{fall back or spring forward- winter is overrated}

I for one get a little tired of winter about mid January and love to look at fall pics and spring magazines (for gardens). Here's a pic that Jonathan took in October with stunning contrasts.And a pic we took last spring in front of the same evergreen tree.

Chad says he agrees. He's sitting on my lap right now.

{mommy's makeup and caviar}

Here she is... Miss America (on the left)! Kate did pretty well getting the mascara on the eyelashes, but swiped the bridge of her nose in the process. Also notice the lipstick, rouge...and there is eyeshadow present too. Oh, and a small bottle's worth of face lotion. Mommy made the mistake of dolling her up for the wedding, and she's been a makeup fiend ever since.

Chad's first experience with caviar. He's elated as you can tell...

{mountain motorcycle ride}

Today was one of those refreshing days that leave me excited about life together. A predictable plan with an invigorating degree of spontaneity. After church, we brought a babysitter home, and took a mountain motorcycle ride in the balmy weather. And we happened upon a perfectly winding road with unique landscapes. We finished off the adventure warming up over white chocolate mochas reminiscing and dreaming. Yes, sometime fun is in the small things...

{a lesson in manners}

Chad tiptoes into our bedroom at 6:00 Sunday morning and begins gently poking Jonathan, "Wake up! There's so much to do! I looked out my window, and I seed it was morning."

Jon and I groan softly. How to teach our children the difference between weekdays and weekends?... We tried the dark and light method, but it gets light early here. I am sicker than ever, and feel like...Well, you know how much worse you feel in the morning when you have a cold!...

I roll over and ask (more like croak),"Chad, can you get me some toilet paper?" He comes in after a good 5 minutes and lumbering up and down the stairs only to hand me one square. Not wanting to seem unthankful and hoping my 4 year old will not get the sarcasm, I comment, "Thank you! One square, how generous of you!. Chad looks back at me with all the seriousness of a teenager and replies, "You know mom, if you want more, all you have to do is ask."

This is a picture of our masterpiece together. Christmas cookies! We had so much fun.

{Kate's 1st joke}

Jonathan was putting Kate to bed when she declared "I want to wat a moobie!"
To distract her, he said, "Kate, tell me a joke."
"But I really want to wat a mooooooobie!"
"Tell you what, if you can tell me a joke, I'll let you watch a movie," Jon not thinking this was possible.
Our 2 year old emphatically starts out: "Want upot a time..." nodding her head emphatically... "DERE WAS A JOKE!"
Biggest grin you ever did see...on both faces...

No 'moobie' though. Mom said no. LOL

{Christmas tidings}

I have been remiss in writing for a while. Last week, we went down to Farmington, New Mexico for my brother's wedding. It was beautiful. I had a great time meeting up with all my friends I grew up with. Bruce and Marissa are now happily married and missing the snow by honeymooning in Florida. Jon brought me back home for my surgery on Tuesday. The rest of the family got here Christmas Eve night. I now have all my wisdom teeth out, lots of stitches, and 2 little kids begging me for the ice cream I'm eating.

And yet, despite my chipmunk cheeks, numb lips, and inability to eat any yummy Christmas delectables, I am happy. I love my cozy home, children's laughter, making Chex mix (although I can't taste it), having all my family here (except the newlyweds), and holding an ice pack to my face while I play games with the fam... We also experienced a miracle. When we were given the estimate for this emergency surgery, it was $530 we had to pay up front right before Christmas. Monday we received a check from someone for $500. Unbelievable, except that our God is amazing.

On a side note, for 3 years, I've been joking about our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and the fact that I wish for a beautiful tall one. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, when Jon and I went to the grocery store to get last minute food stuffs, there was a big "free" sign on all the leftover trees. We looked at each other like "What in the world?" So we brought the 10-foot tree home and put it in our other living room. How elated the kids were when they got to decorate it with candy canes. I hope all of you out there have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas...

{or what do you say to this?}

I was doing Katie's hair Sunday and she wasn't too thrilled. Trying to explain, I coaxed, "But you're my little girl, and I want to make your hair pretty..." (something she could care less about-I know)
She looked at me with consternation, "I'n not your dirl. I'n your yadybud. And yadybuds don't have hair!"

Later that day, she asked me for some milk and took that opportunity to drop my cell phone in my own cup when I got up from the table. Little stinker! I came back, took a sip, and the phone hit me in the lip. It's totally destroyed. Been through cream-of-wheat swimming, toilet dunking, couch hiding (for 3 months), dizzy spells in the kitchenaid mixer and bread machine, and multiple dropping. Just couldn't live through a milk drowning. I think she's going to be a fiasco/genius in chemistry lab someday.