A link...

http://womeninthescriptures.blogspot.com/2008/12/importance-of-birth.html

My sister-in-law sent me this link. A great essay.

And even though it's also religious - I think you'd like it, Heidi, for it's birth centeredness.

Is centeredness a word? Is it spelled right?

A Gift for Meg? Courtesy of the Grandparents.

M meets the M doll. Happy Birthday! It was her only birthday present - on the day - that's what comes of a January birthday.

So, was the present for me or her? She has taken it to bed since she got it, so maybe she actually likes it. She does insist she has piggy tails like her doll.

Maybe We'd Do Better With Hebrew? or We interrupt Jamie's obsession with family pictures for a post about - thank goodness - something else!!!

When I was little, I wrote my name backwards.

Both the letters and the name.

It was very cute.

E does the same thing, although usually her letters face the right way. Apparently she is smarter than me.

I don't worry about it since I obviously know how to write my name now. thgiR?

Anyway, when she takes her "naps" she is allowed to come downstairs at 4:00.

This means that, despite my careful explaining every day, she comes down at 2:34. (She apparently misses 2:04, 2:14, and 2:24).

"But Mom, the 4 was first!!!"

And yes - I still make her have quiet time for two hours. If you can call the Broadway show going on up in Justin's office "quiet time."

Which One Should I Make Big?

#1

#2

#3

#4


#5

Happy Birthday!!!

Oh, what a treasure our dear little snippet is!

Some Family Pictures...

Other than my owl eyes... I think the pictures are pretty good. And while Aunt Penny (and Justin) were very suspicious of my color scheme... it turned out okay.

I love this one of GQ.

These are just the first few... we'll see what else crops up.

The Big Guns

Sometimes, M has a mind of her own. You are surprised? No, I thought not.

Today, at Church, M - more than anything - wished to hang over the bench and bug the people behind us.

Justin tried to make her turn around.

I tried to make her turn around.

This was a tricky business since using force would only result in M's signature high-pitched scream.

Finally, I pulled out the big guns:

Or gun, as it were:

That's right.

"M, Samson wants you to turn around and sit down. If you don't I will call him and tell him you are not listening."

She obeyed immediately.

Why she is terrified of her 17 year old cousin is beyond me. Using this fact is most certainly not.

Family Photo Shoot & Christmas Cards

The high moment of our family photo shoot came at the very start...

... before one picture had been taken...


... a bird pooped in E's hair.

For real.

Luckily, it was brown poop.

We had another promising moment, right at the end...

... after all the pictures had been taken...

... I found broccoli in my teeth from lunch...

For real.

Luckily, my teeth are green? No, not really. Justin's comment: "Hopefully you didn't smile too big." Hmmmm.

******

In other news,

I apparently have no skills at counting.

I ran out of Christmas cards before I ran out of people to send them too.

If you are one of the sad people who miss out on pictures of our family this year... never fear...

... everything on the card is pretty much a reprint of what I post here...

... and if you don't read this blog...

too bad for you!

As for grandparents... your cards are coming with packages, and since I'm mailing them on Monday, you probably won't get them until after Christmas.

Sorry.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!