Christmas Day

This year we were in a different location for the big day... home. Usually we are in the car, traveling to SD. We missed my parents and sisters immensely, although it also made for a relaxing holiday. Surprisingly, Ian opened only two presents on Christmas Day... it was more than enough. He received a collapsible house to play in and a stick pony to ride to his heart's content. We hope your holidays were memorable and filled with joyful times.

Family Photo Opt

Is it true that the more time you spend around somebody, the more you become like them? The scary thing is, Tom and Ian were already dressed alike today and I just decided to join the fun. It reminds me of a Cat in the Hat book. They say horizontal stripes aren't the most flattering, so let's hope that we won't cringe when we glance at these photos later...

Lessons in Brushing

Here is our little Ian, learning one of the necessary disciplines of grooming and personal hygiene. I figured that we might as well start him off on the right foot sooner rather than later, and he seems to enjoy scrubbing those pearly whites. It's a bit of a game, which adds to the appeal. Now maybe we should start saving for braces...

Holiday Family Pictures

Too bad "holiday" and "family pictures" have to be in the same sentence. At least that is my understanding as of this week! Throw a toddler in the mix and you've got a recipe for disaster. Okay, maybe "disaster" is a bit harsh, but when the photographer has exhausted the phrase "Okay, let's try something else," you know he's praying for an extra dose of patience. True, they are probably seasoned with children of all ages, but methinks a 2-year-old just might be one of the most trying ages. My first mistake was pulling out the favored "Mr. Bear" within the first few minutes. Snapping photos was a breeze... until we wanted one without Mr. Bear. Needless to say, the following 50 minutes were a series of whimpers for the bear that had mysteriously disappeared. And it doesn't help when both Tom and I are continually remembering the hourly rate we're paying for Ian to display a laugh or even a desperate little smile that has yet to appear. We have yet to lay our eyes on any of the images resulting from that dismal day, but our hopes are that the memories captured will be priceless.

We've Got Ourselves a GIRL!

I've had at least 24 hours to ponder the idea of being a daughter's mother, and it truly evokes emotions I didn't expect. My mind is fast forwarding toward far off dates, such as ear piercing, the dreaded "birds and bees" talk (a role I dare not defy), first boyfriend/date, etc. I get emotional already and I've never even met the little lady. It also creates a sense of responsibility in me as her primary female role model. No more excuses in becoming less than I am capable of! She'll be watching. I can see why being a parent is like a dose of forced maturity... it's not necessary to embrace and accept the role, but it will sure make life more rewarding for all involved. All I can say is, we're ecstatic to welcome her!!

Living with the ‘Rents

Yes, we made our move safely from the town home we sold in Apple Valley to Tom's parents' house in Lakeville. It was a chaotic time, and we closed on the home on Tom's 28th birthday. I think Ian is still getting "accustomed" to having both Mom AND Grandma at a mere 24 hour availability. Hmmm... this arrangement could spoil him a bit! Now that we're settled on Lake Marion, construction has begun to repair the home's foundation and drainage system. This includes removing the deck, which is mostly gone already. There is also a monstrous tree that has to be removed, as you can see from the photo. The guy climbing the tree is nicknamed "Monkey," and gets paid $45 per hour to risk his life at crazy heights. It is very orderly work: as he climbs, he uses his chain saw to sever each branch (leaving enough to serve as a step), until he sways at the top of a bare trunk. Then he cuts 5 feet pieces of the main trunk as he climbs down. Quite fascinating! We are loving the additional time with family that living here affords. It is an arrangement that seems to be serving all involved very well.

Day at the Farm

Memories to be had on a beautiful Saturday in April! Since Ian has displayed a proficiency with animal sounds (okay, he only recognizably utters the horse sound.... see video), we thought it only appropriate to satisfy his interest in the animal kingdom by attending a community education . field trip for kids to a local farm, complete with cows, horses, chickens, goats, and llamas. The owners use the llamas’ wool for all sorts of things, and we were even able to buy fresh eggs! In bringing Ian, I realized we might have been a tad ambitious for our 1 1/2 year old, since he preferred running circles in the yard to petting baby animals. And we noticed he paid a fair amount of attention to the owner’s red pickup truck. Maybe we see automotive engineering in his future...? See more pictures from our day here

Science Museum Excursion

I love this picture because Ian is taking delight in the creative expression of messing up Erin’s hair! My sister was in town this past week, and we rendez-vouzed all over the twin cities, tasting authentic neopolitan style Italian pizza, visiting the breathtaking St. Paul cathedral, and stopping by our favorite dessert bar for cheesecake and a latte. Tom and I brought Erin to the Science Museum in St. Paul for the Race exhibit, which compares and contrasts caucasians, African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, and the origins and histories behind the races as well. We also saw an omnitheater showing called “Wildfire,” which documented the lives of firefighters fighting the unpredictable forest fires. After spending the afternoon and evening at the museum, however, Tom & I came to the conclusion that our money might be better spent when Ian’s level of concentration can surpass his boundless bursts of energy!!

Babies and Bowel Movements

Carol (Tom’s mom) found a gem the other day. It was a note that her mother-in-law left for her after a day of baby sitting Tommy (as they called my husband up until it embarrassed him) when he was about a year old. Bommy (Tom’s grandma’s nickname) left an incredibly detailed account of Tommy’s food and beverage consumption, his napping, and even the size of his bowel movements. And all written in her distinctive, feminine handwriting. Anybody who knows me knows that I looooooove to throw away anything and almost everything (ie: anything I haven’t worn or used in the past week). And yet I can’t bring myself to throw away such a precious little note. I figure that if it will bring a smile to my face ten years from now, it’s probably worth keeping.

Auld Lang Syne Inspiration

Okay, it's time I fess up about New Year's resolutions. Most of us make them, whether we admit it or not, and I choose not to mention mine until I have a few weeks' success under my belt. I figure, why bring it up if I'm not ready to commit? The key for me has been to choose only a few, and to assess whether or not they are truly realistic. I have no qualms about making them, because I think it is a sign of healthy growth to have tangible benchmarks for future growth.

On that note..... here they are. I have only two, as I can recall (did I forget a few? oh well). The first is to brush my teeth 2-3 times a day, instead of the lonely single brush I usually do right before bedtime. I have even tried brushing right after dinner, which curbs my appetite (or at least gives me an excuse to refuse Tom's late night popcorn cravings) late at night. The dentist told me that we should all brush around two minutes. Most people think they do, but the clock is a more trustworthy indicator!

Next, a friend and I started a book club! We made a list of books we wanted to read, and are venturing through the list together. We are not limited to genre, as the following list indicates:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

For the Time Being by Annie Dillard

Here's to Hindsight by Tara Leigh Cobble

The Outsiders by S.E. Hindton

The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas

On the Road by John Kerouac

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Biography of Helen Keller

This list is not exhaustive; we are in the process of thinking up more. I just finished The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, which is actually juvenile fiction but very entertaining. There is a movie based on this book, too. I love reading books before watching the movies they inspire. I think of it like this: movie = Country Buffet steak, the book it's based on = Ruth's Chris steak. I just did that with The Devil Wears Prada, too.

I think next year I'll aim for a goal in each of these categories: physical, spiritual, intellectual, and financial.

Here's wishing you many successes in your resolutions!