Christmas video 6 -- you asked for it...

Here's my favorite. It's super long but it's of the girls opening their Santa presents, and they were so excited to get what they asked for! Too much fun.

Christmas vid 5 -- candy candy candy!

Isn't it nice to have little kids that still love the cheapest candy the best... :)

Christmas video 4 -- stickers!

Here's no. 4. Santa might be on our "naughty" list as we find stickers plastered all over the house...

Christmas video 3--candy canes, flashlights, and black bows

Here's no. 3, as the girls further delve into their stockings.

Christmas video 2...penguins and bows

Here's no. 2 in the series.

Christmas fun

We spent Christmas alone here in Kentucky again this year. We had fun with the girls, but were lonesome for family. It just didn't work out to go anywhere. Anyway, I am posting the videos I took of the girls from Christmas morning, for those who are interested.
Happy Holidays.

baby laughs

Is there anything in the world that can make you smile as well as a baby's laugh? I can't think of much, if anything. Here's a video of Calvin laughing at Emily. It was so funny. He already thinks his sisters are pretty amazing. And they adore him, as past pictures have evidenced.
I think I'll also add a video of Calvin under the Christmas tree. I guess Christmas magic starts young, because he got so excited looking up at those lights! Emily is teaching us to see Christmas again through a child's eyes, she was frothing at the bit to get the tree all decorated. We picked it up Friday night and had to wait til Saturday morning to decorate... waiting is so hard when you are four! She was asking every day if it was Christmastime yet, so we made a paper chain to count down the days! I think that must be why paper chains and advent calendars got started, to stop the endless question: "Is it Christmas yet?" It is fun to remember the excitement of Christmases past as I watch my children anticipate the joys of the season. I was worried that with how homesick I was getting that I wouldn't be able to get excited about Christmas, but Emily's helping me get past that.
There is something magical still about having a Christmas tree up and lit and decorated, it doesn't matter how old you are. Somehow, it makes home feel warmer, safer, and more beautiful. Em and Kimmie want the tree lights on all day every day, and I have to admit... I'm with them.

cute pictures

Here's some pictures of the girls and our family that Laura took while she was here. She's much better with the camera than I am (as in she has it out and is using it) so she got some fun ones. Most of these are at the airport before she went home. Kimmie kept saying to her, "but I want to go wit' you!" The girls both thought that getting on a plane would be loads of fun.

Happy Birthday Em!

We finally had Emily's birthday bash. Just with Laura and Lisa & Joseph and their girls. Emily had all things horses at this birthday, so it was a smash. Although she decided she wanted a blue caterpillar cake, which was easy for me so I was happy too! So included with this blog are pictures of Emily and her fabulous horse gifts, and a video of her blowing out her candles... for all those who might have wished they could be there.

John also surprised me when Emily opened a fairly large present that turned out to be attachments to a Bosch mixer! He had ordered one to surprise me with--technically for Christmas, but how can you make load and loads of cinnamon rolls without a bread mixer?? So I guess I needed it earlier. ;)

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving at a friend's house this year. It was also fun to have it with family for the first time in three years since Lisa and Joseph were there. Yummy food, and I didn't have to cook the turkey! That's what I call a good holiday. I took rolls, recipe courtesy of Mom Butler, and got rave reviews. My sister Laura is here for the holiday, and all the kids loved her, as usual. My girls will be sending her back to Boston good and exhausted--they've kept her pretty busy. Emily keeps asking her if she can stay longer, telling her, "But I don't want you to go!" Laura has been lots of fun. She brings laughter and sunshine with her wherever she goes, not to mention music, and it has been delightful to have her in our home.

beginning a blog...

Well, I have joined the bandwagon and started a blog... Hopefully I can figure this thing out. I guess I can write whatever comes into my head and you can choose whether or not to waste your time reading it, right? :)
We have had a stellar weekend, culminating in a four-hour sequence of doctor visits and prescription procurement yesterday. Basically, three of the five people in our house have strep throat right now. Fortunately, the bread-winner and the baby have escaped the disease's notice. Hopefully that will remain true. So, it has been a memorable birthday for Emily already, though perhaps not in the way we'd prefer.
Emily turns four today. She has been talking about her birthday for the past month at least. Probably longer. Her wish list has fluctuated everyday as well, but lately has wanted a Cinderella jumprope, a pony (keep wishing), a pet of some sort, anything from a fish to a dog to a guinea pig (again, keep wishing) and once after watching "The Rescuers" she looked at me and said, "I know what I want for my birthday: a diamond!!" She's all girl. John keeps trying to remind her that she wants a fishing pole.
Anyway, with all of us sick, we'll probably celebrate on Friday when we are feeling better, and Laura is here, and we won't contaminate whoever comes to our house. 'Tis the season.

Emily sings to Calvin!

Emily is such a good big sister. She watches over Calvin like a second mother, and is a huge helper for me. She and Kimmie are both really good at entertaining Calvin, and letting me know when he's crying and I need to go get him!