Snow Days

We've gotten quite a bit of snow here in St. Louis for December, including a white Christmas. Kurt commented one day as he looked out of the window, "there's something so peaceful about snow." It's true, something about snow brings peace. Maybe it's the vast sprawling of white, maybe it's how it forces this crazy world to slow down, maybe it's the recollection of fond memories. Whatever it is, we like it. And here we are enjoying it...






Ahh...snow on snow on snow.

Croup

This is what it looks like when croup hits our house...




Lily had her first trip to the ER for a steroid to ease her non-ease-able stridor. Just she and I went since Kurt had to stay home with Weston. After a snow storm. No fun.

Please don't return you pesky virus. You are loud, scary and unwelcome. Thanks.

Just the Two of Us

About a month ago Kurt and I took a little weekend trip to Branson sans children. My parents have time share there and said, "Hey why don't you two get away for a weekend and we'll watch the kids?" To which we replied, "Okay!"

You probably think we took in a few Christmas shows on the strip and shopped our little hearts out at the outlet malls. We did not. You know why? We were sleeping. Rest was the theme of the weekend. In fact, I was so sleep deprived upon our arrival that I slept until 10 a.m. the next morning. The last time that occurred was 1996.

We did accomplish a few fun things during the waking hours. Like Kurt totally demolishing me at air hockey after I bragged about how great I was (however I DID do a pretty nice job with ski ball). We had some great BBQ for lunch at our favorite place down there. We had a business (read finance) meeting at this coffee shop with our laptop...


And had our favorite drinks at Macaroni Grill...


Kurt also sweetly endured me popping into a few shops, trying on clothes and telling me I looked cute.

It may sound boring, but it was AWESOME. We talked and laughed and did not change any diapers. Sometimes it is nice just to be "we". And I like us.

Of course, we were more than excited to return and see our other half. I think they got cuter while we were gone...or maybe it was just my vision adapting to adequate sleep.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Part 2: Decorating the Tree

I love getting everything out for Christmas decorating. Our house wears Christmas well. I've told Kurt several times that if/when we ever sell our house we should do it during the holidays. Another bonus is the packed away Christmas books and toys that provide new excitement for Weston and Lily.

Here we tried to distract Lily with the Little People nativity long enough for Kurt to get the lights on the tree...



...it wasn't quite long enough.



Weston helped us put the ornaments on. We still haven't fixed our whompus star...


He loved playing the french horn ornament...which led to the rule that once ornaments are on the tree we don't take them off to play with them. Otherwise I'll be redecorating the tree every last day of 2010.


And a few little quotes I would like to remember this year...

Weston (playing with the nativity for first time this year): "Oh, here's Jesus. Ope, there's Mary. Hey...where's Jerry?"

Kurt (explaining to Weston why Little People Mary would not stay on top of the donkey to ride): "Weston, she doesn't have any legs sweetheart."

Hopefully this will be the last post about the tree. But if there is another, be assured it will be "O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Part 3: Lily Takes Down the Tree."

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Part One: Securing the Tree

We had such a fun time cutting down our tree last year at Heritage Valley Tree Farm that we decided to do it again this year. They are super-friendly, the place is so cute and they have hot chocolate, cookies and fun sleds to ride in for the kiddos. And the fact that our tree lasted twice as long pretty much sealed the deal. Somehow a near dead tree on the day (we celebrate) Jesus' birth seems a little oxymoronic.

Here we are last year. As I look back at the picture I'm wondering why I'M not the one being pulled around in the sled. Pregnant ladies...they think they can do everything.


And here we are this year. Miss Thing included and somehow our smiles look a bit more complete.


It was pretty chilly, but the kids did great. Weston was torn about which he wanted more...gloves on to keep his hands warm or gloves off to have the dexterity to eat his chocolate chip cookie. Tough call.



We picked a little tree with a cute shape. We're not the family that lingers at the lot for hours looking for the perfect tree. Once the chocolate chip cookie is gone, we have a short time frame to work with.


Kurt and Weston did all the work while Lily and I shot self portraits.



And isn't this the sweetest picture ever as we headed back? .



O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Part Two: Decorating the Tree will hopefully be up tomorrow.

Given a Box of Cheerios...

...here is how Lily usually polishes it off:

60% are thrown on the floor to either be swept up or stepped on.
15% are somehow captured on her body and found later...like in her diaper or socks.
10% are still missing, perhaps never to be found.
10% are stolen by her brother.
5% are actually ingested and digested.