A Taste of What's to Come

Our next door neighbor had a birthday today and brought us some of her cake. I was sharing with Jane when she started digging in with her hands. Not caring for pulverized cake, I sat her in her chair with her own piece. 

I guess we'll know how eating her 1st b-day cake this coming Tuesday will go!

...and if you're not careful, she'll come after you with those gooey fingers!

As for Charlie, he has perfected the art of taking all the icing off without eating a crumb of cake. Then he goes for his unsuspecting neighbor's piece!

Our Own Dr. Doolittle

Many of you know that Jane came to earth as an animal lover. All her favorite toys are stuffed furry friends (of the cotton/polyester/microfiber variety--I hate to give any taxidermists the wrong idea.). 

The elephant in this picture goes with her everywhere. Or if not everywhere, it is very close at hand. If she happens to leave it somewhere, and three minutes later she sees it again, she squeals and giggles as if they were best friends reuniting after decades.

"The problem is, Bear, you have something in your eye..."

Memories of Christmas

WARNING: For those of you who do not want to read about my Christmas feelings: THIS POST IS NOT FOR YOU. And I am totally UN-offended if you don't read it.

For FHE tonight, Charlie and I (and Jane played on the floor around us) borrowed and watched Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (thanks Auburn the Fierce!). This is the first year that Charlie has really been interested in things like Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, etc., and so I thought he would enjoy the old children's classic. While we watched I was engulfed with childhood memories...

I remember when we lived in the old house and I had the flu on Christmas (horrible! I know). We went to Grandma and Granddad's on Christmas Eve and did the nativity--well, everyone else went. I was quarantined, of course! And how much more horrible it was because it was MY year to be Mary! However, the reason this Christmas stuck out to me tonight was because this was the year (I'm pretty sure) that I received my own Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, from the movie, that walked by himself. I had him for a long time--even after he stopped working properly.

And from there the memories kept popping out, but I won't bore you with them. They are special to me because I was there and experienced them, but they wouldn't be all that special to you, because you have your own memories to laugh and feel warm about. But I did want to say that this year more than ever I have been reflecting on the meaning of Christmas. Maybe because this is the first year Bart and I will have our own Christmas far from family. Maybe because we finally have kids who can understand a little of what's going on. I don't know, but I DO know that I want Charlie and Jane to realize the birth of the Savior was such a special night and that it can bring wonderful joy into their lives. I want them to recognize this holiday as one spent with family, and hope that someday, they can look back on the Christmas memories we create together with the fondness that I look back on my own.

Happy Crabs

We had visitors! St. Anthony and Belle of the Ball came and stayed with us for a few days. The first day St. Anthony had an interview at the hospital, so Belle came and played with the kids and me. We took Charlie and Jane to a 3 Little Pigs puppet show at the library and hung around till Anthony and Bart got home. The next day Bart had to work, but we all went to the Aquarium and the beach since it was such a nice day! I can't tell you how nice it was to have them here! After they left today I told Bart that it was so nice having family around that it makes 3.5 years seem a lot longer!

These are just a taste of us having fun at the aquarium. I'd say we make pretty cute little hermit crabs, don't you?

Under the Sea

We took a trip down to the Aquarium and may I just say, IT WAS AWESOME! :) We loved it! Bart couldn't go because he was working and was sad because he didn't know if we'd want to go back. Not the case, not the case at all! We'll be going back...several times, I'm sure (most likely with all our visitors--BEWARE VISITORS!) 

The only thing I didn't like about the aquarium was the fact that I could practically TASTE the salt water and it made me crave a good SCUBA vacation.

St. Anthony and Belle of the Ball with Charlie in front of the Aquarium.

Mesmerized...

Ride, Charlie, RIDE! (Hasn't anyone told you not to look back?)

It still amazes me how much Jane loves animals! She is so interested in all they're doing!

How many sea horses do you see?

These were baby turtles they rescued three months ago! Who knew reptiles would have baby faces?? 

Petting the sting rays.

The whole time I was thinking, "The crocodile hunter was killed by one of these things and I'm petting one. Hmmm..."

Along came Mr. Alligator...

There's a turtle near her reflection. She loved watching them.

The BIG Tank

They had a big tank with 800 fish in it, including 3 kinds of sharks (2 each), two green moray eels, and one monster grouper (I forget its official name, but Belle is pointing to it). We loved it! Right before we left they had a dive show. Three divers went in the tank and answered some questions. Charlie literally fell over backward when the diver approached us in the last picture. He wasn't quite sure he wanted that weird looking guy coming at him! 

The Beach!!! (part 2)

...And of course we HAD to go to beach. It was kind of nippy, but it was still relaxing to hear the crash of the waves and feel the sea breeze kiss our cheeks. Ahhh...  Jane even fell asleep in our AWESOME STROLLER (talk about all terrain! That thing did some wheeling through the soft sand!) and despite the chill, Anthony and Belle couldn't resist getting their feet wet.

Getting Ready For The Holidays

This weekend was so nice and refreshing! Since Bart had Friday and Saturday both off we took advantage of it and used both days to clean and put up Christmas decorations. I know this does not sound too fun, but it really was relaxing. To top it off, this morning Bart took pictures of Charlie and Jane in their new Christmas outfits. Poor Jane was tuckered and fell asleep while I was putting her tights on! (And that should tell you how tired she was: she usually doesn't fall asleep unless she is IN HER BED.)

For some reason, much to Jane's chagrin, Charlie has wanted to hold her like a baby lately. Because she didn't object today, he was perfectly content to sit and smile for the camera rather than using his usual elusive stunts. 

It may not look all that comfortable, but who can resist saying, "Awww...?"

Somebody help that baby before she gets a crick in her neck!!

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

...but this man's not snoring!!

With this month's Night Float, Bart sleeps most days. It rained and rained a few weeks ago and he couldn't resist taking the kids out in it when he awoke from the dead.

Our Own Calvin and Hobbes

Charlie found this tiger at the store yesterday and HAD to have him. We didn't think this love would last as he carried "Tigger" through the store saying, "Tigger, Mom. Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!" But in the end, we thought we could splurge--especially since Jane was also attached to an elephant--and both animals came home with us. Charlie and the tiger have been inseparable since, even in sleep.

This was heard from the other room,

"Fly, Tigger, Fly! Whoops! Sorry!"

Onlookers are amazed as Tigger flips into his seat at the table.

Wait...HIS seat? I thought that was Jane's!

How DOES he do it??

Using his agility, Tigger barely hangs on. Mysteriously there are no claw marks left from his hold.

Wake Up Daddy!

This Friday Bart requested that we wake him up after only a few hours of sleep so he could get back on the day time schedule for the weekend. Charlie and Jane were only too happy to comply after their own nap time. 

I don't think it's working guys...

You're supposed to get DADDY...not wrestle each other!

I only wish you could hear them laughing!

Can't you see in their faces how much they like each other??

More Fall

This morning was the perfect fall morning. The sun was out, the air was crisp, and there are fall colors everywhere--mostly on the ground now. Bart took Charlie and Jane for a walk and I joined them at the end. Then we went in and had some Hot Cocoa.

It's Finally Here!

We've been waiting all month for fall to come and it's FINALLY here! The kids really like crunching in the leaves--Charlie stomps them and Jane eats them.

Charlie shooting falling leaves.

With her trusty green lightsaber (courtesy Charlie) and magic pine cone, Jane is ready to face the Gnomes.

Deciduous meets Coniferous (no comments from Anne's Bros).

This picture was taken at our apartments last week when the leaves were just barely beginning to change. It doesn't really do justice to what we really see. We took a drive yesterday and the colors are really fun. Lots of rusty red and orange and brown melded together with the green pine trees. It's deep and beautiful.

You just might pee your pants!

I have to recommend everyone going to Bart's new blog and watching his latest video. It's a good one. Find Black Bart's Diary in our "Friendly Crews" further down on this page and to the right and click it to go to the page.