Valentine's Day

This year we did it.  I always grumble about how much Valentine's cards cost for a kid to then bring them home, scatter them all over my floor and I throw them away for a week.  This year we made our own.  Leslie and I turned out the 100 + cards required for my elementary kids in about an hour.  We used the crazy non-descipt pinks and purples from my cardstock and had a fun time doing it.  I am not sure what the kids at school will think, but I'm not sure they will care.  Any way, saved some money, had some laughs.  Proof is in the pictures.

Other happenings from this weekend, Jacob built Rex a dog house.  We are glad to have it finished.  Rex likes it (phew) but so does someone else.

See the feet?  The really black ones?  Ethan took a nap with Rex in the doghouse yesterday.  Rex was in doggy heaven to have company at his new digs.  Mom was a bit disturbed, but boys will be boys. :)

Camille's Birthday

Yes, we are a bit behind, but that is standard and shouldn't worry anybody.  Camille turned 13 at the end of January!  She is very excited to be joining the ranks of the teenagers. 

 Opening presents, always a hit. The toddler phone on the table next to her is her gift from Seth. :)

Too bad the photo is dark.  This is what Camille asked for for her birthday.  The request went some thing like this:  "Mom, what I really want for my birthday is a yellow flouncy dress." And was delivered about 48 hours before the birthday.  Usually the timing isn't a problem, I shop the day before or the day of the children's birthdays quite often, but this request was different.  In January, the stores do not have yellow flouncy dresses.  They have black, dreary leftovers that weren't special enough to be sold at Christmas time.  So Leslie and I went to JoAnns and found this fun yellow with white daisies with blue centers fabric and the gorgeous trim.  And I was sewing like crazy right up until time to actually sit down to dinner and open presents. Ugh. But she likes it.  Mission accomplished. Phew.  Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!



Ready for the Dance

Regional dances are one of Leslie's favorite things.  This is her looking fabulous and ready for another night of music and friends.

More Classic Seth

Seth has a girlfriend.  She is imaginary, but wow, what a woman! Seth tells us things about her all the time.  Yesterday while I was driving, this was the conversation:
Seth: "My girlfriend has a monster truck."
Mom: "Oh, really?"
Seth: "Yeah, she has a pink monster truck.  She built it.  It has pink paint."
Mom: "Cool."

At the dinner table last night, Seth was wearing his new, green Christmas cape, the one with the Sandra Boynton animals on it.  Nathan said, "Seth, will you say the prayer?" Seth replied, "You mean Batman?" Nate has been around the block several times as a daddy, he didn't miss a beat, he said, "Batman, will you say the prayer?" And Batman did. :)

Seth's Lunch Order

Seth is getting old enough to be mischievous.  Today when I asked him what he wanted for lunch he said, "Dirt...and paper, and guacamole." 
I said "Eewww, that doesn't sound very good!" and he grinned and added to his order:
 "and hair, and belly button lint."

I guess everything tastes better dipped in guacamole!

Christmas 2010

My sister in law was telling me about their Christmas morning and how nice it was, they awoke at eight, watched each other open each gift and it extended over a long time, and was just pleasant.  I have to just smile and nod.  That sounds nothing like Christmas morning at this house!  I think holiday arguments start in your childhood.  Someone from that home, marries some one from a home like ours, and you have disaster before the wedding ever took place!  The McAllisters in this house have a general gift free-for-all that begins around 6 a.m. and lasts for about 20 minutes tops, tearing the wrapping off everything in site and yelling to each other to congratulate on each new present. Spontaneous celebrations take place helter skelter and mom dives in and out with a camera, taking bad angles of everything that appears promising.  Wrapping paper piles about our ankles and small children plaintively hold up their gift with the armor-plated packaging for assiatance in vain until all the unwrapping is accomplished.  Here, then, are some of the bad angles we wanted to highlight.

In the beginning, the children check out their stockings and all is still quiet and controlled.

Unwrapping begins in earnest.

Some dancing to music provided by the "Rescue Pack."

General excitement and good will abound.

   

 Seth's new puppy, his name is of course, Rex.

 Party just heating up....

Look at that floor!

 Jacob grinning about getting the Planet Earth series. Ethan trying the heft on his METAL baseball bat.  Last year he wanted a baseball bat and Santa was dense enough to get plastic, so this year his request was very specific. :)

 Nathan with all his long missed, stinky cheeses, olives and salami.

O' Yeah. Nerf fest!

 Super Seth.

All is right with the world.  We had a marvelous Christmas morning. Hope yours was as festive!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Who Wouldn't Go?

Today Seth's preschool class had a special visitor.  I think this is Seth's first experience up close and personal with Santa.  He was a little shy, but not enough to keep him away.  He told Santa he wanted a Batman mask.  Santa told Seth that he was a Batman fan too. :)

It was interesting to me to be in the classroom with the children.  Santa had a gift for each of them and would call them up by name.  "Atticus", he called out (a good, strong-sounding name, I thought).  But where was Atticus?  Clinging to his mother's neck at the back of the room, not willing to get closer than 15 feet from the red suit.  Other children were sweet to watch.  One little girl was so trusting, just like Santa was an old friend, went to the front with awe and belief so prevalent in her face it made me get teary eyed.  What a precious thing!  Such trust and belief are fleeting in childhood, I just wish I could hold on to that for my children a little longer.  Merry Christmas, Seth!  And all of my children, big and small.  I can't wait to spend another holiday with you.  You fill all my days with joy!