Very Merry

Here are a few highlights from our festivities this year.

This year was Sean's first Christmas. He celebrated by eating his fair share of wrapping paper. Every time I turned around he had something new in his mouth! I half expected to find his the contents of his diaper wrapped prettily in festive paper that night.

Kyle and I kept up our tradition of gingerbread house baking and decorating. Do you think we used enough candy this year? We had a lot of fun working together and decided this was just a bit more fun than building with Legos because we could eat it afterwards!

Speaking of Legos, we were all a bit bummed out this year because we left our Christmas decorations in storage in Utah, including our very kid-friendly nativity set which Kyle loves to play with. I thought that he would freak out when he realized it wasn't here, but instead Kyle declared that he would make our nativity set this year. He ran to his room and after a few minutes, this is what he came back with.

( L to R: Wise man with gift, Mary, baby Jesus in Manger, Joseph, shepherd with sheep)

We're missing two of the wise men and the sheep is almost as big as a camel, but I have to admit, even looking at it now, I'm one proud mama. It doesn't have flourish or polish, but it's got the basics. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

We hope you are enjoying this holiday season and wish you the best in the New Year!

Too Cool for School

Seven inches of snow and -12 degree temperatures can only mean one thing: SNOW DAY! Not only were we excited for the first snowfall this winter, but it was especially exciting because it was Kyle's first snow day. School let out early on Tuesday due to a monster winter storm and we were completely snowed in on Wednesday. Temperatures are still below freezing so we're home again today. The weather might sound frightening to you and me, but to a seven year old boy, this is heaven! Kyle and his friend Simon made the best of the weather and spent hours sledding, throwing snowballs and making snow forts.

Field of Dreams

Even Sean got in on the fun. He was thrilled to have Kyle home and even more excited to get out and explore the snow. What a wonderful way to spend your half-birthday, huh?

Six months and counting...

This storm hit most of the nation pretty hard, so I hope this finds you all safe and well!

WANTED!

Two happy, healthy boys, last seen Thanksgiving Day.

Approach with caution, they are highly contagious.

Known associates: two sleep-deprived parents.

iTunes Killed the Radio Star

In this digital music age of on-demand, commercial-free music provided by iTunes, Rhapsody, Pandora, etc., radio is falling by the wayside. Just the other day while driving in the car, Kyle asked me to replay a song we were listening to on the radio. When I told him I couldn't go back because it was "live" he was disappointed but accepted it by saying, "Well then, when we get home can you at least put in on my iPod so I can listen to it later?"

I didn't go as far as downloading the song for Kyle, but we did look it up on YouTube.

This isn't the song Kyle requested, but here is one of music videos we pulled up on YouTube, "Here It Goes Again" by OK GO, which is always a hit in our house. If you haven't seen it before (and even if you have) I guarantee, it'll bring a smile to your face. Happy Monday!

Watch OK GO...On Treadmills in Music | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Rock Bottom

After a four-day, Halloween candy bender, I went to the Halloween bucket only to find the dregs - 2 green apple Twizzlers, 1 mint chocolate 3 Musketeers, a piece of taffy and 4 pumpkin erasers.

As I contemplated the appeal of the erasers, I realized that I had hit rock bottom - both literally & figuratively. I wonder if the Betty Ford Center treats sugar addiction...

I ate the 3 Musketeers.

Tricks and Treats

When I went to download the Halloween pictures from my camera today I found this picture that Kyle took while my back was turned.

Maybe he has a future as a ninja after all.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Too Much of a Good Thing

Last week I took Sean in to the doctor's office for his 4 month appointment. On the well baby questionnaire they gave me, it asked if I was giving him a multivitamin. Multivitamin?!? The kid's four months old!!! I was surprised, so I asked my pediatrician why my exclusively breast-fed baby needed a multivitamin. Turns out that doctors are starting to see more and more children with vitamin D deficiencies. (In VERY RARE cases they are even seeing rickets. Rickets!?! In this day and age!) But here's the kicker, it's due to all the sunscreen that we have been slathering on our kids to prevent skin cancer! Not only are we blocking out harmful UV rays, but we're also depriving them of much-needed vitamin D. Oooh, the irony... :)