Have You Been Good This Year?

Kaleb finally sat on Santa's lap this year without crying! When asked if he'd been good and what he wanted for Christmas this year, he immediately said the ark. Santa told him if he brought him the ark, he'd have to have everything that came with it... the animals, the rain for 40 days & nights, etc. Kaleb just looked at him like he was crazy, but we got a good laugh out of it! It's not a very smily picture, but we decided it was good enough since there were no tears, and no crazy "smile" that K's been doing lately (jutting out his bottom teeth and moving his jaw to one side when he's in front of a camera.) Btw...Santa Mom and Dad have been to 4 stores in 2 states in the past few days looking for this Little People Noah's Ark that Kaleb really wants and is convinced Santa is bringing him while he's in Oregon. We have one on hold in Chandler, so hopefully it all works out, or we might have the only 2 year old that doesn't believe in Santa!

You Wouldn't Lie to a Priest... Would You?

I decided to give myself a test to see if I could really handle both the boys on the plane alone to OR and took them both and 6 packages to the post office the other day. Dylan was asleep so I had him in his stroller with packages loaded everywhere I could fit them, and then still had to carry a few. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice everyone was and how well it went! Each time I was near a door someone rushed to open it for us, Kaleb was a really good boy and listened and followed instructions the whole time, and the line was the shortest I've ever seen in 'copa! I left my purse in the car and just took a c. card in to pay for it, so I'd have one less thing to carry, so when it was time to pay I handed it over. Well, the postal worker looked at me over his glasses and said I needed to show him ID. I explained the whole thing, and he looked at me again with a twinkle in his eye and said, "You wouldn't lie in front of a priest, would you?" I smiled and said of course not, then he told me to turn around. Sure enough.. there was a real life priest all dressed up in his black and white priestly outfit! It was hysterical...just like something out of a movie! Well, I told him I was going to blog about him, so here it is. He said he was sure it wasn't the first, and wouldn't be the last. It was such a great, small town experience, it made me fall in love with Maricopa all over again!

PRE-e-SCHOOL DROPOUT!

(You have to say that to the tune of Beauty School Dropout from Grease)

We're sad to announce that Kaleb is no longer a Leaping Lizard preschooler! As decided earlier in the week by his parents, he was bringing too many icky germs home with him, and his poor baby brother was taking the brunt of it. Dylan has had 3 colds in his short 3 little months and this last one is still lingering and was diagnosed as bronchialitis, with the potential of developing into RSV or pneumonia. It was a hard decision for Ben and I, since Kaleb loves his preschool and I love to teach. But since he has 2 more full years before he starts kindergarten, we decided this was best for our little family.

We'll miss all our mommy and preschool friends, but hopefully will see you at the park for playgroup, church, and Music Makers from time to time. Any fun projects and games for toddlers would be appreciated!

My EYE!

My best friend, April, used to always say, "My eye!" when we were growing up. Just one of those funny expressions that was passed on to her from her parents, I think. Well lately, I've been finding 'eyes' popping up all over the place. It may have started with a little encouragement from dad during bathtime, but Kaleb has started pulling eyes off of things and putting them everywhere! He has an ABC foam collection of animals for the bath. A few months ago, I came into the bathroom after Ben had given K his bath, and they had put foam eyes from the toy on a seahorse on the wall. Kaleb thought it was hysterical! Now he's pulled off a dozen or more eyes and put them on walls (placed in pairs in a big group), along the sink where I get ready, on my nightstand, in my bed, on top of real eyes of other toys...all over the place! "I'm being watched!" I thought whenever I'd find an eye and laugh to myself, but thought he was done as that game was so last week. Then yesterday I caught him pulling an M&M eye off the gingerbread cookie ornaments we made last year. My eye! What am I going to do with him?!?

My Little Angel...

We have a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree this year (fake, 4 foot, came out of a box). Since we're going home to Oregon for Christmas, we decided to save our money. One of our family traditions is to buy a photo ornament each year for the boys, so we now have two of Kaleb on the tree. Kaleb and I had a lot of fun decorating our tree together and topped it with a small white angel. When we were done, K looked at an ornament of himself and said, "Look, Mom, I an angel!"

Well, my little "angel" put his entire foot with sock on, I might add, in the toilet the other day. Luckily (?) he'd gone in his pull up, but still this is so completely disgusting and beyond me. The only explanation... he's my little "angel!"

Crock Pot Potato Chowder

Found a new winter fav! Super easy and sooooo yummy! This is by Valerie McRae...she's done my hair and Mom M.'s while she was here for Dylan's blessing.

8 c. potatoes, peeled & diced
1/3 c. onions, chopped
3, 14 oz. cans of chicken broth
1, 10 3/4 oz. can of cream or chicken/mushroom soup
1, 8 oz. package of cream cheese, cubed
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked & crumbled
chives

Combine potatoes, onion, broth and cream of chicken soup in crock pot. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours, high 4-5 hours. Add cream cheese and blend. Top with bacon and chives before serving. (So I always use lowfat cream cheese and soup & topped with a small amount of shredded cheese instead of the bacon. Really filling and so, so good!)

And the Winner is...

So I've been in this Bunco group for just over a year now, and it's always a blast! Such a fun girls night out... good company, good food, good game, and all that good stuff! Everyone brings a gift "prize" and takes one home, so we're all "winners" but I've never really won the game....until last night! I tied for most buncos rolled (3), had the highest points, and ended with the "traveler." I really can't take too much credit, since I'm attributing my win to the great first round partners I had, and the fact that it is a game of pure luck. But winning was fun, and I took home an awesome prize... a willow tree angel. Thanks Bobyn for the gift, Karen for the party, and all you girls for a great girls night! I'm feelin' lucky...and you know I live a mile away from a casino! ;)

We've Been ELFED!

This one's for Kaleb... ever since our Biggest Loser Triumph dance, he's been wanting in on the action. We dance to Christmas music almost every day now...he gets his moves from his dad! ;)

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1171557067

This elfin' greeting brought to you by OfficeMax®.

Noah or Santa?!?

K & the "Black Fatha"

Kaleb has been really excited about Christmas (esp. after a fun Halloween & Thanksgiving) but he doesn't really understand it yet. Here are some of his ideas on Christmas this year.

If we ask him who Santa is, he'll say it's Noah (from the Noah's ark story in the Bible.) Rice Crispy Treats are now called "Christmas" treats. Before it was even Thanksgiving he wanted to invite his friends Thomas, Henry, William, Robyn and her "dad" (husband) to the park to have Christmas with us. He thinks all the presents (esp. toys) we're buying for others are for him. Right now he's jumping all over my back wanting to play with "Noah." Last, but certainly not least, he calls one of the Wise Men from his play Nativity the "Black Fatha" (father). I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, but he's started pretending & talking with his toys out loud now and it's just too much fun listening in on him!