If the Shoe Doesn't Fit

I kinda guessed that the increasing effort each day to get Erik's shoes on probably meant he needed to go up a size. We finally made it to the shoe store. He's not a 5 anymore...he's a 6 1/2. These new shoes glide on. Ryan lucked out because he happened to be standing next to the shoe measuring thing and I asked her to check him as well. Figured a four and a half year would mention his shoes were tight! He's an 11 now! How happy his toes must be to fully stretch out. Soon his whole body will join in the rejoicing when we finally move him out of his toddler bed and into a big bed. I don't think he's been able to fully stretch out since, well, since his toes were able to. Who knew finding a bed would be so much trouble! I think I finally found one and I'm having them send me a sample so I can see if I like the color. It has to last until we convert his room into a craft room/exercise room. Only 14 more years!

Happy New Year!!

It’s Christmas All Over Again!

Someday I'll have a mantle to hang our stockings from!

Just what we needed...Christmas Cars!

Erik wasn't feeling well on Christmas, this is one of the happier moments. He wouldn't get in the car though.

We made mugs with the kids handprints for our Aunties.

Stocking happiness!

Is that a smile?

The perfect pet!

It's a hamster that squeeks and runs around, never poops or needs his cage cleaned!

Auntie Gay is the squirrels only advocate around here so this gift seemed fitting.

It's a watering can

Auntie Gay just started taking art classes and drew us this beautiful portrait of Erik. We have one of Ryan also.

We spent the day putting all of Snow Village away. I think we are about done with Christmas. I still can't believe that everything is down and put away less than a week after Christmas. I am looking forward to get the house back in order, or maybe in order finally!

Cookies for Santa

For the very first time, I took the tree down the day after Christmas. I have never had a tree down in my life before January and often well into the month. As we drove home from my brother's on Christmas night I told Harvey I thought we should take the tree down earlier this year, maybe the second garbage pickup. By the next morning I was ready to start pulling ornaments. As much as I have savored every moment, well... most moments, over the last month, it has also been a crazy month of errands, parties, and all that goes along with Christmas. I have loved some of our new traditions like the advent calendar and a cake for Jesus and old ones like baking cookies for Santa. Watching the joy in Ryan's face as he pulled out each ornament with care and hung it on the tree will always be a special memory for me, as will watching Erik stare at the tree and play with all of the wrapping paper. But I am exhausted! Maybe a few more days with no errands or getting out Christmas cards on time would have helped. As I put Ryan down several nights ago he said, "We never have fun anymore." My heart sank, had I missed the whole point? Nervous to hear his complaint, I forged ahead and asked him what he meant. "We don't ever go swimming anymore," he explained. Whew! Yes, we had fun. Yes, we did keep our focus on Jesus. And yes, we need less errands and a Christmas card deadline!

Tree free!


Making cookies for Santa

So when Santa Bob came to our house he asked Ryan if he had been good. No response. Santa asked again, and again, no response. Mrs. Santa noticed and told Santa to ask again. Ryan responded, "in the middle." Well said, my honest boy!

Every year Ryan, and now Erik, get to open new jammies to wear on Christmas Eve.

Ryan sang Christmas songs for us.

The only negative reviews I could find on this car were about the assembly. Nonetheless, Harvey decided to start well after the boys went to bed. He managed to get it done in an hour and a half and without any of the cursing mentioned in the reviews.

Tomorrow is Christmas again!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I really wanted to make a birthday cake for Jesus this year with Ryan. He thought it was a great idea too! He loves to help in the kitchen. I hope he has Harvey's cooking abilities (and decorating, as you'll see).

See, I told you he was helpful!

I didn't even have to wash the bowl afterwards!

I never thought it was possible that I could make a cake that turned out uglier than Ryan's first birthday cake, and yet here it is! The cake was actually pretty good, you know, considering it has no egg or butter in it. Then came the frosting! I bought a can of allergy-free frosting. Seemed simple enough...it was so thick I couldn't get it to spread without tearing up the whole top and then the white frosting was filled with pieces of cake. I tried putting it on thick and spreading a thicker coat but it wasn't, as you say, spreadable. My next plan was to microwave it for a few seconds...and then a few more. Went on like butter on a hot summer's day...and then continued melting off the cake, down the pedestal, and onto the counter like butter during a heat wave. It ran until we got to my brother's, had dinner, sat around for several hours, and still had a few drips when I sat it down again on our counter. But we think Jesus loved it!

Ryan sure did!

Ryan's buddy Rich and his cousins spent a good part of two days building cars for Ryan and Erik. They even had windshield wipers! They were quite a hit.

A Different Christmas Poem

Tonight as I put Ryan down he started his prayers, "Dear God, thank you for John who keeps us safe." Every night we pray for our friend John who is serving overseas and who is missing Christmas with his family. This is a wonderful poem that I hope will encourage you to pray for our troops who are away from their families in order to keep our families safe.

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