TV

In some ways the internet is seriously helping me waste my time. And in doing so, I have found (with some help from family members, you know who you are) some seriously cool television shows. So, I thought I'd share the wealth. The three best TV shows (in my opinion) on the air right now:

1. Psych (USA Network)
2. Chuck (NBC)
3. White Collar (USA Network)

While you can never have anything perfect, these shows are witty, pretty clean, funny, and have intriguing plot lines and characters. And that's my tidbit for today--or the week, depending on how things go. Happy watching!

Sledding video

Here's a sampling of the Butler family sledding.

Christmas Day and sledding again

Christmas morning was fun. Our first in our new home! The video says it better than I can, so here's a couple to give you a sample of the fun:

The kids got Cars the movie from their Aunt Laura. You have no idea how excited Calvin was to open that! He got all excited and jumped up and down saying "Light-ing A-Keen!! Light-ing A-Keen!!" They watched it later on after breakfast (I took a nap).

The kids in their new pajamas from G&G P and their presents. So excited!!

Emily LOVES her new horse and carriage from Santa. Actually, the other kids do too and sometimes sharing has been tough! The blasted tail came out the next day and Emily was distraught, but fortunately Mom can be somewhat clever at times (sitting on the floor for an hour gathering up the hair and trying to get it all the same length again was a definite labor of love) and got the tail back in.

The boys had a great time playing with Calvin's new cars. I'm not sure who was having more fun... I'll post a video and you can judge for yourself.

The girls in their new hats from Aunt Angela. Thanks Ang! Now they finally have hats that fit, and they will wear!

The day after Christmas we went down to John's parents' again and they all went sledding. Kimmie and I still were harbouring memories of our last sledding trip and decided to wait at home. However, they had a great time and I feel bad for bailing. Ah well.

Emily loves sledding and had a great time.

Calvin had a blast!

Calvin and John suiting up for the next run

Ready for another go!

Snow angels, father and son

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a busy day for us. That morning, John convinced us all to go sledding with him up at the park. Not knowing the good sledding spots yet, we ended up on a pretty pathetic hill, but it gave John a good workout. Doesn't he have great bowling form?

Poor Kimmie lasted about 5 minutes before the tears started. In her defense, it was about 15 degrees and I'm pretty sure the windchill was subzero and we were on top of a hill... And she has the same cold weather stamina as her mother! John was not amused with us, but we just went on a walk and found a nice sheltered spot on a swinging bench in the sun overlooking the geese on the lake. It was actually very peaceful.

Fortunately for John, he had two other kids that were game for sledding even though it was freezing. Emily and Calvin had a great time.

After about an hour though, everyone had just about had it. I think they were all in tears when we got back in the car! But, that dried up pretty quick after we went and got burgers and fries and ate them at John's office, and played foosball. For the record, I did beat John in the parental showdown... barely.

After we got home, we finished up with our first year (and maybe last) of major candy-making. John made toffee (he's pretty good at that now) and I tried peanut brittle for the first time, and with a bit of advice and encouragement from my mom and Grandma R over the phone, it turned out pretty good! We also made fudge (best ever this year, with a little tip from Taste of Home cookbook to let the fudge cool to 110 degrees without touching it--it is so creamy!!) and chocolate truffles. Here's a picture of Calvin "helping" with the truffles...

That night, John's family came up to enact the traditional nativity. This picture captures the gist of the thing, with Angela narrating, Richard as a stellar donkey, Emily as a Mary poofy with child, Calvin as Joseph leading (being led by?) the donkey, and Kimmie as a reluctant (very reluctant) angel.

Mary and Joseph...

The Wise Men... or rather more literally the "wise guys:"

I just thought this was a fun picture, with Calvin looking up at Matt. I'm not sure he really had any idea what was going on, but he was a good sport--Calvin, I mean. Though Matt was a good sport too...

Kimmie and Grandma B as the angels. There was no way Kimmie was getting up there on her own, so Grandma got recruited into the angelic host.

Kimmie took a picture of me manning the piano for the night. I figured I don't post many of myself, so I'll put it up.

Apparently Kimmie had to have her turn as Mary as well...

Calvin was a great Joseph: angel halo, thumb in mouth and all. He was so tired!!

After the nativity, David read "the girls" (everyone else was just there) a story--one of my favorites: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski (yes, that's really the last name). The artwork is beautiful and the story sweet.

And now the kids are starving and I really do need to go. I'll post Christmas day pics a little later!

And just to seal the deal...

Here it is in physical form and hopefully you can see it now. No promises on actually reading the text though.