Sing Sing Sing

 Oh Anna.

My life would be so boring without you.

I just love you to pieces.

 Even though three weeks ago you were potty trained,

and now,

not so much.

My favorite thing you do right now is sing.

You sing all the time.

It pretty much melts my heart.

No Guns at the Table

This afternoon, while I was making dinner, Daniel was out shooting the winter moths that are out and about.  I'm sure he didn't get one.  When I called him in for dinner, he brought his air soft rifle to the table and placed it across his plate.  He still had his safety goggles on. 

I then said something I never thought I would have to say.  I said

"No guns at the table."

I thought that was a given. 

Ten years ago, if you had asked me what my life would be like now, I never would had imagined this.  This is way better than anything I could have dreamed up. I love my life...even if I have to say things I thought were "givens"....over and over and over and over and over and over again.

One Penny at a Time

James wants a lego kit.  He has his eye on Lego City yellow semi truck that cost $30.  He has about $20 in his peanut butter jar converted into a piggy bank.

I want James to have good bathroom manners (which includes flushing, putting the seat down, and washing hands).

I struck up a deal.

I pay him a penny every time he has good bathroom manners.  Poor kid doesn't realize he has to use the bathroom 1000 times to earn enough money for his Lego kit.  But I'm happy to report, he ALWAYS has good bathroom manners.  Hopefully after 1000 tries, the habit will stick.

Date Night

Every year our stake does a Messiah Sing-Along.  I guess you can just easily throw a Messiah Sing-Along together when one of the top music schools in the US lies within your stake boundaries.  It is truly amazing.  The musicians and soloist don't even practice.  They just get together the night of the sing-along and play/sing Handel's Messiah.  Such talent I do not have, but I'm grateful they do.

The fun part about it is the audience gets to sing the chorus parts.  Christian and I usually will go to a performance of The Messiah each Christmas season, and it is about all I can do to not sing the Hallelujah chorus when they perform it.  But this time I got to sing it.  I love date night!

Saturday is a Special Day

The adventure went something like this...

"Everyone, get your socks on."

"Now put on your shoes."

"No, not cowboy boots, shoes."

"That shoe is on the wrong foot."

"Ok, now get coats and gloves."

 Put lots of gloves on tiny hands.

Gloves came off tiny hands.

Pack pb&j sandwiches, camera, baby sling, diapers, and $$.

"Out to the car."

Quick send Joan a text to see how her day went.

Stick phone in coat pocket.

"Anna, that is not your seat."

Drive to Wellington station.

 Strap Caleb on.

"Stay off the yellow until the subway comes."

"Stop climbing on the poles in the subway like monkeys."

Arrive at Boston Common Frog Pond

Pay for 2 adults and 3 kids skate rentals and admission.

Get skates on 10 feet while kids are trying to stand up and balance.

Cautiously make your way over to rink entrance.

No one has fallen...yet.

Hold James' hand in my right hand.

Hold Daniel's hand in my left.

Christian skates with Anna.

Caleb is sleeping, strapped on to me.

"Skate"

Skate rink worker dude comes over to me and tells me I can't have a baby strapped on to me while I'm on the ice.

Get full refund.

Walk to Faniuel Hall.

Eat pb&j sandwiches at a table with two other woman.

The woman ask Daniel what grade he is in.

"First"

"Do you like your teacher?"

"She is awesome!"

Proud mom moment, smiled deep inside.

Walk out of Fanieul Hall.

Listen to Tuba Christmas.

Get back on "T".

Get back in car.

Phew!

Look for phone to find out how Joan's day went.

Phone is missing.

Ahhhhhhhhh!

Call friends from Christian's phone to coordinate evening plans.

Get home.

Eat dinner.

Meet friends at Woburn festival.

See ice sculpting.

Pet alpacas.

Smell kettle corn.

Ride on horse drawn carriage singing Christmas Carols.

Go home.

Drink hot cocoa.

Jammy kids.

Tuck them in bed.

Crawl into my bed.

 The only thing not perfect about the day...lost phone.

Farewell to you phone.

Are you riding between Oak Grove and Forest Hill on the orange line?

Are you buried under the ice at Frog Pond?

Are you floating under the streets of Boston in sewage?

Did someone pick you up and find you?

Are you dodging shoppers feet on the ground of Fanieul Hall?

Oh well.

Oh Cabub

 Ca"bub" does not like taking baths!

I was beginning to worry,

thinking he was born into the wrong family.

In this family, we only wear swim suits and pajamas in the summer.

But...

...we took little Ca"bub" swimming for the first time this weekend.

He didn't cry!

He didn't smile either, but he didn't cry.

I'm counting that as a success.

He's a keeper.

What I am Grateful For...

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This year I am very grateful for good friends.

I feel very blessed for all our friends who have become like family to us.

And of coarse, I'm grateful for this group of people.

Life is so colorful, brisk, exhilarating, bright, and warm with them.

It Snowed

There is something so fun about the first snowfall.

Anna hadn't remembered snow (she was only 1 last year).

She LOVED it.

After the kids ran out and played in the snow in their bare feet,

we decided to get out all the warm gear.

I love kissing rosy cheeks and warming cold hands.

Halloween

 I have been a terrible blogger.

Now that everything is starting to look like Christmas,

I am just getting my Halloween post up.

This year the we had...

 ...a frog,

an elephant, and two army guys who were too camouflaged for a picture.

Fall Harvest

 This is my backyard!

 

 

This is how we work in our yard.

 It sometimes seems like a dream!

A Fairytale

Once upon a time, a little boy named "Cabub" needed some help.

So the queen of the castle whisked him away and attended to his every need.

Meanwhile, down in the dungeon a

ballerin"o"

and

a western lady bug

were attacked by a blue monster.

They screamed and ran away from it.

The monsters little legs weren't as fast, but her threatening was enough.

They ran to the artillery room, and armed themselves.

Their weapons of choice...

...a pop gun and rope.

But the monster's shrieks were more powerful than their weapons.

The chase continued.

Then the screams and tears began.

The queen came back to the castle and made everyone get along.

This story is to be continued.

We hope it ends in

"they all lived happily ever after".

Little Honey Pot Farm

 Last week was wonderful.

We had two guests who are very near and dear to our hearts.

 We miss them but are savoring the memories.

 Don't they look so cute and friendly to each other?

Right after I took this picture, Daniel pushed them both off the tree branch.

Anna scored a "10" on her landing with a full on belly flop/face plant.

Later they decided to get along and work together.

Now we are enjoying our crisp, juicy fall bounty.

Hahn 2012

How will I ever pick which ones to put over the mantle?

The Kidlets

 I just want to gobble them up.

 I promise, this one is going on her wedding video.

 Like father, like son.

 What a little man.

He struck this pose all on his own.