Metro

We now have our very own train system! Today was the opening day of the Valley Metro Light Rail; it was insanely busy, but it was so fun! It can take us to the airport or downtown. Anyway, free rides for the rest of 2008.

Merry Christmas

It has been a great day. Surprisingly, the kids felt much better this morning and were able to celebrate in great fashion. Santa brought a bike for Ethan, HSM sing along dolls for Raea, Diamond Castle Princess for Larissa, and a crawl ball for Herston. Oh, and all the new jackets will be great to go play in the snow next weekend! (Wow, I can't believe how they have grown, Christmas 2007.)

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas Eve

I wish you a little more health and happiness tonight.

Half Birthday/First Tooth

Herston is now 6 month old, and he celebrated with his first tooth. Raea found it although I don't approve of her randomly sticking her fingers in his mouth.

I think it was survival of the fittest. It is his way of telling me to give him more MEAT!

Christmas Lights

This was the Christmas Lights from my angle. (Raea brought her cousin-friend, and I loved all the looks from people who thought they were all mine.)

On the same day, we decorated the tree. The kids hung almost all of the ornaments, so it may not look Martha Stewart, however, I think it is just right.

Tummy Time

Seriously, isn't he such a cute, lil 20-pound chubber? I can't believe he is almost six months. (UPDATE from today's appointment, he is 23 lbs, and 27 inches.)

It is so nice of Larissa to get on the floor to keep him company.

P.S. The diapers Larissa wears at night are the same size on Herston's. (I can't get 3's to go around his waist anymore.)

Long Awaited Thanks

Thanks Bridgette and Karl for watching my older three kids this summer. It was such a help to know they were in good hands. They still talk about how old Karl is. (I don't know this significance of it.)

Kiss It!

This may be crude for some, so stop reading. This is my fun, crazy life.

In a busy office this week, Larissa said, "Mom, my butt hurts." I whisper back, "Your bottom hurts?"

She screams back, "Yes! My bum hurts!" She then starts jumping and wiggling in pain. I try to console her, but she keeps screaming her butt hurts and drawing a lot of attention to us. Then, she pulls her pants off.

"Larissa, put your pants back on."

"No, Mom. My butt hurts. Kiss it."

We now officially have everyone's eyes on us. I try to pull her pants up, but she starts to cry and screams, "Kiss my butt!"

Clearly, she was not giving me a pass, so I blew her bottom a kiss, but this just got her louder. I then kissed her hip. Close enough, right?

Jumping up and down, writhing in pain, she sticks her naked bottom in my face and screams again for the ump-teenth time, "Kiss my butt!"

There was no winning this one. The two year old did not care about anyone else, and in this public setting was not the time to discipline. So...

I leaned forward and kissed the bare cheek.

She then let me pull up her pants.

Don't Play With That

After getting stuck in Herston's walker, I think my kids finally understand that they are too big to play with the baby stuff.

The Magic Piano

So I am officially declaring Larissa day trained! Grandma bribed her with the piano and there was no turning back. Unfortunately, she has naturally given up her naps this week, too. However, she keeps reassuring me, "I'm happy; I don't need nap!"

It was a hard negotiation, but I am sold.

If only the magic piano could fix Ethan's broken foot...