Splat!

Splat! It's the sound a snowball makes when it hits the concrete.  Little E learned this all too well as we got dumped on in our first big snowfall of the season.  While he remembered snow from before, this was really the first time that he got seriously into playing with it.  I think Waukesha got around eight or nine inches, but it looks like it will be here to stay since the temperature has basically bottomed out.  It kind of reminds me of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" when one character asks, "What do you think the temperature is?", and the other responds "One".  At least it looks like there will be snow for Christmas, but as far as I'm concerned it can melt shortly after that.  

Anticipation

Christmas has always been hands-down my favorite holiday. Even as a small child I looked forward to trees, music, decorating cookies, and even snow. (I know, what was I thinking!?) Now that we have little ones to share traditions with, it is magical yet again. I am truly excited for the holiday this year, because I know that little E will get such a kick out of it. We've been listening to the "Christmas Mix" on the radio, and he delights in singing along to the Hippo song, (I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas), the donkey song (Dominic....), and most recently "Dingle Bell Rock". Tonight when we put up the handmade stockings from my mother, we talked about how Christmas is really Jesus' birthday, and how lucky we are because of that. He's looking forward to the birthday cake for baby Jesus on Christmas Day morning, just another tradition that is being passed to the next generation. May you have joy in your heart as you prepare for this incredible holiday!

Thanksgiving

So in my family we alternate who hosts for Thanksgiving, which means that it falls to us every third year. Since it was our turn this year, and we were expecting at least ten or twelve for dinner, we decided to go all out. I was a little hesitant when I dragged the 21 lb. turkey into the house, but I figured with enough planning, (and a little help from Martha) that I should have been able to pull this off. I almost made it too! It ended up that the turkey was the culprit, deciding to stay much longer in the oven than was initially expected, but all in all everything tasted pretty good. You've gotta love modern technology, which allowed me to watch a video of how to stuff and truss the bird, as well as make gravy before I even got started. Hope your turkey day was good, too.

She's Found Her Voice!

Little M turned five months old on the 30th, and it wasn't too long after that she found her voice. She has been babbling a little for the last month or so, but this last week she has been shrieking, yelling, and "talking" every chance she can get. It has been so fun to watch her realize that, yes, she has the control of the sound that comes out. Big Brother E can be quite the chatterbox, so she'll have her work cut out to keep up. I find myself wondering if her language development will come a little quicker, simply because E is constantly talking to her. It is adorable to listen to how he adjusts his voice so it is a little quieter and in a higher pitch to speak her. She of course eats it up, and giggles and talks back to him. We are all loving watching the two of them together.