OK, one more...

Tonight I was putting the boys to bed, and Taye's birthday came up. I asked him how old he is going to be on his next birthday, and he told me, "The letter 'C' with a line in the hole." (3)

A few minutes later he told me he couldn't keep his eyes closed "...because I'm different! Just like I don't speak Spanish!"

What blog? I have a blog?

I am far too busy knitting to work on my blog. Now, at least, you know there is something to look forward to in the way of crafty blogging, whenever I finish that is. In the meantime, I have heard your cries, and am here to throw you a bone. Or at least a few pictures. We have not been up to much lately, its winter and there is nothing to do. Mr. Incredible has taken up permanent residence in our home, we built an awesome pillow fort, we went to another get together with our homeschooling group last week, Mya rolled over the other day. That is our news, here are our pictures:

Frosty, Live!

For the record, they do not watch this movie all the time. They've probably seen it about 10 times this season, I am actually amazed with their memories. I could watch this all day!

This is take 2, filmed this morning.

Dear Emma,

We thought your video was so funny, we had to make one of our own. We hope you will like it and think its funny. We miss you and can't wait to see you and play with you again. Love, Taye and Darius



P.S. Tell your Daddy we changed the video in the For Uncle Bunny post, this time Taye is in character.

Woo-hoo! My first award (of many, I'm sure...)

Jean sent me a Tree of Happiness Award for my blog. That means I'm special, yay me! Here it is:

I'm supposed to also list 6 things that make me happy. Here goes;

1. Luis

2. Taye

3. Darius

4. Mya

5. The name Haven Xavier (get used to it people, I don't wanna hear about it - and no I'm not pregnant!)

6. Getting blog awards

OK, so maybe I'm being a bit lazy with that list. I supposed you want me to put some actual thought into it now. Fine then, I will. (*ow ow ow!*) Ok, ok- here is my real list:

1. Numbers 1-4 of my list above, otherwise known as my family. Without them I would be nothing but a lonely calzone delivery driver (mmm...DP Dough...), or a nanny for someone else's kids. I have always wanted to be a mother, and have a hot husband. Lucky for me, I got both. In all seriousness, I am very blessed to have them all. I love them immensely, and they bring me joy every day.

2. Our struggles - sounds crazy, right? Let me explain. We have not had an easy path together, Luis and I. Some of the struggles were our own 'fault' and others were just bad luck, or life's circumstances. Through it all we've stuck together, and never questioned whether or not our relationship was worth it. We always knew it was. We have learned through the years that we can make it through anything together (maintaining a relationship while living 4000 miles apart? No problem.) We've learned to make the decisions that are best for ourselves at that moment, without worrying about what others may think (moving in with mom so we could afford for me to stay home with the kids? Sounds great!) We've learned that not even the dreaded, marriage-killing 'money trouble' can defeat us ($10K Peru trip, 2 dead cars, and paying for a homebirth, all in the same year? Sure, why not?) We've learned that I can have a homebirth. :o) We've learned that we can count on each other to make sacrifices for the good of our family (How about you work full time and go to school full time, while I stay home with three kids by myself all week? Sounds like a plan.) We've learned over and over again that we are strong, and I have reason to believe we always will be. So though I may complain, the struggles we have been through have made us stronger, and more than grateful for what we have. We have learned from them, and for that they make me happy. The night we got sent back to Peru last year, as we crawled back into bed at 3am, we had no idea what the next days would bring. I told Luis that night, "You're still worth it - but don't push it!" Well, he pushes it every day, but he is still worth it.

3. The anticipation of a tax refund that will (barring any getting-stuck-in-Peru type catastrophes) pay off our debt, including the car loan, and will maybe even leave enough to start one of those mythical "savings accounts" we hear so much about. One less struggle, I promise we've learned from this one, the lesson can be over now!

4. Pictures. I love to be surrounded by them, to take them, to stare at them endlessly. Someday I will learn how to really use my camera, and that thought makes me happy. Lately its this one I can't get enough of:

You want to talk about happiness - look at that face!

5. This blog. I love that I have a record of our lives, something that we can all look back on and remember the little things (and the big things). These days will fly, I know it, and before long we will start to forget. I am working on printing this blog into a book (well, several books actually), and I know that I will always treasure it.

6. The "Frosty, Live" video published above (if you don't see it yet, wait for it, its coming!) I could watch it all day, those two crack me up.

There, how's that for thought? If you made it through #2 without falling asleep, congratulations! I think I'm supposed to pick 6 other people to give the award to, but alas I don't have 6 other blogs that I read. I suppose that means my true love will never talk to me, or that I will not help cure little Johnny's mysterious illness, or even that Bill Gates will not send me $1000. I guess I'd better start finding some other blogs, so I can be better prepared the next time. Thanks Jean!

Attention to detail

Taye's new favorite character is Frosty the Snowman. The costume started with just a hat, but has progressed, as they usually do. Daddy found a small broom which he now carries with him, and yesterday he told me he needed a flower for his hat, which we made together. Then today he added one of Daddy's white shirts for 'snow.' But my favorite detail of all was the button nose:



Taye found the bottle cap, and immediately knew it had to be his nose. This is how all his costumes come to be - piece by piece. We love watching the evolution of each one, and are always amazed with his ingenuity.

We went to Auntie Kathy's - boop be do!

(Its an inside joke, ok?)

Saturday was a busy day. We spent the afternoon at our neighbor Alex's birthday party - with about 30 other kids. It was insane, but the kids had a lot of fun. We walked out their front door and got into our car to go to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Rob's house. Our annual Christmas get-together was postponed this year. As usual, we had a very nice time. It was a late night, and by the time we were ready to go home, all the kids had found a place to fall asleep. They looked very cozy (so did Aunt Kathy).

Fort

The boys built this house all by themselves the other day. It was a bit wobbly, they forgot to put in a foundation, but that was ok. They just enlisted Daddy as official house supporter. They kept saying it was like Ro-Ro's house, which I didn't get at first. I'm thinking now it was because of the blankets on top (like the dollhouse in the living room?) Thats my theory, anyway. It was fun while it lasted. Those three whole minutes.

Daddy's Birthday

Thursday night while Daddy was at work, the boys and I prepared for his birthday. They helped me bake him a secret, surprise cake, which we hid on top of the fridge when it was done. Then, while Mya slept, we all made birthday cards for Daddy. Darius used lots of stickers on his, and Taye had me print out Batman and the Batmobile.

Friday morning, I was in bed when Luis and the boys came downstairs. I heard "Daddy, we made you a cake! Its on top of the fridge, up there. Lets put fire on it and eat it now!" So much for the surprise.

When everyone was up and ready (and after Rebecca and Kevin left) we sang 'Happy Birthday' and brought Daddy his cake and cards. Our gift to him was a learn to snowboard package at Mt. Wachusett. He gets to go in 2 weeks, and gets a lesson, a rental, and a lift pass for the day. He has talked about learning to snowboard for a while, for some crazy reason he thinks it sounds like fun. I guess I'm about to become a snowboarding widow. :o)

Happy Birthday

Today is Luis' birthday, for those who may not know. Despite what he may tell you, he is 33 years old today. I think thats kind of cool, because for some reason 26 and 33 have been two of my favorite numbers for a long time, and now they are our ages. I am happy to get to be the first one to wish him a happy birthday. I have the advantage of living with him, and being woken up by him when he gets home just after midnight, so don't feel too bad if I beat you to it. :o)

Luis and I joke around a lot (a real lot) and give each other a hard time. It is who we are, and how we have always been. We've had people comment about it before, that it seems like we are being nasty or fighting, but we have never seen it that way. We know that every little thing we do comes from love, no matter how it may seem to others. I can't describe how amazing it feels to have found someone who 'gets' me so well, in fact often better than I do myself! I won't gush on about Luis too much, those who know him know that he is amazing (and to those strangers just dropping by - I'm sorry you don't know him!) The fact is that I am extremely blessed to have found him, and even more so to have him as my husband. He is an amazing, strong, infintely loving, funny, thoughtful, hard working, old man. (oops - did I type that out loud?)

Lucho, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I hope this message brings a smile to your face, and embarasses you, at least a little (you know how I love to do that, my future Commonwealth Scholar). You bring me joy every day, thank you for all that you have brought to my life.

Happy Birthday, babe! I love you!

Mr. Incredible!

Visitors

The Dorsey's came to visit us yesterday. It was so nice to have them over, we had a fun day.

Yay

It is not often that I get a nice close-up of Taye. He is always so busy and constantly moving, its hard to catch him. I got this one the other day, I love it, I just wish it wasn't so blurry.

Haha...

Taye has started learning some new jokes lately. One of his favorites is "Why did one shirt chase the other?" (Because they were playing tag!)

Tonight he made up his first knock-knock joke:
Taye: Knock-knock
Me: Who's there?
Taye: Bat
Me: Bat, who?
Taye: Batman!
I laughed
Taye: Say 'Batman, who?'
Me: Batman, who?
Taye: Batman and Robin!

The obligatory playing in the snow pictures

You will note these were all taken from inside the house, I'm no dummy. I let Luis handle the playing in the snow business. I couldn't believe how long they stayed out. The three of them (plus Alex and Abby) were out for close to 2 hours, then Luis had to drag them in, practically kicking and screaming, for warmth and hot chocolate. After 45 minutes or so, they all went back out for about an hour and a half. Insane.




The boys found a Frosty the Snowman DVD last week, and have been watching it frequently. Making their own Frosty was a thrill (though Taye is not happy with the carrot nose - it should be a button nose, hello!)

Pay no attention to the crazy laughing lady

I do what I have to do to get results!

The 1st Annual Gingerbread House Making Invitational Tournament

Let me start off by saying, this better actually become an annual tradition. My blog has already lied about the "First Annual" trip to Boston Children's Museum, lets not add another lie on top of it. Plus, this was just way too much fun to not make it a tradition. Taye cried when we had to leave the Carey's house, and both boys are already asking to go again.

The competition began with a flurry of activity. Everyone was excited to get started, as plans were made and materials were gathered. We had 1.5 hours to complete our masterpieces.

Unfortunately for our team, the interest soon faded, as another, more exciting, house was discovered. (I am on a mission to find out what house this is. I love it, and someone in this house will be getting it for a birthday, as soon as I figure out who made it!)


Darius did try to help out by taking out some of the competition:

With time to spare, Luis and I managed to complete our house, which was definitely first-prize worthy, as you can see.



Once everyone was finished, Gramma kicked us out to begin the judging. Don't be fooled by her serious appearance. We were, but we quickly learned that she can be bought. We're planning to start the kissing up ASAP, so that we will be a sure bet for first place next year. (We love you Gramma!)
We had first place swept out from under us by these rule breakers. Last time I checked, pictures of Gramma are not edible. And I was not impressed by Joanine's offer to eat it as proof, I remember we once convinced her to take a bite of a dog biscuit, clearly she'd eat anything once!

Our beautiful house took second place, without a bit of cheating, which means we really won first place.

I feel like I am forgetting someone.....Oh yeah, that Mya kid. Well, she was there, though I hardly saw her. She was too busy making the rounds. She didn't even miss me one bit, whats up with that?


After the cheating, um, judging was done, the party continued. We ate a delicious meal, followed by several delicious desserts. We spent the rest of the night visiting, talking, singing. It was so much fun.