Christmas Night

This is my fourth Christmas here in Saginaw and it's the first time I've ever been to the city's Christmas Celebration downtown. I didn't even know Saginaw had a Christmas night and suddenly lots of people at church were saying how they go every year. Guess I haven't been listening for the past few years. Christmas Night was awesome. First of all, it was fifty degrees outside with no snow on the ground. At five thirty they turned on all the lights downtown. They had free carriage rides over one of the bridges, free pony rides, a live nativity where they read the Christmas story, free entrance to the zoo, carolers, entry to the Japanese tea gardens, Santa Claus in a gazeebo, a gingerbread house display in one of the buildings (and you get to vote for your favorite), and a fireworks show over the river at eight thirty. I think there were a couple of concerts in some of the churches and hot chocolate booths. We went late and weren't able to make it to everything, but the kids loved voting for their favorite gingerbread house and being in the zoo at night. The fireworks show was something else. Three times I thought it was the finale and they started right up again. I think this will become a new Christmas tradition for our family.

The Big Baby

Here's what Jarom looks like before you try to feed him: happy, smiley. Than he decides he's hungry and nursing just doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore. When he watches us eat, he smacks his lips, sticks out his tongue, tries to grab everything on my plate, and I think, hmm, he's still hungry, let's give him some baby food.

This is what Jarom looks like when he knows you're going to give him solids and before he swallows: teeth clamped together and the "don't you dare" look. After I manage to get a spoonful past the fortress of teeth, the crying commences. Well, then it's easy to get the food in because he's howling. He hates everything: rice cereal, peas, green beans, carrots, bananas, etc. We've had very marginal success with a bit of applesauce in the rice cereal. It frustrates me no end. After getting him to swallow two tablespoons(with more spit out all over both of us)

he won't try anymore, but still acts hungry. Then I finally latch him back on and when he's stopped hiccuping from his cries, guzzles like he's never had a drink before. The big whiner baby. Today I threw some of those snack puffs in his mouth out of sheer desperation and to my surprise he actually sucked on the, swallowed, and smiled. Great...he likes snacks. Who doesn't? But it was nice to have a meal without crying.

Incidentally, that way cute sweater he's wearing in the first picture was knitted by yours truly. I'm still amazed you can make a shirt out of a piece of string. I started it forever ago and now that it's done, it'll only fit him for maybe four weeks. No more knitting projects for me for a while--they take too long.

My Little Girl's All Grown Up and...

Wearing a bra! We have a pretty open household here. The kids often see me nurse and, like the house where I grew up, Elyse and I often talk to each other while we're both getting ready in the bathroom. Over the course of a few years a lot of questions have been asked and answered. So I don't know why I was so nervous to talk to her about getting a bra when I noticed she'd started to develop and really needed to wear one. To my surprise, though, the conversation was extremely easy. "Elyse, I think it's time to get you a bra." Answer: "Okay." "Okay?" "Ya, okay." "Do you have any questions?" "No." "Do you know if any girls in your class are wearing one?" She rolls her eyes. "That's not something you ask your friends." So we went shopping together at the mall yesterday, came home with four, and off to school she went with one on this morning. That was a lot less embarrassing on both sides than I was expecting. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. She's known it'd happen sooner or later. I must say, they have cooler stuff now than when I first started. Some look like short tank tops, and lots don't have the tricky hooks, but just pull over your head like a sports bra. It's a lot easier until they get used to wearing them.

Homemade Gift Ideas

My friend sent me this link to a great site with tons of homemade gift ideas for the holidays: www.oneprettything.com/?page_id=2082 Me and the kids are going to try making photo journals. If we raid the recycle bins at school and use one of our offers for free prints, these will only cost us a bottle of Elmer's glue. I think the kids will have fun choosing pictures for friends and painting with glue. www.photojojo.com/content/diy/make-your-own-photo-notebook-journal/ Happy holiday crafting everyone!

For a good laugh

Kelly DiPucchio, author of Grace for President, came to speak to Michigan authors a couple years ago on humor. Her latest blog entry is hilarious. If you need a chuckle, go read Nov 14th's entry at her blog: http://www.kellydipucchio.blogspot.com/.

Easy Cinnamon Bread

I made this for last night for breakfast this morning. It made delicious toast that the kids all liked. I bet it would make killer french toast, too. Easy Cinnamon Bread 3 C flour 1/2 C sugar 2 t active dry yeast 1 t salt 1 C warm milk (I nuked my milk in the microwave for a minute) 1/4 C butter, melted 1 egg 1 t baking powder 1 C cinnamon baking chips 1. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bolw, whisk together milk, butter and egg. Add milk misture to flour mixture; beat until smooth. Cover and let rest 1 hour. 2. Stir baking powder and cinnamon chips into batter. Spoon into greast 8x4 loaf pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar(I didn't and it tasted great without). Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Ahem, may I have your attention, please...

I have an important announcement. Jarom has slept from 7pm to 7am for the past six nights in a row. I feel like a new woman. That is all.

Halloween

For Halloween this year we had a bride (because Elyse pointed out it was the only modest costume at Walmart), two pirates, and a doctor. We also celebrated Elyse turning nine. She got to out to lunch with just Mom and Dad. For Halloween this year to combat some of the candy madness, we entered the kids into a fun run at the Haunted Woods of Terror. Matt had to run through with the boys since they were scared. I also did my very first 5K walking race. The course passed the starting point three times and each time Luke ran about 100 feet to meet me and jogged alongside until he made it back to Dad. That was my favorite part of the whole thing--that and having my kids cheer me on. I would have made my goal time if it weren't for the darn Haunted Woods at the end. I got turned around in one of the dark tunnels and after that, shuffled through the remaining tunnels with my hands on the walls. Those tunnels cost me--I came in 1 minute and 43 seconds later than I wanted. On the flip side, it's not every day you get to run a race with Captain Jack Sparrow, big foot, life-sized bacon and eggs, and wonder woman. I didn't know we could dress up, but boy was I glad I didn't. The bacon and eggs looked pretty tired of their costume by mile 2.

We ended the evening at Aunt Meghan's house for a bowl of chilli, trick or treating with cousins, and blowing out candles on the birthday cake. All in all, a very fun holiday.

Jarom in his crib

Jarom is now five months old. He has been a good natured baby and puts up with a lot of noise and man handling from everyone in the family. He does pretty well at sitting in his swing through the mad homework and dinner rush. And if he gets too fussy, Elyse or Paul or Luke will step in and amuse him. He almost knows how to sit. He absolutely hates tummy time and doesn't know how to roll over--but I blame Luke for that. Whenever he starts crying, Luke flips him over because he feels sory for him. He loves his silly brother Luke and doesn't mind at all that the three year old is ALWAYS in his face.