Happy New Year!!!

We decided to have a New Year's party for the kiddos.  With their ages, we decided it would be best not to stay up until midnight, so we had a count down to noon party.

We invited several people, but it is that time of year...between travel, dental appointments, and a friend having surgery, we had one family able to make it.  We were so glad to have them with us!

We made feathery masks, 

 

fruit snowmen,

 

played, ate pizza, set off confetti poppers, and used the party blowers.

Friday Funny

If there are monstoers under our deck, can we feed them?
              -Nate

Friday Funnies--Santa

Kate: That's Santa Claus

Nate: No! It's Santa.

Kate: Claus is like his last name--Santa Claus.

Nate: No, it's just SANTA!

*     *     *     *     *

The kids were talking about Santa over lunch.  At this point Kate knows the truth about Santa and we’ve told Gabby too (thanks to her sister spilling the beans, but I think she still wants to believe enough that she still wobbles in this), so only Nate completely believes the jolly man in red delivers presents.  They were discussing where to leave the milk and cookies.

Gabby: Should we leave him some vegetables?

Nate: We should leave him a peanut butter sandwich!

*To a healthy and well filled Santa!*

Babies Don't Keep

So, I've not been blogging much.

 My reason is quite cute and somewhat demading though.

 The sweet girl is giving great smiles, open mouthed kisses, and we adore her.

I've thought often about the Song for a Fifth Child by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton.  I always loved it, and while Elliana is our fourth, and not the fifth, I am enjoying her babyhood as much as I can.  She's already changed so much!

We took off from school for awhile,

though we are back at it now.

And I will gladly cradle her sweet little head rahter than type on the computer.  I'm enjoying her reaching for my hand and the way she looks at me like I hung the moon.

I rewrote the last part of the poem for today's self imposed busyness:

Oh, Blogger and Twitter will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, email. Facebook, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.

Friday Funny

Nate: I thought Ellie exploded.

Justin: Exploded?!

Nate: Yeah, like a poop bomb!

Friday Funny

Ellie, can we put you on the tree and have you be the angel?
           -Nate

Thanksgiving

Several years ago I helped my Mama brine a turkey.  I loved the flavor, so I always do that now.  This year I mixed my brine and poured it over my turkey in an oven bag.  Perhaps the solution was too hot or maybe I put too much pressure on the bag as I was adjusting it in the roasting pan before I popped it in the fridge for the night, but either way the bag burst.  There was brine (that had been on my raw turkey) everywhere!  I had to wash the counters, everything on them, stove top, the cabinet fronts, and the floor.  I had to remove my shoes and change my clothes.  The turkey had to brine half at a time in the brine that stayed in the pan and I just flipped the bird this year.  It still tasted good, despite my mess!

I hope you had a joyous (and less messy) Thanksgiving!