White Christmas

The snow that began Christmas morning deposited 1.2 inches on Atlanta, GA, making this the first White Christmas since 1882. Good thing Jack got a sleigh this year...no more recycle bin sleighing for him. Bronwyn, being of the more intelligent gender, remained indoors.

Christmas 2010

What a Merry Christmas it was....enjoy!

Princess Bronwyn

Now what? Boy, raising parents is tough.

Stone Mountain Christmas

Voted one of the top ten spots for visiting with Santa by USA Today--us parental units took the kiddies last night. Ironically enough we did almost everything there BUT sit on Santa's lap--seen one Santa you've seen them all...phf.

An hour after we arrived Jack asked when the "excitement" begins. Here is Daddy and Jack.

Getting ready to watch the elves sing about Santa's sleigh ride around the world. They committed a grievous act...handed Maracas out to kids to play with and Jack was not one of those kids. Jack had that lip out any longer I was sure a bird would fly by and poop on it.

Consolation prize to the Maracas was a $10 light sword...think the elves and the sword vendor were in on some secret plot together to rob us of our hot chocolate money. The sword was the highlight of the evening for Jack. At least it was not a box :)

We asked Jack to rank the events in order of excitement. The events to rank included Elves Santa Play, Christmas Musical Revue, Santa Parade, Picture with Mrs. Clause, and the Polar Express 4D Movie. He ranked Ms. Clause #1, the sword #2, and the out-of-left field #3 ranking was Toy Story 3 Together Again.

Wondering about Bronnie? She was thrilled with the 10,000 and some Christmas Lights and LOVED the Musical Revues. A total entertainment junkie for sure .

Her only cranky moment was when they turned the lights out before the Polar Express movie began. Here she is reliving the cranky moment.

The evening ended with a visit by the Snow Angel who dumped snow on us all by evoking Tinker Bell style magic via the group chant, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." I caught Jack drifting to sleep on the ride home chanting those magic words trying to make it snow some more. HA!

Fire Up the Ovens, Muffin Man!

Jack, Bronwyn and Mom made the second annual Family Gingerbread house. Quote of the morning:

Jack: "Mom, do we have enough Christmas spirit?"
Mom: "What do you think?"
Jack: "I think I need to eat more candy and then I'll have the spirit!"

Jack, Mom and Bronwyn making the house.

Jack hopped up on sugar from eating the house.

The 2010 Gingerbread house.

Vote which is better...2010 or the 2009 Gingerbread house.

Jack Talks Smack

Jack has been burning a hole on the timeout step of late. Clearly, someone doesn't understand the concept of a naughty list. tsk...tsk... On the naughty step I heard this as Jack tried hard to gain some negative attention and I tried hard to continue to ignore him...

"Mommy, BE QUIET!"
"hmm....that didn't work."
"Mommy, BE NOTHING!"
"hmm...that didn't work either."
"Mommy, OH MY GOD!
"AHGH! Nothings working. Hmph."

I suspect my son will make a rotten poker player later in life.

Goodbye Newborn and Hello Infant

Bronwyn turns three months this week. She is realizing there is more to life than just eating, sleeping and pooping, and we are realizing just what a beautiful princess she is. At three months, Bronnie is:

• Sleeping for a five-six hour stretch most nights
• Smiling...the biggest most precious smiles ever
• Recognizing mom, dad, and big bro
• Doing mini push ups
• Rolling from back to side and side to tummy
• Bringing hands together
• Sucking her thumb
• Batting at toys
• Grasping toys
• Staring at her feet
• Noticing more details than just bright lights and ceiling fans...like pictures in books!
• Bearing weight on legs
• Tracking objects
• Turning towards sound
• Cooing in syllables
• Blowing bubbles and making unintenional raspberries

Can you believe these are things she had to learn...hmm...feeling like a chump for taking that big toe for granted, huh? There was a day you didn't even know it existed...imagine that. At 20/300 vision, imagine what that toe looks like to Bronnie...go on...try it...cross your eyes and stare at a toe. Looks a bit like a jelly belly doesn't it? No wonder babies put there feet in their mouths.

Next to learn...sleeping in her own crib or bassinet versus mommy's arms. :)

A Little Christmas Cheer...

'Twas two weeks before Christmas and all through our house. The family was as busy as a scavenger mouse--decorating the home for a jolly ole gnome (well elves are sort of like gnomes).

The boy named Jack went on a ribbon attack.

The girl named Bronwyn was full of big grins.

The Mom and the Dad trimmed the tree in fad.

The village was displayed, up high to stay out of the children's airways.

And what to our wondering eyes should appear...but miniature snowflakes and one little cheer. As Jack stuck his tongue out to catch the first flake, Dad took some aspirin for his giant headache :)

Now all we need is the jolly man himself...instead he sent Emil--his trusted elf. To spy, I mean watch, Jack and Bronwyn and report on their acts--with no emotion just stick to the facts. Will they be good or bad...make Santa happy or sad? Wage your bets folks! The season evokes Emil to play lots of tricks while away from St. Nick. Each morning we find Emil's latest antics...here we see him getting a marshmallow fix.

So as Emil and Frosty, the Heat Miser and Hermey all get ready for Santa's big day... our son Jack, posed as Rudlolph wishes you Happy Holidays!

BLINK

I must have blinked. Because Monday Bronwyn Rose was up to her normal feats and Tuesday she had all sorts of new tricks up her sleeve.

We have a thumb sucker in the family!!! Bronwyn found her fingers at two weeks and now has fine-tuned this to her thumb. Remember the paci post of a few weeks back? Let's all cheer for self-soothing thumbs!

While she found her thumb, she lost her eyes. OOPS!

What are those...FEET? Fascinating!

With socks this cute no wonder she spent a good portion of the early evening staring at them!

And this morning...the new trick haven't stopped as she showed off some serious batting skill.

Santa Clause is Coming to Town...

Bronwyn donning her Snowman shirt in honor of the 19 degree morning here!

Friday night we packed the kids up in their scrumptious Holiday pajamas; fueled up on Hot Chocolate and Eggnog Lattes and ventured out on our annual Christmas Lights drive. Jack chose to count snowmen. Dad counted angels. Mom counted candy canes. Bronwyn just counted her lucky stars Mom got a decaf latte. Guess who won...MOM of course!!!

Sunday was the annual Santa visit to our neighbor's home. Jack asked Santa for a helium balloon maker that would blow up his favorite vegetables, like broccolini, and make them float. Oh, and a garbage truck. He also asked Santa why he comes down the chimney and not the front door. I heard Dad muttering something about B&E...

The Family and the Clauses

And a closer look at Bronnie on Santa's lap--mesmerized by the ceiling fan!

The Continuation of the Enigmatic Questions

Jack's latest to add to add to the reportoire of "what's a car without wheels?" and "what a pool without water?"

"What is a ladder without anyone climbing on it?"
"What is a paramedic without an ambulance?"

We are still not sure what the heck he is talking about? That's our Jack.

Roger

Jack is saying "Roger" then making sound of static after everything he says. It was cute the first 20 times. If anyone buys him a real walkie talkie for Christmas you will have to answer to me (is that just begging Aunt Sharon to buy one?) HA!

Jack's First Black Eye

What's a holiday without a trip to the ER? Friday, Jack and Bronwyn celebrated Mike and Max's eighth birthday. Apparently overcome with joy, Jack took a serious tumble on the stairs. He fall flat on the hard woods on the side of his face. I am just glad that I didn't see it as I don't want that image in my mind. What I did see is my precious and brave little boy in shock and hurt. He uttered "Make me stop crying mom," in between sobs. It looked questionable and practicing the mom rule of "better safe than sorry" Minnie, Dad, Bronwyn and Mom took Jack to the hospital. We knew things were okay when we were a mile away from the ER and Jack started burping. Dad said he must have fallen on the burp button and Jack let out the widest, largest laugh of all time. Clearly, Jack was back!

The Stairs

The Black Eye

The Birthday Boys

Gobble Gobble

ROAD TRIP!

Grandma and Grandpa's

We set off on Tuesday for our first road trip as a family of four. Playing the role of 'perfect mom', I packed lunches and we ate at the idyllic lake front setting on the way to Charlotte. Arriving in the nick of time to celebrate Grandma's 70th with a dinner at a favorite local jaunt. Spent a couple days with the grandparents and discovered all discipline techniques are rendered useless in new, exciting environments (new in sense he can't remember it from last year!)--hurting my chances at Oscar award for role of 'perfect mom'.

Grandma, Grandpa, Jack and Bronwyn

Jack and Bronwyn sacked out with Grandma.

Perfect Mom' with the truly Perfect Bronwyn.

Minni and Pop's

Arrived on Turkey day to Minnie and Pop Pops. Just in time to see Santa make his official Macy's Parade arrival. We spent a couple days here and discovered Bronnie shares Minni's and Daddy's passions for shopping as she smiled and cooed for 3.5 hours shopping on Black Friday.

Minni and Bronwyn

Pop Pop and Bronwyn

Thanksgiving Day at Uncle Robby's and Aunt Meg's

Arriving at Uncle Robby and Aunt Megs for Thanksgiving Dinner

The Cook busy in kitchen...he has mastered Turkey Day!

The pretty table--thanks to Grandma's coolest iron ever the napkins and table cloth look great!

Twins playing dress up with Jack

Gracie with Bronnie

Max with Bronnie

Mikey with Bronnie

Sam with his hair ;)

Thanks everyone for a fantastic Turkey Day. We departed Saturday and playing the role of tired mom stopped at Wendy's for Happy Meals and ate in the parking lot while watching Santa Clause 2 on the DVD...who likes a perfect mom anyway?

Playful Pup

Jack, a.k.a. Playful Pup, after his school's Thanksgiving Feast.

Pacified by the Paci!

Mark the calendars people. Today Bronwyn took a pacifier. I have only tried for two months...and she preferred the human version. This had me wondering if I would be returning to work in a month without a certain part of my anatomy (as Gary would certainly not allow me to leave the state with Bronnie's favorite soothie.) So you see...the pacifier is very important as my first business trip is 1/11. Thanks paci!