Nutshell

I'm not doing very well at keeping my New Year's resolution to catch up. Maybe what I really meant was that for 2012 I was going to ketchup. That's it. Ketchup. I think I'll be able to do that.

So December and January happened, but I haven't blogged about it at all because the bloggable mass is so great that I find it extremely daunting. So I've just procrastinated instead.

Here is how I'm going to get over this hurdle. What you get is a bite-sized version of the past two months in a nutshell, and what I get is relief from knowing that it needs to be done. Deal? Good. Let us commence.

At the end of November, Seth was awarded the school's "Dragonmaster" reading award. It pretty much means he is only the best reader ever. Well, him and that other kid that got it also. They have currently read more than anyone else in the school. Does that surprise anyone?

Christmas happened. Millie slept through Santa at the extended-family party on Christmas Eve.
Evy was awake, but miserable since her eardrum had just ruptured that morning.
The Tylenol and Amoxicillin had kicked in by bedtime, and they were all smiling in their new pjs. Millie is in the helmet .... though this will be the last helmeted baby picture you see of her. Not long after this she figured out how to pull it off and refused to leave it alone. The orthotist decided she was close enough to symmetrical to call it quits. Yay!
So Christmas happened, but I didn't get any really great pictures of it. Here is one I love of the kiddos playing with one of Thomas' gifts though. Our entire playroom was a giant mess of toys for all of Christmas break. It wasn't even worth thinking about cleaning up until they all went back to school.
The twins were over their colds by New Year and seemed a lot happier, though Ev was still dealing with ear issues. (Amelia is sitting, Evelyn is standing).
For part of the extended-family New Year party I had the kids help me recycle a bunch of glass baby food bottles by making a colored sand art project.
Alice's turned out cool.
We went bowling. Most of us opted to button our pants. Some of us didn't.
These guys (plus Michael) went snow shoeing. I stayed home with the babies.
Thomas and Lilly didn't actually do much snow shoeing though.
After six weeks of continual ear infections, two perforations and four rounds of antibiotics we arrived at the conclusion that Evelyn needed tubes. They have been miraculous..... she's finally sleeping through the night again!
Did you know National Popcorn Day is January 19? We celebrated with family by making and sampling a dozen different varieties. The twins supervised. (Ev left, Millie right)
Still reading? Thanks for hanging in there.

There you have it. Ketchup.

The Perks of Spending December in the Motherland

Snow . . .



It is really easy (maybe too easy) to follow my doctor's orders to eat 600 extra calories per day.

We got a house-shopping preview. There is a whole lotta brown stucco and sandstone out there, people.

The kids appreciate their own school much more now that they've been home-schooled for a month.

And I always enjoy talking and playing with the extended fam.

Baby It's Cold Outside

These past few weeks we have come to the realization that we are raising a nudist. Every night after we put him to bed he immediately strips off his pajamas. For special occasions (what constitutes a special occasion we have yet to determine) he will sometimes doff his diaper as well.
This habit has become particularly concerning as the weather has recently turned. And when I say turned, I mean school has been canceled for three days. Ooof. Ark. Gak. Ow. Your prayers for my sanity and the health of my perpetually jumped on sofa cushions are appreciated.

So our bedtime routine now involves sneaking in after he has drifted off to put the footie jammies back on his adorable, sleeping, shivering baby body. I love my life.

Church Was Canceled for a 1/2 Inch of Snow.

Here is the snow. Here are the children (semi) dressed for church.  See that snow?  I was raised to believe anything less than three feet is a skiff.

I am reminded that we aren't in Massachusetts anymore.
So we did what any sensible people given a day off church would do.  We played.

T wasn't sold on the many extraordinary qualities of snow.  He lasted out there for all of 10 minutes.

I am sore tempted to quote a favorite movie, The Christmas Story.  Well, what is stopping me?

The lines, "My kid brother looked like a tick about to pop." and "I can't put my arms down!" come to mind.

Being in Oregon these past three years has not afforded our little cherubs frequent opportunities to frolic in the white stuff.  They love it.
I personally think there aren't many things more becoming to a child than pink cheeks and noses.

Sadly, I won't be shocked if school is canceled tomorrow as well.  Portland metro would do well to invest in some snowplows.  This happens every year.