For Grandma etc..

From time to time, when I get stressed about the fact that I haven't blogged in about two months, I remind myself why I started a blog- to post pictures for grandma so she won't forget what we look like. It is also good for me to organize my photos a bit and comment on them, just so I don't forget what life is like right now- each day passes in such a blur.
These winter months tend to be a little bit dull, with nothing much going on except the regular routine of life- music classes, church duties, choir practices, and of course mothering. These are just some pics of my kids as they are most days, alternately messy, cute, obnoxious, and very sweet.

JAMES-

James is no longer a baby- he is very noisy, very curious and very much wanting to be a big person. I have been doing a bit of yoga lately. I don't buy the whole 'connection to the earth' mantra, but it does help to stretch a bit and give my flabby old self a bit of toning. I was about to start the other day when of course I got distracted by something. When I came back, I caught James trying it out. I managed to get some shots before he noticed me-





I particularly love the Jammies and Dinosaur boots combo.

I also caught him the other day when it was really cold, diving head first into my fresh-out-of-the dryer clothes to keep warm. He stayed in there for a long long time.


ETIENNE-

Etienne is still my silent, serious observer, even without the pacifier which is his almost constant companion. I often wonder what in the world is going on in his little (or perhaps I should say big) head. We spend a lot of time scratching our heads over him- for instance, when he is tired, he takes his paci and blanket and goes to stand by his crib ready for bed, or the fact that he sits all the way through church on the edge of his chair without making a noise, or wiggling around. He is not your run of the mill child, but we love him anyway.



He does act goofy occasionally-


SEBASTIEN-

Then there is my sweet baby whose personality is still developing, but he likes most to

Sit



Smile


Sleep



or just be pretty darn cute



So there you go Grandma.

The Long Journey

So we had decided not to go home for Christmas this year. Then my mother bribed us home by the offer of a van if we would be crazy enough to drive it back. We decided that we were crazy enough, so we bought one way tickets. Before we left we had a little Christmas with just our kids and gave them a railroad track, with the tracks screwed down since I am opposed to the tracks being strewn all over the house, or the wailing tears from James every time Etienne breaks his track. They have really enjoyed it so far.



So anyway, we were scheduled to fly out the 21st. That didn't happen. Seattle was experiencing one of the worst snow storms in decades so our flight was cancelled. We got rebooked for the next night and then went to a hotel where we spent many hours watching television.


The next day we waited and waited, not knowing if our flight again would be cancelled. It was a very long day.


We made it, thankfully, only twenty four hours later than expected. Some people fared much worse. Once we were there, the snow was great fun and it was the first white Christmas our little family has had.




Christmas day was quiet and peaceful, and very festive. We all got many fun gifts including hats from grandma,


souvenirs from Scotland



and James got his beloved Buzz Lightyear (which he calls Buzz RightHere)


Apparently Etienne wanted one too.


Oh, and mom bought all the "little boys" nerf guns


We also had some good quality time with the cousins



Our stay was very short, just under a week, but we managed to get a shot of all the grandkids with grandma and grandpa before we left. There will be two more to add come March. Not from me this time!


Then we piled in the van and took off. The first leg of the journey was a trip through the night down south to my cousins most wonderful house in California.


The kids had a blast exploring the marvels of their yard including a delightful play house




and a thrilling suspension bridge leading to the log fort.



We wished we could have stayed a week, but we caught up on sleep and then headed East for 1700 miles : )
There isn't much to report from that trip- it all seems kind of a blur. We took a few shots somewhere in the middle of New Mexico




Other than that, it was just going and going and going. Crazy Steve decided not to stop for any nights so we made it in amazingly good time, but that last drive through the night was pretty much pure misery. But we are home and now we have a vehicle that fits our family much better, with room to spare. Hooray! Happy New Year to you all!

My little old man

So people are always telling me what a little man my Seb is. They say things like " Why he looks just like a little old man", or "He looks so old for a baby", or my favorite in the grocery store one day- "My, he looks so old, like, well... like a banker!" A banker?
Maybe it has to do with the bald spot he has developed over the past several weeks:


but most people don't see him from behind, so it can't be that. Maybe it is because he is a pretty serious looking baby:




However, he does crack a smile now and then:





Well, whatever it is, I guess old men must be cute because I sure think he is. And maybe it is a sign that he will be mature and responsible from a very early age. I am sure that is it.

Can't get enough twinkle lights

Okay, so I love decorating for Christmas. I am the type of person who looks forward to Thanksgiving because it means that as soon as the dishes are washed, you can break out the tinsel and Christmas music. No, not really. I like Thanksgiving for the stuffing too. By the by, we had a great Thanksgiving this year, albeit much smaller than I am used to- just five adults. Joe and Darcee Moon shared their first married T-feast with us, and Marie Gonzalez, who braved sleeping on my couch and even tended to James's nightmares in the middle of the night. She also went red neck with us as we piled three kids and three adults into the cab of a truck and went to get our Christmas tree. It was great fun.
I love Christmas trees- the smell, the nostalgia, the sap on the floor. It's all part of the experience. One of my favorite things to do, once the tree is lit, is to wake up early when it is still dark, and drink my coffee and read my bible with just the Christmas lights on and my favorite Christmas cd in the background.
The older I get the more I appreciate the lights of Christmas- James is a huge fan of Christmas lights- always shouting out when he sees even the smallest pathetic string of bulbs on a bush, and it reminds me why we should put up lights in this dark season. It is such a lovely picture of Christ coming into a dark world. We light a lot of candles too.
It adds to the joy to have my children start to get excited about this wonderful season and begin to understand the reason for it. So can you tell I like Christmas? Have a merry one everyone.

Here's a few pics of my twinkle lights.