The Hills Are Alive

Baker's school presented The Sound of Music for their holiday program. I took a couple of pics before we left the house. Baker was looking especially sharp for the show. ("Sharp" is his favorite compliment.)

Giving myself a big pat-on-the-back, I took the full-length photo to show off Baker's pants. I HEMMED them myself. (Up next: sock darning and canning...) The show was adorable and hilarious and just perfect. But we couldn't get a cute video or photo to save our lives.

So this is it. I suggest humming "Doe a dear a female dear" as you view the photos below. Enjoy!

Love Note

Christmas Cupcake Extravaganza!

Best Laid Plans

Kristen and I decided the children were ready for a sleepover! We sent Kevin and James to the cabin for the night and we got the kids together around 5 p.m. We had a pizza party (e.g. ordered pizza from Mazzio's) then drove around and looked at Christmas lights. (Lots of bickering over which passenger had the best view, etc.) After we got back to the house, Kristen made a very impressive fort so the kids could eat popcorn and watch a movie. And then the wheels came off. (Technically we never really got off to a good start, but we were plodding ahead...) Baker kept announcing that he wasn't sleepy before anyone mentioned bedtime. Annabel refused to sit in the fort. Not encouraging. JH enjoyed his popcorn. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

It was time to take the party upstairs... Mattresses were moved, beds were made, rules were announced: "Five minutes of talking - then everyone goes to sleep!" Thirty minutes later...Baker fell and hit his head (while walking around the room bugging everyone). He told me he wanted to go to the car and sleep for a little while then come back inside. We compromised and drove home to sleep a little while. He was relieved and he fell asleep 30 seconds after getting in his bed. Annabel and James Henry were terribly disappointed and didn't settle down until 9 p.m. - which might as well be 3 a.m. given typical early bedtimes.

So it was a disaster. But the matching pajamas were cute. And we're not trying this again for a very long time.

Warrior

These pictures perfectly illustrate 1.) Baker's warrior spirit 2.) How a golf club serves nicely as a sword (just ask Elin Woods) and 3.) What it's like to live with a ninja.

Thanks for Giving Run

Without a doubt, this my best picture of the year. I love B's face and his fleet feet! Baker just saw this and said, "Look at Daddy way back there! And look at my medal. I won because I got a medal." Baker told everyone (and my really do mean EVERYONE) that he won the race. I'm glad his self esteem is coming along nicely.

Christmas Spirit

And so we continue our annual tradition of poor parenting by placing our child on top of the car for a cute photo with our Christmas tree...