This morning . . .

As everyone else was bustling around to get ready, there sat McKay "reading" to Morgan.

I had pulled this book out for Morgan last night as I realized what a poor job of teaching and practicing regular words I've been doing. McKay was glued to us as he realized he could "read" this book! So cute! Easton's done a great job of being a kind reader to his brother and McKay's recently been in a real helper mood, often asking how he can help!

As I got ready, I heard Morgan playing with her bear and doll saying "Cheese!" She was giggling at how cute they were in their poses, showering them with garbled praises and kisses followed by the magic picture-taking word. When I asked if she wanted me to take her picture with them, she gathered them in her favorite choke hold and did the strained "cheese" grin except for this cute one I snuck out of her.

Meanwhile, McKay was donning his outfit for the day and

since I had the camera out and ready, away we snapped!

Little Power Rangers really aught to have protective eye wear

in their line of work don't ya think?!

Then the two of them went to work with a dinner knife to a couple electronic toys to pry open the battery cases after they scavenged all known locations of batteries in the house. [I remember so well when Easton did this at this age!] Then it was time for some good ol' dancin' tunes to shake our booties while I get my chores done. I think someone isn't going to kindergarten today - it's just too cute when they're playing so well together!

Toy Shopping and Captain Underpants

I don't frequent toy aisles if I can avoid it since discovering Amazon and Dr. Toy's websites. It sure simplifies my gift giving a great deal. But today I had to do some necessary browsing to make sure I hadn't missed anything special. I only had Morgan with me so if worst came to worst, I could still carry her out kicking and screaming if need be. It's when I'm out-manned that it gets dicey!

When we entered the toy section Morgan got sucked into the first toy she saw in the center aisle so I began to browse and adjacent side aisle. No more than a step in and I was startled so much I jumped! An entire row of baby dolls on each shelf was greeting me with peek-a-boos, jumping in their cribs, giggling psychotically, and who knows what else! It was the moment nightmares are made of! I had ventured down the aisle in search of a nice soft babydoll for Morgan to snuggle and squeeze and love on. All these have hard plastic battery cases. So sad and disappointing!

As I finished my browsing, I got Morgan to leave the first toy without a scene. But then she discovered the aisle of plush stuffed animals, particularly a grand looking white long-haired cat. Morgan was in love and I had to groan! White and hairy toys weren't meant to be kept in my home. She then started greeting all the animals on the shelf like long lost pals. The best was when I made her say goodbye. She walked to the far end of the aisle and gave each fluffy toy a tender kiss and parting goodbye! As we turned the corner, she paused to blow a kiss and say one last "bye-bye." It was so adorable!

Over Thanksgiving, Easton had checked out a new book from school. Ever heard of the Captain Underpants series? Easton has devoured the two in the series he can get his hands on at school. Not our favorite choice since they have purposeful incorrect spelling of words and is founded on potty mouth humor, but Easton can't put them down! Each time he takes a shower, he dons his tighty whities and red cape until I ask him to put on warmer clothes!

Tonight, Easton said something about something making him want to barf. Ryan and I started talking to him about the books and the words used. He meekly said he still wanted to read the rest of the series and began to read their titles off the back of his book:

• Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopy Pants
• Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
• Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
• Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People
• Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space

Reading these titles does not induce giggles for me, but hearing my son plead to read these ridiculous titles sure did! We were so caught off guard by the titles that we found ourselves trying to stifle hysterical fits of giggles! Good grief! Talk about a battle lost! And Easton was trying not to laugh because he was trying to plead his point but soon had to surrender too. So silly! They sure hooked Easton! I gotta do my homework and find some good books again!

On the brain

We've lived here almost two years now. I just got around last week to hanging a mirror at the kids' height in the bathroom last week. [Thank you Post-it hooks adhesives so I don't drill holes in nice tile!] McKay especially loves it!

One morning this week, when he'd been asked to go brush his teeth and wash his face after breakfast, he came out struttin' and sportin' a new 'do. He triumphantly said, "How do you like this cool hair?!" It was plastered wet to his forehead with parts curling as he did his characteristic "Oh yeah!" eyebrow lifts!

But to appreciate his pull-forward skillz, one must see the back too!

And oh how I love his hands framed kisses! Here he is sending Ryan off to work.

Not to curb his enthusiasm, I felt it was high time to get him better acquainted with Mr. Comb. But as I showed him how fun the comb could be at making his hair stick up all sorts of ways, he was quick to show me how much better he was at it by himself!

He was a little sad that wearing his winter hat wreaked havoc on his 'do when we went to his school, but he quickly forgot as he ran off to play with his friends.

Morgan has found a favorite perch recently. And I don't think Ryan minds the head rubs too much either! Another bonus -- he's got both hands free to type away while discussing deep and serious topics with his astute daughter.

Santa and cinnamon rolls came to town!

About a month ago in front of the commissary, a nice white bearded gentleman who was collecting donations for the local VFW chapter stopped me [VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars]. I had Morgan with me and he wanted me to know that Santa would be visiting specific locations in December with free photo ops. How nice!

Fast forward to this morning when en route home, Morgan begins stating something I've heard her say a lot but have never understood - although I know I know it but can't remember this time. "TeeKee," she says with more impatience as we kept fumbling what she meant. When we zipped through the light at the Panzer base, she lost it. She was trying to say "PX!" I'm still laughing that Ryan whipped the car around to make his little girl happy! Her waterworks ceased immediately! We'd both seen the signs earlier in the week posting that Santa would be there today and if the line wasn't horrific, we thought it couldn't hurt to give it a try. But come on, Saturday at 11am? What were the chances!?

We unloaded our crew from the van asking the boys what one item they wanted to ask Santa for. As we entered the PX, to our utter shock, there was only one family in line! Yahoo! We got the kids up there, a photographer snapped away, and then another gentleman burned a cd right there on the spot of our kids' pictures! For FREE! No sponsor posted or solicitation of donations, it was very very nice of them!

Easton told us he was going to ask for an ipod [touch] like his friend Anthony to play games on. What?! For months he's been asking for Super Mario Galaxy II and a Wii to play it on! But he was now determined to not be swayed.

Easton saw the photographer right off and so he wouldn't look at Santa. He just whispered his hope out the side of his mouth as he "posed" for the pictures being snapped.

McKay was fascinated with Santa's glove and kept stroking it which was adorable. If you know McKay, you know how he loves to touch!

McKay kills me! For a couple weeks now, he's been counting down until Christmas. We have a paper chain he made and his advent calendar, but the kid just can't wait! He really wants a bow and arrow but can never remember what it's called so he acts it out. Cutest high pitched "ptchoo" sound effect ever as he lets the imaginary arrow fly while his pincher fingers release! He promises he will only shoot snow with it . . . "fo' wee-o". [for real!]

The boys each got a piece of candy and Santa had his eye on Morgan. She was perched atop Ryan's shoulders and did not want to be handed over. But as she saw the candy being offered she began to warm up until Ryan went to take her off his shoulders so she could take the piece of candy from Santa herself. She began to scream bloody murder! For heaven's sake, you'd a thunk we were trying to drop her off at nursery!

We enjoyed a nice quiet day at home after that and I finally got the nerve up to try making another quiche and my first ever attempt at cinnamon rolls. Oh how I love cinnamon rolls!!! I have two friends that make seriously good ones but they live in Virginia and that doesn't work so well for that craving. But without a mixer, making any type of bread just didn't sound fun and anything that has to be kneaded and rolled out like sugar cookies just seems so arduous on most week days! I cook out of necessity or duty, not because I enjoy it. However today, I had no pick-up/drop-off schedule to pin me down so I had at it!

I've recently been admiring Our Best Bites recipe blog's Christmas concoctions and wanting to try one of their three cinnamon roll recipes. I DID IT!!! First attempt was a complete success! I really like their step by step photo instructions like Pioneer Woman's. This is the Everyday Cinnamon Roll recipe.

Mine didn't rise until they were in the oven and I was a little worried, until . . .

Hello, Beautiful!!!

Ryan called them "Superb!" and better than Cinnabon! And I think he ate four?! Said they might become a new craving for him. {Better get me a mixer then, Santa - wink, wink!} The kids also loved them although they were a bit rich for McKay. Easton went and polished off the extra frosting after downing two. It's a seriously easy recipe with stuff I usually have on hand, even though my yeast packet was probably expired. Debra and Samantha, they're not up to par with your amazing rolls, but they'll do for now!

St Nikolaus and a late snow day!

I interrupt this post to bring you Morgan in a dirndl. It's a little big on her and with luck it will last her a couple years. I get a kick out of her round belly making her apron stick out!

Now just imagine her scaling church pews back to front in her dirndl and flashing a coy grin at anyone who dared ruin her fun. I got a kick out a special forces guy and his wife giving her props! Oh she kills me! Who'd have known she'd been screaming for her life as we approached the nursery door just minutes earlier!

So, back to 6 Dec - St. Nikolaus Day . . .

Sunday evening, the kids were all excited to put a boot outside our door for St. Nikolaus. If they've been good, St. Nik will leave them a treat in their boot. If not, he'll leave twigs or a switch for parents to give spankings! (Morgan's slipped down inside.) For a quick Q&A about the tradition, click here for St. Nikolaus article.

In the morning, the boys instantly ran to the door to check the boots.

I say there's no better way to start the day than with a big hollow chocolate Santa!

A kind neighbor left us a bag of chocolates as well so I could leave the kids' alone.

Then I had to be the ogre that made them get ready for the day. I can't believe how much snow we've been getting! We've heard Easton's international school only cancels in cases of salt shortages so we got him out the door. Thankfully, Ryan is driving him. Bundling up Morgan and McKay was an adventure before we even got out the door. Morgan likes to take the "scenic route" through all the snow drifts challenging her athleticism while McKay wants to get to school to play with friends.

After shoveling a good 8 inches, the snow was still coming down heavily. It was comical to see Morgan try to cut through snow up to her thighs or use her sand shovel to "help" me. Soon Easton's school called for an early release at 1pm - road conditions were changed to a red. I tried to back out and head up our cul de sac's hill and couldn't get any traction. Very wet, quickly accumulating snow = wheels just spinnin'! Some construction guys working on a new home had to push me up the hill. With the hills and intersections I knew I'd have to encounter on the way to and from Easton's school, I chickened out and called Ryan. Luckily, the bases were getting an early release too!

To welcome home the stragglers, we had hot chocolate (although I had already treated myself to the good stuff Ryan brought home from last week's Tubingen chocolate festival - YUM!!!). I've realized recently that having spray whip cream in the fridge is becoming darn handy, practically a necessity! We decked the tree out and the boys hung the ornaments for the first time all by themselves. It's hard to resist being controlling about ornament placement when you've done it "just so" all these years, but they had a good time and were quite proud of themselves!

After dinner we started our new evening duties routine. Easton and I are a team, McKay and Ryan the other. One team's on dinner cleanup, the other on house pickup and bedtime routine enforcement. At first it was a little difficult again for me to let go and allow Easton rinse dishes his way, but putting on silly Christmas carols had us laughing and working together in the sink. He likes the BYU a capella group Voice Male's Jingles II album - especially their version of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer! "Gimme a 'Whoop, Whoop!'"

Day one of the new routine went great and then it was time for FHE! Easton led us singing Silent Night and I'm sure we tortured our neighbors' ears if they heard us mangling a verse in German from Easton's school songbook. We watched President Monson's address from the Christmas devotional and talked about what Christmas is all about. Then the boys got their wish and we watched a Christmas movie - the animated "Christmas Carol."

Ahhhh, I wish every day could be a snow day! Except I'm out of eggs and really want/need to be baking but hate heading out in this stuff!