Rock On

Where did Sam learn to rock out laying on his back 80's rocker style? Does Sponge Bob do that?

I desperately need a real video camera. The phone cam just doesn't cut it. Although the poor quality at least somewhat disguises the mess of the room.

Christmas Cookies

Yes, I realize it's May. But I found these as I was going through the past few months' pictures and realized I'd never posted them. This is one of my absolute favorite Christmas activities.

Christmas Cookie Decorating Ed***n Style
(Do-Rags Optional)

We start with Nana's awesome rolled sugar cookies. She makes them thin and crisp. Then we dip them in a thin layer of white or pale green icing. Nana's buttercream icing that she makes with browned butter is AWESOME! Let them dry.

Then they're ready to decorate. We put every color of icing we can come up with into little squeeze bottles. The icing is mixed on the thin side so it will easily squeeze out of the bottles.

Hands are always washed first. Does it do any good? Probably not with all the finger-licking going on.

Intense concentration is a must.

The competition is fierce.

Everyone is trying to one-up the cousin next to him/her.

Thin cookies = thin frosting = thin participants?? Maybe not.

Anna is the most fun for me to watch.

She takes her time and comes up with the most detailed designs.

She's an artist through and through.

Some of this year's favorites:

Look at all that detail! Squeeze bottles are by far the best cookie decorating tool there is.

Edible art is the best. Especially when made with black icing!

Yummy!

Thank you, Melissa, for the awesome pictures!

Puerto Vallarta

Travelling is stressful. Travelling with a baby is extra stressful. So imagine my level of panic when, the day before we were to leave, I opened the dryer to find mine and Leah's passports mixed in with the towels looking like this.

Add to that a missed flight and full blown PMS, and what do you get? Complete emotional meltdown.

It's a good thing we had such a beautiful home and beach to speed the recovery process.

Leah can't wait to get out into the sunshine and pool . . .

and relax in the hammock overlooking the ocean . . .

(Poor Amy's a third wheel)

and watch the beautiful sunset.

In spite of the rocky start and the swine flu media event that got into full swing just as we arrived, we had a great time!

Spring is Busting Out All Over

It's hard to believe we had 4 inches of snow on the ground less than a week ago when I look out my window and see this . . .

and this . . .

and this . . .

Spring is busting out all over.

Ahhh, Spring Break

First day of Spring Break, and we already have a broken trampoline and injuries. **Warning: Semi-graphic picture ahead.**

Poor sad Sam.

Abby got hurt, too, but at least her injury didn't warrant pictures. Give me strength.

On the plus side, at least I'm getting lots of work out of my overflowing household. They're gonna be thrilled for school to start again!

Crawling Already

When Sam learned to crawl, we could set him in the living room which is one step down from the rest of the house, and he would stay there. It took him forever to learn how to climb up that one step, effectively making the living room into a big baby cage.



Not so with Leah. Day one of crawling, and she can already get up the step. She also just crawled over to the fireplace and pulled herself up to stand. She's only 6 months old! We're in trouble!!

My Cute Nephews

I love these guys



And I love my niece who rounded up a bunch of friends in their support.

Don't Say To Me

Sam's giving me a run for my money today. Apparently, he doesn't like to be told no. I know . . . shocking!

The first time I told him no this morning, he answered, "Mom, don't say to me. You has to be nice to babies." He likes to classify himself as a baby ONLY when he thinks it will benefit him.

All day long, I've been hearing variations on the above. "Don't say to me. Don't you talk to me that way. You talk nice. You have to listen to me." He's pretty much repeating everything that comes out of my mouth and turning it right back on me. On and on and on all day long. At least I'm laughing inside as I pull my hair out. Is it naptime yet!?

Sam in all his misery

About the 10th time I told him to turn off the water and made him get down from the sink, he said very sternly, "You has to be nice to babies AGAIN!"

Not a minute later, I heard a big splash. He had climbed back up to the kitchen sink and dumped a big bowl of cold, dirty dishwater all over himself (and the floor!). Crying, he said, "Mom, I sad. I don't like water on me. It's dust disgusting. Get dat off of me." I have to agree with him. Cold, dirty dishwater (complete with macaroni remnants) is disgusting. Now he's crying, but hopefully it will cool him off and teach him to listen to me.

Cowboy Peanuts

Have you ever tasted these? They're spicy deliciousness.

Sam sure loves them and asks me every day if he can have "cowboy peanuts." I guess he thinks cowboys are tough enough to take it.

He almost cries when he eats them, especially the Wasabi flavor.

But he always comes back with tears in his eyes for more.

And thank you to Kristin for the kind award.

Milestones

When I first started my family, I remember a lot of people telling me that it goes so fast. I naively agreed with them and sincerely tried to savor my kids' babyhoods. But suddenly, it's truly sinking in how fast the time actually goes.

Anna has her learner's permit. She finds a lot of humor in the contrast between my calm, patient words and my death grip on the doorframe.

When we arrived in California for Christmas, Matthew was a little shorter than me. When we left two weeks later, he was a little taller than me. I cried. Now he's about 2 inches taller than me, and I have to look up at him. He's very proud.

Sarah got her first zit. She was afraid to let me anywhere near it and even cried trying to keep me from getting a closer look. But I insisted, "When you were born, it was written into my contract as your mother that I get to pop your first zit. Now quit your crying and get over here!"

Abby (1st grader) is a reading machine. Like mother, like daughter.

Sam is just Sam. He makes us laugh and, hopefully, will keep me young. He's not quite three, and when I put him on timeout today, he said, "I sad. Sometimes, I just want to give up." What!?!

Leah is growing up way too fast. She's working hard on her chess game. She's very competetive and is gunning for her dad.

She's also learned to "Give Me Five" and is well on her way to performing all sorts of stupid pet tricks.

These milestones are so much fun, but boy, some of them make me feel like time is passing too fast.