Christmas 2009

It sure was different being in Houston for Christmas. There are still lots of trees with green leaves on them and flowers in full bloom. We had a huge thunderstorm early, early Christmas Eve morning. Patch hid under the bed from all the lightning and thunder.

Unfortunately, Zane was still sick and didn't fully enjoy the experience.



About noon-ish, Tucker started fading and spent the rest of the day on the couch with a fever. He decided not to eat or drink anything and it went unnoticed by me and Andy (oops!). He got dehydrated and threw up the next morning. Once he got hydrated, he recovered slowly. Derek thankfully never got the fever and remained somewhat healthy. Even Andy and I had a cold and cough this holiday. We are hoping to ring in the New Year healthy and without contention (sick kids can still fight with each other).

GI Joe and Army stuff was a hit this year! YO JOE!



The aftermath:



Here was a greatly debated item that I lost on:




The Nerf Gun. Santa thought the boys would just love them. I argued that yes, they would, but I would not. I would spend all of my time finding lost darts, telling them "Don't shoot your brother" and trying to dodge improperly aimed darts. The things a parent sacrifices for their children. Santa won. They love them. No one has shot their eye out yet, but stay tuned . . .

Zane is TWO!!!

Our little "Bubba" is growing up!




Unfortunately, he has been quite sick the past few days and was still feverish when it was time to open presents.



I gave him some Tylenol and he perked up around dinnertime and cake time. Today, he is doing better, but still irritable and needs a great deal of snuggling and holding.

He got a new bike and LOVES it! Since he was sick and it was rainy, the bike is an inside bike for now and he just zips and zooms around the downstairs. Funny story about our other big wheel bike that we had for Tucker: I accidentally backed over it in the car when we lived in Bayfield. (Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that!) It was of course my fault because I put it behind the car in a hurry thinking I would move it later. We know the ending to that little story. But the happy ending is Zane's joy at having a big wheel bike. (Sorry to Tucker for the hours he missed out pedaling away on a big wheel).



This is supposed to be Lightning McQueen. No, I did not purchase it, I made it myself! Hard to believe, I know, but whatever you think it looks like, Zane knew it was his favorite race car and it tasted GREAT!



Happy Birthday Zane!

Gingerbread Huts

Tis the season for lopsided, candy-covered, graham-cracker creations.

Poor Derek's roof just wouldn't stay up.



This is a picture of Derek's finished product (he took the picture):



Tucker only used M&Ms since that was the only candy I bought that he would eat! Don't worry, he still had an adequate amount of sugar on there!



Here is an extreme close-up of Tucker's house (Tucker took this one):



Zane was sick and sleeping at the time. Poor kid missed out on the snowstorm a few a weeks ago AND gingerbread houses because of a nap. I don't put him down then on purpose either (not really, anyway).

Snow in Houston?

LET IT SNOW! Houstonians absolutely FREAKED OUT! It was on the news for quite a while that it might happen and people were stock piling things like wood, space heaters, insulation for their pipes, and even sweaters for their dogs. We were laughing at all of this. So Friday, the snow came and it was BEAUTIFUL. Perfect for building a snowman and throwing snowballs. Andy made all his employees go out and play in it and I pulled the boys out of school early to do the same. I know, I know, it sounds silly, but how long until they see snow again? We had a grand time and played snowball baseball and all of that sort of thing. Then we came in and drank hot chocolate (that was lukewarm because that's how Tucker likes it) and watched a Christmas movie. It actually felt like December that day.

About 10:30 that night, our heater decided it was just too cold and quit completely. The coldest night in decades in Houston and our heater is busted! That's what we get for laughing at these poor innocent people in a snowstorm.



I went to Walmart and to get a small space heater and as I pulled up, I saw a woman who needed help. Her windsheild was thickly coated in ice and snow and she was trying to get it off with her umbrella. I found my scraper in my trunk and came over to her aid. I asked if I could help her and she said she was about to go fill a bottle of water to pour over her windsheild. I quickly stopped her and scraped off her car in less than two minutes. She was SO grateful! I advised her to use a credit card in the unlikely event that this would happen again. I just hope that if I am doing something stupid to prepare for a hurricane or something, that some Houstonian will help me out.

Our heater couldn't be repaired until Monday morning, but we snuggled up together and were just fine. We learned to not laugh at others and that flannel sheets really can be used in Houston. (To think I almost gave them to my sister!)

Sinter Klaas

My mother immigrated from Holland when she was five. Growing up, we celebrated the arrival of Sinter Klaas. You put your shoe out and Sinter Klaas comes on his horse and leaves a small toy and candy. Anyway, I celebrate with my children just like my mom did with us (including the yummy food). My boys know all about it since we have shared it with their school classes.

This year, we had our little celebration and then got the boys ready for bed. They put out their shoes and helped Zane put out his shoe. Then Derek decided it would be good to leave a carrot in each of their shoes for Sinter Klaas' horse. So they got out the baby carrots and put one in each of their shoes. Derek chomped on some and declared that "I am such a fan of carrots!"

The boys went to bed except for Zane who had taken a long nap. Andy and I were watching TV while Zane played. We heard this crunch and looked over at Zane who was eating the carrots out of the stinky shoes! YUCK! I guess he decided to be a fan of carrots too!

Thanksgiving Time

This year, Andy's parents flew down to see us! The excitement was almost more than the boys could handle! So, Thanksgiving morning comes and my mother-in-law and Derek start making pies, my father-in-law starts chopping celery and onions, I am cleaning up breakfast with Zane and Tucker, and Andy went to play football with some guys at our church. Andy comes home while I am getting dressed and collapses on the bed and tells me he pulled his hamstring. It was REALLY BAD!!! He couldn't even put his socks on by himself! I went to the store and bought Bengay and Advil and all that stuff and for the rest of the day (and really the rest of the weekend) He painfully sat or laid on the couch! He could hardly even sit down to Thanksgiving dinner without a pillow under his leg and a tight look in his face. He got the interception, though!




The meal was wonderful and almost the whole family helped, which made it even more special. Tucker helped make a yummy chocolate pie and Derek helped Nana with all sorts of things! Everything tasted great. That night, there was a tree lighting at a large shopping complex in Houston with music and fireworks, so we went down there to see it. Andy had to stay home, but watched a movie and stretched out. I can honestly say I have never seen fireworks on Thanksgiving, but it was cool!

Later that weekend, we ventured to Brazos State Park that has trails and campgrounds and WILD ALLIGATORS! We saw three of them and no one was harmed.



Tucker actually got very scared before we got there, but we told him that all he needed to do was outrun Daddy and he would be fine! The alligator would eat Dad (since he was the slowest mover due to the hamstring injury) and Tucker could run to safety. Once Tucker found a few large sticks for him and his brothers to defend themselves, he was totally fine.



It was cool and totally different than the mountain west State Parks in Utah and Colorado!

We were so glad Nana and Grandpa could come over! Despite sickness and injury, we had a great time and can't wait to see them again!

First Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Back in mid-November, we were sitting in church when Derek came to me and asked what was in his mouth. I looked and there was a big tooth coming in on the bottom and his baby teeth were still there - and not the least bit wiggly! I knew this might create a problem eventually, with no room for all those teeth, so we went to the dentist. He pulled out the bottom two teeth and Derek didn't put up a fuss at all! He actually happily came with me and willingly laid down on the chair. I can't say I personally would have acted the same way, but I think the "happy gas" might have had something to do with it. . . Anyway, the tooth fairy came and it was all just so magical at five o'clock in the morning. My awareness at that time of day was honestly not at the same level as Derek's, but it was fun to share that small and magical moment with him.