We have arrived

The bad: Two days in the car. Bumper to bumper traffic on I-95 in Georgia. Fast food. Rain and fog in the mountains.

The good: Having an extra adult in the car. Sonny's BBQ. Warmth. Sun. Family.

Not all nutty conversations are with the 3-year old

Greyson: Can we go caroling?
Me: No.
Greyson: Why not?
Me: Because it's not something I enjoy and it's frigid outside.
Greyson: Do you get treats when you carol?
Me: No.
Greyson: Darn. I don't really like singing.

Minimalist Christmas

Christmas excitement has reached a fevered pitch around here. Friday, Reece's class had a Polar Express party, with the kids in pajamas, hot cocoa with marshmallows (a crucial fact, according to Reece), and a viewing of the movie. We made brownie treats for Reece's teachers, decorated kids' holiday tree cakes (a Crayola edible kit I found on clearance), and each boy has two (because one is insufficient, apparently) advent calendars with chocolate behind each door. Reece seems completely unclear on the concept that he will be receiving gifts in large quantity quite steadily between now and this coming Monday and asks, every time I say we need to go to a store or get something for someone else, "What are we getting for me?" He has said that Christmas is his favorite time EVER because of the whole present theme. With his birthday so close after the holidays, I fear he'll go into withdrawal when February arrives and he's not opening anything for himself!

We’re also involved in the Christmas story pageant at church, which will take place at 5pm on Wednesday. Greyson is the 2nd wise man, Reece may or may not be a shepherd - he's 3, enough said. I somehow got roped into helping with the costumes and making sure the kings do what they’re supposed to at the right time. This is on top of me assistant teaching for Sunday school every week. Now, I really love our church and enjoy being involved, but I’m hitting that too-involved point where I can feel myself cringe rather than look forward to whatever is going on. In order to compensate, I’ve unintentionally instituted a minimalist Christmas at home. We have some decorations up but not even half of what we own, Dan did the tree lights and my boys and nephews put up all the ornaments, only two of the outside bushes have lights on them, and (as I mentioned before) I didn’t write a single word of a newsletter to go out with the cards. I’ve even whittled down the card list to the number of pictures we got in our family photo package deal! And I’m not even feeling guilty about any of it, which makes me think this will be the new plan from here on out. It seems to go well with the whole lousy economy, only do what you can situation these days. Now if only I can find a way to recycle the three bins worth of cheap holiday decor...

Ice storm

We haven't had nearly the storm other areas received. Schools are open in most places, and we have power. I tried to capture the beauty of the ice on branches, but I have discovered two things: 1) my camera is lacking in ability to do much more than point and click, and 2) I really have no idea how to take good pictures. So these are the best of a very sad bunch.

Comments are on

Update: I changed the settings so that anyone can comment, pending my review. (This is a family blog, people.)

The first

That's it, I've caved in. For the last six months at least I've been composing blog posts in my head but never made the leap to actually creating a blog, and here I am. We'll see if it sticks or, like many things with me, I get all excited about it for a few weeks and then it gets pushed to the sidelines of my life and interest level.

Since this is the first post, and I didn't send out a Christmas newsletter, I thought I'd summarize the highs and lows of the past year. Here goes:

January - Reece turned 3 and got to see the Bob the Builder exhibit at COSI.

February - My best friend from childhood, Lynnette, got married!

March - Snow days and sledding.

April - Greyson turned 8.

May - The rain stopped, it got warmer, the flowers bloomed, and we remembered why we love it here.

June - Reece moved up to a preschool room at his daycare.

July - It was warm, which I can't even fathom right now.

August - Two-week trip to Alpena and Black Lake, Michigan; much fishing and game playing, during which Greyson became a ringer at Ladder Golf. Oh yeah, and my 20th high school reunion.

September - Traver road block party, and it is still warm enough to use the kiddie pool in the backyard!

October - Reece tripped, hit his head against a wrought-iron chair leg, and had to get four stitches in his forehead. While undergoing the procedure, he yelled out in a pitiful voice, "Who's the doctor, anyway?"

November - Road trip to Chicago for my cousin's baby shower, Thanksgiving in Armada, MI with tons of flag football games and flashlight tag in the cold.

December - Greyson got third place in a chess tournament of 3rd-5th graders.

I hope everyone enjoys our blog or at least is not offended by anything on it. I have high goals. Come back when you can, and I'll post when I feel the urge to share.