Wheeeeee

Kevin loves the snow (understatement) and couldn't wait to take the kids outside. We were the first people to arrive at Harwelden Mansion - a Tulsa tradition for sledding. We made lots of tracks then headed home for the first of many cups of hot chocolate.

No Lumps of Coal

Santa made it through a record breaking snow storm to deliver lots of gifts to Baker and Kylee.
Baker peaked downstairs before waking us up at 6:15 a.m. announcing that Santa brought a firehouse and a tent: "Come! Come! You have to see!" By 6:45 gifts were opened, coffee was brewing and Kylee was back in bed. Merry Christmas to all!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Kylee was home with us Christmas Eve and Christmas morning this year. We were so happy to have everyone together!

Christmas Cheer and Antics

This is a picture taken in November at Woodland Hills Mall. We have a great pic with Santa at Utica Square but my scanner isn't cooperating. So this will do. It's Christmas Eve. We have nothing we have to do today and I want to start reading a new book (thank you Noah!) but the book has vanished. I've spent over an hour searching the house, the trash, etc. So here's my theory: Baker has hidden my new book. His story keeps changing: "It's a mystery!" "I'm sorry I hid your book." "Maybe Coffee (our Elf on the Shelf) hid the book?" "I didn't like that book." I just told him he has to find the book before I make him breakfast...we'll see if that shakes him up.

Take a Bow

Baker, Andrew and Spence take center stage at Kaleidoscope Museum.

Visions of Sugar Plums...

Special Delivery

Baker and I decorated cookies today. Disclaimer: My mother baked all of the cookies when she was in town a couple of weeks ago. The cookies have been in the freezer and B and I just pulled them out and started icing and sprinkling and eating our way through the project...
And now we're making cookie deliveries -- and detoxing from powdered sugar. I'm pleased with my packaging. Boxes are from the Dollar Store. Personalized tags are courtesy of Nest Egg Papers.

Wreath on a Budget

With a budget of $30 (and lots of hot glue), Noah transformed this...
























into this... He's taking orders!! Email me or leave a comment.

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...