M's Birthday

It is hard to think of presents for M. Between her and E, they've got things pretty good. So, she got the leftover Christmas present - oh the unfairness of it all - the Legos. Still, a pretty cool present, you know. All of us, including Mom and Dad, sat down at the table and played. It made me wish for the Knotty Pineroom Days of LegoCity at the Nielson's.


For her 2nd cake - considerably less fancy - M requested a "blue" cake. I almost forgot the dye. But it was not as bad as the time I tried to make E a purple cake and accidentally put yellow dye in, instead of red. She ended up with this horrible grey cake that looked completely uneatable.

A dress made by Cousin Brittany and sent by Grandma and Grandpa Wood. M picked it out herself and wore it for two days straight.

E made M this for her birthday. It's modeled after one of the princesses in "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."

M is glad to be 3. And glad she FINALLY had a birthday. She thought it continued to be her birthday as long as we had leftover cake.

The Children's Museum

GQ was VERY mad that I put this giraffe head on him. I only wish you could see his face better.

M twirled and twirled.

Obligatory Christmas Morning Post

What did E want to try first of all her Christmas presents????

A Capri Sun.

GQ and M still fight over this doll, although GQ is mostly in it for the "look I made her scream" factor.

What did GQ get???? No, we did get him some actual presents. I promise.

Coming down the stairs to check out Santa's leavings. Our children - of course - were the first awake, so they'd been waiting a while.

Christmas Nativity

This year the Christensen Nativity had a real baby Jesus, and boy did he perform wonderfully. Other than the itchy straw, Little Landon thought hanging out in the manger, with a bunch of small kiddoes making faces at you, was great. Cute boy!

M was a very somber wiseman (who made it into about two pictures because she kept hiding behind people).

E was an angel... like last time around. She cannot turn down a white dress and crown.

Who you looking at?

Christmas Date With Grandpa Mark

While in Las Vegas, Grandpa Mark took the granddaughters to see "The Nutcracker." He said that watching them was great because they all leaned forward and swayed with the music. E had a wonderful time and was only disappointed that this version did not have Mother Ginger. She's really wanted to see all those little children running out from under the skirt, and the film version we watched didn't have it either. She'll just have to see it again another year.

Getting ready in front of Grandma Paula's "Magic Mirror." E loved the sparkles on her dress, as you can imagine. She was excited that her lip gloss sparkled too.

M didn't get to go this year because she wasn't old enough to get a ticket, which made her very sad. But, she got a special date with Grandma and got to pick a present. I think the saddest quote was:

Daddy: Grandma is going to take you to get ice cream.

M: And if I eat all my ice cream THEN can I go to the Nutcracker???

Still, a painting book and ice cream cone later, she was a happy camper.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

If I Were Not Lazy

a poem

If I were not lazy, I might actually make this seem like a poem
but I am

If I were not lazy, I might actually hook my camera up to the computer, and download pictures of M's birthday party onto my computer, and then upload them to blogger for you all to view
but I am

so I will just let you in on a short interview I had with her instead:

Mom: How old are you M?
M: Ten.
Mom: Ten?
M: (With a tip of her head, and a crooked little smile.) No, I'm just three.

If I were not lazy, I would think of some wise segway to tell you 3 of the things M enjoys saying the most right now
but I am

so I will just say them like this, in a list:

1. No way (learned from cousin Andy).
2. Stop that, or I will hit you with ____ tomorrow.
3. I AAAAMMMMM doing it. (When she is not.)

If I were not lazy, I would have gone to the store yesterday to buy ingredients for what I must make tomorrow
but I am

so I haven't

which turned out swell, since now I have to make something else anyway, and I barely have to change my plans

which works out great
since I am lazy

If I were not lazy, I would not have fallen asleep last night in the middle of Miss. Marple, and I would know who did it
but I am
and I did
and I do not know

If I were not lazy, I would have totally re-scheduled my dentist appointment yet again,
but I am

so I went anyway,
since Justin could watch the kids

and I didn't think it would be fun to have an ice pick in my mouth while M took over the dentist office with her second-in-command: GQ

If I were not lazy, I would think of some other exciting tidbit to end this post with

but instead, I am going to go downstairs and hang out with my family

the end

Update

We are back in Iowa.



I know this because for two weeks GQ was perfectly healthy - even with flu germs rampant around him - and now that we have returned (the day after our arrival, in fact) he has the croup again.



Awesome.



The rest of us have acquired his head cold since he really enjoys giving kisses right now -and how can you turn down an 18 month old who's puckering up?



While he does officially go to nursery in two weeks, it just occured to me that he may never go because he is always sick.



Even more awesome.



*****



Consider the following drama in our home:



M: But I want _____ . It's mine.

E: No, I need ______ .

Mom: M, you had _____ last night, E can have _____ tonight.



Sure, this is an everyday conversation in most homes with children. Until you fill in the blank. What is it my children were fighting over, you ask?



A bucket.



And not just any bucket.



A bucket for throwing up.



After spending the break with M, cousin Cody, cousin Ava, cousin Ezra, and cousin Russ Russ throwing up M and E have become obsessed. They are always "feeling sick" and wanting a bucket to throw up in.



I even had to make a bed by the toilet for E one night, so I could get some sleep. (Don't worry, she went sound asleep also - "upset" stomach and all.)



I tried telling them the story of the boy that called wolf, but they didn't get it. They were just excited I told a better night-time story than my usual: "Once there was a turtle, and he was slow. The end."



*****



On the way home from Vegas our flight was re-routed to Des Moines, due to fog.



Since I am a geography GENIUS, especially when it comes to Iowa, I had no idea where we were.



Just slightly embarassing.



*****



New Year's went well for us. Generally Justin and I are either fighting or asleep, and we have never actually had a "New Year's kiss."



Oh the horror.



So, this year we rented a movie to help us stay up.



When it was over, we looked at the clock to see how much longer we had to go.



It was 12:32.



Yup. We missed it. Completely.



Another year bites the dust.

Andy and GQ

I only wish we could have got the real thing. These boys really "enjoyed" each other this year. Funniest thing since AnneMarie and E used to duke it out.