sledding, or as they say in Jersey, sleigh riding

thanks to all of you who found me to send Christmas cards. It's nice to still be connected!


Favorite presents video!!! bubble wrap and wrapping paper were big hits! and the pancake mix....probably the best pancakes ever!!!


we love and miss everyone this morning!

New Videos

Baby Tricks





licking beaters!!






just killing time


for Camlon!!

This is all I want to do...

Be tucked in and taken care of...



she nurtures. I learn from her!.....when she's not impish. (see previous post!)

















she does this all day......when she's not, oh, you get the point!










he's pretty great as well.









I wish my mommy responsibilities only entailed these little nurturing moments. I wouldn't actually want her ever walking in my shoes.....right now as a mother. but, she does walk nicely in this pair!




and another thing I'd like to do tonight besides get tucked in and read to:

Calling all adults to a little indulgence: this in your coffee/cocoa........magnifique!

4 more days.

Describe me in One Word

If I had to describe Ally in one word, it. would. be...... impish. She's a complete imp. Do you know what her favorite song is this Christmas from our playlist below??

"I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas." Sung by Shirley Temple. Yes.

She laughs this crazy little possessed laugh whenever we hear the line, "I broke my bat on Johnny's head, somebody snitched on me." The laugh continues and swells with each wrong doing rattled off until the kicker of all kickers, "I made Tommy eat a bug." Then, as the chorus sounds, "I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas. Mommy and Daddy are mad....." She's just screamin' along with her new microphone (thanks Aunt Shannon!!), shouting all the words. I don't really know how to react. Something in her is resonating....LOUDLY....with this little ditty. Wow.

So, we began a new method to our child training today. The positive jar.


When the kids do something fabulous like: play together nicely, share, help out Mommy, obey Mommy, say something kind.....they get to put a little glittery pom into the jar. Sometimes, two! When the jar fills up, we get to do something special.


Finn got to choose this time: we are going to a bakery! That's what he wants.


I got this idea from his preschool teacher. She cannot really use any kind of punishment, but I think the right balance of both the positive encouragement and the consequences that come from bad choices will be good. This idea is nothing new, however, it really reminds me to praise them when they are doing a great job, which today has been way more often than I realized!! Especially with my little impish girl! She goes between imp and princess very quickly.



you can see a little of the imp here...


This would be major points for the jar!! Major!


The baby spends most of his day parked on his bum, discovering new toys. I don't know if he will ever want to crawl if we keep putting new toys in front of him.





"Hello!"



No imp with this kid yet!! Some day...



Our Christmas will be white for sure after this storm.



As my mom and I watched the flakes fall, she said, "I just love it when it sparkles like this."







And our decorating was pretty unremarkable, but I do want to include a photo of this ornament that Finn made at school today! : )

This is exactly how he spells his name now. Not the bows, but the circular pattern. Never will he write on a straight line. Never!

7 days to Christmas! I get to have my H1nny shot now!!! How I feel about that in one word.......maybe four. "Merry Christmas to me."

Finally..............& O Christmas Tree

I finally heard from Cam today! Sounds like it has been a "fun" week! I can't wait to hear more...he only had 2 minutes to chat and he sounded like he was a walking zombie w/ a bullfrog in his throat. I'm sure that THAT times 10 would actually describe how he is feeling today! But, I'm so glad to hear from him.


before Cam left, we had a chance to help my dad find his Christmas tree.

a Christmas tree farm in Iowa kinda looks like this.



this tree looks awful!!! But, I wanted to show the measuring tape. You get so excited when you are hunting for the perfect tree, you forget how high your ceilings are! after many years of experience, grandpa is prepared!












the hourglass tree...again, not a winner!



There are many things I love about my dad. he is a good teacher.


He showed the kids how to count the rings to see how old the tree was.




and the winner is...

could YOU do that with a tree??? holy cow!!!!

we got a free ornament, hot cider or cocoa, cookies and candy canes!



Finn and I went to the Nutcracker ballet today. He played the tin soldiers all night, singing the music to himself and chasing after the mouse king (Ally!). Then, when I walked into their room to read them their bedtimes stories, they were all set up on Finn's bed: with animals for reindeer and their pillows stuffed with toys! I'm thinking they won't be sleeping too well, the closer to Christmas we get!!

The Last Day.....

I woke up to the smell of a rose. Cam was holding one in front of me. Both Finn and Ally were snuggled under the covers with us. I said, "Thank You, Honey! What a beautiful rose!" as I took it from him and held it under my nose again. Then Finn said, "Well, there's a whole lot more of those in the kitchen on the table." Ahhhhh! Cam's surprise was foiled. But, he said, that was a pretty cute way of finding out, too!! I agree. Thus began our perfect last day together as a family!

We went out to our favorite pancake breakfast. We decorated the house for Christmas. That quickly turned into the biggest pillow fight ever. I avoided that whole scene since Mr. Baby was in my lap. The pillow fight turned into a contest: how-high-can-daddy-toss-you-in-the-air? Then they turned into lions and started growling at daddy.










this is kinda how I'd like to remember you, Cam! Too bad you won't be able to see this for awhile!


all daddy's letters will come to this mailbox. The kids are already checking it. They will put their letters to him in here as well.



It ended with putting the kiddos to bed. we talked in front of the fireplace with the first fire of the season roaring. Cam recorded his voice into a book ~ and now the kids hear daddy read "the night before Christmas" every night before bedtime! The last thing Cam says is, "give each other hugs and kisses" and every time, they reach over and hug each other! : )

Thank you for these beauties....



We already feel like this....


waiting for you to come home.


19 days to Christmas!