Name that Tune

Once again I am amused and somewhat baffled by the way that our son (and I am sure many other 4-5 year olds) view their big world. We were on our way home from town the other evening. Shelby was getting a little frustrated from being in her seat for most of the evening. So in an effort to try and mask (read as drown out) the volume of the crying I had turned up the radio. There was a George Strait song on at that moment. Mommy asked Harlan if he knew who was singing. Of course he didn't, so she told him. That song ended and just as we were about to turn up the drive, Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire came on. So I asked Harlan if he knew who was singing now. He of course replied with "I don't know". I said "Johnny Cash". Harlan repeated that, then asked "Who's that?" So I tried to quickly explain. And I finished up with the fact that Johnny Cash had died. So Harlan said "He died?" I said "yes, he did." So of course, what's the next question he asks? Very simply...."So if he died, how is he singing that song?"

I never cease to be amazed.

Gettin' Jiggy

Harlan came down the stairs looking like this the other day. He had a cowboy hat from a costume on and his "handsome" clothes on that he is obsessed with wearing these days. He insists that he is having a dance party and wants to wear his suits and ties every day (thanks Auntie Janet). This particular day, he looked like we stepped into the 19th century. I told him to dance a jig... and HE DID. Gotta love kid's obsessions. (Sorry that the video is sideways.)

Funny Phrase Time from a Four-Year-Old

It was a typical chaotic morning exit from the house one day this week. Shelby was crying and didn't want to be let down so that I could finish getting ready, give medicine to the kids and gather stuff to head out the door. Harlan woke up on the wrong side of the world (as daddy puts it). He didn't want to brush his teeth or get dressed and definitely didn't want to go to daycare that day for some unknown reason. I looked at Harlan's pitiful and pouty face and asked him what was wrong. I knew that he was having a bad morning and he just didn't want to do anything or go anywhere. He looked at me and said "I have a sutsky attitude." Not sure where he has heard this phase but after I could hold back my giggle, he looked up and smiled back.

I would love to hear your kiddo's tongue twisters and funny phrases. Let me know your favorites.

An Old Fashioned Christmas

It was just the four of us this year. We spent Christmas in our cozy home. Daddy was up sometime way before dawn and mommy thought she heard one of the kids get up so she sprang out of bed and rushed downstairs as she hoped not to miss the wonderful surprised looks on her babies' faces. She got downstairs only to find daddy not-so-patiently waiting for the kids to get up. He was pacing as he waited for his boy to finally come downstairs at a unusually late time of 8:00 am. Shelby was up soon after. Harlan didn't ask for any particular item this year but he was happy to see his pile of treasures left by the man in the big red suit and family and friends. Grandparents, Auntie Janet and cousin Mikey gave the kids lots of clothes, treasures from Europe, a LeapPad and too much more to mention. Harlan was excited to find that Santa left him a kid version of a digital camera (he always wants to use mommy's), lots of dress-up costumes for a knight, a police officer, a wizard, a king, a cowboy complete with chaps, and Indiana Jones which looks more like a leather biker jacket He also found toy guns and swords under the tree, Operation (game), Twister (which he spun the wheel as mom & dad played). You really need to be in shape to play that game. Yoga has not prepared me for it.

We and thankful for all of the goodies from everyone (thank you Great Grandma Hendryx for sending the sweets especially Karen's favorite 7-layer cookie bars) and we were excited to see so many Christmas cards this year and lots with update letters and family photos. It is so good to hear from everyone even if it is one time a year. Please keep them coming. Karen almost can't wait to get te mail each day this time of year.

It snowed a few days after Christmas and Harlan rushed out to catch the huge snowflakes on his tongue. Here he is plopping down to make a snow angel. Press the play button to watch the video now. Don't miss the ending!

Catching snowflakes on his tongue...

Here is our little Snow Puff.

Here, Mommy and Shelby are getting ready to go to a Christmas party. Shelby was a little Christmas angel in her red suit with tights and built-in shoes.

We took Harlan sledding this week just after a light snow and his favorite "sled" was a piece of wall paneling that someone left at the top of the hill. Forget the expensive sleds, Harlan is just fine going down the hill on roadside junk! He gets that from his daddy. I guess it is good that we have two penny pinchers in the house because Mommy and Shelby counter their efforts.

Harlan's Redneck Sled

We hope that you had a Merry Christmas and that you spent it with family and friends. My motto this year is a cliche but so meaningful and that is... to enjoy the simple things in life. We are healthy, we have two beautiful and healthy kiddos, we live out in the country surrounded by trees, crops and cattle and we still have our jobs. What more should we ever want?

Days Off

Nice to have days off from work but not so nice when you have 2 sick kids, a messy house and hopes to finish painting the kitchen floor. We took Harlan and Shelby in to express care last night because Harlan complained of an earache and Shelby was just miserable with coughing, wheezing and lots of sniffles. Turns out Harlan has his 2nd earache ever occuring only about a month from his last one and Shelby tested pos. for RSV (a virus) that start as a cold and doesn't get better fast. We just need to let it run its course.

So I had both kiddos at home while I still managed to paint the kitchen floor. We decided to pull up the very old vinyl tile floor that was crumbling apart and just temporarily paint the floor until we, someday, remodel the whole kitchen. It is turning out nice and a much better surface for Shelby to crawl on. By the way, she is getting around still by extending her arms and dragging her legs. Once in a while, she will get on all fours and crawl. Although she is not feeling good, she still seems to turn up a smile and giggle with evey tickle. Our kids our troopers and we are so grateful to have 2 wonderful kiddos.

Pics/video of Christmas coming soon.

Harlan & Vanna White

Another cute moment from Harlan.... Lately Harlan has been pointing out pretty girls and not shy about telling them. Last night, we were waiting for supper to be ready and the Wheel of Fortune was on TV. We caught the tail end of the show and Harlan said "she's pretty" referring to Vanna White. Little did he know that she is WAY too old for him. Anyway, at the end of the show, Vanna was talking to Pat Sajak (sp?) and Harlan looks at me with a puzzled look on his face and said... "she talks?" I guess he thought that Vanna was just a pretty girl that spun letters around and never said a word. My little observant boy.

December!! Already??

Wow! We made it past Thanksgiving doing just fine. It's already December and before you know it Santa will be sliding down the chimney! But I don't have everything done that I wanted to get done yet. And the forecast for tomorrow doesn't sound like much fun either. Mostly just yucky roads. Which is okay, if you don't have to drive on 'em.

Thought I would include this picture of Harlan. Amazing how much he has changed since May when it was taken. He is being such a great big brother. I know I am very proud of him.