Only 149 days to go!

D and I just booked a 7-day cruise for our tenth anniversary in June. Five months away and it's already all we talk about.  I'm sure the time will go by fast, there's so much to do before then: get passports, make a paper count-down chain, do a sit-up. 

This will be our first trip since Chicago in 2007.  Just the thought of sleeping an entire night without children is enough to make me giddy.  D, as he did with Chicago, is already planning out each of his meals. 

So bring on the cruising advice, I'm in full on list-making mode!

Pillow Talk

2009

The other night I took this picture of S and K. 

It reminded me of nights like this a few years ago...

2007

Right now I can hear the two of them, an hour past bedtime, giggling and reading to each other.  Both are in K's top bunk; the usual sleeping arrangement.  I love the friendship they're forming with each other.  As K is moving more into his school-age years, there have been more instances of him not wanting to play with his little brother.  But thankfully, not often.  I guess it's a perk of K's immaturity, that he can still play for hours and hours with his 3 years younger brother.  I worry sometimes how much longer that will last.

So even though right now they should both be asleep, or at least quiet, I'm so grateful for the love they have for each other.

But really, they need to get to sleep.

 I guess I finally understand why my mom would get angry when, after a day of only fighting with each other, my sisters and I would be happily chatting away into the night.  I remember thinking then that she should be proud of us, actually getting along.  But I totally get it now.  Totally.

At the same time, it was during those nights that Elaine taught me my 11-times tables, making me the first kid in my 2nd grade class to know them.  She would hold my hand as I fell asleep, making sure I wasn't scared, while making up stories about "Slim Jim" and "Skinny Minny".  Those are some of my most vivid and cherished memories of childhood.  So maybe I'll let K and S giggle a few minutes more tonight.

But S totally better know how to do addition or something in the morning!

2006

Duck prints in the snow & the first post of 2010

Duck prints! in snow!

(and deer.)

In case that doesn't impress you (but really, duck prints in snow? seriously adorable!) here are half a ton of pictures of my kids.  We used a few of these for our Christmas cards this year.  But I felt a need to share them all with you tonight.  You're so very welcome.

Pre picture taking I made K promise PROMISE to look in the camera.  We discussed it.  Reviewed it. Confirmed he understood that not just his head, but his EYES needed to look at the camera. 

eye contact is so overrated

de plane, de plane!

(Something you really should know about me: I never have watched an episode of Fantasy Island beyond the opening credits. Saturday nights I'd have a bath and then I would sit on our yellow metal step stool, watching the Love Boat, while my mom would put my hair in pink foam curlers. I had to go to bed when Fantasy Island started.  But the theme music totally makes me think of foam curlers.)

They were telling each other knock knock jokes.

There are his eyes.  Eye. Whatever.

In 2009 I *just* barely beat my old blogging record from 2006.  With this post, I'm sure you're as anxious as I am for what awesomeness 2010 will bring from my little blog.

Happy New Year!

Family Fun Day

D has had quite a bit of time off this holiday season.  It's been wonderful to have the whole family home, just relaxing and being together.  Monday we drove to the Big City.  It was my niece's 4th birthday.  She had a cowboy/girl themed party. 

My sister and I made 12 hobby horses for this thing!  The kids had a blast.  And my niece is adorable.

After the party, my little family headed out to the Gateway for lunch and then to the Clark Planetarium. 

We had free tickets to the Light Before Christmas through D's work.  With 1.5 hours to kill before the show, the kids explored all around the Planetarium. 

We hadn't been there in a couple of years and so it was pretty exciting stuff for them. 

J was in typical form at the Planetarium: running off, throwing tantrums and screaming in his high-pitched glass-shattering way. 

But thanks to the wonders of smuggled Peanut Butter M&Ms, he made it through the enitre movie without incident.  A Christmas miracle.

Christmas Celebrations 2009

My sister took many more pictures of our extended family celebrations, which she promised to pass along to me. If that ever really happens (ahem, 24th of July, ahem, just saying), I'll post them here along with the few I have.

Christmas Eve

Woo! Three cheers for Christmas Eve at our house with the extended family!

No, really, it was awesome. It was probably my favorite part of our extended family stuff. And not just because I didn't have to leave my house.

Matchy-matchy PJ cousins

Christmas morning

The Decent

We took a ton of video on Christmas morning, but most of it is too long for Blogger (and we have no editing software). Here are the two short clips.

K got all he ever wanted and more.

J's crazy laughing ball of crazy fun

Christmas Evening

Later in the day we drove out to my mom's for Day Three in the Family Christmas Celebration Trifecta (we also have a big extended family party the 23rd).

After an amazing Christmas dinner, we exchanged more gifts. Then we ate candy until we all felt completely, wonderfully ill.

Grandma leading the grandkids to the goods

We really had such a wonderful Christmas and feel so incredibly blessed. I was really proud of K this year. Throughout the celebrations he would bring up Christ all on his own. Even in his nightly prayers he remembered to express thanks for "Christ being born". I, too, am grateful for Him. And for all He continues to bless my family and myself with in our life and home.

Merry Christmas

United by their love of Lego Batman

It's almost enough to make me not feel quite so guilty about the hours I've allowed K to spend playing this thing during his Christmas break.

When he asked to play it today I told him that his brain was going to melt, so he agreed to read for an hour instead.  And then immediately afterwards, he asked for the PSP.  I held my ground though, and only allowed him to play Xbox today.  We're crazy strict around here.

You can see the suffering on their faces.

trick chair

It would seem J's choice of Christmas seating didn't really work out as planned.  It functioned much better as a grocery shopping cart when fully assembled.

I did eventually help him out.

I hope to have the rest of our Chirstmas pictures up soon.  We had a wonderful holiday, and hope you did, too.

The screaming contest

Peace and joy to you this holiday season.

  At least we have one of the two around here.