Happy Chinese New Year!

It might seem cheesy, but we had a lot of fun celebrating the Chinese New Year. Frankly, I think the Chinese have some great traditions that far outdo the U.S. So, we had a blast with sparklers, dinner (egg-rolls, stir-fry, and oranges for good luck), money in red envelopes, and creating our own puppet dragon (thank you Family Fun Magazine). Dinner was delicious because egg-rolls are heavenly. I just read my friend's blog about their trip to China. I am so all about the American version of Chinese food. If you're interested in their authentic food, please check it out. Peter was disappointed that we didn't have chop-sticks. Maybe next year.

This was the first time Kimball had seen sparklers. He wasn't bashful at all, and it kind of freaked me out. He was waving his sparkler around and giggling, and I was trying not to catch on fire. Both he and Elsie loved them.


Although this puppet took far too long to make, the kids had a blast with it! They paraded around for at least half an hour while Kimball and Mom banged on cymbals and drums for music. It was quite a fun evening.
Just an FYI, it's the year of the Rabbit, although I'm not at all sure what that means.

Grosser than gross?

Here are a couple more old pictures of this fall. What's grosser than fly swatters? How about kids using them as shovels in a mounding pile of dirt! What's grosser - the fly swatters or the children?

All three of them with fly swatters, and Peter in his school clothes. Those stinkers. Maybe you need a closer look.

Sigh. It's a good thing they are so cute, so that I could be smiling while I spent the next couple hours giving baths and doing laundry.

Santa's Lap

As I was scrolling through pictures of the last post, I saw a bunch of pictures I must post. These are of Elsie and Kimball on Santa's lap during their first encounter this year. There is no picture of Peter because he ran off, cut in line (unaware - it was VERY crowded), and visited with Santa without his parents even knowing! We were quite bummed we missed the whole encounter.

I was proud of Kimball for sitting on Santa's lap. He gave us a good 3 seconds before he cried.

Elsie was fascinated, a little nervous, and determined, all at once. I think this picture shows all of that fairly well. She's snuggled on up to Santa, with Mom's hand in grip, having a nice "chat" about wanting Dora sunglasses.

About Kimball

Kimball's first birthday came and went, and I realized I never did a post about him. This is a good lesson for me to learn early. With Kimball's birthday being right before Halloween and then "The Holidays", it may be easy for October 28th to be overshadowed. I have decided to make this the last time it happens. 1st birthdays, I think, are overdone anyways. Kimball certainly didn't mind. He did have a carrot cake he enjoyed with his Grammy, who has a birthday on the 24th and was able to be here. It was a lot of fun, but Kimball wasn't into making a mess with his cake. He is proving to be a fairly tidy tot. Then there is Elsie still smears her face and hands in oatmeal with every bowl. Maybe they can teach each other something. Anyhow, here is Kimball eating his cake and checking out his present from Grandma.



So, a few days later, Mike talked me into making another, slightly messier cake, to see if we could get a better mess going. What do you think?

Not much more spectacular, is it? He made a great mess of the cake, but didn't transport it to his face all that much. Well done Kimball!
Here is what I have gathered on Kimball during his first year of life. He appears to be fairly easy going, loving to play with toys and entertain himself. Him and Elsie are good friends and have a lot in common that way. He has an underlying determination about him, that makes him walk by 10 1/2 months, reclaim a stolen toy, and scream harder than any other baby I've had when he realizes things aren't going his way. I must say, with 2 older siblings, things aren't going his way often, and as of late, I am hearing a lot of screaming. However, he has a great laugh, and is mighty ticklish, so we hear squeals of delight as well.
Kimball watches Peter and Elsie's every move, and catches on to their play quickly. He is currently into light-saber fighting and hotwheel racing. He also loves to be chased by Mom or Dad. I guess I'd call him a little tease. Kimball has a few words such as Mom and Dad, Hot, and Hi. Whenever I am stirring or cooking he points to a pot or a bowl and says, "HA!"(hot!). So, you see, he's quite clever as well. We love our Kimball. He adds to our family so much by his laughter and small, bulging personality.

Christmas!

This Christmas was another great one - with some not so great stressful moments - just as every Christmas. I LOVED watching each of my children discover and explore the magic of Christmas - each for different reasons.
Kimball was a blast to watch because it didn't take him long to figure out what the presents were all about. Naively, I didn't think he'd be too interested. Little did I know. I wrapped about half our presents twice over because Mr. Inquisitive just loved to rip away! His favorite was a present of his that made sound. I wrapped that one three times. The 2nd time he opened it, the moment he saw me, with toy in hand, he split and ran as fast as he could. Yep, he knew what this "present" thing was all about. What a tease! Christmas morning he loved his stocking, especially the candy and food. He's still carting around, gnawing on this this huge hunk of chocolate Santa brought. What was he thinking, anyway?
Here he is with his beloved present!


Elsie was also a lot of fun because (1) she loves chocolate, (2) it was the first year she wasn't scared of Santa Clause, and (3) because all she wanted for Christmas was a pair of glasses (sunglasses). To address reason #1, what could be more fun for a mother than to indulge with her daughter in a yummy piece of Christmas chocolate? When all my family would turn me down, I could always count on Elsie to help me finish the plate of yummies from the neighbors (not that I ever needed that much help). As to #2, Elsie loved visiting Santa Clause! She told many a stranger that she got to see Santa Clause 3 times: one at the park, one at church, and one at somebody's house. Oh, she loved every encounter! Each time she sat on the Jolly Man's lap, she said she wanted Dora glasses. Yes, she wants to be very much like her older brother, but had to settle for sunglasses since she doesn't need the real things. I was relieved to have an easy order for Santa to fill! She was so excited about all her presents. Just before church one day, she was laying on the stairs and asked her dad, "Dad, can I bring just 1 present to church?" Oh, how hard it is to part with the anticipation!
by the way, Santa and Mom and Dad went in on a doll house as well. Although, I think she's spent just as much time playing with her glasses.

Peter was absorbed in the mystery of the North Pole and Santa and his elves. Would you believe that he had a REAL elf visit their class at school? I heard about him every day, his name was Christopher. How exciting - a real elf from the North Pole! He also enjoyed his visits to Santa Clause, always asking for a remote control helicopter. Gulp - those weren't intended for boys under age 8. Would Santa Clause cave and give it to him anyways? I'm sure there was much deliberation. Well, in the end, he indeed did cave. Peter thinks it's because he left Santa a little present with his cookies on Christmas Eve. That may have been it. Peter loved the presents as well, and would organize them in piles and cart them around the house wherever he went. Oh, it was SOOO exciting, I thought he would burst. He loved Christmas and was a champ Christmas day when his helicopter didn't work (luckily, Santa fixed the problem a few days later). The day I decided to take the tree down, I went downstairs to begin the job, and found Peter staring at it, crying. We waited another day. Christmas is so exciting, but it does end much too abruptly.


Mom and Dad gave him a light saber, and Grammy and Poppy gave him 3 Webkinz - he loves them!
To sum it all up, we had a great Christmas. Mike was sweet and gave me flannel sheets, which he dislikes. Aren't I a lucky girl! All the gifts we received (physically and spiritually) were given sincerely and lovingly, and we appreciate everyone that contributed to the spirit of Christmas in our home.

Happy New Year!

I've decided the way this world celebrates the new year is dreadfully awful! What a way to start out a new year; with a clean slate and new resolutions in mind - by sleeping in, eating too many sweets, and feeling groggy and gross all day? If I could only be strong enough to change this tradition for myself, I would, and I just might....next year.
However, I am very excited about a new year and have some big plans for myself. They are a number of things, but all fall into one motto: FOLLOW THROUGH. That's my motto for this year. I am going to become a new person, and I'm rather excited about it. No more wishing I did this, and hoping to do that. Flaking out and not committing to things because I want to do it all and can't. I'm picking what is most important, and simply doing those things. It's called sticking to my priorities, really, which I've been failing at miserably as of late.
So you dirty 'ole house and undone projects. You will just have to wait for your day. 2011 is about doing the things that matter most to me and following through.
Here is a wordle I did online:

A Great Book

I just finished what may be one of my favorite books - Daddy Long Legs. I just need to say, "Oh, Jerusha Abbott, I'm so glad you're happy! I'm also glad to hear that someone else sometimes fears to be and yet hopes to be so very ordinary." I suppose when all is said and done, it's the happy memories we make for ourselves that count - whether they be grand or just simple, it may not matter a whole lot. Thanks Mom for giving me the book a year ago, and Sarah for inspiring me to read it!