daily, after school activity.  Even George got in on the fun, and he often called out "Ishzy!" and played along.  We aren't sure, but we think George may have seen Zippy move some because he would often point and try communicate something to us. 

The girls were diligent, and Zippy had to be very careful in order to preserve his magic.

 

William George did not try to climb the tree, as we had feared. He did, however, remove most of the ornaments within his reach, but did not try to pull the tree over.

On another note, I received some criticism about the feminine nature of William George's Christmas attire. I would like to point out the TRAIN across George's chest.  Train = boy.

 

The duo probably had the time of their lives this Christmas. While we diligently emphasize our beliefs and the spiritual significance of our holiday, they are at peak susceptibility for all of the fun and festivity. We definitely had to "up our game" on making sure Santa had privacy and the ability to work (in fact, we had a few questions), but they were crazy, over-the-top into things this year.

They had the very best time, and I am enjoying looking through the photos.

 

 

Updates to come soon.

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Jerry Seinfeld's Writing Process

Back before Christmas, Skip pointed me to the below Seinfeld clip. The interview has been posted absolutely everywhere now, but here it is again. 

 

Internet, Blogs and Twitter

Image via Textdex.com

Below is an interesting timeline created by Mary Cross, author of "Bloggerati, Twitterati: How Blogs and Twitter are Transforming Popular Culture."

Before I type another word, I want to emphasize again that our site is here merely to document our days, how we spend our time, and how much we treasure our time with our small children.  Simply put, I am not transforming anything.  I prefer to post photos of my children and wax poetic about pop culture.  To this day, I am shocked that anyone reads my ramblings.

Having laid out that disclaimer, social media of all types (including the on again/off again popularity of blogs) has had a transformative impact on society.  Social media, to me, is a lot like the ocean, in that we are each a tiny wave; the collective, however, is a powerful force.  Because of social media, we now interact versus simply consume. This phenomenon, coupled with my inability to resist a good timeline, prompted me to share the below:

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Timeline of the Internet, Blogs and Twitter


1957 - In October, Russia launches Sputnik, the first spaceship to orbit the earth, leaving the United States behind in the technology race.

1958 - United States organizes Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and subsidiary Information Processing Technology Office (IPTO) to move ahead on technology projects like interconnecting military computers at the Pentagon.

1968-1969 - ARPANET network launched, using packet switching and hierarchical routing, which would be basics for the development of the Internet.

1971 - E-mail developed by Ray Tomlinson, who set the protocol for using "@" in e-mail addresses.

1973 - First trans-Atlantic connection on ARPANET, to University College of London.

1974 - Beginning of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP).

1977 - PC modem developed by Dennis Hayes and Dale Heatherington.

1979 - Usenet launched, an Internet-based discussion system that allowed people to post public messages.  Also, Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) launches with text-based virtual worlds, role-playing games.

1983 - ARPANET computers switch over to TCP and IP.

1984 - Domain name system introduced (instead of numerical IP address).

1986 - Protocol wars:  conflict between European Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) versus US Internet/ARPANET protocol.

1988 - Internet Relay Chat (IRC) allows real-time chat and instant messaging programs.

1989 - America On Line (AOL) is launched.  Also, World Wide Web written by Tim Berners-Lee, a global hypertext system using hypertext markup language (HTML), and universal resource identifiers (URLs).

1990 - First dial-up Internet service provider (ISP), The World.  Also, first Internet search engine, Archie (followed by Gopher in 1991).

1991 - First web page, nxoc01.cern.ch, maintained by Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau.  Also, first webcam, a video-capture device, monitored a coffee maker at Cambridge University in England so workers could see if there was any coffee left.  Finally, MP3 file format launched to share songs and entire albums.

1993 - Mosaic, first graphical web browser for public, devised by Marc Andreessen.  Became Netscape, dominant web browser, which was then overtaken by Internet Explorer, shipped with Windows in 1977.

1995 - Michael Sippey begins publishing "Stating the Obvious" weekly essays about the Internet and technology.

1996 - First mobile phone, the Nokia 9000 Communicator, launched in Finland.

1997 - Jorn Barger posts first weblog, calls new site Robot Wisdom WebLog.

1998 - Google search engine launched, founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in Silicon Valley.  Also, first news story broken online, not on mainstream media, by Matt Drudge at his Drudge Report about Shenanigans in the White House during the Clinton administration.

2000 - 407 million users on Internet.  Dot.com bubble, as investors and businesses rush to get in on the new Silicon Valley business model.

2001 - Dot.com bubble bursts as value of sites sinks.  Blogger William Quick claims to have invented the term blog.  Research in Motion launches mobile phone email system for Blackberry.  Wikipedia, free online encyclopedia, launched by Jimmy Wales.

2003 - MySpace begins, once the most popular social network.

2004 - Facebook launched as college social network by Mark Zuckerberg.

2005 - YouTube launched for free online video sharing.

2006 - Twitter launches.  First message, by Jack Dorsey, cofounder: "just setting up my twittr."

2007 - Apple introduces the iPhone.

2008 - First "Internet election," with presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton using the Internet to raise funds and gain supporters.

2009 - 40th anniversary of the Internet.

2010 - 1,966,514,816 people worldwide are on the Internet.  Apple launches the iPad, sells more than 3 million in first four months, 15 million in one year, and launches iPad2 in March 2011.

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I didn't fact-check this timeline, and I am skeptical about a couple of the entries  First, I had a mobile phone prior to 1996, as many of you likely had as well.  Sure, it looked like an enormous walkie talkie, but it was, in fact, a mobile phone.  I saw the now ridiculed phones pressed against ears as early as 1991, and I definitely was not anywhere near Silicon Valley at the time.  We called them cellular phones back then.  Maybe the author didn't count those brick-like relics.  I, did, however, own a Nokia by 1996, and the experience was appreciably different.  Also, I think there were many significant developments between 2001 and 2003.  For example, there were many startups that predated MySpace and Facebook, although they were ultimately unsuccessful.

All things considered, Cross provides an interesting historical perspective on "new" media.

Friday's Quote

Paris, France, via Fotopedia

 

The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.

-Honore De Balzac

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Finds

Happy New Year! 

Are you solidly resolved in 2013?  For us, organization is high on the list of themes for 2013.  William George, cute as he is, derailed some of our organizational systems during the last 18 months, but we are determined to get back on track. 

Once all routines return to normal (school, work, etc.), I will try to sit down at the computer (Santa brought us a shiny new one!), and load photos for sharing.  Until then, you are spared the 100,081,398,132,410,928,347,123,947,810,298,734 photos of our holidays. 

In the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of things.  First and foremost, please go NOW and pick up Southern Living's magazine devoted to crock pot recipes.  I purchased this prior to Christmas and, having tried a few of the recipes, fully endorse this magazine.  These recipes go way beyond the standard roast.  The magazine is only on the shelves for another week or so.  Hurry!  Go now!



Second, are you looking for a paper calendar?  If you are a busy mom managing your family's schedule, I recommend MomAgenda, and the genius of MomAgenda is being featured on Zulily at 70% off through Saturday, January 5th, at 8:00am.  I purchased my refill through a Zulily sale in September and was giddy over the 70% savings.  Giddy, I tell you!  Unfortunately, I cannot locate the refill.  I'm not exactly giddy about that part of the story.  See above comments about organization in 2013.  I clearly have some obstacles to overcome. 

Finally, I owe you all a huge apology about the Neiman Marcus-Target collaboration endeavour.  We were so busy I didn't get a change to make it to the store until a couple of days after the line debuted.

Y'all. 

The girl's Marchesa dresses were dreamy... other-worldly.  But those of you who know me well know there is no way I could spend $200 on a couple of designer dresses for my daughters -- as much as I love and adore them.  The price point for this collaborative effort was too high, and there is no surprise that these designer goods are still hanging on the racks at my Target as we speak, almost exactly one month after they arrived.

At the beginning of December, I did what any frugal girl would do: I picked up the Tory Burch lunch box (at $18.99, the cheapest designer item in inventory) and vowed to watch the clearance sales.  I am about to redeem myself for any sticker shock you may have suffered if you checked out these collaborations last month.  My clearance plan?  The time is NOW.  These items are 70% off.  The Marchesa dress?  $23.00!  Friends, it is time to shop!!! 

That's it for now.  Except, by way of confessional, our tree is still up, as are the outdoor decorations, and we are still lighting everything nightly, along with our neighbors.  We have made an unspoken agreement to continue with decorations through this week. 

Will you join us? 

2012

We wish you much love, happiness and peace in 2013.

Here is a look back at our 2012. 




2012 Lindsey Slideshow from Cathi Lindsey on Vimeo.

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Friday's quote

Antigua Guatemala, via Fotopedia Heritage

No one becomes forty without incredulity and a sense of outrage.

-Clifford Bax

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may 2013 be your best year yet. 

Visiting Santa

Not surprisingly, William George was not as enamored of Santa as his sisters were. 

Gracie's Milestones: Fourth Tooth

When eating with a dangling tooth became more and more difficult, we finally convinced Gracie that pulling her remaining front tooth would be the best course of action.  Therefore, after breakfast (and after cutting her food into tiny pieces so that she didn't have to bite into anything), she bravely let Skip pull her tooth. 

After that, we got dressed and went to visit Santa Claus.  She avoided all of the obvious all-I-want-for-Christmas jokes, and she got to write another note to the Tooth Fairy tonight. 

Dear Tooth Fairy,

I want to know what you bring next.  It's me, again.  My elf is named Zippy.  Please give some money to my sister; I will split it with her. 

Do you live in New York City?  In the "Red Apple"?  In the taxi? 

I'm glad you came.  My brother wants some money, too, please. 

I've got a toy castle like yours.  I have princesses in it. 

I love you, Tooth Fairy!  Thank you so much, and I'll see you again soon. 

Love,
Gracie

(&Lauren, too)
(& George)

P.S.:  Do you like peppermint bark?

With two visits from the Tooth Fairy, sitting on Santa's knee and an impending visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, Gracie is having the best week ever!

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School Parties

Whenever the duo decided they didn't want to go to school this week (and that was daily, if we're counting), we reminded them that this week -- the week before Christmas vacation -- is the very best week of the school year. 

 

Yesterday they had their Polar Express party.  They wore pajamas to school, watched The Polar Express and then read the book.  They had chocolate milk and cookies for snack.  Total score!

This afternoon was the Kindergarten class party.  The class filed into the lunch room and snacked on pizza, chips and cookies.  Then they read a book and received their goody bag and book. 

Skip was off today so the party was a family affair.  The girls and their entire class had a blast!

Ballet 2012

On Thursdays we go to dance, and last night was the exhibition for parents.  First, I need to apologize for the picture quality.  This year's class is in a different studio, and I was not prepared for the larger size.  Long story short, I had attached the wrong lens, and did not have time to switch them out.  (I should have used the 85 instead of the 50.)  Next, I was not prepared for the aqua walls.  While definitely bright and cheery, they reminded me of a trip to Tijuana I took in my 20's. 

All I can say is:  Wow.  That's a lot of aqua.  And doesn't the red look great against it?

Anyrate, the girls' show was fantastic, despite my technical difficulties.  They did a great job, and we celebrated by picking up pizza for supper. 

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Friday's Quote

Modern Bethlehem

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Apostle Luke
Luke 2:8-14

Happenings

We have had a busy final week of school.  In addition to the usual school situation, we went to the American Girl Book Club at our library Tuesday afternoon.  Last month they discussed Kit Kittredge, Gracie's favorite, and this month's focus was on Caroline Abbott, Lauren's favorite. 

Next, we had our last piano practice of the year Wednesday afternoon.  While the girls were awaiting their turn, they wrote letters to Santa.  Gracie wrote the alphabet, and then wrote "Bitty Twins, stroller," and "get this, Santa Claus"... Brief and to the point. 

Lauren was more wordy. 

Merry Christmas, Santa.  I want Bitty Twins.  I love you, Santa Claus.  I like your elfs.  I have bin so good so far.  Do you fly?  Dear Santa Claus, I wish you Merry Christmas.  I love my parents. [Ed. note: nice touch.] It the 2012 2013.  I already had a birthday.  Zippy.

Next, William George had an appointment with his allergist this morning.  Dr. L has the best play area and office in the city.  George likes the airplane, but he would have no part of the rocking boats to the left. 

Captain George getting ready for take off. 

George's first class passenger provided some fun. 

 

 

Dr. L thinks George is doing wonderfully.  He is having very few reactions, and his skin is significantly improved over this time last year.  He continues to have food restrictions and is a picky eater on top of that, but he's doing great. 

 

We are excited about the last day of school (before our brief break) tomorrow, and are ready to start all of the Christmas festivities.