Higglety Pigglety

I've run out of saved up posts and I'm having trouble getting the pictures to download. Will start again in a few days. Happy New Year!

crazy pants

Crazy Christmas pants

Bathtub regression

About a month ago, Adam started screaming in the bathtub unless I got in with him. Well...that's not ideal, so we went back to the kitchen sink. He loved it! Much easier for me, too. I wonder how long he'll fit?

Are you tired of Adam dancing videos yet?

How about if I add Jim with a scarf around his head too? I wish I could get this one to face the right direction. Hope you don't get a crick in your neck.

3 year old Christmas Concert

Waiting for the big moment

Hi Mom (psst, Laura. I'm over here)

Uncle Richard, Aunt Karol and Aunt Emma came also. It was really special for Laura and me.

Were you thirsty, Uncle Richard? (just teasing, that's Adam's sippy cup)

Adam has always really liked Uncle Richard, even when he was just brand new.

Because I'm lame and zoomed after I focused the camera, the videos of the kids singing is really awful. They sound great, but just look like blurry blobs. But this one is worth watching to hear Laura's friend Charlotte chime in with gusto towards the end. Laura is the one in purple and her Charlotte is to her left.

3 year old Christmas Concert, part 2

She tried to act so cool, but gave in at the end and had to get a hug on the way down the aisle. Cute angel!

Merry Christmas

Surprise Surprise!

I wouldn't say that I've been worried about Laura not writing, but I have been aware that she hasn't had any interest in learning to write her letters with me. And I know some 3 year olds that do write quite a few letters. But I know she has lots of other strengths, and haven't pushed her on this since it seemed to upset her to work with me. Well....someone at preschool must have found the right motivation. She said she wanted to help me with my list today, so I let her. I told her how to spell the words, and she wrote them. Holy guacamole, I was surprised and impressed. I had no idea she could write this well.

HAT

BALL

BIB

Snowboard socks

I bought snowboard socks. I love them. They are warm, soft and reach almost to my knee.

I don't snowboard. But I want to try, after I get skinny and strong again. I do believe that will happen.

Funny thing...my new chiropractor told me that she bought the same socks. She doesn't snowboard either. At least I'm not the only poser.

By the way, I found a new chiropractor that I like very much and she is much closer. Now we have to decide if we want to make the commitment to sign up for an extended schedule with her. Time and money decisions are never easy. But I'm glad that I at least found someone that I trust and like.

Pirouette Pretty

I'm not sure when Pirouette Pretty showed up in our house. Maybe its been about 2 months. Her favorite song to dance to is "Sing to the Mountains" by John Michael Talbot. As soon as this song plays, she stops whatever she might be doing and begins, well, pirouetting. She has other friends that dance with her, but she is the lead. She is full of grace and beauty.

Laura's portraits

People smile for Laura's pictures better than they do for mine. Something about being a cute 3 year old with a camera.

Sweet Aunt Kimmy

Daddy

Pump it Up

Wow. The number of presents a kid receives when they invite their whole class is overwhelming. I'm not sure our house could handle it. Luckily, Laura's probably going to stick with just the family parties until she knows better. (I'm pretty sure she already knows better.)

Anyways...we were invited to a classmate's birthday party last week. It was held at Pump It Up, which is basically a big building with 7 inflatable jumpers for kids to go crazy.

Mission accomplished!

Tough bugs

Don't mess with these guys.

Snowy day crafts and poor Adam

What's more fun than doing crafts? Doing crafts in a tent! Its amazing how much more interesting it was to color under a blanket. Whatever works!

(Sorry buddy. Not for you, Adam.)

Then we pulled out the scissors and made snowflakes.

(Sorry Buddy. Not for you Adam.)

And we had to hang them up, of course.

(Sorry Buddy. Not for you, Adam.)

Sorry Adam, we'll play your game next! (don't worry, no Adams were too sad during the making of this film)

Adam's one year check up

Aside from the mild bronchitis and ear infection, Adam's one year check up went well. Here's his stats:

22 pounds 45%

31 inches 76%

He is signing (airplane, nurse, all done, more, water,music, hi, and his favorite: open), walking well, going up and down stairs. He has continued to get more picky about food. We're down to cereals, cracker, hummus, and sometimes meat. But he's healthy and happy. We're glad he's ours!

Identity crisis

As you can tell, I've been playing around with the blog's personality a lot lately. I just can't seem to settle on one style. No promises, but maybe I'll stick with this one for a little while. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Jenny

Better than the smell of eggs

Laura, holding her nose: "Ewww, I don't like the smell of eggs."

Me, trying to distract: "Did you know that Aunt Kim is coming to see us tomorrow?"

Laura: "Well, that's better than the smell of eggs."

There you go, sister. You are better than the smell of eggs.

Laura's song today

We spent about 30 minutes today dancing. Laura would sing and I would dance around the room trying to "exercise". I'm sure it was beautiful and graceful. Out of all her songs, here's the only one I could remember.

Snowflakes falling from the sky

Teranadon and T Rex

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Snowflakes falling from the sky

Aunt Emma's Teddy Bear Bread

My Aunt Emma surprised us with a cuddly teddy bear on Sunday. It was a huge hit with Laura and it was delicious. What a sweet gift.

Nutcracker Ballet

Adam, I'm sorry you inherited your parents' dancing skills.

Kitchen fun

Laura has been really interested in helping in the kitchen lately. Its a nice break for me from pretending Bambi and Dinosaur Train.

She measures, mixes, and peels. We tried stirring on the stove and she was so careful and patient.

I'm glad we are getting to spend this time together.

Hover disk toy

Library

I checked out 4 novels and 1 set of short stories from the library today. Five long books. I don't know what I was thinking. I just kept seeing interesting titles and titles I faintly remembered that I might want to read some day. It has been months since I read a book other than a child's book. I love to read, but it seems like I have to pick either knitting or reading to fill my evenings and lately I've been picking knitting. But I guess I subconsciously decided to get back into reading. But I still have several knitting projects that I want to try. But I like to take books on trips, like the upcoming Christmas trip. But but but...

Love my girl

Aside from my strangely enormous hand, I thought this picture turned out pretty cute.

A Christmas Elf

I didn't feel Jim was properly represented on here, so here are few candids.

Big kid snacking

I apologize for all the pictures of basically the same thing over and over.

But it was so darn cute.
Adam's first try at snacking at the little table.

He did a wonderful job. Sitting in a big boy chair.

And he's so darn cute!

Church Basement Ladies

While hanging out with Adam in the church lobby during mass, both Jim and I have been suckered into signing up for one of the volunteer "opportunities" posted on the wall. I signed up to water the indoor plants (just call me Ann) and Jim signed up to build an ice deflector. I don't think he was expecting for it to turn out quite this fancy, and I bet the church didn't expect to have him sketch it up in architectural software first. But it looks very professional, matches the facade well and gave him a chance to build something with his dad over Thanksgiving weekend.

Snow drift

Here's a pretty cool snow drift from our snow storm today. Not that much snow, but the winds were terrible.

Sleeping on the floor

Laura spends about an hour of Quiet Time in her room or in the living room everyday. About once or twice a week, she will fall asleep. Otherwise, she sings, pretends, reads, or does general Laura things. Its good for all of us! I checked on her once last week and found her asleep on her huge stuffed rabbit.

Visitors Center

Starting him early...

The kids and I went to the Lebanon Hills Visitors Center. Its one of our favorite rainy/snowy afternoon activities. They have toys, books, and lots of "natural" stuff to look at and touch: pine cones, bones, old wasp nests, feathers, turtle shells, etc. Oh, and 2 mops?

Adam clung to a mop and a pine cone most of the time.

Glad I randomly grabbed the camera on my way out of the house. My favorite picture:

What do you think about the big pictures? Too big? Do you have to wait too long for them to download? I feel like the blog looks like a Large Print Reader's Digest with the recent changes.

Pain in the back

Well, I woke up Tuesday unable to stand up straight due to lower back pain and shooting pains down my left leg. Not fun, particularly when caring for 2 kids, one of which still needs to be carried some of the time. A trip to the chiropractor that day told me things I already knew about how misaligned my hips and spine are. He adjusted me in several places and literally jumped up and down and said it was the biggest adjustment he'd had in a week. whoop di doo for you doctor-man. Wednesday, I didn't feel any better, so I went to an MD who basically said "yep, these things happen. Wait it out." But she did give me very helpful stretches, and told me to get some ab muscles ASAP. Today was way better, particularly due to the stretches. Anytime I sit still for too long, I have to do them all over again so I will be able to straighten up. But I'm so glad to have something that works. No tears at all today! Jim's been great with watching the kids when I went to the appointments and doing all the laundry and dishes. But I'm back on duty, I guess. I considered milking it a little more, but that didn't seem right.

Both doctor's visits did leave me a little disappointed. Why does the chiropractor think its all about bones and nerves and plays down my concerns about being overweight, lacking sleep, and having muscle pain. And why does the doctor poo-poo my chiropractor questions and say I can go see one "if I am strong believer in them". Can't it be a combination of misalignment, pinched nerves, tension, extra weight, and weak muscles? Can't we all just get along?

And don't old people throw their back out? I'm not old, am I?

better late than never

Annie's hilarious post reminded me that I never shared this video that Kim made. Sooo funny

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Thanksgiving debrief

A few thoughts about Thanksgiving now that it is over.

I made a huge meal and ate leftovers for days (still have some) and it included zero cheese or garlic. I can't believe I didn't go into withdrawl.

Jim jealously guards the leftovers. He was upset when I said (on Tuesday - after 4 days of leftovers) that I was going to use the turkey to make something else like chili or pot pie. I had to promise to leave some turkey for him to eat just plain.

Old eggs are much easier to peel after boiling than new ones. Thanks Aunt Rosemary!