A Merry Christmas To All

On Christmas Eve, the kids and I made cookies.  We left some for Santa, and Porter begged to go to bed, scared that he would be up too late and the big guy would skip our family.

Clearly, Santa also needs a beer by the time he gets to our house.

Bryce and I stayed up in the wee hours assembling a trampoline and a marble run.  Also possibly playing Mario Kart tournaments with each other.  The kids actually slept the next morning until 8:30, and we all had a lovely Christmas day, just relaxing at home, enjoying new toys and the bit of sunshine that made its way to the Far North.

Cedar was very happy with her gifts of wrapping paper.

We ended the day with a venison pot roast, and a completely over-indulgent chocolate pie.  

Life is truly wonderful.  Merry Christmas.

Six!

My baby boy, my first born, turned six yesterday.  Just one more example of time flying by I guess.  Looking back at pictures of his first five birthdays, I realized that:

1.  I never, ever get a decent picture of Porter on his special day.

2.  It is really fun now that he has moved past the tantrum/nap/butt wiping stage.  We can actually have a real conversation and do new things and relate on somewhat equal level.  It is really very amazing to be with someone who is in so many ways just like you, but then also just enough of their own person to keep it interesting.

Happy Birthday P-Man.  I love you! 



Ghosts of Christmas Past

In light of Cedar's reaction to Santa, I found myself revisiting the horror I have inflicted on my other children in much the same manner.  I still find it very funny.  I also find it amazing how big Porter is compared to that picture of him screaming on Santa's lap.  This year, he still didn't really want to go near the big guy, but he really wanted to let him know that he wanted a marble run for Christmas.  He knew he had to break through the apprehension in order to do so, and he did.  He's come a long way!

This time of year, I also often find myself busy and stressed and tired and not enjoying what really is a very fun time of year (Santa notwithstanding).  I realized today, with the kids young like this, with their belief in Santa still holding, that this Christmas and the next few will probably be the best ones of my entire life.  There really isn't anything better than seeing this season through their eyes.  So I'm going to try to chill out and have fun with my family.  I am so lucky to have them.  

So Long Baby

Having a baby these days seems to require the retention of many, many pieces of large, plastic containment devices.  They do serve a purpose (mainly of letting me shower and sleep), and so we've dutifully stored these items for six years, also acquiring additional plastic pieces every time we acquired a new baby.  But now that we are done (DONE) having babies, we get to pass on or otherwise get rid of this mountain of stuff.  It's exciting!  I am not a stuff person, and I've been waiting for this since Porter was little.  Bassinets!  Bouncy seats!  Swings!  Exersaucers!  You know. These things are big and awkwardly shaped and ugly.  And they end up in your living room and really, really dusty in your garage.

So I put some ads on craigslist and freecycle, and found some old user manuals.  And I was happy.  And then a really nice pregnant lady came and took the Fisher Price Baby Papasan (3 C batteries, I mean really).  And she left.  I watched out the window as she put it in her car.  And I was sad, I didn't expect it.  There goes my last baby. 

Did I mention she is eight months old?

Damn you, forward progression of time.  I like to get rid of stuff.  But I also really like my sweet, sweet baby.  And I'm not quite ready yet to give her up. 

It's That Time of Year

The Annual Christmas Torture:

Pigs Don't Smoke

1.  Porter comes home every day from school with a folder containing papers and art work.  A couple of weeks ago there was a book mark in there.  It had a picture of comic book characters on it, with the slogan "super heroes don't use drugs or alcohol."  Porter asked me what it said, and after a few seconds I told him "super heroes love to read!"  I felt bad about lying instantly, but it was a total gut reaction.  And I was a little annoyed with his teacher for putting me in that situation in the first place. 

2.  Porter came home from school another day, and I asked him what they learned.  He said that the counselor taught them about poisons.  Sounded okay to me.  In Porter's rendition, one of the lessons involved looking at pictures of pigs' stomachs.  He said one was pink and healthy and one was black from all the smoke.  I asked him, really, the pig?  How did the pig get smoke in its stomach?  He looked uncertain.  From cigarettes, I questioned?  Yes, he said.  Hmmm.  Clearly, lesson well learned.

These two things, while really no big deal to Porter, have lingered obnoxiously in the back of my head.  I have no big issue with the anti-drug message in general.  Of course I don't want my kids to use drugs and smoke.  And I do plan on talking to them about these things.  When it makes one lick of sense.  Which just isn't now, in kindergarten.  While we have talked about smoking, he really doesn't get it.  And he wouldn't understand at all about drugs.  And, we have alcohol in the house.  And we "use" it in front of the kids.  And I'm totally okay with that.  But it's a confusing message to send to a five year old.  One that's hard to explain, and one I don't feel needs explaining right now.

I worry about my kids a lot, and I'm sure I'll worry about them a lot more in a few years.  But right now, I'm glad this is one thing we haven't reached yet.  And I wish the school would stop making it come all too soon.   

A Week In Review

Wow.  It has been crazy around here.  And fun.  And crazy.

Bryce's sister and her wonderful family came to visit.  Porter and Molly were so happy to hang out with "baby Q."

Molly had a birthday party.  There was much princess action.

 And ladybug cupcakes.

Then it snowed.  And snowed.  And snowed.  And Allison and I ran a 5K on Thanksgiving morning in two feet of the stuff.

Then we came home and ate.  And it was good.

We went sledding, and tried to take a Christmas card picture.  But someone (who will not be named) was scowling in every one.

 Porter went on his first successful deer hunt.  Dawson was happy.

And!  Today, Molly had her first day of preschool.  She's in the big leagues now, and true to her independent nature, did not need me in the least.  Get out of here now mom, really, it's embarrassing.

We really did have a great time with Allison, Dan and Hugh.  And a great holiday. 

 Cedar has decided that teething sucks, and sleeping in overrated, but she's happy too.

Looking forward to December and possibly more frequent blogging.

Happy belated Thanksgiving all!