Getting Bigger

I guess I forgot to tell my ten month old that I don't expect him to be able to put the lid back onto boxes yet. He sat there and tried for at least three minutes. That translates into, well, forever in baby time.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oh Dear

David stood, no hands, for three seconds today.

(Quick, knock him down!)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Fav Pics This Christmas

Is this one for me?



Yay!!



My mom, sister, me and the kids:



Wheeeeee!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Silliness

Lily didn't feel like taking a nice family picture this Christmas. She cried!

So this is what we got instead:


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Merry Christmas

Joy to the world!

Merry Christmas. Choo choo!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tamales!

So I missed yesterday!!!

We spent the day on the road and ended it with a game of scrabble at my aunts, where I lost all track of time.

Today, however, is tamale making day at my grandma's house. Where my aunts and sister and I are preparing tomorrow's feast.



It's so much work. But it's soooooo worth it!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Last Day in Coarsegold

Today it rained! Lots. So we took the kids to a local children's museum. Lily had a blast and was reluctant to leave when it was time to go.

Dave has come down with a bit of a cough today. Wish I could fix it for him.

And I made a batch of molasses cookies with my mother in law, and then proceeded to eat too many of them. ;)

Tomorrow we head down the road to the 'Denas. Just two more days until Christmas!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A Boy and His Great Grandpa

Only eighty-something years between them....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bathtime

Visiting grandparents and great grandparents tonight in Coarsegold.

Bathing in the sink with Gramma!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Favorite Ornament on My Mom's Tree

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hairs Cut

Dave got another hair cut today. I've lost count of how many times it us now. :)

Before:



After:


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Travel Day

Do these concerned faces reflect the way I feel about travel?





Maybe.

But I doubt it. Mostly just annoyed that Mom is taking their picture again.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Favorite Holiday Cookie

Warning: Do NOT make these if you have week willpower this time of year.  They are uber yummy!

I had to snap this pic fast...as you can see I never even separated the bars and they are already starting to dissapear!

Old Fashioned Molasses Strips

COOKIE

¾ cup margarine or butter, softened           2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup sugar                                                ½ tsp. salt
1 egg                                                          ½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup molasses                                          ½ tsp. cloves

2 ½ cups flour                                            ½ tsp. ginger  

GLAZE

¾ cup powdered sugar

1 tblsp. margarine or butter, softened

1 tblsp. milk    

½ tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350˚ F.  Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.  In large bowl, combine margarine, sugar, egg and molasses.  Mix thoroughly.  Add spices and blend well.  Add flour until soft dough forms.  Divide dough into 6 portions. Shape each portion into a 12 inch log on prepared cookie sheet; flatten slightly.  Bake at 350˚ F. for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes.  Cut diagonally into ¾ inch bars.

Do not separate.  Cool completely.

In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients until smooth.  If needed, add a few more drops of milk to make glaze consistency.   Drizzle over bars. (I usually double this part of the recipe.) Allow glaze to set.  Separate into bars.  YEILD:  Approximately 60 bars… unless you are a piggy like me.

Let's Play Dress Up Mom!

My always fresh, style maven isn't even dressed yet and she's already accessorizing!

Cold

It was just over 30 degrees when I picked up Lily from school today. I know that's not cold to some of you (Beth) but it was cold enough for me!

I was a little early today and, so I let myself be drawn to the fountain we pass on the way to her school. There was an open parking space right next to the fountain so I didn't have to disturb David snoozing in his seat. I couldn't resist trying to capture the cold.









- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Naptime

This is what happens when a little girl can't sleep during naptime because her cough keeps waking her up, and then her mom gets this bright idea to stop the post nasal drip that is causing the cough with benadryl. Knocked out. Crashed watching VeggieTales.



Oh, and she refuses to take the coat off today.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pressure!

We leave for Cali on Friday and my knitted Christmas gifts aren't done yet!

Gotta run....

Knit.

Purl.

Knit.

Purl.

Lily

That girl amazes me.

Her teachers informed me this week, that she insists they write her name on all her papers. And then she traces over it.



That's her writing in red.

She tickles me. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

SHhhhh!

Yesterday while making dinner, I handed David an apple to make him stop crying at my feet.

He gummed it happily. :) For quite a long time too.

And then I took pity on him and took a big bite out of it.  Oh, was he ever in drool-y heaven! Sucking and gumming and shaving little slivers of apple off with his two little bottom teeth.

Whilst waiting for Jacob to get home to eat dinner, I ate Dave's apple and then gave him back the core.

He was blissfully quiet and content all through dinner.

And darn near ate half that core!

A David First

I have a nasty headache today and so Jacob was going to give Lily her bath this evening. Not a second after they headed up the stairs, Dave was off like a shot. I fumbled with the phone trying to get the video up. I forgot to turn it sideways.

Oh and don't turn up the volume or I'll shout in your ear at the end.

Can you say baby gate?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hate is a Strong Word

But in this case, I choose it intentionally.

I really HATE the word Xmas!

Whose bright idea was it to put a big fat X right where the Christ belongs?

Yes, I get it, we are just being clever, saving ourselves a little time writing five less letters. *grumble, grumble*

No, no, really... I did my research.  This abbreviation for Christmas is of Greek origin. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as a shorthand form of the word.

But since no one seems to speak Greek know that around here, I decided it's not my favorite word.   

Stepping off my soapbox now, thank you for listening.

For Your Listening Pleasure

I give you Lily!

Three wise men, three wise men
Traveling far, see a bright star
They found the Savior in Bethlehem
They fell on their knees and they worshiped him
Never before had there ever been a Baby like Him
A Baby like Him.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Need You

What do You think?

So it's a 72% merino, 14% cashmere, 14% nylon DK weight on size 15 needles. (for those of you who might care) in what's called a purl twist diagonal stitch.  It's about four inches wide. Will it make a passable scarf?

I'm Watching a Movie with My Husband

Christmas Presents

I'm working on Christmas presents this weekend.

One thing we do, and I'm not spoiling a surprise because we do the same thing every year, is make photo-books of the kids for their Godparents.

I use kodakgallery.com and was very pleasantly surprised by their new "smartFIT" program that puts all your photos on pages by date and time.  So they are pretty darn close to where I want them from the get go!  I move a few things around, pick a few different layouts, add a few captions and I am good. to. go!

So anyway, looking at all these pictures of my kids has me all amazed at how big they are.

A year ago this weekend Lily and preggo Me(-o) were in Cali picking out a tree with my parents.

Discussing the merits of a good Christmas tree.

David's in this picture too! ;)

Dancing

So I told you we got the xbox kinect, right. We love it. But more importantly my kids love it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oh, Lily

She's pushing three or something.

She's an attention monger, and with David hating to be put down, most days are a struggle for me.

Today she was softly kicking (can one kick softly?) her brother in the back as he was finally playing nicely by himself on the floor.  I got the impression she didn't really want to hurt him, she was just looking for my reaction.  I did my best to distract her.  Which is more than I can say for the times when I am nursing and she tries to tickle him and get in his face.  I've told her many times that she has to wait until he's done to play, or flat out stopped nursing (can you hear his screams?) to put her on time out.  (Side note:  I can now send Lily to time out, and she actually goes!)  Today was sad though because she pulled a fistful of his hair before I could stop her... and before I could even think about it I had a handful of her hair.  I managed to get a hold of myself before I pulled, but it really freaked us both out.

I went so far as to make suggestions about things she could do and say when she just needed a fix of Mommy.  Ask Mommy if, when she is finished, she can read a book with you.  Ask Mommy if you can sing a song together.  Tell Mommy you would like a hug. Ask Mommy how you can help.

I know, that last one was wishful thinking.

Here's hoping tomorrow goes smoother.

Loving

Loving on the baby Jesus. :)

Thank you again, Beth.