a little Christmas Cheer

There's nothing like two cute boys with reindeer hats and red noses to bring a little happiness to a person's day!





This one makes me smile too! This is technically flawed photographically but a keeper anyway for the moment captured. It was the first shot and I wasn't really prepared yet but I snapped the shutter because I loved the emotion.



And as we look forward to the chaos of of the big day filled with anticipation, shrieks of excitement, paper flying, over-eating, and all that wonderful stuff, here's a song (in song player in sidebar)that can even make you smile when your fingers are bleeding from getting the toys unhooked from their packaging! You know, those awful wire tie thingies!

For Grandma--We hope you feel better!

Grandma (aka Mom to Cody) has a boo boo and doesn't feel good so we made a little video to hopefully make her smile. Maybe Papa can show her this post in the hospital.



We all hope you feel better soon, Grandma!

Polar Express and Great Wolf Lodge

We took our two little conductors to ride the Polar Express Train in Grapevine. (actually called the North Pole Express) They had so much fun and we did too. The boys sang and danced to Christmas songs then boarded the train in their pajamas just like in the movie.
Here's a couple of shots








My mom gave us our Christmas present early this year. She gave us a stay at Great Wolf Lodge! We had a great time and we felt like we are on vacation as soon as we walked in. For some reason, (we didn't ask too many questions) we were upgraded to the room with a kid cabin with bunk beds. We also got a balcony. The boys played on those beds for about half an hour while Cody and I planned our activities for the day. The first thing we did was go swimming! At night we saw Santa and went to dinner. Then we came back to the room to change into PJs before going to storytime in the lobby where it snowed on us! When we got back to the room, an elf brought us (the boys) cookies and milk! The next day we swam and did waterslides until we could barely stand. It was a great time!

Smell that? Christmas is in the air!

Baking is a whole different experience when kids are involved but the time is well spent. It always feels like Christmas when there's something yummy baking in the oven. I remember going to my Aunt Dee Dee's house at Christmastime and the entire dining room table would be covered with all kinds of delicious cookies and other munchies. Our activities would happen to take us through the dining room at this time of year although we never seemed to even step foot in there any other time.
This Christmas we have been baking and decorating and baking some more. My moms group had a cookie exchange. I made turtle shortbread cookies shaped like Christmas trees. Here's a picture and the recipe:

TURTLE SHORTBREAD COOKIES
The turtle shortbread cookie recipe is a kicked-up version of an old holiday favorite! Throw in a little chocolate, caramel, and some pecans and you have a cookie that looks as good as it tastes!
Ingredients:
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) salted butter, softened 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon almond extract 4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt
Topping:
24 caramel candies, unwrapped 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips 2 teaspoons shortening 1 cup chopped pecans 72 pecan halves
Hardware:
Large bowl Small microwave safe bowl 1-quart saucepan Cookie sheets Waxed paper Mixer
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: In a large bowl, with an electric mixer set on medium high speed cream together the butter and almond extract.
Step 3: Stir in flour and salt. If dough is crumbly mix in an additional 1-2 tablespoons of softened butter.
Step 4: Place dough in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Step 5: Divide dough into 12 equal parts. Roll each part into a 1/4-inch-thick circle. Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Place wedges 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Step 6: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Immediately transfer cookies to a cooling surface for 30 minutes.
Topping:
Step 1: In a 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently until melted. Keep caramels warm on low heat.
Step 2: In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and shortening uncovered on high 1-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until melted and thin enough to drizzle.
Step 3: Dip 2 straight edges of each cookie into melted caramel, then into chopped pecans. Place cookies on waxed paper.
Step 4: On top of each cookie place a dot of chocolate in the center; place a pecan half on top of chocolate. Using the a baggie with a snipped corner, drizzle the remaining chocolate over the top of each cookie.
This turtle shortbread cookie recipe makes 72 wedges

Kyle and I also went to a Kids' Cookie Decorating Party at the Braaten's house. Meredith is one brave mama to let that many kids in her house wielding red and green icing hanging precariously from spoons and knives!
Here's Kyle at the party (Barrett was in school)

Catching snowflakes

I can't believe it snowed yesterday! I saw the snow when I was loading up the car for school. So I immediately went inside to tell the boys, but the phone was ringing. It was Cody calling from a business trip in Orlando. He was calling to see if it was snowing! He knew about the snow almost as soon as I did and he wasn't even here! That's my weatherman.
Here's a couple shots.

Personalized ABC Book

I've been so busy lately that the ol' blog has suffered. People keep asking me if they missed some posts. Well, I should be working but I need a break so I thought I'd do a little posting.

I am working on a personlized ABC book for the boys to give to them for Christmas. I'm almost finished so I'd thought I'd share in case you want to make one for your kiddos. By the way, I don't have a picture/idea for the letters N, X or Y...if you have any suggestions, bring 'em on! For X, I would do Xylophone but ours is packed up in storage! I guess I may have to go dig it out.

Here's a slideshow of what I have so far.

Love getting mail?

Who doesn't love getting mail? Well, of the non-bill variety anyway. We do. And we really love postcards. The boys like looking at the pictures and learning about different places. So, I was really excited when I came across this postcard exchange website Postcrossing.com

We signed up at sent out postcards to people in Finland, Australia, China, and California(2). So far we have recieved postcards from Korea, China, Japan, and Toronto. We have been looking up the locations on the globe every time we send or recieve a postcard and I told the boys what I knew about the countries/cities. I think I might look up info on the internet next time. Also, I hope to get a big world map to mark the destinations and origins of our cards. Everyday when we get the mail now, the boys ask if we got a postcard today! I love that they are learning about a world beyond their little world.

Go check out postcrossing...maybe we'll send you a card!

Tricks and Treats

Our Halloween was a fun family day full of tricks and treats.

A couple days ago, Barrett told me that he wanted to play a joke on Daddy. I said I'd help him and we hatched our little plan. The scene was set and all we had to do was wait for Daddy's coffee to kick in. Finally, we saw Daddy take some reading material into the bathroom and we waited...and waited...then he saw this and came out laughing:

Barrett is shhhhing because I told him not to mention anything about it to Daddy.

We all got a good laugh (to get the full joke read the blog post titled, Ribbit, Ribbit, Roar).

Up next, Bowling! This was a treat for the boys --they had never bowled and they had a great time. Kyle seemed to think screaming at the ball as it slowly inched toward the pins helped his game. They can't wait to go bowling again.
The pics are not great--it was very dark in there.




Dinnertime was a treat for us all, especially the boys. Gigi made homemade pizza and the boys got to eat it! We have started reintroducing foods that they have been allergic to and they have handled them well so far. They loved the pizza...not surprising. I wish I had counted the number of times they said, "mmmm" and "Thank you, Gigi." It was pretty much the only things they muttered the entire dinner. I think Gigi is going to have to make 2 pizzas next time!

It was a great Halloween and now I am recovering by sipping on some Sonic Iced Tea and eating some pilfered candy.

Ribbit, Ribbit, Roar!

Pretty stinkin' cute...

Kyle the frog


Barrett the Dinosaur





The boys went "Trunk or Treating" on Sunday at church. They brought home some serious loot to offer up to the Great Pumpkin. On Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin picks up the candy that we put out on the porch and leaves a gift in its place. The boys get to choose 5 pieces to keep. They are very excited about the Great Pumpkin!

On Sunday at Trunk or Treat, Barrett and some other boys started running around screaming and chasing (maybe following) Joshua. Kyle sat down and my mom asked him what he was doing. He said, "I need a moment of silence." hehe.

Later, I was changing Kyle's stinky pull-up when he said, "Peeyoo! That's potent!" Okay, so maybe this speaks badly of me. I mean my three-year-old can use potent properly in a sentence, but he's not completely potty trained?? Guess it's time for Potty Training Boot Camp.

po·tent
adj.
2. Exerting or capable of exerting strong physiological or chemical effects: potent liquor; a potent toxin.

Yup, that's about right!

If we seem especially sparkly, here's why...

We used a Martha Stewart kit but I don't think our handiwork is up to her standards. We think they are beautiful anyway! Thank goodness Gigi helped us out. There would have been glitter on the ceiling and in their mouths if she hadn't. there was glitter in, um, places I don't dare mention as it was.

ETA: I forgot to mention that we ditched Martha's glue and poured some good old Elmer's in a bowl and painted it on with a little sponge brush. Martha's was too thick and the brush was too small...and there was only one. I needed to keep these boys busy not waiting around for their turn.

Arboretum

just a photo...

Barrett-isms

A few weeks ago I blogged about funny things Kyle has said so now it's time to note a few of Barrett's recent funnies.


I love this photo of Barrett, red cheeks and sweaty hair...this kid works so hard at his job of just being a kid.

The other morning as we were leaving for school I hopped out of the car to take some pictures of the neighbors' horses that are temporarily grazing on our pastures. We have really enjoyed seeing them everyday. I had rolled down the windows so the boys could see better. I wanted the horse to look up for my photo so I called out, "Hello horsey!" There was no response. Then, Barrett called out to the horse from his open window, "Hola!" The horse looked up. At this point Barrett declared matter-of-factly, "That horse speaks Spanish, Mommy. You have to talk to it in Spanish."
Here's a picture I got thanks to Barrett.



Yesterday (and I am not entirely sure why) he said, "My tummy just beeped." I just stopped and looked at him sideways. Then we laughed. Either he had gas or he swallowed his bicycle horn.

When I picked up Barrett from school yesterday, his teacher asked me if I would be taking Katie home too. To which I said, "Uhhh, her mom and I have not made any plans for that..." Aparently Barrett and Katie had been saying all day that she was coming to our house after school. They had even discussed what they were going to eat for a snack and what toys they were going to play with. By the way, Katie told her mom (who told me) that Barrett likes to kiss her. oh my. Today was Katie's birthday party and I saw it first hand. Katie is adorable and so sweet. Barrett has good taste, but I think I am looking forward to the stage where all girls have cooties!




Barrett sometimes says his L sounds like the W sound. The other day, we were encouraging him to say the sound properly saying, "LaLaLollipop" etc. Then Barrett goes, "I have one! LaLaIce cream!"
By the way, Bare Naked Ladies have a fun kids' song called LaLaLemon which is great for practicing this sound.

The day will come...

I want to freeze this day. This moment in time. 6:49 am to be exact. Me, in my blue butterfly pajamas. The two of you in your Underoos crawling in bed with me, stepping on the trunk to help hoist you up. You make a laughing leap aiming to land in my arms but you only make it halfway and you get enveloped in sheets and blankets. Your head pops up and one of you asks sweetly, “Is it wake-up time?” I think to myself no but I say, “It’s close enough, come over here and snuggle with me.” You climb the rest of the way to my arms and squeeze in close. It takes more squirming than I imagined, but we finally all get comfy. You excitedly show off the pajamas you picked out, as if I had never seen them before. As if I wasn’t there last night when you chose them. I tickle your belly and call you silly. You tell me that you’re not silly and what your name really is. We tickle and laugh till we’re all out of breath and then cozy up for a few more precious, fleeting moments of cuddling. We sing our silly messy hair song and I am wishing we could stay like this forever. Cuddly. Affectionate. But, I know that the day is coming that you will no longer welcome my hugs and kisses, morning cuddles and incessant “I love yous.”
It breaks my heart that someday you will no longer want my affections. I don’t know what will cause this shift and I am secretly praying it doesn’t happen. Ever. I pray that it will be just a phase and you realize that in times when there are no answers, my arms can hold you and comfort you. That even when I’m too mad to talk calmly, I am always willing to give a loving hug. That no matter what, I always want to wrap you in my arms and give you all my love.
As you are reading this, a few years from now, you are probably in those resistant years when you ask me to stop. But I won’t stop. I will keep giving my hugs and kisses. I will keep saying “I love you.” Even if you yell, “Eewww!” Even if you feel embarrassed. Even if you wipe your face after I kiss it. Even when you tower a foot over me, I will never stop wrapping my arms around you and planting a big smooch on your cheek. Just like this morning. Just like when you were little. So you might as well just give in, my sweet boys, and get over here and give your mother a kiss.

Balloon Festival!

We had a wonderful time at the Plano Balloon Festival on Saturday night where we gathered with some friends and family to celebrate Kyle's third birthday. Even Nanny made the trek to see the hot air balloons up close and be there for the birthday celebration! Go Nanny! Before we got there, Barrett told Papa, "If you get in one, you will pop it!" I think they were very suprised about how big they were.







Let's take a closer look at Emma...nice. Oh and yes, she does have a shiner (she had a run-in with some playground equipment. I think the playground won, but I haven't seen it yet)









The birthday boy on his daddy's shoulders looking at the balloons. It reminds me of this Isaac Newton quote: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

I can't wait to experience this next year of his life as his mother. I love seeing the world through his eyes.

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Dear Kyle,
Happy birthday, buddy! You are 3 years old today. I often forget that you are the age you are because you are so smart and emotionally mature for a boy who is just turning three. You also have a great sense of humor, whether you’re telling a joke or just getting a kick out of life, you are always cracking up laughing. When you laugh really hard, you remind us of Snoopy laughing and we can’t help but to howl along. And when you’re not giggling, you’re smiling. What a truly amazing gift you have to be able to find joy and spread happiness. You are generous and great at sharing, and yet, you do not allow others to take advantage of you. A lot of grown-ups, including myself, could learn a thing or two from you! I also admire your gratitude and appreciation for little things. When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday this year, you excitedly said you wanted a birthday card. That’s all you wanted. I melted and then asked you if you wanted anything else. You said you would like a birthday card and a squishy ball. I am so proud of you and happy to be your mommy! I love you more than words can express.
Love,
Mommy

Some Kyle tidbits:
You usually eat your veggies before your meat, I think you may prefer them.

You still love to sleep with books at night…books and Sock Monkey.

You have gone through about 200 band-aids this year alone!


Here' the birthday morning picture. He had already removed his pajamas by the time I knew he was awake and went in to take the pic. He has the two books he slept with, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, and I Love You Stinky Face.

NewYork

Cody and I just spent 8 days without mexican food in New York City and the Niagara Falls area. We had a great time and look forward to taking the kids there someday in the not so near future. New York City is such a unique place with soooo much to see. We had plans to get up early each day to go to the Today show but everyday we were so exhausted from the day before that we couldn't get our hineys out of bed...pretty pathetic. I have lots of newfound respect for those people who actually do get up and have so much energy at that hour.
We were in Manhattan for less than an hour when I spotted Francis McDormand from Fargo (Marge) walking down the sidewalk right in front of us. It was also very cool to see places that I studied in architecture school, and places we've seen so many times in movies and TV.
When we went to the top of the Empire State Building we spotted a rooftop that had plants and seating. So we figured out where it was on our map and went there that night. It was an amazing, chic rooftop bar with (obviously) an amazing view of the Empire State Building. They provided red robes to keep warm so we all kind of looked like weird, yet festive monks.
Some pictures...There were so many but here's the gist:

We took the Staten Island Ferry to and fro one night before dinner. Lady Liberty is an American treasure.


We did the Liberty Island tour, too


We had some frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. Cody wants me to make it clear that he only went because he was with me. I guess he doesn't want to give up his man-card.


Eating hot dogs at the Yankee game (To our Red Sox and Rangers friends and family-we just went as tourists and we were absolutely miserable the whole time. The game was a bore and we were not standing in the asiles at the end hoping to see Jeter beat a Yankee record.) What can I say for our behavior other than "When in Rome..."



Cody's BIG moment at FAO Schwartz


Niagara Falls was truly amazing. We saw the falls from the Ontario side-gorgeous!


Niagara Falls


Oot and Aboot in Toronno (as the local guy I talked to at a coffee shop said it.) We took a day trip to Toronto during the Toronto Film Festival. While there we saw Neil Patrick Harris, Owen Wilson, Ashley Simpson, and Howie Mandel who came into the Starbucks we were sitting at. I got some papparazzi-like pictures.

Kyle-isms

While I am feeling a bit guilty about the fact that this post is all about Kyle, I think I am feeling more guilty about the fact that I will be missing his first day of preschool. I sure hope my mom takes some good pictures for me.



Barrett is at Grandma and Papa's for the first part of our trip to New York. So yesterday and today it's been really quiet with just us and Kyle. But it's fun to see his little brain working and hear the stuff he comes up with. Here's a few quotes from the past couple of days.

The first one was when we were on our way to meet Grandma so he and Barrett were talking in the backseat when I heard this.
Barrett: "You have to listen to me, I am your father."
Kyle: "You're not my father...Mommy is!"

Yesterday, Kyle said, "Mommy, I need a Band-aid, I have a boo boo!" I asked if it was bleeding and where it was. He said, "Riiight here. It's small so you can only see it with a microscope."

This morning when he was coloring I asked him where the blue marker was. Kyle looked around and said, "Here it is! I dropped it on a porpoise."

And then we all went to get Cody and Kyle haircuts before our trip. Kyle went first and immediatly got a lollipop when he was finished. Then, we watched Daddy get this haircut. Kyle said, "Daddy, if you sit really still, you get a lollipop!"

I already miss Barrett and I am going to miss Kyle too. But Cody and I will have a wonderful, no dishes, no diapers 8 days on our vacation! Thank you Mom, Cindy and Stacy for taking care of the boys while we're gone! We'll be checking in!

Homemade Tic-Tac-Toe board

The boys love doing crafts (and all the verbal praise that comes with them). One morning Barrett asked to do a craft and so I went to my craft drawer and found popsicle sticks, and bag of black and white buttons, and magnets. My tic-tac-toe board was conceived! The boys (ages 2 and 4) did very well at this and loved playing with the buttons. The magnets keep the game pieces from slipping around and getting lost. Now they are learning the game and most importantly, practicing taking turns!





On a somewhat related note, I know some of my friends have considered homeschooling. I wasnted to pass along my friend Danielle's blog. She homeschools and posts a lot of interesting stuff about it.

Outtakes

A friend of mine suggested I post some outtakes from a photo session with my kids, so here goes. Hope this makes you feel better. I get LOTS of these...
(These are straight out of camera, no editing.)

Here I have caught them BOTH with their eyes closed--nice.


Doing everything but following mommy's directions...Oh so many of these.


Awww, poor Kyle. Why is he crying? Because I fell off the thing I was standing on and landed on his finger. I accidently hit the button.


And this one is probably the most typical kind of outtake...one brother trying to be sweet while the other one doesn't want to be touched.