nutcracker date

On Sunday Annie and I had our 3rd annual date to see the Nutcracker. It's the one time of the year we get both get dressed up and it's something we look forward to for months. Annie seemed to enjoy it more than ever this year, whispering "Oooh! I love this part!" each time a new dance started. Maurice Sendak designed the set and costumes and every year I am so awestruck by how beautiful it all is. This really is one of my favorite things to do, especially since I get to go with my favorite girl.

christmas brunch

Our small group had a brunch last Saturday with a gift exchange for the kids and a white elephant exchange for the grown-ups. We LOVE our small group and had the best day eating, laughing, eating, and crashing on Steve & Michelle's couch for the afternoon while we continued to eat.


Annie and and her good buddy Dylan. He looks worried.


My white elephant gift. The Survivair courtesy of fireman Steve. It's awesome. However, I am slightly jealous that I didn't get the framed wedding photo of Charles & Diana that Doni walked away with.


Putting on a "little show."


All the kids minus Marcus. Soren is very focused on her lip gloss. Luka seems to have had enough with the whole thing.

random jonah pics

I don't know why I thought it would be OK to let him around with a package of cocoa mix.


Please, please don't make me eat this donut!


He was upset because we wouldn't give him a new donut. He decided he was done with this one because all the frosting was gone.

...and we're back

Between fevers, croup, colds, December craziness and another internet outage, we're a bit behind on the blogging.

Lots of pictures to come...

jonah's first bad dream

At 3:00 this morning we heard Jonah sobbing hysterically in his room. Joel went into investigate.
Joel:
"Jonah, what's wrong?"
Jonah:
"It's off! It's off!"
Joel:
"What's off?:
Jonah:
"Mommy turned off Pink Panther because there was a monster!"
Joel:
"Oh, I'm sorry buddy. It sounds like you had a sad dream."
Jonah:
"I sleep in mommy's bed now!"

it's raining, it's pouring

So, we found out yesterday what happens when it rains. A lot. It all comes into the garage. From there it enters the basement. I'm not sure I would have even gone down to check if a friend hadn't told me at the bus stop that another neighbor's house was flooding. Genius' that we are, we had the plastic tubs sitting up high off the ground while the cardboard boxes of books and CD's were sitting on the floor. Well, yesterday they were sitting in 3 inches of water. My poor husband was in a meeting when I called him and launched into full panic attack mode because I was standing in water and completely overwhelmed by what was happening. Have I mentioned that the volume on his phone is typically loud? Add to that my half yelling/half sobbing voice and at least two of his co-workers got to experience me in all my crazy glory.

The good part? I was reminded once again how thankful I am for our amazing neighbors. Janet sent her daughter down the street right away to watch the kids. She also dropped off cookies and plastic tubs for us in the evening. My friend Caroline showed up with another neighbor (whom I had never even met) bearing a sump pump which he got going while she started helping me with the boxes. She even had us over for dinner after that.

The pump ran all night and the water was finally out this morning. Joel stayed home so we could sort piles for trash, recycling, and things to hopefully be salvaged. We are so tired. At least when this is over we'll finally have a clean garage!


This was the worst of it - right after I found it and the rain was still pouring down.


If you look closely, you can see water coming out of the corner of the top right box.


Wet boxes in the basement.


I find it somewhat ironic that the kids swimming pool was sitting in the middle of all the water.


The lovely decorations we now have adorning our living room. Who needs carpet when you can walk on books? This isn't even all the books we're trying to dry - we ran out of room in here.

advent

Our first Sunday of Advent got off to a rocky start when Jonah spent 15 minutes crying hysterically about the candles. "I don't want it to be Jesus' birthday! I want it to be my birthday!" Hanging the Advent calendar on the wall didn't go over to well either. "I want my game! I don't want my game to be on the wall!" On the other hand, it's great to see how focused Annie is on Advent this year, instead of on Santa and presents - not that those aren't in the equation for her. But, she's much more excited to light the candle and read our story every night at dinner and she's talking a lot about how we are waiting for Jesus. After dinner on we popped popcorn and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.

tree

Jonah spent 20 minutes playing with the Boba Fett ornament. Who can blame him?


Putting the star on top.


Showing off the new Christmas jammies.


Jonah is all about grouping like objects together.

snow!

christmas tree cutting

The thought of giving up our search for a tree and buying a fake one actually crossed our mind as we trudged all over the fourth place we stopped to look for a tree. (The first place didn't even have any trees yet.) Luckily, we found the perfect tree hiding in the bottom corner right when we were about to leave. The kids even got to help cut it down.

four elves

In case you really want to watch us in all our dancing glory, you can watch the full screen version here. You can also make your own.

scary mary

Annie loves Mary Poppins. I may never see her in the same way again!

comment challenge

Last night Joel and I were either a) really tired, b) really bored, or c) really unsure what to do with ourselves since we don't have a TV and Jonah now falls asleep without Joel sitting next to him for an hour. Anyway, someone sent this to me in a MySpace bulletin so we tried it and spent 15 minutes giggling.

Here's what you do. Google your name followed by the phrase "looks like" and choose the best search result on the first page. It's important you put the entire phrase in quotes (e.g. "Elizabeth looks like"). Here are ours:

Joel looks like Uncle Fester.

Elizabeth looks like a donut because she has been around for so long and is coated in sugar as a means of self-preservation.

Anne looks like a telephone pole and has purple eyes.

Jonah looks like a fugitive from a Chagall painting or Fiddler on the Roof.

So, maybe it's really funnier when you are tired. Here's the challenge, though. Try it and leave a comment with your search result. We'll see how many people actually read our blog. I'm guessing 7.

he can sleep! who knew?

Joel and I have spent the last week trying to figure out what has happened to our son. It's like he was snatched at night and replaced with a body double who is exactly like him except for one glaringly obvious difference: he sleeps. For those of you who don't know what bed time with Jonah has been like for the past, oh, 2 1/2 years, let me offer some details.

1. Jonah does not like to sleep.
2. Jonah cannot fall asleep by himself.
3. Jonah never slept in his crib. Well, he may have slept in it for 5 minutes. Total.
4. Jonah got a big boy bed at 14 months because he wouldn't sleep in his crib.
5. Bedtime is a battle every night. Every. Night.
6. Joel has to sit or lie down next to Jonah to get him to fall asleep.
7. It takes 30-60 minutes of Joel sitting or lying next to Jonah for Jonah to fall asleep. Joel usually falls asleep too.
8. Jonah does not nap.
9. If Jonah does nap, even for 30 minutes, he will be up until 9:30 or 10 at night.
10. I don't let Jonah nap.

Last week Joel decided he had had enough with this routine and that it was time for Jonah to learn to fall asleep by himself. I wasn't so sure, but couldn't say much since Joel is the one who has to deal with this every night. I don't have the patience. So, we got out the pack and play and told Jonah he could choose to sleep in it or in his bed. He chose the "baby crib" as he now refers to it. The first night he climbed out 10 times before falling asleep. That was it. That was the battle we had been dreading. It took one night. Now he sleeps. By himself. In his "baby crib." And he loves it. He is also taking naps now and still getting to bed by 8:00. The other night he asked - ASKED - to go to bed at 7:15. We now put in him in, cover him up, read a book, sing a song and say "good night." And he falls asleep all by himself.

What happened to my son?

Oh - ask him where he sleeps. He loves to tell everyone about his "brand new baby crib."

jonah's week

On Thursday he threw a sippy cup at my laptop which broke the screen. I don't think he actually meant to hit the computer as he sent the cup sailing through the air. I should post a picture of all the colored lines that now run down the right side of the screen. Can anyone guess how much it costs to replace a screen on a MacBook? (Answer: A LOT!)

On Friday I caught him with the hat I was knitting. He had pulled it off the needles and was cutting it up with scissors.

On Monday I stepped out of the shower and found him "washing" my bathrobe in the sink. "I wash your bathrobe Mommy? I clean it?" Maybe I should find hope in the fact that my son is actually wanting to clean something.

two and a half

Half birthdays became very important in our house last year. The day Annie turned 4, she started asking when she would be 4 1/2. Being 4 wasn't important enough. She really needed to be 4 1/2. She also realized that since she has a summer birthday she doesn't get a party at school like most of her friends. So, we began celebrating half birthdays.

Today Jonah is 2 1/2. If you ask him, though, he'll tell you he's 2. Or 4. Or 5. You never know how old he thinks he is, although he is certain he is no longer a baby.


Annie made him a birthday crown with flowers and Michigan colors (that's my girl!).


We made half a birthday cake and he insisted on a candle.

found

I'm glad I wasn't in the garage tonight. Joel said it was bigger than it looks.

the princess

the builder

at the game

We got to hang out at the Sonics game with Erin, Samuel and Meredith on Sunday night. This has got to be one of our favorite things to do, especially when Marc hooks us up with sweet suite tickets. Ha! Seriously, it's the only way to watch a game with children. Because, it's not about watching the game as much as it's about running around, eating hot dogs and popcorn, and waiting for Squatch to come by. Jonah is still talking about the visit from Squatch, although he freaked out after running up to him. "I no high five Swatch, mommy!"


Jonah and Samuel are on the lookout for Squatch.


Hot dogs and popcorn in the tall chairs.


Which one is Squatch? Joel says they have the same hair.


Sportin' Samuel's ear gear.

lazy day

Despite getting off to an inauspicious start, which involved trying to carry rotten pumpkins to the yard waste can while they leaked pumpkin juice all over me before splattering on the sidewalk, our first big rainy day was a nice, lazy one. Annie was actually sick with a fever so we built a fire and spent the morning reading books and playing games. We knew she was really sick when she turned down mac and cheese for lunch and ice cream for dinner. We snuggled in my bed all afternoon (absent of sheets which were in the washer after Jonah decided to crumble his bagel all over the bed), read some more, and watched movies.

Things took a slight turn for the worse around 4:00 when, after talking with Annie about her bones, Jonah went into 15-minutes of hysterics because he didn't want bones in his body. We can't quite figure out what the issue is, but whenever we mention he has bones in a certain part of his body, he has an instant panic attack. "I don't want bones in my legs. They hurt, they hurt! The bones hurt. I don't want bones!" Of course, he didn't mind lecturing Annie at dinner about why she should eat her cheese. "It makes bones in your head. Bones in your arms. Bones in your feet. Bones in your legs." When I chimed in and said that he needed to eat his dinner to make his bones strong, the tears started again.

i hart michigan

Michigan's loss on Saturday is a little easier to stomach since Ohio State lost too. Oops. There go their hopes for the BCS title.

So, it all comes down to this Saturday. 9 am. Ohio St. vs Michigan. Winner takes the conference and the Rose Bowl invite. Maybe more importantly, if Michigan wins, they get this monkey off their back. You know, the one having to do with not beating Ohio St. since 2003? I'm so anxious I don't know if I can stand waiting. Hopefully Chad Henne and Mike Hart will be back. With 100+ yards rushing/game, we need Hart healthy. And there is all kinds of speculation about whether or not it's Lloyd Carr's last game. I hope it's not.

Have I mentioned we don't have a TV? Anyone want to invite us over? I'll bring food.

Go Blue!

Oh, and Aunt Donna, the picture is for you.

backseat conversation

Jonah:
"There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car."
Annie:
"Jonah stop talking."
Jonah:
"There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car."
Annie:
"Jonah!"
Elizabeth:
"Jonah's allowed to talk."
Annie:
"But he's making bubbles come out of my head."
Elizabeth:
"You have bubbles coming out of your head?"
Annie, in her most exasperated voice:
"Noooo. It just means he's bugging me."
Jonah:
"There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car. There's a car."
Annie:
"Jonah! Stop it! You are making bubbles come out of my head!"
Jonah with a big laugh:
"Ha, ha! You have bubbles in your head."
Annie, annoyed:
"No I don't!"

lying to...i mean talking with annie

Annie, crawling around the playroom, inspecting the wall:
"Mom! I think I found the crack where the Sugar Sprite comes in! We should leave our candy here next year."
Elizabeth, somewhat distracted:
"I guess you could. Leaving it outside your door seemed to work, though."
Annie, now very hopeful:
"Could we leave candy tonight?"
Elizabeth, weaving even more lies:
"No, sweetie. The Sugar Sprite only comes to look for candy on Halloween."

Only a few more weeks until the Santa deception starts. Oh, speaking of which, this is the conversation I overheard Annie and Jonah having the other day.

Annie, looking at an ad for a kids camera in a magazine:
"I want Santa to bring me a camera for Christmas. Jonah, do you want a camera too? Do you?"
Jonah:
"Yes."
Annie, still using her best baby talk voice:
"You could ask Santa for it. He would bring it to you. He really would."
Elizabeth, feeling the need to offer an opinion:
"Jonah wanted to ask Santa for a Leapster. Right Jonah?"
Jonah:
"Yes. Santa bring me Leapster."
Annie, to Jonah:
"You could ask him for both. Santa would do that. Santa can bring you both things."
Jonah:
"OK."

I skipped the lecture about Santa and his budgetary considerations, what with having to deliver toys to so many boys and girls and all.

annie's 1st school picture

Well, I guess it's her 3rd one, if you count the 2 years of preschool.



Remember school picture days? Trying to find the perfect outfit and the admonishments from your mom not to run around and mess up your hair before picture time? Did anyone else do those shadow portraits? You know, the smiling picture in the foreground, then the more serious profile shot lurking in the background? I had one of those done in 7th grade when my hair was permed. Aaack.

I should find my kindergarten picture. And Joel's. I think I had on a blue jumper and side pony tails that had been curled, but one side was falling out. I wonder if my mom still has all my class pictures. Alturas Elementary, back in the day. I probably wouldn't know who anyone is, except for Benjamin, Julie and Kenny.

Oh, and here's my random observation about school. It has the same smell! You know that elementary school smell? Some sort of combination of glue, paint and cleaning products. I didn't even realize it was so familiar until the first day I walked into Annie's classroom. It's actually a comforting sort of a smell. Not one that I'd like made in to a candle or anything, but just one that brings back lots of memories of jump roping, timed math worksheets, Mrs. Carstens, walking across the field to lunch, Ben Richert and Music Machine, and sprained ankles and wrists.

more conversations with jonah

As we were leaving Costco today with our new CrockPot, gallon of salsa and 10 pounds of chicken, I noticed a red spot on Jonah's arm which I tried to take a look at oh-so-slyly. No such luck of course. Jonah asked me what I was looking at so, smart me, I told him he had a bite on his arm. He immediately had a panic attack and spent 5 minutes sobbing about his bite, how he didn't want it on his arm, and how much it hurt. Feeling like I brought this on myself, I tried to be compassionate by praying for his bite to get better then asked him if he wanted a bandage. This sent him into further hysterics because, unlike his sister, he does not want a bandage for every little cut, bruise, spot, or possible owwie. He then started, through his sobs, to say something about Jesus, doctors, and bandages. He finally calmed down enough so we could understand him as he was saying, "Jesus take me to the doctor and I no get a band-aid." Huh. So, I then had to pray that Jesus would not let him have a band-aid.

Joel spent the entire time trying not to laugh.

what's cooking? pizza!

Annie's friend from down the street came over last night for the evening. We had fun making homemade pizzas, building a tent out of sheets, and having a movie night. Annie and I even had a slumber party in the tent.


Jonah was very enthusiastic about adding flour to the pizza dough.


Too bad you can't see his expression. He was fierce.


Annie is making a "flower pizza."


Jonah very carefully arranged all his olives on top of his meat. In between bites of toppings, of course.


Jonah's finished product.


It was really yummy!

go unicorns

Joel and Annie had their last soccer game yesterday. This was Annie's first season playing and Joel's first season coaching. Annie says she had a good time, but she seemed rather unenthusiastic about the entire thing. Joel grew up playing soccer as a kid and in college, so he was excited about coaching Annie's team. Except for the week when half the girls broke down crying and refused to continue playing because of mud, all seemed to go well. Jonah was eager to play as well, warming up with the girls every week and trying to sneak onto the field during the games. Too bad he has to wait 2 more years to play.


Like her father, Annie's favorite position is keeper. "I don't like the running part," was her motto.


Yeah, it looks like she's being aggressive but she was really prancing around like a horse. Which seems appropriate since their team name was Unicorns.


Climbing trees after the game was much more exciting than soccer.


We're still trying to figure out which genius picked out dark gray team shirts for 5-year old girls. She had no trouble accessorizing with pink, however. Note that she even found shoes with pink on them.