Recent funnies at the Preacher's house

We are not super newsy around these parts. The post-birthday, pre-Lent quiet....ahhhh. So I thought I might share some recent silly sayings from our brood. Here are some recent quotes that I hope we remember:

Greta: "So mom, I'm thinking that instead of 88 kids I'll just have 2 kids like you- a boy and a girl. But the problem is, I don't want to push them out."

Greta (as she tried to rouse me from bed at 5:30 am): "You know mom, having children is a BIG responsibility.

Greta (regarding a song by Toto): "Roseanna is my favorite song. It really is the best song that anyone ever singed (sic)."

Greta (about her birthday): "Mom & Dad, I just wish I could wake up and do this day all over again. This was the best day ever."

Wes: "Nakey baby on the loose!" (a shouted phrase in the naked romp before bathtime)

Wes: "Tree fell down at Gwany & Gwamps house"

Wes: "Rooooe Tide!"

Wes (into Greta's pretend microphone): "Hey E'rybody!" (it is seriously the cutest thing in the history of the world)

More soon!

the Chatty Christiansens

Guess who likes his new big boy bed?

THIS GUY!

Well, he likes his converted crib/toddler bed. His sister happens to think it is pretty swell too. So far so good...he's staying put when we put him to bed. I predict he will learn to escape on Monday....the day his father leaves for 4 days.

Send your positive thoughts this way. Really.

Birthday Bliss

The birthday bash started off with a class party at school....

And then we jumped with both feet into a weekend of fun!

We had our family over on Saturday morning to kick off the festivities. A brunch & presents & loved ones are hard to beat.

Greta's Minnesota grandparents,

Aunt Jayne, Aunt Keb & Uncle Peter & Cousin Noah,

and Great Grandparents

all came to share the morning with us. Too cool.

In the afternoon we went to ARTICULTURE...a great artist studio and teaching facility that has done some cool not-for-profit work with us in the past. The artist called, asked me some questions about Greta and came up with a lovely project: CAT MASKS! My girl loves to play kitty and doggy and she loves being creative with art supplies...what a perfect marriage of 2 favorite past times!

This being our first all-girl party, it was interesting to watch the party dynamics. I mean- during the project all 14 girls were focused. Seriously. There was no "quiet down nows" or "there's more to see here, pay attentions." Nope. These girls were all about the business of creating.

Great fun. Instead of cake we decided to have cookies (in the shape of artists palettes...thank you Grandma!) and ice cream.

No one complained :).

We were totally tired after the day full of celebrations. But...it was all worth it to hear Greta say "I wish I could wake up tomorrow and re-live my birthday all over again. It was the best day ever." Every bit worth it.

Anniversary #2...the weird year

Jan 9th. Well, Jan 9th & 10th really, the days that will live on in infamy. 2 years ago on Jan 9th we took Greta to the hospital with croup. 2 years ago on January 10th we came as close to losing our earthly angel as parents can come. I still feel that familiar burning sensation in my eyes and the tight anxious feeling in my chest when I look at pictures from her birthday party (held on the 9th, 2010). This year this anniversary is strangely close and strangely far away. Last year we felt much more of a sense of relief. This year...2 years out...her healthy, happy progression is more "expected" and those terrible days seem much farther away.

Until you look at the pictures.

Until you allow your self to remember the shock and horror and fear you experience as you watch your kid struggle to supply her body with oxygen.

Yeah, it gets real again pretty quickly.

I'm glad that our bigger struggle now is deciding how much of this story to share with her and when to share it with her. I'm glad we don't feel haunted by those scenes every day. But I think Jan 9&10th will always be days of uncertainty. Days when we are tethered to the past...

The next one needs very little in the way of an explanation:

unless you are from Minnesota. Yeah, so we got the kids all ready in their Alabama gear on Jan 8th (the day before the National Championship for those not aware or otherwise from Minnesota)....took them to church (we went to a different church as we were on vacation). First thing we were greeted with at the church was "Why on earth are you marking your children's clothes with a scarlet letter?" I really wish I had mustered up a smarty pants reply. I mean, we are a pastor's family and all, but don't get all Hester P on us.

The only thing more disappointing was when we went into the office on Tuesday the 10th...AFTER THE TIDE HAD BLANKED THE TIGERS AND WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP...to be greeted with "what game?" and "what does LSU stand for?" A very disappointing show LHUMC staff, very disappointing....

We watched the game at a friend of Tyler's house who had an 108" screen...not quite like being there, but quite like having a wall of football in yo' face. The only thing better? The win of course.

ROLLLLLLL TIIIIIIDE!

Christmas Catch Up Part 2: Alabama

Here comes more fun!

So Christmas day after church we hopped a plane for Alabama and made it by dinner time. The cousins were NUTS. We had an instant play put on by the oldest girls that was a little hard to follow amongst the squeals.

Something about a mermaid that becomes a flower with a princess narrator. Convoluted, I know. We finally got everyone settled in for the night with baths and stories...

Wes particularly loved any time Gramps had an open lap. He's quite the guy's guy these days.

The next morning the kids awoke to stockings and tree crowded with goodies...you know what ensued.

CHRISTMAS CHAOS. In the best possible sense of the words :).

We settled into a daily routine which was good for everyone... a little outdoor play (the weather was NICE), a little relaxing time with a show, a little art project, naps for the youngers. Once we got into a rhythm all was well.

We woke up one morning with this visitor:

And thought...well we should keep up with the pictures while the iron is hot! So we dressed the wee ones, fluffed our hair and.....did our best.

The grown-ups were much easier targets!

And then, there was the FAIRY FORT. The preacher got an itchin' to be in the woods for a few hours and when we came up to find him there was a FAIRY FORT.

The girls added to it as the week went on- greenery & eventually the mailbox glitter Christmas bells to complete Daddy's stick original. So yeah, it was popular. We're hoping it stays up a while so the kids can revisit it on upcoming trips to AL.

Pretty cute cousins huh?

Gramps also got to show off and help the girls walk on his giant log balance beam. Handy that it was yards away from the fort. A woodsy paradise for the girls!

AND....if that wasn't crazy fun enough...we celebrated Greta's birthday early with this side of the family with an amazing UNICORN PARTY. 5 year old nirvana.

The little ones also enjoyed the party...complete with some of our Bham family who came up to help us celebrate. Who are we kidding, we had them at "unicorn party."

A few fun trips to the park rounded out our week....(note: MN kid refusing to wear her coat because it is "too hot")

It is clear on the playground that the little sibs will not be outdone by their older counterparts...they went on every slide, every ladder, every everything that their older sisters went on. Hello heartburn for the mamas....

Gratuitous cute pictures with Granny & Gramps:

On our last night in AL, we came down the hall and found this lovely site. I won't pretend that this is every day in our house...but its sweetness is strong enough to help me forget the not-so-perfect moments.

We had a great time...complete with a quick overnight to Birmingham to see some friends (brought the camera, took no pictures...boo, I know). A very restful trip for our family after a break-neck Fall pace. Happy New Year!