Christmas!!!!!!

First up is a slightly belated birthday present for Gregory from Gama and Bill. It's sounds like a steel drum, and there's three small instruments that Dahlia is modeling in a very Vanna like fashion, which all fit inside the bottom of the drum.

So far there has been a lot of standing on it, but thankfully no injuries.

Now for Christmas Gama and Bill bought the kids some nice toys. Dahlia got a Wonder Pets toy which she loves and will scream bloody murder if Gregory so much as looks at her while she's playing with it. Gregory got a singing/talking tool bag with tools, that incidentally he is more than happy to share with his sister.

Also purchased with the generous gift card from my mother... four of the green totes (already being put to use, this one holding most of my yarn), 120 diapers, a set of plastic drawers for clothes, two pairs of pants for me, some multi-vitamins again for me, the new Metallica CD for Barry, and some slippers for Barry.

Thanks Mom. Thanks Bill.

Next we have a (sideways) video of Dahlia opening her present from my sister "Aunty Winzee" and Patrick. I couldn't figure out how to turn the video the right way. So sorry, tilt your head.

I wanted to take videos of the kids opening all the presents that they got in the mail, for the people who sent them. But it takes up so much memory on my camera, and Dahlia's really slow so that would get a little boring. But here's one more of her opening her brother's present from Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Patrick.

Here they are with all their loot. They also got a rugby ball (?) that unzips into a kiwi bird (?) in a Popple like way, that Patrick brought back from New Zealand.

We'll pretend he's singing here.

On Christmas eve we went to Barry's grandparent's. They live about four hours away and the traffic was terrible. I made a retarded Santa hat for the occasion. It's g-normous in a one size fits all kind of way, and it's too short, so it looks more like an elf hat. I was glancing at a pattern when I made it but I didn't follow it.

And some photos of us on Christmas morning. Gregory got an ambulance.

Dahlia opening a present.


Gregory got some new shoes.

Now this is Christmas.

It's a Cars car. Very cool.

Dahlia showing off her new baby with diaper bag, travel bed, and play mat. As well as modeling some new clothes.

Ray's son and his wife, kids, and wife's parents came over for Christmas dinner. We had pork and sour kraut. I guess it's the traditional Swiss Christmas dinner. Catiline's parents are from Switzerland. It was so good. Ray drained the regular brine from the kraut and cooked it all in the slow cooker with some wine. I had seconds and thirds.

Any way. They were so nice and brought the kids some presents and some fancy hot cocoa for me and Barry. The first one is Dahlia's "oooh" face.

I call this one "Fun with hats"

And giving Nana hugs goodbye.

We also got a very generous gift card from my father. There's still some money left on it, but so far we've gotten ; two big blue totes, a rotisserie / convection oven, a set of dishes and two glasses, some cereal for the kids, some shoes for me (my sandals broke), and two DVDs for the kids. Wall E and Tinker Bell.

Thanks Dad and Carol!

We also got some nice presents in the mail from Linda John and Cheri. I have not had a chance to take pictures of them yet. As well as the kids first Chanukah presents from Aunt Dee and the gang. But again more on that later.

So come back to see Christmas part two.

A long winter's nap...

When planning to hibernate, it's important to remember to eat plenty of food.


You have to store up enough body fat to sustain you for the whole winter.





It also might help if the food made it in your mouth, rather than trying to absorb it though your skin.





Be sure to have a your nest or cave ready, with blankets, pillows, and a snuggley friend.





This will optimize your hibernation experience.









You also might benefit from building a protective wall. This will keep out any non-hibernating animals who wish to steal your snuggley friend or simply play.



And just like any period of sleep be it long or short, the young ones will be the first to rise, looking for more nourishment. Be sure to have something ready to satisfy, so everyone else can get back to their precious sleep.

Kids

Just some overdue pictures of Dahlia and her second cousins.

Fun was had.

My little man turns one today.

Happy Birthday Gregory!!

One year, the time has flown by.

Still not dead...

Hello again avid readers. I apologize for the lapse in blogging. Our Internet was hijacked by the man and held for ransom. But we showed them, we packed up everything we could and moved all four of us into a hotel room where the Internet is included. And it's faster Internet so take that "MAN". But seriously. We did move or down size a bit, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. It's a nice room and we have everything we need. With the one exception of that woman being led out the hotel on an S. and M. leash last night, everyone is really nice and there are some families with kids. So back to why we're all here, cute pictures of my kids.

The day before Thanksgiving the kids and I went over and made cookies with Jody and Emily. They were nice enough to provide most of the ingredients, and here's Dahlia cleaning up the extra flour on the counter by applying it to her face. Good job Dahlia.

Thanksgiving morning brought breakfast at Cracker Barrel with Barry's grandparents. They had come down the night before and stayed over for some time with the kids. Gregory ate like a pig and did not stay clean for long.

I have to toot my own horn here. I did a really good job on her hair that day. All that practice on Barbie is really starting to pay off.

The boy loves his biscuits.

Maybe it was the eggnog but for some reason this is the only picture I took at Thanksgiving dinner. I hang my head in shame.

And lastly a shot of my pesky child playing in my yarn again. I would almost prefer a cat because when they have had enough they can slip out and scamper off. Mine just gets tangled and cries. Oh well she's cute.

All right I hope you all had a good holiday. I would like to pose a question to the blog-isphere before I sign off.

As a stay at home mom of two I try to control my potty mouth. I have since come up with curse alternatives, but I'm always looking for new ones. What can I say I'm not very intellectually stimulated until my husband comes home.

So far I have in rotation

"Fiddle-sticks"

"Son of a Biscuit" and if I'm really P.O.ed

"Biscuits and Gravy"

So please leave a comment with your swear alternatives to add some fresh meat to my rotation and I could just use some audience participation.