next up or 101 ways to pout

Rosie, who showed us just how many faces of pouty she could do.
We tried props, we tried goofy faces, ours not hers, we tickled we begged we even pulled out the bubbles. Not a smile in there, not a one. And so it was, that this is what we have to commemorate Rosie's Christmas in 2007 at the age of 2. Sigh, I hold out hope that next year the grins will appear. (really even in such a serious mood she really is quite adorable)

and of course

he was just adorable, simply him.

next up

we did Yahaira who was simply wonderful, full of grins and laughter so incredible different from last year when...
she did this.
If the photo had audio you would hear her crying, loudly!
amazing what a year can do.

Christmas pictures

It was time for the annual Christmas photos taken by Nichole. We started with these two who did splendidly, and then it simply got interesting.

reindeer hats, and santa's face, and ornaments oh my!

The amount of cute crafts coming home from school and preschool has increased tremendously these past few weeks. Love all the holiday themed activities, love how eager they are to share what they did in "school" today. Here are a few of the favorites. Anthony's Santa face is just too cool. Moses' and Yahaira's angel ornaments are priceless, and it is a bit difficult to see that reindeer hat, and actually it is quite simply in it's design what I loved? The way she wore it all day and all night, pretending she was a reindeer. Soooo adorable!

an early Christmas present

Kevin's mom brought this the other day. She had been telling me about her new bird feeder and when I dropped her off the other night I commented on how cool it looked hanging outside her kitchen window. So in she comes with a bag and says Merry Christmas. I of course was super excited when I saw it, knowing it would be perfect to hang outside the daycare window. (it is a favorite pastime of the kids to watch the birds especially in the winter) Once she explained the story behind the feeder it just simply made it all the more special. The wood is from Kevin's grandma's walnut tree. A tree he certainly spent some time in while growing up. Love that connection to someone no longer with us. Betty built it...how cool is that???? Now we get to enjoy watching the birds. I smile each time I look out the window and see it. What appears to be a simple birdfeeder certainly has an amazing story to go with it.

a bit of reminiscing

2005
2006
2007
Been doing some organizing of my picture files. About a year ago I converted to a new picture program and at the time only loaded the current year's photos into it. These past few days I have been installing all the pictures I currently have in digital format (3 years worth) it has been a bit of a slow process, with frequent interruptions. (no longer do I just simply sit down and complete a task, sigh.) I'm choosing to not think about the remaining 20 plus years of pictures still in negative format, that task is simply too daunting to think about. But, as I loaded pics in I couldn't help but travel down memory lane. Above is three years of Christmas pics. I look at them and just wonder at the changes from one to the next. I know all to well how quickly time passes, you blink and they are in college, and yet I find myself surprised at just how much they have changed in such a small amount of time, I guess it's a simple reminder of just how fleeting their little years are. I'm going to be careful and not blink too often.

family pics...

Now if I had all my photos on digital I could certainly post a picture almost identical to the one's above. (I do not have them on digital, I don't see that happening in an incredible long time, I am slowly learning to accept I may not be able to do it all) So imagine a then and now photo, of course in the then the three kids would have a bit more lighter hair, and I would imagine Kevin and I would look a wee bit younger, but here we are with now. Of course the one thing that is the same, well several things actually, same house, same tree, but I digress, you will notice that it is two pictures, since I still haven't mastered setting the timer on my camera and managing to be in the photo. Sigh, I imagine that it is just a skill I am not suppose to master in this life.

Donna's cookie exchange

Here is the unbelievable assortment of cookies from the cookie exchange. I can not recall having ever participated in a cookie exchange. So when the invite came from Donna last week I was quite excited to join in. The thought of baking 10 dozen cookies and coming home with an assortment of 10dozen just sounded to great to pass up. Of course the reality of baking those 10 dozen proved to be interesting...little people are so amazingly helpful at times.(I have pictures and will post those later) The girls were the only ones up last night when I returned home and of course they had to help sample each and every cookie. Ummmm yeah I sampled too, sigh why does everything taste so much better when you aren't the one who has to make it? So thank you Donna for hosting this, something she says she has never done before, I am impressed since it seemed to have been done by a pro...I have been nibbling away today enjoying all the wonderful varieties. So many talented and creative cooks, so many types I have never tried, what a fun! fun! idea. So Donna.....are we doing this next year?

Sunday School program

This was Yahaira's first program, she was so excited! She has been asking for days, "I sing?" "On Sunday" I would tell her. A few moments later she would once again ask "I sing?" Yeah, she doesn't quite know the days of the week and yet I continue to give her answers in just that format, do you think I will ever learn? This morning she was the first one ready to go. After we arrived at church she was just bubbling with happiness. It was so amazing to watch her sing, so fun to watch her grin and wave when she spotted us.
Anthony is by now a seasoned pro at this whole program thing. He was giving Yahaira pointers this morning, loved hearing the "big" brother in him. As I attempted to pose this little crew in front of the tree this morning, Rosie seemed to think it should be her and only her in the photo, sigh. For one so small she can quite simply move mountains, or her big brother and sister if she so wants. As I looked thru the view finder to capture this photo I had one of those wonderful mom moments when I remembered another set of three, who stood most likely at one time or another in that very same spot, dressed in their Sunday finest, acting identically to the three currently in front of me. Who would have thought that I would once again be cajoling three little ones into a group pic before the Christmas program? Who would have thought that God would have sent three more little wonders into my life at a time when I certainly thought we were done raising little people. Who would have thought that for as much as each group of three is different in so many big and little ways they are also so alike in so many ways that truly matter. Who would have thought? Certainly not me.
and here she is. Singing her little heart out at her very first Christmas program.
and in case I forget it, that is simply what it's all about, little people enjoying the wonder that is this season.

Christmas Program

His first school program. They have been learning their songs for months, practicing all week at the high school, he has been super excited about participating. Tonight was the night. So fun to watch, so amazing to see him sing and smile and have a great time. I had super seats, front row and in the center. Perfect seats, thanks Linette. So unbelievable that once again I have a little one in the elementary Christmas program. Who would have thought?

tis the season...

For soup
Usually my skills run to chili. Yes,I have one soup skill and it would be making Chili, only chili. (Ok so I can open a can and heat up Campbell's but made from scratch, nope never been a talent I have possessed) Until this week, I have gone soup making crazy. I have made cheese soup, vegetable soup (pictured above) I really don't do vegetable's and loved this, what is that??? and chicken taco soup, which the daycare kids went nuts over, who knew? who knew? Why this sudden craze for soup? I would imagine the weather is a large factor, when it's freezing outside, and snowing soup just works, or it could be the new recipe book I purchased last weekend at one of the gas stations. Ok, so a gas station may not be the first place to look for menu ideas but I needed something to while away the time with while we drove home in that wonderful Minnesota weather. This book had tons of recipe's. Which I have had a blast trying, and discovering that home cooked really does taste better.

new babies...

For those of you who read that title and thought I was telling you about a new addition to our house, shame on you. God can't possible have that big of a sense of humor. As the picture shows these are little bitty babies for the little girls in my world. When I saw these on Etsy I instantly recalled the same little purse/cradle baby I had when I was little one. the base of my purse was the bottom of a dish soap bottle which was then crocheted to look like a purse when closed, but when you opened it inside was a tiny little doll, loved that purse, loved turning it into a cradle for the baby. No idea what happened to it, but I do remember fondly that little purse dangling from my wrist more often than not. So how could I not purchase these for Yaharia and Rosie???? I had to, and they are even cuter in person, these are completely crocheted no dish soap bottle bottom, and they come with a baby blanket and teeny tiny pillow, too cute. Can't wait for them to find these in their stockings, and watch them discover the hidden baby inside their purse.

I spy ...

What you may wonder is it "I Spy?" Is it the three stockings hanging on the window sill? (since we are lacking a fireplace, and thus a mantle, stockings in our house are hung from the window with care. Of course it takes every window in my living/dining room to accommodate all those stockings) No, that isn't what I wanted you to see. How about that adorable little snowman with equally adorable little light he holds which at night adds the most wonderful little glow to the room. No that wouldn't be it either, although thanks Linette and Gracie for adding that charming little fellow to my collection. It's there in that little white box, tucked behind the letter O, what is it? Why it's my very first Christmas card of the season. I had begun to wonder if I was ever going to receive some holiday mail. Rather impatient I am. It arrived yesterday...and it made me smile.

Christmas party...

Tonight ushered in the beginning of the season of Christmas parties. I admit I was not too super excited about attending. It could have been that I was going to have to go it alone, Kevin had to work. 1 adult 5 kids, pretty good odds for a disaster. Or it could have been that in general I am a rather quiet person by nature and the thought of attending an event with many people, where you are expected to chit chat and such can make my heart stop. Or maybe quite simply I was tired, exhausted even after working 13 hours today. It could have been any of those things or quite simply a mixture of all. But go we did, my little people were super excited, since this particular party was for them. Seeing Santa as we walked in the door only added to their excitement, a note I didn't go it alone my mother in law joined us. I don't think it was due to her overwhelming excitement at spending time with me and my crew but quite simply the fact that a free meal was involved. So are you wondering what the picture above has to do with the party, well that would represent the prizes won. I have one lucky group of little people in my home. At first Anthony was beyond excited about the candy, yes that would be a 6 pound bag of the sugared stuff, well actually the whole crew was excited about that, but with the next prize won, Anthony almost floated to the ceiling, look there in the lower left corner, that would be what had him grinning from ear to ear. Can you tell what that is? Yes that would be basketballs on those tickets, there are four of them, you just can't see them all, and if you squint and hold your eyes just so you may be able to make out the Timberwolves logo. Yep, there are 4 tickets to the Timberwolves game early next year. Lucky I tell you, so very very lucky!

sleep...

sometimes she does actually sleep. She fought taking a nap all afternoon, by 4pm I just gave up thinking perhaps she would go to bed earlier. (I know that never happens but I hold out hope that maybe once she will drift away to dreamland before 10pm) I put a movie in for the kids at 4 by 4:10 this is how she looked. Moments before she had been sitting on the table watching the movie (no I don't encourage sitting on the table, actually I have a rule that doesn't permit such an activity, the reason she does it, well that would require another post, a rather lengthy post at that) This picture simply captures who she is. She will run at full speed and then shut down in a blink, often amongst the chaos she has created. It requires a lot of energy to be 2. I can safely say she is a very good 2. Wishing I had just a wee bit of that energy.

Snow...

The first major snowfall of the season happened this weekend, of course we were out of town. Getting home late yesterday afternoon, no one wanted to think about venturing out into the Arctic that had taken over our landscape. This morning most of the little people had to be in school, but Yahaira bundled up to get her first taste of winter, she climbed and played having a jolly great time. Pretty certain Kevin wouldn't have chosen jolly to describe the time he was having. So glad he wouldn't teach me how to operate the snow blower when I offered a few years ago, in this case ignorance is bliss. Hey I'm all for staying inside and enjoying the beauty of the season from the comfort of my toasty warm house. The bottom pic is the view out my front window, rather like how the snow adds a rustic touch to my Christmas decor.

a note to Gracie....Yahaira loves her new boots, she came in and said "my toes are snuggly warm" Thanks for passing your boots on to her, it made her so happy!

signs of winter

The boots are out, as are the snow pants and winter gear.
The snowfall on Saturday officially ushered in the season of layers and bulk.
The organized person in me has to breathe deeply as we make space for the clutter that is
outdoor winter gear. Sigh, it is a major adjustment for me, since I love a clean uncluttered look to my home.
(OK, so I have kids some would say that look is impossible, I try. I simply try.)
So here is to the new look for my home, to the bulky, bundled layers now required just to survive the
outdoors, and of course to the cold and snow that are now a part of our lives for the next many months.
Sigh!

ice cream

the only pictures I have from our weekend in Moorhead, sigh.
Either the camera wouldn't work, or I simply forgot to use it.
I attended the Condcordia Christmas Concert with Beckie, Cassandra, and Anthony Saturday night. Despite traveling conditions being awful there was a packed house. What an amazing concert! Finished my Christmas shopping, that just makes me grin, and bought a pair of boots, sigh that is just depressing. I have lived this long without this item of clothing (I think the last time I owned boots had to be in elementary school, it is perhaps my minds way of denying that I live in the Arctic for too many months of the year) After tromping thru snow up to my knees (well really ankles but it certainly felt deeper) in clogs I decided Saturday night enough was enough and sucked it up and bought a pair. My toes were so happy, not to mention dry. What a concept a shoe that keeps your feet dry and warm, who knew?

rain + cold temps =

a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Unless you happen to be driving in those conditions then it just causes your head to throb and your body to tense and it's pretty likely your going to start getting crabby. We traveled to Moorhead on Friday to visit Beckie. On Saturday morning we woke to snow, which it continued to do the rest of the day. Steady snow, and at times heavy snow. Checking in with Linette back in St. James we discovered it was also snowing there, but later in the day it switched to rain. Needless to say no one was looking forward to the drive home. We woke this morning to more snow, sigh and the decision was to leave sooner rather than later. The interstate was drivable, mostly surface drifting but visibility was good as were the roads. Highway 4 was a nightmare, snow packed roads, blowing snow, at times visibility was mere feet in front of the van. Enter tense crabby adults (a note the portable DVD player I purchased a few years ago was a lifesaver on this trip) About Fairfax we entered the rain zone. With the sun shining the view was amazing....tried to snap a picture you can sorta get the sparkle effect. Naturally I could have enjoyed the beauty far more if I simply didn't have to worry about whether we were going to stay on the road or not. So happy to be home, so wonderful to see Beckie, but certainly it is a good thing to be home.