The Back and Forth Game

Is it possible to be more excited for Christmas than your kids? I think I am. Not because I think I'm getting something great under the tree. And not because I'm sure to have some dissapointed children who don't get what they want. Well, probably one dissapointed child who is an eternal pessimist. (It never fails: he gets a whole bag of loot and within an hour is complaining about being bored.) No, I am more excited because I know what's coming.

I have the unique experience of having my family and my spouses family living one block apart. I know I can't be the only one with a set up like this but it does make for an interesting Christmas. Christmas Eve we head to my parents house in the late afternoon. This is after taking a nap (hopefully) and loading up the minivan with my food assignments, all of our sleeping requirements, and all of our presents. There we play games, eat Christmas dinner, and have a "live nativity." Then we hop back in the car to cross the road to my in-laws. We can't possibly be required to walk because carrying three kids through 20 degree weather just isn't worth it.

At the Carrolls, we play more games, eat Christmas dinner again, and have a Christmas program. Then as we are all enjoying dessert downstairs, Santa drops off all our presents. We have never caught a glimpse of him but we always hear his footsteps and "ho, ho, ho." Aren't we lucky? In case you are wondering, it is now 12:00 and officially Christmas Day. We run upstairs, open all our presents in a mad frenzy with flying wrapping paper and, sometimes, flying children. Some of the gang stay up all night playing with their new video games, pop n style cabbage patch or whatever. Me? I drag my group back to my parents by 1:30 or 2:00 because I'm trashed.

Back again, we get in as much sleep as a baby will let us (maybe only a few hours) and then are awake ready to open presents again with the Valentines. The rest of the day is spent back and forth from house to house as we see fit. Does this sound crazy to you? IT IS. And it takes me two days before I'm not tired anymore. But that's what we do.

Man, I started this post planning on telling another story about Alisa but it looks like I got sidetracked. That will have to wait for another day, I guess.

We Love Chest

The other day Nicolas and I were playing a rousing game of chess whilst Alisa looked on collecting the killed pieces. Alisa calls it "chest." I don't know why I was playing chess with a 6 year old--quality time? Or more likely . . . that's about my chess level. He is catching on to how each piece moves and how to look ahead a few moves. He instinctively plays very defensively by building up barriers around the king and protecting each piece. He's not very proactive about killing . . . there has got to be some sort of psychological cues to him in that. I don't now . . . self preservation, I guess.

Anyway to get on with the story, as Alisa collected our pieces she would line them up or set them up in formation for parties or whatever and they would talk to each other (typical girl--turns chess pieces into dolls.) Later, I heard her say that they were at church (I'm sure you can see what's coming) but I wasn't really paying attention. Soon though, I looked over and she had all the pieces on one side of the piano bench in a group while one piece was on the other side facing the group. It was a church congregation. It just so happened that the piece that was facing the rest was, of course, THE BISHOP. She must have been listening to us pretty carefully to figure out which piece was the bishop. Very perceptive.

Housework, Staples, and $9.00 Fleece Pants

Last week was Thanksgiving and I did no, absolutely no, housework. I'm paying for it this week . . . had that panicky feeling yesterday when I realized there was no place in the house where I could sit down without utter chaos. Nothing a little floor scrubbing won't fix.

Also, the cold is coming. I thought it had already got here until I checked the weather report last night. Fourteen degrees. Are you kidding me? I went and bought some $9.00 fleece pants for running. I told Diego this morning that it is one of the best $9.00 I've spent. Adidas vinyl just doesn't cut it.

Speaking of spending . . . I feel like it's an avalanche right now. Sorry Diego, I really am trying to reign it in. Holidays and growing kids aren't a good staple.

Speaking of staples . . . Alisa had staples in her head last week. A heavy pot fell off the counter and landed on her head. It split right open. The staples look like real staples. Imagine that. I'm too lazy to download the picture but here are some other pictures.

I've Got Crazy Hair

Washing the Blankie Requires Constant Supervision

Is He Really Painting Wood Chips?

Mom Forgot to Wash My Cute Little Face

Waiting for Mom to Get Ready for Church

Beautiful People

I know I am completely biased but I think that my family is beautiful. Here are some pictures that we had done by my friend Amber--Emoticon Photography. We have some more traditional shots too but I love these leaves shots. You get only kid pictures today. Sorry.

Update on Jackson

The Pincer Grasp


Musical Protege


(I tried to capture the movement in his arms.)

First Day of School Pictures

Kindergarten

Preschool

Playing with Dad