Miss Morgan - 15 months

SNOW!
We've had record snow fall here in Stuttgart I hear. All I know is that it was fun the first few times and now I'm itching for a good thaw! The upside is being able to send the kids out to play in the yard and they love using their silly sleds! Usually I send the boys out or go with them if Morgan is napping. One day I took Morgan out with McKay before naptime. She hadn't walked on the snow before and was real interested in watching McKay sled down our little backyard hill.

I bought this snow suit back in early October when Morgan turned 1 and was positive she'd grow out of it this winter. She can barely walk in it with so much extra fabric on her lil' bod! Lovin' the waddle!

I took her down our "hill" and she loved it the first time! She's a rather fearless girl and it always surprises me! When we're playing and I go to chase her, she'll either stand her ground giggling or run right at me. My boys always fled in fits of nervous giggles!

PLAYTIME!

Mommy-in-Training - She soooo thinks she's in charge around here, can ya tell?! The first thing she does when taken out of her crib is to find a doll or stuffed animal to love on. The best is how she clutches any stuffed animal around the neck pressed tight to her own chest, with love pats. If feeling 'da love, she'll then put the animal on the floor and body slam it. So sweet, huh? Then she takes stock of what family members are home and what they're up to. Next it's time to eat and then play!

Climbing - One of her favorite climbing apparatuses and perch is on top of this car structure. The others include the bathroom and kitchen stools. Notice she's brought a stuffed animal along. Today she figured out she can push the kitchen stool around strategically. Tonight it was to eat handfuls of butter. Heaven help me.

Trash Cans - Yeah, raiding the kitchen and bathroom trash cans are a current favorite unfortunately. On the flip side, she will sometimes follow directions to throw away trash if it suits her whim and she gets enough cheerleading. Since she's taken to chewing and spitting her food out after being let down from her high chair so there's deposits of her meal elsewhere in the house, trash runs are now a game we play often.

Music - When Morgan wants to come hang with me on a bed or couch, she'll bring a stuffed animal as a peace offering with an expectant angelic face to be picked up. The sweetness deteriorates real fast into defiant yells and on down to banshee screams if I do not comply with her first request. Once she's attained her desired spot as the center of my world face to face, she begins to "sing" so that I will sing to her. I still think "I'm a little teapot" is an apt anthem for our Ms. Jane! We do a lot of Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle twinkle little star, Wheels on the Bus, Gung-gung went the little green frog one day . . . It's really pretty adorable and I will miss this phase when it passes.

Music often saves our bacon while I attempt to do chores. She is always eager to help me when I put something in the dishwasher, a toy bin, a drawer - she undoes it and a few of the item's friends. Talk about taking one step forward and a few steps back! Crankin' up the tunes is becoming a new cleaning ritual and she just shakes what she gots! It is so cute!

An often redeeming trait of her current developmental stage is that I can say, "Morgan, where is your ____? Can you go get it?" She'll quickly toddle her way over to get the item and bring it back, proud as proud can be! Often that moment away will allow me to let go of my frustration.

The other night during a round of Cities & Knights with some of Ryan's coworkers, Morgan "helped" me make chocolate chip cookies. She loves being up on the kitchen stool surveying my work. I've discovered the stool is a much better place for her than the tugging, pushing of my legs. She's not shy about her supervisory role doing quality control. You always know just where you stand.

2010 can now begin. . .

I finally have a calendar for all the family business. The year may now commence with my blessing! So little selection here and the images and info online were not big enough or detailed enough to induce my purchasing in addition to having to wait. I've settled and made my peace with a random Audobon floral theme. Que sera!

Since Ryan and I share the van and my days with the van entail an ordeal of a morning and afternoon routine, I don't often advocate for the luxury of the liberty. On days I have the car, I often need to stack all my errands on top of each other, mindful that one or two kids will not get their much needed naps and regular sit down meals which I know I'll pay for with bits of sanity throughout the day. You can then probably well imagine that some days I ache to get out by myself. To run errands and actually browse what a store contains beyond the menacing list. Saturday was one of those glorious days and it was so productive I'm still on a high, even if the list was long!

IKEA finally had the item I needed in stock! Ryan agreed on same side table lamps I photographed before purchasing since I abhor making returns especially with a language barrier! One of the small malls had some good clothing sales and the PX had the items on my list! I said to myself, "Self! Great Day!" And then brought home a late lunch for Ryan as a peace offering. He had his own peace offering waiting, one of my very favorites - clean kitchen, living and dining rooms! I love this man!

I went about clearing out cluttered catch-all drawers around the house on an organizing kick. We're short on space and ways to store our precious junk in these parts, but a dear friend gave me an idea I wanted to put to work for us. It's not my favorite decorating look, but I sure do love how utilitarian it is!

A hanging shoe rack for easy access to basic art and office supplies on the back of the play room door. The kids will not know it's there for some time I'm sure since this door is rarely closed unless Morgan is in there taking a nap in the pitch black darkness. The bottom compartments are empty because it is now kid-tested, mother approved! I'm betting Morgan will soon be stuffing her favorite toy collections of the moment in them. My friend uses these hanging shoe bags in different rooms in the house for their family's extensive game collection, various bathroom toiletries, and perhaps another coming soon for all her baby daughter's darn cute items like socks, tights, bibs and what not. I'm thinking how handy one of these will be for keeping some of the oft-needed tools visible and accessible for quick fixes. The possibilities are endless! Short-term, cheap solution now employed on this premises!

And so another week begins! I vow that it won't be Thursday before I feel like it's Monday this week! Last week threw me for a loop with MLK Day, a sick day, and a recovering the house from a vacation and being sick / prepare the house for Ryan's coworkers coming over for a game night sort of day. Last week just didn't stand a chance of being real productive you see. I love new beginnings and the hope that I can do things better even if I know my efforts will be hijacked often. I had a great afternoon visiting with a friend on Friday all because I volunteered to have my day hijacked. Sometimes it's the best sort of day when your plans come to nothing!

Why was the calendar important again?

McKay's shiner

Last week at the kindergarten, McKay had tried to move a big bench and he slipped and got a good shiner. I thought maybe he'd been trying to show off his ski jump moves he and Easton had started doing off the couch after seeing a couple skiing commercials for the mountain resort we were going to for MLK weekend.

McKay greeted me with a "Hi Mom!" And then his face fell and he was in tears remembering to tell me about his ouchie. Oh so cute! The teachers iced it at the school as best you can do with a three year old. I tried to make sure it was clean and to put some Neosporin and a bandaid on it but McKay would have none of it!

You can see he's a bit puffy the next morning, but pretty happy with his battle scar.


That morning, a couple of the teachers asked what the doctor had said. I hadn't taken him to the doctor because he'd been the same kid all day and didn't seem to be affected by it at all. One teacher shook her head disapprovingly at me and pointed at the dark circle under his other eye as if to say it was spreading. Thank goodness I hadn't worn any make up so I could show her he got the dark circles from me. Sorry, kid! I got 'em young too, even before I was a book-aholic!

Peer Pressure

Put me in Coach! I'm ready!

McKay loves the ski goggles and can't wait for his turn on the slopes!

Not me. I had a stomach FULL of butterflies. All last week. Last year when we arrived in Germany, I had just had Morgan so I was free from making excuses of why to not join Ryan skiing. Ryan loves to ski! He grew up skiing quite a bit and worked a couple seasons on the slopes in Utah. No excuses this year. Easton even said he'd teach me how! Morgan's a year old and we had my fun, cute niece Camilla on hand to watch the two little ones in our hotel. No excuses.

I can't even recall the last time I skied, but it was in my mid-teen years I think. I have siblings who weren't even born yet, that's how long ago it was! Since I've only skied a handful of times in my life, I never quite got my legs under me but enjoyed it minus the sore aches and pains afterward. Growing up, just about every adventure with Dad required a bit of bravery. His zest for life made you not want to miss out and skiing was one of those things that I braved because of him! I love seeing my Dad proud of me for trying! Or at least being a part of his stories we tell over and over!

Since Easton was joining Ryan and I on the slopes, at least I had an excuse to stick to the bunny hills and that gave me a minor sense of peace. That is, until we got off the ski lift and I saw the degree of the slope to get to the bunny hill! HOLY COW!!! And I didn't see anyone walkin' on down it carrying all their equipment. For heaven's sakes, three year olds where gliding on down that hill with no poles, and that's no joke!

Ryan was excited to get Easton back on skis and he was the most patient and sweet man anywhere to be found. Easton had taken ski school last winter, but as we've now determined, he really only got used to being on skis and how to step into position to sail straight down the hill. No ability to turn or stop yet and he didn't really care to learn - just point him down hill and let 'er rip!

Back to being at the top of the hill leading from the main lift down to the various other areas like more lifts, the restaurants, and the beginner slopes. Getting down would be our initial ski experience. I was very terrified, uh . . . I mean concerned. After watching tons of people (decades younger than me) click into their skis and zoom off, it was our turn. Ryan had positioned Easton on skis between his own two skis to help guide Easton down. I was on my own. Thanks a lot, partner!

Easton was not too thrilled about going up the mountain in a huge lift. All the josteling at the lift (European style = no lines, no order), had him and I a bit shaken up. He thought we'd have to ski all the way down. At the top, he was near meltdown even though we kept reassuring him. I had to be brave, shakin' in my own boots, for him. Also, I didn't want Ryan to see me wimp out. Argh! Peer pressure!

Think of this area like an elongated >. We start skiing down and Easton freaks out which lands Ryan and Easton off the left bank which drops off five feet into a fence before we get to the turn. I was panicking on my own and just let myself come to a stop by drifting up the right bank before the turn. Whew! Cool, I'm alive and just about ready to call it a day! I'm exhausted! Oh darn, Easton's not happy? Do we need to go sit and drink some hot chocolate? Oh wait, we just paid and arm and a leg for our gear and lift tickets. We. Must. Have. Fun. Buck up, lil campers, we're in for a bumpy ride!

Ryan is mortified. He's a skier. Falling off the edge of the trail to the slopes doesn't happen to skiers apparently.

We finally get to the bunny hill and they've got this great little motorized ramp! We're gettin' lots of milage on this baby today! And it's so much easier than those rope tows once you get your balance.

The first handful of times down, Ryan takes Easton. They're having a good time! But I know Easton can do it on his own. He's brave enough, I know it!

Since I'm such a great observer, and less a doer, I note to Ryan that I think Easton would do better not holding on to Ryan because it'll make him be brave and not lean on dad.

Scarecrow coming through! Timid at first, smiling by the end each time!

View of our bunny hill and the tubed motorized ramp. Those hoops have bells on them for the kiddies to ring as they adeptly glide on through.

I take a long pause each time at the top (after almost falling over getting off the ramp and chuckling to myself at what the operator must think). I gotta psyche myself up for each run. I can do this. I'm a big girl. Oh wait, that's why I'm worried. More parts to ache and bruise! Wait! Be brave. Ryan and Easton and other three year olds and little Asian ski school 6 year olds bobbing through the hoops, ringing bells are watching! I go down. I'm gingerly turning right and left then gradually coming to a stop at the bottom with my trusty "pizza slice" snow plow move. Phew!

After conquering the bunny hill I'm ready for a new challenge. Getting over to the next hill is the challenge. This was taken at the bottom of the bunny hill and we had to get ourselves over to the other tow you may be able to distinguish in this picture.

Catching the rope tow just about yanks my arm out of its socket! Then baby steps up to the next rope tow around the corner to the left and a more formidable beginner slope. I rode all the way to the top of it wondering what in world possessed me to think this was a good idea?! What am I trying to prove?! I get off at the top and Ryan's all excited for me. I'm now muttering to myself, trying not to hyperventilate. I can't even distinguish Easton at the bottom waiting, he's that far down and I have SKI there?!

Ryan asks if I want to follow him. No way, man! Then I'll probably freak out thinking I'll crash into you! Better just bite the bullet and do it myself so I start off and am doing okay until the second turn. YIKES! I panic in a half attempt to turn and don't commit enough. I fall. I slide myself down to a friendlier angle to get back up. Ryan can tell I'm a bit stuck so he comes on up to the rescue. He tells me he'd been so impressed I went all the way to the top and not gotten off at the half-way "exit". Are you crazy?! I didn't realize there were options! There was a half-way point up the rope pull with a gentler slope down. Oh well! Skiing down the gentler half went off with much more grace.

After a few runs down this bigger hill (the friendlier bottom half, mind you) Easton didn't want to try this one so we ended up heading back down to the initial run for the rest of the half day after some refreshment: apfel strudel with vanilla cream sauce and a big 14 inch long, fat bratwurst covered in BBQ sauce dusted with curry powder plus fries. So local!

In the end, I was proud of myself for trying and am even open to doing it again. I could have done more, but was also so close to chickening out so many times. I was so exhausted from all the internal pep talks! I'm in this personal spot right now where I'm realizing how much I let fear enter into the details of my life and keep me from moving forward. This challenge solidified some things for me.

I am beyond proud of my husband and his mad skills skiing backwards while helping Easton! I always love seeing Ryan doing something he loves which is the biggest reason I agreed to do this in the first place. And again, the highest applause to his patience with his two beginners! I can only imagine how boring that bunny hill must have been to him! He totally rocks my world! And so do fearless three year old skiers all decked out in their cute gear!

Told ya so!

We're back from McKay's kindergarten and he's not real hungry, just tired. But sitting down to eat lunch with McKay and Morgan after preschool is just part of my day. I'd rather be doing lots of other things while they are occupied, but they eat more and better if I'm eating too, that whole quality time / role model thing at work I hear. Today's separate three courses were as follows: PB&J, buttered peas, and red grapes.

McKay thought it was real cool to pinch a grape between his index and middle finger on one hand and suck real hard until it vacuum popped into his mouth. At first I thought, how fun and creative, right? Then I had serious flashbacks of the kid I babysat once who choked on a hard piece of candy and I had to use my first aid training. I let McKay know it was a real bad idea and he could choke, but as I got Morgan down and cleaned up I could hear him doing it still. A couple more fruitless, or rather fruit-full, slurps and warnings were given.

This kid is particularly willful. No, he's probably just particularly three. A few minutes later he choked. Not bad, just enough to really scare him good since he swallowed a small grape whole. He was terrified. I gritted my teeth and never said, "I told you so!" but helped him calm down. I could tell he knew I was right and that's all I wanted - beyond him being safe, of course!

Now he and Morgan are playing "together" in the playroom. McKay is setting up his cones to bowl with his Nerf football and Morgan is trying to sit her teddy bear on top which means fighting will commence in the next ten seconds and McKay will start hollering, "Nein! Morgan, NEIN!!!" Note I did not say playing well together. That will only come with time. Right?

And the daily dilemma - to put them down for naps before Easton's bus comes or not? How seriously tired are they and what will they do to me if I don't? It's a 20 minute investment in futility or late afternoon/dinner prep sanity. Hmmm . . .

A ring's a ring, right?

We had the missionaries for dinner last night. While I was finishing the stroganoff sauce, Ryan came in and said he'd lost his wedding band. He'd been moving one of the kids' car seats for one of the Elders when his ring flew off his finger and he thinks landed somewhere in the snow at the train station. I felt bad, but at the same time chalked it up to yet another "bad luck with rings" family tale. Sad to say, we've -- or more accurately, I've -- got history here folks.

Four months after we were married, Ryan and I flew separately (to save money on flights) back to my family for Christmas. I've never been a ring gal and was still getting used to wearing one. While flying, I took off my wedding band and laid it in my lap to put lotion on my hands. Then the person next to me needed to get up and use the lavatory. I quickly got up without remembering my ring was in my lap. I sat down and finished my lotion lathering and panicked. My ring!!! The flight attendants made a couple announcements and some people looked around a bit but no luck.

When the flight landed, the attendants and cleaning crew helped me look for it. Best guess is that the ring must have landed in someone's bag because we were seriously pulling up seat cushions and digging around on the floor. Grossness!!! When Ryan and I were reunited in the airport, I broke down into tears such that he thought someone must have died! I choked out the tale and he calmed me down and said it was just a ring, we could get another. A couple months later when we found I was pregnant, we got a simple gold band. I was a proud and happy married pregnant working gal and wanted the DC metro train riders to be assured of it. A mouthful!

Fast forward four years later to the summer before Morgan was born and we vacationed with family on a beach in Maine. It was one of my favorite vacations of all time! I woke up early one morning to walk alone on the beach and watch the sun rise. After my walk, I sat in the sand to take it all in. When done, I got up and as I brushed off the sand, my ring flew off my finger into the now sun-lit shimmering gold sand. Great. Perfect. I spent about a half hour combing the area. Another simple gold band replaced it a couple weeks later.

So when Ryan announced he'd lost his ring, it almost felt like it evened the score with my previous losses. I really loved his ring and would miss it. After dinner, Ryan asked the missionaries if they'd be willing to help him go back and look for the ring. I have to admit I thought it was fruitless to even try searching for it. We got about a foot of snow last weekend and after the snow plows and all the cars going in and out of the lot on top of it being dark outside -- what were the chances?!

As we ended the evening, Easton asked Elder Ault to offer our closing prayer. This Elder offered a beautiful, humble prayer asking for help in the search for the ring which symbolized the important and eternal temple covenants we had made when married. It was eloquent, simple and reminded me how important that ring is. Then off they went into the cold dark night to search while I cleaned up and let the kids run off their excited energy and take baths.

But wouldn't ya know it - Ryan returned triumphant!!! He said they had searched in vain for about 15 minutes and Ryan was ready to call it quits. One of the Elders said a silent prayer, then turned and headed to a spot in the snow. There it was.

Ryan told me the story and I insisted he take the boys aside and share it with them too. As he did, we all talked a second [McKay's only three so that's all the time I gots] about how important it is to married in the temple so our family can be together forever and the power of prayer, that Heavenly Father listens and answers us. The moment was not lost on me and Ryan even if the boys were more concerned about what story we'd read before bed.

I'm so grateful for that Elder's prayer in our home that reminded me why the ring is important. I'm so grateful for the Holy Ghost touching my heart telling me it is true. Even if the ring had not been found, I needed that reminder. I feel like I've been getting lots of reminders lately. In the past week as Ryan and I kiss in greeting or farewell, McKay's always watching and always says, "Mom? Are you married?" Yup, Yup, I am I am! HURRAY FOR ME!!!

I'm so happy Ryan chose me and keeps choosing me. At FHE on Monday, I unveiled our new family schedule and responsibilities chart to involve everyone more, lift some of my burdens, and teach the boys some new skills. While smoochin' last night I noticed Ryan hadn't shaved and commented. He said he hadn't had time to shave because he's in charge of making the kids' sandwiches for their lunch and he couldn't let me down on the first day! And that's one big reason I chose and will keep choosing HIM! The ring is just icing on the cake but as we all know, icing is divine! So is leftover chocolate trifle for breakfast!

Felt like . . .

The first week back to school after the Christmas break! Back to routines and the backpack shuffle. Time to pack up all the Christmas decor and goods until next year. I thought I would get so much more done with school starting back up, but I often had my two littler ones with me because I didn't want to tramp to and from McKay's school or just took him with me to run errands.

I took a lot of time to play with McKay and Morgan this week. McKay and I built his first Lego cars, tickled often, snuggled even more, and I taught him how to catch the bouncy ball by grabbing it out of the air. At quiet time I read him a story or two before he rolled over and fell asleep -- which I realized this week he does exactly like his dad! Anyhow, it's not uncommon for me to doze off mid-sentence during the book I'm reading him, but I think I've mentioned this before. Once this week when I did, I vaguely remember McKay stroking my face a few times and I awoke nose to nose with him. So sweet, a memory I will cherish forever! Man, he's such a love bug!

When it came time to get things done, however . . .


This is the sweet little vice that held me captive! That would be a "mommy" from our doll house in her mouth, but it might as well have been me! [Oh, and lots of teething drool, she's getting big chompers in back!] This little gal's got my number and knows it! She demands my attention very vocally, especially anywhere near the kitchen to see what grub she can banshee scream out of me. It's oddly worth it sometimes as she waddles after me audibly smacking her lips on our way to the table. Here's her nice "Come here, Mom" beckoning:

On the topic of food, Morgan's favorites are blueberries, bananas, clementines, cereal with milk like her brothers, and now also PB&J sandwiches as well as beans in soups. Unless well-consealed in a meal, she gets her veggies via baby food jar when I know she's starving before meals. It's the ONLY time she'll let me feed her with a spoon I hold. Argh, such a struggle! Otherwise the fresh good stuff ends up on the floor beneath her chair. She's much pickier at dinner but if I leave her alone and we all start eating and talking, she'll pick at her plate with her hands and token spoon eating a good portion and sometimes more than her whining brothers. Can't please 'em all!

Morgan's redeeming new interest is snuggling with me which I'm eating up! I believe I can confidently say her first word is "Stop!" I heard her declare it a few times today when I was kissing on her. Darn smarty pants! Just wish she weren't trying to drop her naps already! Aaaack! The boys happily napped past three years old! Rockin' my world she is!

Her hair is getting so long on top and growing forward that it must be put up each day or she's blind. Today as I had her up at the table snacking on goldfish while I did her hair, I was frustrated by her squirming and more with my awkward attempts to get those blasted little rubber bands around her pig tails. I also had a daunting, full to do list I wouldn't let go of swirling in my brain. At that moment, McKay approached and freaked out that Morgan was eating his goldfish. In his attempt to take them from her they flew everywhere. I. Lost. It. with a capital "I."

I sent him to his room and he was screaming, but with a wounded heart scream that broke my heart in pieces. It wasn't his fault, it was all mine. I finished my calf roping session, took a deep breath and headed in to apologize and hold my little guy. He wrapped his arms around me with instant forgiveness as I cried and said I'm sorry over and over again. He just let me hold him for a long time, patting me on the back. That's love man! This whole repentance and forgiveness thing is so much more real to me as a mother. Lots of chances to practice.

As Ryan and I worked on Saturday chores throughout the day, I marveled at how dads can accomplish chores and stuff with comparatively less interruptions than the mom in this house. I'm guessing this is universal? If not, please share! The cries of hunger I could definitely do without, but I often don't mind kissing munchkins with ouchies or hurt feelings! In those times I realize I love being their mom and that they want me, just haven't-showered-still-in-pjs-at-3pm ME! It's a pretty great thing.

Dinner and a Movie

Today is a snow day, as in it snowed all day long! School wasn't cancelled unfortunately, but we are getting some good accumulation. Ryan came home early from work so I was able to take just the boys out into the wintry weather for some sledding. What fun to act and feel like a kid again! I've done a lot of that this week playing with my little ones, a conscious decision to enjoy them more.

When we came in from our fun, Ryan went for a nap while I caught up on other stuff. Then the boys started rumbling for some dinner. Grrrr. We'd gotten a dinner invite from another family but cancelled because of the snow so I wasn't prepared or in the mood to be creative.

The boys had just put on their new Snow White movie and it reminded me of when I was a little girl at 711 S. Irving. On select Sunday evenings, my parents would gather us in the basement for a dinner of popcorn, orange juice, carrot sticks and whatever Disney movie was playing on TV. (This was many, many years before cable or the Disney channel ever existed in my world.)

We'd pile onto a big red and black plaid bean bag, munch on popcorn and watch our shows! I remember Dad piling onto the bean bag with us kids when we were real little. I think mom probably opted for something more comfortable. The evening usually began with Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom" and I remember Dad enthusiastically getting us into the show, a true classic! I still love that theme song!

Then we'd be ready and totally excited for whatever Walt Disney was ready to show us. He'd introduce each show until later I remember Michael Eisner took over that part. I remember watching classic Mickey Mouse and other shorts as well as the featured movies like Snow White, Mary Poppins, Fox and the Hound, Peter Pan, Bednobs and Broomsticks, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and the Apple Dumpling Gang. It always felt like such a treat to watch TV on the Sabbath!

Tonight as I popped our dinner on the stove, a rare occurrence here, but oh so yummy!, I told my boys of that fun memory. They were a bit incredulous but were pretty darn happy to have popcorn and OJ while watching their show for dinner! Watching my boys laughing at those seven dwarves' antics was one of those surreal parent moments where you feel everything has come full circle in a fabulous way! Ryan had overheard us earlier and said, "Hey, you never told me that before!" So here it is for the family memory book!

EDIT: Debate on whether those shows aired on Saturdays or Sundays? I could have sworn they aired Sunday evening and a quick search said Disney aired on Sundays first, then Saturdays for awhile and then again on Sundays. Wild Kingdom was on Sundays as far as my quick search could find. ??? I also had the wrong address from my childhood - 1125 North Irving Place, but there was a 7-11 store down the road a little ways! Perhaps I was merging to faves into one? They did have my favorite kid candy there for quite some time, loved them Sixlets. That's the trouble with memories, ya need witnesses to corroborate!

Holiday Favorites

An effort to document some of our holiday happenings . . .

Easton turned 6! True to the Bare within me, we didn't get to have his ice cream cake on his birthday - just a couple days late although it was made on his birthday! More on this in another post soon hopefully!

Christmas

To help our kids get and share the Christmas spirit, I baked like a mad woman one day to pull together cookie plates for a FHE. We sure enjoyed singing and chatting with our friends!!! We may have to add more night of this next year it was sooo fun! With all us Americans and a British family so far from home, it just felt that much better to be out spreading Christmas cheer!

I gathered some new ward friends for a Christmas Eve party to enjoy food, chatting, a small-kid-friendly nativity play, and a fun game. What's Christmas without a gathering?! The fun Palmers hosted the whole crowd and the kids loved Staci's classic toys! Hurray for a yummy wassail recipe!

I got such a kick out of Ryan waking up early on Christmas morning to create a dreamy ambiance in the living room - lit up the tree, started the soft Christmas music, and lit candles. Every day he comes home, he lights up the tree and I love that about him!

Watching the kids handle the nativity set while Ryan read the story was real special to me. Baby Jesus definitely got some lovin' from Morgan's slobbery teething lips!

Easton opened DS games and tried to patiently find the elusive DS which Ryan had hid. All morning we captured his search with the camera but I won't post the whole thing! After the tree was emptied, he was so sure it was in his stocking and there were hints of waterworks when it wasn't there! Easton sure was in HEAVEN and Ryan loved orchestrating the run around!!!

(I'm still torn on the DS, but ordered a parenting book to salve my conscience and teach me how to set healthy age appropriate gaming limits. We'll see if it lives up to its good reviews! Easton will forego meals and all else to continue playing video games but he's also intuitively good at them. Striving for a healthy balance.)

McKay's waterworks were for real. New Leapster games paled in comparison to Easton's DS, unfortunately. Good thing Easton was such a good sport sharing and he knows how to work McKay by offering to help him get through rough spots!

Morgan burnt her finger on a candle Christmas morning. More waterworks, poor gal. Guilty parents! I think she likes her new pink bedding. She's been sleeping on the boys' old sheets her whole life so we were overdue! I'm sure she doesn't care, but I get a kick out of them!

I got the printer I really wanted and the Serenity pass which produced only internal waterworks that I kept in check. PHEW! That was close! Thanks Santa!!! I wish I was better at surprising Ryan although his Amazon wish list was such a blessing! Once again I vow to begin our shopping earlier especially now that shipping plays a key role!

McKay loved all the candy in the Christmas stockings. Yes, that's plural for a reason! I could do an entire post on what treats I find in his bed from his early morning kitchen raids! I don't even hear him up anymore!?

That weekend we enjoyed watching the Dicken's Little Dorrit mini-series, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol (Richard Scott version's the best but we also did the audio book, great new tradition). The boys sure love all the old and new Christmas movies played on TV during the holidays - especially the old Rudolf, Frosty, and Santa ones but also even Barbie Nutcracker! Shhh, don't tell!

And what about the four-way Skype family call with my brother Matt serving his mission in Brazil?! Fresh out of the MTC in Brazil - that was AWESOME! Two US coasts and two foreign countries. Not bad, not bad at all! Love you, Matt!!!

At Home . . .

Easton using his new reading light to read stories each night to McKay. Oh how I love this!!! And with the rouland shades down during the day making it pitch black in their room, they can play with it during the day too! BONUS!

Having everyone home reinstated my belief in our need for a family responsibility chart! Maid is not spelled m-o-m!

Morgan decided she likes sleeping in! Her own rouland-down-black-out room, a growth spurt, hearty appetite, and new teeth made for even a couple 15 hour stints! But it also means she's unwilling to take any naps during the day.

Many musings over how to manage a large frisky Primary class this year. Help!!!

Happy New Year!

At least 45 minutes spent watching fireworks in cousin's Munich neighborhood! In addition to the big orchestrated shows, anyone in Germany can shoot off whatever they can afford and it's simply WILD and lasts forever! We also had lots of fun playing new and old favorite board games with cousins! Move the cheese ball dip away from me, I have NO self control!

New Year's Day I saw my first 3D movie - Avatar. Pretty cool, but I'm still just as happy at home watching shows in my pjs! Love that pause button and popcorn the way I like it! I'll leave it to the guys to be wow'd by all the new tech stuff.

Inspired once again by my sister-in-law's memory books for each person in her family! Oh she rocks this in such a manageable way that I again resolve to do better . . . once I get my house recovered from the holidays and school starting . . .

One of our favorite lines from that cute movie "Dan in Real Life" is when Steve Carrel's character is yelled at by his daughter for not understanding love as he sends her boyfriend packing. Oh it's tooooo classic! When our sister-in-law took down her Christmas tree Jan 2, Ryan playfully hollered a doctored version of the line at her: "YOU are a murderer of Christmas!" My cute boy loves Christmas trees, yes he does!

Now back to the school routine and soaking up what time I get with my little brew! Today it meant missing preschool for errands, playing in the snow instead of cartoons and naps, "Crabby Patties" for dinner (aka Sloppy Joes, but Easton often descends into a puddle of tears if he doesn't recognize what's being served), and playing with a new used doll house! Inspired by my family watching all our old family movies over the break and making me homesick to hear it, I took a lot of my kids tonight just being themselves. That was time well spent! Fun times, lots of pics and maybe I'll get around to sharing soon!

The Elders

My parents fed the missionaries serving in our wards frequently when I grew up and I knew I wanted to do it when I had my family.

What I never, but should have anticipated was how crazy wild my boys love the elders! They constantly ask if the Elders are coming for dinner and I get a dejected moan when the answer is no. Just hearing them trying to wrap their mouths around all the difficult sounds to pronounce Elders cracks me up!

This Elder Ault in particular gets a kick out of McKay. He asks to see McKay's karate "moves" every time they see each other. This elder always stands as a greeter at the door each Sunday which means McKay often joins us a couple minutes later in our seats because they have to have their interchange.

I love the spirit they bring into our home. I love having them as personable role models for my boys. I enjoy the reminder that I need to be sharing the gospel with those around me. And they remind me of my brother Matt serving in Brazil right now. It sure was good to hear him on Christmas Day! Such a crazy thing to be conference calling with him in Brazil fresh out of the MTC, another brother in DC with a new little baby boy, and most of the family at home in Kennewick WA all at once! Wild time we live in!

Been chewing on some thoughts to share, but haven't taken the time to write during the holidays. We sure had some good fun and food with family and friends!